EP1891377B1

EP1891377B1 - A cooking device with terminal box

Info

Publication number: EP1891377B1
Application number: EP06756127A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cemalettin Kalayci; Sadiye Gocer; Erol Karaer; Yalcin Yaman; Ihsan Arslantekin
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-13
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-13
Also published as: ATE519079T1; WO2006134556A3; EP1891377A2; WO2006134556A2; ES2368787T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking device with a stove top (1) comprising one or more heaters (7) , a plate (2) preferably of metal, on which the other components are situated, and a cooktop (6) mounted on this plate (2) so as to cover it, on which items to be heated are placed. A terminal box (3) is formed by forming the plate, e.g. by making cutouts and folding. The terminal box provides external access without the need of dismounting the stove top .

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a section wherein electrical connections are made.
In household appliances the areas where the electrical connections are made should be protected from outside influences as much as possible. In state-of-the-art, connection boxes, formed of a lid and a main frame, are utilized for insulating the electrical connections inside from the outside environment as much as possible. '
In the state-of-the-art, in the German Patent Application no. DE4304525 , a connecting terminal produced separately from the household appliance is mounted and fixed on a housing formed on the household appliance wall.
In another state-of-the-art, in the United States Patent Application no. US20030136780 , a description is given of a waterproof box inside which electrical connections are made.
Further a cooktop with terminal box is shown in US 3257543 . In cooking devices, there is a plate (M) on which the heaters (7) and the other parts (connection box, connection cable, gas conduit ducts, faucet etc.) are positioned. The plate (M) separates the space between the outside environment and the cooktop (6). The dimensions of this plate (6) are determined by certain standards, and all the electrical connections of the cooking device (1) are provided by way of the connection elements situated on this plate (M). After the connection elements or the connection boxes having connection elements inside are affixed on the plate (M) and the necessary connections are established, the cooktop (6) is mounted and fixed on the plate (M). In this case the connection elements by which the electrical connections are made are situated between the plate (M) and the cooktop (6) and in case of any malfunction, the cooktop (6) has to be separated from the plate (M). This procedure increases both the maintenance duration and the workmanship (Figure 1).
Furthermore, metal protective walls fitted afterwards on the plate (M), so as to encompass the connection elements all around, are utilized for protecting the connection elements from heat. This decreases the space between the plate (M) and the cooktop (6) and also increases costs and workmanship due to the utilization of additional components.
The aim of the present invention is to design a cooking device wherein the section of electrical connections on the plate can be accessed.
The features designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention are described in the claims.
In the cooking device of the present invention, a housing is formed on the section of the plate wherein the connection elements are to be positioned, by shaping the plate so that an indentation that extends into the space between the plate and the cooktop is formed. By way of this housing, a section is created in the space between the plate and the cooktop that is separated by the shaped section of the plate.
The connection elements are mounted on the shaped section of the plate that separates the housing from the space between the plate and the cooktop. Hence the connection elements are enabled to be minimally effected by all the adverse effects in the space between the plate and the cooktop.
In this embodiment, since the housing is formed by taking advantage of the space between the plate and the cooktop, the connection elements can be affixed on the plate without forming any elevations in the housing towards the outside.
The connection elements can be accessed from the outside without the necessity of separating the cooktop from the plate since the connection elements are mounted on the exterior surface of the plate extending into the space between the plate and the cooktop, differing from former state-of-the-art. Consequently the time and workmanship losses are minimized during maintenance services in case of a malfunction.
The housing is formed by way of implementing various shaping processes on the plate so that a portion of the plate extends into the space between the plate and the cooktop. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plate is shaped by way of implementing cutting and folding procedures. Consequently the plate can be easily shaped.
The housing is formed by cutting out two parallel strips from the plate and by bending the part in between into the space between the plate and the cooktop. The plate can be folded by way of the voids formed via cutouts.
Utilization of additional material is not necessary since the housing is formed by implementing cutouts and folding procedures on the existing plate.
Utilization of protective walls positioned all around the connection elements for protection from the adverse effects in the space between the plate and the cooktop of the conventional techniques is not necessary since the housing on which the connection elements are mounted is formed by shaping the plate. Consequently both the space between the plate and the cooktop can be utilized efficiently and the use of additional components, hence the costs incurred by using additional components is minimized.
The housing is covered by a lid that provides access into the housing in such a way that no protrusions are formed on the plate. Hence the connection and circuit elements positioned in the housing are not effected by the outside environment. Easy access to the connection elements positioned inside the housing is provided by only taking off this lid.
The cooking device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is shown in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the exploded view of a plate and a cooktop in conventional state-of the-art.
Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a plate before being shaped.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a housing when viewed from the bottom of the plate.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a housing when viewed from the top of the plate.
Figure 5 - is the bottom perspective view of a lid.
Figure 6 - is the top perspective view of a lid.
Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a housing and a lid on the housing when viewed from the bottom of the plate.
Figure 8 - is the perspective view of a housing and a lid on the housing when viewed from the top of the plate.
Figure 9 - is the detail view of the partial section of the housing.
The elements shown in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooking device
2. Plate
3. Housing
4. Lid
5. Wall
6. Cooktop
7. Heater
8. Cable hole
9. Slit

The cooking device (1) comprises one or more heaters (7) that implement the heating process, a plate (2), preferably of metal, on which the other components (connection elements, circuit elements, connection cable, gas conduit ducts, faucet etc.) are positioned and a cooktop (6) mounted on this plate (2) so as to cover it, on which items to be heated are placed.
The plate (2) comprises a housing (3) that extends into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6), forming an additional space by being separated via the shaped portion of the plate (2), providing external access to connection elements situated on it without the need to dismount the cooktop (6) from the plate (2).
The connection elements are mounted on the housing (3) that is separated from the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6).
The cooking device (1) comprises a lid (4) mounted on to cover the housing (3) so that the connections are not effected by the outside environment (Figure 5 and Figure 6). In this case, access to the connection elements is allowed by displacing the lid (4) from the housing (3).
The housing (3) inside which the circuit and connection elements are situated, is designed by forming a concave surface on the plate (2), extending into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6), by way of shaping processes. When a problem arises in the circuit elements or the connection elements, access is possible without the need for separating the cooktop (6) from the plate (2).
In one embodiment of the present invention, cutting and folding processes are implemented as the shaping process.
In this embodiment, there are at least two folding lines (F) parallel to each other, and a cutting line (C) perpendicular to these folding lines (F) for forming a housing (3) on the plate (2). The plate (2) comprises two slits (9), preferably parallel to each other, formed by implementing the cutting process on the cutting lines (C) (Figure 2).
The housing (3) is formed by folding and extending the portion between the slits (9) into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) without the need for utilizing any additional materials. The plate (2) can be folded by the help of the slits (9).
The housing (3) is formed by folding the plate (2) in an "L" shape along the folding lines (F). Thus the housing (3) comprises an orifice that allows external access into the housing (3), a base (T) upon which connection elements are affixed, and more than one facades (A, B, D) that confine this base (T) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).
When the folding process is implemented on the first folding line (F1) that is closest to the edge of the plate (2), the void facade (A) of the housing (3) is formed. The side facades (B) of the housing (3) are formed simultaneously. When the folding process is implemented on the second folding line (F2) between the first folding line (F1) and the third folding line (F3), the second folding line (F2) is on the same plane as the first folding line (F1) and the base (T) upon which the connection elements are situated stays between these two folding lines (F1, F2). The third folding line (F3) is on the plane that is perpendicular to the second folding line (F2) and the surface between the second and the third folding lines (F2 and F3) forms the rear facade (D) of the housing (3).The front facade (A) of the housing (3) is open and the rear facade (D) is closed. The opposite side facades (B) lying between the front and rear facades (A and D) of the housing (3) are formed by the cutting lines (C) that form the slits (9) moving away from each other as a result of the folding process, and these side facades (B) are also open.
The electrical circuit elements and the connection elements are affixed in the housing (3) by way of the fixing holes situated on the base (T).
The lid (4) comprises more than one walls (5) that cover the orifice of the housing (3) and all the open facades (B) of the housing (3) (Figure 5 and Figure 6). The lid (4) is mounted on the housing (3) so that the walls (5) surround the base (T), covering the open side facades (B) of the housing (3) so as to insulate them. When the lid (4) is mounted on the housing (3), no protrusion is formed on the plate (2). The lid (4) is preferably produced of plastic material.
After the electrical circuit elements and the connection elements are affixed on the housing (3), the lid (4) is assembled and affixed on the housing (3) (Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9).
The housing (3) comprises one or more cable holes (8) that allow the cables to be extended into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) for making the electrical connections to the circuit elements and the connection elements that are affixed in the housing (3). The cable hole (8) is preferably situated on the closed rear facade (D) of the housing (3).
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are double walls (5) to increase the insulation of the lid (4).
By way of the present invention, workmanship and material costs are reduced, an efficient space is created between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) and ease of assembly is provided since the number of components are decreased.

Claims

A cooking device (1) comprising one or more heaters (7) that provide the heating process, a plate (2) on which other components are positioned and a cooktop X (6) mounted on this plate (2) so as to cover it, on which items to be heated are placed, and characterized by a housing (3) extending into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6), forming an additional space that is separated from the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) by a section of the plate (2) which is formed by implementing shaping processes on the plate (2), the housing providing external access to connection elements situated on it without the need to dismount the cooktop (6) from the plate (2).
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a housing (3) on which the connection elements are mounted, separated from the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6).
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a plate (2) having more than two folding lines (F) parallel to each other, and cutting lines (C) perpendicular to these folding lines (F) and two slits (9) formed by implementing the cutting process on the cutting lines (C).
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a housing (3) formed by folding and extending the portion between the slits (9) into the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) without the need for utilizing any additional materials.
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized by a housing (3) formed by folding the plate (2) in an "L" shape along the folding lines (F) comprising an orifice that allows external access into the housing (3), a base (T) upon which connection elements are affixed, and more than one facades (A, B, D) that confine this base (T).
A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a housing (3) comprising one or more cable holes (8) that allow the cables to be extended into it from the space between the plate (2) and the cooktop (6) for making the electrical connections to the circuit elements and the connection elements that are affixed in the housing (3).
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a lid (4) that is mounted on the housing (3), covering the housing (3) so that the connection elements situated in the housing (3) are not effected by the outside environment.
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a lid (4) comprising more than one walls (5) that cover the housing (3) and all the open facades (B) of the housing (3), mounted on the housing (3) so that they surround the base (T) and cover the open side facades (B) of the housing (3) in order to insulate them from the outside environment.
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 7 or 8, characterized by a lid (4) having double walls to increase insulation.