Cooking Device Control Knob with Nested Heat-Protected Inner Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooking devices with control knobs extending from the control panel face heat-related risks to users due to the heating of the knobs during operation.
Innovation Solution
A control knob design featuring an outer body that moves relative to the shaft, with an inner body hidden inside the outer body for protection, and a spring element that pushes the outer body away from the panel when not in use, preventing the inner body from being exposed and allowing rotation only when the user engages it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control knob is exposed and extends from the control panel, then the ease of operation is improved, but the temperature increases causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The control knob is divided into two separate bodies: an outer body that remains flush with the control panel and an inner body that extends when needed. This segmentation allows the outer body to stay cool while the inner body provides the control function, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and temperature safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner body is nested within the outer body, allowing it to extend outward when the user pushes the outer body. This nesting arrangement enables the control knob to transition from a flush, safe state to an extended, operational state, maintaining safety while providing ease of operation when needed.
2Temperature
If the control knob is hidden flush with the control panel, then the temperature safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control knob transitions from a static, flush position to a dynamic, extendable position. The spring element and push mechanism enable the knob to move outward when needed, providing ease of operation while maintaining the safe, flush position when not in use, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature safety and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the inner body is always exposed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the heat exposure of the inner body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner body is extracted from constant exposure and placed inside the outer body by default. It only becomes exposed when the user actively pushes the outer body, minimizing its exposure to heat while maintaining ease of operation when needed. This resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and heat exposure protection.
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 design prevents user burns by keeping the inner body hidden from heat and allows controlled rotation of the shaft, ensuring safe and efficient power level adjustment of the cooking device.
Implementation Method 1
At least one spring element is provided inside the control knob for pushing the outer body in a direction away from the control panel
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a body (10), a control panel (11) provided on the body (10), a control element (12) for adjusting a power level of a heat source, the control element (12) comprising a shaft (13) extending through the control panel (11) and a control knob (20) connected to the shaft (13) for rotating the shaft. As an improvement, the control knob (20) of the subject matter cooking device (1) comprises at least one outer body (70) movable relative to the shaft (13) in an axial direction of the shaft (13), at least one inner body (60) connected to the shaft (13) in a manner not movable relative to the shaft (13) wherein the inner body (60) is located at least partly in an opening (72) of the outer body (70) and the inner body (60) is exposed to be gripped by a user when the outer body (70) is moved in a direction towards the control panel (11).