Top plate for cooking device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional top plates for cooking devices with inorganic pigment-based coating films are prone to water seepage, dirt accumulation, and increased friction leading to scratches and peeling, which compromises design and slip reduction.

Innovation Solution

A top plate with a glass substrate and a patterned first coating film made solely of glass, providing a dense and smooth surface that prevents water seepage and reduces utensil slip, while maintaining an unnoticeable design even with scratches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a coating film made of glass and inorganic pigment is provided on the cooking surface, then the slip of cooking utensils is reduced, but the coating film becomes prone to water seepage and dirt accumulation due to low denseness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslip reduction of cooking utensilsVSAvoidresistance to water seepage and dirt accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the inorganic pigment component from the coating film, using only glass material. This removal of the pigment component resolves the contradiction by maintaining the dense, non-porous properties of glass while sacrificing the friction enhancement provided by pigment particles, thus preventing water seepage without relying on pigment-based coatings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the compositional parameters of the coating film from a mixture of glass and inorganic pigment to pure glass only. This parameter change transforms the coating's physical properties, achieving higher denseness and water resistance while accepting a trade-off in friction characteristics, ultimately resolving the contradiction between water resistance and slip reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a coating film made of glass and inorganic pigment is provided on the cooking surface, then the friction resistance is increased, but the coating film becomes prone to scratches and peeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction resistance for utensil placementVSAvoidresistance to scratches and peeling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the inorganic pigment component that creates a brittle, scratch-prone coating structure. By using only glass material, the coating maintains its inherent toughness and adhesion to the substrate, eliminating the peeling and scratching problems associated with pigment-based coatings while still providing sufficient friction for utensil placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure where the glass-based coating is applied over a glass substrate, creating a homogeneous glass-glass interface that enhances adhesion and resistance to peeling. This composite approach eliminates the interface between dissimilar materials (glass and pigment) that causes brittleness and peeling in conventional coatings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If a coating film is provided on the cooking surface to prevent slip, then the design of the top plate may be impaired due to scratches and peeling, but without a coating film, the slip reduction effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslip reduction of cooking utensilsVSAvoiddesign integrity of top plate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention eliminates the inorganic pigment component that causes coating degradation and design impairment. The pure glass coating maintains a smooth, uniform appearance that is resistant to scratching and peeling, preserving the aesthetic design of the top plate while still providing the necessary slip reduction functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the coating composition to pure glass, which fundamentally alters the coating's durability and aesthetic properties. This parameter change results in a coating that maintains its appearance and structural integrity over time, preventing the design impairment caused by scratches and peeling in pigment-based coatings, while still providing adequate friction for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3220059B1Top plate for cooking device
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO LTD
  • EP3220059B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3220059B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a top plate for a cooking device capable of preventing cooking water or the like from seeping into the coating film, having an excellent design, and capable of reducing the slip of cooking utensils. A top plate 1 for a cooking device includes: a glass substrate 10 that has a cooking surface 11 on which a cooking utensil is to be placed and a back surface 12 located on a side opposite to the cooking surface 11; and a first coating film 20 provided on the cooking surface 11 and having a pattern, the first coating film 20 being made only of glass.