Bottle top liquid infusion system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face limitations with commercially available flavored infused beverages, such as limited flavor variety, artificial flavors, and waste due to large quantity purchases that cannot be returned, leading to unsatisfying tastes and financial loss.
Innovation Solution
A bottle top liquid infusion system with an infusion chamber, one-way valve, and pourer that allows users to mix their own flavored drinks by adding chosen ingredients to a small volume of virgin liquid, which can then be steeped and sealed for desired taste, compatible with various bottles and ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If consumers purchase commercially available flavored infused beverages, then they can obtain ready-to-drink flavored liquids, but they are limited to manufacturer-selected flavors, artificial flavorings, and large quantity purchases that cannot be returned
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the beverage container into two separate compartments: a main beverage receptacle for the base liquid and a flavor cartridge for the flavoring agent. This segmentation allows consumers to independently select and combine different flavor cartridges with a single beverage type, thereby achieving flavor variety while maintaining ease of use.
2Duration of action of moving object
If consumers purchase large quantities of infused beverages, then they can have ready availability, but they waste money and product when flavors are unsatisfying
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs replaceable flavor cartridges that allow consumers to dynamically switch between different flavors without committing to large quantities of a single flavor. Consumers can purchase small quantities of various flavor cartridges and swap them as desired, ensuring beverage availability while minimizing product waste through flexible flavor selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If consumers mix their own infused drinks with chosen ingredients, then they can achieve desired taste and flavor variety, but they require storage space for multiple beverage bottles and ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The flavor cartridge is nested within the beverage container structure, with the cartridge inserting into a dedicated receptacle. This nested design consolidates multiple flavor options into a single compact beverage bottle, eliminating the need for separate storage of multiple beverage bottles and ingredients while maintaining full flavor customization capability.
4Loss of substance
If consumers use a bottle top infusion system, then they can mix custom flavors in small quantities without waste, but the system complexity increases with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the beverage dispensing function and flavor infusion function into a single integrated container structure. The flavor cartridge inserts directly into the beverage receptacle, combining what would otherwise be separate infusion and storage vessels into one unified system, thereby reducing overall complexity while enabling small-quantity custom mixing without waste.
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
Enables cost-effective, customizable, and waste-minimizing infusion of flavors in small quantities, allowing users to experiment with different flavors and ingredients without filling storage spaces, ensuring a satisfying taste experience.
Implementation Method 1
A one-way valve is located within the lower housing to allow liquid flow in only a single direction
Implementation Method 2
allows the virgin liquid and any ingredients placed in the infusion chamber to steep, thus producing the flavored infused beverage of choice
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid infusion system has an infusion chamber with open top and bottom ends. The top end has a removable cover. Flavored ingredients are placed in the chamber. A lower housing is rotatably secured to the bottom end of the chamber. A one-way valve located within the lower housing allows liquid flow in only a single direction. A stopper configured to be inserted into a bottle of virgin liquid is connected to the lower housing. When the system is tilted downward, virgin liquid is free to flow from the bottle and into the chamber. Bringing the bottle to vertical closes the valve and allows the virgin liquid and any ingredients placed in the chamber to steep, to produce a flavored infused beverage. The lower housing can be rotated and locked into a position in relation to the infusion chamber to prevent the flow of liquid into or out of the chamber.