Kitchen Appliance Lid and Base Interlock to Prevent Unsafe Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional safety devices in kitchen appliances, whether electrical or mechanical, fail to reliably prevent access to processing elements during operation and can be easily circumvented or fail due to contamination, leading to potential injuries and food ejection.

Innovation Solution

A kitchen appliance component with a safety device featuring an adjustable cover securing element and a connection securing element, both in a purely mechanical operative connection, which ensures the lid is fixed in a closed position and the component base is blocked from connection when the appliance is open, preventing simultaneous access and connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional electrical safety devices are used, then the safety function is provided, but defects cannot be easily identified and the fuses can fail if power supply is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety function reliabilityVSAvoiddefect identification difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical safety devices with a purely mechanical safety device. The mechanical cover securing element is operatively connected to the connection securing element through a mechanical linkage, eliminating dependence on electrical power supply and electronic components. This mechanical system provides reliable safety function that is independent of power supply disruptions and easier to identify defects through physical inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If purely mechanical safety devices are used, then the structure is simpler, but they can be easily circumvented by the user and are prone to failing in the event of contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety device structure complexityVSAvoidsafety device reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate safety functions into a single integrated mechanical safety device. The cover securing element and connection securing element are operatively connected through a mechanical linkage, so that securing the lid automatically blocks the connection area, and releasing the lid automatically unblocks the connection area. This unified design prevents circumvention and ensures reliability while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mechanical linkage as an intermediary between the cover securing element and the connection securing element. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the two safety functions are coupled together, preventing users from circumventing one safety feature without affecting the other. The mechanical linkage also protects against contamination by providing a sealed operative connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the lid can be removed for access, then the appliance is easier to clean and maintain, but processing elements become accessible causing potential injuries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelid accessibilityVSAvoidinjury risk from processing elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by automatically blocking the connection area through the mechanical linkage when the lid is secured. This preliminary blocking action prevents the harmful effect of exposed processing elements before the user can access them. The system proactively ensures that the safety interlock is engaged before any connection or operation can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Ease of operation

If the connection area is always accessible, then the component can be easily connected and disconnected, but the appliance can be operated without proper lid closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent connection easeVSAvoidlid closure reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the connection area dynamically accessible only when the lid is in the open position. The mechanical linkage automatically transitions the connection securing element between blocked and unblocked states based on the lid position. This dynamic behavior ensures that connection is easy when safe (lid open) while preventing operation without proper lid closure (lid closed blocks connection).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3287055B1Securing of a kitchen appliance component

Publication Date: 2021.10.06 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A kitchen appliance component (100, 200) according to the invention comprises a container (120, 220), a lid (130, 230), a safety device (150) and a component base (140, 240) for detachably connecting the kitchen appliance component to an adapter base (11). kitchen appliance. The securing device has an adjustable cover securing element (152) and an adjustable connection securing element (152, 252). Cover securing element (151) and connection securing element (152) are in an operative connection with one another, which excludes a simultaneity of an access release position of the cover securing element (151) and a connection release position of the connection securing element (251, 252). A kitchen appliance (10) according to the invention comprises an electric motor, a kitchen appliance component (100, 200) according to the invention and an adapter base (12) for connecting the kitchen appliance component.