Spice Container Partial Cover for One-Handed Leveling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spice storage devices lack a convenient method for leveling off spices from a measuring device, often requiring two hands and resulting in spillage and waste.

Innovation Solution

A spice storage apparatus with individual containers featuring a partial cover that allows for one-handed leveling by scraping excess spice against an edge, eliminating the need for additional tools and minimizing mess.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional spice storage boxes are used, then spices can be stored and accessed conveniently, but two hands are required to level off spices causing spillage and waste

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveConvenience of spice measurementVSAvoidSpice spillage and waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the spice container and leveling edge into a single integrated unit. The container includes a rim that serves dual purposes: holding the spice and providing a leveling surface, eliminating the need for separate leveling tools and reducing spice waste during measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The container's rim structure enables the spice container to perform its own leveling function. By designing the rim with appropriate height and geometry, the system allows users to level spices directly against the container's own structure, making the container self-sufficient for both storage and measurement tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If traditional spice storage boxes are used, then spices are readily available for cooking, but spillage and mess are created during the leveling process

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCooking efficiencyVSAvoidSpice spillage and mess
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the storage container and leveling edge into one integrated structure. The rim of the container serves as both the boundary for holding spices and the surface for leveling, eliminating the need for external leveling tools that cause spillage and mess during the cooking process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The container structure provides its own leveling capability through the rim design. Users can directly level spices against the container's rim without requiring additional tools, thereby maintaining cooking efficiency while preventing spillage and mess.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If one-handed operation is enabled for spice measurement, then convenience is improved, but additional tools or mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveOne-handed spice measurementVSAvoidStructure of spice container
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the container body and leveling rim into a single integrated structure that enables one-handed operation. The rim is designed with specific geometric characteristics that provide a sufficient leveling surface, allowing users to measure and level spices with one hand while keeping the overall structure simple and straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2490959B1Method and apparatus for storage and usage device
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 GUPTA ANUPY SINGLA
  • EP2490959B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2490959B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method and apparatus are provided for storing and accessing a variety of different cooking spices. The method includes the steps of providing an outer container, introducing a cover that fits over the outer container, inserting a plurality of spice storage containers positioned within the outer container whereby each spice storage container has a top opening, providing at least one of the spice storage containers with a cover that extends across and covers only part of the top opening of the spice container and defines an edge that extends across the spice container opening, removing the cover of the outer container, inserting a means for measuring spices into one of the spice storage container, and removing the means for measuring and leveling the amount of spice by sliding the means for measuring along the defined edge.