System for automatic refilling water pitcher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reverse osmosis water filtration systems have low throughput, require a storage tank that occupies cabinet space, and often need a pressurized bladder which is nonrepairable and difficult to clean.

Innovation Solution

A system for automatically refilling a water pitcher using a removable pitcher and a water dispenser that senses the pitcher's position and water level to direct filtered water into it, eliminating the need for an under-sink storage tank and traditional faucet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a storage tank is used to store filtered water, then water availability is improved, but cabinet space is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater availabilityVSAvoidcabinet space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the storage tank from the system by using a removable pitcher instead of a fixed tank, allowing water to be stored in a portable container that can be placed on the countertop rather than occupying cabinet space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the water storage from the horizontal cabinet space to the vertical countertop space by using a pitcher that sits on the surface, effectively utilizing a different spatial dimension

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If a pressurized bladder is used to direct water to the faucet, then water delivery is improved, but the storage tank volume is reduced and the bladder is nonrepairable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater deliveryVSAvoidstorage tank volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the pressurized bladder component entirely from the system, replacing it with a simple removable pitcher that can be manually filled and placed on the dispenser base

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pitcher serves as a simple, replaceable container that can be easily cleaned or replaced if needed, unlike the nonrepairable bladder in traditional systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Quantity of substance

If a traditional under-sink storage tank system is used, then water storage is achieved, but cleaning difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater storageVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the water storage function from the fixed tank and places it in a removable pitcher, which can be easily removed, disassembled, and cleaned

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static, fixed tank to a dynamic, removable pitcher that can be easily accessed and cleaned, improving maintenance ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12583732B2System for automatic refilling water pitcher

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 CHEN ZHUANGYONG

AI summary

An automatically refilling water pitcher according to various aspects of the present technology is configured to provide a readily available source of drinking water that doesn't require an under sink storage tank or a countertop water faucet. In one embodiment, the system comprises a removable water pitcher and a water dispenser. The water dispenser is configured to be responsive to the placement of the water pitcher on a dispenser base and direct filtered water into the water pitcher in response to a signal indicating that the water pitcher is below a predetermined amount.