Electric Kettle Double Wall Structure for Wire Routing and Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric kettles face issues such as internal contamination from plastic components, inconvenience in handle structure and operation, increased volume due to heating wire and control unit placement, and compromised hygiene and durability.
Innovation Solution
The electric kettle features a double wall structure with an outer and inner body made of stainless steel, a heating module controlled by a main PCB in the handle, and electric wires guided between the walls, along with a compact design and improved wire arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the main body is made of plastic material to facilitate internal structure arrangement, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hygiene and durability deteriorate due to harmful components dissolving in hot water and vulnerability to scratches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a double wall structure where the inner body is made of stainless steel (metal material) and the outer body is made of plastic material. This composite material approach allows the inner steel body to provide hygiene and durability while the outer plastic body facilitates internal structure arrangement and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If the main body is made of glass material to improve hygiene and appearance, then hygiene and aesthetics are improved, but durability and ease of use deteriorate due to impact damage risk, heavy weight, and molding difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces glass with a composite material structure consisting of an inner stainless steel body and an outer plastic body. The stainless steel inner body provides hygiene and durability without the weight and fragility of glass, while the plastic outer body enables easy molding and manufacturing.
3Device complexity
If the heating wire and control unit are disposed on the heating part below the main body, then device structure is simplified, but volume increases and actual water containing space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the control unit from the heating part (bottom dimension) to the handle (side/upper dimension). The heating wire and control unit are arranged in the handle, utilizing the vertical and lateral space of the handle rather than occupying the bottom heating area, thus preserving water containing space while maintaining device functionality.
4Ease of operation
If the handle is connected to both upper and lower portions of the main body to connect the heating part and on-off switch, then operational control is improved, but handle structure becomes limited and convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handle into functionally independent parts: the upper handle for holding and operation, and the lower handle portion that can be selectively connected. The on-off switch and control unit are placed in the upper handle, allowing operation without requiring connection to the lower portion, thus simplifying the overall handle structure while maintaining operational convenience.
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
This design enhances hygiene, durability, and ease of use while maintaining a compact structure and reducing the risk of contamination, improving the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a heating module configured to heat water inside the body
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric kettle includes a body configured to form a space in which water is contained, a handle protruding from an outer surface of the body, a heating module provided inside the body to heat water inside the body, an operation portion provided in the handle to operate so as to control an operation of the heating module, and a main printed circuit board (PCB) provided inside the handle to control the operation of the heating module according to an operation of the operation portion. The body is formed in a double wall structure of double walls spaced apart from each other, and an electric wire that connects the main PCB and the heating module is guided from the handle to the heating module through a space between the double walls of the body.