Closure cap for cans and bottles for hot and cold drinks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closure attachments for pots and bottles do not facilitate easy preparation of hot or cold drinks on the go, as they require removal for adding tea infusers or bags, leading to heat loss and inconvenience in disposal, especially for black tea which secretes bitter substances during extended brewing.

Innovation Solution

A closure attachment with a tea strainer insert in the cap that can be lowered into the liquid, allowing for brewing without removing the attachment, featuring a control element for actuating the strainer's movement and sealing to prevent liquid loss and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the closure attachment is removed to add tea infuser or bag, then the tea preparation is possible, but heat loss occurs and disposal becomes inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetea preparation capabilityVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tea strainer insert with the closure attachment, integrating two previously separate functions (closure and tea brewing) into a single unified device. The strainer insert is positioned within the closure cap structure, allowing tea preparation without removing the closure, thereby preventing heat loss while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure attachment is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a closure mechanism and a tea brewing device. The strainer insert can be lowered into the liquid for brewing, then raised for disposal, allowing the same device to handle both sealing and tea preparation tasks, improving adaptability without compromising energy retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the closure attachment is removed for tea preparation, then tea can be brewed, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetea preparation capabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the strainer insert within the closure attachment structure, the patent eliminates the need to remove the closure for tea preparation. The user simply operates the strainer insert through the closure, simplifying the workflow from multiple steps (remove closure, add tea, replace closure) to a single integrated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The strainer insert is pre-positioned within the closure attachment, ready for immediate use. The closure attachment is designed with the strainer insert already in place, eliminating the need to separately handle or prepare the strainer, thereby reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If tea bag remains inside closed pot or bottle, then disposal is simplified, but bitter substances are secreted during extended brewing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisposal convenienceVSAvoidbitter substance secretion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The strainer insert is designed to be dynamically movable between a lowered brewing position and a raised disposal position. This dynamic capability allows the user to easily raise the strainer insert after brewing to separate the tea bag from the liquid, preventing over-brewing and bitter substance secretion while maintaining disposal convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The strainer insert is pre-configured with the tea bag inside, ready for immediate brewing. After the brewing process, the user can simply raise the strainer insert to separate the tea bag from the liquid, making disposal straightforward without requiring additional containers or complex removal procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If a separate container is carried for tea infuser disposal, then disposal is possible, but device complexity and portability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisposal capabilityVSAvoidcontainer requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the disposal function directly into the closure attachment structure. The strainer insert, which holds the tea bag, is part of the closure assembly, eliminating the need for separate disposal containers. The user can raise the strainer insert and dispose of the tea bag directly from the closure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure attachment serves as both the brewing vessel closure and the tea bag disposal mechanism. The strainer insert within the closure provides both brewing and disposal functions, reducing the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate disposal containers while maintaining full disposal capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3474709B1Closure cap for cans and bottles for hot and cold drinks
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 EMSA
  • EP3474709B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3474709B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3474709B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a closure cap (100) for cans and bottles for hot and cold drinks, at least comprising a base housing (10) which can be connected to a neck (51) of a can or a bottle (51) and which comprises at least one outlet opening (11) which can be closed by a closure unit (40), the closure unit (40) comprising at least one moveable outlet sealing element (35) which can seal the at least one outlet opening (11), wherein: - a tea filter receiving element (30) is arranged below the outlet sealing element (35) and can be rotated by means of a control element (31) which is accessible from the outer side of the closure cap (100) and which comprises a movement thread (34): a cylindrical tea filter attachment (20) is mounted in a receiving chamber of the tea filter receiving element (30) and engages in the movement thread (34) by means of at least one engagement element (23) and the tea filter attachment (20) can be moved axially in relation to the tea filter receiving element (30) by the rotating said latter element.