Hand Blender Helical Shield Movement for Hard Food Reach

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hand blenders struggle to effectively process hard foods due to limited reach and require significant force to dislodge food debris, leading to inefficient processing and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A hand blender design featuring a rotatable shaft with a pivoting shield that allows for axial movement, converting it into a helical motion, enabling the working part to reach hard-to-reach areas without manual twisting, and incorporating a prestressing element for user-friendly operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the bell is rigidly mounted and the blade is firmly attached in a fixed horizontal position, then the structural stability and ease of manufacture are improved, but the processing space reach and ability to access food debris under walls deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidprocessing space reach
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the bell elastically deformable rather than rigid. The bell is designed to be pressable in the axial direction, allowing it to dynamically adapt its shape during operation. This enables the blade to reach food debris under the walls when the bell is pressed, while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the bell from rigid to elastically deformable. By selecting appropriate elastic materials and designing the bell's wall thickness and geometry, the system achieves both structural stability in its resting state and enhanced reach capability when deformed under axial pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If force is applied to push the bell wall deep into the food to reach hard food pieces, then the ability to process hard foods is improved, but the force required becomes excessively high for many users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to process hard foodsVSAvoidforce required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The elastically deformable bell allows progressive deformation under applied force, enabling the system to process hard foods effectively while keeping the required force within reasonable limits for average users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bell is designed as a flexible elastic shell that can deform under axial pressure to reach food under walls. The elastic material properties are selected to provide sufficient flexibility for reaching food while maintaining structural integrity and requiring only moderate force from the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If the shaft is rigidly mounted, then the manufacturing precision and structural stability are improved, but the ability to adapt to different processing conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidadaptability to processing conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces controlled flexibility in the bell while maintaining rigid mounting of the shaft and blade. This selective application of dynamics allows the system to adapt to different processing conditions through bell deformation, while the rigid shaft ensures manufacturing precision and stable blade positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making only the bell elastically deformable while keeping the shaft and blade rigid. This localized flexibility allows adaptation to processing conditions where food access is needed, while maintaining manufacturing precision in the critical shaft and blade components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Reduces the force required for processing hard foods, allows for better access to food debris, and improves processing efficiency, making it easier for both experienced and inexperienced users to achieve effective stirring and chopping.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (122) arranged in the inner assembly (114) and acting with a prestressing force in the axial direction on the working part (124)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A guide groove (118) is provided in the outer assembly (112) within which a projection (120) provided on the inner assembly (114) is guided such that an axial movement of the inner assembly (114) with respect to the outer assembly (112) results in a helical movement of the inner assembly (114) with respect to the outer assembly (112)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical motion mechanism: Helix

Data Source

PatentEP3664671B1Implement for stirring or comminuting food
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 DE LONGHI BRAUN HOUSEHOLD GMBH
  • EP3664671B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3664671B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3664671B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The present invention relates to an implement for stirring or comminuting food, having a rotatable shaft which is driven by a motor, a working part being provided on the end of said shaft opposite to the motor, and having an inner assembly and an outer assembly which at least partially define a housing of the implement, wherein the inner assembly is provided so as to be movable within the outer assembly, and wherein the inner assembly rotatably bears the shaft in such a way that the working part is situated on an outer side of the implement in order to be able to stir or comminute food, wherein the working part is provided within a shield which is provided on the outer assembly, wherein the inner assembly, together with the shaft which is borne by it, is movable axially in the direction of the shaft with respect to the outer assembly, and wherein the inner assembly is borne with respect to the outer assembly in such a way that an axial movement of the inner assembly with respect to the outer assembly leads to a rotational movement of the outer assembly with respect to the inner assembly.