CA2536420A1 - Kitchen appliance having floating glass panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A kitchen appliance includes a door having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, with a plurality of mounting members being spaced about the outer panel portion of the door. A glass panel assembly, including a glass panel and a plurality of mounting elements. is detachably mounted to the door through the interenagement of the plurality of mounting elements with the plurality of mounting members.
The mounting elements are adhesively secured to the glass panel. Neither the plurality of mounting members nor the plurality of mounting elements are readily visible normally when viewing the kitchen appliance such that the glass panel appears to float relative to the door.

Description

1:ITCHEIV APPLIANCE HAVING
FLOATInc (..LASS 1'f1N>E?',1.
13ACIti(,R()t;Nl) OF TiIE INVw.i4'I'iON
I FFiLfd of the Invot7tion s 'I'he present invetttion pertains tt) the art uf-kitcl,cn appliances tnd, r1701'G particularly, to rrx~ttnting a decorative glass pan4l to an appliance door sucl-r tl-iri.t the glirss pancl appcars to float relative to the appliancc door.

?. f)i5cussion cf the Prior Art M Proviiling, a decorative f:tpdc to kitchcn applianc.4.ti is well known in thc <.irt. "('Iic decorative I.<tcaclc allows thc c.rpplti';ncc to ' tic-irr" tu Ovel;lll 1Cit(:hctl dCct)T. J'l)C decorative lagadc can take on a variety ol' fOrnis frotn 5ometliing as titmple as a coat of paint to made to ot-tier woodctr panuls that niatcli .1d.ii:lC4rit Cilblllctry. In niany casCS the i dccorative pancl takcti the tornl o#' a replaceable plastic ot= metal sltect thitt is moun.tGC1 to a doot, ol"thc appllatlcC witll peripheral trim corrtl'JOrierltS.

In addition t.c> mo-nltii~'T wood, plastic or metal pancls to appliance doors, it, is now quito cotnmoti to employ glass pant:ls. 'C'ypically, the s glass pancl is sccttred to the appliance through trim picc;:s in at manner sisrlil,tr ta that cmployed .vitlt plastic and tnctal panGls. That iti, the t.riin piece irlC:IllCle4 a I]r5t scctlon that is sL;cllrCd to tllc appliance door with, lor exat-t7ple, a mechanical fastener, ancl a scconcl section th<tt extcnds over siclc and f.t'ont. sLirfitccs of'tllo glass pancl. 'VVhilc effectivt; at holcling the io glass patlcl on tlic door, tlyc trini piece visibly detracts fronl an ovet=aill aosthetlc appearance ot t'llc appli<tncc. More spcciltcally, experic;ncc has sllown that nlany constttncrs like a smooth or seamless appearance to the appliance. In order to obtain such an appont'.1ncc;, n3.;tiu1actures ftavc utliploycd various techniques to secure glass p;sn.elti to the appliance.

ts For example, ts described in U.S. 1'atcnt Application I'tEblication No. 2004/01 h341.3, an external decorating member fornlad from 9lass is covered osi ono sidc witl7 a fayct- o.f paint and tllcn installed on it door of the appliance witll adhcsiv4. '1'he glass pancl is mot.ttltcd in sucll a way so that tllc lavcr of paint is in continuous, dircct: c;0171.30 Wlt.ll a#i-ont stn-fi;cc 20 ol'the door to prcvcnt the layer qf paint from being sc:ratcheci. While this method 1'GStilts in a sotncwllat scamlc;tis appearance, once installed, tlzc glass pa.ni:l cannot be removed Nvit.hcyut. causing soiiic damage either to the glass pancl itsclf'or the door. More itnporlantly, -llotultinti aglatis r;.:nel in this fashion detrztcts frotn t:hc aisstlzel.ics provided by gl:zsy. =I.hat is, the 25 paint and -aulhesive generally make the glass pancl at7pcar identical to a mctal pancl.

Tit ancthcr cxal7iplc. as dcscril:locl il3 U.S. Patent Nun?.bcr 6,8,54,45$, an glass front. panel is secured t0 an in er gl<tss ptYnel with ,nigleci r=ctaitiilig clcmcnts and a peripheral scal. The angled retaining e.lemc=nt.s ,s.rc: secLlrec.i to bcit.h the inncr glass pa3ncl and the glass fi=ont panel with adhesive. The peripheral scal is sceLirc:cl to the glass frcrlt li:ynel ,in<f to a raiscd pan border portion of the iitrtcr glass panel. Wliilc iliis method also rescllts in a somcwhat scan-fle:ti5 appGar~2nce, (inc:e insttfllc;cl, the glass frant pallcl cat3not be casilv removed. I.f fhe ~Iass pancl is ever cracked or a diffcrcnt tiiiisli is desired, removing the pancl fTom thc appliance wcLtlct iq prove diflicLilt. Moreover, in order the ntaintaiil the peripheral seal, the inner glass pailel tllLltit T?(; specially tl'1C1ldCd Lt1 inCC)7j)i)r.t.te the raised pan barder porti n zand, in a manner similar t'o that ci~~c.ribeit above, the glass panel appears t.o be a "part" ot'thc appliance as opposed to "tloaling." in t'ront of the appliancc.

iti L3itsed ()n the above, tlict=c still exists a liccd in thc art for an clthttncc:ci decorative Oass pcinr;l arrangement f(7r a 1Cilchc:T7 appliance.
More specifically, there exists a noed for a decorative glass ptlotel that cart llc i'TIOUi'ttCCl in sllf:h a w<-y so as to providc a saarnle:ss appearance, yet also be readily detachable frcm, ancl appear to float rclative to the 20 appliallcc.

SUMMARY OF TIIF, INVF:N'T'1UN

'1ltc prescnt invt:nt.i<1n is dircc:tc;ci to thc nic1L-11tin~, ~7f ct glass panol tr:>utlltd tu a cloor of'a kitchen appliance. The kitchen appliance includes a support bocly within which is arran~;c~cl a cun~partnient llavittg a t:rClrtttll opening. A cloor, shiftably suppurtcd by thc suppc)rt body, selcctivcly covc--s the 1runtsl opening tti provide: access to the compartment. The door includes an ut.ttcr patict port:ion rind an ittncr panel portion. ln ;iccordancc with thc ir)vczctt.icm, a plurality oYmountirii, me:txtbc:rs are S spacccl abOut the oulG)= pancl portior) o# thc door.

'T'hc door also iricludcs a glass pancl asseITrbly IiIC[tullt)g a gItttis panel aticl a Iflurality o1'nIounting elements. "I'lic glass panel is iii:tachably i1101lt1tCC1 tp lhU ClUI)r tllrOttl6;h thi' 1in14r41Zizi1gc113c11t of lhC:
p1LIT?Sllty of mounting c:lement.s with the plurttlity of tilout)tit)4 members. Prcferably, i{.t the lli0utlt3ilg elements are alhosivcEy tiGCUrtcl to thc gl.lss patzcl ancl Ljrc rtot visible when viewing the kitcllcll itpplIc117CC Fr()Cll thC lrOrlt..
ACtUllly, the pI[IrLtlity of tT10LStltillg 111C[71hCt's and moLUititig cleiiicnt.s are spaced 1'rC)m edge I)oti:iC)ns Oi~ thc doOr at7cL c,lass panel rctillGctivcly so as to rlot be visible whc:n viewing thc kitchen appliance fr=orr) the froiat or ansul,u-side 15 vicwti. Witli this ccrnstruction, the ~lass 17artcl truly appears t<7 float relative to the door.

Additional objccts, fcatures and advantagcs of tlic prescnt itiventic)ti will becomc tiiorc readily apparent from the f'ollawing clct.<iilc;d ifc;5c,ri1-)tion of prcfcrrcd embodiments when trakcn in cct~jurtctivn with thr;
ztt drawings whcrcin likc rcl'erencc nitmerals rcfcr to corresponding parts in tl]C Scvcr3l views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION oF>f'Hl; DI2AwINCS
Fi~;trrc I is arl front ~:Icvat.iantil view of a rcfi=igcr.jtot= includin~
side-by-side door:; incc>rporatin~ 2t detachable floatinbglass pancl constructcd in accarclartcc with tlle presCrnt rnvCtltultl;

'1r igurc 2 is an exploded view af onc t>t'the sidc-liy-sidc doors of .Fig,trrc: 1. illustrating a piurra(ity ofmounting nlcnlbors soct.trtsci to the door <uZd a plurality of Lnct.tntittri clCmcnts ::-dlicsivoly tyit,urtted to the glass panel;

Figtu=c; 3 is a cross-sec:tional view of a bottom portion o('th' sidc-by-side cloc7r oà i'il;urc 2 shoWin1'_'c7tit; Ol' llrc pltn-ality Of' maur1ting n=te:rnbcr's itltcr-cngac;itrg with ortU of the plttrality af niount.ing cletltctits to detachable mnurtt t.{-ir glass panel;

Figure 4 is a crcrss-sectional side view of tttc door ol' I7-igurc 2 sltpwin~ another Otlc of the plu.rclllty Of rnOltnting ti7~:rll~lcrs 1ntCr-is cngaging with another onc of th4 plurality of nlot-tttirtg clcmcnt:ti;

Figure 5 is a upper right. persPcctivc vicw ctf tt dishwaslior tiaving a dc>or incorpc-r<ttinga dctacllablc #1oming glass panel constn.tctcd in accordance witli a seconcf r:mbodinlcnt of tlle prescnt invcntiun;

F'igurc 6 is <in exploded view of'tllc door of l~i~.;trrc 5 illustrating tlic Plur<tlity 0.I'111Outtting i7tcmbe:rs and the pltErirlily u('tllounting e14n,ents. as we:li as attachment nlcnlbors canstructc.d in accordance the sccond enlbodimcnt of the invontiorr;

rimirc 7 is a tpp clcv<16onM vic.Vof thc g lass pancl of F'igitrc 6;
!~igurc K is a perspective view ofonc- aft}tc attachme;l menibcrs froitz l igtlrc fi;

C'igurc 9 is a perspectivc vicw of one of'thc plurality of mounting ~ clemcnts li-ani Figurc 6;

Fis;urc 10 is nrt Ltppcr riglrt perspective view of a fi=ec-standi g ovcn having a storage clrawtt- incorporating a detachable floating glass trincl constntctcd in accordance wlt'll a t'Illyd (:rT1170(lin'ICnt. of the 17resclTt invcntion;

E'igrFre 1 1 is an exploded view c71';, ti-otit portion t>I'thc; stor:r~c:
drawcr anci glass panel of C'kgures 1(3, ilit.tstratittg, tllo PILIralily Of ninunting mcmhcrs nnd thc pl1.1ralit.y of ntounting i;lcment.s cnnstnictcd in accordance with tlic t.liird crnbodinicnt of the invention; and Figt,lre 12 is a cross-sectional view illustral.ing the intcrctiglncritcnt is of Onc of t11,(; plurality ()1'tnOlFn1.117g nltnlllcrs and OYII: of the plLErality of mounting clcmcnts in accord'c1ncC with l:lle third (;n117CUdfi71Ct1t ()fl.Ile prescnt invention.

DETAILED DES(.'Ril''1'1UN Ul; 'I'H1; PREFERRED
F-,MI3(.)T)I'1VC F; N =:i'S

With initial rcf0r'cnc4 to Figure 1, a kitchen appli<t.ncc, illustrated in the forn-t of a r=cfrigt;rator, is gcncrally inclic<tt.cd at 2. Refrigerator 2 inchldes a support l~vdy or cabinet 4 within which is arran~;cd a liner= 6 that defines a ft=csh food con'rpartmcnt R. T'rCsli food cOnipLtrtnicnt 8 is provi(icd with a frt;sh food door 10 faaving;a l)lurtality of vcrtic.,xlly adjustable 1hCIvG's 1 1-14 and a dairy compartment 16. In the cmbodiment sktown, refrigerator 2:tlso inc.lttdes a freezer tfacir 19 thzt1. sclcctively irt closes a ITeCicr compartment 20. Although the ahcve-dcsCt'ibcd structure constitutcs a side-by-side rcfl'rf;CrltOr 2 tISCd to IllttSt.rate the lnvcntl0n, it should be undcrstaod that the larescnt invention is alsca applicable to otliar refrigerator mocicls, suclz as top mctnri .:tnd bottoni rnotant t'e.tii~erators.

In .a mannar known in the art, lincr. 6 incltrdcs opposing side walls 22 and 23, a rear wall 26, a top w4i*l! 28 and a buttoni wttlI 29_ In thc c;inbudinicnt showrt, mountcd to rear wall 26 tarc a pair of sliclf support rails 32 trnd 33 that position variOus vertically adjustable shclvc5 35-37 in fresfa food compartment. K. Arranged below s4aelves 35-37 is slaown a Plurality ol'storugc hins, onv ut'which is indicated ai. 39. In a manner also known in the au-t, refrigerator 2 inclttdcs a icmpcr,aturc control hctsint, 43 rnt>trrtted to top wall 28 in ft'csl2 IUUd compartment S.
Temperature control 11ousing 43 includeG at least otic control elenietit 4;,i fQr sGtllng and rn.ilnt;alnlng i tc171pf:r.ltUrc wlt'lain irGsh food compartment 8, as well as comrols 46 arid 47 ic7r e4ttrblishingadcsir4tl capcr.iting icml)cr.rtiirc Within tirecicr cOMpttrtnictzt 20. "I'em}7crattiri: control housing 43 also includc:a a liklit (not separately labeled) that illurnin.ites fresh food cornpartntcnt 8 atid <i lilt.er 55 lhat liltcrs incoming vvatcr ior an ico maker (nc>t. shown).

In <tccordancc wirh this embodirncnt of the prescnt invcntion, r-cf'ril;crator 2 include4 a first glass panel atisc:mbly 65 mounted to li=esh Eboci door 10 and a tieconci glttss lannel tisscmblv 66 nzor.rtiti;d to f"rc.c=r..cr door 19. l'referahly, first and sccoi7d glass partol axsemblics 65 and 66 arc detachably mc>untcd to doors 10 and 14 in such a manner so as to appear to float t-clativc tc> refrigrrator 2. More specifically, gl;tss ptinc:l assemblies 65 <inel 66 are mounted to and spaced I'roni t-espectivc cloors 10 tn and 18 such that no rrtounting hardtvarc is visihle wlicn vi4wint;
refrit*crator 2 Irom 1:ront or side angled vicws in a rnanner that will he dctailcd niare 1'ully bclow. At this point, it shuuld bc undcrstood that cach door 10 ancf 18 artd glass pilncl assembly 65 and 66 are sinZ ilar in <:orrstruction suclI that a clctailcti description will bc madc with respect to is cloor It) rtrtcl glass panel ,assembly 65 witli an undcrstandirtg th<tt door 18 and glass panel 66 havc corresponding strtrcturc.

Rc;Cerring tc, Figures 2-4, door 10 itlClucics a ntain bcxly por-tion 72 having a t.c?l~ edge section 73, a bottorn edge section 74 and opposing sicie cdgc sections 75 atid 76 that dcfinc an innet-pancl portiott 83 and an outcr zu pancl portion 84. Arrt+trged about outcr iz,mcl portioti 84 ,xrc a Plu111lit:y cif' rizotrnting mortrbers 90-97. Mounting members 90-97 arc pnsitioncd on otttvr panel porticn 10 spaced inward from edge sections 73-76 and secureci wi1h a corresponding plut.tlit.y <>!"nlechrtnical fasteners, one ol' whicli is irxclic.ttcd Ltt 98. tn addition, cloor 10 is provided with a base 2,S tiiember 100 that is .irrarxs gcc# ;:tlcanl; bot.totti ecige scctiott 74 aiicfi ticci.tred throuc;l, nlcclianic,al f;istcncrs onc ()l'Nvhich is whown at 104 in Fi~Eirc 4.
S

In further accordance with the embotfiment shown,l:litss panel asscnibly 65 inoludcs a glass pancl 1 14 Iraving a top cclgc portion I I$, a boLtom edge portion 1 19 and opposing side edge pt>rtions 120 and 121 t.h;3t collectively detinc an inner surface I 34 and an otttcr, decorative surflacc 135. At this point, it shc,uld hc undcrstcotl that glass lyancl 114 could be fOrmed from a varicty ofintitCriflls, includin'- srliconc glass.
Pyrex, or- cvon plcxi-glass. It should also hc iinde;rstood tliat outcr decorative surface 1:35 cotilcl take on various forms, such as colored or smokccl glass, witlz or= withottt vrtriotts patterns embossed ont:o the trutc;r in surl%tt:e 135 of _vlass p,tazel 114. In any cvcnt, arranged on inner srrrftt4e 134,r.re ;t plurality of mounting clorncnts 140-142 designed to cooperate with rnot.rnting members 90-97 and a base element 143 that int.crcngftl;cs with base nzcmbcr 100 to support gl<lss pEtncl 114 Orl door 10. 1'rcfc:rably, mountin}; clcnicnts 140-142 air-r: spaceti inward lrom edge porticns 1 1$-Is 121 so as to prtapcrly align with n-ou+,tirtg members 90-97. As will be clisctisscd mo.rc iirlty below, niauniirii, , clomcnt:, l:t(,? anc1 142 are arrangcd in suc:h a way as to allow glass pane) 114 to slide vcrtically onto door 10.
At this point, it should be understood that cach rnotu-tting n-rcmbcr 90-97 is prcfcrataly idcntically constructcdsuch that,t detailed description 20 will be madc with resqwct. to mounting tZicmbcr 94 i{{tt5tiatcc3 in 1~igErrc 3 wit.h nn ndcrstatZdiny that the remaining niount'rng nlcmhes'S 90-93 and 95-97 are similarly ctmst.ructed. As shown, rlicll111tii1g, mi.ml7cr 94 includt;s a base sect.ion 1 (A which is in cuiWact with outer panel p<~rtion 84 iind cxtcnds i:o a fz'st ctErvcd or tfut-tttrncci section 166 prior to '?S t4'rtYlir't'iltinlY in a secOnt:f, t)tit-t.uYnt'.<j st"ct1oll 167. Base stL'CtrOn l64 is sccurec) to outcr l.rrncl parti[>rt 84 by l;rstcner 95 with out-wrrtt;d scction 166 and out-turrtcd section 167 bcing cantilcvcrcd such that rnpurtting ~, muniber 94 actually detines a sprin~; clil=) that intcrcng~tl;cs wilh nioutriing eiement. 141 in a n=tnnncr thftt will be described ntoro fully below.

It should also lac uttdcrstoocl tl,at each nxounting elcment. 140-142 is tiin-fiiarly constructccl such that a detailed dcscription will be macie witli rCspCct to mounting clcnlcnt 141 witli an uncÃertitartding that mounting, ClcnlCt3ts 140 nncà 142 inclttdc sirnilar titructure. As also shown in Figgurc 3. niounting clcmctit 141 includcs a base section 184 thal is innunt:ed or sccured to itincr surface 134 ot'gl.tss pancl 1 14_ Preferably, base scctk.irt 1$4 is secured to glass panel 1.14 with a dottblc-sidecl adhesivc strip 185 ,th to lixedly and pCrnlancntly r'4taln niountttlg Ch4menl=
tq of sufticicnt. slrent, 141. In any t:asc, base scction 184 cxtcnds tc> a first or out-turned scctiitrt 186 that leads to isn in-turtled section 188 prior to tc:rn=tinttting at an an-lcd secfion 190. 'T'his carIst.rtte=00n cnsttres l.htlt, whett intcreng.tged wit=li mountin&~ chemLnt 141, ntottttling niembor 94 clips onto out-turned scction 1.67 wlic:n glass p:trtGl 114 is sliiftcd itato position, ()t7cC C'.aCh n7otlnting cIt'n1Lnt. I4CI- 142 is properly intercngaged witli corrc;sponelir-ig niounting mcmbcrs 90-97, base clcnicnt 143 interenga,igt~:s with bflsc membcr 1()(). More spccifically, as best shown in TifiurG 4, base member 10() inclttdcs a first scction 194 that leads to an up-t:urncci section 195 tlt:tt, when btj4o rnQn=tbc:r 100 is sc:Citrecà to bottam cdgc: section 74 of cloor 10 through mechanical ffistcners 104, is spaced i'ronl outor panel portiort 84 so as to dcfno a gap 199. In any ev4nt, base c1c1T1Ct3t 143 is shown tc> inclttdc a first ot- Ã7;it portion 204 t.httt, in a n7an11Cr sIITlilaC to LIldI CÃE'ticrihCd :tbovc with respect to h)Slsk' 5Cct'F()n 184, is preferably scct.trud to inficr sut-lia.ce 134 ctf gl,7ss panel 114 wil.h an adhesive strip 200. Flat portion 204 cxtcnds to an in-turtlcd scction 206 that tcrminatcs in a down-turncd portion 208. L:)own turncd portion 20$
slidas between s.ip-t.urne d scetion 195 and otitcr pan.cl portion 64 to sLtppor-L glass prtncl 1 14 in a manncr that will be dc;scribc:d morc fully bclow.

When installirlg glass parlt! 114 oiito door 10, rnounting n3cmbcrs 90 arlit 91 transition illOng otit.Crl?a!')Cl. pC1rtEUn 84 LIntII 1)aSC
cll7nlCrlt. 143 abuts bnsc member 100, C)uring the transition, niocinting clctticnts 141 and 142 pas5 L1Zrough, t,r interengage with, mounting members 92-97. As bcst shown in Figures 3 and 4, oncc irltitallecl, gl,iss pancl 114 is zic:tuutlly in sl.sacod 1:t'om outcr patlc,l txlrtiorr 84 so as to appear to J7ozit t-c.lative to door 10. "1'hat is, wliilc still completely covcritig door 10, glass panel 1.14 is triaintaincd a slight distance from outcr panCl portion 84, .vitll motrnling mcmbcrs 90-97, niorinting cleme:nt.5 14()-142, base niVrnbcr 100 and base clcmctlt: 143 nut being visible tircmi front or artgl4d side views of' rcCrigcrator 2, sp as io pi-ovidc the illusion that glass panel 114 is suspi:ncl4d in mid-air, Reference will now bt' made to Figures :1-7 in describing a kitchen appliance 250 constructed in 61CCUrdance wilh il second cnlb0(linlt'.Rt O1 the prCscnt Invclltll>n, As slloxvn. Icitcl-ic:n appliance 25() trlkc;s the form ol' 2u a disltwasltcr having,t tiupport body or Cramc mcmbor 253 that supports a dishwatihing cotiipartiitciit 255. As sliown, disliwasllcr 250 is arranged bclotiv a kitchen coLinturtop 258 ad,jncc>nt cabinctry 261. AI. tiiis point, it should he understood that, vvhlic dishwasher 250 is shown as a convcntion:ll-typl' dishwasher, the present il1YC:rltlOn c:in fac incorporated into othcr n-tt>de l tyl:3cs, si.ic.h as dishwashers having vtiri us 'lidc-out w,lshing conipartnicnts.

fl Dishwasher 250 inclucles a door 266 thrtt pivots abotrt ag'cncr.tlly horiTontal a.cls to scleCtivcly rcvcttl a frontal opcnittg (tiot separately labcltd) to cnalilc llte loading and unloading ol'dishc.s into dishwaslting comE7artrnent 255. row,:trdti fh<tt end, door 266 is prvvided witli a handle 274 }Zaving a crasspiccc 278 as well as (irst and secorid support, mtnibc:r5 280 and 281. In the prefcrrcd ct-nbodinicnt, first and secttnd suppart members 230 and 281 are niounte;d to a glass pancl assembly 290 in a niatmcr that will be t#eticrihetl mt7re fttlly Liclow. More spcciftcnlly.
glass p<anel assembly 290 inclttdcs aglclss panel 294, as well as atn upper I.rini tp piece 298 tlitit provides a iittishcd appearance to tloor 266. As Uest shown in Figure 7, glass pancl 294 is actually bowed or curved so as to provide a distinct appctir;IncL to dOor 266. In c:,t.lzor words, when viewed ti=cnl above, glass panel 294 actually h.ts a sliglat ctt.rWAure.

As best shown in rigurc 6, door 266 includos a main body portion is 3 14 liaving a to;a cdgi: scction 317, bottom edge scction 3 18 and opposing side edge sections 319 and 320 t.hat collectively dcfinc an istttcr panel portion 323 and an outcr pancl pprt'it7rt 324. In accordance 'with this secottd r mhudin-ient, door 266 Et1cIt1tlCs il P1llXilllty UfnlOltntltlg tT2l:rllklk'rs 328-331 fortt7ed in main bocly portion 334. As shqw-ii, nicrtinting :n menabcrs 328-331 arc constituted by kcyholc-sh3pcd oponings.forrned in main bocty pot=t.ictn 31 4. In addition to mounting mt:nibeers 328..33 t, doot=
26(.i incl.ttdcs a generally U-shapr:d base mcn3licr 3;i;i mountcd to outor patx;f portion 324 adjaccnt bottorri 4({g<: srction 31 S. Base member 335 is pt-ovidcd with a l~;tiro~'upcnin~s 337 and 33$ whicli, as will be discussed 25 nkore 1'ully hc.low, arc ttdapt.ed to receive mechanical fasteners (not siiown) for sc:cttring glass panel 294 tx> ctocrr 266.

Cilass panel 294 incluclcs a top cdyc portion 360, a bot.tom cdgc por-tion 361 and opposing sic9e edgr: portions 362 arrci 363 tliat dclinc an inner, (1CCOrIItlvc surface 366 and an Otrtcr surface 367. In a nianncr con-csponding to thrrt described above, inner clccorat.ivc .,urfacc 366 cr~tlld s simply be colorcxl or smakc;cl gletss with or without various dccoratiorts.
In any casc, -,lass pancl 294 inclvdcs a plurality of niotrni.ing; clcnicnts 376-379 adhesively scca.rrcd to inncr sttrtitc.c 366 and spaced -inwari.l along opposing side edge portions 362 and 363. Cilass panel portion also includeti a pair of base elcrnentS 384 anCi 385 t.hat, as will be detailed M morc fully below, cooperate with base n'ien'1hGi= 335 to cJet~achahly retain glass I ncl 294 on door 266_ Ft3rtlierrnorC, in order to secure upper trim piece 298 to door 266 and glass panel 294, a 17lur.ility of'crown elements 390-392 are .ullzesively securecJ tO innc;r sur6ac:e 366 spaced adjacent top cd-c portion 3fi0. Also arranged ;7cf_jaccn.t top cdgc portion 360 Lirc a pair is of opcriings or holes 395 and 396 ffir rnounting handle 274. l"'inafly, in order to rcdtrcG any I)ot.cntial rattling sound whe;rt dishwasher 250 is 4)1)C:ri3U:(1 and to provide a niore scztnilcss appcarancc, Optional silicoriu beads or seals 399 and 400 are shown extending verticrrlly along opposing side edge portions 362 and 363 on inncr strrfiacc 366.

20 At this point, rcfcrcn.c.e; will bc made to F'igtrrc 8 in cfc5crihi3ig a prelerred con5tr=t2cticn for the plurality of mounting cfcri3cnts 376-379 cmployc<1 itt the second c-mbodimcnt of'tlic present invcnt.ion. Howcvor, as each matrnting clerncnt 376-379 is idcntical, a detailed description will be n1aC1C w'rtll respect to r1l.oUntir7g, clen7CFlt 376 with arl undertirtlnding that '_>s the remaining mounting clcnwnts 377-379 are similarly fnrnied.
M.oumlint; elemLnt 376 incltrdes sz n7ain hoCjy 410 having a base section 412 provided with a pair of terminal ribs 414 :incJ 415 which provide ~?

spacers tisetj ln biTnd111g tllotlntillty ('lClllcilt 376 to 1tlflCr surface 36t') of 0,l:lss 1)Flnel 294. nl)I)t)sitc base SCctiOtl 412, 171i31n VC1dy,}11) Lnc1Lid(;s an outer scction 4 17 from whictz extends a tab menlbcr 419. As sllown, tab nlcnlbcr 419 include:s a first portion 423 wliich cxtcnds gcnci-ally pc:rpcndicularly outward fronl outor scctic,-n 417 ;a.nd leads to -a seconct pclrticln 425 which projcct5 stlbstantitllly perpendicularly fronl lir5t portion 423 creating a gap 428 betwccn scccltld portion 425 ,tncf outcr section 417 t:llert;hy est<lblishing an [..-sh.lpcd hocll: 429. !s7 a manner that will he discusscti niorc fully below, t..-sh..ipc,d hook 429 cooperates or io itltcrcngagcs witll mounting mernbers 328-331 to secure gI"Iss panel 294 to doiyt= 266.

As described above, in acltlitiort to mounting clcnicnts 376-379, glass panel 294 includes a pair ol'basc clcmcllts 384 and 385, as well as a plurality of crown elenicnts 390-392. As base elements 384 and 385 and is croWtl clcnlcnts 390-392 ai-e pre.fcrtlbly identical, reference will be 111acl4 to Figure 9 in describing crown e#ement 390 with an understanding that the rl:t1'lAiSllllg crown 4'1cIllCntti 391 and 392, as well as base c'.lcn-tonts 3i;4 and 385 are similarly fornzed. Crown clement 390 includes <Y nnain body 442 lltjving a base pol-tion 445 whictl, in manner sinlilar ro that clesc;rihcd 2rr above, ltlcltlCle3 a pair of terminal ribs 447 and 448, Opposite base portiun 445 is an upper section 450 tllat. is 1,7roviciccl with f irst and second curv4d clenlcnts 452 arld 4,53 that define a central bore 456. Aatually, first s1nti1 seconci ctirvcd clctllcnts 452 and 453 proj 'rcl. from uprcr scctioxY
450 tow:ir4s e.ac.l1 othcr to also definc ag;ll.l 458 leading into ccntral base 25 456. Gap 458 allows lirst: and scconcl cur=vod clc.nlt;nts 452 and 451 tc.i tiell.ect t7or receipt tlt'a mccllanical fast(;ncr, sucll as a sclt=tallltinly scrcW
(ntlt. sbown), ilitc) cs:rit.rrll bore 456.

i -t With tliis particular coristruction. oncc mounting c:lenients 376-379, bayc clcmcnts 384-385 and crown olcmcnts 390-392 are scctircd to g]ass pane~l 294, handle 274 is niortntcd. At thiti point, upper trim piece 298 is put in position and sccur4cl to crown elcment5 390-392 with nicc:hanic.ttl s Fastcncrs (not shown). That is, a mechanical fastener (not showrl) cxtcnds througll crown clcmenl.s 390-392 and taps into trim pie:c,.~ 298. Trim piece 298 is further iecured through thc intcrengage;rncnt of two laterally spaccd round licad mechanical fiistencrs 465 and 466 with cort=cspotltiing ribs 467, 468 I'ormed oii an cendarsicie (not separately labctecl) ol= trini io lyi<,ce298. /A ftcr uppcr trim I~iec e~i)8 is sccurcd, ~iass }~;~ne l?94 is placed ad,jaecnt door 266 with tllc,unting elenients 376-379 aligning with correspondit:g rnountinf; nlcmbers ;32$-33 1. Once pr-operly aligned, sccond portions 425 of'mounting clements 376-379 arc insert.ed into muunting clcments 328-331. Glass p~mc:l 294 is thcn slliftcki ver.tically is downw~trci, trapping tab members 419 in the kcyhole-shapcd opcning;; of' niountinc; n2 cmbcrs 328-33 I.(;lc{ss pancl 294 is furtlicr sccurcd with mechxnic:tl Iasteners (not shown) that extend through openings 337 and 338 of base nlctlll)ur 135, ti917p1ng lnto 1,7;154 l'.l<:117Cnts 384 .inc!
385.

RCl'CrCt1c4' will 1lOW 1?c made 1tl Figure 10 in Clt,'.st:ribiilg a 1CitchCl1 ~u appliance 476 cnnsttttctca in accordancc with a third emboclinu;rtt ol'thc:
present invcntion. In the eml-iodinlcnt shrnwn, kItcllcil appliance 476 constitutcs an <>vun 1-angc llaving a support body or cabinet 479. Wliile shown as a frCCstandtil~.? oven range, kitchen applianec 476 could talce;
various fortlis, such as a slidc-in ran;;c or wall ov4n. In any case, kitchen zs appliance 476 inc.ILK.10S Zitl tip13cr cookingsurfacc or coolctop 483 provided witli a p]urality ol,cooking, zones 486-49() bckow whicll is arranged an ovcn 493. In a nianiier lcnown in thv art, oven 493 is provided with itn ovcn cavity 496 having a frontal olx:nin~; ('nnt labeled) which is selectively acccsscd tlirougli a door 500, In a manner altio known in Ehe art, door 500 is shc>tivn to inc:lude a smooth glass surface 5 10 [ravi-jg a central transparent Zonc 51 ! t.hat.
s ullows a c,onsurncr to view tl1e c,ontclzts of ovcn cavity 496 wheri door 500 is closed. L7oor 500 is also provided with a handlcs 515, as well as a liluralit:y af ve:nt.s 520 arr;tnl;cd bc:Ilind htindlc 515. Arrtmgccl t;bovc cooktop 4S3 is a control patlcl 533 having a plurality of control elements 537-542 that. arC et-t1!}loyC(1 to SCl('.ctivCly control cooking zones 486-490, iu as well as ovcn 493. Centrally Eoc.ated Orr conlrc>l p,a.nel 533 is a display 550 that provides inforrnation tc, the consunlcr=, suclt as cook t.irnc rcmainittg, cooking opcration sclcctcd, etc. Sinc4 the control ,Inci operation of kitchen appliance 476 in known in the art and docs not form palrt of the pruSpnt invention, il will riot be discussed futl.licn cercill.

15 Arranged below ovcn 49; is ::r storage /onc 556 havislg a storage compartment 559. Storage compartment 559 is cmploycd to hold, for ctialrplc, baking trays, broiling p:ins ,end the likc. In any ovcrtt, staragc=
collipnrtmcnt. 55{) is provided with a door 567 havirlg a(!eco=alive glass panel asscn=rbly 572;:rt3.:acllc;d tlicrcto in accordance wltll tl1c prescrtt ?n invcrttion. I11 accordance with the enlboclinicnt shown, doot' 567 and storage compartment 559 are sliclirlalc it1 unis0n l)c;lwccn 4xti:ndccl ;.ind retracted positions.

As best sh()wr1 in Figtit'e I!, door 567 includes a nvaili =1'>octy rorl.ion .586 having a tap cdgc section 590, bottom edge soction 591 and opposing 25 side cdgq SCSctlonS 592 an(1 593 that colicctivoly dclinc an Illncf 17'c11144I

< <S

portion 599 and an outer p,lnel pcartiori 600. Door 567 illcludcs a pair of mounting members 607 and 608 fornied in otster panel porticin 600. More Si)Gcitlcally, Cacll 111oUntlilg nicnlbcr 607, 60$ constitutes a ijt;rresseci rcgion 614, 615 that cstablishes a respective ol3cnittg 61'7, 618. 1=:ach depressed region 614, 615 also includes a correspc-nditlg ccntral opcning 620, 621 wllicli, as will bc discusscd mort; fully below, receives a n-tcchanical ftlstcner 630 to sccurC rl;tss pfuncl assembly 572 to door 567.
In acarrdancc with this tllirci cnibodirilalt of the present invc;iriiun, glass panel assembly 572 includcs agtas5 panel 636 having a top edgc portion io 640, a botcorrt edge portion 641 and opposing side edge portions 642 and 643 t.htil, collectively ilefint: :In inner surf(ac;e 650ancl an out.et' surlrace 65 I.
Arranged on inner sitrtace 650 are a pair of motmling elcmeiits 660 and 661 which, as will be; ciescribcd niol-c fully below, int4rtngagc with nioitnting members 607 and 605 to secure glass pancl 636 to-door 567.

r5 Refcrenct will now be nirrcic to Figurc 12 in dc5cribin;; nlounting c:lemcnts 660 and 661. As each n3ounttng clcnlcllt 660, 661 is similarly constructcd, a detailed description will be nlill'lC to rllf]Unt1ng clement with an tmdersta.ndin- that niountin, clcnicnt 660 is identical. /1s showlt, nlounting clonlcnt 661 includcs s.3 main body 6,82 having tl base section ; c) 685 wlric:h, irl a maruncr c.orresponding to that dcscr=ibcd above with respect to the first alld second cnlbodimCnts, includes a liair of t.4nrtinal spacer ribs 688 and 659. 13asc scction 685 also inclutlcs art extended, GantilE,vcrecl tiec;t.ion 692 that projccts beyond rila 6$9_ lvio;2 nting clctncnt 661 also inclt.tdc:s a tab mcnibcr 098. '1'ab rncnlbcr 698 incluties a fir5t.
sectic>n 700 I.hat e.xte:rlcis substantially perpcrzdicttlarly from i.ittsc scction 685 to a sCCon(}t section 704 that CrtL11C15 substantially pc.rpL:ilCIICUIat=ly outward fi-orii frrst scctiotl 700 to establish an L-shapcd llook.7(15_ I'7 Scct7nd s(:ct1Dn 704 is prov]C1ctI wltl1 a threaded opcning 707 whicll, as will be discussed niorc fully below, receives a mcchanical fa;stcner 630.
With this partictitlrtr arrangement, tnountinb it4'ment.s 660 ttncl 661 itrc initially sccitrcd to niiier st.+rtiacc 650 of glass pancl 636 with respcctive adhesive st.rips 710_ Once in pl.tce, g13s5 pancl 636 is positionccl against otiter pancl portion 60) of door 567 with motttitini;
elernetits 660 and 661 aligninK with mounting rtiembers 607 itnd 60$
respcctivcly, At this point, glass panel 636 is shiftcd downward such that cantilevered portions 602 of incauntinp, clcmcnt.5 660 and 66 Fen-age with to outer panel portion 600 ol' door 567 through openings 617 atid 618 as illt.istrat(:el irt l~igurc 12. Once in plitcc, respective rnechanlc~il t3stencrs 630 are inset'tecl through openings 620 and 621 and cng:rge witll tlircaclccl openings 707 formed in sccond sectiott 704 of mottnting clements 660 and 66 1, sccut-in-, glttss panel 636 tn door 567.

15 At Llzis p611t, it should be undcrstood that thc presGnt: invcntion provides for a sitnplc nt(ntntiag arretngenicnt 'for securinl; glass paneis to thc outar surfact oi'doors of kitChen appiianccs sucl-t t.hat. t.hc'glass panels appear to tlc7at relativc to the doors. That is, the ~;lass pancl does not aplicar to he directly aff iYed to il-t(: appliance door bttt rathcr an illusion is 20 created whercin the glass pancl appears to I.?e tidvariagcocttily, 1'to.tting in rrUnt of t11C appliance: to provlcl4 tx nlorc itcstllctic apPearetnce: In addition, thc pre;5ent tnvct1t10sI Cnablcs tltC gla.ss p:incls to be clc;tachably t-iiotmtod to thc doors sticlI that, in t.lic cvcnt the con.sumcr wishes to, fbr wItati:ver reitson, clean or changc the appearance c7f the a.ppliancc, tltc :ts glass I.)anei can be readily renxovcrl and replacccl.
~h AIt.hougl7 dc:yerib4d witli re#:crcncc to pl-cfcr-rcd cnlbodimcnts oFthc invcntion, it should bc rcadily understood that various cliartgi5 urid/or rllodifrcatiorls can l~e rli~rc~c to the irlvcntioti withoart dcf~artiri~
fl=~rr~ th~
spirit thcraol'. In gcncral, the iY1v411tiot1 is o11IV Ir1t.4T1CiLd tU be lllllit'G(j by t:he scol:)e oFt=hC followlng cltiims.

i? ~

Claims (27)

1. A kitchen appliance comprising.
a support body;
a compartment supported by the support body. said compartment having a frontal opening;
a door supported by the support body and shiftable relative to the compartment so as to selectively close the frontal opening, said door including an inner panel portion and an outer panel portion;
a plurality of mounting members spaced about the outer panel portion of the door; and a glass panel assembly including a glass panel and a plurality of mounting elements, said plurality of mounting elements being adhesively secured to the glass panel and inter-engaging with the plurality of mounting members such that the glass panel is mounted to the door with the glass panel being spaced from, yet, substantially, completely covering.
the outer panel portion wherein. when the kitchen appliance is normally viewed, neither the plurality of mounting elements nor the plurality of mounting members is exposed such that the glass panel appears to float relative to the door.

2 The kitchen appliance according to claim 1. wherein the plurality of mounting elements interengage with the plurality of mounting members through vertical shifting of the glass panel relative to the door.

3 The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, wherein the door is provided with a base member, said base member securing a bottom edge section of the glass panel to the door.

4. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1. wherein the door includes a plurality of edge sections, said plurality of mounting members being mounted to the door spaced inward from the plurality of edge sections

5. The kitchen appliance according to claim 4, wherein the glass panel includes a plurality of edge portions said plurality of mounting elements being mounted to the glass panel spaced inward from the plurality of edge sections

6. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of mounting members includes a base section that extends to a first out-turned section which terminates in a second out-turned section

7 The kitchen appliance according to claim 6, wherein the base section is secured to the outer panel portion such that the first and second out-turned sections are cantilevered and establish a spring clip.

8 The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of mounting elements includes a base section extending to an outer section which leads to an in-turned section prior to terminating at an angled section said base section being adhesively secured to the glass panel

9. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1. wherein each of the plurality of mounting is constituted by a keyhole-shaped opening formed in the outer panel portion.

10. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of mounting elements includes a main body having a base section and an outer section, said outer section being provided with a tab member that establishes an L-shaped hook.

11. The kitchen appliance according to claim 10, wherein the door is provided with a base member, said base member being constituted by a bracket mounted adjacent a lower edge section of the outer panel portion

12. The kitchen appliance according to claim 11. further comprising:
an upper trim piece; and a plurality of crown elements mounted at an upper edge portion of the glass panel, said upper trim piece being secured to the door and the glass panel through the plurality of crown elements.

13. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein the glass panel is bowed.

14. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein the glass panel includes an upper edge portion and at least two laterally spaced opening arranged adjacent the upper edge portion.

15. The kitchen appliance according to claim 14, wherein the door is provided with a handle, said handle being adapted to be secured to the glass panel by mechanical fasteners the extend through the at least two laterally spaced openings.

16. The kitchen appliance according to claim 15, wherein the outer panel portion is provided with at least two laterally space mechanical fasteners positioned adjacent the upper edge section, said at least two laterally spaced mechanical fasteners being adapted to secure an upper trim piece to the door.

17. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of mounting members are integrally formed in the outer panel portion.

18. The kitchen appliance according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of mounting members is constituted by a depressed region that establishes an opening formed in the outer panel portion, said depressed region having a central opening.

19. The kitchen appliance according to claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of mounting elements includes a main body having a base section and an outer section, send outer section being provided with a tab member that establishes an L-shaped hook, said tab member extending into the opening constituted by the depressed region.

20. The kitchen appliance according to claim 19, wherein the tab member includes a first section that extends substantially, perpendicularly from the main body and a second section that extends substantially perpendicularly from the first section, said second section being provided with a threaded opening.

21. The kitchen appliance according to claim 20, wherein the glass panel is secured to the door by at least one mechanical fastener that passes through the central opening into the threaded opening thereby engaging the second section.

22. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, wherein the kitchen appliance constitutes a refrigerator.

23. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, wherein the kitchen appliance constitutes a dishwasher.

24. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, wherein the kitchen appliance constitutes an oven.

25. A method of mounting a glass panel to a door of a kitchen appliance comprising:
providing a plurality of mounting members on an outer panel portion of a door of a kitchen appliance, with said plurality of mounting members being spaced inward from outer edge sections of the door;
attaching a plurality of mounting elements to an inner panel portion of a glass panel, with said plurality of mounting elements being spaced inward from an outer edge portion of the glass panel; and slidingly inter-engaging the mounting elements with the mounting members to secure the glass panel to the door, said glass panel being spaced from, yet substantially completely covering, the door with neither the mounting members nor the mounting elements being readily visible when the kitchen appliance is viewed from front or angled side views thereby providing an illusion that the glass panel appears to float relative to the kitchen appliance.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the mounting elements are adhesively secured to the glass panel.

27. The method of claim 27, further comprising: securing the glass panel to the door with a plurality of mechanical fasteners.