Infused Ice Maker with Pod Receiver for Flavor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice maker appliances produce ice solely from water, resulting in bland and flavorless ice that lacks nutrients.

Innovation Solution

An ice maker appliance with a mold body and a pod receiver that holds an additive, allowing the additive to mix with the water before freezing, creating infused ice with flavor or nutrients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional ice maker appliances produce ice solely from water, then the ice making process is simple, but the resulting ice is bland and lacks flavor or nutrients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice flavor enhancementVSAvoidice maker structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pod containing the additive is nested within the water flow path inside the ice maker appliance. The pod receiver is positioned upstream of the mold cavity, allowing the additive to be delivered directly into the water stream before it reaches the mold, enabling flavor infusion without external complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A pod containing the additive serves as an intermediary device between the water source and the mold cavity. The pod delivers the additive into the water flow path, acting as a mediator that enables flavor transfer without requiring direct contact between the user and the chemical additive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an additive is introduced into the water flow path, then the ice gains flavor and nutrients, but the device complexity increases with additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice nutrient contentVSAvoidwater flow system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ice maker appliance is segmented into distinct functional zones: a pod receiver section upstream of the mold cavity, a mixing zone where additive combines with water, and the mold cavity section. This segmentation allows the additive delivery system to be integrated without disrupting the existing ice making workflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pod receiver is designed to accommodate various types of pods containing different additives (flavorants, electrolytes, vitamins), making the system universal for multiple ice enhancement purposes. The same basic structure handles different additive types without requiring separate delivery mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If the pod receiver is positioned upstream of the mold cavity, then the additive mixes thoroughly with the water, but the device requires additional space and component integration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive mixing efficiencyVSAvoidice maker appliance volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pod receiver is merged with the existing water flow path structure of the ice maker appliance. The additive delivery mechanism is combined with the water channel that already exists in the appliance, eliminating the need for separate mixing chambers or additional volume-consuming components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables the production of enhanced ice that incorporates additives such as flavorants, electrolytes, or vitamins, providing a more flavorful and nutritious ice product.

Implementation Method 1

the additive mixes with the volume of liquid water upstream of the mold cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

flowing the volume of liquid water through the pod in the pod receiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

retaining the volume of liquid water to form an ice piece in the mold cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 4

a working fluid is used to directly cool the mold body, e.g., by conductive heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250189198A1Infused ice maker appliance with manual harvesting

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An ice maker appliance includes a mold body comprising a mold cavity. The mold cavity is configured for receiving a volume of liquid water therein and retaining the volume of liquid water to form an ice piece in the mold cavity. The ice maker appliance also includes a pod receiver upstream of the mold cavity along a flow path of the volume of liquid water. The pod receiver is configured to hold a pod containing an additive. The additive mixes with the volume of liquid water upstream of the mold cavity and the formed ice piece comprises water and the additive.