Nested Pan Lip Design for Air Gap Formation and Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stackable or nestable pans often stick together when stacked or nested, and when wet, they fail to dry completely, leading to potential corrosion issues.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a lip that extends from the periphery of the pan, forming an air gap when stacked or nested with another pan, preventing interference and allowing air to flow, which enhances separation and drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If pans are stacked or nested together for storage, then storage space is saved, but the pans stick together and cannot dry completely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddrying capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lip is divided into a first portion that contacts the second pan and a second portion that forms an air gap, segmenting the contact interface to simultaneously enable stacking and allow airflow for drying

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An air gap is introduced as an intermediary space between nested pans, allowing air circulation to prevent sticking and enable complete drying while maintaining compact storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If pans are stacked or nested together for storage, then storage space is saved, but the pans stick together

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidseparation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lip structure is segmented with a first portion for engagement and a second portion forming an air gap, reducing contact area and preventing sticking while maintaining stackability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air gap is extracted as a dedicated feature from the contact interface, removing the sticking problem while preserving the nesting capability for space-efficient storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This design prevents pans from sticking together and allows for effective drying, reducing the risk of corrosion by creating air gaps that facilitate airflow and easy separation.

Implementation Method 1

allows air to flow, which enhances separation and drying

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

creating air gaps that facilitate airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11072462B2Pan with integrated air gap

Publication Date: 2021.07.27 VOLLRATH

AI summary

A pan includes a base, a sidewall, and a lip. The sidewall extends from and around a first periphery of the base. The base and the sidewall cooperatively define a cavity. The lip extends from and at least partially along a second periphery of an end of the sidewall opposite the base. The lip has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the lip is configured to engage a third portion of a second pan when the pan and the second pan are in a nested arrangement such that engagement between the first portion of the lip and the third portion of the second pan forms an air gap between the pan and the second pan when in the nested arrangement.