Inverted Beverage Dispensing Assembly With Visible Cooled Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing assemblies are complex in design, difficult to use, and require specific containers and dispensers for operation, lacking in user-friendly features and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispensing assembly with a transparent lid that encases a portion of the container, allowing visibility and branding, and includes a disposable dispensing line, a cooling device, and a sensing mechanism for correct container positioning, facilitating easy use and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional beverage dispensing assembly uses a closed pressure space with a container and dispenser for pressurizing and dispensing beverage, then the beverage can be pressurized and dispensed effectively, but the design becomes complex and requires specific container and dispenser cooperation for closing the pressure space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pressure-building function from a complex closed pressure space system and implements it through a simple manual pump mechanism. The pump is directly connected to the beverage container, allowing the user to build pressure manually without requiring a complex dispenser-container closure system. This simplifies the overall design while maintaining effective beverage pressurizing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual pump mechanism enables the user to self-service the pressurizing function by directly pumping air or gas into the beverage container. This eliminates the need for complex automated pressure control systems and sophisticated container-dispenser cooperation mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Temperature
If the container is enclosed in a cooling chamber with a thick walled isolating mantel to separate from the environment, then temperature control is achieved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous cooling with thick insulation, the invention employs periodic cooling action where the user manually places the container in the cooling chamber as needed. The cooling chamber operates intermittently rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the cooling function from a permanent thick-walled isolating structure and implements it as a removable cooling chamber that the user places around the container as needed. This eliminates the need for continuous energy-intensive insulation while maintaining temperature control capability.
3Productivity
If the container is inverted during use with the outflow opening facing downward, then gravity assists beverage flow, but the design requires specific closure means and cooperation between container and dispenser
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow control function from complex closure means and implements it through a simple valve mechanism in the dispenser. The container can be inverted for gravity-assisted flow, but the valve provides simple on/off control without requiring sophisticated container-dispenser closure cooperation.
Solution Approach 2:
The simple valve mechanism allows the user to self-service the flow control function, opening or closing the beverage stream as needed without requiring complex interlocking closure systems between container and dispenser.
4Ease of operation
If a transparent lid is provided over the container to allow visibility and branding, then user appeal and branding visibility are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the branding and visibility function from an integrated complex lid structure and implements it as a simple transparent cover that can be placed over the cooling chamber. This allows the container and its branding to remain visible while maintaining a simple, low-complexity device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent lid serves multiple functions: it allows visibility of the container and branding for user appeal, maintains the cooling environment when placed over the chamber, and does not interfere with the manual pump operation. This multi-functionality is achieved with a simple structure rather than a complex specialized lid.
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 assembly provides a user-friendly, visually appealing, and energy-efficient solution with enhanced container visibility and branding, ensuring proper positioning and temperature control, while reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device, and a sensing mechanism for correct container positioning
Implementation Method 2
During use a pressure is built up inside said inner space, compressing the container and thus pressurizing the beverage for dispensing
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Beverage dispensing assembly (1), comprising a dispenser (2) and a beverage container (3), wherein the beverage container (3) has a neck portion (7) and a shoulder portion (8) adjacent the neck portion (7), wherein the neck portion (7) is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening (9) and wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a housing (4), wherein the housing (4) is provided with a receptacle (5) for receiving at least part of the container (3), wherein the container (3) is positioned in the dispenser (2) with the neck and shoulder portion (7, 8) facing downward, such that the neck portion (7) and at least part of the shoulder portion (8) are received in the receptacle (5), wherein part of the shoulder portion (8) extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle (5), wherein preferably a lid (12) is provided over the container (3), enclosing a part of the container (3) extending outside the receptacle (5).