Chafing dish and frame assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current chafing dishes lack an upper frame to support and pivotally connect a disposable food cover, which poses challenges in safely accessing and managing hot food, as existing frames only support the food tray without adequate structural support or safety features for the cover.
Innovation Solution
A chafing dish and frame assembly with a lower frame for supporting a disposable food tray and an upper frame section that is pivotally connected via a hinge, providing structural support and gripping means, including handles, to safely pivot the food cover between closed and open positions, and optionally nestable or detachable designs for enhanced usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an upper frame is added to support the food cover, then the structural support and safety for handling the cover is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper frame section is designed to nest within the lower frame section when not in use, similar to nested dolls. This allows the cover support structure to be compact and integrated with the base frame, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the ability to provide support when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper frame section is made pivotally connected to the lower frame section, allowing it to dynamically adjust between a closed position (supporting the cover) and an open position (allowing access to food). This dynamic capability provides safety and support only when needed, rather than requiring a permanently complex structure.
2Ease of operation
If a pivotal connection is implemented between upper and lower frames, then the ease of operation for accessing food is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal connection allows the upper frame to rotate between closed and open positions, providing easy access to food while maintaining structural integrity. The hinge mechanism enables dynamic movement rather than requiring complex actuators or motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is divided into separable upper and lower sections connected by a hinge, allowing independent movement of each section. This segmentation enables the upper frame to pivot for food access while the lower frame remains stable.
3Ease of operation
If the upper frame is made detachable and nestable, then the ease of storage and transport is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper frame section is designed to nest within the lower frame section when detached, creating a compact storage configuration. This nesting capability allows the chafing dish to be space-efficient for storage and transport while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is designed as detachable separate sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the upper frame to be removed and nested within the lower frame for compact storage, while providing full structural support when assembled.
Data Source
AI summary
A chafing dish and frame assembly including a lower frame section for supporting a disposable food tray for holding food, an upper frame section pivotally attached to the lower frame section; a disposable food cover supported by the upper frame section; and a pivot hinge that pivotally connects the upper frame section to the lower frame section. The pivot hinge allows the disposable food cover to be pivoted up to ninety degrees relative to the disposable food tray from a closed position, wherein the disposable food cover rests on top of the disposable food tray, to an open position wherein the disposable food cover is pivoted upwardly so that the food in the disposable food tray may be accessed.