Removable Cookware Handle Locking to Eliminate Mechanical Play
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cookware with removable handles lacks perfect immobilization along both longitudinal and transverse axes, leading to mechanical play and compromised ergonomics and safety during handling, especially when heated.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spout with a first bearing surface that cooperates with an internal wall to eliminate longitudinal play and a second bearing surface that generates a force proportional to the cookware's weight to press the first surface against the internal wall, along with a locking mechanism for secure assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spout is introduced into an opening to assemble a removable handle on a handle, then the handle can be easily uncoupled when heated, but mechanical play remains along the longitudinal axis and transverse axis
Solution Approach 1:
The spout's weight automatically generates a pressing force through its own geometry (inclined upper end face) to press the first bearing surface against the internal wall, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms while maintaining immobilization. The system uses itself (the spout's weight) to achieve the pressing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses both longitudinal and transverse play by introducing bearing surfaces that operate in multiple dimensions. The first bearing surface eliminates longitudinal play through axial pressing, while the second bearing surface (inclined upper end face) generates force to press the first surface, creating a multi-dimensional constraint system.
2Ease of manufacture
If substantial mechanical play is necessary between spout and opening to allow easy insertion, then handle assembly is simple, but perfect immobilization along longitudinal and transverse axes is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined upper end face of the spout changes the geometric parameters of the assembly. This inclination transforms the vertical insertion motion into a combined vertical and horizontal movement, allowing easy insertion while the resulting geometry creates the pressing force needed for precise immobilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The first bearing surface is designed with asymmetric geometry (not parallel and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) to complement the internal wall shape. This asymmetric design eliminates transverse play while maintaining ease of assembly through the inclined approach face.
3Reliability
If the first bearing surface is not parallel and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with complementary shape, then transverse play is eliminated, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surfaces are designed with specific local geometric qualities (inclined upper end face, non-parallel/non-perpendicular first bearing surface) only where needed to achieve the pressing function and eliminate play, while other parts of the handle remain simple and unchanged.
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
This design enhances ergonomics and safety by eliminating play along both axes, providing a secure grip and improved handling quality, with the force generated by the cookware's weight ensuring better immobilization, especially when full.
Implementation Method 1
generate on the spout a force along the longitudinal axis proportional to the torque exerted by the weight of the cookware
Implementation Method 2
torque exerted by the weight of the cookware
Implementation Method 3
cooperating with an internal wall of the opening to immobilize the handle on the handle along the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 4
The spout has an inclined upper end face 15 which cooperates with a lower face 23 of the handle 21 to form a first support anterior to the pivot axis 14
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
-The invention concerns a culinary article (2) comprising at least one shank (21) extending outwards in a substantially horizontal plane and in which an opening (22) is formed, said culinary article (2) comprising a removable handle (1) that extends along a longitudinal axis (13) and comprises, at one end, a nose (12) that can be inserted into said opening (22) to assemble the handle (1) to the shank (21) by pivoting. -According to the invention, the nose (12) comprises a first bearing surface (17, 18, 117, 118) that engages with an inner wall (24, 124) of the opening (22) to immobilise the handle (1) on the shank (21) along the longitudinal axis (13) when the handle (1) is assembled on the shank (21), and the nose (12) comprises a second bearing surface (15) which engages with the shank (21) to generate, on the nose (12), a force along the longitudinal axis (13) proportional to the torque exerted by the weight of the culinary article (2), said force pressing the first bearing surface (17, 18, 117, 118) against the inner wall (24, 124) of the opening (22).