Hinged Cooktop Grate Assembly for Easier Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas cooktop grates are heavy and awkward to remove for cleaning, posing risks of damage and creating obstacles during selective removal, temporary storage, and repositioning.
Innovation Solution
A hinged grate mounting arrangement that allows the grate to be selectively lifted vertically or pivoted, with a locating structure that interlocks with cup members to prevent lifting when pivoted, enabling convenient repositioning and access for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the grate is made heavy and fixed with locating projections, then the grate remains stable and fixed in position over the cooking element, but the grate becomes awkward to remove and reposition
Solution Approach 1:
The grate mounting system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic system that allows multiple states: the grate can be fully removed, pivoted to various angles, or locked in intermediate positions. The hinge mount enables this dynamic behavior while maintaining stability when locked, resolving the contradiction between fixed stability and ease of repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the grate by introducing a hinge mechanism with adjustable angles. The locating structure can engage at different positions along the hinge axis, allowing the grate to be positioned at various angles (0 degrees for cooking, 90 degrees or more for storage against the wall), thus changing from a single-position fixed system to a multi-position adjustable system.
2Ease of operation
If the grate is completely removable, then cleaning access is improved, but the grate must be carefully placed to avoid damaging surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of only vertical removal and placement, the hinge mount introduces rotational movement as another dimension. The grate can be pivoted upward and leaned against the rear wall, utilizing the vertical wall surface as a new storage dimension. This eliminates the need to carefully place the grate on horizontal surfaces, removing the risk of surface damage while maintaining easy cleaning access.
3Ease of operation
If the grate is hinged to pivot in place, then access for cleaning is improved, but the grate cannot be completely removed for thorough cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mount serves multiple functions: it allows the grate to be fully removed for complete cleaning, enables pivoting to various angles for access to hard-to-reach areas, and provides stable locking positions during cooking. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different cleaning needs rather than limiting it to a single pivoting function.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance includes a cooktop (2), at least one cooking element (25, 26, 27, 28) mounted to the cooktop, and a grate (70, 71) including a surface portion (84-99) for supporting a cooking vessel and at least one cup member (156). The grate (70, 71) is mounted to the cooktop (2) with the at least one cup member (156) being interengaged with locating structure on the cooktop such that the grate (70, 71) can be selectively lifted vertically from the cooktop (2) or pivoted relative to the cooktop (25, 26, 27, 28). Upon pivoting through a predetermined angle, the grate is prevented from being lifted vertically based on the at least one cup member (156) becoming interlocked with the locating structure.