Oven Drip Tray Snap Hook for Secure Fit and Easy Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oven drip trays with steam functions are not securely attached, leading to unintentional detachment and insufficient capacity for collecting condensate, especially when the oven door is frequently opened or used for high-water content cooking, resulting in condensate leakage onto furniture and floors.
Innovation Solution
A drip tray with a snap hook design that provides a secure, detachable, and easily removable attachment to the oven, featuring a transversely extending tongue and projection for positive engagement with oven components, allowing controlled detachment and a large enough capacity to handle excess condensate, along with an overflow mechanism to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drip tray is detachably mounted via rail-like guide with fastening elements, then the drip tray is removable for cleaning or emptying, but the drip tray is not securely attached and can be easily removed unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The snap hook incorporates a spring element that enables dynamic engagement and disengagement. The spring-loaded tongue automatically engages with the mounting element during installation, providing secure attachment, while allowing controlled release through sufficient pulling force, enabling easy removal for cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection strength is made variable through the spring mechanism. When installed, the spring maintains engagement force for secure attachment. When removal is needed, applying sufficient pulling force overcomes the spring force, releasing the connection. This parameter change allows the same structure to provide both secure attachment and easy removal.
2Reliability
If the drip tray is permanently attached to the door or oven flange, then the attachment is secure, but the drip tray is difficult to access for cleaning and emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The drip tray is designed as a separate, detachable component rather than being permanently integrated into the door or oven flange. The snap hook connection divides the system into removable tray and fixed mounting elements, allowing the tray to be easily detached for cleaning while maintaining secure attachment during use.
3Quantity of substance
If the drip tray has a large capacity to handle excess condensate, then the collection capability is improved, but the drip tray may become heavier or more difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded snap hook provides dynamic connection that can accommodate the weight of a full drip tray. The spring force adjusts to maintain secure engagement even when the tray contains significant condensate, while still allowing removal when sufficient force is applied.
4Ease of manufacture
If the snap hook is designed for automatic engagement, then the attachment is simplified, but the release mechanism may require significant force
Solution Approach 1:
The snap hook automatically engages with the mounting element during installation without requiring manual intervention. The spring-loaded tongue self-activates to secure the connection. For release, the design accepts that user-applied force is needed to overcome the spring engagement, balancing automatic installation with controlled removal.
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 drip tray effectively collects and contains condensate without unintentional detachment, preventing leakage and ensuring easy cleaning and integration, while maintaining secure attachment and compatibility with existing ovens.
Implementation Method 1
The tongue (26) can be spring-loaded and displaceable (in the direction of the projection/in the longitudinal direction)... the tongue (26) is spring-loaded and displaceable
Implementation Method 2
the drip tray (2) serves to collect condensate (water) from an oven (4)
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a drip tray (2) for collecting condensate from an oven (4), comprising a tray-shaped collection section (12) extending substantially in a longitudinal direction, and at least one snap hook (24) fixedly connected to the collection section (12) and extending substantially in a transverse direction away from the collection section (12), which is designed to engage a component of the oven (10) in a form-fitting manner in the transverse direction, and whose form-fitting engagement can be manually released to detach the drip tray (2) from the oven component (10). The invention further relates to an oven (4) comprising a cooking chamber, a door (6) for closing the cooking chamber, and such a drip tray (2), wherein the drip tray (2) is arranged vertically below the door (6).