Collapsible Grill Lid Structure for Low-Profile Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cooking appliance lids are not suitable for tight spaces, such as those found on boats, as they require detachment and can be lost or damaged, and are made of thermally conductive materials that are dangerous to touch and inefficient in heat retention.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible lid made of thermally insulating materials like silicone rubber, which can be securely attached to the appliance and fold into a lower profile when not in use, ensuring safety and efficient heat retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a traditional solid lid is installed on a cooking appliance, then heat retention and food protection are improved, but the lid cannot fit in tight spaces with low profile enclosures
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with a collapsible structure that can dynamically change its height from an expanded position (providing full heat retention coverage) to a collapsed position (fitting within low profile enclosures). This dynamic transformation allows the lid to adapt between two functional states, resolving the contradiction between maintaining effective height for heat retention and reducing height for storage in tight spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible lid structure allows the lid body to nest within itself when collapsed, with the lid walls folding inward and stacking compactly. This nesting mechanism enables the lid to reduce its overall height significantly while maintaining the same material and insulating properties, allowing it to fit within enclosure spaces that would be too small for a traditional rigid lid.
2Strength
If traditional metal lids are used, then structural strength is improved, but thermal conductivity causes safety hazards and energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is constructed from composite materials consisting of an outer metal shell providing structural strength and an inner layer of thermally insulating material (such as silicone rubber or foam) that reduces thermal conductivity. This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials: the metal provides the necessary mechanical strength to maintain lid shape and resist deformation, while the insulating layer creates a thermal barrier that prevents excessive heat transfer to the exterior surface, thereby eliminating safety hazards and reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the lid are assigned different material properties: the outer shell uses metal for structural strength, the inner core uses insulating material for thermal protection, and the handle or outer surface may use heat-resistant but thermally insulating materials to ensure user safety. This local differentiation of material qualities allows each part of the lid to perform its specific function optimally while collectively resolving the contradiction between strength and thermal conductivity.
3Length of stationary object
If a detached cover is used to accommodate low profile enclosures, then space constraints are satisfied, but the cover can be lost or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with a collapsible structure that can dynamically change its height from an expanded position (providing full heat retention coverage) to a collapsed position (fitting within low profile enclosures). This dynamic transformation allows the lid to adapt between two functional states, resolving the contradiction between maintaining effective height for heat retention and reducing height for storage in tight spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible lid is permanently integrated with the cooking appliance through hinges or mounting mechanisms, merging the lid function with the appliance structure. This permanent attachment ensures the lid cannot be lost or misplaced, while the collapsible design maintains the low profile requirement when collapsed. The combination of permanent attachment and collapsible structure eliminates the reliability issues of detached covers while satisfying space constraints.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The collapsible lid provides a safe and efficient solution for cooking in tight spaces by maintaining heat retention while allowing the lid to be securely attached and collapse under enclosures, preventing loss and damage.
Implementation Method 1
the cover comprising a thermally insulating material
Implementation Method 2
the collapsible portion of the cover comprises silicone rubber
Data Source
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AI summary
A drop-in cooking device for installation into an opening in a fixture, including a housing configured to be mounted in the opening in the fixture, a heating element positioned in the housing, and a cover attachable to the housing adjacent the heating element, the cover comprising a thermally insulating material and having a collapsible portion, wherein the collapsible portion of the cover has a working configuration in which the cover has a first height and a storage configuration in which the cover has a second height, the second height being less than the first height.