Beverage maker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile coffee makers are complex, bulky, and require two hands to operate, making it difficult for vehicle drivers to conveniently prepare hot beverages while driving or during short stops.

Innovation Solution

A single-handed beverage maker system that automatically senses a cup's presence and temperature, warming the liquid to a desired drinking temperature without pressurized liquid or vapor, and includes a disposable cup with a thermally conducting bottom and insulating barrel, allowing for easy operation by connecting to a vehicle's cigarette lighter socket.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pressurized water boiling and essence application mechanisms are used, then beverage preparation capability is achieved, but device complexity and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage preparation capabilityVSAvoidmachine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex pressurized water boiling and essence application mechanisms from the device. Instead, it uses a simple heating plate that directly heats the cup containing liquid and essence, removing unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining beverage preparation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs disposable cups that are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and maintenance systems. This allows the device to use simple, inexpensive heating components without pressurized systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining beverage preparation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If two-hand operation and special chamber preparation are required, then beverage making function is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage making functionVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates automatic sensing mechanisms that detect when a cup is placed on the heating plate and automatically initiate heating. The system self-regulates the heating process and automatically shuts off when the desired temperature is reached, eliminating the need for manual operation and special chamber preparation by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The heating plate is pre-configured with automatic temperature sensing and control systems that are ready to operate immediately when a cup is placed on it. The system performs all necessary heating actions automatically without requiring the user to prepare special chambers or operate multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Weight of moving object

If compact and lightweight design is implemented, then portability is improved, but heating efficiency may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine weightVSAvoidheating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a disposable cup as a separate, dedicated heating container that directly contacts the heating plate. This segmentation allows the compact heating plate to efficiently transfer heat to a small volume of liquid in the cup, maintaining high heating efficiency while keeping the main device lightweight and portable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 and convenient preparation of hot beverages like coffee, tea, or soup within minutes, allowing drivers to operate the machine with one hand and reducing preparation complexity, with the system being compact and lightweight.

Implementation Method 1

a heating mechanism for warming the liquid in the placed cup to a desired drinking temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature relating to a temperature of the liquid in the placed cup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentUS11439267B2Beverage maker

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 KOCHAVI OFER

AI summary

A method for operating a drink maker within a vehicle. The method includes placing a cup on a seating associated with a heating mechanism, the cup containing a liquid and an essence, wherein the liquid and the essence are separated by a ring-shaped partition, automatically sensing a presence of the cup on the seating, turning on a heating mechanism for warming the liquid, sensing a temperature relating to the temperature of the liquid, and turning off the heating mechanism upon sensing a first predetermined temperature, mixing the liquid and the essence and inserting a stirrer through the ring upon warming to a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature, stirring the liquid with the stirrer, and removing the cup from said seating.