Programmed Magnet Cooktop for Centering and Securing Cookware

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cooktop appliances with glass surfaces face issues of uneven heating and cookware instability due to obscured burner locations and lack of friction, leading to uneven cooking and potential movement during use, especially in vehicles with sloping surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A cooktop appliance with a ceramic-glass plate and a heating assembly below, featuring a programmed magnet at the center to generate a magnetic force along the radial direction, which secures cookware in place using a second magnet in the cookware's plenum, ensuring even heating and stability on uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If graphical indicators are applied to the cooktop surface to mark burner locations, then burner positioning is improved, but the indicators are obscured by larger cookware leading to uneven heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburner location indicationVSAvoiduneven heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A magnet is introduced as an intermediary element between the cooktop surface and the cookware. The magnet provides tactile feedback and positioning assistance to the user, serving as a mediator that guides cookware placement without being obscured by the cookware itself, thereby ensuring even heating while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces visual mechanical indicators (graphical markings on the glass surface) with a magnetic field-based positioning system. The magnetic field provides invisible but effective guidance for cookware placement, eliminating the problem of obscured visual indicators while maintaining precise burner location indication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the cooktop surface is made smooth and frictionless for ease of cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but cookware stability deteriorates causing sliding and movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidcookware stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet acts as an intermediary force field that provides stabilizing attraction between the cooktop and cookware. This magnetic attraction works in conjunction with the smooth surface, allowing the surface to remain easy to clean while the magnetic force prevents cookware sliding and movement during cooking operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If clamps or mechanical structures are used to hold cookware in place, then cookware stability is improved, but device complexity and aesthetics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecookware stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical holding structures (clamps, hinges, arms) with an invisible magnetic field system. The magnetic attraction provides sufficient stabilizing force to prevent cookware movement during normal cooking, eliminating the need for visible mechanical structures and maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring cookware stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Stability of the object's composition

If magnets are used to secure cookware, then cookware stability is improved, but the magnetic force may interfere with cooking or cookware materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecookware stabilityVSAvoidcooking interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic force is concentrated locally at the interface between the cooktop and cookware bottom, providing stabilizing attraction only where needed. The magnetic field strength is sufficient for positioning and stability but localized enough to avoid interfering with the cooking process or affecting cookware materials, as the magnetic influence diminishes with distance from the cooktop surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 magnetic system effectively centers and secures cookware, preventing movement and ensuring even heating, even on sloping surfaces, while allowing easy removal and adjustment, thus improving cooking performance and safety in various environments.

Implementation Method 1

a programmed magnet centered at the reference center, the programmed magnet configured to generate a magnetic force along the radial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS12120785B2Cooking system with cooktop appliance and programmed magnet

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A cooktop appliance defining a reference center and a radial direction extending from the reference center, a circumferential direction extending relative to the reference center, and a vertical direction extending orthogonal to the radial direction is provided. The cooktop appliance includes a ceramic-glass plate, a heating assembly positioned below the ceramic-glass plate, and a programmed magnet centered at the reference center. The programmed magnet is configured to generate a magnetic force along the radial direction.