Nestable containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting boards provide a limited surface area, leading to cluttered workspaces during food preparation and inefficient handling of ingredients and scraps, as they do not facilitate easy separation, sorting, or transportation of items to their intended destinations.

Innovation Solution

A cutting board with integrated cut-out sections for nestable and stackable containers, allowing seamless transfer of items without lifting, where containers are designed to fit flush with the board's surface, enabling efficient sorting and storage without interrupting the workflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a cutting board provides a large surface area for food preparation, then the workspace capacity is improved, but the board becomes cluttered with containers and ingredients, reducing organization and efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting board surface areaVSAvoidworkspace organization

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting board is segmented into distinct functional zones: a main cutting surface area and integrated container recesses. This segmentation allows the board to simultaneously provide ample cutting space while maintaining organized compartments for different ingredients and scraps, eliminating the clutter problem without sacrificing workspace capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate containers are used for different ingredients and scraps, then sorting and storage capability is improved, but the workflow is interrupted by frequent container exchanges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting capabilityVSAvoidworkflow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sorting containers are merged into a single integrated unit by forming them as recesses within the cutting board itself. This allows all containers to remain in one location during preparation, eliminating the need to move between separate containers and maintaining workflow continuity while preserving sorting capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The containers are pre-positioned within the cutting board recesses before the cooking process begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that all containers are immediately accessible and in their correct positions, eliminating the need for frequent adjustments or exchanges during the workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If containers are placed around the cutting board area, then storage and sorting functionality is improved, but awkward transfer of items between board and containers is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage functionalityVSAvoiditem transfer ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The containers are merged with the cutting board by forming them as integrated recesses within the board structure. This integration eliminates the gap between the cutting surface and container openings, allowing ingredients to be directly transferred from the cutting area into the containers without lifting or awkward manual transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20230397769A1Nestable containers

Publication Date: 2023.12.14 TIDYBOARD LLC

AI summary

Nestable containers are provided for installation within a compatible cutting board or for stand-alone use. A first container features a lip along at least part of a circumference of the container, and a ledge below the lip that also extends along at least part of the circumference. A second container features a cooperative lip that, when the second container is nested within the first container, engages or rests upon the ledge of the first container. The lips and/or the ledge may be continuous or discontinuous.