DE102023130756A1 - Kitchen appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance (1), preferably a kitchen appliance (1) with a steam function, particularly preferably a steam cooking drawer (1), with an interior (12), preferably a cooking chamber (12), which is designed to receive at least one cooking utensil and/or at least one food item through an access opening (13) from above, and with a lid (14) which is designed to close and open the access opening (13) of the interior (12) from above by pivoting by means of a pivoting element (15), preferably a hinge (15). The kitchen appliance (1) is characterized by at least one collecting element (19) which is designed and arranged to receive collected liquid from the underside (14a) of the lid (14), preferably from a sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the lid (14), and to direct it, preferably centrally, into the interior (12), preferably into a drain (17a).

Description

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance according to claim 1.

Various kitchen appliances are known for preparing food, which can also be referred to as goods to be treated or as food to be cooked. These include the hobs on which the food can be cooked in a cooking vessel such as a saucepan, with or without a lid, in a pan and the like by boiling, frying and the like.

Cooking devices are also known which have an immobile, i.e. fixed, cooking chamber formed with the cooking device, in which the food to be cooked can be placed in or on a cooking vessel and cooked with the cooking chamber of the cooking device closed. Such a cooking device can be, for example, an oven, a steamer, a microwave, a combination device consisting of an oven with a steamer and/or with a microwave and the like. Such cooking devices with a fixed cooking chamber usually have a construction height of around 45 cm in the vertical direction, at least in Germany, although ovens with a construction height of around 60 cm are also common.

Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber have in common that they have an outer housing as an outer casing, which essentially encloses the cooking appliance on the outside and protects its individual components and elements and makes them manageable together. An interior space is formed within the cooking appliance, which represents the cooking chamber and is essentially enclosed by an inner housing as an inner housing, also referred to as a cooking chamber muffle or muffle. Between the inner housing and the outer housing, a housing space is formed as an intermediate space, in which functional elements of the cooking appliance such as a control or a control unit, an electrical power supply and other components can be arranged which serve the intended use of the cooking appliance. In depth from the front, i.e. viewed from the perspective of a user, the outer housing or a panel in the form of a furniture material or in the form of a control panel and the like closes off the housing space together with the inner housing, so that the housing space is not accessible to the user.

The interior of the cooking appliance has a through opening in the depth towards the front as an access opening, through which the interior of the cooking appliance is accessible to the user in order to insert cooking utensils into the interior of the cooking appliance as its cooking chamber and to arrange them there, as well as to remove cooking utensils from the interior of the cooking appliance after the food has been cooked. The access opening can be opened by the user by means of a closure element, for example in the form of a door that can be pivoted to the side, a flap that can be pivoted downwards and the like, in order to be able to access the interior of the cooking appliance, as previously described, or to close the interior of the cooking appliance and carry out the cooking operation or the cooking process. Such a closure element can be designed to be closed or have a viewing window to allow the user to look into the closed interior of the cooking appliance.

Such cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber are usually designed as built-in appliances or as built-in kitchen appliances in order to be arranged with their outer casing in a space-saving manner and at a height that is easily accessible for the user in the vertical direction in kitchen furniture such as in built-in cupboards in a kitchen and to be flush with the surfaces of the other cooking appliances, drawers, doors and the like of the kitchen furniture towards the front towards the user with their locking element, if necessary also with their panel, see above, which can improve the visual impression for the user.

Other built-in kitchen appliances are also known, such as warming drawers, vacuum drawers and the like, which are installed in the kitchen as described above and, in particular, combined with the previously described cooking appliances as built-in appliances, arranged horizontally one above the other and/or vertically next to each other. Warming drawers are used, for example, to keep cooked food warm without further cooking and to preheat dishes. In vacuum drawers, food can be sealed in an airtight manner in a vacuum in a package.

Such drawers as kitchen appliances are basically constructed in a similar way to the previously described cooking appliances with a fixed cooking chamber, whereby drawers are designed to be significantly flatter, i.e. smaller in the vertical direction, and thus have to be pulled out of the kitchen furniture towards the front by the user in order to enable access to their interior in the vertical direction from above. For this purpose, the movable part of the drawer, which can also be referred to as a pull-out, has a pull-out base which accommodates for example, the cooking utensils in the vertical direction from above and can be designed to be movable in depth relative to the inner casing of the drawer, for example via rails arranged laterally in the transverse direction. The pull-out shelf usually has a vertically aligned panel in the depth towards the front, which closes the interior of the drawer or its access opening when closed.

Such drawers, also called built-in drawers, usually have a vertical height of around 15 cm, at least in Germany. Drawers are usually arranged vertically below a cooking appliance with a fixed cooking space, such as below an oven, below a steamer and the like, or in combination with another drawer, one above the other in the vertical direction, but can also be installed individually and independently in a kitchen unit. Since the installation spaces for built-in kitchen appliances in kitchen units, which can also be referred to as niches, usually have a vertical height of around 60 cm, at least in Germany, a drawer with a height of around 15 cm and a cooking appliance with a fixed cooking space with a height of around 45 cm can be used as modularly combined built-in appliances.

It is also known to design cooking appliances with a steam cooking function as built-in drawers, which can be referred to as steam cooking drawers. Such steam cooking drawers usually accommodate at least one cooking vessel with food to be cooked in their cooking chamber, which is arranged on the pull-out floor. The cooking vessel can usually be removed, usually upwards from the open built-in drawer. Accordingly, the access opening to the cooking chamber in steam cooking drawers is horizontal and usually rectangular and can usually be closed and opened with a pivoting lid. The pivoting lid is usually arranged on the rear edge of the steam cooking drawer, which faces away from the panel, and can be pivoted upwards.

In closed built-in drawers, condensation can generally form on the surfaces of the interior, including the inside or underside of the closing element in the form of a lid. This can be even more pronounced or noticeable if the built-in drawer has or represents a built-in kitchen appliance that can generate water vapor when in use, as this increases the amount of moisture in the air that can condense on the surfaces. This is particularly true for a kitchen appliance with a steam function, such as a steam cooking drawer.

In any case, the condensation that forms on the underside of the lid of the built-in drawer can run down the inside or underside of the lid to a pivoting element or to a hinge or lid hinge when the user lifts up the lid and thus the previously horizontally aligned lid points partially or completely upwards in the vertical direction.

The condensate or condensate that runs down can therefore run past the side of the lid or the outer casing and reach the kitchen unit, flow into it or flow down the unit's panel. The condensate can also drip directly from the built-in drawer downwards and particularly onto the floor. This can require the user to collect and remove the leaked condensate with a cloth or similar, for example to protect the kitchen unit from moisture and/or to avoid the risk of slipping on a wet floor. In any case, this can represent additional work for the user. The condensate can also get into the cooking compartment and have to be removed by the user.

If there is a condensate container or a condensate tray in the cooking chamber as a collecting container to collect the condensate from all surfaces, the amount of condensate exceeds its capacity, so that the excess condensate can get into the rest of the interior or cooking chamber and can also be removed by the user from there. The condensate can also get past the condensate tray into the interior, which can also require the user to remove this condensate manually.

This can occur particularly in kitchen appliances that generate or use steam, such as steam cookers or steam combination appliances. In principle, however, condensation can also occur in other kitchen appliances. This applies to both freestanding and built-in kitchen appliances.

The invention therefore poses the problem of providing a kitchen appliance, preferably a kitchen appliance with a steam function, particularly preferably a steam cooking drawer, of the type described at the beginning, so that condensate running down the underside of a lid can be collected better than previously known. This should be done in particular as a drawer or as a built-in drawer. In any case, this should be as simple, cost-effective, space-saving, durable and/or visually unobtrusive or attractive. At the very least, an alternative to known kitchen appliances of this kind should be created.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a kitchen appliance having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

The invention thus relates to a kitchen appliance, preferably a kitchen appliance with a steam function, particularly preferably a steam cooking drawer, with an interior, preferably a cooking chamber, which is designed to accommodate at least one cooking utensil and/or at least one food item through an access opening from above, and with a lid which is designed to close and open the access opening of the interior from above by pivoting by means of a pivoting element, preferably a hinge. This can be implemented in particular as a built-in kitchen appliance and/or as a drawer or as a built-in drawer.

According to the invention, the kitchen appliance has at least one collecting element which is designed and arranged to receive collected liquid from the underside of the lid, preferably from a sealing element of the underside of the lid, and to direct it, preferably centrally, into the interior, preferably into a drain.

The transfer of the liquid between the underside of the movable or pivoting lid and the interior can thus be improved by providing the collecting element as an additional component to support or take over the forwarding of the collected liquid. This allows the liquid to be guided in particular over an inner edge area of the interior in order to avoid liquid there. The liquid can be collected by means of a sealing element according to the invention on the underside of the lid and passed on to the collecting element, as will be described in more detail below. In any case, the collecting element can be designed and arranged accordingly to support or take over the forwarding of the liquid, as will be described in more detail below.

According to one aspect of the invention, the collecting element is designed and arranged to receive collected liquid dripping down from the underside of the lid, preferably from a sealing element on the underside of the lid. This can represent one possibility for concrete implementation. In particular, dripping down can simplify the forwarding or transfer of the liquid from the underside of the lid as a movable element to the interior, which is fixed relative to the lid, since no mechanical connection is required for this in relation to the pivotable lid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the collecting element is designed and arranged to guide collected liquid dripping into the interior, preferably into the drain. This can also represent a concrete possibility of implementation there. This can keep the number of required elements and their installation space to a minimum, since there is no need for continuous guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the interior is designed to accommodate at least two cooking utensils spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction, wherein the interior has a drain, preferably a condensate container, between the two cooking utensils in the transverse direction, and wherein the collecting element is designed and arranged to direct collected liquid into the drain. This can represent a concrete possibility of implementation. In particular, this can make it possible to direct the liquid past cooking utensils and under the cooking utensils, where a drain to the outside of the interior or the kitchen appliance or a possibility can be provided to collect the liquid there.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the collecting element is arranged centrally in the transverse direction. This can represent a possibility for concrete implementation. This can also make it possible to evenly collect and direct the liquid running down the underside of the lid in the transverse direction.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the collecting element is designed to taper in a pyramid shape towards the interior, preferably towards a drain. This can represent a possible concrete implementation.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the kitchen appliance has a collecting insert which is arranged on and/or on the collecting element and is designed to extend the collecting element towards the interior, preferably towards a drain. This can further improve the conduction of the liquid towards the interior or towards the drain. In particular, this can simplify the implementation of the conduction of the liquid towards the interior or towards the drain, as this can be done without changing or enlarging the collecting element itself. The collecting insert can preferably be made of silicone. represent a possibility for concrete implementation.

• • bei geschlossenem Deckel den Innenraum fluiddicht gegenüber der Unterseite des Deckels abzudichten und
• • bei hochgeschwenktem Deckel herunterlaufende Flüssigkeit, insbesondere Kondenswasser, aufzufangen und in den Innenraum, vorzugweise in einen Abfluss, zu leiten.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the kitchen appliance has at least one sealing element which is formed and arranged on the underside of the lid,

• • when the lid is closed, seal the interior fluid-tight against the underside of the lid and
• • When the lid is raised, any liquid running down, particularly condensation, is to be collected and directed into the interior, preferably into a drain.

The sealing element can therefore perform two functions. On the one hand, this can be the fluid-tight sealing of the closed lid, for which purpose the sealing element can be elastically designed perpendicular to the surface of the underside of the lid. The sealing element can therefore be made of an elastic material, for example rubber, or contain an elastic material. Additionally or alternatively, the required elasticity of the sealing element can also be achieved through its structural design, for example through a spring-elastic construction. In any case, the sealing element can run along the underside of the lid in such a way that when the lid is closed, the interior or an edge of the interior is enclosed horizontally from the outside.

Furthermore, the sealing element can run along the underside of the lid in such a way that when the lid is folded up, the liquid running down the underside of the lid can be guided into the interior. To this end, the liquid running down can be guided from at least one side and preferably from both sides of the pivoting element towards the middle of the lid or the pivoting element so that it cannot run out laterally via the pivoting element or the pivoting elements. In particular, the liquid running down can be guided laterally, i.e. in the transverse direction, from at least one side and preferably from both sides towards the middle in order to be drained into the interior or into a drain there, in particular of a container such as a condensate container. In any case, the liquid running down can be brought together laterally and thus collected, which can promote the formation of drops and thus drainage.

Thus, according to the invention, the guidance or drainage of such liquids can be improved by the sealing element as a guide element or as a drip element for the collected liquid, in that the sealing element not only serves to seal but also to collect and guide the liquid. The sealing element can be made in one piece and made of silicone.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sealing element on the underside of the lid tapers in the transverse direction towards the pivoting element, preferably in the middle. This can enable the specific implementation of a guided drainage of the collected liquid as already described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sealing element on the underside of the lid is trapezoidal or triangular in shape towards the pivoting element. This can enable alternative concrete implementations of a guided drainage of the collected liquid as already described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the sealing element on the underside of the lid has a C-shaped profile, preferably open on the inside, or an O-shaped profile. This can represent a concrete possibility for a structural design of the sealing element in order to enable the required elasticity of the sealing element through mechanical features, possibly in addition to an elastic material, and at the same time to enable the drainage of the collected liquid. The profile of the sealing element is its shape or contour as a cross-section.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the collecting element is designed and arranged such that when the lid is swung up, the lowest point or section of the sealing element on the underside of the lid is located vertically above the collecting element. This can represent a possibility for concrete implementation. It can also promote the collection and routing of the collected liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the kitchen appliance further comprises at least one dripping element which is designed and arranged to collect liquid running down the underside of the raised lid, in particular condensate, preferably from the sealing element, and to direct it to the collecting element.

Thus, according to the invention, the guidance or drainage of such liquids through the drip element can be improved by the drip element serving to collect and guide the liquid. For this purpose, the drip element can in particular be made in one piece and from silicone.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drip element has at least in sections, preferably over its entire surface, a guide surface as a gradient, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably centrally, into the interior, preferably into a drain. The gradient of the guide surface, in particular towards the collecting element, the drain or the outlet, can thus improve the guidance of the liquid there.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the guide surface of the drip element has at least one condensate guide, preferably at least one guide element as a depression and/or as an elevation, at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably centrally, towards the collecting element, preferably into a drain. This can represent a possibility for further improving the guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drip element has at least one condensate guide, preferably at least one lateral edge, at least in sections, preferably essentially, on the edge opposite the interior, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably centrally, towards the collecting element, preferably into a drain. This can represent a possibility for further improving the guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drip element, preferably a guide surface of the drip element, preferably in the middle, has at least one, preferably triangular or curved, outlet, which is designed to guide collected liquid to the collecting element, preferably into a drain. This can represent a possibility for further improving the guidance of the liquid. Due to the triangular or curved shape, the largest proportion of material can be present in the middle, so that the weight can tilt the drip lip or collecting lip downwards, in particular at the outlet, which can further improve the guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivoting element has at least one condensate guide, preferably at least one lateral edge, at least in sections, preferably essentially, on the edge side, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably from the sealing element, to the collecting element. This can represent a possibility for further improving the guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivoting element has at least one condensate guide, preferably at least one guide element as a depression and/or as a protrusion, at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably centrally, preferably from the sealing element, to the collecting element. This can represent a possibility for further improving the guidance of the liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drip element is formed at least in sections towards the pivoting element, preferably over its entire surface, from a comparatively flexible material, preferably silicone. This can support an inclination or bending of the guide surface downwards to form the gradient, in that the material is sufficiently flexible to be bent downwards by its own weight and/or by the weight of the collected liquid.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drip element is connected to the pivot element by means of a pivot element connection such that the drip element can be guided, preferably wound, around the pivot element in accordance with the pivoting movement of the lid. This can represent a concrete possibility of implementation. In particular, this can enable a movement of the drip element as described above without using an additional drive. The movement of the drip element can also be mechanically ensured or implemented in synchronism with the movement of the lid in this way.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the swivel element connection of the drip element is movably connected to that part of the swivel element which is movably connected to the lid. This can represent a concrete possibility of implementation.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the kitchen appliance is designed as a drawer. This can enable the implementation and use of the properties and advantages described above, particularly in kitchen appliances of this type.

According to the invention, the previously described features or elements of the kitchen appliance according to the invention, which serve to catch, collect, direct and/or guide liquid running down the underside of the raised lid, in particular condensate, can be combined with one another as desired in order to catch, collect, direct and/or guide the running down liquid. The previously described features or elements of the kitchen appliance according to the invention can thus be used in addition to or as an alternative to one another.

In other words, it is known to close the interior of a built-in kitchen appliance and in particular the cooking chamber of a kitchen appliance with a steam function, such as a steam cooking drawer, with a lid. If steam is generated during the cooking process, the cooking chamber towards the lid should be protected against steam and water leakage by a seal. This seal is located on the underside of the lid in a square shape, since the steam cooking drawer (cooking chamber and cooking chamber lid), for example, has a square shape.

For example, during a steam cooking process, condensation can form on the underside of the lid. When the lid is opened, the condensate flows downwards and possibly over a hinge in the lid into the cooking chamber.

Up to now, the condensed water cannot be directed into a condensate tray that may be placed in the cooking chamber and collected by it. This can lead to the amount of condensate in the cooking chamber being significantly greater, for example 2.5 times, than the permitted residual water amount in the cooking chamber of, for example, 50mL. This can lead to the user having to remove and empty the condensate tray and also wipe out the cooking chamber several times, for example with a sponge cloth, in order to remove the condensate or residual water from the cooking chamber.

A drain can be provided to remove the condensate, which can be difficult to achieve due to the comparatively low installation height of usually 14 cm.

Providing a means of pumping out can be a considerable effort and also require installation space, which may be limited anyway.

The condensate water running off the edge of the lid can possibly flow over a hinge edge into the side slots that are used to attach or hang the lid hinge in the device. This can reduce or impair the sliding properties of the hinge.

If water penetrates the device, additional protective measures may be necessary to ensure safety.

A drip lip or a collecting lip can also be attached to the underside of the lid above the hinge to direct the condensate water to the condensate tray.

The disadvantage of collecting draining condensate water is that only small amounts of water can be collected and retained using a water collecting channel, comparable to a gutter, on built-in kitchen appliances, as the storage volume is limited.

Larger amounts of water, such as the amount on the lid of a steamer drawer (approx. 75 mL), cannot be absorbed without spilling over.

Drainage into a collecting vessel is not possible due to the shape of the gutter. In addition, there is no container to collect all the condensation water.

The condensate water from the lid should therefore be directed from the edge, i.e. from the hinge attachment, to the middle of the cooking chamber and channelled into the condensate tray, i.e. collected.

According to the invention, the trapezoidal shape of the cooking chamber seal means that the cooking chamber seal can also be used as a water-conducting contour. For this purpose, the sealing profiles running along the underside of the lid can be designed in a "C" or "O" shape.

Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate or additional collecting lip and/or drip lip on the lid.

The water can flow from the lid on the cooking chamber seal to the middle of the hinge into a collecting contour. The collecting contour can be designed as a triangle.

The lid has a glass or metal disc or is made of a glass or metal disc.

The collecting contour can be designed as a deep-drawn pyramid shape, i.e. in the side view as a "scalene triangle" or as a "right triangle", in the cooking chamber, in order to guide the condensate water into the condensate tray via a deep-drawn shape. In addition, the deep-drawn pyramid shape of the collecting contour can be equipped with a silicone insert in order to guide the condensate water into the condensate tray via the shape of the silicone shape. In any case, this can create a bridge from the cooking chamber to the condensate tray.

The advantage of this is that the condensate water can be directed in a targeted manner. The condensate water can also be collected in the condensate tray. If necessary, only a small additional component, e.g. made of silicone, may be necessary to collect the condensate water from the lid and guide it into the condensate tray (bridging the cooking chamber to the condensate tray).

Manufacturing can be simplified. The user can clean the product more easily. Condensate water running off the edge of the lid cannot flow into the device over the edge of the hinge and possibly into the side slots (for fastening/hanging the lid hinge in the device). The sliding properties of the hinge are not permanently reduced or impaired by the condensate water running off.

Incoming water does not need to be channeled through the device, so it can drip off without endangering electrical safety. No additional components are required in the device to collect and drain incoming water.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Küchenmöbels mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Küchengerät gemäß eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels als Dampfgarschublade im eingeschobenen Zustand;
• 2 die Darstellung der 1 im ausgezogenen Zustand des Küchengeräts;
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf das erfindungsgemäße Küchengerät gemäß des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels mit vollständig geöffnetem bzw. zurückgeklapptem Deckel direkt von oben;
• 4 das erfindungsgemäße Küchengerät gemäß des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels von der Seite mit fast vollständig geschlossenem Deckel;
• 5 eine alternative Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels ohne Deckel direkt von oben;
• 6 ein erfindungsgemäßes Küchengerät gemäß eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels von der Seite mit fast vollständig geschlossenem Deckel;
• 7 das erfindungsgemäße Küchengerät gemäß des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels ohne Deckel direkt von oben;
• 8 ein Abtropfelement des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels direkt von oben;
• 9 die Darstellung der 8 mit den Fließrichtungen eines Kondensats;
• 10 ein Abtropfelement des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels direkt von oben;
• 11 die Darstellung der 10 mit den Fließrichtungen eines Kondensats;
• 12 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts einer Führungsfläche bzw. eines Gefälle des Abtropfelements des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der 8;
• 13 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts einer Führungsfläche bzw. eines Gefälle des Abtropfelements eines erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines fünften Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 14 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts einer Führungsfläche bzw. eines Gefälle des Abtropfelements eines erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines sechsten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 15 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts einer Führungsfläche bzw. eines Gefälle des Abtropfelements eines erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines siebten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• 16 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts eines Schwenkelements des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der 8; und
• 17 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung eines Abschnitts eines Schwenkelements eines erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts gemäß eines achten Ausführungsbeispiels.

Several embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below. It shows

• 1 a perspective view of a kitchen furniture with a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a first embodiment as a steam cooking drawer in the inserted state;
• 2 the representation of the 1 when the kitchen appliance is pulled out;
• 3 a plan view of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the first embodiment with the lid completely opened or folded back directly from above;
• 4 the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the first embodiment from the side with the lid almost completely closed;
• 5 an alternative representation of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the first embodiment without a lid directly from above;
• 6 a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a second embodiment from the side with the lid almost completely closed;
• 7 the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the second embodiment without a lid directly from above;
• 8th a dripping element of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a third embodiment directly from above;
• 9 the representation of the 8th with the flow directions of a condensate;
• 10 a dripping element of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment directly from above;
• 11 the representation of the 10 with the flow directions of a condensate;
• 12 a perspective detailed view of a section of a guide surface or a slope of the dripping element of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the third embodiment of the 8th ;
• 13 a perspective detailed view of a section of a guide surface or a gradient of the dripping element of a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment;
• 14 a perspective detailed view of a section of a guide surface or a gradient of the dripping element of a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment;
• 15 a perspective detailed view of a section of a guide surface or a gradient of the dripping element of a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to a seventh embodiment;
• 16 a perspective detailed view of a section of a pivoting element of the kitchen appliance according to the invention according to the third embodiment of the 8th ; and
• 17 a perspective detailed view of a section of a pivoting element of a kitchen appliance according to the invention according to an eighth embodiment.

The above figures are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. There is a longitudinal direction X, which can also be referred to as depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X there is a transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y there is a vertical direction Z, which can also be referred to as height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as the horizontal plane X, Y.

1 shows a perspective view of a kitchen furniture 3 with a kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment example in the inserted state. 2 shows the representation of the 1 when the kitchen appliance is pulled out 1.

The kitchen furniture 3, which can also be referred to as a kitchen unit 3, has a furniture front 30 or several furniture panels 30, with which the kitchen furniture 1 is closed off towards a user in the longitudinal direction X. The furniture front 30 is formed by several doors, flaps and the like (not designated), possibly also drawers (not shown), which are arranged pivotably, foldably or pullably on a frame 31, rack 31 or body 31 of the kitchen furniture 3.

A kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention in the form of a steam cooking drawer 1 as a kitchen appliance 1 with a steam function is arranged approximately centrally along the vertical direction Z between two furniture fronts 30. The steam cooking drawer 1 has an outer housing 10, which can also be referred to as an outer housing 10 and essentially closes or encloses the steam cooking drawer 1 to the outside. The outer housing 10 closes along the longitudinal direction X to the front, ie towards the user, with a panel 10a, which, when the steam cooking drawer 1 is pushed in, is flush with the furniture fronts 30 of the kitchen furniture 3, see 1 . A pair of telescopic rails (not shown) are arranged laterally in the transverse direction Y on the outer housing 10 so that the steam cooking drawer 1 can be pulled out and pushed in in the longitudinal direction X relative to the frame 30 of the kitchen furniture 3.

An inner housing 11 is arranged within the outer housing 10, which can also be referred to as the inner housing 11. The inner housing 11 ends in the longitudinal direction X to the rear and to the front up to the panel 10a, in the vertical direction Z downwards and in the transverse direction Y on both sides with the outer housing 10, so that a gap (not shown) is formed between the outer housing 10 and the inner housing 11, which can also be referred to as the housing space. This gap represents the interior of the steam cooking drawer 1.

The inner housing 11 also essentially encloses an interior space 12 in which a cooking process or a steam cooking process can be carried out. For this purpose, a steam generator (not shown) is arranged in the housing space or in the space between the steam cooking drawer 1, which can evaporate water and convey the water vapor into the interior space 12. Accordingly, the interior space 12 can also be referred to as the cooking space 12.

The interior 12 is accessible to the user from above through an access opening 13 in the vertical direction Z. The access opening 13 can be closed and opened by means of a closure element 14 in the form of a lid 14. For this purpose, the lid 14 is connected to the outer housing 10 of the steam cooking drawer 1 by means of at least one pivoting element 14a in the form of a hinge 14a in the vertical direction Z so that the lid 14 can be pivoted upwards by the user or up towards the furniture panel 30 located above it in order to be able to access the cooking chamber 12 when the steam cooking drawer 1 is pulled out, see 2 If the lid 14 is swung down into the horizontal X, Y, the cooking chamber 12 is closed and the steam cooking drawer 1 can be pushed into the kitchen unit 3, see 1 .

3 shows a plan view of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to the first embodiment with the lid 14 completely opened or folded back directly from above. 4 shows the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to the first embodiment from the side with the lid 14 almost completely closed. 5 shows an alternative representation of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to the first embodiment without lid 14 directly from above.

According to the invention, a sealing element 18 is provided, which can also be referred to as a seal 18. The sealing element 18 is made of silicone in one piece and is endlessly closed with a C-profile or an O-profile and extends on the underside 14a of the lid 14 essentially along its edge (not designated). The sealing element 18 is designed and arranged on the underside 14a of the lid 14 in such a way that the gap between the underside 14a and lid 14 and the top of the edge region (not designated) of the interior 12 or its access opening 13 can be closed in a fluid-tight or vapor-tight manner.

Furthermore, the sealing element 18 is designed and arranged on the underside 14a of the lid 14 so that liquid can be guided or drained off from the underside 14a of the raised lid 14 to the center in the transverse direction Y. In the exemplary embodiment considered, this is achieved by means of a trapezoidal shape of the edge of the seal 18 which faces the pivoting element 15 and runs essentially parallel to the pivoting element 15 or to its pivot axis. If the lid 14 is raised, the sealing element 18 can thus be arranged on the underside 14a of the raised lid 14. Collect any liquid running down, particularly condensate, and direct it into the interior 12.

Furthermore, a collecting element 19 or a collecting contour 19 is provided, which is arranged centrally in the transverse direction Y and there between two removable cooking dishes 16 or cooking containers 16 and leads to a condensate container 17, to a condensate tray 17 or to a collecting container 17 in order to collect condensate there. The condensate container 17 is removably arranged below the cooking dishes 16. The area between the two cooking dishes 17 can be viewed and referred to as a drain 17a. The collecting element 19 is designed as a deep-drawn pyramid-shaped component and is attached to the inner housing 11 pointing towards the drain 17a.

The collected liquid can thus be collected from the lowest point of the sealing element 18, viewed with the lid 14 folded up, and drip down onto the collecting element 19, and be guided further from the collecting element 19 to the drain 17a, where it drips into the condensate container 17.

6 shows a kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to a second embodiment from the side with the lid 14 almost completely closed. 7 shows the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to the second embodiment without lid 14 directly from above.

In this case, a collecting insert 19a made of silicone is arranged on the collecting element 19, so that the collecting element 19 is extended towards the drain 17a by means of the collecting insert 19a, which improves the accessibility of the drain 17a.

8th shows a dripping element 20 of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to a third embodiment directly from above. 9 shows the representation of the 8th with the flow directions A of a condensate. The drip element 20 can also be referred to as a drip lip 20 or a collecting lip 20. The drip element 20 is designed as a flat triangle and extends essentially in the transverse direction Y and there over the entire width of the access opening 13.

In the middle of the transverse direction Y, a tip is formed as an outlet 20e. The flat extension of the drip element 20 in the form of a guide surface 20b as a gradient 20b points towards the outlet 13. This allows the outlet 20e of the drip element 20 to be brought over the drain 17a of the condensate container 17. Alternatively, the outlet 20e of the drip element 20 can also be brought over the collecting element 19.

The drip element 20 is connected to the pivot element 15 by means of a pivot element connection 20a such that the drip element 20 is wound around the pivot element 15 in accordance with the pivoting movement of the lid 14. For this purpose, the pivot element connection 20a of the drip element 20 is movably connected to that part of the pivot element 15 which is movably connected to the lid 14.

If the lid 14 is folded up, the drip element 20 on the underside 14a of the raised lid 14 can collect liquid running down, in particular condensate, and direct it into the drain 17a of the condensate container 17. The liquid running down can have previously been collected or directed by the sealing element 18, as previously described. Due to the movement of the drip element 20 when the lid 14 is folded up, its outlet 20e extends sufficiently far into the access opening 13 or over the drain 17a of the condensate container 17 that the drain 17a of the condensate container 17 can be safely reached by the draining condensate.

Due to the movement of the dripping element 20, the dripping element 20 completely exposes the interior 12 again when the lid 14 is closed, so that a steam cooking function or its steam distribution is not disturbed.

10 shows a dripping element 20 of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment directly from above. 11 shows the representation of the 10 with the flow directions A of a condensate. In this case, the guide surface 20b of the drip element 20 is curved.

In any case, the drip element 20 has a continuous condensate guide 20c in the form of a lateral edge 20c on the edge opposite the interior 12 on both sides of the outlet 20e along the transverse direction Y in order to improve the guidance of the condensate from the underside 14a of the folded-up lid 14 to the outlet 20e of the drip element 20. Furthermore, the drip element 20 has the aforementioned guide surface 20b as a slope 20b over its entire surface for this purpose. The guide surface 20b of the drip element 20 also has several condensate guides 20d in the form of guide elements 20d as depressions over its entire surface for this purpose, see 13 and 15 , and/or as surveys, see 12 and 14 , on.

The connection of the drip element 20 can be made by means of its swivel element connection 20a below the swivel element 15, see 12 and 13 , as previously described, which can enable winding. Alternatively, the drip element 18 can be connected by means of its swivel element connection 18a or above the pivot element 15, see 14 and 15 , whereby winding around the pivoting element 15 cannot take place, but the pivoting element 15 can be enclosed from above and protected from condensate.

For this reason, condensate guides 15a or side edges 15a are provided on the top of the swivel element 15 in the transverse direction Y to keep the condensate on the swivel element 15. Condensate guides 15b or guide elements 15b are also provided along the swivel element 15 to guide the condensate further towards the center. The guide elements 15b of the swivel element 15 can be designed as recesses, see 16 , and/or as surveys 15b, see 17 , be trained.

List of reference symbols (part of the description)

A

Flow direction of the condensate

X

longitudinal direction; depth; length

Y

transverse direction; width

Z

vertical direction; height

X, Y

Horizontal; horizontal plane

1

Kitchen appliance; Kitchen appliance with steam function; Steamer drawer

10

outer casing; outer housing

10a

cover

11

inner casing; inner casing

12

Interior; cooking chamber

13

Access opening

14

closure element; lid

14a

Bottom or inside of the closure element 14

15

Swivel element; hinge; lid hinge

15a

Condensate guides or side edges of the swivel element 15

15b

Condensate guides or guide elements of the swivel element 15

16

Cooking utensils; Cooking container

17

Condensate tank; condensate tray; collecting tank

17a

Drain to condensate tank 17

18

sealing element; seal

19

collecting element; collecting contour;

19a

Catcher insert

20

Drip element; drip lip; collecting lip

20a

Swivel element connection of the drip element 20

20b

Guide surface or gradient of the drip element 20

20c

Condensate guides or side edges of the drip element 20

20d

Condensate guides or guide elements of the drip element 20

20e

Draining element outlet 20

3

Kitchen furniture; kitchen unit

30

Furniture front; furniture panel

31

frame; chassis; body

Claims (15)

Kitchen appliance (1), preferably kitchen appliance (1) with a steam function, particularly preferably a steam cooking drawer (1), with an interior (12), preferably a cooking chamber (12), which is designed to receive at least one cooking utensil and/or at least one foodstuff through an access opening (13) from above, and with a lid (14) which is designed to close and open the access opening (13) of the interior (12) from above by pivoting by means of a pivoting element (15), preferably a hinge (15), characterized by at least one collecting element (19) which is designed and arranged to receive collected liquid from the underside (14a) of the lid (14), preferably from a sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the lid (14), and to direct it, preferably centrally, into the interior (12), preferably into a drain (17a). Kitchen appliance (1) by Claim 1 , wherein the collecting element (19) is designed and arranged to receive collected liquid dripping down from the underside (14a) of the lid (14), preferably from a sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the lid (14). Kitchen appliance (1) by Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the collecting element (19) is designed and arranged to drip collected liquid into the interior (12), preferably into the drain (17a). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior (12) is designed to accommodate at least two cooking dishes (16) spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction (Y), wherein the interior (12) has a drain (17a), preferably a condensate container (17), between the two cooking dishes (16) in the transverse direction (Y), and wherein the collecting element (19) is designed and arranged to guide collected liquid into the drain (17a). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting element (19) is arranged centrally in the transverse direction (Y). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting element (19) is pyramid-shaped and tapers towards the interior (12), preferably towards a drain (17a). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a collecting insert (19a) which is arranged on and/or on the collecting element (19) and is designed to extend the collecting element (19) towards the interior (12), preferably towards a drain (17a), wherein the collecting insert (19a) is preferably made of silicone. Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one sealing element (18) which is formed and arranged on the underside (14a) of the lid (14), • to seal the interior (12) fluid-tight against the underside (14a) of the lid (14) when the lid (14) is closed and • to collect liquid running down, in particular condensate, when the lid (14) is pivoted up and to direct it into the interior (12), preferably into a drain (17a). Kitchen appliance (1) by Claim 8 , wherein the sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the cover (14) tapers in the transverse direction (Y) towards the pivoting element (15), preferably centrally. Kitchen appliance (1) by Claim 8 or 9 , wherein the sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the cover (14) is trapezoidal or triangular towards the pivoting element (15). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the Claims 8 until 10 , wherein the sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the lid (14) has a C-shaped, preferably open on the inside, or an O-shaped profile. Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the Claims 8 until 11 , wherein the collecting element (19) is designed and arranged such that when the lid (14) is pivoted up, the lowest point or section of the sealing element (18) of the underside (14a) of the lid (14) is located above the collecting element (19) in the vertical direction (Z). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one dripping element (20) which is designed and arranged to collect liquid running down the underside (14a) of the raised lid (14), in particular condensate, preferably from the sealing element (18), and to direct it to the collecting element (19). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting element (15) has at least one condensate guide (15a), preferably at least one lateral edge (15a), at least in sections, preferably essentially, on the edge side, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably from the sealing element (18), to the collecting element (19), and/or wherein the pivoting element (15) has at least one condensate guide (15b), preferably at least one guide element (15b) as a depression and/or as a raised area, at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, which is designed to guide collected liquid, preferably centrally, preferably from the sealing element (18), to the collecting element (19). Kitchen appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kitchen appliance (1) is designed as a drawer.

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