Partial cover for dinnerware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food covers completely enclose dinnerware, exposing food to environmental contaminants and temperature fluctuations when removed for consumption, failing to provide adequate protection and insulation.
Innovation Solution
A partial dome-shaped cover with an open bottom and side, designed to fit over only a portion of the dinnerware, allowing access while protecting food from contaminants and maintaining temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional food cover completely encloses dinnerware, then food is protected from contaminants when covered, but food is fully exposed to environmental contaminants and temperature fluctuations when removed for consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be independently positioned. The first portion covers a first area of the dinnerware while the second portion covers a second area, allowing selective exposure of different food regions while maintaining protection in covered areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely enclosing or completely exposing the food, the patent applies partial covering where only portions of the dinnerware are covered at different times. This allows the user to maintain protection in covered areas while accessing food in exposed areas, avoiding full exposure to contaminants.
2Temperature
If a conventional food cover completely encloses dinnerware, then food insulation is maintained when covered, but food temperature fluctuates when removed for eating
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system segments the dinnerware surface into covered and exposed zones. The first portion maintains insulation over its covered area while the second portion allows access to another area, enabling continuous temperature stability in protected zones during the eating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous insulation protection by ensuring that while one portion of the food is being accessed, other portions remain covered and insulated. This continuous partial coverage sustains overall food temperature stability throughout the meal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional food cover is used, then full coverage protection is provided, but the device complexity increases with complete enclosure structures
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into two functional portions that can be independently positioned. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure compared to a complete enclosure, as each portion only needs to cover a portion of the dinnerware, reducing structural complexity while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial covering instead of complete enclosure. By covering only necessary portions of the dinnerware at different times, the structure achieves adequate protection with simpler, more manageable cover components rather than requiring a complex fully-enclosed structure.
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 partial cover effectively reduces contamination and maintains food temperature by providing partial protection and insulation, allowing users to eat while minimizing exposure to foreign particles and environmental influences.
Implementation Method 1
The partial cover has the added advantage of insulating the food, keeping it hot or cold, as desired
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a partial cover device for dinnerware for protecting food disposed thereon or therein from foreign particles. The partial cover device includes a partial dome structure defining an open bottom and an open side and adapted to be disposed over only a portion of the dinnerware, thereby providing access to a portion of the food disposed on or in the dinnerware.