Food Grating Lid Assembly With Ramped Urging for Refillable Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cheese grating containers require cheese to be trimmed or cut into smaller pieces to fit, leading to waste, and are complex and costly to manufacture, with non-reusable designs that complicate refilling.
Innovation Solution
A container with a grating member and an urging element featuring an inclined ramped surface that allows for independent rotation, enabling cheese to be grated and dispensed without needing to be cut, and a design that is easy to manufacture and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a central threaded rod is used in the container, then the grating function is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grating assembly is segmented into a grating member with cutting edges and an urging element with ramped surfaces, eliminating the need for a central threaded rod. The grating member can be detached and replaced independently, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the grating function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a central rod to push cheese against a stationary grating surface, the invention inverts the approach by using an urging element with ramped surfaces that rotates to push cheese against cutting edges on the grating member, eliminating the need for a threaded rod entirely.
2Ease of operation
If cheese is trimmed to fit the container opening, then the cheese can be loaded into the container, but valuable cheese portions are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The grating member includes a depending skirt that extends downward, creating a larger effective opening dimension. This allows large cheese blocks to be loaded into the container without trimming, as the cheese can be inserted through the opening and positioned against the grating surface from above.
3Reliability
If a complex grating assembly with multiple parts is used, then the grating function is achieved, but the refilling process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The grating assembly is divided into separable components: a grating member with cutting edges and a urging element. The grating member can be detached from the container by releasing retaining clips, allowing easy removal and replacement without disassembling the entire container, simplifying the refilling process.
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
Reduces cheese waste by allowing large cheese blocks to be used without cutting, simplifies the manufacturing process, and enables easy refilling and reuse of the grating assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The urging element includes at least one inclined ramp relative to the grating surface
Data Source
AI summary
A lid assembly for a food storage container includes a grating member removably attachable relative to the container. The grating member includes a grating surface having a plurality of cutting edges and a plurality of apertures configured to permit grated food product to pass therethrough. A drive member is rotatably coupled to the grating member. The drive element is drivingly coupled to an urging element that includes at least one inclined ramp surface. During rotation of the drive element relative to the container, the inclined ramp surfaces of the urging member urge the food product along the grating surface to grate and dispense the food product from the container.