Temperature controlled folding table
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a solution to maintain warm and chilled foods at their desired temperatures for extended periods during serving to ensure food safety and taste, particularly in outdoor and indoor events where foods may sit out for hours.
Innovation Solution
A portable serving table with insulating textile bags underneath the main table surface, which includes an inner waterproof layer, a thermally insulating layer, and an outer durable layer, allowing for the retention of both warm and cold temperatures, along with a center hinge and folding leg assemblies for easy transport and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If food is kept at room temperature during outdoor or indoor events, then it is convenient for serving, but the food temperature changes and bacterial growth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The table surface is segmented into multiple zones with different thermal characteristics. Some areas have insulating textile bags for temperature maintenance, while other areas provide open serving space. This segmentation allows simultaneous convenient serving and temperature-controlled food storage.
Solution Approach 2:
Insulating textile bags serve as intermediary elements between the table surface and the food items. These bags maintain desired temperatures for chilled or warm foods while allowing easy access and serving, thus mediating between convenience and food safety requirements.
2Reliability
If insulating textile bags are added to the table, then temperature maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible insulating textile bags instead of rigid insulation structures. These textile bags can be easily placed, removed, and cleaned, providing temperature maintenance functionality without adding permanent structural complexity to the table design.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating textile bags are designed to be removable and reconfigurable, allowing the table to dynamically adapt to different serving needs. Users can add or remove insulation based on the specific food items being served, rather than having fixed insulation for all scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If the table is designed for portability with folding legs, then ease of transport is improved, but the stability during use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The folding leg assemblies include pre-positioned locking mechanisms that automatically engage when the legs are extended to the desired height. This preliminary positioning ensures stable table configuration is achieved immediately upon setup, without requiring additional adjustment steps that could compromise stability.
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 effectively maintains food at desired temperatures, preventing bacterial growth and enhancing taste, while being easy to use and transport, suitable for various events and gatherings.
Implementation Method 1
at least one insulating textile bag disposed underneath each of the at least 4 openings positioned below the main table surface
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature controlled folding table is a traditionally configured folding table having a plurality of upper surface cut outs. Within the cut outs are a mesh like bag liner suitable for retaining ice therein thereby permitting a user to keep food chilled.