EP0505806B1

EP0505806B1 - Cooking hob

Info

Publication number: EP0505806B1
Application number: EP19920103975
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Cipriani; Edmondo Tiberi
Original assignee: Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 1991-03-11
Filing date: 1992-03-09
Publication date: 1995-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-09
Also published as: ITTO910054V0; EP0505806A1; ES2073797T3; ITTO910054U1; IT223154Z2

Description

The present invention relates to a kitchen unit according to the first part of claim 1.
As known, the household appliance industry and that of kitchen furniture have with time adopted standard measurements in the dimensions of their products; typically the singular cabinets destined to be placed side by side in kitchens, and eventually to contain the so called built in electrical goods, are of standard dimensions, as the furniture industry has adapted to the standardised measurements that various electrical goods producers have with time established.
The homogeneous nature of the dimensions of such units becomes more obvious for those units that can house floor based electric appliances such as dishwashers, cookers and built in ovens, integrated refrigerators and freezers (the same is also true for washing machines, although not being electrical appliances typical of kitchens); in particular the height is the same for the various units that have to be placed side by side, so as to enable the utilisation of the superior surfaces as a continuous work surface or table, for carrying out the normal operations that the kitchen calls for or for inserting a cooking hob, and naturally so as to not create stylistic inconsistency between the units.
Also the width of such units, that do not necessarily have to contain electrical appliances, seem to be homogeneous, in the sense that they are of 600 or 900 millimetres. As previously mentioned, often the necessity or desire may occur to install a cooking hob on the surface of one of such units, therefore some of which are provided with openings, i.e. apertures centrally realised in their superior surface, also being of standard dimensions.
Even such apertures are standardised with respect the units that can house the cooking hob, as is also the case with the units with respect the cooking hob that they have to house. Typically, the dimensions of the superior part of the cooking hob to be inserted on a unit of 600 millimetres are 580 x 500 mm, while the standard apertures relative to such units are of 550 x 470 or 555 x 475 mm.
The larger cooking hobs, for instance with six burners/plates, that require units of 900 mm, have the dimensions of 869 x 500, while the relative apertures are of 830 x 470 mm.
The base of the cooking hob, or the cassette, i.e. the part being housed within the aperture, is approximately 30 millimetres (36 mm for the larger hobs) smaller with regards the superior part constituted by the actual cooking hob: its width is therefore 550 millimetres (824 for the larger hobs) and therefore the total assembly tolerance of the cooking hob in the aperture varies from 0 to 5 mm (6 mm for the larger hobs). Such dimensions have the effect of determining a substantial rigidity in the installation of the cooking hob, in the sense that the actual hob has to be fixed at the centre of the unit in which it is housed.
This very fact in itself is the cause of several problems, for example, the installation of a cooking hob being of major dimensions with respect the norm (i.e. a six burner hob of 860 mm) supposes the use of a unit being of 900 millimetres in width, supplied with the relative standard aperture.
The fact that the dimensions (in particular the width) of the cooking hob are inferior to those of the unit can cause the origins of aesthetic problems, due to the fact that between the cooking hob and an adjacent element there can originate spaces which are practically useless, or due to the fact that the eventual contact points between the units are visible.
Moreover, in consideration of the fact that not all rooms used as kitchens are of large dimensions, the mentioned rigidity can determine other problems of space and adjacency. For example, in the case where the hob is desired to be placed besides a sink-unit, inconveniences due to encumbrance may occur to the former with respect the latter, that make the side by side placing of the two elements impossible (the practical problems will become clearer from the successive exam of the annexed drawings); similar problems arise in the case that a large hob is desired to be installed, that would require a unit of 900 mm.
However it would result in being extremely convenient, both from the practical and aesthetic point of view to arrange a cooking hob with a large surface, even in kitchens of small dimensions, that allows for taking advantage of the standard aperture of a unit of 600 mm and that also allows for numerous possibilities of alternative installations.
The present invention is based on the knowledge of these facts, and its aim is therefore that of indicating a kitchen unit with a cooking hob that can be of major dimensions with respect to cooking hobs of the same type, that is easy to install and that, although being destined to be installed in a standard aperture of a single kitchen unit, provides the possibility of diverse positioning, according to the functional necessities and style of the kitchen.
A further aim of the present invention is to indicate a kitchen unit with a grill for cooking apparatus, being of a particularly advantageous conception.
The object of the present invention is achieved by a kitchen unit according to claim 1.
Further aims and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, supplied as a non-limiting example, wherein:

figure 1 represents a view of a portion of a kitchen in a first condition of use;
figure 2 represents a view of the same portion of the kitchen in figure 1, in a second condition of use;
figure 3 makes a comparison between a cooking hob of the known type and a cooking hob according to the present invention;
figure 4 represents sectioned and plan views of a cooking hob according to the present invention, in two of the different and particularly advantageous conditions of use;
figure 5 represents a view of a particularly advantageous form of realisation of the cooking hob according to the present invention;
figure 6 represents in a schematic manner the same portion of a kitchen in figure 1, in a first particularly advantageous condition of use of the cooking hob object of the present invention;
figure 7 represents in a schematic manner the same portion of a kitchen in figure 2, in a second particularly advantageous condition of use of the cooking hob object of the present invention;
figure 8 represents in a schematic manner the same portion of a kitchen of the previous figures, in a third particularly advantageous condition of use of the cooking hob object of the present invention;
figure 9 represents in a schematic manner the same portion of a kitchen of the previous figures, in a further particularly advantageous condition of use of the cooking hob object of the present invention.

With reference to figure 1 a portion of a kitchen is represented, constituted by four units placed side by side; such units, indicated with the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, are of standard dimensions, in the sense that their dimensions of encumbrance with regards the width result in being 600 mm, and can eventually be equipped with floor based electric appliances. The units are placed side by side so as that their superior surfaces determine a work top, indicated with the number 9, on which, in correspondence with unit 2 a cooking hob 5 has been fitted, for example being of the dimensions 580 x 500 mm. On the same work top, in correspondence with units 3 and 4, a sink-unit has been fitted, indicated with the number 6 in its entirety and comprising a sink 7 and a draining board 8.
In forecast of installing a cooking hob, therefore, the unit 2 has been supplied with a standard aperture for the particular type of cooking hob, being of the dimensions 555 x 475 mm (the same is so for unit 4, in which the sink 7 of the sink-unit has been fitted).
The cooking hob 10 is a normal cooking hob, of the type with four burners which can be installed on a single unit of 600 mm; as can be seen in the figure its width is less than that of the unit 2, and can not be otherwise due to the previous cited dimensions.
Furthermore, in the illustrated case, the cooking hob 5 and the sink-unit 6 are not adjacent, leading to an undesirable aesthetic effect, as between the cooking hob 5 and the sink-unit 6 a useless space has been created and, in the case of a work top being of the overall length not being provided, the contact points between the units 1, 2 and 3 would remain visible.
The successive figure 2 shows the same portion of the kitchen in figure 1, constituted by the same units 1, 2, 3 and 4; in this case, however, the units 3 and 4 house the sink-unit 10 being of major dimensions to the previous, comprising two sinks 11 and 12 and a draining board 13.
As can be seen the dimensions of the sink-unit 10 are superior to that of the sink-unit 6, so as that the draining board 13 also projects over unit 2.
It is clear that in such a situation a traditional cooking hob could not be fitted on unit 2, that would eventually have to be fitted on unit 1 (only partially illustrated); due to the reduced size of modern rooms it may not be easy to sacrifice the useful space of unit 2.
As has been seen, in fact, the tolerance of installation and the width of the various parts of interest would not allow for the installation of a traditional cooking hob.
The person installing the kitchen could eventually adapt the existing aperture, but such an operation is rather inconvenient, as it requires attention and leads to an overall increase of the installation time and costs.
Figure 3 makes a comparison between a cooking hob of the known type and a cooking hob according to the present invention.
In such figure a unit 33 is represented being identical to those illustrated in the previous figures, to which an aperture 36 of standard dimensions has been provided, of the type mentioned several times above.
Number 5 indicates a traditional cooking hob, while 30 indicates a cooking hob realised according to the details of the present invention.
As can be clearly seen, also with the use of the vertical dotted lines, in relation to the dimensions of the unit and the aperture utilised, the cooking hob 30 has a surface area much more useful with respect the traditional cooking hob 5. It is also to be noted that the size of the surface area of the hob 30 is such to eventually cover the joints of the work top 9 and the adjacent units and it is also to be noted that the cassette 32 of the hob 30 has a notable tolerance with respect the instalment inside the aperture 36.
The same is not true however for the cooking hob 5, whose cassette 25 is inserted with a minimum tolerance in the aperture 36 (actually, as has been mentioned, the total tolerance varies in the specific case from 0 to 5 millimetres).
The hob 5 must necessarily be fitted in the way illustrated in figures 1 and 2, and therefore the tolerances are such to not allow for solving the cited problems with reference to such figures.
Moreover, the fact that the surface area of the hob 5 exceeds the dimensions of the aperture by only 12,5 millimetres per part ((580-555)/2) determines the fact that the eventual operation of adapting an aperture of standard dimensions should be carried out with the maximum care: an exaggerated manual enlargement of the standard aperture 36 would in fact lead to perceivable and rather unpleasant aesthetic consequences (in reality, by enlarging the aperture too much towards the right would create the risk of making it visible to the left, once the hob 5 has been installed).
Vice versa, the surface area of the hob 30 is far superior and it extends to two lateral units 34 and 35. This also allows for the possibility of various intermediate fixings, as its cassette 32 is inserted within the aperture 21 with a significant tolerance.
Such a fact therefore allows for choosing various positions based on various needs, that are practically realised in the possibility of moving by choice towards left or right the cooking hob in its entirety.
Once the ideal position has been established, the hob 30 will be easily fixed, using analogous fixing methods as for traditional cooking hobs.
The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the successive figure 4, that represents sectioned and plan views of a cooking plan according to the present invention, in two of the different and particularly advantageous conditions of use.
In part A of the figure number 30 indicates the cooking hob according to the present invention, in which a superior surface 31 can be noticed and a base or cassette 32; with 33 a unit of standard dimensions for kitchens being of 600 millimetres is indicated; with 34 and 35 two adjacent units are indicated; with 36 a typical aperture of standard dimensions for a unit of 600 mm is indicated.
In the case illustrated as an example, the overall width L of the of the hob 30 is equal to 680 mm, the width S of the relative aperture 36 is 555 mm, the width I of the cassette 32 is 494 mm. Such advantageous dimensions allow for obtaining:

a total installation tolerance of 61 mm, i.e. of 30.5 on each side, in comparison with the total tolerance of 0 to 5 mm of the traditional cooking hobs;
the surface area 31 being superior to that of the cassette 32 by 186 mm, i.e. 93 mm on each side (differences P and P'), in comparison with the difference of 15 mm on each side of the traditional cooking hobs.

In this section of the figure the cooking hob 30 is perfectly centralised with respect the aperture 36 and as can be seen the eventual contact points between the units 33, 34 and 35 would be completely covered (an analogous situation is illustrated in figure 9).
The further advantages of the proposed dimensioning become clear from the successive part B of figure 4, where the same reference numbers and symbols have been kept, in such section the edge of a standard sink-unit 40 fitted on unit 35, has also been indicated.
The sink-unit is indicated with the reference number 6 (as the situation is similar to that illustrated in figure 1) and in this case a cooking hob would determine a useless space and an un-pleasant view of the contact points between the units 33, 34 and 35.
Vice versa, the hob 30 could be fixed in the most advantageous manner: i.e. the cooking hob is fixed so as that its surface area 31 be adjacent to the edge 40 of the sink-unit 6, with the unquestionable aesthetic effect, also in consideration of the fact that joints between the units are covered (by the portions corresponding to the differences P and P').
In section C of the same figure 4 and in figure 5 a particularly advantageous method of implementation of the cooking hob according to the invention is illustrated, on the base of which the heating elements 50, electric and/or gas, bild on a triangular figure; for determining on the right hand side a substantial space (of approximately 300 mm) that can advantageously be used as a support.
It is also possible to note the method in which the cassette 32 has been reduced with respect the surface area 31.
The reduced dimensions of the cassette do not however effect in any way the characteristics of the cooking hob; the same, that also has five heating elements with respect to the traditional four, could even be provided with six, being of various diameters.
In the same figure a grill of particular advantageous conception is illustrated; in the specific case, the cooking hob 30 is supplied with a triangular shaped grill, divided in three distinctive parts 60, 61 and 62, that result in being of dimensions greatly reduced with respect to the traditional ones. Each part is pivoted on a bar 59 that longitudinally extends the posterior part of the cooking hob 30. The bar 59 has an elongated sectioned form, for example elliptical or shaped as a "D". The means for pivoting the grill are obtained through a series of "C" shaped hooks 63, being integral with the parts (60, 61 and 62) of the grill that are hooked over the bar 59 so as to allow for the rotation of the grill in order to raise it, as in the case illustrated in the figure with the part 61, for allowing a rapid cleaning of the hob 30. The same parts 60, 61 and 62 can also be extracted from the hob, thus allowing for them to be cleaned. In particular, when each part is raised to a determined point, i.e. when in a practically perpendicular position with respect the hob, the user can remove it due to the fact that in such a position the extremities of the hooks 63 are positioned in relation to the minimum section of the bar 59, that being of minor dimensions of the free space between the extremities of the hooks 63, does not create any difficulties whatsoever in their removal.
In this way it is possible to remove the grill in a very easy manner, as the three parts that constitute the grill are of reduced dimensions, it is more than possible to find room for them inside a normal domestic dish washer, with the aims of washing them.
The successive figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate very clearly the way in which the cooking hob according to the present invention solves the problems that are the basis of the innovative idea.
In particular in figure 6 the cooking hob according to the present invention, schematically represented, is indicated with the reference number 30 and is positioned in a manner that allows for solving the problems that have been cited in reference to figure 1. In particular it can be seen that the hob 30 and the sink-unit 6 are perfectly adjacent between themselves and the contact points between the units 1, 2, 3 and 4 are covered (the situation is analogous of that represented in part B of figure 4).
In figure 7, that uses in part the same references of the previous figure, the cooking hob 30 is positioned in such a manner so as to solve the problems cited in reference to figure 2. In particular it can be seen that the cooking hob 30 can be installed on unit 2 even in the presence of a portion of the sink-unit 10, that the hob 30 and the sink-unit are perfectly adjacent between themselves and that even in this case the contact points between the units 1, 2, 3 and 4 would be covered on the work top 9.
The successive figure 8, illustrates a further advantageous positioning of the cooking hob according to the present invention, in the case where it is desired to be perfectly positioned against the side wall 60 of the last unit 4 of the series.
Finally, figure 9 illustrates the case in which the cooking hob 30 is perfectly installed in the centre of unit 3 (such situation is therefore analogous to that illustrated with (reference to figure 4).
From the present description the characteristics of the cooking hob and the grill according to the present invention result in being clear; also clear are the advantages of such.
In particular they are represented by:

the possibility to install, in apertures of standard dimensions of a singular unit of 600 mm, a cooking hob with a surface area considerably superior to that of traditional cooking hobs provided for being fixed in the same type of unit;
the fact that the installation and fixing of the cooking hob can be carried out easily, using the same procedures according to known techniques, however with major ease;
that a number of various positioning possibilities of the cooking hob are allowed, according to the aesthetic and functional necessities;
the cooking hob can easily be placed side by side other elements arranged on the work top of the adjacent units being part of the kitchen;
the contact points between the unit to which the hob is fixed and the adjacent unit can always be covered, independently of the chosen position;
the same cooking hob can advantageously have a useful area, that can be utilised as a support for various necessities;
the described hob of having a major width can substitute a traditional hob of the same type, i.e. destined to be fixed in a unit of 600 mm, without the necessity of having to modify the existing aperture, or having to dismantle the unit or carry out interventions on it;
the described grill is very manageable in its use, easily removed from the cooking hob for cleaning, for example utilising a normal domestic dish washing machine; with this in mind it is to be noted that due to the fact that the grill is divided into distinct parts of reduced dimensions, the introduction in any domestic dish washing machine of which results in being easy, in fact placing them in the supports destined for plates and in any case not causing an encumbrance of the internal space available so as to force the user to carry out a wash only for such grills.

The aesthetic effect of the kitchen is improved and that a cooking hob as the type described, i.e. of large dimensions, can be advantageously positioned even in kitchens of reduced dimensions in which it is important to take full advantage of the space available.
The turn-on commands for the heating elements could be placed differently with respect the method described and illustrated, for instance in a line along the anterior side of the hob. Furthermore, for instance, the described cooking hob could have the same depth as the standard units.

Claims

Kitchen unit, comprising a cabinet (33), being of a standard dimension, and a cooking hob (30) of the type destined to be fitted in a standard aperture (36) existing in the superior surface of the cabinet, its overall width (L) being superior to the width (S) of said standard aperture of said cabinet (33), characterized in that the base (32) of said cooking hob (30) is of dimensions substantially inferior with respect to the dimensions of the standard aperture (36), the ratios between said overall width (L), the width (S) of said standard aperture and the width (I) of said base (32) being such that they allow the positioning of the cooking hob (30) in a number of positions, without uncovering said aperture, among which a position where at one side the cooking hob edge does not overhang the cabinet side, according to the installation requirements.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that said standard aperture (36) is an aperture for cooking hobs up to 600 mm in size.
Kitchen unit, according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that, independently from the position chosen for the cooking hob, the contact points between the cabinet on the which the cooking hob has been installed and adjacent cabinet or cabinets are covered by the surface area of the cooking hob.
Kitchen unit, according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the overall width (L) of said cooking hob (30) is superior to 600 millmetres, and in particular of 680 millimetres.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that the relationship between the width (I) of the base (32) and the overall width (L) of said cooking hob (30) is equal to approximately 0,7.
Kitchen unit, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the width (S) of said aperture (36) is comprised between 550 and 555 millimetres.
Kitchen unit, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the heating elements (50) of said cooking hob (30) are arranged on the surface (31) within a substantially triangular shaped area.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that it comprises a grill and that said heating elements (50) and said grill are arranged in a such a way so as that approximately a quarter of the surface (31) of said cooking hob (30) is free and can be utilised as a support.
Kitchen unit, according to at least one of the previous claims, comprising a grill characterised by the fact that said grill is divided into at least two sections (60, 61, 62) each of which removable from the cooking apparatus and being of dimensions that easily allow for them to be inserted, for cleaning purposes, in any domestic dish washer.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that each of the separate sections (60, 61, 62) of said grill are pivoted to the cooking apparatus in such a way so as that they can be selectively raised for the cleaning of the underlying surface (31).
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that each of the separate sections (60, 61, 62) are pivoted to an element (59).
Kitchen unit, according to claim 11, characterised by the fact that said grill is of a substantially triangular shape.
Kitchen unit, according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that said separate sections (60, 61, 62) are removable from the cooking apparatus when rised to a determined position.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that said determined position is achieved when said sections (60, 61, 62) are substantially raised perpendicularly with respect the superior surface of the cooking apparatus.
Kitchen unit, according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that a longitudinal element (59) is provided to which hooking means (63) are pivoted being integrated to said grill that allows for its raising to enable the cleaning of the underlying surface.
Kitchen unit, according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that said hooking means comprise a hook (63) in the form of a circular section that is pivoted to said longitudinal element (59).
Kitchen unit, according to claim 15 or 16, characterised by the fact that said longitudinal element (59) has an elongated section.