WO2018188722A1

WO2018188722A1 - Cooking appliance with improved assemblage

Info

Publication number: WO2018188722A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/058548
Authority: WO
Inventors: Burcin ODABAS; Yasin Sedat Yirmili; Yalcin OZKAN; Metin OZCAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-04-10
Filing date: 2017-04-10
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-10

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) comprising: a glass cooktop (2) comprising one or more cooking zones (3) for cooking the food; a casing (4) for accommodating one or more cooking units for heating the cooking utensils in the cooking zones (3) respectively; and an attachment means (5) for supporting the glass cooktop (2) and attaching the glass cooktop (2) to the casing (4).

Description

COOKING APPLIANCE WITH IMPROVED ASSEMBLAGE

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular to an induction cooker.

Cooking appliances such as induction cookers are commonly known in the art. An induction cooker generally comprises: a glass cooktop comprising one or more cooking zones for cooking the food; a casing for accommodating one or more heating units for heating the cooking utensils in the cooking zones respectively; and an attachment means for supporting the glass cooktop and attaching the glass cooktop to the casing.

EP2664856A1 discloses a cooking appliance with a glass cooktop.

A problem with the prior art cooking appliance is that the assembly operator experiences difficulties when assembling the glass cooktop and the casing.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance which solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved production and assemblage.

This objective has been achieved by the cooking appliance as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

The cooking appliance of the present invention comprises an adjustment means which is adapted to allow adjustment of the position and the alignment of the glass cooktop relative to the casing.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the assembly operator can easily and quickly assemble the glass cooktop with the casing. Thereby the overall production cost can be reduced in terms of labor. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the glass cooktop and the casing can be prevented from becoming relatively misaligned and misplaced during the attachment. Thereby the attachment of the glass cooktop to the casing can be smoothly conducted by the assembly operator.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the cooking appliance of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 – is a schematic partially exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance of Fig.1;

Figure 3 – is a schematic bottom view of the cooking appliance of Fig.1;

Figure 4 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail A of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 – is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the first attachment bracket of the adjustment means in Fig.2;

Figure 6 – is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the first attachment bracket together with the adjustment screw of the adjustment means in Fig.2;

Figure 7 – is a schematic vertical sectional view of the detail A of Fig. 4.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Cooking appliance
Glass cooktop
Cooking zone
Casing
Attachment means
Adjustment means
First attachment bracket
First screw connection
First slot
Screw ridge
Screw aperture
Adjustment screw
Second slot
First bonding connection
Second attachment bracket
Second screw connection
Second bonding connection
Screw hole
Counterpart screw hole

D1: First direction

D2: Second direction

The cooking appliance (1) comprises: a glass cooktop (2) which has one or more cooking zones (3) for cooking the food; a casing (4) for accommodating one or more cooking units for heating the cooking utensils in the cooking zones (3) respectively; and an attachment means (5) for supporting the glass cooktop (2) and attaching the glass cooktop (2) to the casing (4) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

The cooking appliance (1) of the present invention further comprises: an adjustment means (6) which is adapted to allow adjustment of the position and the alignment of the glass cooktop (2) relative to the casing (4) (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

In an embodiment, the adjustment means (6) comprises: one or more first attachment brackets (7) which are fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and one or more first screw connections (8) each for connecting the respective first attachment bracket (7) to the casing (4) adjustably both in height and in sideways (Fig. 6). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjustment process can be easily performed through the first screw connections. This embodiment is also particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be firmly assembled with the casing (4).

In another embodiment, one or more first screw connection (8) each comprises: a first slot (9) which is formed into the first attachment bracket (7), wherein the first slot (9) extends in a first direction (D1) which is parallel to one of the sides of the glass cooktop (2); screw ridges (10) which are formed into the first slot (9), wherein the screw ridges (10) extend parallel along the first direction (D1); a screw aperture (11) which is formed into the casing (4); and an adjustment screw (12) for vertically inserting through the screw aperture (11) and threadably engaging with the screw ridges (10) in the first slot (9) (Fig. 4 to Fig. 7). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjustment means (6) can be used to adjust the position and the alignment of the glass cooktop (2) in the vertical direction and along the first direction.

In another embodiment, the screw aperture (11) comprises a second slot (13) for slidably accommodating the adjustment screw (12), wherein the second slot (13) extends in the second direction (D2) which is perpendicular to the first direction (D1) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjustment means (6) can be used to adjust the position and alignment of the glass cooktop (2) along the second direction (D2).

In another embodiment, the screw aperture (11) is formed into the bottom of the casing (4) (Fig. 3). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjustment means (6) can be easily accessed by the assembly operator.

In another embodiment, the first attachment bracket (7) comprises: a T-shaped cross section in its upper end which is fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and a U-shaped cross section in its lower end into which the first screw connection (8) is formed (Fig. 6). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the first attachment bracket (7) has a space-saving shape.

In another embodiment, the adjustment means (6) comprises one or more first bonding connections (14) which fix the first attachment bracket (7) to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) (Fig. 5). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be securely and cost effectively fixed to the first attachment brackets (7).

In another embodiment, the attachment means (5) comprises one or more second attachment brackets (15) which are fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and one or more second screw connections (16) for connecting the second attachment brackets (15) to the casing (4) respectively (Fig. 2). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be reliably supported by means of the second attachment brackets (15). This embodiment is also particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be detachably attached to the casing (4) by means of the second screw connection (16), and thus the glass cooktop (2) can be detached and reattached during maintenance.

In another embodiment, the second attachment means (15) comprises one or more second bonding connections (17) which fix the second attachment brackets (15) the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) (Fig. 2). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be securely and cost effectively fixed to the second attachment brackets (15).

In another embodiment, the second screw connection (16) comprises: one or more screw holes (18) which are formed into the second attachment brackets (15); and one or more counterpart screw holes (19) which are formed into the casing (4) (Fig. 2). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be securely attached to the casing (4).

In another embodiment, the screw holes (19) and the counterpart screw holes (20) are aligned when the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) and the upper side of the casing (4) are separated through a predetermined gap. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be securely kept away from the casing (4) during the attachment thereof. Thereby, the glass cooktop (2) can be prevented from directly contacting the casing (4), and receiving scratches.

In another embodiment, the counterpart screw holes (19) are formed into the side walls of the casing (4), and are accessible from the outside (Fig. 2). This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the assembly operator can easily attach the second attachment brackets (15) to the sidewalls (7) of the casing (4).

In another embodiment, the cooking appliance (1) further comprises: one or more induction coils which are disposed into the casing (4) and pressed against the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) by means of one or more springs. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cooking performance can be improved. This embodiment is also particularly advantageous as the glass cooktop (2) can be effectively pressed against the induction coils through the adjustment means (6) without misaligning or misplacing the casing (4) during the attachment.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the assembly operator can easily and quickly assemble the glass cooktop (2) with the casing (4). Thereby the overall production cost can be reduced in terms of labor. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the glass cooktop (2) and the casing (4) can be prevented from becoming relatively misaligned and misplaced during the attachment. Thereby the attachment of the glass cooktop (2) to the casing (4) can be smoothly conducted by the assembly operator. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

A cooking appliance (1) comprising: a glass cooktop (2) comprising one or more cooking zones (3) for cooking the food; a casing (4) for accommodating one or more cooking units for heating the cooking utensils in the cooking zones (3) respectively; and an attachment means (5) for supporting the glass cooktop (2) and attaching the glass cooktop (2) to the casing (4), characterized by further comprising: an adjustment means (6) which is adapted to allow adjustment of the position and the alignment of the glass cooktop (2) relative to the casing (4).
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment means (6) comprises: one or more first attachment brackets (7) which are fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and one or more first screw connections (8) each for connecting the respective first attachment bracket (7) to the casing (4) adjustably both in height and in sideways.
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that one or more first screw connections (8) each comprises: a first slot (9) which is formed into the first attachment bracket (7), wherein the first slot (9) extends in a first direction (D1) which is parallel to one of the sides of the glass cooktop (2); screw ridges (10) which are formed into the first slot (9), wherein the screw ridges (10) extend parallel along the first direction (D1); a screw aperture (11) which is formed into the casing (4); and

an adjustment screw (12) for vertically inserting through the screw aperture (11) and threadably engaging with the screw ridges (10) in the first slot (9).
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the screw aperture (11) comprises a second slot (13) for slidably accommodating the adjustment screw (12), wherein the second slot (13) extends in a second direction (D2) which is perpendicular to the first direction (D1).
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the screw aperture (11) is formed into the bottom of the casing (4).
The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claim 2 to 5, characterized in that the first attachment bracket (7) comprises: a T-shaped cross section in its upper end which is fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and a U-shaped cross section in its lower end into which the first screw connection (8) is formed.
The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claim 2 to 6, characterized in that the adjustment means (6) comprises one or more first bonding connections (14) which fix the first attachment bracket (7) to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2).
The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the attachment means (5) comprises one or more second attachment brackets (15) which are fixed to the lower side of the glass cooktop (2); and one or more second screw connections (16) for connecting the second attachment brackets (15) to the casing (4) respectively.
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the second attachment means (15) comprises one or more second bonding connections (17) which fix the second attachment brackets (15) the lower side of the glass cooktop (2).
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the screw connection (16) comprises one or more screw holes (18) which are formed into the second attachment brackets (15); and one or more counterpart screw holes (19) which are formed into the casing (4).
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the screw holes (18) and the counterpart screw holes (19) are aligned when the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) and the upper side of the casing (4) are separated through a predetermined gap.
The cooking appliance (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the counterpart screw holes (19) are formed into the side walls of the casing (4), and are accessible from the outside.
The cooking appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by further comprising: one or more induction coils which are disposed into the casing (4) and pressed against the lower side of the glass cooktop (2) by means of one or more springs.