Reusable Brewing Cup with Multi-Directional Water Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current coffee brewing methods, particularly single-serving systems, often result in under-brewed coffee due to limited water distribution patterns, leading to 'dead zones' in the coffee grounds, and lack reusable and efficient brewing solutions for consumable liquids.

Innovation Solution

A reusable single-serving cup with a liquid distribution system that directs water in multiple directions, including at least 3, 4, or more directions away from the vertical axis, ensuring even extraction of brewing materials, and a brewing apparatus with a cartridge system that allows for efficient liquid distribution and extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional single-serving brewing systems use limited water distribution patterns, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision of water distribution and brewing completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidwater distribution precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The water distribution system is segmented into multiple spray nozzles positioned at different locations and angles within the brewing chamber. Each nozzle delivers water to a specific zone, ensuring complete coverage of coffee grounds without requiring complex centralized distribution mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the brewing chamber receive water with locally optimized characteristics - spray angle, pressure, and flow rate are tailored to specific zones to ensure uniform extraction across the entire coffee bed, addressing the precision requirement without uniform complexity throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If reusable brewing apparatus are designed with complex liquid distribution systems, then brewing completeness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrewing completenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brewing system utilizes the natural flow of water and gravity to achieve complete distribution. The spray nozzles are positioned and angled to create self-distributing water flow patterns that naturally reach all areas of the coffee grounds without requiring additional pumps, valves, or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs hydraulic principles through spray nozzles that utilize water pressure and flow dynamics to achieve widespread distribution. The nozzle design converts water pressure into targeted spray patterns that cover the entire brewing area, achieving reliable completeness through fluid mechanics rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Stability of the object's composition

If water is directed in multiple directions away from vertical axis, then extraction uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray nozzles are deliberately positioned asymmetrically and angled at various non-vertical orientations. This asymmetric arrangement naturally directs water flow in multiple directions across the coffee grounds, creating uniform extraction patterns without requiring symmetric complexity or additional balancing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of directing water only vertically (one dimension), the spray nozzles introduce water flow in multiple spatial dimensions - horizontal, diagonal, and vertical components. This multi-dimensional water distribution achieves uniform extraction across the coffee bed without requiring complex multi-axis mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This solution ensures a more complete brewing process by distributing water evenly throughout the coffee grounds, resulting in a richer, more consistently brewed coffee and allows for the efficient brewing of various consumable liquids, including coffee, tea, and herbal drinks.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid distribution:

Implementation Method 2

The filter element is permeable to accommodate a flow therethrough of the resulting beverage into the second chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10071851B2Apparatus and products for producing beverages, and methods for making and using same

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 UNIVERSAL COFFEE LLC

AI summary

A brewing container for use with brewing machines, the container including a distribution outlet for dispersing the injected water in at least 3 directions away from vertical within the cartridge.