Nested Bowl Detent Mechanism for Secure Food Processor Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric food processor designs with nested bowls lack secure attachment, causing internal bowls to fall when attempting to lift the exterior bowl, making it difficult to pour contents without spilling.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of frictional detent mechanisms on the inner and outer walls of nested bowls, allowing each bowl to securely attach to the next, ensuring stable nesting and preventing contents from falling when lifting the exterior bowl.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If bowls are nested without secure attachment mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the bowls cannot be securely lifted and contents spill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting of bowls within bowls, where the largest bowl contains the second largest, which contains the smallest bowl. Each bowl has detent mechanisms that engage with corresponding mechanisms on adjacent bowls to secure them during handling and pouring operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the attachment mechanism into separate detent components: male detents on some bowls and female detents on adjacent bowls. This segmentation allows for simple manufacturing of individual components while achieving reliable secure attachment when assembled.
2Reliability
If frictional detent mechanisms are added to secure bowl attachment, then secure attachment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies detent mechanisms only at specific locations where bowls nest together, rather than throughout the entire bowl structure. The male and female detents are positioned at the rim areas where contact occurs during nesting, providing secure attachment with minimal additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex locking mechanisms or adhesives, the patent employs simple friction-based detent mechanisms where male detents on one bowl engage with female detents on the adjacent bowl. This inverted approach uses basic geometric shapes and friction rather than complex mechanical linkages.
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
Enables secure nesting and easy handling of bowls, allowing users to lift the exterior bowl without spilling contents from internal bowls, enhancing user convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The largest bowl has frictional detent mechanisms on its inner wall. The second largest bowl has frictional detent mechanisms on its inner wall and on its outer wall. The third bowl, smallest of the three, has frictional detent mechanisms on its outer wall.
Data Source
AI summary
A bowl assembly 1 includes a first bowl 2, a second bowl 3, and a third bowl 4. The first bowl 2 has the largest inner diameter of the three. The second bowl 3 has an outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the first bowl 2. The third bowl 4 has an outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the second bowl 3. Each bowl has at least one frictional detent mechanism to engage the adjacently placed bowl.