Teapot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tea containers, particularly glass ones, suffer from instability and sanitation issues during tea making, as they can be prone to collision noise and are not sanitary due to water condensation, and plastic containers release volatile substances at high temperatures, affecting tea taste and health.
Innovation Solution
A teapot design featuring a pot body with a tea leaf filter basket and a flip lid mechanism, where the filter basket is secured by a bracket with a silicone rubber ring for stability and interference fit, and the lid includes a quick steam condensation ring to prevent backflow, ensuring a secure, sanitary, and convenient brewing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filter cup with inner and outer cups is used, then tea leaf filtration is improved, but stability deteriorates due to loose connection
Solution Approach 1:
A silicone rubber ring is used as a flexible sealing element between the filter cup assembly and the cup body. This flexible ring provides both sealing functionality for filtration and mechanical stability to prevent loose connection, resolving the contradiction between filtration performance and connection stability.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is opened for adding water or tea leaves, then convenience is improved, but sanitation deteriorates due to condensation water wetting the tabletop
Solution Approach 1:
A discharge groove is designed to guide condensation water from the lid interior to the exterior, away from the tabletop. This intermediary channel prevents direct contact between condensation water and the tabletop surface, maintaining sanitation while allowing the lid to remain open for adding ingredients.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is opened for adding water or tea leaves, then convenience is improved, but safety deteriorates due to scalding risk when touching the cup body
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge groove acts as a thermal management feature by providing a designated path for hot condensation water to drain away from user contact zones. This intermediary drainage system reduces scalding risk while maintaining operational convenience.
4Ease of manufacture
If a plastic container is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to volatile plastic substances at high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The teapot combines glass material for the main body (providing thermal stability and non-reactivity) with silicone rubber material for the sealing ring (providing flexibility and heat resistance). This composite material approach eliminates volatile plastic emissions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility and sealing functionality.
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 design prevents collision noise, maintains the integrity of the glass, ensures cleanliness, and allows for easy tea leaf filtration and pouring, providing a stable, sanitary, and user-friendly tea-making experience.
Implementation Method 1
the tea leaf filter basket bracket and an inner side surface of the pot opening of the pot body are in interference fit
Implementation Method 2
a lower end surface of the circular flat plate is provided with a circular-ring-type quick steam condensation ring
Data Source
AI summary
A teapot is provided with a pot body, a tea leaf filter basket in the pot body, and a lid on the pot body. A tea leaf filter basket bracket is sleeved at a pot opening of the pot body on an outer edge of the tea leaf filter basket; the tea leaf filter basket bracket and an inner side surface of the pot opening of the pot body are in interference fit; and the tea leaf filter basket bracket is in pivoted connection with the lid. The tea leaf filter basket is placed on the tea leaf filter basket bracket.