Thermos coffee maker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional coffee brewing methods require a separate container and do not generate pressurized conditions, resulting in less smooth coffee, and lack convenience for on-the-go brewing and disposal of grounds.

Innovation Solution

A thermos with integrated features for brewing coffee internally, including a screen to hold back solids, a closeable pour spout, temperature indicator, coffee type indicator, and a design that prevents accidental rolling, allowing brewing and dispensing without grounds, and capturing used grounds for easy disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If coffee is brewed in a separate container and then poured into a thermos, then the brewing process is simple and equipment is minimal, but the coffee lacks smoothness and requires multiple containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of brewingVSAvoidsmoothness of coffee

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the brewing chamber and serving thermos into a single integrated device. The brewing chamber is positioned inside the thermos container, allowing coffee to be brewed and served without transferring between separate containers. This merging eliminates the need for multiple containers while maintaining brewing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pressurized steam injection to enhance the brewing process. Steam is injected into the brewing chamber to create pressure that forces hot water through the coffee grounds, improving extraction and smoothness. This pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism addresses the smoothness deficiency of traditional brewing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of operation

If a screen is integrated into the thermos to hold back coffee grounds, then grounds are blocked during pouring, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of pouring coffeeVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lid assembly into separate functional components: a lid body, a removable screen, and a screen retaining ring. The screen can be independently removed and cleaned, while the retaining ring snaps onto the lid body to hold the screen in place during pouring. This segmentation allows the screen function to be added without significantly complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible or flexible-mounted screen that can be easily inserted and removed from the lid assembly. The screen acts as a thin filtering element that blocks grounds during pouring but can be quickly detached for cleaning, minimizing the complexity burden of adding this function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the thermos is designed to brew coffee internally under pressure, then smoothness improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of coffeeVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dynamic pressurization system where steam is injected on-demand during brewing to create temporary pressure, rather than requiring a permanently pressurized structure. The lid and brewing chamber are designed to withstand pressure temporarily during the brewing cycle, then return to normal state. This dynamic approach achieves smoothness improvement without requiring complex pressure-resistant manufacturing throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 faster, more convenient coffee brewing with improved smoothness due to pressurized conditions and integrated features for on-the-go use and easy disposal of grounds.

Implementation Method 1

pour said coffee out of said main thermos body and through said screen member thereby blocking said coffee grounds and allowing brewed coffee to be poured from said main thermos body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The lid assembly 2... pressurizes the internal area of the thermos thereby improving the smoothness of the coffee

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurization: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 3

Brewing coffee inside a closed, sealed thermos also generates internal pressure within the thermos that seems to noticeably improve the smoothness (less bitterness) of the coffee

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11324354B2Thermos coffee maker

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 LARSEN GREG

AI summary

A Thermos Coffee Maker having a main thermos body, a lid member, a screen member and a screen retaining assembly. The screen retaining assembly includes a threaded cylindrical member and a screen retaining ring. The lid has internal threads and is attached to the upper portion of the screen retaining assembly. The screen retaining assembly is attached at its lower end to the internally threaded portion of the main thermos body. The screen is trapped between the screen retaining ring and a ledge located on the interior of the screen retaining assembly. The user to pours ground coffee into the main thermos body then pours in hot water and screws on the lid. The coffee is allowed to brew-steep. The brewed coffee can be poured through the screen member thereby blocking the coffee grounds and allowing brewed coffee to be poured from the main thermos to a coffee cup.