Griddle Scraper with Flexible Squeegee Blade for Non-Flat Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing griddle utensils with straight metal scraping edges are ineffective in clearing grease from non-flat, buckled, or warped griddle surfaces, leading to incomplete grease removal.
Innovation Solution
A griddle utensil featuring a rigid metal scraper head with a V-shape and a flexible squeegee blade holder that allows the flexible squeegee blade to seal against non-flat surfaces, combined with a replaceable squeegee blade for enhanced grease removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid straight scraping edge is used, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to non-flat griddle surfaces is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning edge features localized variation in rigidity: a rigid metal scraper portion for structural stability and a flexible squeegee blade portion for adapting to surface irregularities. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining overall structural integrity while providing surface adaptability where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee blade is designed with flexible material properties that allow it to dynamically conform to the griddle surface contours during the cleaning operation. This dynamic adaptability enables the blade to maintain contact with non-flat surfaces while the rigid scraper portion maintains its structural form.
2Productivity
If a flexible squeegee blade is added, then grease clearing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible squeegee blade and rigid scraper are merged into a single integrated cleaning element that attaches to the handle as one unit. This merging approach adds the grease-clearing function without requiring separate tools or complex multi-component assemblies, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The utensil is designed as a multi-functional tool that performs both scraping and squeegeeing operations. By making the device universal, the added flexibility component serves multiple purposes: clearing grease, reaching into corners, and adapting to various surface conditions, thereby justifying the increased complexity through enhanced versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking utensil having a handle and a rigid metal scraper head connected to the handle is disclosed. The scraper head may include a squeegee blade holder formed thereon, or attached thereto. A squeegee blade may be securely disposed in the squeegee blade holder.