Disposable Flavor Insert Cup for Clean Water Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water dispensers and flavoring systems require complex cleanup and separate handling of flavor cassettes or cartridges, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A disposable flavor insert device with a porous enclosure containing solid flavor particles, designed to be easily inserted into a water dispenser, allowing water to flow through and dissolve the flavor, with a removable seal to contain any residual mixture, and a supply container for multiple inserts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate flavor cassette and cup system is used, then flavoring functionality is achieved, but cleanup complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of flavoring waterVSAvoidcomplexity of cleanup and handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cup and flavor cassette into a single integrated flavor insert device. The flavor particles are contained within the cup itself, eliminating the need for separate components. This integration simplifies both the operation of flavoring water and the subsequent cleanup, as the entire device is disposable and requires no disassembly or separate handling of multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flavor insert device is designed as a disposable unit. After use, the entire device including the cup and flavor particles is discarded, eliminating cleanup requirements. This approach trades the cost of replacing inexpensive disposable units against the complexity and time required for cleaning and maintaining reusable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a reusable cup with separate flavor cassette is used, then flavor variety is achieved, but time for cleanup and preparation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of flavorsVSAvoidtime for cleanup and preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flavor particles are pre-contained within the cup in a ready-to-use configuration. The cup is prepared in advance with the flavoring material sealed inside, so no assembly or preparation is needed at the point of use. Users simply insert the pre-prepared device into the dispenser, eliminating time spent on setup and cleanup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By making the flavor insert device disposable, the patent eliminates the time required for cleaning and maintenance of reusable components. The low cost of the disposable unit allows for easy replacement with different flavors without time investment in cleanup procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If flavor particles are exposed to moisture, then flavor dissolves in water, but flavor particles clump together and compromise reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of flavor dissolutionVSAvoidconsistency of flavor delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cup is constructed with porous walls that allow water to pass through while maintaining structural integrity. The porous structure enables controlled water-flavor interaction, allowing gradual dissolution of flavor particles as water flows through the cup walls, preventing sudden clumping while ensuring consistent flavor delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cup acts as a flexible barrier that controls the interaction between water and flavor particles. The thin porous walls allow selective passage of water while containing the flavor particles in a controlled environment, preventing premature clumping and ensuring reliable, consistent flavor dissolution during the dispensing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Facilitates easy flavoring of water with various flavors and simplifies cleanup by containing residual flavor and water within the insert device, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and separate handling.

Implementation Method 1

a porous enclosure located in the cup, and a supply of solid flavor particles contained in the porous enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

a removable seal covering the water inlet and the water outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS7472643B2Disposable flavor insert for water dispenser

Publication Date: 2009.01.06 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A water dispenser is provided which includes a housing for the dispenser, a dispensing area associated with the housing and including a space for receiving a receptacle for receiving a charge of water from the dispenser, a water outlet through which water is dispensed into the dispensing area, and a fixed flange support positioned between the water outlet and the dispensing area arranged to receive a flavor insert device in a substantially horizontally sliding manner. The flavor insert device includes a cup having a flange extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the cup, a porous enclosure located in the cup, and a supply of solid flavor particles contained in the porous enclosure.