Insert plate, cookware and multi-purpose kitchen appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-purpose kitchen appliances often require food to be arranged around a central tool holder for heating, limiting the size of food pieces that can be cooked and complicating the cooking process.

Innovation Solution

An insert plate with a support surface extending over the center of the pot, providing an enlarged heating area, and featuring grooves and ribs for stable food positioning and reduced risk of burning, which can be used for grillables and sous vide cooking, and is designed for easy attachment to the pot using fastening means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tool holder is positioned at the center of the pot bottom for mechanical tool attachment, then the tool can be securely coupled to the driving unit, but the heating surface area is reduced and food arrangement becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood arrangementVSAvoidheating surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom of the pot is segmented into two functional zones: a central mechanical connection zone with the tool holder for secure tool attachment, and a surrounding heating zone with the support surface for food placement. This segmentation allows both the tool holder and heating surface to coexist without interfering with each other's primary functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support surface extends radially outward from the central tool holder in a planar dimension, maximizing the use of available bottom surface area. By organizing the heating surface in a radial pattern around the central axis, the design efficiently utilizes the two-dimensional space without compromising the central mechanical connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the support surface extends over the center of the insert plate, then the heating surface area is enlarged, but the structural integrity and fastening may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating surface areaVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The insert plate is segmented into a central region containing the through-hole for the tool holder and a surrounding annular region forming the support surface. This segmentation allows the plate to maintain structural strength at the critical central connection point while providing maximum heating surface area in the surrounding region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert plate exhibits local quality differentiation: the central area around the through-hole is designed for mechanical strength and secure fastening, while the surrounding areas are optimized for heat distribution and food support. This localized optimization ensures both structural integrity and effective heating function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If grooves are added to the support surface for food positioning, then food stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood positioningVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The grooves are formed as simple radial or concentric curved patterns on the support surface, which can be easily manufactured using standard metal forming techniques such as spinning, rolling, or laser grooving. These curved groove patterns provide effective food positioning while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 cooking of larger food pieces as a whole, reduces the risk of burning, and simplifies food arrangement, while maintaining efficient heat transfer and fluid management.

Implementation Method 1

the insert plate is at least partially made of metal, such as aluminium and/or cast iron. Therewith, a particularly good heat transfer from the bottom of the pot to the insert plate may be achieved

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4066697A1Insert plate, cookware and multi-purpose kitchen appliance

Publication Date: 2022.10.05 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d

AI summary

Disclosed is an insert plate 10 for removable insertion into a pot 20 of a multi-purpose kitchen appliance. The insert plate 10 has a support surface 11 for food to be heated in the pot. Therein, the support surface 11 extends over a centre of the insert plate 10. Further disclosed is a cookware 100 for/of a multi-purpose kitchen appliance. The cookware 100 comprises an insert plate 10 and a pot 20 configured to be combined with a base station of the multi-purpose kitchen appliance. Moreover, a multi-purpose kitchen appliance comprising a base station and a cookware 100 is disclosed.