System, method, and apparatus for dispensing variable quantities of additives and controlling characteristics thereof in a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable hydration containers lack the ability to dynamically adjust the composition of consumable liquids by periodically dispensing additives in variable volumes or concentrations based on user needs and preferences, requiring multiple containers or frequent refilling with different liquids.
Innovation Solution
A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus with a dispensing assembly that uses a level sensor and controller to dispense additives into a consumable liquid, allowing for variable and targeted concentrations based on the liquid level and storage capacity, with optional identification reading and memory tracking for optimized additive delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable hydration container stores consumable liquid with constant composition, then the container structure remains simple, but the ability to meet varying user nutritional needs throughout the day is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage container is divided into separate functional components: a main liquid storage chamber and a separate dispensing assembly with multiple apertures for different additives. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing assembly incorporates a rotatable element with multiple apertures positioned at different angular locations. By rotating this element to different angular positions, different additives can be dispensed into the liquid, enabling dynamic adaptation to varying user needs throughout the day.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple portable containers are used to provide different beverage compositions, then user nutritional needs can be met, but portability and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A single portable container is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating a dispensing assembly with multiple apertures for different additives. The rotatable mechanism allows one container to replace multiple specialized containers, maintaining portability while providing beverage composition variety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of multiple separate beverage containers into a single integrated system. The main liquid storage chamber combines with the dispensing assembly containing multiple additives, allowing users to have one portable container instead of multiple containers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additives are dispensed in fixed quantities, then the dispensing mechanism remains simple, but the ability to optimize hydration and nutritional benefits is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing mechanism uses a rotatable element with multiple apertures at different angular positions. By rotating to different positions, different quantities and types of additives can be dispensed, enabling optimization of beverage composition while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changes in dispensing parameters such as additive type and quantity by rotating the dispensing assembly to different angular positions. This enables optimization of hydration and nutritional benefits through parameter variation without requiring a complex dispensing mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a portable, self-contained beverage apparatus. The beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly.