Cooking Chamber Frame With Removable Baking Cavity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances, such as griddles, are limited to single or double-sided grilling and lack the functionality to perform baking operations.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance with a cooking chamber frame that includes an upper and lower housing, a removable baking attachment with a planar bottom and open top, and peripheral sidewalls, allowing for the configuration of a cooking cavity between heating elements to accommodate baking functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cooking appliance is designed with a fixed grilling configuration, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the functionality is limited to single or double-sided grilling only

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking functionalityVSAvoidappliance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking appliance is divided into separate functional components: a fixed grilling assembly and a removable baking attachment. The baking attachment can be detached and reattached to transform the appliance from grilling-only mode to baking-capable mode, allowing functional expansion without permanently complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The appliance transitions from a static single-function design to a dynamic multi-function design through the removable baking attachment. The attachment can be installed or removed based on cooking needs, allowing the appliance to adapt its configuration and functionality dynamically rather than being fixed in one state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If heating elements are positioned close together for compact design, then the appliance size is reduced, but the cooking cavity space is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking cavity volumeVSAvoidappliance footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The baking attachment introduces a vertical dimension to expand cooking capacity. By stacking the baking attachment above or below the grilling surfaces, the appliance increases its cooking volume without significantly increasing its horizontal footprint, effectively utilizing vertical space to resolve the space constraint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables the appliance to perform various cooking functions, including grilling and baking, by allowing the upper and lower heating surfaces to be positioned in multiple orientations and equipping the appliance with a removable baking attachment for expanded use.

Implementation Method 1

an upper housing having an upper cooking surface, wherein the cooking surfaces are typically heated by an electrical resistance heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

heated by an electrical resistance heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

The cooking chamber frame is configured to be received adjacent the lower heating element such that the cooking chamber frame is selectively captured between the upper heating element and the lower heating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10070753B2Cooking chamber frame for a cooking appliance

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 CONAIR CORP

AI summary

A cooking appliance includes an upper housing, a lower housing operatively connected to the upper housing, and a removable baking attachment received on the lower housing. The baking attachment has a bottom surface, a substantially open top and peripheral sidewalls defining a baking cavity.