Breakable Barrier Capsule for Foamable Beverage Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for preparing and dispensing foamable beverage and food products require rigorous shaking or manual manipulation, which is inconvenient and not user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A package design with a breakable barrier separating a liquid primary ingredient from a secondary ingredient, including a foaming agent, where the barrier is broken to mix the ingredients and produce foam, and the package is resiliently deformable to facilitate easy dispensing of the foamed product through a selectively openable outlet with air inlet means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigorous shaking or manual manipulation is used to prepare foamable products, then the ingredients mix and foam is produced, but the operation becomes inconvenient and not user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The package is pre-filled with liquid primary ingredient and secondary ingredient (foaming agent) in separate compartments. The breakable barrier is pre-positioned to separate the ingredients until activation. Air inlet means are pre-configured to allow air ingress when the barrier breaks, eliminating the need for manual mixing operations by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The package design enables the system to perform the mixing and foaming function automatically when activated. The breakable barrier mechanism allows the product to self-mix upon activation without requiring external manual manipulation. The air inlet means automatically ingress air to facilitate foam formation without user intervention.
2Extent of automation
If a breakable barrier is introduced to separate ingredients, then automated mixing is enabled, but the package structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into distinct compartments: a chamber for liquid primary ingredient, a separate compartment for secondary ingredient (foaming agent), and air inlet means. The breakable barrier physically segments these components, allowing automated mixing when the barrier breaks while maintaining structural organization that simplifies the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable barrier is implemented as a thin, frangible membrane or capsule that can be easily broken by minimal activation force. This thin-film approach achieves the automation function without requiring complex rigid structures, maintaining package simplicity while enabling automatic ingredient mixing.
3Ease of operation
If the package is made resiliently deformable for easy dispensing, then dispensing convenience is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The package transitions from a rigid sealed state to a deformable dispensing state. The resiliently deformable walls allow the package to be compressed and squeezed for easy dispensing of the foamed product. The dynamic structure adapts its rigidity based on the operational phase: rigid during storage to protect ingredients, flexible during dispensing for user convenience.
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 easy preparation of foamed beverages and food products with minimal effort, allowing for one-step brewing and direct addition of foamed ingredients to coffee or other beverages, producing consistent foam quantities and quality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the ingredients includes a foaming agent such that the foamed product is produced when the breakable barrier is broken and the primary and secondary ingredients mix
Implementation Method 2
the package is resiliently deformable between the normal expanded position and a compressed position, the movement from the compressed position to the expanded position being such that it breaks the capsule
Implementation Method 3
air inlet means for selectively enabling the ingress of air into the chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Improvements in containers are provided, and in particular improvements in containers for preparing and dispensing foamable beverage and food products. The package may contain at least a liquid primary ingredient and a secondary ingredient and comprises at least one wall defining a chamber at least partially filled with the primary ingredient, an outlet for dispensing the prepared product, and a capsule surrounding the primary ingredient separating the secondary ingredient from the primary ingredient. The capsule may be attached to insides of opposing walls of the package such that as the opposing walls are moved further apart the capsule breaks. At least one of the ingredients may include a foaming agent such that the foamed product is produced when the capsule is broken and the primary and secondary ingredients mix.