Foldable Lid Handgrip With Hinged Locking Handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handgrips for cooking vessel lids are bulky, increasing the overall size of cooking vessels and lacking a reliable safety mechanism to maintain the gripping element in an open position, potentially causing burns.

Innovation Solution

A compact handgrip design featuring a hinged handle that snaps onto a base element, allowing rotation from a folded to an open position using symmetrical pins and block teeth for secure grip and heat insulation, with materials like phenolic resin for the base and nylon for the handle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the handgrip portion is made voluminous to ensure safe gripping and heat insulation, then heat insulation capability is improved, but the overall bulk of the cooking vessel increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat insulation capabilityVSAvoidoverall bulk of cooking vessel
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The handgrip portion is designed to be foldable relative to the coupling portion, allowing it to transition between an extended gripping position and a retracted compact position. This dynamic configuration enables the handgrip to provide adequate heat insulation and gripping surface area when needed, while reducing the overall bulk of the cooking vessel when the grip is not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The foldable handgrip design allows the gripping portion to be nested against or near the coupling portion when not in use, similar to nested dolls. This reduces the external dimensions of the knob while maintaining the functional volume of the handgrip when deployed, effectively solving the contradiction between insulation capability and overall bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a safety system is added to maintain the gripping element in open position, then user safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser safetyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The knob design allows the user to manually position the foldable handgrip in either the gripping or compact configuration, and it remains stable in that position without requiring additional safety mechanisms. The user themselves performs the function of maintaining the gripping element in the desired position, eliminating the need for complex automatic safety systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The foldable handgrip provides inherent stability when positioned in the open gripping configuration due to its structural design and connection to the coupling portion. This partial mechanical stability reduces or eliminates the need for additional safety systems, achieving user safety without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 a safe, easy-to-grip, and compact solution that reduces bulk, ensuring effective heat insulation and secure handling of cooking vessels while preventing burns.

Implementation Method 1

the base element (14) consists of a monolithic body, preferably manufactured with a thermosetting polymeric material, for example in phenolic resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The handle (16) is hinged with respect to the base element (14) and can rotate from a closed or folded configuration to an open configuration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP2708171B1Handgrip for cooking vessels
Publication Date: 2015.04.01 LA TERMOPLASTIOC F B M SRL
  • EP2708171B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1B
  • EP2708171B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2B
  • EP2708171B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3B

AI summary

The invention describes a handgrip (10) for a cooking vessel, usable in particular as a knob of a lid (12). The handgrip (10) comprises a base element (14), able to be fixed to the lid (12) or to a wall of the cooking vessel, and a gripping element or handle (16), snap-coupled with such a base element (14). The gripping element or handle (16) is hinged with respect to the base element (14) and can rotate from a closed or folded configuration, in which such a gripping element or handle (16) rests on the base element (14) in order to allow the handgrip (10) to reduce its own size in height, to an open configuration, in which such a gripping element or handle (16) is raised according to a right angle with respect to the base element (14) and can be gripped in order to raise the lid (12) or the cooking vessel on which the handgrip (10) is applied.