US20250354696A1

US20250354696A1 - Cooking appliance having a component formed from a thin rigid sheet material

Info

Publication number: US20250354696A1
Application number: US19/204,672
Authority: US
Inventors: Jörg Pfender; Lars Kemper
Original assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Current assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Priority date: 2024-05-16
Filing date: 2025-05-12
Publication date: 2025-11-20
Also published as: DE102024113812A1

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes: at least one first component formed from a thin rigid sheet material. The at least one first component has a through-hole for receiving a screw of a screw connection between a second component and the at least one first component. The at least one first component includes at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material in a region of the through-hole. Interengaging collars of the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material are formed around the through-hole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2024 113 812.2, filed on May 16, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular an oven, having at least one first component formed from a thin rigid sheet material. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a cooking appliance.

BACKGROUND

Cooking appliances having components made from thin rigid sheet material are known in the prior art. It is also known to provide screw connections on such components, the screw connections being formed, for example, using sheet metal screws.
In the case of particularly thin sheets and/or depending on the material of the thin sheet, such screw connections may disadvantageously not meet all of the requirements placed on the screw connection, in particular with regard to the capability of the screw connection of being repeatedly loosened and restored, and, in the case of cooking appliances with a microwave function, with regard to a sufficient microwave tightness.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cooking appliance, comprising: at least one first component comprises a thin rigid sheet material, wherein the at least one first component has a through-hole configured to receive a screw of a screw connection between a second component and the at least one first component, wherein the at least one first component comprises at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material in a region of the through-hole, and wherein interengaging collars of the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material are formed around the through-hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cooking appliance according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of several components within a cooking appliance;

FIG. 3 is a perspective isolated view of a first component;

FIG. 4 is a method chart of a method for manufacturing a cooking appliance or a first component;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first component shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the first component shown in FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention enables the fulfillment of increased requirements for a screw connection of a cooking appliance component made from a thin rigid sheet material.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cooking appliance, particularly an oven, having at least one first component formed from a thin rigid sheet material, the first component having a through-hole for receiving a screw of a screw connection between a second component and the first component, interengaging collars of the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material being formed around the through-hole.
One aspect is that the through-hole is formed through at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material of the first component. With the through-hole, one collar is formed in each layer, a first collar of a first layer and at least a second collar being formed from the at least second layer, and the first collar engaging into the at least second collar. The plurality of layers are thus interlocking and/or frictionally connected to each other.
Advantageous aspects are described below, and preferred modified embodiments will be described further below. Explanations, in particular regarding advantages and definitions of features, are basically descriptive and preferred, but not limiting, examples. If an explanation is limiting, this is expressly mentioned.
Where ordinal numbers, such as “first”, “second”, etc., are used, for example to refer to a component, an element, a step or an operation of the method, these ordinal numbers are intended merely to differentiate the designations and do not indicate any dependencies or orders. In particular, this means, for example, that a device does not need to have a “first component” in order to have a “second component.” Also, a device may have a “first component” and a “third component” without necessarily having a “second component.” It is also possible that a plurality of units having the same ordinal number may be provided, such as, for example, a plurality of “first components.”
A cooking appliance is configured, in particular, as an oven, in which, for example, temperatures of about 100-250° C. are provided in a cooking chamber for preparing a food item to be cooked. The cooking appliance may also be configured as an oven with a pyrolysis function, a steam cooking function, and/or a microwave function. Furthermore, the cooking appliance may be in the form of a steam cooker, a microwave, or a range.
The cooking chamber of the cooking appliance is preferably designed as a cavity in a housing of the cooking appliance. Preferably, the cooking chamber can be filled with food to be cooked through an opening, or such food can be removed from the cooking chamber through the opening, the opening being closable, for example, by a cooking chamber door. Provided in or on the cooking chamber are means for heating the cooking chamber, such as, for example, means for radiating heat, for transferring heat through convection, for transferring heat through heat conduction, and/or for transferring heat through induction, as well as means for circulating the air in the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is in particular formed from thin rigid sheet material and may have an enamel coating on the inside.
The first component is, for example, a rigid sheet material member in the region of a cooking chamber camera, for example, a component of a camera enclosure, a housing of a microwave source such as a magnetron, a microwave waveguide, a fastening or cover plate, a frame for holding a viewing pane, or any other part mounted on the cooking chamber. In particular, the first component is connected to the cooking chamber, i.e., to at least one component of the cooking appliance forming the cooking chamber, for example by a (laser) welded connection.
A thin rigid sheet material is understood herein to be a rigid sheet material having a thickness of less than 3 mm. This definition applies regardless of the material, manufacture, or further processing of the sheet metal. For example, the thin rigid sheet may be formed from a metal or a plastic, manufactured by hot or cold rolling, and, furthermore, may, for example, be untreated, zinc-plated, tin-plated, copper-plated, nickel-plated, aluminized, in particular hot-dip aluminized, enameled, or painted.
A collar is understood to be a folded edge at the boundary of the through-hole, which protrudes from the plane of the thin rigid sheet material. The collar thus entirely surrounds the through-hole, the thin rigid sheet material being folded into alignment with the through-hole to form the collar.
The solution of the technical problem by means of the above-described cooking appliance includes the teaching that, firstly, the thin rigid sheet material of the first component is formed as at least two layers in the region of the through-hole so as to obtain a material thickness sufficient to hold the screw received therein, even with particularly thin rigid sheet materials, for example a 0.5 mm thin sheet. Furthermore, the teaching provides for forming collars on the respective layers, the collars engaging into each other. The depth over which the screw is covered by the thin rigid sheet material is then increased by the protrusion of the collars, i.e., by the inner peripheral surface of the collars, so that the screw always finds a secure hold on the through-hole and can transmit relatively large forces, even when the screw connection is repeatedly loosened and restored. In addition, due to the increased overlap between the thin rigid sheet material and the screw, the microwave tightness of the screw connection is improved or even provided in the first place, and is in particular also ensured in the long term. Secondly, the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material are interlockingly secured in place on each other through the interengagement of the collars, preventing the layers from moving relative to each other, in particular during insertion of the screw. Thus, the solution provides a simple way of producing a screw connection for thin sheets of rigid material that meets high requirements and can be implemented without additional components.
Insofar as present teaching makes it possible to use particularly thin rigid sheet materials, a particularly lightweight cooking appliance can advantageously be achieved with low material costs and a low material-related CO₂footprint.
Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the collars are formed as a plunged hole through the layers of the thin rigid sheet material. In this case, after placing the at least two layers on top of each other, a core hole is formed through the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material, for example by drilling a hole with a corresponding core hole diameter. Then, a mandrel or equivalent tool having a target diameter is pushed through the core hole to form the through-hole. The mandrel deforms the material of the thin sheet in the at least two layers in the respective boundary region of the core hole to form the respective collar and to cause the collars to engage into each other, such deformation being accomplished, for example, by cold forming or by hot forming after heating the first component. By forming the collars as a plunged hole, i.e., by plunging, the aforedescribed cooking appliance or the first component can be manufactured in a particularly simple manner.
Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the at least two layers are formed by folding the thin rigid sheet material over itself. In this case, the at least two layers are formed in one piece in a particularly simple manner and do not require any further connection to each other apart from the connection formed by the interengagement of the collars and the interconnection at the fold. In addition, the layers are securely positioned relative to each other prior to forming the collars. Alternatively, the at least two layers may be formed of a plurality of initially unconnected thin sheets of rigid material, for example by adhesive bonding, brazing, or welding them together.
Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the first component is welded to a third component, which is in particular also formed from a thin rigid sheet material. The third component is, for example, a component which forms the cooking chamber, and which itself is formed in particular from thin rigid sheet material and is in particular enameled or otherwise surface-treated. In this case, the advantages of the teaching described above can be achieved to a particularly high degree. For instance, for the welding of the first component, its material thickness is limited by the third component. In the case of excessive material thickness of the first component, for example, the temperatures that would be required for welding could cause damage to the third component, in particular to an enamel coating of the third component. Despite this limitation, the present teaching makes it possible for the first component, whose material thickness is limited with respect to the third component, to be provided with screw connections to second components while accounting for the high requirements described above.
Furthermore, the third component may also be formed by the second component, with a connection being created firstly by the screw connection and secondly by the welding. In particular, the screw connection between the first component and the second/third component is arranged for positions against each other during welding.
The object is also achieved by a method for manufacturing a cooking appliance as described above, the method including the steps of placing the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material on top of each other, forming a core hole through the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material, and pushing a mandrel having a target diameter through the core hole to form the through-hole. The placement of the layers on top of each other is accomplished, in particular, by folding the thin rigid sheet material of the first component over itself, and the core hole is formed, in particular, as a drilled hole at the intended position of the through-hole. Using the method, the aforedescribed cooking appliance or the first component of the aforedescribed cooking appliance can be manufactured in a particularly simple manner, the advantages described above being achieved by the cooking appliance manufactured in this way. The advantages are thus achieved by the method accordingly.
FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form, a cooking appliance 1 in the form of an oven, having a housing 2, the housing 2 having formed therein a cooking chamber 3 enclosed by a cooking chamber wall 2.1 and configured as an oven muffle. Cooking chamber 3 is accessible through a cooking chamber opening 4 at the front, in particular for inserting and removing food to be cooked, the cooking chamber opening 4 being closable by a cooking chamber door 5, which is shown in an open position. When in a closed position, cooking chamber door 5 rests against housing 2 in a contact surface 2.2 of housing 2 extending around cooking chamber 3. Cooking appliance 1 has heating means, such as a forced convection heating means 6 with a fan, heating means 7.1, 7.2 for producing radiant heat in top and bottom heat mode, and heating means 8 for producing microwaves (hidden from view in the drawing), the heating means 8 for producing microwaves being arranged such that the microwaves are coupled into cooking chamber 3. Heating means 8 for producing microwaves is, for example, a magnetron or a semiconductor generator. Furthermore, for purposes of exemplary illustration, cooking appliance 1 contains built-in accessories 9 with a food support 10 resting thereon. In addition, cooking appliance 1 has controls 11 and a display 12.
FIG. 2 shows an upper portion of cooking chamber 3 or cooking chamber wall 2.1 as viewed from outside the cooking chamber 3. There is disposed, first of all, a viewing window 13, through which a camera can view cooking chamber 3. Disposed laterally of viewing window 13 are first components 14.1 which are configured as angled mounting brackets and intended to receive or form part of a housing of the camera. First components 14.1 are screwed to cooking chamber wall 2.1 by means of screw connections 15 using screws 15.1, and for this purpose are provided with through-holes 16, which are described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b . Cooking chamber wall 2.1 further has disposed thereon a first component 14.2 configured as a housing for a microwave source. Here, unlike in FIG. 1 , the microwave source is disposed above cooking chamber 3. First component 14.2 is also formed with through-holes 16, which correspond to those in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b and at which a screw connection 15 is formed using a screw 15.1. First components 14.1, 14.2 are formed from a thin rigid sheet material, at least in the regions of screw connections 15.
FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 show first component 14.1, which is made from thin rigid sheet material and provided with through-holes 16 to receive screws 15.1. In the region of through-holes 16, the thin rigid sheet material of first component 14.1 is folded over at a fold 17 and rests on itself, forming a first layer 18.1 and a second layer 18.2 resting thereupon. At through-holes 16, a collar 19.1, 19.2 is then formed in each layer 18.1, 18.2, respectively, the first collar 19.1 of the lower first layer 18.1 engaging into the second collar 19.2 of the upper second layer 18.2. Layers 18.1, 18.2 are thus interlockingly connected to each other, and an inner surface of first collar 19.1, which is parallel to the center axis of through-hole 16, forms an engagement surface for screw 15.1 over a height H that is considerably longer than the material thickness h of the thin rigid sheet material. Screw 15.1 can find a secure hold on the engagement surface and form a microwave-tight screw connection. For this purpose, a thread may be formed on the engagement surface, for example by a screw 15.1 that is configured to be self-tapping.
FIG. 4 shows a method flow chart of a method 20 for manufacturing cooking appliance 1 or first components 14.1, 14.2. Method 20 relates particularly to the formation of the through-holes 16 shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b . In a first step 21, the at least two layers 18.1, 18.2 of the thin rigid sheet material are placed on top of each other. In a second step 22, a core hole is formed through the at least two layers 18.1, 18.2 of the thin rigid sheet material. In a third step 23, a mandrel having a target diameter is pushed through the core hole to form through-hole 16. Alternatively, second step 22 and third step 23 may be performed in a single operation.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

- 1 cooking appliance
- 2 housing
- 2.1 cooking chamber wall of the housing
- 2.2 contact surface of the housing
- 3 cooking chamber
- 4 cooking chamber opening
- 5 cooking chamber door
- 6 forced convection heating means
- 7.1 heating means for producing radiant heat
- 7.2 heating means for producing radiant heat
- 8 heating means for producing microwaves
- 9 built-in accessories
- 10 food support
- 11 control
- 12 display
- 13 viewing window
- 14.1 first component
- 14.2 first component
- 15 screw connection
- 15.1 screw of the screw connection
- 16 through-hole
- 17 fold
- 18.1 first layer
- 18.2 second layer
- 19.1 first collar
- 19.2 second collar
- 20 method for manufacturing a cooking appliance
- 21 first step—placing the at least two layers on top of each other
- 22 second step—forming a core hole
- 23 third step—pushing a mandrel through the core hole to form the through-hole
- h material thickness of the thin rigid sheet material
- H height of the first collar

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising:

at least one first component comprises a thin rigid sheet material,

wherein the at least one first component has a through-hole configured to receive a screw of a screw connection between a second component and the at least one first component,

wherein the at least one first component comprises at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material in a region of the through-hole, and

wherein interengaging collars of the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material are formed around the through-hole.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the interengaging collars comprise a plunged hole through the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least two layers are formed by folding the thin rigid sheet material over itself.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one first component is welded to a third component.

5. A method for manufacturing the cooking appliance of claim 1, the method comprising:

placing the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material on top of each other;

forming a core hole through the at least two layers of the thin rigid sheet material; and

pushing a mandrel having a target diameter through the core hole to form the through-hole.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking appliance comprises an oven.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the third component comprises a thin rigid sheet material.