Water-Pipe Capsule Coating for Non-Sticky Flavor Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tobacco substitutes for water-pipes often require special bowls to prevent liquid spillage and have sticky surfaces, making them inconvenient to handle and use.

Innovation Solution

A capsule with a core bead of inert material coated in a layer containing flavoring, absorbent binder, mist-maker, sweetener, and thickener, which releases these components when heated, providing a dry and smooth surface and customizable flavors and colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If glass or stone beads are immersed in aromatic liquids to create tobacco substitutes, then flavor delivery is improved, but the surface becomes sticky and liquid spills occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflavoring deliveryVSAvoidhandling convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a coating layer formulation that dries to form a non-sticky, smooth surface film on the bead. This thin film encapsulates the flavoring components while preventing liquid spillage and stickiness, allowing direct placement on tobacco without special bowls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical state of the coating by controlling the solvent evaporation process and using specific binder ratios to transform the coating from a liquid state (prone to spilling) to a dry, stable surface that maintains flavor delivery without stickiness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If special bowls are used to contain liquid and prevent spillages, then liquid containment is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid spillage preventionVSAvoidspecial bowl requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the liquid containment function from a separate device (special bowl) and integrates it into the bead coating itself. The coating layer is formulated to retain moisture and flavoring components without requiring external containment structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating layer is designed to be self-containing, using the binder and solvent system to hold the flavoring components internally while presenting a dry, non-spilling surface. The structure serves its own containment function without needing external assistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If a coating layer with multiple ingredients is applied to the bead, then flavor customization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflavor customizationVSAvoidcoating application process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional ingredients (flavoring, binder, solvent, thickener, colorant) into a single integrated coating layer formulation. This unified approach allows diverse flavor customizations while maintaining a consistent manufacturing process through spray application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating layer formulation serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides flavor delivery, color, binding, and surface finish control. This multi-functionality is achieved through a standardized spray application process that can accommodate various ingredient combinations without requiring separate manufacturing lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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 capsules offer convenient handling, customizable flavors and colors, and longer performance by gradually releasing ingredients, eliminating the need for special bowls and reducing stickiness.

Implementation Method 1

The coating layer includes the flavoring, an absorbent binder, a mist-maker, a sweetener, and a thickener

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

evaporating at least a portion of the solvent of the coating layer precursor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The coating layer is configured to release the flavoring, sweetener, and mist-maker when heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3930487B1Water-pipe capsule composition
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 AF GLOBAL BRANDS LTD
  • EP3930487B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A capsule for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke is disclosed herein. The disclosed capsule includes a core bead of an inert material and a coating layer encapsulating the bead. The coating layer contains a flavoring, an absorbent-binder, a mist-maker, a sweetener, a thickener. The coating layer is configured to provide release of the flavoring, sweetener and of the mist- maker when heated.