Movable Grill Latch with Resilient Detent for Misalignment Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamshell grills require frequent calibration and alignment of latch mechanisms due to misalignment issues caused by movement of the lower platen assembly during operation, leading to inefficiencies in food cooking and handling.
Innovation Solution
A latch mechanism with a retaining ring that can move into alignment with misaligned portions, allowing for secure retention of the upper platen assembly in the lowered position, even when the first and second portions are not perfectly aligned, using a design that includes a cap, arm, and resilient detent to facilitate alignment and secure the upper platen assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional latch mechanism is used with tight alignment tolerance, then the latch can securely retain the upper platen assembly, but frequent calibration is required due to misalignment from platen movement
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transitions from requiring tight alignment parameters to accommodating loose alignment parameters through the resilient detent design. The detent's resilience allows it to deform and adapt to misalignment between the movable and fixed portions, changing the alignment tolerance parameter from strict to flexible while maintaining secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism incorporates dynamic elements through the resilient detent that can flex and adapt during operation. As the platen assembly moves and causes misalignment, the detent dynamically adjusts its position and deformation state to maintain engagement, rather than requiring static perfect alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lower platen assembly is made movable for operation, then cooking flexibility is improved, but misalignment of the latch mechanism occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient detent acts as an intermediary element between the movable and fixed portions of the latch mechanism. It mediates the misalignment caused by platen movement by deforming to bridge the gap or absorb the displacement, allowing the movable platen to maintain cooking flexibility while the latch alignment precision is preserved through the detent's adaptive engagement.
3Reliability
If frequent calibration is performed to maintain latch alignment, then latch mechanism reliability is improved, but operational time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient detent provides self-aligning functionality, allowing the latch mechanism to automatically compensate for misalignment without requiring external calibration intervention. The detent's elastic deformation capability enables it to self-adjust to position changes, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for frequent manual calibration.
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
The solution enhances the operational efficiency of clamshell grills by allowing greater misalignment tolerance, reducing the need for frequent calibration and improving the stability of the cooking process, enabling consistent and efficient cooking of food items.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient detent positioned within the opening configured to move into alignment with a misaligned portion of the arm
Data Source
AI summary
A grill includes a base structure, a first platen assembly connected to the base structure, and a second platen assembly connected to the base structure. At least the second platen assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. A latch mechanism is operable to selectively retain the upper platen assembly in the second position. The latch mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion further comprises a retaining ring movable to receive and cooperate with the first portion when the first portion and the second portion of the latch mechanism are misaligned.