Springform Pan Sealing Assembly for Watertight Water-Bath Baking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Baking cheesecakes, custards, or flans in a water bath often results in water leakage into the pan, leading to uneven heating and suboptimal results, with existing solutions like using a three-pan system or aluminum foil failing to provide a watertight seal efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A leak-proof baking pan assembly with a bottom plate, side walls, O-ring seal, vertical seals, and handles that secure the vertical seals, allowing for direct water contact and even heat distribution without the need for aluminum foil or a three-pan system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the springform pan is placed into a second pan which is placed into a third pan (water bath), then water leakage is prevented, but heat distribution becomes uneven due to air gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sealing mechanism directly into the springform pan structure by nesting an O-ring seal between the bottom plate and side walls, and vertical seals at the ends of side walls. This eliminates the need for separate nested pans while maintaining water leakage prevention and enabling direct water contact for even heat distribution.
2Reliability
If aluminum foil is used to wrap the springform pan, then water leakage is reduced, but the seal is not water-tight and the process is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing elements including an O-ring seal that fits into a groove on the bottom plate and vertical seals at the ends of side walls. These flexible components create reliable water-tight seals through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for cumbersome aluminum foil wrapping while ensuring complete water leakage prevention.
3Device complexity
If no sealing mechanism is used, then the pan structure remains simple, but water leakage occurs compromising batter integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing function into multiple segments: an O-ring seal positioned between the bottom plate and side walls, and vertical seals positioned at the opposite ends of the side walls. This segmented approach provides comprehensive water-tight sealing while maintaining relatively simple construction, with each seal component being independent and easily replaceable.
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 solution ensures even heating and optimal temperature control by maintaining a watertight seal, allowing water to come into direct contact with the pan, resulting in a higher quality final product with improved heat distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an O-ring seal positioned between the edge of the bottom plate and the pair of side walls; and a pair of vertical seals positioned between opposite ends of the pair of side walls
Implementation Method 2
it allows for the water of the water bath to come in direct contact with the side walls of the baking pan. This feature of the present system provides much more evenly-distributed heat, thus optimally controlling the temperature of the batter
Data Source
AI summary
A water-tight baking pan assembly having: a bottom plate; a pair of side walls that wrap around the edge of the bottom plate; an O-ring seal positioned between the edge of the bottom plate and the pair of side walls; a pair of vertical seals positioned between opposite ends of the pair of side walls; and a pair of handles, each handle securing one of the vertical seals to the opposite ends of the pair of side walls disposed on either side of the vertical seal, the baking pan assembly permitting baked goods to be partially submerged in water when baking to achieve desired heat distribution.