Stackable Cookware Handle Design to Prevent Surface Coating Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing stackable cooking pot solutions cause damage to the surface coatings when pots are stacked due to direct contact, affecting their performance and quality during storage and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A set of cookware comprising at least two cooking pots with a handle system featuring upper and lower support portions and a locking mechanism that prevents direct contact between the pot bodies, allowing for secure stacking without damage, using a protrusion and platform to lock the handle elements and a connecting member that can be easily released.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If cooking pots are stacked to save storage and transport space, then space utilization is improved, but the surface coating of the cooking pots is damaged due to direct contact between pots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidsurface coating damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces handle elements as intermediary components between the cooking pots. The upper support portion of the lower pot's handle element and the lower support portion of the upper pot's handle element create a buffer zone that prevents direct contact between the pot bodies, thereby protecting the surface coating while enabling stable stacking configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle is divided into distinct functional segments: the upper support portion, lower support portion, and locking mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the support portions prevent body contact while the locking mechanism secures the stacking arrangement, resolving the contradiction between space-saving stacking and surface protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If cooking pots are stacked without protection, then storage efficiency is improved, but the stability and security of the stacked pots is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidstacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support function and locking function into a single integrated handle element system. The upper and lower support portions work together with the locking mechanism to provide both the structural framework for stacking and the secure connection that prevents displacement, achieving both space efficiency and stacking stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism provides a dynamic solution to stacking stability. It allows the handle elements to be easily assembled and disassembled when needed, while maintaining a secure locked position during storage and transport, thus adapting the stability characteristic to different operational states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3351152B1A set of cookware
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 ZHEJIANG CITIC KITCHEN UTENSILS
  • EP3351152B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3351152B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3351152B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooking pot and in particular to a set of cookware (0) comprising at least two cooking pots (1), whereby each cooking pot comprises a body (2) and a handle (3), and whereby the at least two cooking pots (1) are stackable, whereby a lower support portion (32) at the bottom of the front end of the handle (3a) of the cooking pot of the at least two cooking pots that is stacked above a lower cooking pot, abuts against an upper support portion (31) at the top of the front end of the handle (3a) of the lower cooking pot, such that the body (2) of the upper cooking pot (1) does not touch the body (2) of the lower cooking pot (1), and whereby the upper cooking pot (1) is fixable in an opening (33) at the rear end of the handle (3b) of the lower cooking pot (1) via a locking element (34) at the rear end of the handle (3b) of the upper cooking pot (1).