Sandwich press hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grills and sandwich presses lack user-adjustable pressing force, leading to excessive or inadequate pressure on food, which can distort its shape and affect cooking outcomes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hinge assembly with a coil spring that allows the upper housing to pivot angularly, providing a torque that diminishes as the housing opens, enabling adjustable pressing force and aiding in opening the appliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the upper housing weight is increased to provide sufficient pressing force, then the pressing force on food is improved, but the food may be distorted or excessive cheese may leak
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly incorporates a spring mechanism that allows the pressing force to be dynamically adjusted. The spring can be positioned at different locations along the hinge axis, creating different torque arms that modify the effective pressing force. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the user to optimize the pressing force for different food types without permanently increasing the housing weight, thereby preventing food distortion while maintaining adequate pressing force.
2Shape
If the upper housing weight is decreased to prevent food distortion, then the food shape is preserved, but the pressing force becomes inadequate for certain foods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of pressing force by introducing a spring-loaded hinge mechanism. By adjusting the spring position along the hinge axis, the torque arm length is modified, which directly changes the effective pressing force applied to the food. This allows the same lightweight housing to provide variable pressing forces - sufficient for delicate foods when the spring is positioned to create shorter torque arm, and stronger pressure for tougher foods when the spring position is adjusted accordingly.
3Device complexity
If a fixed pressing force is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot be adjusted for different food types or cooking processes
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is designed with a dynamic spring positioning system that allows the spring to be relocated along the hinge axis. This dynamic configuration enables the same basic hinge structure to provide different pressing forces by simply changing the spring position, thereby achieving adaptability for different food types without significantly increasing device complexity. The mechanism maintains structural simplicity while gaining versatility through positional adjustment capability.
4Force
If the spring torque is increased to provide adequate pressing force, then the pressing force is sufficient, but it becomes difficult to open the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The spring torque parameter can be adjusted by changing the spring position along the hinge axis. When greater pressing force is needed, the spring is positioned to create appropriate torque without excessively increasing the opening force. The adjustable nature allows optimization of the torque curve - providing sufficient closing force for pressing while maintaining manageable opening force. Users can adjust the spring position to find the optimal balance between pressing force and ease of operation for different cooking scenarios.
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 solution allows for a customizable pressing force, preventing food distortion and improving cooking results by allowing users to adjust the pressure according to the type of food being cooked.
Implementation Method 1
a spring located in the hollow housing... the spring is operatively associated with the hollow portion and the part to urge the upper housing to the second position thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance such as a grill or a sandwich press that includes an upper housing and a lower housing assembly. The housing assemblies are connected by hinge assemblies that provide for angular movement of the upper housing between a first position which is adjacent the housing, and a second position at which the upper housing is spaced upwardly of the lower housing. Each hinge assembly includes a spring that applies a torque urging the upper housing assembly to the second position.