Kitchen appliance comprising a kitchen appliance base and a preparation module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen appliances require significant user force for electrical contact due to simultaneous contact of power and auxiliary contacts, which can be cumbersome and increase the risk of accidental removal during operation.

Innovation Solution

Designing the power contacts and auxiliary contacts to be contacted at different times, with auxiliary contacts being contacted first, reducing the insertion force required and enhancing user safety by ensuring the protective conductor is engaged before power contacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If power contacts and auxiliary contacts are arranged to be contacted simultaneously during preparation module arrangement, then electrical connection is achieved, but considerable insertion force is required from the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion forceVSAvoidcontact arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contact arrangement is segmented into two distinct groups: power contacts and auxiliary contacts. These groups are positioned at different locations along the arrangement path of the preparation module, causing them to be contacted at different times. This segmentation reduces the insertion force required from the user by distributing the contact forces sequentially rather than simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary contacts are arranged to be contacted before the power contacts during the preparation module arrangement. This preliminary action ensures that auxiliary functions (such as sealing or positioning) are established before main power connection, reducing the overall insertion force needed while maintaining safety and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If power contacts are contacted first, then electrical power is supplied quickly, but user safety is reduced due to risk of electric shock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidcontacting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If sealing elements are made robust to prevent leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but insertion force increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidinsertion force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is segmented and integrated with the auxiliary contacts rather than being combined with the power contact mechanism. This allows the sealing elements to be robust and effective while the power contacts engage separately with reduced insertion force, as the sealing action occurs during the preliminary auxiliary contact phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4137018A1Kitchen appliance comprising a kitchen appliance base and a preparation module

Publication Date: 2023.02.22 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance (1) comprising at least one kitchen appliance base (2) and at least one preparation module (3), wherein the kitchen appliance base (2) has at least one electrical interface (7) and at least one receiving area (4), wherein the preparation module (3) has at least one electrical counterpart interface (8) for electrical contacting with the electrical interface (7), wherein the electrical interface (7) has at least two power contacts (7a) and at least one auxiliary contact (7b), and wherein the electrical counterpart interface (8) has at least two power counterpart contacts (8a) and at least one auxiliary counterpart contact (8b).A kitchen appliance (1), a kitchen appliance base (2), and a preparation module (3), in which the insertion forces for electrical contacting are reduced for the user, are realized by designing and arranging the power contacts (7a) and the power counter-contacts (8a), as well as the auxiliary contact (7b) and the auxiliary counter-contact (8b), such that the power contacts (7a) are electrically contacted with the power counter-contacts (8a) at a different time than the auxiliary contact (7b) is electrically contacted with the auxiliary counter-contact (8b).