Foldable Cooking Vessel Handle With Spring-Locking Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking vessel handles are either flimsy, require user-supplied tension for secure attachment, or have parts that can be lost or difficult to change between vessels, especially when hot, leading to instability and safety concerns during outdoor activities like camping.
Innovation Solution
A foldable, lightweight vessel handle system with a spring-biased locking mechanism that securely attaches to a variety of vessels without requiring user tension, featuring a pivotally interconnected design with channels and locking pins for secure engagement and easy detachment, and is designed to minimize heat conduction and prevent parts from being lost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spring steel universal handles with retentive memory are used, then the handle can be easily attached and detached, but the handle becomes flimsy and does not provide secure attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into two separate handles that can be positioned on opposite sides of the vessel, each engaging with the bracket independently. This segmentation allows each handle to provide structural support while maintaining ease of operation through the bracket's engagement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The two handles are combined with the bracket system to form a unified attachment structure. The bracket serves as a common engagement point that merges the functionality of multiple handles, providing both ease of operation and reliable secure attachment through its design features.
2Reliability
If pliers type universal handles are used, then the handle provides stable handling, but the handle requires user tension to remain engaged and can accidentally detach
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed to maintain engagement with the handles without requiring continuous user tension. The bracket's structure provides self-retention through its engagement mechanism, allowing the handles to remain securely attached during vessel manipulation and pouring operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the handle gripping the vessel directly like pliers, the bracket is fixed to the vessel and the handles engage with the bracket. This inversion transfers the gripping function to the bracket-vessel interface, allowing stable handling without continuous user tension on the handles themselves.
3Reliability
If semi-permanent handles with wing-nuts are used, then the handle can be securely attached, but the handle is difficult to attach and detach and requires touching the hot vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The manual wing-nut tightening mechanism is replaced with a spring-loaded engagement system. The spring provides the necessary securing force automatically when the handle is attached to the bracket, eliminating the need for manual tightening operations and making the system easy to operate even with hot vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded during assembly to provide immediate engagement force when the handle contacts the bracket. This preliminary action ensures secure attachment without requiring the user to perform additional tightening operations after attachment.
4Reliability
If each vessel has its own handle, then the handle is dedicated and reliable, but the weight and mass of the cook set increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed as a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate multiple handles and potentially different handle configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single bracket design to serve multiple vessels or handle types, reducing the need for multiple dedicated handles and lowering overall cook set weight.
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 handle system provides a secure, stable, and ergonomic solution that remains attached during use and can be easily stored, eliminating the need for multiple handles and reducing weight, while allowing safe manipulation of vessels without risking accidental detachment or heat conduction.
Implementation Method 1
Spring biased locking pin within channel of first handle protrudes from first handle between the handle flanges for releasable engagement with pot bracket carried by vessel
Implementation Method 2
Second end portion of first handle and first end portion of second handle are pivotally interconnected for first handle to optionally fold into channel of second handle
Implementation Method 3
Spring biased handle lock in second handle channel releasably engages with locking seat of first handle to secure the first handle and second handle in extended end-to-end alignment for use
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking vessel bracket and handle provides a first handle portion and a second handle portion each having opposing end portions, parallel spaced apart sides and a back defining a channel between the ends. First handle has handle flanges at first end portion and locking seat at second end portion. Second end portion of first handle and first end portion of second handle are pivotally interconnected for first handle to optionally fold into channel of second handle. Spring biased locking pin within channel of first handle protrudes from first handle between the handle flanges for releasable engagement with pot bracket carried by vessel and operatively communicates with a thumb slide for axial movement in channel. Spring biased handle lock in second handle channel releasably engages with locking seat of first handle to secure the first handle and second handle in extended end to end alignment for use.