Fruit Infuser Cup With Integrated Mashing and Spill-Resistant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage infusers require multiple steps for use, are prone to spills and leaks, and result in uneven liquid distribution due to gravity causing juice to settle at the drinking end, leading to sticky residues and inconsistent flavor concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A spill-resistant beverage container with a body and cap that forms separate chambers, featuring a filter for infusion substances and an extractor that mashes the substance upon cap engagement, allowing for efficient extraction and blending of liquids without residue, and a collar and seal assembly for spill-free drinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional infusers are used for juice extraction, then the extraction process can be completed, but gravity causes the extracted juice to fall to the drinking end of the container, creating sticky residue and requiring additional cleaning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional infuser design by placing the drinking end at the bottom and the infusion chamber at the top. This inversion allows gravity to work in favor of the user, causing the extracted juice to naturally flow downward to the drinking end without creating sticky residue on the container walls. The spout is positioned at the bottom to facilitate clean pouring and drinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the infuser design, with the infusion chamber positioned above the drinking chamber. This dimensional arrangement allows gravity to naturally separate the extraction process from the drinking process, preventing juice from coating the container walls while ensuring smooth flow to the spout.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional infusers are used, then juice extraction is possible, but the liquid-juice solution becomes non-uniform with thick juice concentration at one side and diluted concentration at the other
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the conventional design and positioning the spout at the bottom, the patent ensures that extracted juice flows downward through the entire liquid volume, promoting uniform distribution. The vertical arrangement allows gravity to naturally mix and distribute the juice throughout the beverage rather than allowing it to settle at one location.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional infusers are used, then the infusing function is achieved, but the devices are easily susceptible to accidental spills and leaks during drinking
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted design with the spout at the bottom provides better spill resistance. When the container is accidentally tipped, the liquid naturally flows away from the spout opening rather than toward it, reducing the likelihood of spills. The cap design also incorporates sealing mechanisms to prevent leaks during transport and storage.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional infusers require multiple steps for juice extraction and blending, then the infusion process can be completed, but the user is burdened with additional time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the juice extraction process and the blending process into a single integrated operation. When the user assembles the infuser by engaging the cap with the body, the extractor automatically mashes the infusion substance and the liquid flows through the filter into the drinking chamber, eliminating the need for separate extraction and blending steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The infuser is designed so that the extractor is pre-positioned to engage with the infusion substance immediately upon cap assembly. The filter is pre-arranged to receive the extracted liquid, and the spout is pre-positioned for immediate drinking. This preliminary arrangement of components allows the user to complete the entire infusion process in a single action.
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
Enables efficient infusion with even liquid distribution, reducing spills and sticky residues, and providing a consistently flavored beverage through the use of a double-filter mechanism for refined quality.
Implementation Method 1
the cap having an extractor extending into the first chamber when the cap is engaged with the body, wherein the extractor is configured to mash the infusion substance to produce an extracted substance when engaging the cap with the body
Implementation Method 2
a filter arranged with the body to form a first chamber for receiving an infusion substance and a second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An infuser container is disclosed. In an aspect, the container includes a body, a filter arranged with the body to form a first chamber for receiving an infusion substance and a second chamber, a cap engaged with the body, the cap having an extractor extending into the first chamber when the cap is engaged with the body, wherein the extractor is configured to mash the infusion substance to produce an extracted substance when engaging the cap with the body. Thus extraction of liquid from the infusion substance such as fruit can occur concurrently with engaging the cap with the body. In an embodiment, a collar and seal assembly is arranged on the drinking end of the body, which can be removed to add a liquid to the second chamber such that the extracted liquid and the liquid can blend. In another embodiment, the filter includes apertures positioned to trap the extracted liquid in the filter chamber during the securing of the cap. A dual filter system may be implemented such that the collar and seal assembly includes additional apertures that can act to further filter the blended liquid.