Avocado Pit Housing With Engagement Member for Variable Pit Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing avocado pitting devices are bulky, fail to accommodate pits of different sizes and shapes, and struggle with cleaning avocado residue from their blades, making them inefficient and difficult to use.

Innovation Solution

An avocado pitting device with a housing featuring a recess and engagement members that securely retain the pit, allowing for easy removal without damaging the fruit, and a design that includes a blade for slicing and peeling, accommodating various pit sizes and shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a lasso-like blade is used to carve the pit from the fruit, then the device can remove the pit, but it does not accommodate pits of different sizes and shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different pit sizes and shapesVSAvoideffective pit removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with a universal recess that can accommodate various pit sizes and shapes. The engagement member with its protruding configuration can adapt to different pit geometries, allowing the same device to effectively remove diverse pits without requiring multiple specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement member's protruding configuration allows it to adjust its engagement depth and position based on the specific pit size and shape. This parameter adaptability enables reliable pit removal across different avocado varieties while maintaining accommodation versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If spaced apart blades are used for slicing, then the fruit can be sliced while removing it from the skin, but avocado residue becomes trapped in the spaces and is difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslicing and peeling efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts the slicing function from the pitting function, using a separate blade configured to slice and peel without creating trapped residue spaces. The blade geometry is specifically designed to minimize residue accumulation, making cleaning easier while maintaining slicing productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a bulky device is used for avocado preparation, then it includes multiple functions (lasso blade and fan slicer), but it is difficult to handle and clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple functions (slicing, peeling, pitting)VSAvoidhandling and cleaning convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments functions into essential components: a housing for pitting with an engagement member, and a separate blade for slicing and peeling. This segmentation reduces bulk while maintaining versatility, improving handling convenience and simplifying cleaning by reducing the number of complex parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade is designed as a multi-functional tool that performs both slicing and peeling operations, while the housing with engagement member handles pitting. This universal design achieves multiple functions in a compact form, improving ease of operation and cleaning compared to bulkier multi-component devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2747605B1Avocado pitting device

Publication Date: 2016.01.20 HELEN OF TROY LTD

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AI summary

An avocado pitting device comprises a housing having an inner surface defining a recess. The recess is configured to receive a pit of an avocado. An engagement member projects inwardly from the housing inner surface. The engagement member is configured to engage the pit and retain the pit within the recess such that the pit is removable with the housing from the avocado.