Grilling accessory and grilling system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grilling accessories require multiple food carriers with different patterns, leading to increased storage needs and inefficiencies in cooking, as food must be turned and carriers exchanged to achieve desired patterns on both sides.

Innovation Solution

A grilling accessory comprising two food carriers with opposing cooking areas, connected via a joint or fixing element, allowing simultaneous cooking from both sides and reducing the need for multiple carriers by enabling different patterns on each side through modular structuring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple food carriers with different patterns are used to provide variety on food surfaces, then pattern versatility is improved, but storage space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern versatilityVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple food carriers with different pattern configurations into a single integrated food carrier structure. The food carrier includes a first cooking area with a first pattern and a second cooking area with a second pattern, allowing both patterns to be used simultaneously on different sides of the food without requiring separate carriers for each pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The food carrier is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating both a first cooking area with a first pattern and a second cooking area with a second pattern on the same carrier body. This multi-functional design allows the single carrier to replace multiple specialized carriers, providing pattern versatility while reducing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If food carriers are exchanged during cooking to achieve different patterns on both sides, then pattern variety is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern varietyVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple patterned cooking surfaces into a single food carrier structure. The first cooking area and second cooking area are both integrated into one carrier, allowing both sides of the food to receive different patterns without requiring carrier exchange during the cooking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of exchanging carriers to achieve different patterns on different sides of the food, the invention inverts the approach by having both patterns available simultaneously on the same carrier. The food is placed between the first cooking area and second cooking area, which are positioned to contact opposite sides of the food at the same time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If food is turned during cooking to pattern both surfaces, then uniform cooking is improved, but time expenditure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniform cookingVSAvoidtime expenditure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional cooking process by having the first cooking area and second cooking area contact opposite sides of the food simultaneously. This allows both surfaces of the food to be cooked and patterned at the same time without requiring the food to be turned over during the cooking process, thereby reducing time expenditure while maintaining uniform cooking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This solution allows for uniform cooking of food from both sides without turning, reduces storage requirements, and enables versatile pattern creation on both surfaces, enhancing cooking efficiency and versatility.

Implementation Method 1

The two food carriers are connected with each other via a connecting element comprising a joint

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical joint movement: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

The openings ensure that hot air or steam can flow through them in order to cook the food which is arranged on the respective cooking area appropriately

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10813495B2Grilling accessory and grilling system

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 RATIONAL AG

AI summary

A grilling accessory for use in a cooking space of a cooking appliance is described, which includes two food carriers with at least one cooking area each, which contact a food at the same time. The food carriers are arranged to each other such that the respective cooking areas face each other, wherein at least one of the food carriers has openings in the respective cooking area, wherein the two food carriers are connected with each other via a connecting element comprising a joint. Further, a grilling system is described.