Cup with an integral infusion instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing and consuming tea-drinks are cumbersome, require separate appliances, lack control over extract concentration, and are inefficient for reusing tea materials.
Innovation Solution
A drinking cup with integrated infusion instruments, such as a sieve or flexible container, that allows for controlled infusion and reuse of tea materials within the cup, featuring mechanisms like a push knob or squeezing mechanism to manage liquid flow and extract concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tea is prepared in a separate appliance with filtering, then the tea-drink can be separated from tea leaves, but it requires special larger appliances and proper place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the infusion instrument (sieve, cover, grip) directly into the drinking cup, merging the functions of holding tea leaves, infusing, filtering, and drinking into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for separate brewing appliances and simplifies the preparation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup with integrated infusion instrument serves multiple functions: it holds tea leaves in the sieve, allows water infusion through the sieve, filters the tea-drink, and serves as the drinking vessel itself. This multi-functional design replaces multiple separate appliances with one universal device.
2Ease of manufacture
If tea bags or manual tools are used for preparation, then the tea-drink can be prepared in the cup, but the tools are awkward to use and require safe disposal or massy emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion instrument components (sieve, cover, grip) are designed to nest within each other and fit into the cup. The sieve fits inside the cup, the cover fits over the sieve, and the grip connects them, creating a compact nested structure that is easy to store and dispose of.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup with integrated infusion instrument is designed to be self-sufficient - the grip allows the user to easily hold and manipulate the entire assembly, and the integrated design eliminates the need for separate disposal tools or complex emptying procedures.
3Productivity
If traditional methods are used, then tea can be prepared, but there is no good control of extracts concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic control of the infusion process. The user can adjust the cover position to control water flow into the sieve and the infusion time, thereby precisely controlling the extract concentration according to personal preference.
Solution Approach 2:
The infusion process allows for periodic addition of water and controlled infusion intervals. The user can add water in stages, control the infusion time by adjusting the cover, and repeat the process to achieve desired concentration levels, providing precise control over the extraction process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If tea is reused multiple times, then the tea material is optimally utilized, but traditional methods become more awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion instrument is segmented into separable components (sieve, cover, grip) that can be easily disassembled and reassembled. This allows the tea leaves to be easily removed from the sieve for reuse, and the components to be quickly reassembled for the next infusion cycle, making the reuse process simple rather than awkward.
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
Enables elegant preparation and consumption of tea-drinks with controlled extract concentration, efficient reuse of tea materials, and easy cleaning, without dripping or inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, connected between the cover and the neck, keeping the sieve in a closed state when the knob is not pushed
Implementation Method 2
a sieve, to be filled with tea, and allowing liquid to flow through it while filtering the tea
Data Source
AI summary
A tea cup with an integral infusion instrument, the infusion instrument comprising: a sieve filled with tea, and allowing liquid to flow through it while filtering the tea; a neck connected in its bottom side to the sieve, and terminating with knob at its top side; and a cover, wherein in a closed state, the cover covers the sieve, hindering flow of liquid between the cup and the tea within the sieve, and wherein pushing the knob causes downward motion of the neck and the sieve such that the cover no longer hinders the flow of liquid between the cup and the tea within the sieve.