Kit of elements for assembling a container of a cooking apparatus such as a hot air fryer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional hot air fryer cooking appliances are limited in the variety of recipes they can produce due to the fixed nature of their cooking tanks, leading to increased costs and storage issues with multiple tanks.

Innovation Solution

A modular hot air fryer design featuring a universal contour element with interchangeable bottom elements, allowing for different cooking functionalities without the need for multiple tanks, with a cylindrical contour element that can be assembled and disassembled to accommodate various food preparations and tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate tanks are provided for different cooking functionalities, then the variety of recipes achievable is improved, but the cost and storage space required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of recipesVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The tank is divided into a reusable contour element and interchangeable bottom elements. Each bottom element provides different cooking functionalities (flat bottom for cakes/pizzas, ribbed bottom for meats/fish, stirring element for vegetables/fries). This segmentation allows one tank body to perform multiple cooking functions by simply changing the bottom element, eliminating the need for multiple separate tanks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contour element is designed as a universal component that can accommodate various bottom elements for different cooking purposes. The single contour element serves multiple functions by working with different bottom elements, making the tank system multi-functional and adaptable to various recipes without requiring separate dedicated tanks for each cooking type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate tanks are provided for different cooking functionalities, then the variety of recipes achievable is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of recipesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the tank into a common contour element and specialized bottom elements, the manufacturing cost is reduced. The expensive contour element is manufactured once and reused, while only the simpler bottom elements need to be produced in different variants. This is more economical than manufacturing multiple complete tanks with different functionalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The universal contour element design allows a single manufactured component to serve multiple cooking functions. This universality reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to cook various types of food.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a one-piece tank design is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different cooking functionalities is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetank structureVSAvoidcooking functionalities
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tank structure is segmented into a contour element and bottom element that can be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation maintains relative structural simplicity while enabling adaptability - the contour element provides the basic tank structure, and different bottom elements can be attached as needed to provide various cooking functionalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tank transitions from a static one-piece design to a dynamic assembled structure. The bottom element can be changed based on the cooking requirements, making the tank adaptable. The assembly and disassembly mechanism allows the tank to dynamically reconfigure for different cooking functions while maintaining simplicity in each individual component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3708044B1Kit of elements for assembling a container of a cooking apparatus such as a hot air fryer
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 SEB SA
  • EP3708044B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3708044B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3708044B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a kit of assembly elements for a tank (1) of a hot air fryer-type cooking appliance. The kit comprises a contour element (3) and at least two interchangeable base elements (4) having different functionalities, and means for assembling the contour element (3) with one of the at least two base elements (4). The contour element (3) is open and has two lateral end portions (23, 24), the assembly means being configured to join the two lateral end portions (23, 24) by tightening said contour element upon itself. The invention also relates to a hot air fryer-type cooking appliance comprising a heating system, a ventilation system, a drive motor (12) capable of rotating a stirring element (10), said stirring element (10) being removable, and a kit of assembly elements for a tank (1) according to the invention.