Griddle Cover With Polymer Feet to Protect Non-Stick Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing griddle covers are either expensive, wasteful, and heavy when made from the same material as the griddle, or costly and labor-intensive to manufacture due to the need for high-temperature-resistant silicone gaskets to protect the non-stick coating from metallic abrasion.
Innovation Solution
A griddle cover with a stainless steel body and polymer feet, where the feet are removably attached to support elements, providing a protective barrier without damaging the non-stick coating, and are easy to mount and remove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a silicone gasket is used to protect the non-stick coating from metallic abrasion, then the griddle surface is protected, but manufacturing cost increases and assembly becomes labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the cover body itself and implemented through removable feet that can be attached or detached as needed. This separates the protective element from the permanent structure, allowing simpler manufacturing of the cover body while maintaining protection when feet are installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The feet are designed as simple, inexpensive, replaceable components made from non-metallic material. Rather than requiring expensive high-temperature-resistant silicone gaskets permanently bonded to the cover, users can attach simple plastic or polymer feet that are cheaper to manufacture and assemble.
2Shape
If a metallic griddle cover is used, then the cover is light and attractive, but the metal can be abrasive to the non-stick coating
Solution Approach 1:
The feet act as an intermediary element between the metallic cover body and the non-stick griddle surface. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact between the metal and the coating, eliminating abrasion damage while allowing the metallic cover to maintain its attractive appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective non-metallic material is applied locally only where contact with the griddle surface occurs (at the feet), rather than requiring the entire cover body to be made from non-metallic material. This maintains the attractive metallic appearance of the cover while providing protection only where needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a griddle cover is made from the same material as the griddle, then protection is maximized, but the cover becomes expensive and wasteful of materials
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented into separate removable feet rather than requiring the entire cover body to be made from protective non-metallic material. This allows the cover to be constructed from inexpensive metallic material while providing protection only through the small feet that contact the griddle surface, significantly reducing material usage and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance having a griddle cover includes an appliance body; a cooktop on the appliance body and having a griddle; a griddle cover for removable disposition on the griddle for protecting the griddle from contaminants, the griddle cover including a cover body having a plurality of support elements on the cover body; and a mounting arrangement for removably mounting the griddle cover to the griddle including a plurality of feet mounted to the support elements for supporting the griddle cover on the griddle.