Connection mechanism for grilling utensil with a removable tip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grill cleaning tools often become clogged with debris, fail to conform to the rounded surfaces of grill grates, and can leave behind wire bristles, posing health risks and not effectively removing charred debris from all areas of the grill surface.

Innovation Solution

A grilling utensil with a permanent body and a replaceable tip featuring a conformable scraping edge made of heat-responsive material, such as wood, that forms grooves matching the grill surface profile through pressure and heat, coupled magnetically to the handle for efficient debris removal without waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a hard scraping surface is used to clean the upper surface of the grill grate, then the scraping efficiency is improved, but the ability to conform to rounded surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraping efficiencyVSAvoidconformability to rounded surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper is divided into a rigid body portion and a separate flexible scraping element. The rigid body provides structural support and leverage, while the flexible element can conform to rounded grill surfaces. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping element is made of a material with specific flexibility parameters that allow it to bend and conform to curved surfaces while maintaining sufficient rigidity to scrape effectively. The material properties are selected to balance flexibility and scraping effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If wire bristle brushes are used to clean grill surfaces, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the risk of bristle contamination and health hazards increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidbristle contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful wire bristles are completely removed from the cleaning tool design. Instead, a solid flexible scraping element is used that performs the cleaning function without the risk of shedding bristles into food.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible scraping element can be replaced when worn, providing a safe, disposable-like solution that eliminates long-term bristle shedding risks associated with traditional wire brushes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Area of stationary object

If brushes are used to clean the grill grate, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the tendency to become clogged with debris worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidbrush functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The brush bristles that become clogged are replaced with a solid flexible scraping surface that does not have interstices to trap debris, eliminating the clogging problem while maintaining broad cleaning coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If a permanent grill cleaning tool is used, then the initial cost is reduced, but the long-term material waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost reductionVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The tool is segmented into a permanent handle and a replaceable scraping element. The permanent handle can be reused indefinitely, while only the worn scraping element needs replacement, reducing overall material waste compared to replacing entire permanent tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows for discarding only the worn flexible element while recovering and reusing the permanent handle portion, minimizing material waste and extending the overall tool lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Effectively scrapes char and debris from all areas of the grill surface, reduces material waste by allowing tip replacement, and eliminates the risk of bristle contamination, providing a safer and more efficient cleaning experience.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic element arranged in the permanent body and configured to magnetically couple the replaceable tip to the permanent body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

a conformable scraping edge that is manipulated across the heated grill surface... a combination of pressure applied by a user as well as the heat of the grill surface results in the formation of individual grooves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat-responsive material deformation: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11399660B2Connection mechanism for grilling utensil with a removable tip

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 THOMPSON BROS

AI summary

A grilling tool is described herein that has a replaceable tip, and can be used with a variety of other attachments. The grilling tool can be made of a heat-conformable material such that during use grooves are formed in the replaceable tip that correspond to a grilling surface on which it is used. Once the grooves are too deep or the tip is fully used, the tip can be replaced.