Enhanced Kitchen Appliance Positioning System
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
An improved base unit for kitchen appliances, featuring self-leveling, sensor-assisted, and redundant mechanisms to ensure efficient, safe, and continuous positioning of kitchen appliances on working surfaces.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a base unit for kitchen appliances with a device for positioning the appliance on a working surface. However, the prior art device had limitations, such as the potential for instability and damage during displacement, and the need for manual adjustments. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing innovative features that enhance the positioning process.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced kitchen appliance positioning system comprises a device with a self-leveling mechanism to maintain the appliance's stability during displacement. Additionally, the device includes a sensor system to detect the appliance's weight and adjust the displacement element's speed accordingly. The displacement element itself features a retractable foot unit to minimize the risk of damage. Furthermore, the adjustment element incorporates a redundant gear mechanism to prevent mechanical failure. The system can be operated using a method that automatically adjusts the displacement element's position based on the appliance's dimensions and weight, ensuring optimal positioning.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept's novelty lies in the combination of self-leveling, sensor-assisted, and redundant mechanisms, which provide a significant improvement over the original patent. The inventive step is the integration of these features to create a more efficient, safe, and reliable kitchen appliance positioning system.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include different types of sensor systems, such as optical or pressure sensors, or various redundant mechanisms, like duplicate gear trains or backup power sources. Additionally, the system could be adapted for use with different types of kitchen appliances or working surfaces.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced kitchen appliance positioning system has significant commercial potential in the kitchen appliance manufacturing industry, particularly for high-end or commercial-grade appliances. The target market includes professional chefs, restaurants, and households with high-end kitchen appliances.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A47 | A47J47/16 |
| F | F16 | F16M11/045 |
| F | F16 | F16M11/046 |
| F | F16 | F16M11/08 |
| F | F16 | F16M11/18 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Mechanical engineering for kitchen appliance positioning systems, focusing on movable base units with displacement mechanisms for kitchen equipment. Requires expertise in mechanical design, precision positioning, and mechanical actuation systems
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer with 3-5 years experience in appliance design, familiar with mechanical positioning systems, gear mechanisms, and industrial design principles for kitchen equipment
Obviousness Rationale
A person having ordinary skill would recognize that the PTD's enhancements represent predictable variations of the source patent's core positioning mechanism. The additional features like self-leveling, sensor-assisted speed control, and redundant gear mechanisms are logical extensions of the original patent's displacement device concept. These improvements represent standard engineering problem-solving approaches to enhance reliability and functionality of mechanical positioning systems.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,118 |
|---|---|
| Title | Device for positioning a kitchen appliance, base unit including the device, and method of using the base unit |
| Assignee(s) | Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH |