Gas Manifold Mounting Bracket for Stable Grill Assembly

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas grills lack sufficient stability and support for the gas distribution manifold, which can lead to instability during assembly and use, particularly as they are often shipped in a partially disassembled state requiring consumer assembly without specialized tools.

Innovation Solution

A mounting bracket system that securely attaches the gas distribution manifold to both the fire box and grill support frame, providing additional stability and support through a unitary design with a manifold support portion, a fire box attachment portion, and a frame attachment portion, allowing for ease of assembly without specialized tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the gas distribution manifold is mounted only to the fire box using traditional brackets, then the assembly is simple and easy to manufacture, but the stability and support of the manifold is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of gas distribution manifoldVSAvoidcomplexity of mounting bracket system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single unitary mounting bracket structure that simultaneously attaches the gas distribution manifold to both the fire box and the grill support frame. This integrated bracket provides enhanced stability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the gas distribution manifold is mounted only to the fire box, then the device complexity is low, but the stability during assembly and use is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of gas distribution manifoldVSAvoidease of assembly without specialized tools

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket is designed with multiple attachment points and configurations that allow it to securely connect the gas distribution manifold to both the fire box and the grill support frame. This multi-functional design provides enhanced stability while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized fastening methods that do not require specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a unitary mounting bracket is used to attach the manifold to both fire box and support frame, then the stability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and stability of gas distribution manifoldVSAvoidcomplexity of bracket structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single unitary mounting bracket structure that simultaneously attaches the gas distribution manifold to both the fire box and the grill support frame. This integrated bracket provides enhanced stability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8919706B2Gas manifold bracket for gas grill

Publication Date: 2014.12.30 WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS

AI summary

A gas distribution mounting bracket for gas grills that simultaneously secures a gas distribution manifold to the fire box and support frame of the gas grill.