Nested Tiered Pizza Pan with Canted Strips

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pizza pans do not efficiently cook pizzas, especially those that are frozen, and often result in topping sliding during baking, while also being energy-intensive due to high baking temperatures required.

Innovation Solution

A pizza pan with nested tiered bands and canted strips that allows for efficient cooking at lower temperatures, featuring a cone-shaped medial body for concentrated heating and a canted peripheral flange to prevent topping sliding, made from resilient materials like aluminum or stainless steel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If conventional pizza pans are used, then pizzas can be baked, but high baking temperatures are required which increases energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbaking temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The pizza pan is divided into multiple nested tiers with varying heights, creating distinct cooking zones. Each tier can be positioned at different heights to optimize heat exposure and cooking efficiency, allowing lower overall temperatures while maintaining effective cooking zones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a conventional flat two-dimensional pan surface to a three-dimensional nested tiered structure. This adds vertical dimensionality, creating multiple cooking levels that improve heat distribution and cooking efficiency at lower temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If conventional pizza pans are used, then pizzas can be baked, but topping sliding occurs during baking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopping stabilityVSAvoidpan structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pan surface is segmented into multiple tiers with different heights and configurations. This segmentation creates physical barriers and varied surface textures that prevent toppings from sliding, while each segment serves specific functional purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the pan have different local qualities - varying heights, slopes, and surface characteristics tailored to specific cooking needs. The nested tiers create localized zones with optimized properties for preventing topping movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If conventional pizza pans are used, then pizzas can be baked, but cooking efficiency is poor especially for frozen pizzas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking efficiencyVSAvoidbaking time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The nested tiered structure segments the cooking surface into multiple functional zones that simultaneously cook different portions of the pizza at optimized temperatures, increasing overall cooking efficiency and reducing total baking time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nested tiers create continuous heat exposure pathways, ensuring that all portions of the pizza receive consistent and effective heat throughout the baking process, eliminating idle time and improving overall cooking speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 pan enables efficient cooking of pizzas at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and baking time, while ensuring thorough cooking of frozen pizzas and preventing topping sliding, thereby providing energy and time savings.

Implementation Method 1

The pan comprises a plurality of nested tiered bands and a plurality of canted strips coupled between the plurality of nested tiered bands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The medial body may comprise a cone-shaped body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat concentration: Focusing

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of canted strips coupled between the plurality of nested tiered bands. Each canted strip is canted with respect to adjacent nested tiered bands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11785951B1Pizza pan with nested tiers and related methods

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 SMITH RAYMOND

AI summary

A pan is for receiving and baking a food product in a baking oven. The pan includes nested tiered bands, and canted strips coupled between the nested tiered bands. Each canted strip is canted with respect to adjacent nested tiered bands. The pan also includes a medial body within an innermost nested tiered band of the nested tiered bands, and a peripheral flange extending from an outermost nested tiered band of the nested tiered bands.