Heated or cooled portable drinkware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drinkware containers fail to maintain the temperature of liquids at a suitable level for consumption over an extended period, leading to either scalding or cooling, which affects the enjoyment of beverages during consumption.
Innovation Solution
An actively heated or cooled portable container with a heating and cooling system that includes a phase change material, a heating element, control circuitry, and power storage elements, allowing for temperature regulation of liquids within the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional drinkware is used to hold hot liquid, then the liquid can be stored, but the temperature cannot be maintained and the liquid cools down too much over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase change materials that undergo parameter changes (phase transitions) at specific temperatures to actively regulate liquid temperature. The PCM absorbs heat when melting and releases heat when freezing, dynamically adjusting the liquid temperature to maintain it within a comfortable drinking range for extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element provides continuous heating action to compensate for heat loss over time. The control circuitry ensures the heating element operates continuously or periodically to maintain the liquid temperature, preventing the temperature from dropping below the desired range during extended storage periods.
2Temperature
If conventional drinkware is used without temperature control, then the device remains simple, but the liquid becomes too hot to drink immediately after pouring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at predetermined temperatures. When the liquid is too hot, the PCM absorbs excess heat through melting; when the liquid cools too much, the PCM releases heat through freezing. This passive temperature regulation mechanism adds minimal structural complexity while effectively managing temperature extremes.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material acts as an intermediary between the hot liquid and the container walls, mediating heat transfer. The PCM absorbs or releases heat as needed, preventing direct thermal contact from causing extreme temperatures in the liquid, thereby protecting the user from burns without requiring complex active cooling systems.
3Temperature
If no heating system is added to the container, then the manufacturing cost remains low, but the liquid cannot be maintained at a suitable temperature for consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: phase change material compartments, heating element, control circuitry, and power storage. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled into the final product, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving sophisticated temperature control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuitry automatically monitors liquid temperature and activates the heating element only when needed, without requiring user intervention. The system self-regulates by sensing temperature conditions and adjusting heating output accordingly, reducing the need for complex manual controls and simplifying the user interface while maintaining effective temperature management.
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
The system effectively maintains the temperature of liquids at a predetermined level, ensuring the beverage remains enjoyable for an extended period without scalding or cooling excessively.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling element comprising a phase change material disposed in a chamber that surrounds at least a portion of the inner sidewall so that the phase change material is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body, the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase at a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
a heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall or inner bottom wall of the portable body
Data Source
AI summary
An actively heated or cooled portable container has a body with a chamber that receives and holds a liquid, and one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber. An outer surface of the body has one or more electrical contacts. A module is removably coupled to a portion of the body. The module has one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the module that contact the one or more electrical contacts on the outer surface of the body, control circuitry, and one or more power storage elements that provide power to the control circuitry and/or the one or more heating or cooling elements. The control circuitry wirelessly communicates with a mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit information to the mobile electronic device associated with the operation of the module and/or wirelessly receive instructions from a user via the mobile electronic device.