Modular Beverage Container for Variable Additive and Gas Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable hydration containers lack the ability to dynamically alter the composition of their contents, such as adding flavorings, nutritional supplements, or gases like CO2, over time to optimize user health and hydration needs.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with an additive dispensing system that can release variable quantities of additives and a gas dispensing assembly, including an onboard gas tank, valve assembly, and gas outlet, allowing for controlled dispensing of additives and gas into the liquid based on user needs and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable hydration container stores only liquid with constant composition, then the container structure remains simple, but the container cannot dynamically adjust to meet varying user health and hydration needs
Solution Approach 1:
The hydration container is segmented into multiple functional modules: a liquid storage container, an additive dispensing assembly with separate additive vessels, and a gas dispensing assembly with an onboard gas tank. Each module can independently store and dispense different substances (liquid, additives, gas) that are combined in the liquid, enabling dynamic composition adjustment while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The container assembly is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform multiple functions: storing liquid, dispensing variable quantities of different additives (flavorings, nutritional supplements), releasing gases (CO2, oxygen), and dynamically adjusting the composition of the hydration contents. This universal design allows a single container to adapt to varying user needs without requiring multiple separate devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If variable quantities of additives and gas are dispensed into the liquid, then the hydration composition can be customized, but the device complexity increases due to multiple dispensing assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing assemblies are designed with dynamic control capabilities where the additive dispensing assembly can dispense variable quantities of additives and the gas dispensing assembly can release different amounts of gas based on user needs and environmental conditions. This dynamic control allows customized hydration composition while managing complexity through responsive, adjustable mechanisms rather than fixed systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary components (additive vessels containing flavorings/nutritional supplements, onboard gas tank containing CO2 or oxygen, and associated dispensing mechanisms) that mediate between the user's hydration needs and the liquid contents. These intermediaries enable precise control over composition customization while isolating the complexity of multiple dispensing functions into separate, manageable subsystems
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 dynamic adjustment of the hydration content's composition to meet specific health and hydration goals, enhancing user experience and health benefits by providing customizable and optimized hydration profiles.
Implementation Method 1
the valve assembly, to perform the controlling the flow of gas, is movable between: an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet; and a closed position in which the flow of gas is prevented to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods provide a container assembly comprising: a container having a known storage capacity for storing a liquid; an additive dispensing assembly, the additive dispensing assembly dispensing variable, non-zero quantities of one or more additives into the liquid stored in the container; one or more vessels that each contain one of the additives, of the one or more additives, to be dispensed into the liquid; and a gas dispensing assembly, the gas dispensing assembly releasing a gas into the liquid stored in the container, and the gas dispensing assembly including: an onboard gas tank; a valve assembly; and a gas outlet, and the valve assembly controlling flow of gas from the onboard gas tank, through the valve assembly, and to the gas outlet so as to output the gas into the liquid; and wherein the valve assembly, to perform the controlling the flow of gas, is movable between: an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet; and a closed position in which the flow of gas is prevented to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet.