Dynamic Bowl Lid Sealing Assembly for Multi-Size Food Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Countertop food processors require a separate lid for each bowl size due to the rigid nature and fixed size of the bowls, making it inconvenient to have a single lid that can securely fit multiple sizes, especially when bowls are nested.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sealing ring mounted to a lid with resilient springs that compress and relax, providing a downwardly biased force to ensure a sealing engagement with the bowl rim, allowing the lid to fit multiple bowl sizes and accommodate nested bowls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid fixed-size lid is used for each bowl size, then a secure locking fit is achieved, but it requires multiple lids for different bowl sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with a universal sealing assembly that can accommodate multiple bowl sizes (6-quart, 4.5-quart, and 3-quart bowls) through a single unit. The resilient springs and flexible sealing ring allow the same lid to create secure sealing engagement with different bowl diameters, eliminating the need for separate lids for each bowl size.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing assembly incorporates resilient springs that can compress and expand dynamically to adapt to different bowl sizes. The flexible sealing ring mounted on the dynamic ring can deform elastically to conform to various rim diameters, enabling the single lid to maintain secure engagement across multiple bowl configurations.
2Ease of operation
If a single lid is designed to fit multiple bowl sizes, then convenience is improved, but sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly uses a flexible sealing ring made of elastomeric material that can deform and conform to different bowl rim surfaces. This flexibility allows the seal to maintain intimate contact with various bowl sizes while preserving sealing reliability, preventing food contact between nested bowls.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient springs are pre-loaded to provide a downwardly biased force on the sealing ring before engagement with the bowl rim. This pre-compression ensures that the sealing ring is already in a state ready to conform to and seal against the bowl surface, maintaining reliable sealing engagement across different bowl sizes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resilient springs are used to provide downwardly biased force, then sealing adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is designed with a nested structure where the flexible sealing ring is mounted on the dynamic ring, which is in turn mounted on the stationary ring, with resilient springs positioned between them. This nested arrangement compactly integrates multiple functional elements (springs, dynamic ring, sealing ring) into a single assembly that fits within the lid, minimizing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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
Enables a single lid to securely cover multiple bowl sizes, including nested configurations, enhancing convenience and efficiency while maintaining a secure sealing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
resilient springs that compress and relax in order to provide a downwardly biased force
Implementation Method 2
A flexible sealing ring which may be made of silicone rubber or a suitable elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
A lid 1 that is adapted to cover a food processor bowl 2 has a flexible sealing ring assembly 3 that is mounted to a lower surface of the lid 1, along the perimeter. The sealing assembly 3 includes resilient springs 4 that compress and relax in order to provide a downwardly biased force between the sealing assembly 3 and the upper rim 5 of a bowl 2 to which the lid 1 is mounted.