Smart carafe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage vessels lack monitoring capabilities for water quality and hygiene, often using plastic materials that can contaminate water and pose health risks, and do not effectively inform users when the water quality is compromised.
Innovation Solution
A smart beverage vessel with a light emitter and distribution element that provides optical signals for refilling or replacing the beverage, a hygienic closure mechanism that avoids direct contact with the beverage, and integrated sensors for temperature and fill level monitoring, allowing for communication of water quality and hydration needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plastic bottles are used to store water, then portability and convenience are improved, but health safety and environmental friendliness deteriorate due to harmful substance emission and pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reusable plastic bottles with disposable glass cartridges. The glass cartridge is used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for repeated cleaning and reuse that causes plastic degradation and harmful substance emission. The disposable nature ensures each cartridge provides fresh, safe water storage without accumulating contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses glass as the primary material for water storage instead of plastic. Glass is inert, does not emit harmful substances, and is environmentally friendly. The cartridge system combines glass with a sealing mechanism and integrated filter, creating a composite solution that maintains portability while eliminating plastic-related health and environmental issues.
2Temperature
If plastic bottles are exposed to heat, then cooling effect is reduced, but health safety deteriorates due to increased emission of harmful substances and bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable glass cartridge is designed for single use and short storage duration. It is not intended to be reused after exposure to heat or contamination, eliminating the risk of bacterial multiplication that occurs with reused plastic bottles. The cartridge is discarded after one use, ensuring no bacterial growth can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
Glass is used instead of plastic because it is heat-resistant and does not promote bacterial growth. The inert nature of glass prevents bacterial adhesion and multiplication even when exposed to temperature variations. The material choice fundamentally eliminates the bacterial contamination issue associated with plastic bottles in warm conditions.
3Ease of operation
If closure elements are designed for easy opening, then ease of operation is improved, but hygiene deteriorates because hand contact with beverage-contact surfaces is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge system is designed to be inserted and removed as a complete unit without requiring hand contact with the beverage-contact surfaces. The user handles only the outer non-contact portions of the cartridge and closure, while the sealed beverage interface remains untouched. This self-contained design eliminates hygiene contamination from hand contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element acts as an intermediary that seals the beverage without requiring direct hand contact with the beverage surface. The cartridge insertion mechanism allows the closure to be engaged and disengaged through external actuation points, using the closure as a mediator between the user and the sealed beverage environment, thereby maintaining hygiene.
4Ease of manufacture
If closure elements use plastic materials, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hygiene deteriorates due to potential contact with beverage and emission of harmful substances
Solution Approach 1:
Glass is used for the cartridge body and closure elements instead of plastic. Glass is inert, does not emit harmful substances, and is safe for beverage contact. The manufacturing process for glass cartridges is designed to create seamless, non-porous surfaces that prevent contamination. While glass manufacturing may be more complex than plastic molding, the health and hygiene benefits justify the choice, and modern glass forming techniques have made the process efficient.
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 smart vessel ensures the quality of the beverage is maintained, provides hygienic handling, and informs users or service staff when refilling or replacement is necessary, promoting hydration based on user activity and mineral needs.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitter is positioned such that the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beverage container before entering the light distribution element
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage vessel includes:a beverage container in which a beverage may be stored said beverage container having an upper opening by which beverage may be poured in and poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from the opening to the bottom of the beverage container;a closure element adapted to be positioned in the upper opening of the beverage container;a light distribution element arranged at the closure element; anda light emitter positioned such that the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beverage container before entering the light distribution element;wherein said closure element comprises a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising at least three locking arms extending in radial direction of the beverage vessel to the beverage container, whereineach arm of the locking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in the radial direction of the beverage vessel;the beverage container comprises at least one concave portion in the wall, said concave portion extending in radial direction of the beverage vessel; andsaid arms releasably engage in the concave portion in the wall for releasably locking the closure element to the beverage container.