Cutting board
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting boards with hood elements face challenges in height limitations and difficulty in reshaping between configurations due to rigid edges that restrict the formation of flexible walls, limiting their functionality and usability.
Innovation Solution
A cutting board design featuring a collar with a dimensionally stable strip and a membrane that can be reversibly folded, allowing for greater freedom of movement and height adjustment, with two free ends that can move independently to create a high collecting wall or fold down for space-saving, enhancing usability and food security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid rim is used to maintain hood shape, then structural stability is improved, but the flexibility and freedom of movement of the hood wall is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The hood structure is segmented into a rigid rim portion and a flexible wall portion. The rigid rim provides structural stability and shape maintenance, while the flexible wall portion allows for folding and height adjustment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functional properties to different parts of the hood structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the hood have different mechanical properties: the rim area has high rigidity for structural support, while the wall areas have high flexibility for movement and folding. This local differentiation of material properties allows the hood to simultaneously achieve structural stability and operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If the hood wall height is increased for better food containment, then food security is improved, but the space required for folding and storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hood wall is designed to fold nested against the base or against itself when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure. This allows the hood to achieve a large effective height during operation for food containment, while collapsing to a compact form for storage, resolving the contradiction between height and storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood wall transitions between two dynamic states: an extended state with high wall height for food containment during use, and a folded state with compact dimensions for storage. This dynamic adaptability allows the structure to optimize for either food security or space efficiency depending on the operational context.
3Shape
If the rigid rim extends to the board edges on both sides, then shape maintenance is improved, but the space for folds in the flexible wall is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid rim does not extend symmetrically to both edges of the board. Instead, it is positioned asymmetrically to provide adequate space for the flexible wall folds on one side while maintaining sufficient structural support. This asymmetric configuration resolves the contradiction by optimizing the balance between shape maintenance and folding space.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism utilizes the third dimension (vertical space) by allowing the flexible wall to fold upward and nest against the base or rim structure. This dimensional approach to folding accommodates the rigid rim positioning while still providing sufficient space for the folding mechanism.
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 design provides improved food security and space management, allowing for safe storage and preparation of various foods, easy cleaning, and efficient use of space, while protecting the membrane from stress and extending its longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (10) connecting the strip (9) to the base (2). The membrane (10) has at least two predetermined folding points (11) at which it can be reversibly folded in and out, for raising or lowering the strip (9)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a cutting board (1) comprising a flat, rigid base (2) with a top (3), a bottom (4), and a circumferential edge (5), suitable for cutting food. A collar (8) is attached to a first section (6) of the circumferential edge (5). This collar has a continuous, rigid strip (9) spaced evenly from the circumferential edge (5), and a membrane (10) that connects the strip (9) to the base (2). The membrane (10) has at least two predetermined folding points (11) at which it can be reversibly folded in and out to raise or lower the strip (9). The collar (8) and the strip (9) extend over at least 90°, preferably 180°, of the circumferential edge (5).The rigid strip (9) has a first free end (12) and a second free end (13) spaced apart from it, so that even in the unfolded state of the membrane (10) the entire strip (9) is evenly spaced between its free ends (12, 13) and the circumferential edge (5).