Dish covering assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing covering assemblies for dishes do not effectively protect contents from insects, germs, and temperature changes while allowing easy access.

Innovation Solution

A transparent shell with a hinged lid and resilient couplers that pivot to open and close, providing protection and ventilation for the dish contents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a covering assembly is used to protect dish contents from insects, germs, and temperature changes, then protection effectiveness is improved, but access to contents becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from insects, germs, and temperature changesVSAvoidaccess to contents

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is made pivotable between open and closed configurations, transforming a static covering into a dynamic one that can adapt between protection mode and access mode. This allows the same structure to provide both protection when closed and easy access when opened, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a transparent shell with hinged lid is used, then protection and visibility are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from insects, germs, and temperature changesVSAvoidstructure with hinged lid and couplers

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The covering assembly is divided into separate functional components: a shell for protection, a hinged lid for controlled access, and resilient couplers for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity. The modular design makes the complex structure manageable and easier to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If resilient couplers are used to secure the shell to the dish, then reliability of attachment is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidcoupler fabrication tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The couplers are made resilient (flexible) rather than rigid, changing the mechanical parameter from stiffness to elasticity. This allows the couplers to accommodate variations in dish dimensions and attachment points within acceptable tolerances, providing reliable attachment without requiring extremely precise manufacturing. The resilience absorbs dimensional variations while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10485364B2Dish covering assembly

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 RIVERS CHARMAINE

AI summary

A dish covering assembly for protecting contents of a dish includes a shell. The shell has a top that is closed and a bottom that is open. The bottom is configured to insert a dish, such as a chafing pan, into the shell to couple the shell to the dish to cover the dish. A penetration is positioned through the top of the shell. A lid is hingedly coupled to the top of the shell and is selectively couplable to the shell to close the penetration. The lid and the shell are substantially transparent. The lid is positioned to pivot to an open configuration to allow access to the contents of the dish through the penetration. The lid also is positioned pivot to a closed configuration so that the shell and the lid are configured to protect the contents of the dish, such as from insects, germs, and temperature changes.