Disposable Press Ring Filtration for Sealed French Press Cups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional French press coffee preparation methods are inefficient for high-volume coffee sales as they require significant time and involve cumbersome equipment, and existing disposable solutions fail to maintain a seal, allowing grounds and liquid to escape, especially when using tapered paper or Styrofoam cups.
Innovation Solution
A disposable beverage press system with a press ring that includes a filter and hingably connected flap elements, which forms a seal with the cup's inner wall, preventing grounds and liquid from escaping, and a pressure relief mechanism to manage fluid flow, allowing for efficient preparation and serving of French press coffee in standard disposable cups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional French press is used for coffee preparation, then the coffee quality is good with proper filtration, but the preparation time is long (3-4 minutes per cup) and the equipment requires cleaning after each use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable cup system with integrated filter and press ring that is discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning traditional French press equipment while maintaining filtration quality, enabling high-volume coffee service without time-consuming cleanup procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the cup, filter, and press ring into a single integrated disposable unit. This merging of components simplifies the preparation process, eliminates multiple separate steps, and enables rapid deployment for high-volume coffee service
2Ease of operation
If a disposable cup with a press ring is used to replace the traditional French press jug, then the preparation process is simplified, but the hot liquid softens the paper cup walls causing the press ring to flex and create gaps that allow grounds and debris to escape
Solution Approach 1:
The press ring is designed with flexible characteristics that allow it to adapt to the softened cup walls. The dynamic design enables the press ring to maintain contact and seal integrity despite the cup material becoming more pliable when exposed to hot liquid
Solution Approach 2:
The invention accounts for parameter changes in the cup material when exposed to hot liquid. The press ring design compensates for the softening effect by adjusting its mechanical properties or geometric configuration to maintain effective sealing under the changed conditions
3Ease of manufacture
If a dome lid with a pre-fabricated hole for the press rod is used, then the press mechanism can be installed, but hot liquid pours out onto the customer when the cup is tipped
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable lid system is designed with the understanding that it is used once and discarded. The lid incorporates features to prevent spillage during the single use period, eliminating the need for expensive reusable lids with complex sealing mechanisms while still preventing hot liquid escape
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 system enables quick, cost-effective, and efficient preparation of French press coffee by maintaining a seal within disposable cups, reducing preparation time and cleanup, while ensuring the quality of the beverage by keeping grounds and liquid separate.
Implementation Method 1
a filter, often made of fine wire. The press ring is often circular, with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical jug, so that the periphery of the press ring contacts the inner wall of the jug, forming a seal. The filter is disposed in the press ring such that the hot liquid and also oils from rough coffee grounds may pass through, but grounds and other debris are stopped.
Implementation Method 2
The grounds are 'pressed' to the bottom of the jug by the press ring, by means of the rod.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems and methods for providing a pressed beverage using a press and lid system. In one aspect, a beverage material is pressed to the bottom of a beverage container by means of a press ring including a filter. The walls of the beverage container exert a force on the press ring, folding flaps (perimeter portions) that are attached to the press ring by means of a flexible attachment member. Any beverage material or other debris that is not collected by the filter in the press ring is collected by a filter in the lid. Other variations and features consistent with the present invention exist.