Cooking Container Positioning for Level Heating on Inclined Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric cooking devices with a tilting baking sheet lead to uneven cooking due to sauce accumulation and unstable container positioning, which can prevent proper lid closure.

Innovation Solution

An electric cooking device with a configured positioning device that ensures the cooking container is horizontally positioned when in use, preventing sauce accumulation and ensuring stable container placement for proper lid closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cooking plate is inclined relative to the horizontal, then sauces or liquids drain towards the front of the cooking container, but the food inside the cooking container becomes unevenly cooked due to sauce accumulation on one side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage functionVSAvoidcooking uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking plate is divided into two functional zones: a first cooking area with an inclined bottom for drainage, and a second cooking area with a horizontal bottom for uniform cooking. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cooking plate are given different geometric properties (inclined vs. horizontal) according to their specific functional requirements. The inclined zone handles liquid drainage while the horizontal zone ensures uniform food cooking, applying local quality to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the cooking container is placed on the inclined cooking plate, then the device structure remains simple, but the cooking container becomes unstable and can move, preventing proper lid closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcontainer stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning device acts as an intermediary between the inclined cooking plate and the cooking container. This mediator provides stable positioning and support for the container on the inclined surface, ensuring proper lid closure while maintaining the overall simplicity of the device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning device creates a localized horizontal support surface (equipotential plane) for the cooking container on the otherwise inclined cooking plate, ensuring the container remains stable and properly positioned during cooking operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Volume of moving object

If the cooking container rests directly on the inclined plate bottom, then the device is compact, but sauces accumulate on one side causing uneven cooking of food

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidcooking uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking plate bottom is segmented into two distinct zones: a first inclined zone for sauce drainage and a second horizontal zone for uniform food cooking. This segmentation allows the device to maintain compactness while achieving cooking uniformity through functional zonation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration achieves homogeneous cooking by preventing food from accumulating on one side and ensures the lid can close properly, enhancing cooking efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a positioning device configured to position the container bottom substantially horizontally when the cooking container occupies the use configuration and the lower housing rests on a receiving support which is horizontal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4537721A1Electric cooking appliance comprising a cooking accessory
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 SEB SA
  • EP4537721A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4537721A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4537721A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an electric cooking appliance (1) configured for cooking food, comprising a lower housing (2), a cooking plate (5) supported by the lower housing (2), and a cooking container (6) comprising a base (21) and configured to occupy a usage configuration in which the cooking container (6) rests on the cooking plate (5). The electric cooking appliance (1) includes a positioning device (24) configured to position the base (21) substantially horizontally when the cooking container (6) is in the usage configuration and the lower housing (2) rests on a horizontal receiving support.