Locking Foldable Cook-Pot Handle for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cook-pots face challenges with either bulky fixed handles or removable handles that can be lost or damaged, making them impractical for backpacking or storage.
Innovation Solution
A foldable handle that is permanently affixed to the cook-pot, allowing it to be selectively locked in a closed position for storage and easily unlocked for use, minimizing the cook-pot's cross-sectional area and providing a safe handling mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed handle is used on a cook-pot, then the handle provides stable and safe manipulation capability, but the cook-pot becomes bulky and awkward to pack
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed to be movable between a deployed position for handling and a folded position for compact storage. The handle can rotate about a pivot point to transition between these states, allowing the cook-pot to adapt its configuration based on whether it is being used or stored, thus resolving the contradiction between handling safety and packaging volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is divided into multiple segments or sections that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the handle to fold into a compact configuration when not in use, reducing the overall volume of the cook-pot for packing, while still maintaining the full-length handle structure when deployed for safe manipulation.
2Volume of moving object
If a removable handle is used on a cook-pot, then the handle can be easily stored, but the handle can easily be lost or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The handle employs a dynamic locking mechanism that allows it to be securely fixed in the deployed position for reliable handling, while still being capable of folding to a compact position for storage. The locking mechanism ensures the handle remains attached to the cook-pot body, preventing loss or damage, while the folding capability enables easy storage.
3Reliability
If a foldable handle is permanently affixed to the cook-pot, then the handle cannot be lost or damaged separately, but the handle increases the cross-sectional area when in use
Solution Approach 1:
The permanently affixed handle incorporates a folding mechanism that allows it to rotate about a pivot point. When folded, the handle minimizes the cross-sectional area of the cook-pot for compact storage. When deployed, the handle extends to provide the necessary length for safe manipulation, while remaining permanently attached to prevent loss or damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable handle for a cook-pot including a bracket attached to the cook-pot, a handle member, a lock member and a bracing link member. The handle member has an upper end portion pivotally connected to the bracket, and opposed first and second sidewalls, each with an upper opening located in the upper end portion of the handle member and a lower opening located in a lower end portion of the handle member. The handle member has a guide channel with a lock member slidably disposed therein for movement between the upper and lower end portions of the handle member. First and second resiliently flexible members each having a projection for removably fitting within corresponding upper and lower openings of the first and second sidewalls. The link member has a first end rotatable retained by the bracket, and a second end rotatably attached to the lock member.