Systems and methods for supporting and displaying elongate utensils
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food display and support systems are not well-suited for displaying elongate utensils like skewers 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 contact and allowing easy selection and removal, and are made from easy-to-clean materials like rigid plastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If skewers are placed horizontally on a plate for display, then the display system is simple, but the skewers are not in an upright, easy to access, and visually appealing position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal placement to vertical arrangement by introducing a base with upward-extending support structures. Multiple skewers are held at different angles relative to the vertical axis, creating a bouquet-like three-dimensional display that improves accessibility and visual appeal while maintaining system simplicity
2Ease of operation
If skewers are supported vertically from a rod or flat holder, then the skewers are upright, but the system requires users to vertically lift and lower skewers, placing users in close proximity to adjacent food skewers
Solution Approach 1:
The support structures are pre-configured with openings at various angles that guide skewer insertion and removal. This preliminary arrangement of openings allows users to access and remove skewers horizontally or at convenient angles rather than requiring vertical lifting, reducing proximity to adjacent skewers while maintaining upright display
3Duration of action of stationary object
If foam mounts are used to receive skewered utensils, then the skewers can be displayed, but the foam material degrades over time and is difficult to clean, limiting reusability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces degradable foam mounts with a durable, reusable base structure made from easy-to-clean materials. The base incorporates support structures with openings that maintain skewer positioning without relying on absorbent or degradable materials, significantly extending the display system's usable life and eliminating cleaning difficulties
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the support structures are changed from foam (porous, degradable, difficult to clean) to non-porous, durable materials that resist degradation and are easy to clean. This parameter change in material composition directly improves reusability and maintainability of the display system
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.