Oval Grill Lid Hinge Layout for Safer Rearward Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grilling devices with circular cross-sections restrict the size of food products that can be cooked due to their barrel-shaped design, and the upward-opening lid poses safety risks as users must reach over the grill to open it, potentially leading to burns.

Innovation Solution

A grilling device with an oval shape and rear- or side-mounted lid hinges, allowing the lid to open with a different curvature and positioning the handle lower, reducing the need for users to overreach and minimizing the risk of burns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a circular cross-section barrel shape is used, then the device has a compact and simple structure, but it limits the size of food products that can be prepared

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircular cross-sectionVSAvoidfood product size accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a circular cross-section to an oval cross-section. This asymmetric shape provides greater internal height while maintaining a compact footprint, allowing large food products like whole turkeys or pork shoulders to fit without requiring the grill to be cut into smaller pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If the lid is connected at the top portion adjacent to the access opening, then the lid can be easily attached, but the user must overreach and risk getting burned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelid attachmentVSAvoidburn risk to user

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional lid connection location from the top front to the rear of the grill. By mounting the hinges at the rear, the lid opens in a direction away from the user, eliminating the need to overreach over the hot grill surface and significantly reducing burn risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the lid opens upward towards the user, then the lid can be opened easily, but it forces the user to overreach and risk contact with the grill or lid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelid opening motionVSAvoiduser contact with hot surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the lid opening trajectory from a vertical upward motion toward the user to a rearward swinging motion. The hinge placement at the rear causes the lid to swing backward and upward, directing the opening path away from the user's body and reducing exposure to heat and potential contact hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10213051B2Oval-shaped grill with hinged lid

Publication Date: 2019.02.26 TRAEGER PELLET GRILLS LLC

AI summary

A grilling device includes an oven section having an outer wall with opposing side portions and an encircling body portion extending therebetween. The body portion has an access opening and the grilling device includes a lid that selectively covers the access opening by means of a handle attached thereto. The grilling device also includes opposing hinge elements connected to opposite sides of the lid and to the side portions of the outer wall, as opposed to the encircling body portion. In particular, the hinge elements are connected to respective rear areas of the side portions. Accordingly, the path of opening the lid has a different shape or curvature and thereby positions the handle substantially lower than if the hinge elements were connected to the body portion adjacent to the access opening. The opposing side portions have a substantially oval shape and the hinge elements have an elongated configuration.