Kitchen Bowl Lid Interlock for Twist-Free Motor Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kitchen appliances are difficult and awkward to assemble and operate due to complex component attachment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen appliance design featuring a housing with a motor and switch mechanism, where a bowl is removably mounted with a simple vertical alignment and a bowl lid that actuates the motor by pressing downward on flanges contacting an actuation member, ensuring proper assembly and operation without twisting, and a safety interlock mechanism to prevent motor activation unless components are correctly assembled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional component attachment mechanisms are used, then the appliance can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes difficult and awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment mechanism by having the bowl lid's flanges actively engage with the actuation member to trigger motor start, rather than requiring the user to manually manipulate complex switches or buttons. The downward pressing motion naturally activates the safety interlock and motor circuit, simplifying the user interface while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance performs self-verification of proper assembly through the flange-actuation member engagement mechanism. When the bowl lid is correctly positioned, the flanges automatically contact the actuation member, which then closes the safety circuit and enables motor operation without requiring user intervention to check or activate safety features.
2Reliability
If a safety interlock mechanism is added to prevent motor activation, then safety is improved, but the operation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety interlock function with the motor activation mechanism into a single integrated system. The actuation member serves dual purposes: it verifies proper bowl lid assembly (safety function) and simultaneously closes the circuit to start the motor (activation function). This eliminates the need for separate safety switches and activation buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety interlock system automatically verifies proper assembly through the flange-actuation member engagement and self-activates the motor circuit when safety conditions are met. The system performs its own safety check and activation without requiring separate user actions for safety verification and motor start.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple flanges are used on the bowl lid, then proper assembly is ensured, but the lid structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the safety engagement function into multiple discrete flanges on the bowl lid, each capable of contacting the actuation member. This segmentation provides redundant verification of proper assembly while maintaining a relatively simple overall lid structure, as each flange is a basic geometric feature rather than a complex mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen appliance includes a housing enclosing a motor and a switch mechanism. A bowl is removably mountable onto the housing. At least one actuation member is movable between a first position and a second position. A bowl lid is removably mountable onto the upper rim of the bowl. When the bowl lid is properly positioned onto the upper rim of the bowl, the motor is actuated or permitted to be actuated by pressing downwardly on the lid such that at least a portion of one of a plurality of flanges of the bowl contacts at least a portion of the actuation member to force the actuation member to the second position.