Cooking Element Side Handles With Vapor Barriers for Steam Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking elements with central gripping members are cumbersome for large or heavy sizes and pose risks of steam exposure when lifting, as they do not effectively manage steam release, especially when lifting with two hands.

Innovation Solution

A cooking element with laterally arranged support members and vapor barrier members that extend outside the tubular body, allowing for lateral steam evacuation and protecting the user's hands from steam exposure, enabling two-handed lifting while minimizing steam risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a central gripping member is used for lifting the lid, then the lid can be lifted easily, but the arrangement is not applicable to intermediate cooking elements and becomes cumbersome for large or heavy cooking elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of liftingVSAvoidapplicability to cooking elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The single central gripping member is segmented into multiple support members (first support member and second support member) positioned at different locations on the cooking element. This segmentation allows the lifting mechanism to be adapted to various cooking element sizes and weights, providing versatile applicability while maintaining ease of operation through distributed grip points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If support members are arranged laterally outside the tubular body, then two-handed lifting is enabled, but the user's hands are closer to the side wall and exposed to released steam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetwo-handed lifting capabilityVSAvoidsteam exposure to user
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A vapor barrier member is introduced as an intermediary element positioned between the lateral support members and the steam-containing interior of the cooking element. This vapor barrier member extends laterally outward to shield the user's hands from steam exposure while allowing the support members to maintain their lateral positioning for two-handed lifting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the cooking element size is increased, then more cooking capacity is provided, but the weight increases making it difficult to lift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking capacityVSAvoidlifting difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting function is segmented across multiple support members positioned at different locations on the cooking element. This distribution of support points allows larger and heavier cooking elements to be lifted more easily by providing multiple grip points for the user's hands, accommodating increased cooking capacity without proportionally increasing lifting difficulty.

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

The solution effectively limits steam exposure risks and facilitates two-handed lifting of cooking elements, even for larger or heavier sizes, by directing steam laterally away from the user's hands, enhancing user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

at least one vapor barrier member extends outside the tubular body under the or at least one of the support member(s), because the or at least one of the member(s) -steam has a lower face raised towards a lateral end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVapor barrier:

Implementation Method 2

the or at least one of the support member(s), on the one hand, and at least one other support member, on the other hand, are arranged on either side of the tubular body, and at least one other vapor barrier member extends outside the tubular body under the or at least one of the other support member(s)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam flow direction:

Data Source

PatentEP2407070B1Cooking apparatus, in particular for an electric cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 SEB SA
  • EP2407070B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2407070B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2407070B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The element (2) has a tubular body (20) and a support member (24) lifted by a user, where the element is formed from a single piece. The support member is arranged laterally at outside the tubular body. A vapor barrier member (25) extends outside the tubular body under the support member. The vapor barrier member comprises a lower face raised toward a lateral end. The support member includes lateral ends (40, 41) connected to the vapor barrier member. The tubular body forms a support with an orifice. An independent claim is also included for an electrical cooking appliance comprising a cooking element.