Portable Drinkware With Active Temperature Hold and Phase-Change Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drinkware containers fail to maintain the temperature of liquids at a suitable level for consumption over an extended period, leading to either scalding or cooling, which affects the enjoyment of beverages during consumption, especially during travel.
Innovation Solution
An actively heated or cooled portable container equipped with a phase change material, heating element, control circuitry, and power storage elements that work together to regulate the temperature of the liquid, ensuring it remains at a predetermined temperature for an extended period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional drinkware is used to hold hot liquid, then the liquid can be contained, but the liquid cools down too much over time making it unsatisfying to consume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a heating element and power storage element into the drinkware container before use. These components are pre-positioned to provide active heating capability, allowing the user to maintain liquid temperature throughout the day, thereby resolving the issue of liquid cooling down too much over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameter of the container by adding active heating capability. The heating element can adjust the temperature parameter of the liquid, transforming the container from a passive insulation system to an active temperature control system, thus maintaining liquid temperature for extended periods.
2Temperature
If conventional drinkware is used for hot beverages, then the beverages can be held, but the liquid remains too hot to drink safely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-equip the drinkware with a heating element and control system that can actively manage liquid temperature. This preliminary preparation allows the heating element to immediately begin controlling the temperature, eliminating the waiting time that would otherwise be required for hot liquid to cool to a safe drinking temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a control system with temperature sensing capability that provides feedback to the heating element. This feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously monitor and adjust the liquid temperature, ensuring it remains at a safe and comfortable drinking temperature without requiring the user to wait.
3Temperature
If active heating and cooling systems are added to portable container, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating element, cooling element (phase change material), power storage element, and control circuitry into a single integrated portable container system. This merging of multiple temperature control functions into one device provides comprehensive temperature regulation while maintaining portability, balancing the improvement in temperature control with acceptable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional drinkware container that can both heat and cool liquids using different mechanisms (heating element for active heating, phase change material for passive cooling). This universal temperature control system handles various temperature scenarios, improving overall temperature regulation capability while consolidating multiple functions into a single portable device.
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 solution effectively maintains the temperature of beverages at a comfortable level for consumption, preventing scalding or cooling, allowing for prolonged enjoyment of drinks, especially during travel or extended use.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling element comprising a phase change material disposed in a chamber that surrounds at least a portion of the inner sidewall so that the phase change material is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body, the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase at a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
a heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall or inner bottom wall of the portable body
Data Source
AI summary
An actively heated or cooled portable container has a body with a chamber that receives and holds a liquid, and one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber. An outer surface of the body has one or more electrical contacts. A module is removably coupled to a portion of the body. The module has one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the module that contact the one or more electrical contacts on the outer surface of the body, control circuitry, and one or more power storage elements that provide power to the control circuitry and/or the one or more heating or cooling elements. The control circuitry wirelessly communicates with a mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit information to the mobile electronic device associated with the operation of the module and/or wirelessly receive instructions from a user via the mobile electronic device.