Tool for roasting over open flame or heat source

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tools for roasting food over an open flame often cause food to slip or break apart due to improper skewering, and pose safety risks with pointed ends.

Innovation Solution

A tool with pivotally engaged pairs of holding arms forms cages around the food's outer surfaces, using blunted or rounded tips and handles with heat-resistant materials to securely hold food without skewering, preventing accidents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If skewers or pointed forks are used to hold food over open flame, then food can be held and roasted, but food may slip along the skewer or break apart and fall off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood holding reliabilityVSAvoidproper angle and centering requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tool divides the food holding function into multiple holding arms (typically three or more) that collectively surround and support the food item. Each arm independently contacts the food surface, distributing the holding force across multiple points rather than relying on a single skewer point, thereby preventing slipping and breaking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of piercing the food from one side as with traditional skewers, the holding arms contact and support the food from the outside surface, enveloping it in a cage-like structure. This inverted approach eliminates the need for precise centering and angle control while maintaining secure food attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If skewers with pointed ends are used for roasting, then food can be securely impaled, but safety risks arise from accidental poking or horseplay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood securing capabilityVSAvoidsafety hazards from pointed ends

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tool inverts the traditional skewer concept by replacing pointed piercing elements with blunt external holding arms. The food is secured through circumferential contact rather than penetration, eliminating the safety hazard of exposed sharp points while maintaining effective food attachment for roasting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of pointed ends by completely eliminating them from the tool structure. The holding arms are deliberately designed with blunt, rounded ends that provide secure food contact without creating safety risks, transforming the design approach from harmful to beneficial

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20240324822A1Tool for roasting over open flame or heat source

Publication Date: 2024.10.03 APPLIED MATERIALS INC

AI summary

A tool generally includes a food holding region and a handle region. The food holding section generally includes two opposing and pivotally engaged pairs of holding sections. Each pair of holding sections forms a side of the food cage, so that when the tool is in the closed position and food of appropriate dimension is inserted therein, the cage holds the food about its outer surfaces. The holding section includes a distal end that is blunted or rounded, formed by the bent shape of the holding arms.