EP1748257A2

EP1748257A2 - Oven shelf rail arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1748257A2
Application number: EP06445058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Göran Dalvander
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2005-07-29
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2007-01-31
Also published as: SE529002C2; SE0501753L

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oven shelf rail arrangement, which is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity. The oven shelf rail arrangement according to the invention comprises a fixed rail, for supporting an extractable oven shelf along a side wall of an oven cavity. The fixed rail comprises a longitudinal strip portion, and a fastening lug provided at the strip portion. The strip portion and the fastening lug are integral along a bending line and the fastening lug is bent over the bending line such that the fastening lug projects from the strip portion. The fastening lug is positioned such that the fastening lug is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, whereby the oven shelf rail arrangement is connectable to the carrier structure.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oven shelf rail arrangement, which is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, for guiding an extractable oven shelf; an oven shelf support assembly comprising such an oven shelf rail arrangement; and an oven comprising such an oven shelf support assembly.

Background Art

Ovens for treating food, for example ovens for domestic ranges, are normally equipped with a support structure for one or several oven shelves, such as baking plates, gridirons or the like, at different levels therein. The shelves are usually movable in and out of the oven.
For obtaining good cooking results, it is desirable to allow air in the oven cavity to circulate. Some ovens are for this purpose equipped with fans. In this context it is advantageous if air can pass between an inserted oven shelf and the side walls of an oven cavity. In that case, more evenly heated air will surround an oven shelf on all sides thereof. Furthermore, if food is placed on several different shelves at different levels in the oven, more even results between food on the different levels are achievable with proper circulation. Consequently, it is favourable to mount the oven shelves such that the edges thereof are sufficiently spaced from the side walls. Furthermore, an oven shelf loaded with food may have a considerable weight. Thus it is desired that the oven shelves are supported spaced from their edges towards the centre. Otherwise the bending forces exerted on a support flange of an oven shelf may cause the flange to collapse.
Therefore, it is known to provide support ledges which are mountable to support arrangements mounted in an oven cavity. In W02005/003636 A1 such a support assembly for supporting oven shelves in an oven is shown. The support assembly comprises a pair of rails for carrying an oven shelf along the side edges thereof and a pair of rail supports, which each are to be mounted to one side wall of an oven cavity. The rail support comprises a frame of two vertical and several horizontal rods of metal. The frame is mounted at a distance from the side wall to allow circulation of air. In order to support the oven shelves at a suitable distance from their side edges, the rails are attached to the vertical rods by fastening elements. The fastening elements are constructed as a U-shaped brackets of metallic rod. The leg portions of the U-shaped bracket are connected to a vertical rod and the interconnecting portion is connected to a rail.
According to one embodiment described in the document, the rails have a U-shaped cross section arranged such that the opening faces the interior of the oven cavity. An oven shelf inserted between the flanges of two opposing rails is supported by the lower flange and is prevented from tipping over during insertion and extraction by the upper flanges.
According to another embodiment described in the document, the rails are telescopic rails comprising an inner rail element, an outer rail element, and optionally one or several intermediate rail elements, wherein the outer rail element is connected to the rail support by the fastening element. An oven shelf can be placed on a pair of inner rail elements and is extracted and inserted from the oven cavity together with the inner rail elements. Telescopic rails have the advantage that the oven shelf is supported also in a position essentially outside of the oven cavity.
A problem with this known device is that it is difficult to produce the U-shaped fastening element and to correctly align the U-shaped fastening element for mounting within the necessary close tolerances. An incorrect length of the legs of the U or a slightly oblique positioning of the U may result in an incorrect positioning of the rail. Thereby, the distance between the support surfaces of two opposing rails may be out of the tolerance range or the rails may be mounted sloping. If on one hand, the distance is too big, an oven shelf may slip of one of the rails. Since the food on the shelf may be very hot, a person could be seriously burned if the shelf slips off the rail and the food falls over a part of the body. If, on the other hand, the distance between the support surfaces of two opposing rails is too small, the shelves may jam when extracted from or inserted in the oven. Furthermore, if the rail supporting an oven shelf with food is sloping, the food will slide on the shelf and gather at one end thereof, which may influence the cooking result in a bad way.

Summary of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an oven shelf rail arrangement that alleviates the above-mentioned problems.
According to the invention this object is solved by an oven shelf arrangement according to claim 1.
An oven shelf rail arrangement according the invention, which is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, comprises
a fixed rail, for supporting an extractable oven shelf along a side wall of an oven cavity, which fixed rail comprises
a longitudinal strip portion, and
a fastening lug provided at the strip portion, wherein
the strip portion and the fastening lug are integral along a bending line,
the fastening lug is bent over the bending line such that the fastening lug projects from the strip portion, and wherein
the fastening lug is positioned such that the fastening lug is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, whereby the oven shelf rail arrangement is connectable to the carrier structure.
Due to the fastening lug being integral with the strip portion along a bending line, the position and orientation thereof in relation to the strip portion is very exact. Furthermore, the projecting length of such a lug will be well defined. Due to the fastening lug being integral with the fixed rail and due to that the intermediate fastening element of the prior art can be dispensed with, it is only necessary to align the fixed rail once for connecting it to the carrier structure. Consequently, a more exact and yet simplified way to produce a fastening means for a rail arrangement and to connect a rail arrangement having such a fastening means to a carrier structure is achieved. Thus, the tolerance limits regarding the alignment and positioning of the rail arrangements are easier maintained.
The invention relates to a rail arrangement for supporting an oven shelf along a side wall of an oven cavity. The oven is an oven for treating food, for example baking. The oven can be an oven for domestic use or for commercial use such as in a restaurant kitchen. According to the invention the oven may be a self-contained unit or a part of a cooking range also including hot plates or the like. The oven may be heated by a heater element, hot air or any other suitable means.
In this application the expression "oven shelf" is intended to cover any device intended to be supported along the side walls of an oven cavity for either directly carrying food thereon or for carrying a food receptacle. Examples of oven shelves are baking plates, gridirons, roasting pans and the like.
Normally a pair of rail arrangements are mounted in an oven cavity for, in a certain level, carrying an oven shelf along the side edges thereof. The shelves are usually movable in and out of the oven, wherein they slide on the rail arrangements or rest on a slidable part of the rail arrangements. The rail arrangement according to the invention comprises a fixed rail, which is adapted to either directly support an oven shelf, wherein the oven shelf can slide on the fixed rail, or to support an intermediate part, for example a running rail, wherein the intermediate part is adapted to receive an oven shelf and wherein the intermediate part can slide on the fixed rail. Consequently, when the rail arrangement is mounted in an oven cavity, the fixed rail is not movable relative the oven cavity.
The fixed rail according to the invention includes a longitudinal strip portion. Normally the fixed rail includes an essentially straight beam/girder having, along a major part of its length, a constant cross section. Then the strip portion is an essentially band shaped web portion of the beam/girder of the fixed rail.
According to the invention, a tab or tongue in the form of a fastening lug is provided at the strip portion. The fastening lug is integral with the strip portion and made from the same piece of material as the strip portion, wherein the lug is joined with the strip portion along a bending line. The fastening lug is bent over the bending line such that it projects from one of the main surfaces of the strip portion. Consequently, the lug is formed of a bent piece of material of the strip potion.
The position, dimension and orientation of the lug at the strip portion is adapted to a fit a corresponding carrier structure mounted at a side wall of an oven cavity. The rail arrangement according to the invention is connectable to a corresponding carrier structure by connection of the lug of the fixed rail with the carrier structure.
According to the invention, the lug can be fastened to the carrier structure in any suitable manner, for example by screws, rivets or glue. The lug can be provided with a through hole for cooperation with a screw or rivet. If the strip potion with the lug and the carrier structure are of a suitable material such as metal, the lug can be fastened to the carrier structure by welding.
Usually all parts of the fixed rail are of the same material, although it is possible to provide a fixed rail comprising a strip portion and a lug of one material with parts of other materials.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixed rail is a beam of metal.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the strip portion, along a longitudinal edge, is provided with a flange for supporting an oven shelf. The flange can support the oven shelf directly or via an intermediate part mounted on the flange of the fixed rail. According to the invention, the fixed rail can also support an oven shelf on the longitudinal edge of the strip portion without a flange. In this embodiment of the invention, the oven shelf is intended to be supported by the fixed rail in a plane essentially perpendicular to the main surface of the strip portion.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the lug is partially separated from the strip portion along a cutting line. The lug can be made from the strip portion by cutting along a cutting line partially encircling the lug and thereafter bending the lug over the bending line. According to one embodiment of the invention, the lug is made by punching, wherein the punch cuts along the cutting line and bends over the bending line in one and the same stroke. After the lug has been bent over the bending line, a hole is left in the strip portion having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the lug. In processing, cutting and bending can be performed very exactly, thus a fastening lug having very exact position, dimensions and orientation can be provided. Furthermore, material is saved by using the material of the strip portion for the lug.
According to the invention, the lug can have any suitable size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, the lug is rectangular, wherein one of the short sides coincides with the bending line. The lug may project essentially perpendicular from the strip portion. In this embodiment it is particularly easy to calculate the size an position of the lug to give the correct position of the rail arrangement when connected to a certain carrier structure.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the bending line is arranged transversally on the strip portion. A lug having such an orientation relative the strip portion is better suited to transmit forces, such as bending forces, from the load of an oven shelf to a carrier structure at a side wall of an oven cavity.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the rail arrangement further comprises a running rail, wherein the fixed rail and the running rail together form a telescopic rail. The running rail is mounted to the fixed rail such that the running rail can slide relative the fixed rail. The running rail is adapted to carry an extractable oven shelf between a position inside the oven cavity and a position essentially outside of the oven cavity. The lug according to the invention is particularly advantageous when included in a rail arrangement in the form of a telescopic rail, since telescopic rails are sensitive to exact positioning when mounted in an oven cavity. If the telescopic rail is not correctly positioned and aligned, it may not be able to support the load of an oven shelf in its extracted position. If the telescopic rail is subjected to uneven loads due to oblique positioning, it may jam. These problems are essentially reduced with the lug according to the invention.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the rail arrangement is connected to a carrier structure, wherein the rail arrangement and the carrier structure form an oven shelf support assembly which is mountable in an oven cavity.
According to one embodiment of the support assembly, the carrier structure and the fixed rail with the lug are of metal and the lug is welded to the support structure. Due to the flat surface of the lug, the lug provides a suitable welding point.
According to one embodiment of the support assembly, the carrier structure includes a frame of metal rods that extend in vertical and horizontal directions when the frame is mounted to a side wall of an oven cavity. According to one embodiment, the lug is welded to a vertical rod of the metal frame. Due to the surface of the lug bearing against the rod, the lug provides a torsional strong joint for transmitting the forces from a loaded oven shelf to the frame.
According to one embodiment of the support assembly, the lug projects past the carrier structure. The projecting length of the lug is chosen such that the distal end of the lug, when the support assembly is mounted in an oven cavity, will abut against a side wall of the oven cavity. Thus, the distance between a surface supporting an oven shelf of the rail arrangement to the side wall of the oven cavity will be exactly defined. In addition, a very rigid construction and mounting is achieved.
Due to the lug according to the invention, the process of producing the support assembly is easily adjustable for positioning the rail arrangement at different positions. It is only necessary to adjust the fixture, which holds the rail arrangements during connection with the carrier structure during mounting.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a pair of oven shelf assemblies are mounted in an oven cavity, one at each side wall thereof, such that two opposing rail arrangements define a plane for supporting an extractable oven shelf. The carrier structure can be mounted at the side wall in any suitable manner. The carrier structure can be permanently or removable connected at the side wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention may be performed in many different ways, and by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first embodiment of a fixed rail of an oven shelf rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a second embodiment of a fixed rail of an oven shelf rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 5 and 6 are perspective views of a third embodiment of a fixed rail of an oven shelf rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a rail arrangement according to the invention in form of a telescopic rail;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the telescopic rail according to Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an oven shelf support arrangement including a rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the first oven shelf support arrangement according to Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an oven shelf support arrangement including a rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the oven shelf support arrangement according to Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an oven including an oven shelf support having a rail arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the oven according to Fig. 13.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to Fig. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a rail arrangement according to the invention is shown. The rail arrangement includes a fixed rail 1. The fixed rail has a web portion in the form of a strip portion 2. The strip portion 2 is provided with a flange 3 along each longitudinal edge thereof. The flanges 3 are arranged essentially perpendicular to the strip potion 2.
The strip portion 2 is provided with two projecting fastening lugs 4, one near each end. The lugs 4 project essentially perpendicular from the strip portion 2. Each fastening lug 4 is integral with the strip portion 2 at a bending line 5. The strip portion 2, the flanges 3 and the lugs 4 are made from a common blank of metal. The lugs 4 are partially separated from the strip portion 2 along a cutting line 6 and formed of a bent piece of material of the strip potion 2. The cutting line 6 is located at a distance from the edges of the strip portion 2. Consequently, there are holes 7 in the strip portion behind the bending lines corresponding to the form of the lugs 4. The lugs 4 have a rectangular shape and they are bent over one of the short sides. The bending lines 5 are linear and extend transversally on the strip portion 2.
The fixed rail 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention has a U-shaped cross section throughout the length thereof, except for the cross sections at the lugs 4.
When the rail arrangement is mounted in an oven cavity, either one of the flanges 3 can be used as a support surface for an oven shelf or for an intermediate part carrying an oven shelf. Thus, the oven shelf is intended to be supported by the fixed rail 1 in a plane essentially perpendicular to the main surface of the strip portion 2. The lugs 4, the flanges 3 and the strip portion extend essentially in planes perpendicular to each other.
In Fig. 3 and 4, a second embodiment of a fixed rail is shown. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the fastening lugs 4 are arranged at the end of the fixed rail 1. In this embodiment, the lugs 4 are not cut out from the strip portion 2 within the edges thereof, but the lugs 4 are integral with the strip portion 2 at the bending lines 5. As in the first embodiment, the lugs 4, the flanges 3 and the strip portion are integral and made from the same piece of metal. In this embodiment, the bending of the lugs 4 will not leave a hole in the strip portion 2.
In Fig. 5 and 6, a third embodiment of a fixed rail according to the invention is shown. The third embodiment of the fixed rail 1 differs from the first embodiment in that the strip portion 2 is provided with only on flange at a longitudinal edge thereof. Consequently, the fixed rail has a L-shaped cross section throughout the length thereof, except for the cross sections at the lugs 4. The flange 3 can be used as a support surface for an oven shelf when the rail arrangement is mounted in an oven cavity.
In Figs. 7 and 8, a rail arrangement in the form of a telescopic rail is shown. The telescopic rail includes a fixed rail 1 and a running rail 8, wherein the fixed rail 1 is similar to the fixed rail 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The fixed rail 1 of the telescopic rail is provided with only one lug 4 and has differently shaped flanges 3 compared to the fixed rail 1 of Figs. 1 and 2.
The running rail 8 has, as the fixed rail 1, an essentially U-shaped cross section. The running rail 8 is arranged on the fixed rail 1 such that the openings of the U:s face each other, wherein the flanges 9 of the running rail 8 extend over the flanges 3 of the fixed rail 1.
The running rail 8 is slidably arranged on the fixed rail 1 by means of a bearing arrangement in the form of ball bearings 10. The flanges 3, 9 of the fixed rail 1 and the running rail 8 respectively, are shaped to receive the balls of the ball bearings 10.
The in use upper flange 9 of the running rail is provided with a curved support surface 18 for an oven shelf, cf. Figs. 13 and 14. The upper flange 9 is further provided with a pin 11 for being received in a recess in an oven shelf such that the oven shelf is prevented from sliding on the running rail 8. Finally, the upper flange 9 is provided with a rear abutment element 12 for cooperation with an oven shelf.
In Figs. 9 and 10, a first embodiment of an oven shelf support assembly according to the invention is shown. The support assembly includes several rail arrangements each having a fixed rail 1 of the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The fixed rails 1 are connected to a carrier structure comprising two, spaced parallel rods 13 of metal. The lugs 4 of the fixed rail 1 are welded to the rods 13. The distal end of each lug 4 extends past the thickness of the corresponding rod 13. Each rod 13 is provided with a hook portion 14 for fastening the support arrangement to a side wall of an oven cavity.
In Figs. 11 and 12 a second embodiment of an oven shelf support assembly according to the invention is shown. The support assembly includes several rail arrangements in form of telescopic rails described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. The support assembly includes a carrier structure including two spaced, parallel first rods 13 and several spaced, parallel second rods 15. The rods 13, 15 are of metal. The second rods 15 are connected with the first rods at their ends such that they extend perpendicular to the first rods 13. Each telescopic rail is connected to the carrier structure by the lug 4 of the fixed rail 1 being welded to one of the first rods 13. The other one of the first rods 13 is connected with the strip portion 2 of the fixed rail of each telescopic rail. The support surface 18 of the running rails are arranged parallel with each other and with the second rods 15. One of the second rods 15 is provided with a hook portion 14 at each end for fastening the support arrangement to a side wall of an oven cavity.
In Figs. 13 and 14 an oven having an oven cavity 16 and an oven shelf support assembly according to the second embodiment, which is described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12, mounted at each side wall 17 is shown, wherein only one support assembly is visible in the Figures. In Figs. 13 and 14 also an oven shelf 19 is shown.
With reference mainly to Figs. 11 - 14, an oven shelf support assembly according to the second embodiment can be produced and mounted in an oven cavity in the following way.
The rods 13, 15 for the carrier structure are cut and bent from long strings of metal. Thereafter the carrier structure is assembled by aligning the rods 13, 15 relative each other and welding the second rods 15 to the first rods 13.
Each fixed rail 1 of the telescopic rails is produced from a girder having the desired length and U-shaped cross section. The lug 4 is provided at one end of the strip portion 2 by cutting along the cutting line 6 and bending the lug over the bending line 5 by hitting the strip portion 2 with a punch.
Thereafter, the fixed rails 1 and the carrier structure are aligned and positioned for connection. The lug 4 of each fixed rail 1 is welded to one of the first rods 13 and the other first rod 13 is welded to the strip portions 2.
In the next step, the carrier structure with the fixed rails 1 are chromium-plated.
Then, the running rails and the ball bearings are mounted to the fixed rails and secured relative each other in a conventional way, wherein the support assembly is completed.
Finally, the hook portion 14 of the support assembly is inserted in a corresponding recess in the side wall 17 of the oven cavity 16. A second support assembly is assembled in the same way and mounted on the other side wall 17 (not shown) to provide support for an oven shelf 19 along both side edges thereof.
With reference mainly to Fig. 14, an oven shelf support assembly according to the second embodiment functions in the following way when mounted in an oven cavity 16.
The distal end of the lug 4 of each telescopic rail abuts against the side wall 17 of the oven cavity. Since the orientation and projecting length of the lug is very exact, the support surface 18 of the running rail 8 is positioned very exactly in the oven cavity. This means that the distance between the oven wall 17 and the support surface 18, and the distance between the first rod 13 connected with the lug 4 and the support surface 18, are defined very exactly. Consequently, an oven shelf 19 can be supported a suitable distance from the oven wall and at the same time, the edges of the oven shelf 19 are guided in both sideway directions by the first rods 13 connected with the lugs 4. Thereby the shelf 19 is prevented from sliding sideways during extraction or insertion, which can give an impression of bad quality. In addition, the abutment of the lugs 4 against the oven side wall 17, provides a very rigid mounting. Furthermore, the oven shelf 19 is supported spaced from its outer edges which is advantageous in respect of the loads to be carried.
The bending line 5 of each lug 4 extends transversally on the strip portion such that the lug 4 extends in a plane perpendicular to both the strip portion and the plane of the supported oven shelf 19. Furthermore, each lug 4 bears against a first rod 13. This results in a torsional rigid connection between the rail arrangement and the carrier structure which is suitable to transmit the loads from an oven shelf 19.
As can best be seen in Figs 12 and 14, the rear first rod 13 is positioned closer to the centre of the oven cavity 16 than the first rod 13 being connected to the lugs 4. As described above, the fixed rail of each telescopic rail is connected to the rear first rod 13 at the strip portion. Thereby, the rear first rod 13, will function as rear stop for an oven shelf 19 when the oven shelf 19 is inserted into the oven cavity 16.
When it is desired to place an oven shelf in the oven cavity, the oven shelf 19 is inserted into the oven and placed on the support surface 18 of the running rail 8. Therein the oven shelf 19 abuts against the rear abutment element 12 and the pin 11 is inserted in a recess in the oven shelf 19. In the furthest inserted position of the oven shelf, the rear edge thereof will abut against the rear first rod 13.
Thereafter, the oven shelf can be moved in and out of the oven cavity 16 carried by the running rail 8, which is arranged slidably on the fixed rail 1. Therein the oven shelf 19 is guided in the sideway direction by the first rod 13, which is connected to the lugs 4.

Claims

An oven shelf rail arrangement, which is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, comprises
a fixed rail, for supporting an extractable oven shelf along a side wall of an oven cavity, which fixed rail comprises
a longitudinal strip portion, and
a fastening lug provided at the strip portion, wherein
the strip portion and the fastening lug are integral along a bending line,
the fastening lug is bent over the bending line such that the fastening lug projects from the strip portion, and wherein
the fastening lug is positioned such that the fastening lug is connectable to a carrier structure arranged at a side wall of an oven cavity, whereby the oven shelf rail arrangement is connectable to the carrier structure.
The rail arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fastening lug is partially separated from the strip portion along a cutting line.
The rail arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the bending line and the cutting line are located spaced from the edges of the strip portion.
The rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein the bending line of the fastening lug is linear and arranged transversally on the strip portion.
The rail arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the fastening lug essentially has the shape of a rectangle, and wherein the bending line of the fastening lug is one of the sides of the rectangle.
The rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the fastening lug extends essentially perpendicular from the strip portion.
The rail arrangement according to any claims 1 - 6, wherein at least the fixed rail is of metal such that welding of the fastening lug to a support structure of metal is enabled.
The rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein the strip portion, along a longitudinal edge thereof, is provided with a flange for supporting an extractable oven shelf.
The rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein the strip portion, along both longitudinal edges thereof, is provided with a flange.
The rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 7, further comprising a running rail for carrying an extractable oven shelf between a position essentially inside of an oven cavity and a position essentially outside of an oven cavity, wherein the running rail is slidably mounted to the fixed rail.
The rail arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the fixed rail and the running rail have an essentially U-shaped cross section along a major part of the length thereof, the fixed rail and the running rail each include two flanges and an interconnecting portion, the fixed rail and the running rail are telescopically arranged relative each other such that the flanges of the running rail extend over the flanges of the fixed rail and openings of the U:s face each other, the strip portion is formed in the interconnecting portion of the fixed rail, and wherein the fastening lug and the flanges of the fixed rail project at opposite sides of the interconnecting portion.
An oven shelf support assembly, comprising
a carrier structure which is mountable at a side wall of an oven cavity, and
an oven shelf rail arrangement according to any of claims 1 - 11, wherein the fastening lug is connected to the carrier structure.
The support assembly according to claim 12, wherein the fastening lug of the fixed rail of the rail arrangement has such a length and is connected with the carrier structure such that a distal end of the fastening lug, when the carrier structure is mounted at a side wall of an oven cavity, abuts against the side wall for defining the distance of an oven shelf supporting part of the rail arrangement to the side wall.
The support assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the rail arrangement is connected to the carrier structure such that one longitudinal edge of the strip portion functions as oven shelf support.
The support assembly according to any of claims 12 - 14, wherein the carrier structure is of metal.
The support assembly according to claim 15, wherein the carrier structure includes a frame structure of metal rods and wherein the fastening lug of the rail arrangement is connected to a metal rod.
The support assembly according to claim 16, wherein the frame structure includes two spaced, parallel first rods and several spaced, parallel second rods, which second rods are connected with the first rods at their ends such that they extend perpendicular to the first rods, the fastening lug of the strip portion of the rail arrangement is connected to one of the first rods of the carrier structure, and wherein the longitudinal edge of the strip portion is positioned parallel with the second rods.
The support assembly according to claim 17, wherein the other one of the first rods is positioned in the frame structure such that, when the frame structure is mounted in an oven cavity, it is closer to centre of the oven cavity than the first rod connected to the lug, and wherein the strip portion of the fixed rail of the rail arrangement is connected to the other one of the first rods.
The support assembly according to any of claims 12 - 18, including several oven shelf rail arrangements according to any of claims 1 - 12, which are connected to the carrier structure.
An oven having an oven cavity and an oven shelf support assembly according to any of claims 12 - 19 mounted at each side wall of the oven cavity, such that two opposing rail arrangements will define a common plane for supporting an extractable oven shelf.
The oven according to claim 20, wherein the fastening lug of each rail arrangement abuts against the respective side wall of the oven cavity, defining the distance between an oven shelf supporting part of each of the two opposed rail arrangements.