Coconut Water Access Assembly Using the Germination Pore

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for accessing coconut water often damage the coconut shell, leading to contamination and spoilage, as they require creating a tooled aperture that breaks the shell, exposing the meat to external factors.

Innovation Solution

An assembly comprising a plunger with a collar and lance, a lid, and a stopper clip that allows for puncturing the germination pore with minimal force, using a fixing mean to attach the lid without penetrating the shell, enabling easy access to coconut water without damaging the coconut.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tooled aperture is created to install a valve or pull-ring, then access to coconut water is enabled, but the coconut shell is broken and the meat is exposed to contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to coconut waterVSAvoidcontamination of coconut meat
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses the germination pore as an intermediary natural opening that already exists in the coconut shell. Instead of creating a new aperture that breaks the shell and exposes the meat, the device utilizes this pre-existing pore as the access point, thereby avoiding direct contact between external contaminants and the coconut meat while still enabling access to the coconut water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the necessary function (access to coconut water) through the germination pore without requiring removal or damage to the surrounding shell structure. The valve assembly is designed to fit within and through the small germination pore, separating the access function from the protective shell integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a valve plug with collar is installed in a tooled aperture, then valve access is achieved, but the shell is damaged and meat exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve accessVSAvoidshell integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The germination pore serves as an intermediary structure that accommodates the valve plug without requiring damage to the main shell. The valve plug collar engages with the germination pore opening, using this natural feature as a mounting point that preserves the overall shell strength and integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve plug design concentrates the structural engagement locally at the germination pore opening through the collar, while the rest of the shell remains undisturbed and intact. This localized approach maintains global shell strength while achieving the local function of valve installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3883396B1Assembly for accessing coconut water in coconut
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 K FRESH CO LTD
  • EP3883396B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP3883396B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3883396B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

An assembly (010) for accessing coconut water in a coconut has a plunger (011) for puncturing the germination pore of the coconut thereby permits the access of the coconut water inside the coconut. The assembly (010) comprises a plunger (011) having a plunger collar (111) perpendicularly mounted to a plunger lance (211), a lid (012) having a lid bore (112) for receiving and housing a tip of the plunger lance (211) and a stopper clip (013) for holding the plunger lance (211) in order to prevent the tip of the plunger lance (211) in the lid bore (112) from puncturing a germination pore of the coconut, wherein the lid (012) of the assembly (010) is placed and fixed on the germination pore of the coconut by a fixing mean.