Portable Grill Leg Lock Assembly for Safe Folding Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable grills face challenges in transitioning from an erected cooking configuration to a collapsed transport configuration safely and efficiently, particularly due to the risk of fuel tank obstruction and mechanical damage during folding.
Innovation Solution
The portable grill incorporates a leg lock assembly, tank blocker, leg latch assembly, and lid lock assembly to facilitate safe and automated transitions between configurations, with features like concealed components to reduce wear and mechanical damage, and a gas spring for controlled folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the portable grill is designed with foldable legs for compact transport, then the device complexity increases with multiple locking mechanisms, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the risk of fuel tank obstruction during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The tank blocker is positioned to automatically block the fuel tank opening before the folding operation begins, preventing any potential fuel leakage or obstruction issues before they can occur during the leg folding process
Solution Approach 2:
The tank blocker acts as an intermediary component between the fuel tank and the folding mechanism, physically preventing the leg from obstructing the fuel tank opening during the transition between configurations
2Ease of operation
If conventional portable grills allow leg folding without restrictions, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential mechanical damage to the fuel tank
Solution Approach 1:
The tank blocker preemptively creates a physical barrier to prevent the leg from reaching and potentially damaging the fuel tank during the folding operation, countering the harmful effect before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The leg lock assembly automatically engages with the rail to block the leg's path to the fuel tank without requiring user intervention, making the protection mechanism self-activating based on the leg's position
3Ease of operation
If the leg lock assembly uses exposed locking components for easy engagement, then the ease of operation improves, but the durability worsens due to increased wear and mechanical damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The locking components are nested within the rail structure, with the lock engaging inside the rail's internal features, which protects the locking surfaces from external wear and environmental damage while maintaining functional accessibility
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
Enables safe and efficient transition between cooking and transport configurations, ensuring the fuel tank is properly uncoupled and the grill is protected from mechanical stress, enhancing user safety and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring for controlled folding
Data Source
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AI summary
Portable grills are disclosed. An example portable grill movable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration includes a frame, a leg unit, and a leg lock assembly. The leg unit is movably coupled to the frame. The leg unit includes a first leg and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg. The leg lock assembly is operatively coupled to the leg unit and located partially within the frame. The leg lock assembly is configured to lock the leg unit in a first position relative to the frame when the portable grill is in the erected configuration, and to unlock the leg unit from the first position to enable movement of the portable grill from the erected configuration into the collapsed configuration.