Hand-Held Immersion Blender with Single-Hand Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hand-held immersion blenders require the use of both hands for operation, making it difficult to manage a container while adjusting speed, leading to potential spills and instability.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held appliance with a housing that includes a motor, sensors for temperature and load monitoring, and a control panel with a power button and speed-set-button, allowing single-handed operation and featuring a display for visual feedback, along with NFC components for attachment communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hand-held immersion blenders are designed with controls on one end, then the motor can be controlled, but both hands are required for operation making it difficult to manage the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power button and speed control button into a single integrated control mechanism located on the handle. The user can activate power and adjust speed using the same button area, reducing the number of separate controls and enabling one-handed operation while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control button serves multiple functions: power activation, speed adjustment, and potentially mode selection. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate controls needed, simplifying the interface and enabling easier one-handed operation.
2Ease of operation
If the user releases hand from the bowl to adjust motor speed, then speed control is possible, but the bowl becomes unstable and ingredients may spill
Solution Approach 1:
Both power and speed control functions are merged into a single button interface on the handle, allowing the user to adjust speed without releasing the handle or the bowl, maintaining continuous stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to be fully operable while the appliance is held in position, allowing speed adjustment without requiring the user to reposition their hand or release the bowl, thus the system serves itself while maintaining stability.
3Ease of operation
If the appliance requires two hands for operation, then full control is available, but the user cannot hold the container simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control functions (power on/off, speed adjustment) are merged into a single integrated control area on the handle, allowing all controls to be accessed with one hand while the other hand holds the container steady.
Solution Approach 2:
The controls are positioned on the handle in a layout that allows operation from the side or top while holding the appliance vertically, enabling one-handed control operation without compromising the other hand's ability to stabilize the container.
4Extent of automation
If sensors are added for temperature and load monitoring, then automatic control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature and load sensors provide real-time feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts motor power and speed to maintain optimal operating conditions, preventing overheating and overloading.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system enables the motor to self-regulate its operation based on real-time conditions, automatically adjusting power consumption and speed without user intervention, with the sensors becoming part of the motor's self-control mechanism.
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
Enables single-handed operation of the blender, preventing spills and ensuring stable performance by automatically adjusting speed and power based on load and temperature, while allowing for efficient blending and heating of contents.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to monitor the motor temperature
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to monitor motor performance and applied load
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held appliance having a housing with a top portion and a bottom portion that houses a motor and a temperature sensor configured to monitor the motor temperature and, if the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power until the temperature is below the threshold. The motor is controlled via a power button located on an external face of the housing. The housing includes a speed-set-button located on an external face of the housing controlling the speed of the motor and a plurality of lights corresponding to the respective speed thereof. The bottom of the housing includes a coupling portion configured to receive an attachment such as a blending assembly, whisk, frothing assembly, or other attachment. The housing further includes a sensor configured to monitor motor performance and applied load and, if the load exceeds a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power from the motor.