Nesting Cookware Bail Lock for Damage-Free Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nesting cooking vessels do not securely lock in a releasable fashion and can damage features due to surface contact when nested, with inadequate addressing by available accessories or integrated features.
Innovation Solution
A cooking vessel system with a handle, locking portion, and bail that allows cooperative and lockingly engaging with another vessel, enabling the first vessel to nest within the second in a cantilevered manner without surface contact, using a bail that moves between unlocked and locked positions to securely suspend the first vessel within the second.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nesting cooking vessels are designed to fit together, then storage efficiency is improved, but surface contact between vessels causes damage to vessel bodies or coatings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (locking mechanism with locking arms and locking surfaces) between the nesting vessels. This intermediary prevents direct surface contact between the vessel bodies and coatings, allowing the vessels to nest securely without causing damage to their surfaces. The locking mechanism acts as a mediator that provides the necessary mechanical connection while isolating the vulnerable surfaces.
2Device complexity
If nesting vessels are designed without secure locking, then device complexity is reduced, but the vessels do not securely nest in a releasably locked fashion
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: locking arms on one vessel, corresponding locking surfaces on the other vessel, and support arms for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving reliable secure nesting without requiring an overly complex integrated system. The modular segmentation simplifies manufacturing and assembly while ensuring reliable operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If vessels are nested with surface contact, then nesting stability is improved, but contact between surfaces damages vessel features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the nesting interaction from a two-dimensional surface contact problem to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement. The locking arms extend from the handle area into the cavity of the nesting vessel, creating a volumetric locking relationship rather than relying on surface contact. This dimensional change allows the vessels to be stable in the nested configuration while preventing harmful surface contact through the spatial separation provided by the locking mechanism geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking vessel is provided. The cooking vessel includes a vessel body, a handle, a locking portion and a bail. The vessel body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The handle has an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the handle is coupled to the vessel body. The locking portion is disposed in one of either the lower surface and the distal end of the handle. The bail is coupled to the handle proximate the distal end of the handle. The bail is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the bail is configured to cooperatively and lockingly engage a locking portion of a second cooking vessel when the bail is in the locked position.