Corn Buttering Rest With Containment Trough and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for applying butter to ears of corn often result in a messy application, with melted butter spreading beyond the corn and surfaces, lacking convenience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a butter stick rest and a corn rest with a containment trough and drainage system, allowing for controlled application of melted butter onto corn kernels without mess, featuring a butter base with a peripheral wall and containment wall, and a corn base with openings and a frame that adjusts to accommodate the butter stick and corn, ensuring even coating and liquid drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If melted butter is applied to corn using conventional devices, then butter coating is achieved, but melted butter spreads messily over surfaces and implements
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a corn holder with corn rest, a butter holder with butter rest, and a containment tray. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while containing the butter application process, preventing messy spread across surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A containment tray acts as an intermediary element between the butter source and the surrounding surfaces. The tray captures any excess or spilled melted butter, serving as a mediator that prevents the harmful effect of mess while allowing the useful function of butter application to proceed.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a containment structure is added to prevent butter mess, then mess is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated device: the corn holder and butter holder are combined in one unit, the containment tray is integrated with the holders, and the drainage system is built-in. This merging reduces the need for multiple separate components and simplifies the overall device while maintaining containment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions simultaneously: holding corn, holding butter, containing spills, and draining excess butter. This multi-functionality is achieved through an integrated design where each component serves more than one purpose, reducing the need for additional separate devices or complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If drainage slots are added to prevent butter accumulation, then butter control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment tray incorporates drainage slots that function similarly to porous structures, allowing liquid butter to pass through while retaining solid food items. This approach provides effective drainage control using a simple geometric feature rather than complex filtration mechanisms, maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system utilizes simple geometric parameters (slot size, position, and orientation) to control butter flow. By adjusting these parameters during manufacturing, effective drainage is achieved without requiring complex mechanisms or multiple manufacturing processes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 device effectively applies melted butter to corn kernels while minimizing mess, allowing for easy use by individuals of all ages and accommodating various butter types, including flavored options, with the drainage system preventing butter accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a base including a floor, wherein the lower edge of the peripheral wall attaches to, and extends upward from, the floor
Data Source
AI summary
A device for buttering an ear of corn having a butter stick platform and a corn rest. The butter stick platform has an upper butter base surface for supporting a butter stick, and a peripheral wall extending downward to a base. A containment wall can surround and be separated laterally from the peripheral wall to provide a trough between the peripheral wall and the containment wall. The corn rest has a corn base having a concave upper surface with openings for placement thereupon of an ear of corn, and a frame having side walls that extend downwardly partly into the trough when the corn rest is in a first position resting upon a stick of butter. As the butter stick melts and is used, the frame rides downward into the trough to maintain contact between the ear of corn and the butter stick.