Non-Piercing Pod Holder for Uniform Beverage Brewing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing apparatus often require piercing structures that complicate the brewing process, risk tearing pre-packaged brewing substance pods, and necessitate complex cleaning procedures, while also failing to ensure uniform extraction and mixing of beverages.
Innovation Solution
A brewer design featuring a substance holder with a symmetric entry opening and flanges that supports the pod without piercing, utilizing a self-expanding gasket for sealing and a support structure with open mesh to facilitate uniform water flow and mixing, allowing for efficient brewing without piercing the pod and promoting thorough flavor blending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piercing structures are used to hold the pod, then the pod can be secured in place, but the pod may be torn or damaged and cleaning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a piercing structure to hold the pod, the patent inverts the approach by using a non-piercing support structure with a cavity that cradles the pod from below. The pod is retained through geometric confinement and friction between the pod's outer surface and the support structure, eliminating the need for piercing while maintaining secure retention.
2Reliability
If piercing structures are used to hold the pod, then the pod can be secured in place, but cleaning procedures become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful piercing function from the retention mechanism. The support structure uses a simple cavity and outer surface friction to retain the pod without any piercing elements. This extraction of the piercing function simplifies the overall structure, making the device easier to clean while maintaining reliable pod retention through alternative means.
3Productivity
If water flow is not uniformly distributed, then brewing may be faster, but extraction and mixing of brewing substances become uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates a foraminous (perforated) configuration with multiple openings distributed across its surface. This creates local flow paths that distribute water uniformly across the brewing substance contained in the pod. The local quality of the foraminous structure ensures even water penetration and extraction while maintaining efficient brewing speed through the distributed flow paths.
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 brewer effectively extracts and mixes brewing substances without piercing the pods, reducing cleaning complexity and ensuring uniform beverage consistency and flavor, while maintaining the integrity of the brewing substance containers.
Implementation Method 1
a gasket positioned between the holder and sprayhead to seal therebetween
Implementation Method 2
a support structure positioned in the holder below the brewing substance and having a foraminous configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a beverage brewer for brewing a beverage using a beverage brewing substance pod. The pod may include substances such as coffee for producing a desired brewed beverage. A pod holder, having at least one wall, defining a cavity in the pod holder for retaining the pod for brewing. Water is dispensed into the pod and drained through a drain in the pod holder. The pod holder is removable from the brewer for placing a pod therein. The pod holder is slideably inserted into the brewer for brewing. One or more ramps are provided on the brewer for engagement with corresponding ramps on the pod holder for positioning the holder relative to the sprayhead for infusing the pod retained in the holder. Water is introduced to the pod without piercing the pod. Legs are provided on a portion of the pod holder for positioning the pod holder in an upright position when removed from the brewer.