Systems and methods for supporting and displaying elongate utensils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food display and support systems for skewers are not well-suited for displaying food items in an upright, visually appealing, and easily accessible position, often requiring users to lift skewers vertically, which can lead to contact with adjacent food items and are difficult to clean, with foam mounts degrading over time.
Innovation Solution
A display system comprising a base with an outer and inner shell, where the shells have aligned openings oriented at different angles to support skewers in a stable, visually appealing bouquet arrangement, preventing user contact and featuring easy-to-clean, durable construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If skewers are placed horizontally on a plate, then they are easy to support, but they are not visually appealing and not easy to access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions skewer display from a horizontal plane to a vertical three-dimensional arrangement. Multiple skewers are positioned at different angles radiating from a central base, creating a bouquet-like vertical display that improves both visual appeal and accessibility compared to horizontal placement
2Shape
If skewers are supported vertically from a rod or flat holder, then they are visually appealing, but users must vertically lift and lower skewers which leads to contact with adjacent food items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric angular positioning of skewers radiating from the central base. Each skewer is positioned at a different angle, creating natural spacing that prevents user contact with adjacent food items during removal, while maintaining the vertical visual appeal
3Ease of manufacture
If foam mounts are used to receive skewered utensils, then they are easy to manufacture, but they are difficult to clean and the puncture holes degrade the foam material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable but difficult-to-clean foam mounts with a disposable paper plate base. The paper plate is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and can be discarded after use, eliminating cleaning requirements and avoiding material degradation from puncture holes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from foam (porous, degradable) to paper (flat, disposable). This parameter change maintains ease of manufacture while improving cleanability (by elimination) and durability (through disposable nature)
Data Source
AI summary
A display system for supporting a plurality of elongate utensils includes a base defining a flat base surface and a longitudinal axis normal to the base surface. An outer shell includes an outer body coupled to the base and extends longitudinally therefrom. The outer body defines a plurality of outer openings extending therethrough, each sized to slidably receive therethrough an elongate utensil. An inner shell includes an inner body coupled to the base, the inner body spaced apart from and at least partially contained within the outer shell. The inner body defines a plurality of inner openings each aligned with a corresponding one of the outer openings along a respective insertion axis of a plurality of insertion axes and sized to slidably receive the elongate utensil. The plurality of insertion axes are oriented at a plurality of different angles relative to the longitudinal axis.