Offset Sensor Probe for Cooking Vessel Lid Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor probes for food preparation face challenges in stable placement and interference with cooking utensils, leading to instability and inefficiency, as they often require protruding handles that prevent vessel closure, causing thermal loss and exposure to harsh cooking environments.

Innovation Solution

A sensor probe design featuring an elongate handle portion offset from the sensor portion, connected by a stepped configuration that allows stable placement at the rim of a cooking vessel, enabling vessel closure while protecting the handle from heat and vapors, with additional stabilization from a lid and optional magnetic fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sensor probe is placed within the closed vessel to measure core temperature, then the sensor portion can be properly positioned, but the handle portion cannot be properly fixed and may move in an uncontrolled manner, and the handle will be exposed to high temperature and humidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecore temperature measurementVSAvoidhandle stability and protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle portion is extended in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensor portion, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to position the handle outside the vessel while the sensor remains inside, thereby resolving the spatial conflict between measurement accuracy and handle protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sensor probe is placed with the handle outside the vessel, then the handle is protected from heat and humidity, but the cooking vessel cannot be properly closed during the cooking process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle exposure to heat and humidityVSAvoidcooking process efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By extending the handle along the longitudinal axis parallel to the sensor portion, the design allows the handle to protrude from the vessel opening without preventing lid closure, maintaining both handle protection and cooking efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the sensor probe projects from the pot, then the handle can be accessed, but there is a gap between the lid and the rim of the pot causing thermal inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle accessibilityVSAvoidthermal energy loss through gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor probe is designed with asymmetric positioning where the handle extends parallel to the sensor portion along one side of the vessel opening, allowing the lid to close against the vessel rim without creating a gap, while still providing handle accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11460349B2Sensor probe for measuring a food preparation parameter

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

AI summary

A sensor probe (10) for measuring a food preparation parameter, comprises an elongate handle portion (12) for manipulating the sensor probe, an elongate sensor portion (14), and a stepped connecting portion (16) connecting the handle portion (12) and the sensor portion (14), such that the longitudinal axis of the handle portion is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sensor portion.