GB2026153A - Heating appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A hob unit for installation into an aperture in a generally horizontal work surface (14) is hinged at one edge to the work surface for pivotal movement from a horizontal working position to a vertical position in which the underside of the hob unit is accessible from above the work surface. Preferably each hinge (16) comprises a first hinge plate (18) having a first generally horizontal web directed parallel to the work surface and terminating in a first fixing flange (20) secured to the respective edge of the work surface (14), and a second hinge plate (24) having a second generally horizontal web which extends further from a hinge pin (26) than the first horizontal web and terminates in a second downwardly directed fixing flange (28) secured to the hob unit wall (38). A strut, pivoted blocks or other means may be provided for supporting the hob unit in its raised position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating appliance The present invention relates to a cooking appliance.

In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards the use of separate cooking hobs set into a horizontal work surface of a domestic kitchen. Such hobs generally comprise a generally flat heating surface having three or four heating units therein either with or without associated controls. The heating units may operate by electricity or gas, and when the hob is operated by electricity, the surface is often of transparent or translucent glass ceramic material. Such hob units are generally secured permanently to the work surface, and one of the difficulties of such units is to obtain access to the lower surface thereof for the purposes of servicing as it is sometimes inconvenient to make all parts serviceable through the top.

The present invention provides a hob unit comprising at least one heating unit and optionally one or more control units operable to control the supply of heat to a respective heating unit and adapted for installation into an aperture in a generally horizontal work surface, and a hinge at an edge of the hob unit securing the hob unit to the work surface for pivotal movement from a horizontal working position to a vertical position in which the underside of the body is accessible from above the work surface.

Conveniently a strut, pivoted blocks or other support means may be provided for supporting the hob unit when in its raised position.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a hob unit and surrounding portions of a work surface, the hob unit being in its normal position; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view as Figure 1, but showing the hob unit in its raised position; and Figure 3 is a detail of the worktop and a hinge interconnecting the worktop with one edge of the work surface; and Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the hob unit in greater detail.

In Figure ia a generally rectangular hob unit comprises a cooking surface 10 and a rectangular housing 12 for hotplate elements, warning lights and appropriate power connections and control units.

The cooking surface may be a sheet of glass ceramic material having electrical heating units in appropri ately spaced positions beneath the glass ceramic sheet. Alternatively the cooking surface may be a metal pressing into which are fitted radiant sheathed elements 40 (as shown in Figure 4) or radiant rings in manner known per se. The hob unit fits into an aperture in a work surface 14with the cooking surface just proud of the top face of the work surface.

Along a first edge of the hob unit (which is normally the back edge) is provided first and second longitu dinally spaced hinges 16 secured to the work surface and to the hob unit. As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, each hinge 16 comprises a first hinge plate 18 having a generally horizontal region resting on the work surface and at its edge a first downwardly directed fixing flange 20 which may be secured by screws 22 (Figure 3) or other suitable means to the adjoining edge of the aperture in the worktop.

The flange 20 may alternatively be a sliding fit between a fixing bracket (Figure 4) and an edge of the aperture in the work surface, the fixing bracket being secured by countersunk screws beyond opposite edges of the flange 20. The hinge has a second hinge plate 24 extending horizontally beyond the first hinge plate 18, forming part of or underlying the rear trim of the hob, and terminating in a second downwardly directed fixing flange 28 secured to the respective top edge of the housing 12. The first and second hinge plates are interconnected by a pivot pin 26.

A second edge of the hob unit opposed to the first or pivoted edge is normally secured to the work surface by a horizontally directed fixing flange 30 and the adjacent face 32 of the housing 12 is recessed so that when the edge 30 is unfixed and the hob unit can be lifted by the edge 30 to pivot on the pin 26 and the recessed front face 32 clears the adjoining edge 34 of the aperture in the work surface 14. In the raised position the hob unit can be supported by means of a stay 36 between the edge 34 and the lower end of the face 32 of the rectangular housing 12 as shown in Figure 2.Alternatively it may be supported by blocks pivoted to the back face 38 of the hob unit at a position remote from the hinge adjacent each lateral edge of the hob unit and rotatable so as to project outwardly to interfere with the adjoining lateral edges of the work surface and prevent the hob from falling.

In the practical embodiment of the assembly shown in Figure 4, a seal 42 surrounding the hob seals the work surface to the flange 30, which substantially surrounds the hob, and to the hinge plate 24 when the hob is in its normal lowered position. Atrim 43 constitutes an outer horizontal frame round the cooking surface.

1. A hob unit comprising at least one heating unit and optionally one or more control units operable to control the supply of heat to respective heating units and adapted for installation into an aperture in a generally horizontal work surface, hinges at an edge of the hob uhit securing the hob unit to the work surface for pivotal movement from a horizontal working position to a vertical position in which the underside of the body is accessible from above the working surface.

2. A hob unit according to Claim 1,wherein each hinge comprises a first hinge plate having a first generally horizontal web directed parallel to the work surface and terminating in a first fixing flange secured to the respective edge of the work surface, and a second hinge plate having a second generally horizontal web which extends further from the hinge pin than the first horizontal web and terminates in a second downwardly directed fixing flange secured to the hob unit.

3. A hob unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the face of the hob unit opposite to said hinged edge

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heating appliance The present invention relates to a cooking appliance. In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards the use of separate cooking hobs set into a horizontal work surface of a domestic kitchen. Such hobs generally comprise a generally flat heating surface having three or four heating units therein either with or without associated controls. The heating units may operate by electricity or gas, and when the hob is operated by electricity, the surface is often of transparent or translucent glass ceramic material. Such hob units are generally secured permanently to the work surface, and one of the difficulties of such units is to obtain access to the lower surface thereof for the purposes of servicing as it is sometimes inconvenient to make all parts serviceable through the top. The present invention provides a hob unit comprising at least one heating unit and optionally one or more control units operable to control the supply of heat to a respective heating unit and adapted for installation into an aperture in a generally horizontal work surface, and a hinge at an edge of the hob unit securing the hob unit to the work surface for pivotal movement from a horizontal working position to a vertical position in which the underside of the body is accessible from above the work surface. Conveniently a strut, pivoted blocks or other support means may be provided for supporting the hob unit when in its raised position. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a hob unit and surrounding portions of a work surface, the hob unit being in its normal position; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view as Figure 1, but showing the hob unit in its raised position; and Figure 3 is a detail of the worktop and a hinge interconnecting the worktop with one edge of the work surface; and Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the hob unit in greater detail. In Figure ia a generally rectangular hob unit comprises a cooking surface 10 and a rectangular housing 12 for hotplate elements, warning lights and appropriate power connections and control units. The cooking surface may be a sheet of glass ceramic material having electrical heating units in appropri ately spaced positions beneath the glass ceramic sheet. Alternatively the cooking surface may be a metal pressing into which are fitted radiant sheathed elements 40 (as shown in Figure 4) or radiant rings in manner known per se. The hob unit fits into an aperture in a work surface 14with the cooking surface just proud of the top face of the work surface. Along a first edge of the hob unit (which is normally the back edge) is provided first and second longitu dinally spaced hinges 16 secured to the work surface and to the hob unit. As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, each hinge 16 comprises a first hinge plate 18 having a generally horizontal region resting on the work surface and at its edge a first downwardly directed fixing flange 20 which may be secured by screws 22 (Figure 3) or other suitable means to the adjoining edge of the aperture in the worktop. The flange 20 may alternatively be a sliding fit between a fixing bracket (Figure 4) and an edge of the aperture in the work surface, the fixing bracket being secured by countersunk screws beyond opposite edges of the flange 20. The hinge has a second hinge plate 24 extending horizontally beyond the first hinge plate 18, forming part of or underlying the rear trim of the hob, and terminating in a second downwardly directed fixing flange 28 secured to the respective top edge of the housing 12. The first and second hinge plates are interconnected by a pivot pin 26. A second edge of the hob unit opposed to the first or pivoted edge is normally secured to the work surface by a horizontally directed fixing flange 30 and the adjacent face 32 of the housing 12 is recessed so that when the edge 30 is unfixed and the hob unit can be lifted by the edge 30 to pivot on the pin 26 and the recessed front face 32 clears the adjoining edge 34 of the aperture in the work surface 14. In the raised position the hob unit can be supported by means of a stay 36 between the edge 34 and the lower end of the face 32 of the rectangular housing 12 as shown in Figure 2.Alternatively it may be supported by blocks pivoted to the back face 38 of the hob unit at a position remote from the hinge adjacent each lateral edge of the hob unit and rotatable so as to project outwardly to interfere with the adjoining lateral edges of the work surface and prevent the hob from falling. In the practical embodiment of the assembly shown in Figure 4, a seal 42 surrounding the hob seals the work surface to the flange 30, which substantially surrounds the hob, and to the hinge plate 24 when the hob is in its normal lowered position. Atrim 43 constitutes an outer horizontal frame round the cooking surface. CLAIMS

1. A hob unit comprising at least one heating unit and optionally one or more control units operable to control the supply of heat to respective heating units and adapted for installation into an aperture in a generally horizontal work surface, hinges at an edge of the hob uhit securing the hob unit to the work surface for pivotal movement from a horizontal working position to a vertical position in which the underside of the body is accessible from above the working surface.

2. A hob unit according to Claim 1,wherein each hinge comprises a first hinge plate having a first generally horizontal web directed parallel to the work surface and terminating in a first fixing flange secured to the respective edge of the work surface, and a second hinge plate having a second generally horizontal web which extends further from the hinge pin than the first horizontal web and terminates in a second downwardly directed fixing flange secured to the hob unit.

3. A hob unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the face of the hob unit opposite to said hinged edge has an inwardly recessed base portion arranged to clear the adjoining edge of the work surface as the hob unit is raised or lowered.

4. A hob unit according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a stray for supporting the hob in its raised position.

5. A hob unit according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the hinged face of the hob unit has blocks pivoted adjacent its lateral edges and pivotable so as to interfere with adjoining lateral edges of the work surface to stop the hob unit from falling from its raised position.

6. A hob unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.