Portable Coffee Brewing Device with Integrated Heating and Drip Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee brewing devices are non-portable and lack the ability to brew a high-quality cup of coffee conveniently, as they are bulky and designed for stationary use, failing to meet the need for a portable and user-friendly solution for coffee enthusiasts.
Innovation Solution
A portable coffee brewing device featuring a container with a hinge-connected lid, a heating element housing, and an electrical component housing, which includes a drip tube and a single-serve coffee holding mechanism, allowing for brewing on the go using K-cups and ensuring ease of use, durability, and ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional coffee makers are designed with multiple components and heating elements for high-quality brewing, then coffee brewing quality is improved, but device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating element, water reservoir, coffee grounds holder, and brewing chamber into a single integrated portable device. The heating element is embedded within the device housing, and the water reservoir is formed as an integral part of the container, eliminating the need for separate components and enabling portability while maintaining brewing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves multiple functions in a single unit: it stores water, heats water, holds coffee grounds, brews coffee, and provides insulation. The container simultaneously acts as both the water reservoir and the final coffee serving vessel, reducing the number of separate components needed
2Ease of operation
If personal coffee makers are designed for single serving, then ease of use is improved, but coffee brewing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows users to adjust brewing parameters such as water temperature (through controlled heating), brew time (through timer control), and water-to-coffee ratio (through controlled dispensing). These adjustable parameters enable the device to maintain high brewing quality while preserving ease of use through automated control mechanisms
3Manufacturing precision
If coffee makers are designed with multiple components for brewing functionality, then coffee brewing capability is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with separable components including a removable coffee grounds holder, detachable lid, and modular heating element assembly. This segmentation allows users to easily access and clean individual components without disassembling the entire device, maintaining brewing capability while improving ease of cleaning
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 device enables users to brew a fresh, high-quality cup of coffee anywhere, being easy to use, clean, and safe, with a robust design that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintains a long useful life, while utilizing K-cups for convenient coffee preparation.
Implementation Method 1
A heating element positioned within the heating element housing
Implementation Method 2
A lid pivotally connected to an upper end of the container by a hinge
Data Source
AI summary
A portable coffee brewing device includes a lid pivotally connected to an upper end of the container by a hinge and button. A heating element housing and an electrical component housing is connected to a lower end of the container. A drain is positioned in a bottom wall of the container and is fluidly connected to a heating element positioned within the heating element housing. The heating element is controlled by electrical components positioned in the electrical components housing. A drip tube is fluidly connected to the heating element and the lid. A single serve coffee holding device is positioned below the lid. When the container is filled with fluid and the heating element is powered, heated fluid is forced up the drip tube through the passageway in the lid and into the coffee grounds holding device in a continuous cycle. The device is connectable to an external power source.