Ventilated Metal Cookware Handle for Thermal Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking tools with metal handles heat up excessively when exposed to heat sources, requiring protective gear for handling, and those with wooden or plastic handles are not suitable for oven use due to temperature limitations.

Innovation Solution

A cooking tool design featuring a metal gripping member with an isolation gap between metal covering plates and a support portion, allowing ventilation with ambient air for thermal insulation and rapid cooling, while maintaining durability at high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal gripping member is used, then the gripping member resists high temperatures and is durable, but the gripping member heats up excessively and requires protective gear for handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability at high temperatureVSAvoidexcessive heating
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping member is divided into distinct components: a metal support portion connected to the container body, and metal covering plates arranged on opposite sides. Isolation gaps are formed between the support portion and covering plates, creating segmented thermal zones that allow air circulation and reduce heat transfer to the gripping surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Air acts as an intermediary thermal insulation medium in the isolation gaps between the metal support portion and covering plates. This air layer mediates heat transfer by providing thermal resistance while allowing the metal components to maintain structural integrity at high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wooden or plastic handles are used, then the gripping member does not heat up excessively and can be handled with bare hands, but the gripping member cannot be used in oven environments due to temperature limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidresistance to high temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping member combines metal components (support portion and covering plates) that provide high-temperature resistance with air-filled isolation gaps that provide thermal insulation. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both heat-resistant materials and thermal insulators into a single gripping member system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If metal covering plates are used without isolation gaps, then the structure is simpler and more robust, but the covering plates heat up and transfer heat to the user's hands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidheat transfer to hands
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves from a two-dimensional contact interface between the support portion and covering plates to a three-dimensional structure with isolation gaps. This dimensional change creates air circulation paths that provide thermal management without significantly complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables safe handling without protective gear and allows use in both hob and oven environments without damaging the gripping member, ensuring effective thermal insulation and rapid cooling post-oven use.

Implementation Method 1

an isolation gap is formed for ventilation with ambient air... the covering plates prove substantially thermally insulated from the support portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

cooled on both sides by the ambient air... the covering plates of the gripping member cool very rapidly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2729044B1Cooking tool
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 ARACARIA BV
  • EP2729044B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2729044B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2729044B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A cooking tool (1), in particular a pan or a pot or a lid, comprising a containing body (2) and at least a gripping member (3) with a metal support portion (4) connected to a wall of the container body (2), a first metal covering plate (5) arranged on a first side (14) of the support portion (4), a second metal covering plate (6) arranged on a second side (15) of the support portion and wherein between each one of the first and second covering plates (5, 6) and the support portion (4) an isolation gap (8) is formed allowing the covering plates (5, 6) to be ventilated on a side thereof facing towards the support portion (4).