Pot assembly and kitchen appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pots and food processors often emit unpleasant odors and vapors during cooking, leading to odor nuisance and water vapor condensation on kitchen components, causing corrosion.

Innovation Solution

A pot arrangement with an attachment device featuring a filter device that includes a filter medium to capture and absorb vapors and odorous substances, preventing them from rising and condensing outside the pot, and a pressure equalization system to manage accumulated liquids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the pot opening is left uncovered during cooking, then cooking operations can be performed easily, but unpleasant odors and vapors rise unhindered causing odor nuisance and water vapor condensation on kitchen components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking operation accessibilityVSAvoidodor nuisance and vapor emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an attachment device as an intermediary component between the pot and the environment. This device includes a filter element that intercepts and filters odorous substances and water vapor before they can disperse into the kitchen environment, while still allowing cooking operations to proceed normally through the pot opening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a pot lid is used to cover the pot opening, then odor nuisance and vapor emissions are reduced, but cooking operations become less accessible and water vapor still condenses on surrounding components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor nuisance and vapor emissionsVSAvoidcooking operation accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a pot lid that completely blocks the opening, the patent employs an attachment device with a filter element as an intermediary. This allows selective filtration of harmful substances while maintaining operational accessibility, as the filter element can be designed to allow steam passage or be removable when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a filter device is added to capture odorous substances and vapors, then odor nuisance and condensation are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor nuisance and vapor emissionsVSAvoidpot arrangement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment device is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a structural component that can be placed on the pot opening and a filtration system that captures odorous substances and water vapor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Effectively reduces odor nuisance and prevents undesirable water vapor condensation on kitchen components, maintaining a cleaner and healthier cooking environment.

Implementation Method 1

The filter medium can also be understood as a retention or absorption medium, which takes up/collects or absorbs substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The filter device (4) comprises a filter chamber arrangement (5) which can be filled with a filter medium (F)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

rising water vapor can be collected and/or condensed in the filter device and, if necessary, returned to the pot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP4257014A1Pot assembly and kitchen appliance
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 WUNDERMIX GMBH
  • EP4257014A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4257014A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4257014A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pot arrangement, for example for a food processor, comprising a pot (1) with a pot opening (2).This is characterized by an attachment device (3) designed to be placed on the pot opening (2), wherein the attachment device (3) has a filter device (4) for filtering substances, for example vapors, particles and/or odorous substances, the filter device (4) comprising a filter chamber arrangement (5) fillable with a filter medium (F), wherein the filter chamber arrangement (5) has an inlet opening (6) designed to allow substances from the pot (1) to enter a filter space (7) formed by the filter chamber arrangement (5) and to filter the substances using the filter medium (F) when the pot arrangement is used in a cooking application, for example a cooking process of food contained in the pot (1), in which the attachment device (3) is placed on the pot (1).