Thermal Carafe Brew-Through Lid for Valve-Free Any-Angle Pouring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brew through lids for thermal carafes are complex, prone to soiling, and difficult to use, with moving parts that can become non-functional and require unscrewing for pouring, leading to issues with liquid flow and temperature maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A brew through lid with a cone-shaped cap top wall, cylindrical connection wall, and circumferentially spaced pouring passages, allowing brew liquid to enter and exit regardless of lid orientation, and an optional mixing pipe for uniform brew strength, integrated with a thermal carafe for easy use and temperature retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a valve construction with moving parts is used to close off the brew inlet, then the lid can control liquid flow, but the lid becomes complicated and the moving parts are easily soiled and may lose movability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex valve construction with moving parts from the lid. Instead of using a valve mechanism, the patent employs a simple open lid design where the brew inlet remains constantly open, allowing liquid to flow freely into the carafe without any moving components that could soil or malfunction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is divided into functional zones: a hydrophilic region at the brew inlet area that promotes liquid entry, and a hydrophobic region at the pouring spout area that prevents unwanted liquid flow. This segmentation allows simple geometric shapes to perform flow control functions without mechanical valves.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is unscrewed from the carafe to pour brew liquid, then liquid can be poured, but the lid may uncouple completely or require precise positioning markings
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the lid to be unscrewed or opened to pour liquid, the invention inverts the approach by providing a pouring spout that allows liquid to flow out while the lid remains securely attached to the carafe. The pouring function is achieved through the spout geometry and surface properties rather than lid removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouring spout is designed with hydrophobic surface properties that cause liquid to naturally flow out when the carafe is tilted, without requiring any manual operation or lid manipulation. The structure itself performs the pouring function passively.
3Temperature
If a conventional heat isolated lid is used after brewing, then temperature retention is improved, but the initial temperature loss during brewing is considerable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface properties of different lid regions: the brew inlet area is made hydrophilic to promote liquid entry and minimize splashing losses, while the pouring spout area is made hydrophobic to control liquid flow. These parameter changes in surface properties enable temperature retention without compromising brewing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid performs multiple functions simultaneously: it allows brew liquid to enter during the brewing process, maintains temperature retention, and enables pouring without removal. This multi-functionality is achieved through the combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in a single integrated structure.
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 simplifies the brewing process, ensures brew liquid can be poured in any orientation, maintains brew strength, and retains coffee temperature comparable to or better than conventional lids, eliminating the need for lid manipulation during brewing and pouring.
Implementation Method 1
a cap top wall that is cone shaped and that has its concave side directed upwardly, brewing liquid that is produced by a coffee maker enters the internal liquid reservoir of the carafe
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of pouring passages that are circumferentially spaced in the pouring skirt wall and that allow passage of brew liquid out of the liquid space
Implementation Method 3
the mixing pipe provides the advantage that the brew liquid is mixed when entering the reservoir of the carafe
Implementation Method 4
the temperature of the brew liquid in the reservoir after one hour after the start of brewing cycle is equal or even higher then in the situation wherein no brew through lid is used
Data Source
AI summary
A brew through lid (20) for a thermal carafe (18) that has a pouring provision (186) and an internal liquid reservoir (182). The brew through lid (20) has a cap member (40) with a cone shaped cap top wall (42), a brew inlet (44) in a centre of the cap top wall (42) at a lowest part of the cone shaped cap top wall, a substantially cylindrical connection wall (46) having a top edge that is connected to the cap top wall (42) and a lid connector (50) that is an integral part of the connection wall (46). The brew through lid (20) further has a pouring skirt wall (52) that extends around an upper portion of the connection wall (46) and defines a liquid space (54) between the connection wall (46) and the pouring skirt wall (52). A plurality of pouring passages (56) is circumferentially spaced in the pouring skirt wall (52) and that allow passage of brew liquid out of the liquid space (54). A plurality of connection wall passages (60) that are circumferentially spaced in the cylindrical connection wall (46) and is configured to allow passage of brew liquid from the internal liquid reservoir (182) of the carafe (18) to the liquid space (54).