Collapsible Food Preparation Device with Hinged Trays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food preparation devices using heated air, such as food dehydrators and convection ovens, are typically bulky, leading to increased shipping costs and storage space requirements.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates stackable and compactable trays with hinged peripheral sidewalls that fold upward for use and downward for storage, allowing for a flatter form factor, and trays that nest inside each other, reducing volume and space needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional food preparation devices are designed with fixed rigid trays, then structural stability and ease of manufacture are improved, but storage space requirements and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by designing trays that can be placed inside one another when in the collapsed position. The first tray has a first opening and the second tray has a second opening, allowing the second tray to be nested within the first tray, significantly reducing the overall volume for storage and shipping while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by incorporating hinges that allow tray walls to transition between fixed and movable states. The hinge mechanism enables the tray walls to rotate between a first position (forming the tray cavity) and a second position (collapsing the tray), transforming a static rigid structure into a dynamic adaptable structure that can change its volume based on operational requirements.
2Volume of moving object
If trays are designed to collapse flat for storage, then storage space and shipping costs are reduced, but structural stability during use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism enables the tray to dynamically transition between a stable expanded configuration during use and a compact collapsed configuration for storage. When expanded, the tray walls form a rigid cavity; when collapsed, the same walls fold flat to minimize volume, providing both stability and compactness as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is segmented into multiple movable walls connected by hinges, allowing independent movement of each wall. This segmentation enables the tray to collapse in a controlled manner while maintaining structural integrity, with each segment contributing to the overall reduction in storage volume without compromising the stability during operational use.
Data Source
AI summary
The present example embodiments relate to food preparation devices using natural flowing and/or fan driven circulating air, and details for the construction thereof. Example embodiments are shown, which may be reduced in size and volume by the user. Example embodiments are shown which utilize natural convection airflow. Example embodiments are also shown which utilize fan driven air which flows in alternating directions.