Disposable Mixing Container With Unified Strainer for Hygienic Shaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mixing devices and containers are cumbersome to clean, often require preservatives in pre-mixed beverages, and lack user flexibility in ingredient selection and quantity, while also being prone to leaks and fouling.
Innovation Solution
A disposable mixing system manufactured via thermoforming, comprising a unified lid, cap, and strainer, designed for single-use efficiency, hygiene, and convenience, allowing for flexible mixing of ingredients without the need for extensive cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mixing devices are used, then mixing function is provided, but cleaning effort and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable mixing device where the entire mixing assembly (cup, lid, and strainer) is designed as a single-use product. After mixing, the entire assembly is discarded, eliminating the need for cleaning. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing device durability to eliminate cleaning effort and time, making the device extremely easy to operate with no maintenance required.
2Ease of operation
If pre-mixed RTD beverages are used, then convenience is improved, but ingredient flexibility and customization are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beverage system into three separate components: the liquid/base in the cup, the ingredients in the separate container, and the mixing strainer. This allows users to maintain the convenience of a ready-to-mix system while gaining the flexibility to choose specific ingredients and quantities, as ingredients are added manually rather than pre-mixed.
3Reliability
If conventional mixing devices are used, then mixing capability is provided, but hygiene and contamination risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cup, lid, and strainer into a single integrated disposable unit. This unified structure ensures that all components that contact the beverage are part of the same sterile, sealed system until use. The integrated design maintains hygiene by preventing contamination between components while remaining relatively simple in structure, resolving the contradiction between hygiene and complexity.
4Reliability
If conventional mixing devices are used, then mixing function is provided, but preservative requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent keeps ingredients separate from the liquid base until the moment of use. The sealed cup with liquid and the separate ingredient container prevent premature mixing and oxidation. This preliminary separation action maintains beverage freshness without requiring preservatives, as ingredients are only combined when the beverage is ready to be consumed.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable mixing system includes a lid having an opening and configured to hold contents within a container, a strainer configured to couple with the container and the lid in a position between the container and the lid, where the strainer mixes the contents responsive to shaking the container, and a cap configured to cover the opening of the lid, where at least the lid and the strainer are formed in a unified piece. The system may be manufactured from a single sheet of plastic using thermoforming. The strainer may use flat surfaces and large triangular orifices for efficient mixing and manufacture, while the lid may have a spout sized to prevent clogging and pressure build-up.