Cooktop Edge Sensing for Protruding Pan Handle Warnings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hobs do not effectively prevent accidents caused by cooking vessels protruding from the cooking surface, leading to risks of snagging for users and children, and previous safety solutions are impractical or unsightly.
Innovation Solution
A hob equipped with sensors along its edges to detect protrusions of cooking vessels and a presence detection system to alert users of potential hazards, including a time delay feature to assess user absence, providing warnings to prevent accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grids or nets are installed at the edge of the hob to prevent access, then safety against snagging accidents is improved, but the device becomes unsightly and impractical for cooking operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical barrier system (grids or nets) with an optical detection system consisting of sensors that detect the presence of cooking vessels on the hob surface. This substitution eliminates the need for physical barriers while maintaining safety functionality through automated detection and warning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary warning system that mediates between the detection of protruding vessels and the user. Instead of direct physical prevention, the system uses sensors to detect vessel positions and triggers visual or audible warnings to alert users of potential snagging hazards, allowing cooking operations to continue uninterrupted.
2Reliability
If grids or nets are installed at the edge of the hob, then safety against snagging accidents is improved, but the appearance becomes unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical barrier system (grids or nets) with an optical detection system consisting of sensors that detect the presence of cooking vessels on the hob surface. This substitution eliminates the need for physical barriers while maintaining safety functionality through automated detection and warning mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If power is reduced when no one approaches the hob, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooking quality deteriorates and snagging accidents are not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical barrier system (grids or nets) with an optical detection system consisting of sensors that detect the presence of cooking vessels on the hob surface. This substitution eliminates the need for physical barriers while maintaining safety functionality through automated detection and warning mechanisms.
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 prevents accidents by detecting and warning users of protruding cooking vessel parts, ensuring user safety without the need for impractical barriers, while being aesthetically and practically integrated into the hob design.
Implementation Method 1
the means for detecting the projection comprising at least one sensor located along said at least one free side of the hob
Implementation Method 2
means for detecting the presence of a person close to the hob, located under the plane of the cooking surface and arranged in a plane inclined with respect to the plane of said hob
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The device (5) has a detecting unit for detecting exceed of a part i.e. handle (4') of a cooking container (4) e.g. frying pan, beyond a free side (2a) of a cooking surface (2') of a cooking appliance i.e. cooktop (2), of a worktop (1). A warning unit indicates exceed of the part of the cooking container. The detecting unit has a sensor (6) located along the free side of the surface of the worktop. Another sensor (7) i.e. telemeter, detects presence of a person (20) near the cooking surface. An independent claim is also included for a safety method against accidents caused by hitching of a cooking container placed on a worktop.