Removable Pan Grip With Anti-Return Tightening Arm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gripping devices for cooking vessels experience play and potential damage due to varying vessel wall thicknesses, leading to premature aging of the coating and safety concerns, as they struggle to maintain a secure grip under shocks without compromising components.

Innovation Solution

A removable gripping device with an anti-return mechanism that prevents the tightening arm from rotating in the opposite direction, utilizing a freely rotating wheel device with rolling elements to ensure continuous locking and reduce play, and an unblocking member for easy removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking finger is used to prevent the tightening arm from moving, then the vessel can be secured against shocks, but play remains between the gripping device and the vessel due to misalignment between locking and tightening positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring vessel against shocksVSAvoidplay between gripping device and vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the static locking finger with a dynamic anti-return mechanism that actively maintains the tightening arm in its locked position. The spring-loaded ball and inclined plane system automatically adjusts to prevent any deviation from the locked position, eliminating play while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-return mechanism provides continuous feedback to the tightening arm position through the spring-loaded ball contacting the inclined plane. This feedback ensures the arm remains precisely in the locked position, eliminating the misalignment issue between locking and tightening positions that causes play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If elastic elements are used to reduce play, then the gripping device can adapt to varying vessel wall thicknesses, but the compression of this elastic element under shocks may strip the gripping device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying wall thicknessesVSAvoidresistance to stripping under shocks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a replaceable elastic element (spring-loaded ball) that is designed to be inexpensive and easily replaceable. This allows the system to absorb shocks without compromising the main gripping device structure, as the elastic element can be replaced if worn or damaged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded ball acts as a pre-compression cushioning element that absorbs shocks before they can transmit damaging forces to the gripping device structure. The elastic element is pre-loaded to provide continuous cushioning against varying vessel wall thicknesses and external shocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If the locking position coincides with the tightening position, then play is eliminated, but this creates hyperstatism in the mobile tightening arm that must be absorbed by component elasticity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of playVSAvoidhyperstatism requiring elastic absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-return mechanism is self-regulating, using the spring-loaded ball and inclined plane to automatically maintain the optimal locked position without requiring external adjustment or complex elastic absorption systems. The mechanism self-adjusts to eliminate play while avoiding hyperstatism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 device significantly limits play between the gripping device and the vessel, reducing wear on the coating and enhancing safety by maintaining a secure grip without relying on elastic compression, thus preventing damage and ensuring secure handling.

Implementation Method 1

an anti-return mechanism, separate from moving mechanisms, to prevent the rotation of the tightening arm in the opposite direction from the tightening direction when the tightening arm is in a locked position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRatchet mechanism: Ratchet

Data Source

PatentUS9149158B2Removable gripping device for a cooking vessel with an anti-return mechanism consisting of a rotating tightening arm

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 SEB SA

AI summary

The device comprises an internal support upper arm and an external support lower arm, designed to work together so that, by gripping, the upper arm and the lower arm push against an internal face and an external face, respectively, of the lateral vessel wall; a tightening arm which rotates around an axis between an unlocked and a locked position in which the tightening arm pushes against the lateral wall and works with one of the two lower and upper arms to pin the lateral wall against at least one of the arms; and movement means designed to manually shifted between an open and closed position and to rotate the tightening arm when moving from an open to a closed position. In addition, provision is made of anti-return means, separate from the movement means, for blocking the rotation of the tightening arm in the opposite direction from the tightening direction when said tightening arm is in the locked position.