Portable system for dispensing controlled quantities of additives into a beverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable hydration containers lack the ability to dynamically alter the composition of consumable liquids over time, failing to optimize user health and well-being by not allowing for changes in flavor, nutritional content, or additive dispensing based on user needs or preferences.

Innovation Solution

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus with a dispensing assembly that can periodically dispense additives into a consumable liquid in variable volumes or concentrations, controlled by a level sensor and a controller that adjusts based on contextual variables such as liquid level, temperature, user preferences, and consumption data, using removable and recyclable additive vessels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a portable hydration container stores consumable liquid with constant composition, then the container structure remains simple and reliable, but the ability to optimize user health and well-being through dynamic composition changes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to dynamically alter beverage compositionVSAvoidcomplexity of dispensing assembly and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage container is divided into separate functional modules: a main container for consumable liquid, a dispensing assembly for additives, and a controller. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures that can selectively receive different additive vessels, allowing independent control of each additive type while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that can handle various types of additives (vitamins, minerals, flavorings) through a unified structure with multiple apertures. The same dispensing mechanism serves multiple additive vessels simultaneously, reducing the need for separate dispensing systems for each additive type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If additive vessels are made removable and recyclable, then ease of operation and user convenience improve, but reliability of consistent dispensing may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of inserting and removing additive vesselsVSAvoidconsistency of additive dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Additive vessels are pre-filled with specific additives and pre-sealed to ensure consistent dosage. The vessels are designed with pre-formed apertures and pre-attached seals that ensure reliable dispensing from the first use through the last, eliminating variability introduced by manual filling or sealing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing assembly acts as an intermediary between the removable additive vessels and the consumable liquid. It provides a stable, controlled interface with standardized apertures and sealing mechanisms that ensure consistent additive release regardless of vessel removal and reinsertion, isolating the user-convenient removable vessel design from the reliability-critical dispensing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures for different additives, then adaptability to dispense various additives improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to dispense multiple types of additivesVSAvoidnumber of apertures and vessel retention structures

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple aperture structures and vessel retention mechanisms are merged into a single integrated dispensing assembly. The apertures are arranged in a compact pattern on one face of the dispensing assembly, allowing multiple additive vessels to be simultaneously received and dispensed through a unified structure rather than separate assemblies for each additive type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10913647B2Portable system for dispensing controlled quantities of additives into a beverage

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 CIRKUL INC

AI summary

A portable, self-contained 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. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.