Modular Kitchen Utensil Assembly With Rotating Blade Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multipurpose kitchen utensils face issues such as difficulty in assembly, limited functionality due to narrow holding elements, and durability problems, leading to early abandonment and potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
A multiple kitchen utensil design featuring a U-shaped knife mount with rotatable knife blades and a holding element that allows easy assembly and use, with the knife blade extending from the upper surface, enabling comfortable and robust operation for peeling, slicing, and cutting various food items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the holding element is made narrow to fit between the prongs of the fork-like knife mount, then the device can be assembled, but the holding element becomes difficult to grip and the device structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a cutting unit with knife mount and blade, and a separate holding element. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the holding element can have a comfortable grip width while the knife mount provides the necessary structural framework for blade attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The knife blade is nested within the U-shaped knife mount structure, with the blade positioned between the parallel prongs. This nesting arrangement allows the blade to be securely held while maintaining a compact overall structure that does not require the holding element to be narrowed.
2Manufacturing precision
If the fork-like knife mount extends over the holding element in use position, then the knife blade is properly positioned, but the mount hinders the peeling and slicing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The knife blade is extracted from the knife mount structure and positioned only where needed - extending from the upper surface of the holding element. The knife mount provides secure attachment through the U-shaped frame with prongs, but the blade itself is positioned to clear the holding element, eliminating interference during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the knife mount extend over the holding element, the design inverts the arrangement so that the holding element forms the main structural body and the knife blade extends from its upper surface. This inversion eliminates the interference problem while maintaining proper blade positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the knife blade is positioned to extend from the upper surface of the holding element, then the device becomes easier to operate and more durable, but the assembly structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The knife mount and holding element are merged into a unified structure where the U-shaped knife mount forms the upper portion and the holding element forms the lower portion. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting mechanisms while providing both structural support and blade positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped knife mount with parallel prongs serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, positions the knife blade precisely, and facilitates easy assembly through the snap-fit mechanism. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity despite the improved blade positioning.
4Device complexity
If a single-blade peeler is used, then the device structure is simple, but the functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The knife blade is designed to be rotatable within the knife mount, allowing it to be adjusted to different angular positions. This dynamic capability enables a single blade to perform multiple functions - peeling, slicing, and cutting - by changing the blade's orientation relative to the holding element and the material being processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality of the single knife blade is changed by varying its rotational parameter - the angle at which the blade extends from the holding element. By rotating the blade to different angles, the same blade can effectively peel, slice, or cut different types of food items, providing versatility without increasing structural complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a multiple kitchen utensil, primarily for peeling, slicing, or cutting fruits and vegetables, comprising a cutting unit (1) and a holding element (2). The cutting unit (1) has a knife mount (3) and an elongated grip (4) connected to the knife mount. The knife mount (1) is implemented as a U-shaped frame, with the stems thereof extending outward from the grip (4) being terminated in parallel prongs (5), and with at least one knife blade (6) being arranged between the prongs (5) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip (4), the knife blade (5) being rotatably mounted between stops attached to the prongs (5). The invention is essentially characterised by that the holding element (2) has an upper surface and a bottom surface (13), where a through opening (14) dimensioned to receive the knife blade (6) is formed between the upper surface and the bottom surface (13). Parallel edges (15, 16) extend from the upper and bottom surfaces of the holding element (2) at least in the vicinity of the through opening (14), the distance between the edges corresponding to the distance between the prongs (5), with guide grooves and support grooves (18) being formed in the parallel edges (15, 16). Flexible tabs (19) are connected to the bottom surface of the holding element (2). The cutting unit (1) may be brought into the use position by introducing the prongs (5) into the guide grooves and pushing them until stopped by the support grooves (18), as well as by snapping in the grip (4) of the cutting unit between the flexible tabs (19), in which use position only the knife blade (6) extends from the through opening (14) above the upper surface (12) of the holding element.