Drinking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverages with added flavorings contain undesirable additives and calories, and existing aroma delivery systems fail to effectively enhance taste perception through retronasal absorption without contaminating the liquid.
Innovation Solution
A drinking device with separate channels for liquid and flavored air, allowing retronasal absorption of aroma substances, ensuring minimal substance transfer and maintaining the perception of pure liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flavoring substances are added to beverages, then taste perception is enhanced, but unwanted ingestion of additives and increased calorie intake occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the flavor delivery system into two independent channels: a liquid channel for water and an air channel for aroma substances. This segmentation allows the flavor components to be delivered without mixing them into the liquid, thereby enhancing taste perception while avoiding ingestion of additives and sugars.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses air as an intermediary carrier to transport aroma substances from the flavor container through the air channel to the user's retronasal area. This intermediary approach enables flavor perception without direct contact between the flavoring substance and the liquid, preventing unwanted additive ingestion.
2Measurement precision
If aroma elements are attached near the drinking opening, then olfactory sensory impression is enhanced, but the aroma may contaminate the drinking liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the delivery system into separate liquid and air channels that run parallel from the container through the cap to the mouthpiece. The air channel delivers aroma substances independently without contacting the liquid, thus enhancing olfactory impression while maintaining liquid purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention places aroma substance delivery specifically in the retronasal area (back of the throat) rather than at the drinking opening. This localized delivery ensures that aroma substances are perceived by the olfactory receptors without contaminating the liquid in the main drinking channel.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flavoring is added immediately before consumption, then stability issues are avoided, but unwanted ingestion of additives remains
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses air as an intermediary to deliver aroma substances at the moment of consumption without mixing them into the liquid. This allows the beverage to remain stable and additive-free in the liquid phase while still providing flavor enhancement when consumed.
Solution Approach 2:
The aroma substances are pre-stored in a separate flavor container within the system, ready for immediate delivery. When the user drinks, the aroma is released through the air channel without requiring prior mixing into the liquid, thus avoiding stability issues and additive ingestion.
4Loss of substance
If separate channels for liquid and flavored air are used, then liquid purity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the liquid channel and air channel into a single integrated cap structure that houses both pathways. The flavor container is integrated into the cap, and both channels converge at the mouthpiece, maintaining liquid purity while avoiding excessive device complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure serves multiple functions: it houses the liquid channel for water delivery, contains the air channel for aroma delivery, and incorporates the flavor container. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby maintaining liquid purity without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
Enhances taste experience by retronasal aroma perception while minimizing flavor contamination in the liquid, providing a clear drinking sensation and customizable aroma options.
Implementation Method 1
The essential feature of the drinking device according to the invention is that the flavoring substance is absorbed retronasally. When drinking, the flavoring substance enters the user's mouth along with the drinking liquid and then rises retronasally via the pharynx to the olfactory mucosa (regio olfactoria), where it is detected by the receptors located there and perceived by the user.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
A drinking device for the retronasal intake of a flavoring substance comprises a reservoir (12) for drinking liquid, a headpiece attachable to the reservoir comprising a mouthpiece (16) with a mouth end (28), wherein an flavoring container (20) is integrated into the mouthpiece (16); the flavoring container (20) is permeable to air; and the mouthpiece further comprises a transport channel (18) for drinking liquid extending from the reservoir (12) to a mouth end (28) of the drinking device (10); as well as an air channel (22) for transporting flavored air extending from the flavoring container (20) to the mouth end (28); wherein the air channel (22) for transporting flavored air extends separately from the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid to the mouth end (28).