Roller Grill Canopy Assembly with Food Separator Compatibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional roller grill covers do not work in conjunction with food separating devices, failing to address both airborne contamination and the segregation of cooked and uncooked food products effectively.

Innovation Solution

A canopy cover for roller grills that includes support brackets with cutouts to accommodate a food separating device, along with canopy header brackets for supporting a custom sign, allowing for simultaneous use of both contamination protection and product segregation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional roller grill cover is used to protect food from airborne contaminants, then food protection from airborne pathogens is improved, but the ability to use a food separating device is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairborne contaminationVSAvoidcompatibility with food separating device

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The canopy support brackets are segmented with cutouts that allow the food separating device to pass through and be positioned on the grill surface. This segmentation enables the canopy to coexist with the separating device rather than blocking it entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The food separating device is nested through the cutouts in the canopy support brackets, allowing the separating device to be positioned on the grill surface while the canopy covers the upper portion. The separating device fits through the openings in the support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a canopy cover is designed to contact the entire grill housing for stability, then structural stability is improved, but compatibility with food separating device is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecanopy stabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with food separating device

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The canopy support brackets have different properties in different locations: solid sections that contact the grill housing for stability, and cutout sections that allow the food separating device to pass through. This local differentiation of properties resolves the conflict between stability and compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11470989B2Roller grill assembly canopy

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 TOPSTONE HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Provided is a canopy cover for a roller grill assembly that works in conjunction with a roller grill food separating device. The canopy includes a pair of support brackets that contact the sidewalls of the roller grill to support the canopy thereon. The canopy support brackets include cutouts for positioning a food separating device on the grill assembly. The configuration of the cutouts allows the food separating device support brackets to rest between the ends of the canopy support brackets and on the roller grill. The canopy further includes a pair of canopy header brackets for supporting a header graphic custom sign positioned above the roller grill. The canopy provides a sanitary cover for a roller grill and a food separating device that permits segregation of food products on the grill surface, protects the food from contaminants, and provides support for an advertising sign.