Stackable Poultry Leg Retainer with Asymmetric Anchor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing poultry trussing devices are costly to manufacture, labor-intensive to mount and dismount, and lack efficient stacking capabilities, which complicates packaging, storage, and shipping, while also interacting excessively with packaging materials.

Innovation Solution

A stackable poultry leg retainer device made of resilient material with an asymmetrical anchor and bridle portion, allowing for easy attachment and detachment, secure hock retention, and automatic stacking without the need for binding devices like rubber bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional poultry trussing devices are used, then hocks can be retained securely, but manufacturing costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehock retention securityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is divided into distinct functional segments: an anchor portion with kidney-shaped openings for securing to the carcass, and a bridle portion with loops for retaining the hocks. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently while simplifying overall manufacturing through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it anchors to the carcass backbone, retains the hocks in juxtaposition, and maintains the legs close to the body during processing and cooking. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each task, reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional poultry trussing devices are used, then hocks can be retained securely, but device complexity increases and stacking efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehock retention securityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bridle portion is nested within the anchor portion, with the loops of the bridle positioned inside the kidney-shaped openings of the anchor. This nested configuration secures the hocks while maintaining a compact overall structure that is simple to manufacture and stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex mechanical fasteners or multiple components to secure the hocks, the invention inverts the approach by using the natural geometry of the anchor openings to contain the bridle loops, which in turn hold the hocks. This inverted containment strategy simplifies the structure while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If non-stackable retainers are used, then handling is simple, but packaging and storage efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling simplicityVSAvoidpackaging efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor portion features asymmetric kidney-shaped openings that provide a unique orientation for stacking. This asymmetric geometry allows retainers to nest together in a specific orientation, enabling efficient stacking and storage while maintaining ease of individual handling and application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If conventional trussing devices are used, then hocks are retained, but labor time increases for mounting and dismounting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehock retentionVSAvoidmounting and dismounting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is designed to be self-applied and self-secured. The flexible resilient material allows the device to be stretched over the hocks and anchored to the carcass without requiring additional fasteners, clips, or complex assembly steps. The asymmetric kidney-shaped openings automatically orient the device correctly during application, eliminating the need for precise alignment by the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 device reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies attachment and detachment, enhances throughput, and eliminates the need for binding materials, improving handling and packaging efficiency while maintaining secure hock retention.

Implementation Method 1

The retainer may be constructed as a unitary, plate-like or substantially planar member of resilient material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11497222B1Stackable retainer for poultry hocks

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 VOLK ENTERPRISES A DELAWARE US CORP

AI summary

A poultry leg retainer for use with a poultry carcass having legs with hocks, the retainer having an anchor, a connecting leg, and a bridle portion. The anchor has an anchor beam that extends in a substantially transverse direction of the retainer. First and second outer ends of the anchor beam are pointed and upturned. The connecting leg is coupled on a distal end thereof with a central portion of the transverse anchor beam and extends in a longitudinal direction of the retainer substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction of the anchor beam. A curvilinear member of the bridal portion has a central portion that is coupled with the proximal end of the connecting leg and first and second arcuate portions that define first and second downwardly-facing openings, respectively, configured to engage first and second poultry hocks, respectively. The retainer is also configured to facilitate stacking of multiple retainers.