Sandwich Press Spring-Loaded Hinge for Adjustable Pressing Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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
A cooking appliance with a hinge assembly that includes a non-rotating hollow portion, a spring, and a rotatable part, where the spring applies a torque to the upper housing, allowing it to move between closed and open positions, with the spring's torque diminishing as the housing opens, enabling adjustable pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the upper housing weight is increased to provide sufficient pressing force for cooking, then the cooking effectiveness is improved, but the food may be distorted or excessive pressure is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring mechanism that allows the pressing force to be dynamically adjusted based on the cooking requirements. The spring can be compressed to different degrees, enabling the user to control the amount of force applied to the food, thus preventing distortion while ensuring adequate cooking pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pressing force from a fixed value (determined by housing weight) to a variable parameter that can be adjusted through spring compression. This allows the pressing force to be optimized for different food items and cooking conditions, resolving the contradiction between sufficient pressure and avoiding distortion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the upper housing weight is decreased to prevent food distortion, then food shape is preserved, but the pressing force becomes inadequate for proper cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism acts as a counterweight system, providing additional pressing force independently of the housing weight. By compressing the spring, the user can generate sufficient pressing force even with a lighter upper housing, thus preserving food shape while ensuring adequate cooking pressure.
3Device complexity
If a fixed pressing force system is used, then the device structure is simple, but the appliance cannot be adjusted for different food items or cooking processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static hinge assembly into a dynamic system with an adjustable spring mechanism. This allows the pressing force to be modified according to different cooking requirements, significantly improving adaptability while adding only moderate complexity to the overall structure.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the spring torque is high to maintain upper housing position, then the housing remains stable, but the pressing force on food becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows the spring torque parameter to be adjusted by varying the compression degree. This enables the user to find the optimal balance between housing stability and pressing force, preventing excessive force from being applied to the food while maintaining adequate positional stability of the upper housing.
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 allows for adjustable pressure on food, preventing distortion and improving cooking results by enabling precise control of the pressing force, ensuring optimal cooking conditions for various food items.
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... the spring applies a torque urging the upper housing assembly to the second position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
AI summary
A cooking appliance (100) such as a grill or a sandwich press, the appliance (100) includes an upper housing (101) and a lower housing assembly (102), with the housing assemblies (101, 102) being connected by hinge assemblies (103, 104). The hinge assemblies (103, 104) provide for angular movement of the upper housing (101) between a first position at which the housing (101, 102) are adjacent, and a second position at which the upper housing (101) is spaced upwardly of the lower housing (102). Each hinge assembly (103, 104) includes a spring (207) that applies a torque urging the upper housing assembly (101) to the second position.