Tea drinking vacuum flask with tea-making function

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable vacuum flasks used for tea-making often retain tea water at the top due to vacuum formation, leading to scalding when opened, as the liquid is blocked by vacuum and water surface tension, affecting tea leaf and water separation.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a filtering element with open slots and filtering holes, where the flow area of the open slots is significantly larger than the filtering holes, allowing air to flow and preventing vacuum formation, enabling smooth tea water flow and effective separation of tea leaves and water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a filter is arranged inside the vacuum flask body for storing tea leaves and separating tea water, then tea leaf and water separation is improved, but vacuum formation blocks tea water flow causing retention in the lid body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetea leaf and water separationVSAvoidtea water flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into two functional parts: a filtering element with filtering holes for tea leaf separation, and an air flow guiding structure with open slots for vacuum prevention. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently - the filtering holes separate tea leaves while the open slots manage air flow to prevent vacuum formation that would block water flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow guiding structure acts as an intermediary between the filtering element and the lid body. It introduces air flow paths (open slots) that mediate the pressure differential, preventing vacuum formation while allowing the filtering element to maintain its separation function. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between filtration and fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the vacuum flask maintains a vacuum state for insulation, then thermal insulation is improved, but vacuum formation prevents tea water from flowing down into the liquid containing body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidtea water flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air flow guiding structure is strategically positioned at specific locations (such as the connection between lid body and connecting piece) where vacuum formation most effectively blocks water flow. By localizing the air flow paths in these critical areas, the patent prevents vacuum-induced flow blockage without compromising the overall vacuum insulation performance of the flask body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The open slots provide sufficient air flow paths to completely prevent vacuum formation in the critical flow areas, even though this may slightly reduce overall insulation efficiency. The air flow action is excessive in the sense that it fully eliminates the harmful vacuum effect rather than merely mitigating it, ensuring reliable tea water flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If filtering holes are made small for effective filtration, then tea leaf separation is improved, but vacuum and surface tension block water flow through the filtering holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetea leaf separationVSAvoidwater flow through filter
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter's functionality is segmented into two distinct mechanisms: the filtering holes handle tea leaf separation with their small孔径, while the open slots in the air flow guiding structure handle the pressure balance and vacuum prevention. This segmentation allows the filtering holes to maintain small sizes for effective filtration without being constrained by the need for large water flow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow guiding structure serves as an intermediary that compensates for the limited water flow capacity of the small filtering holes. By introducing air flow paths that prevent vacuum formation, it mediates the pressure differential that would otherwise block water flow through the small filtering holes, ensuring reliable water flow while maintaining effective filtration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution prevents tea water retention in the lid body, avoids scalding, and enhances the separation of tea leaves and water, improving the usability and safety of the tea drinking vacuum flask.

Implementation Method 1

the air flow flows, through the open slots, from the area under the filtering element of the tea drinking vacuum flask with a tea-making function to the area above the filtering element, so that the formation of a vacuum state in the lid body is avoided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

filtering holes are formed in the second part... enabling the separation of tea leaves and water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

tea water remains on the top of the vacuum flask due to the vacuum formed on the top of the vacuum flask

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 4

the liquid is blocked by vacuum and water surface tension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3973826A1Tea drinking vacuum flask with tea-making function
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 LI MUNG YUEN
  • EP3973826A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3973826A1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3973826A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention discloses a tea drinking vacuum flask with a tea-making function, which relates to the field of drinkware and is used for optimizing the structures of drinking utensils. The tea drinking vacuum flask with a tea-making function comprises a lid body, a connecting piece, a filtering element, and a liquid containing body. The lid body comprises a first end and a first open end arranged opposite to the first end; the connecting piece comprises a channel, and the channel comprises a first connection end and a second connection end; and the first connection end is detachably connected with the first open end. The filtering element comprises a first part and a second part which are fixedly connected with each other, wherein the first part is positioned at the end, facing the lid body, of the second part; open slots are formed in the first part, filtering holes are formed in the second part, and flow areas of the open slots are different from those of the filtering holes; and the filtering element is detachably connected with the connecting piece. The liquid containing body is detachably connected with the second connection end of the connecting piece. The tea drinking vacuum flask with a tea-making function of the technical solution avoids the formation of vacuum in the tea drinking vacuum flask and can ensure the filtering effect.