Taco cooking insert

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Solution Overview

Problem

Taco shells often collapse or become too stiff during heating, making it difficult to insert ingredients and increasing the risk of breakage due to reduced flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A cooking insert with a pair of side portions and a bottom wall forming an acute angle, designed to fit between taco shell sides, maintaining separation and flexibility during heating, constructed from food-grade materials like metal, plastic, or ceramic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If taco shells are heated in an oven on a baking sheet, then the shells are heated effectively, but the sides of the shells collapse and become too stiff

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidshell collapse and stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A support insert is introduced as an intermediary object between the taco shell and the heating surface. This support insert maintains the shell's shape during heating by providing internal structural support, preventing collapse while allowing effective heat transfer to occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support insert changes the physical parameters of the shell system during heating by providing mechanical support that counteracts the natural tendency of the shell to collapse and stiffen under heat exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If taco shells are heated, then they are warmed properly, but the flexibility decreases making it difficult to insert ingredients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshell temperatureVSAvoiddifficulty of inserting ingredients

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support insert acts as a mediator that maintains shell flexibility during heating by providing internal support structure, allowing the shell to remain pliable enough for ingredient insertion while still achieving proper heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If taco shells are heated without support, then the heating process is simple, but the risk of breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating process simplicityVSAvoidshell breakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support insert serves as a simple intermediary device that significantly reduces shell breakage risk during heating and handling, providing structural reinforcement without complicating the overall heating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support insert provides beforehand cushioning by establishing internal structural support before heating begins, preventing the shell from becoming too fragile and breaking during the heating process and subsequent handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20210204759A1Taco cooking insert

Publication Date: 2021.07.08 GUARINO DIANE MARIE

AI summary

A cooking insert for use with a taco shell having a pair of side portions defining an interior, including a bottom wall having an elongated front edge and an elongated rear edge, a front wall extending upwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall, and a rear wall extending upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom wall, wherein the front wall and the rear wall define an acute angle therebetween, and the cooking insert is disposed within the interior of the taco shell.