Colander with rotating handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional colanders are cumbersome to store due to their large size and existing collapsible designs either require significant force to expand and collapse or lack self-support, making them difficult to position securely over a sink.
Innovation Solution
A colander with a split handle system where one handle rotates with respect to the other, allowing the colander to be positioned up to 180° or 360° for secure use over a sink, and a collapsible body with a flat bottom surface for stable placement, addressing storage issues and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the colander is made collapsible to reduce storage space, then storage space requirements are reduced, but the colander becomes difficult to position securely over a sink and lacks self-support
Solution Approach 1:
The colander body is designed to be dynamically changeable between collapsed and expanded states. The flexible membrane allows the colander to be compressed for storage and expanded for use, with the membrane's elasticity providing self-support when expanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is divided into two separate parts: a first handle attached to the top rim and a second handle attached to the bottom rim. This segmentation allows the handles to be positioned independently, enabling the user to rotate the second handle to achieve optimal positioning over the sink for secure gripping and stability.
2Volume of moving object
If the colander is made collapsible to reduce storage space, then storage space requirements are reduced, but significant force is required to expand and collapse it
Solution Approach 1:
The colander body is constructed from a flexible membrane that can be easily collapsed and expanded. The membrane's inherent flexibility reduces the force required for transformation compared to rigid structures, while still providing sufficient structural support when expanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's elastic properties allow it to dynamically transition between states with minimal force input. The material's ability to store and release elastic energy facilitates easy expansion and collapse without requiring significant external force.
3Ease of operation
If conventional colanders are used to maintain stability and self-support, then the colander can be securely positioned over a sink, but storage space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The colander transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can be collapsed for storage and expanded for use. The flexible membrane maintains self-support capabilities when expanded, enabling secure positioning over the sink despite the collapsible design.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the storage problem by collapsing the colander in the vertical dimension while maintaining its functional dimensions when expanded. The flexible membrane allows the colander to be compressed into a compact form for storage, then restored to its full functional shape for use over the sink.
Data Source
AI summary
A colander includes a split handle having a top handle coupled to a top rim and a bottom handle coupled to a bottom rim, the bottom handle being rotatable with respect to the top handle and a body having a plurality of perforations and being attached to the bottom rim. The body is collapsible and a bottommost surface of the body is generally flat. The bottom handle rotates either 90°, 180° or 360° with respect to the top handle.