Temperature-Regulating Bottle Insert for Low-Vent Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Maintaining the ideal serving temperature of beverages, such as beer and wine, is challenging due to environmental conditions after opening, leading to temperature fluctuations that can affect the quality and flavor of the drink, and existing solutions like ice buckets or pour-through devices often result in excessive ventilation and temperature changes.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a body containing a fluid with a freezing point of 10° C or less, sealed within a cavity, which is inserted into a bottle to regulate temperature and features a nozzle for dispensing the beverage without removing the apparatus from the bottle, ensuring minimal temperature change and maintaining the drink's quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ice buckets or freezer are used to cool the beverage quickly, then the temperature is reduced to ideal serving range, but the beverage loses its flavors and taste due to rapid temperature decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage temperatureVSAvoidloss of flavor and taste

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage is pre-cooled in the cavity before serving. The cavity is filled with the beverage and cooled in advance, then the insert is removed and placed in a serving glass, allowing the pre-cooled beverage to be poured without rapid temperature changes that would affect flavor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beverage serving process is divided into two stages: pre-cooling in the cavity and serving in the glass. This segmentation allows the cooling process to occur separately from the serving process, avoiding rapid temperature changes during pouring that would harm flavor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If conventional pour-through devices are used, then the beverage can be dispensed, but excessive ventilation occurs which increases beverage temperature and affects its taste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing capabilityVSAvoidbeverage temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is removed from the cavity and placed in the serving glass before pouring. This extraction eliminates the need for pour-through devices that create excessive ventilation, allowing the beverage to be poured directly from the bottle into the glass with minimal exposure to warm air.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If bottles are kept at room temperature for serving, then convenience is improved, but the beverage becomes too warm and loses its ideal serving temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserving convenienceVSAvoidbeverage temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage is pre-cooled in the cavity before serving. This preliminary cooling action allows the beverage to be served at the ideal temperature without needing to maintain continuous cooling or wait for the beverage to cool naturally, improving both convenience and temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 apparatus effectively maintains the beverage's temperature within ideal ranges, preventing rapid temperature drops and preserving flavor, while allowing for direct dispensing without excessive ventilation, addressing the challenges of temperature control and quality preservation.

Implementation Method 1

A fluid may be located and sealed inside the cavity, the second fluid having a freezing point of about 10° C. or less

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The seal may have a radial seal adapted to seal radially between the body and an interior of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

The nozzle may have a channel in communication with the fluid inlet through which the fluid is adapted to flow out of the container through the nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS9802806B2Apparatus for dispensing a fluid from a container and regulating a temperature thereof

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 CORKCICLE CAPITAL GROUP LLC

AI summary

An apparatus regulates a temperature of a fluid inside a container and dispenses the fluid from the container. The apparatus has a body with an axis, a cavity adjacent a distal end, a bore adjacent a proximal end, and a fluid inlet formed through the body to the bore. The body contacts the fluid inside the container. A second fluid may be located and sealed inside the cavity, and have a freezing point of about 10° C. or less. A nozzle may be mounted to the body. The nozzle has a channel in communication with the fluid inlet through which the fluid flows out of the container through the nozzle. A seal may be mounted to the body. The seal may have a radial seal to seal radially between the body and an interior of the container, and an axial seal to seal axially between the nozzle and the container.