Flexible Non-Stick Template Mat for Custom Pancake Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countertop appliances, such as griddles, lack versatility in creating custom pancake shapes and designs, as they often require multiple, expensive, and space-consuming template pans for different appearances.
Innovation Solution
A reusable batter template system featuring flexible, non-stick template mats with etched designs that can be used on various cooking surfaces, including griddles and pans, allowing for interchangeable designs and easy cleaning, and can be customized to fit specific appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple template pans are purchased to create different pancake appearances, then design variety is improved, but cost and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the template system into separate removable template sheets that can be detached from the pan body. This allows users to store only the template sheets rather than entire pans, significantly reducing storage space while maintaining the ability to switch between different designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The template sheets are designed to be universally compatible with multiple pan types and sizes. A single set of template sheets can be used across different cooking surfaces, eliminating the need for dedicated pans for each design and reducing both cost and storage requirements.
2Ease of operation
If template mats are made from flexible non-stick materials, then ease of cleaning and interchangeability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The template mats are constructed from flexible non-stick materials such as PTFE (Teflon) that can be easily wiped clean and conform to different cooking surfaces. This flexibility enables easy cleaning and interchangeability between designs while the thin-film construction keeps manufacturing relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The template designs are created by etching patterns into the flexible material, which can then be replicated across multiple sheets. This copying process allows for easy production of multiple identical or varied templates from master patterns, simplifying the manufacturing of additional designs.
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 easy creation of custom pancake shapes and colors without the need for multiple template pans, reducing costs and storage space while maintaining ease of use and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the non-stick sheet can comprise a polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE") sheet that is both non-stick and compatible with conventional cooking temperatures
Implementation Method 2
Positioning the template mat within a boundary defined by the lip of the countertop griddle helps to secure the template mat to the cooking surface and promotes contact of the template mat with the cooking surface for heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A batter template system and related methods of forming custom pancakes. The batter template system can include one or more template mats made from flexible, non-stick materials that are suitable for use with food and can accommodate conventional cooking temperatures. The template mat can have thermal properties allowing for rapid heating and can be non-perforated. Each template mat can include a permanently etched design on one or both sides of a non-stick sheet. The template mat can be sized and shaped to fit onto a cooking surface of a countertop griddle, cooking pan or even range top surface. One or more pancake batters can be traced or otherwise applied to the etched design to form a pancake depicting a visual design element.