Hinge Bracket Lid Positioning for Refrigerated Prep Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated food preparation tables lack effective mechanisms for holding lids in partially open and fully open positions, which compromises access and protection of food items during preparation and restocking.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated food preparation table with a hinged lid system that includes multiple hinges and a hinge bracket apparatus, featuring pins and slots, allows the lid to be manually positioned and secured in partially open and fully open positions, enhancing access and protection of food items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinged lid is used on a refrigerated food preparation table, then the lid can be moved between closed and open positions for access, but the lid cannot be held in intermediate partially open positions for convenient access during preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The lid positioning mechanism is segmented into discrete detent positions (fully closed, partially open at predetermined angles, and fully open) rather than requiring continuous positioning control. The spring-loaded detent mechanism divides the lid's range of motion into specific stop positions, allowing the lid to be held at convenient intermediate angles without complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded detent mechanism automatically engages and holds the lid at predetermined positions without requiring active control or energy input from the user. The spring force self-adjusts to maintain the lid at the selected position (closed, partially open, or fully open), providing hands-free positioning during food preparation.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is kept fully open for access during preparation, then food item access is improved, but food item protection and preservation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lid positioning system transitions from a static fully open/closed binary state to a dynamic multi-position system. The spring-loaded detent mechanism allows the lid to be held at various intermediate angles, enabling the user to open the lid just enough for the required access while maintaining partial coverage for protection, optimizing both accessibility and preservation dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the lid's travel path serve different functions: the fully closed position provides maximum protection, partially open positions provide balanced access and protection, and the fully open position provides maximum access. The mechanism allows selective application of these different 'qualities' of lid positioning based on the specific task requirement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a spring-loaded detent mechanism is added to hold the lid in multiple positions, then lid positioning flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded detent mechanism is merged with the existing hinge assembly rather than being a separate additive component. The detent features are integrated into the hinge structure, combining the pivoting function with the positioning function in a single unified mechanism, thereby minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: providing the pivot connection between lid and table, enabling movement between positions, and holding the lid at multiple predetermined positions through the integrated spring-loaded detent mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerated food preparation table that includes a food item storage pan with a lid that is allowed to fully close and is held in a partially open position and in a fully open position and hinge brackets or apparatuses for holding a lid in a partially opened position and a fully opened position that include a slot, a surface, and an indentation that each engage pins on the lid. In various embodiments, the slot receives one such pin, the surface guides another pin on the lid as the lid is opened from a fully closed position to the partially opened position, the indentation receives the second pin when the lid is in the partially opened position, and the slot contains the first pin and the second pin when the lid is fully open. The food preparation table can be used to prepare pizza, for example.