Food separation utensil

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food separation utensils, both electrical and manual, lack mobility and flexibility, often requiring a power source or failing to control texture and consistency effectively, leading to inconvenient use and potential overmashing of food products.

Innovation Solution

A food separation utensil with an elongated member featuring a base with primary and secondary blades, providing enhanced control through distinct blade configurations and a gripping surface for stability, allowing for precise separation and manipulation of food without the need for a power source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electrical devices are used for breaking apart ground meats, then the separation effectiveness is improved, but mobility and convenience deteriorate due to power source requirements and cord tangling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidmobility and convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical devices with a manual mechanical device that uses a rotating base with multiple blades to separate ground meats. The device eliminates power source requirements and cord tangling by using manual rotation, while maintaining effective separation through the mechanical action of multiple blades arranged in a circular pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device segments the separation function into multiple independent blades arranged radially around a rotating base. This segmentation allows each blade to independently contribute to the separation process, providing effective food breaking apart while maintaining manual operability and mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If manual mashers are used for food separation, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but control over texture and consistency deteriorates leading to overmashing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility and flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol over texture and consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a rotating base that allows dynamic adjustment of the separation action. The user can control the rotation speed and pressure applied to the food, providing real-time control over texture and consistency while maintaining mobility and flexibility in operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses blades of varying lengths and configurations arranged around the rotating base, creating different local separation zones. This allows different parts of the food to receive different levels of processing, enabling precise control over overall texture and consistency while preventing uniform overmashing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If traditional mashers are used, then device simplicity is improved, but separation effectiveness deteriorates due to insufficient space and overmashing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidseparation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the separation function into multiple blades while maintaining a simple overall structure. The radial arrangement of blades around a rotating base provides effective separation through multiple cutting actions, improving productivity while keeping the device design relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10568463B2Food separation utensil

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 STELLA ANTHONY R

AI summary

A food separation utensil. The food separation utensil includes an elongated member having a working end and a handle end. The working end has a base. The base includes two distinct groups of blades attached to a lower surface thereof. Both groups of blades are designed to separate and otherwise manipulate food products, such as ground meats and vegetables, in order to promote even cooking.