Bite-Sized Ice Cubettes with Superfood Ingredients
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a healthy, bite-sized frozen treat that provides nutritional value and is convenient for health-conscious consumers and patients undergoing medical procedures, as existing options like popsicles are often high in sugar and lack nutritional content, and traditional ice chips do not offer any nourishment.
Innovation Solution
A shelf-stable, freezable liquid composition of natural ingredients such as water, agave syrup, fruit or vegetable concentrate, and Superfood powders, packaged in a novel ice cubette tray that forms individual servings when frozen, allowing for easy consumption and portion control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional ice chips are used to provide hydration, then hydration is achieved, but no nutritional component is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traditional ice chip hydration function with nutritional ingredients (fruit purees, vegetable concentrates, protein powders, vitamins) to create a unified frozen treat that simultaneously provides both hydration and nutrition, resolving the contradiction between these two functions
2Ease of operation
If popsicles are used as frozen treats, then frozen treat consumption is enabled, but high sugar content and large serving size are problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the frozen treat into individual bite-sized cubettes within a tray, allowing consumers to take small portions (5-10 cubettes at a time) rather than consuming the entire popsicle at once, thereby reducing sugar intake while maintaining convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the serving size parameter from traditional popsicle size to bite-sized cubettes, and adjusts sugar content by using natural fruit purees and vegetable concentrates instead of refined sugars, creating a healthier alternative
3Ease of operation
If popsicles are sold frozen, then frozen treat availability is provided, but melting occurs if not timely stored frozen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary freezing of the liquid composition in individual cubette trays during manufacturing, creating shelf-stable frozen treats that can be stored at room temperature without melting, thereby ensuring product stability while maintaining availability
4Quantity of substance
If plain ice chips are given to patients for hydration, then hydration is provided, but no nutritional component is available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges hydration function with nutritional components suitable for patients (fruit purees, vegetable concentrates, protein powders, vitamins) to create a frozen treat that provides both hydration and nourishment, addressing the needs of patients undergoing medical procedures
5Quantity of substance
If bite-sized ices with natural ingredients are created, then nutritional value is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing process into simple sequential steps: mixing ingredients, heating to dissolve, pouring into molds, freezing, and demolding. This segmentation simplifies the overall process while achieving the desired nutritional value through ingredient selection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a convenient, nutritious, and shelf-stable frozen treat that can be consumed in bite-sized portions, addressing the nutritional gaps in existing products and meeting the needs of health-conscious consumers and medical patients with a unique packaging concept that ensures product integrity from factory to shelf.
Implementation Method 1
a shelf-stable, freezable liquid composition... when frozen, forms individual servings of perfectly molded and easily dispensed ice cubettes
Implementation Method 2
heating the mixture... cooling the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to bite-sized ices, composed of natural ingredients and specially formulated with various Superfoods and everyday health boosters, a method for processing, and apparatus for packaging the same. The present inventive composition preferably comes in multiple flavors; each flavor preferably comprising a unique ingredient profile. The ingredients are mixed using a thermal process involving a hot fill hold such that the composition and the packaging are sterilized at the same time. The packaging allows the composition to be sold shelf stable and to be a freeze and eat product, thereby providing convenience to the consumer.