Element A
Element A
Problem statement:
Many people drink different kinds of beverages on a daily basis. There are plenty to choose from that so there is always something that is according to one's liking. Coffee, in particular, was consumed by 83% of the U.S. population every day according to a 2013 survey by the National Coffee Association. With that in mind, the problem that the general population face is keeping their drink at a constant temperature before it can be finished. Cold tea that was meant to be hot, lukewarm lemonade, room temperature soda, no beverage choice excluded.
Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13y0PhSvj3xOSfLLfMPIqq2YRzY3KYGEAum2GiVd6UH8/edit?usp=drive_web
Statistics:
A survey was conducted where participants were asked about what they do with their hot and cold beverages that have become room temperature. Based on the tally, 68% of people would still drink their hot beverage, even if it became room temperature. For cold drinks,there was not a clear frontrunner: 33% would add ice in it, 18% would put their beverage in a refrigerator, 39% said that they would still drink it, and 10% reported that they would simply throw theirs away. Nonetheless, the majority of the participants preferred their hot drinks to remain hot and their cold drinks cold. Additionally, 63% of people were unaware of products in the market that can do one of these features—85% would actually buy one that has both.
Past attempts of solving the problem:
There were many attempts in solving this problem in the past. A thermos, for example, keeps drinks warm or cold by preventing heat transfer. The silver coating prevents heat transfer by radiation; the vacuum between the walls prevents convection; and the thin glass prevents conduction. However, the main problem with using a thermos are leaks that occur due to constant use. Many of these products use glass material in the inside which are prone to breakage over time. The vacuum seal may also loosen which will prevent this product to keep in heat. Overall, the durability of thermoses is the main issue when using this product.
Problem statement:
Many people drink different kinds of beverages on a daily basis. There are plenty to choose from that so there is always something that is according to one's liking. Coffee, in particular, was consumed by 83% of the U.S. population every day according to a 2013 survey by the National Coffee Association. With that in mind, the problem that the general population face is keeping their drink at a constant temperature before it can be finished. Cold tea that was meant to be hot, lukewarm lemonade, room temperature soda, no beverage choice excluded.
Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13y0PhSvj3xOSfLLfMPIqq2YRzY3KYGEAum2GiVd6UH8/edit?usp=drive_web
Statistics:
A survey was conducted where participants were asked about what they do with their hot and cold beverages that have become room temperature. Based on the tally, 68% of people would still drink their hot beverage, even if it became room temperature. For cold drinks,there was not a clear frontrunner: 33% would add ice in it, 18% would put their beverage in a refrigerator, 39% said that they would still drink it, and 10% reported that they would simply throw theirs away. Nonetheless, the majority of the participants preferred their hot drinks to remain hot and their cold drinks cold. Additionally, 63% of people were unaware of products in the market that can do one of these features—85% would actually buy one that has both.
Past attempts of solving the problem:
There were many attempts in solving this problem in the past. A thermos, for example, keeps drinks warm or cold by preventing heat transfer. The silver coating prevents heat transfer by radiation; the vacuum between the walls prevents convection; and the thin glass prevents conduction. However, the main problem with using a thermos are leaks that occur due to constant use. Many of these products use glass material in the inside which are prone to breakage over time. The vacuum seal may also loosen which will prevent this product to keep in heat. Overall, the durability of thermoses is the main issue when using this product.
Element B
Element B
Many products have been developed to attempt to solve the problem of cold and hot beverages becoming room temperature. Price, durability, effectiveness, and safety are some of the factors that are taken into consideration when developing these products that address this problem. As with any other design, each one has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be accounted for when buying such products in the market. With that being said, the following solutions below were previous attempts made to solve the problem at hand:
1. Thermos - US2738114
A thermos keeps drinks warm or cold by preventing heat transfer. The silver coating prevents heat transfer by radiation; the vacuum between the walls prevents convection; and the thin glass prevents conduction. It is no wonder that this product is popular in the market today. However, the main problem with using this product are leaks that occur due to constant use. Many of these products also use glass material in the inside which are prone to breakage over time. The vacuum seal may loosen which will prevent a thermos to even keep in heat. Overall, the durability is the main issue when using this product.
2. Styrofoam Cup - US7552841B2
Styrofoam cups are cheap, disposable alternatives to keeping a thermos. They are made of a material called polystyrene which offers good insulation to keep drinks warm or cold. Be that as it may, styrofoam cups still pose a danger to the environment and human health. They may take up to 100 years to break down, not to mention the air pollution that is caused from the manufacturing. When hot drinks are consumed from styrofoam cups, there are chemicals that can be released that can pose health risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the material used on making these cups is now considered a human carcinogen, Carcinogen is a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. Despite all this, styrofoam cups are still common in the market because there is simply no other product that is as affordable and convenient.
3. Drink Tumbler
Drink tumblers are also another good line of products that keep hot and cold drinks at a constant temperature. Many are made of plastic; but it is also not common for these to be made of steel. Yeti Ramblers, for example, are popular tumblers that are made of stainless steel with a double vacuum seal for extra insulation. It is also designed to prevent condensation on the outside of the container. Although this product is mainly designed for cold drinks, many people also use it to store hot beverages.
4. Heating Travel Mug with Charger
The travel mugs with car adapter charging capabilities are another well-developed solution to the problem of having cold drinks. Although it can warm beverages, it cannot cool them down. It is made of stainless steel. It is designed to warm the user’s drinks while they are in the car. It has a five foot long insulated cable which is used to connect the cup with its power source. It is powered by the 12V DC car adapter located inside any car. They cannot be used in the microwave and are not dishwasher safe due to the materials used. It can hold approximately 13.50 ounces. It also has a resealable lid to prevent spilling.
5. The Brugo Mug
This is product is very similar to travel mugs, but it provides the user with extras. Brugo has a temperature chamber that acts like a filter that makes sure all liquid that will be dispersed to the user is of the perfect temperature, and the remaining liquids stay hot and aromatic. It claims to keep hot beverages at the “Perfect Temperature Zone”. The product claims to be spill proof. It is not dishwasher or microwave safe. It is made of stainless steel and an unknown insulator. It was designed mainly to be used for hot beverages.
Many products have been developed to attempt to solve the problem of cold and hot beverages becoming room temperature. Price, durability, effectiveness, and safety are some of the factors that are taken into consideration when developing these products that address this problem. As with any other design, each one has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be accounted for when buying such products in the market. With that being said, the following solutions below were previous attempts made to solve the problem at hand:
1. Thermos - US2738114
A thermos keeps drinks warm or cold by preventing heat transfer. The silver coating prevents heat transfer by radiation; the vacuum between the walls prevents convection; and the thin glass prevents conduction. It is no wonder that this product is popular in the market today. However, the main problem with using this product are leaks that occur due to constant use. Many of these products also use glass material in the inside which are prone to breakage over time. The vacuum seal may loosen which will prevent a thermos to even keep in heat. Overall, the durability is the main issue when using this product.
2. Styrofoam Cup - US7552841B2
Styrofoam cups are cheap, disposable alternatives to keeping a thermos. They are made of a material called polystyrene which offers good insulation to keep drinks warm or cold. Be that as it may, styrofoam cups still pose a danger to the environment and human health. They may take up to 100 years to break down, not to mention the air pollution that is caused from the manufacturing. When hot drinks are consumed from styrofoam cups, there are chemicals that can be released that can pose health risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the material used on making these cups is now considered a human carcinogen, Carcinogen is a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. Despite all this, styrofoam cups are still common in the market because there is simply no other product that is as affordable and convenient.
3. Drink Tumbler
Drink tumblers are also another good line of products that keep hot and cold drinks at a constant temperature. Many are made of plastic; but it is also not common for these to be made of steel. Yeti Ramblers, for example, are popular tumblers that are made of stainless steel with a double vacuum seal for extra insulation. It is also designed to prevent condensation on the outside of the container. Although this product is mainly designed for cold drinks, many people also use it to store hot beverages.
4. Heating Travel Mug with Charger
The travel mugs with car adapter charging capabilities are another well-developed solution to the problem of having cold drinks. Although it can warm beverages, it cannot cool them down. It is made of stainless steel. It is designed to warm the user’s drinks while they are in the car. It has a five foot long insulated cable which is used to connect the cup with its power source. It is powered by the 12V DC car adapter located inside any car. They cannot be used in the microwave and are not dishwasher safe due to the materials used. It can hold approximately 13.50 ounces. It also has a resealable lid to prevent spilling.
5. The Brugo Mug
This is product is very similar to travel mugs, but it provides the user with extras. Brugo has a temperature chamber that acts like a filter that makes sure all liquid that will be dispersed to the user is of the perfect temperature, and the remaining liquids stay hot and aromatic. It claims to keep hot beverages at the “Perfect Temperature Zone”. The product claims to be spill proof. It is not dishwasher or microwave safe. It is made of stainless steel and an unknown insulator. It was designed mainly to be used for hot beverages.
Element C
Primary stakeholders
(Priority) Top to Bottom
- Companies that are manufacturing special bottles
- We will be targeting companies that are capable of manufacturing our design and also have the ability to put the product on the market.
- People who are financially secure
- A study have shown that 47% Americans are financially secure meaning that they are actually capable of buying extra things, which can include the product our team will be developing.
(Priority) Top to Bottom
- The solution must be safe for the users, when correctly used.
- Disqualifying Specification
- The materials that must be used are non-corrosive thus far allowing the users to use the product without causing any injuries; therefore, it shall also not harm the user’s health through chemical reactions.
- The technology necessary to create the all the aspects of the product does exist.
- Disqualifying Specification
- If the technology that requires to create the prototype does not exist, then all the time given on designing the prototype will be wasted. The time that is given are not enough to develop such technology that will allow the team to create the prototype. The technology required must exist before continuing on creating the prototype.
- The solution concept will not vigorously resemble past solution or design that is made for the same problem.
- The reason for this specification is to give respect to the innovators, engineers that have created their own design. The fact that such ideas must not be stolen yet can be innovated.
- The solution must have the ability to maintain the temperature of the drink
- This specifies that the prototype must have the ability to heat or cool the drink. If the temperature of the drink drops, then there should be a mechanism that will trigger to reheat the drink unless the user turns off the mechanism that determine the change in the temperature of the drink. The same way applies for cold drinks.
- The solution must have enough battery power that will last up to the average length of time that a person drinks.
- The heater or cooler supplied by the battery must be directly proportional to the volume that is being heated or cooled, thereby maintaining desired temperature. The battery that will be used must have enough capacity to supply the high average length of time before consumers can finish their drink.
- Below are graphs that show how much time does an average person can finish a 250 ml or 8.4 oz drink. According to the survey none of them have gone off to more than an hour. Knowing that the solution that will be designed is more than 8.4 oz, the time consuming the drink will also increase according to its volume. If the solution is can hold up to 16 oz that will be almost twice as much time consuming it.
- The solution must be durable
- This specifies that the solution mu`t be capable withstand extreme temperature changes not allowing it to break. Strong enough to withstand multiple impacts that can damage the device, since things like this are not avoidable. F= m*a, For example the weight of the solution is 3 kg including the drink inside. Knowing that m=3, a = 9.81 then the solution must be able to withstand at least 29.43N or more preferably.
- The product should also be able to withstand being washed in a standard dishwasher. This will allow it to be more user-friendly.
- The solution must be portable
- The prototype must not be too small or too large (16oz - 24oz), Thus far allowing the user to bring the device wherever he wants to go. Since it is portable, this will require a lid that will enclose the top part of the bottle preventing leakage. The overall weight of the device should not exceed 3 lbs or may change through further research.
- The solution must be affordable
- The solution must not be too expensive nor cheap. Expensive means more than a Hundred Dollars or quadruple the money that were used for the materials and time invested on creating the solution and cheap is not being able to cover the minimum cost for the material that were used and time. thus allowing a lot of people to afford the product. The solution should be less than forty dollars so it is affordable for the buyers and it will be able to compete with other solutions to the problem. Also if the solution is to expensive some businesses or companies might not be able implement the product, making the design process in vain. Furthermore this will gives more constraints on what materials are going to be used. Cost, Time, and Profit will be in this criteria.
- The solution must be user friendly
- This specifies that the solution must be easy to use, thus far allowing users to use the device easily. Furthermore, the design will have easy mechanisms that are easy to learn for the user that even a normal 5 year old can understand. The fact that this device must be designed is to make people’s everyday lifestyle easier and more comfortable.