Removable Waffle Iron Mould Clamping for Easy Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waffle irons have protrusions and recesses on their outer surfaces, making thorough cleaning difficult, and require handling of electrical components during maintenance or cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A waffle iron design with tensioning means accessible on the outer surface of the baking mould, allowing easy removal and cleaning without exposing the electronics, featuring bolts or clamps that clamp the pressure body against the mould, and a housing part with no protrusions, enabling thorough cleaning and maintenance without disassembling the electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If tensioning means are mounted on the housing part, then the clamping function is achieved, but protrusions and recesses are created on the outer surface making cleaning difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping functionVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tensioning means are extracted from the housing part and relocated to the baking mould. The baking mould now carries the tensioning means on its outer surface, allowing the housing part to have a smooth outer surface without protrusions or recesses, thus enabling thorough cleaning while maintaining the clamping function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mounting the tensioning means on the housing part as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting them on the baking mould. This inversion allows the housing part outer surface to remain smooth and cleanable, while the baking mould's outer surface accommodates the tensioning means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the baking mould is tightly clamped to maintain heating contact, then heating efficiency is improved, but removal of the baking mould for cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidbaking mould removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tensioning means act as an intermediary mechanism that provides controlled clamping force. The user-accessible tensioning means on the baking mould's outer surface allow the user to adjust and release the clamping force easily, enabling removal of the baking mould for cleaning while maintaining tight contact during operation for heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If electrical components are integrated into the housing part, then device compactness is achieved, but cleaning requires disassembly of electrical parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into separable components: the baking mould with tensioning means on its outer surface can be independently removed from the housing part. This segmentation allows the baking mould to be removed for cleaning without disassembling the electrical components integrated in the housing part, maintaining both compactness and cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10149572B2Waffle iron with improved cleanability

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 PITTEURS BENNY MARCELINUS LYDIE

AI summary

Waffle iron comprising at least a baking mold, a heating element, a pressure body and a housing part; and tensioning means which act to clamp the heating element against the baking mold and which extend from the baking mold at most up to an inner wall of the housing part facing toward the pressure body.