EP2042810A2

EP2042810A2 - Heating element fixation apparatus for vitroceramic cookers

Info

Publication number: EP2042810A2
Application number: EP08160002A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nazmi Zafer Akyurt
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2007-09-28
Filing date: 2008-07-09
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Also published as: EP2042810A3

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fixation apparatus for electrical heating elements developed for vitroceramic cookers. Said cooker (1) comprises a frame (2); a vitroceramic glass (3) provided on said frame (2); electrical heating elements (4) provided at the lower surface of said glass (3); and at least one apparatus (5), which by being fastened to the edge of said frame (2) is used for fixing said heating elements (4) under said vitroceramic glass (3). Said apparatus (5) comprises a wing (10) region extending to both sides at the front; downward-facing curved protrusions (17, 17') extending from both sides of said wing (10); a hole (16) provided on said wing (10); a tail region (11) extending backward from the rear of said wing (10); a downward-facing curved protrusion (12) at the farthermost point of the tail (11); and a downwardly-tapering protrusion (13) at the lower part of said protrusion (12).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to apparatuses used for fixing the electrical heating elements to the body of ovens in vitroceramic cookers.

Prior Art

There are various fixation apparatuses available used in vitroceramic cookers for fixing the electrical heating elements to the body of such cookers. The published patent application DE10306813 may be given as a relevant example. In this application, a "V" shaped piece of sheet metal with two arms is used to attach the heating element to the cooker's frame. A screw provided at the junction point of arms provides the fastening of this piece to the frame. The formed, i.e. curved end of one of said arms engages into a slot at the frame, whereas the curved end of the other arm exerts force to the bottom of the heating element so as to fix it.
Another work conducted in the relevant prior art is disclosed in the published patent application EP1005254 . This application describes another connection apparatus used for fixing such heating elements to the body of cooker. This apparatus is embodied so that the arms provided at two ends of a long sheet metal body support the lower part of the heating element. It is fastened to the cooker's frame by means of a plurality of holes provided on the body.

Brief Description of Invention

The fixation apparatus according to the present invention has a differing structure as compared to those apparatuses referred to hereinabove. Said apparatus used to fix the electrical heating element to the body of a cooker in vitroceramic cookers is made from a piece of "T" shaped sheet metal and is provided with various curves. The tips of wings provided at the upper part are curved and formed so as to enter into the slots at the cooker's frame. A screw hole provided between the wings is used to fasten the apparatus to the frame. A tail section extending rearward from between the wings is formed for supporting the heating element. The curved section at the tip of said tail is made to contact the lower section of the heating element. As the screw by which the apparatus is attached is tightened, the curved part at the tip of tail exerts more force to the heating element, since the tail starts bending with the tightening of screw. It thereby functions also as a spring washer, preventing the slackening of the subject apparatus.

Objective of Invention

The objective of the present invention is to embody an apparatus for providing an inexpensive and simple fastening of the electrical heating elements to the body of cookers in vitroceramic cookers.

Description of Figures

An exemplary fixation apparatus for electrical heating elements in vitroceramic cookers is illustrated in annexed figures as described below:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vitroceramic cooker from below.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heating element fixation apparatus in a mounted form.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heating element fixation apparatus in a mounted form.
Figure 4 is a perspective of said apparatus from above.
Figure 5 is a perspective of said apparatus from below.
Figure 6 is a lateral perspective of said apparatus.

The parts in said figures are individually enumerated as following:

Vitroceramic cooker (1)
Frame (2)
Vitroceramic glass (3)
Electrical heater (4)
Fixation apparatus (5)
Screw (6)
Slot (7, 7')
Screw hole (8)
Wing (10)
Tail (11)
Protrusion (12)
Protrusion (13)
Flange (14, 14')
Curving line (15)
Hole (16)
Protrusion (17, 17')
Hole (20)

Description of Invention

The present invention discloses a fixation apparatus for electrical heating elements developed for vitroceramic cookers. Figure 1 gives a perspective view of the subject vitroceramic cooker from below. Said cooker (1) comprises a frame (2) which constitutes the body of itself (1); a vitroceramic glass (3) provided on said frame (2), onto which (3) kitchenware to be heated is/are positioned; electrical heating elements (4) provided at the lower surface of said vitroceramic glass (3); and at least one apparatus (5), which by being fastened to the edge of said frame (2) is used for fixing said heating elements (4) under said vitroceramic glass (3).
Figure 2 provides a close-up view of the detail "A" given in Figure 1. Figure 2 provides also a perspective view of the heating element fixation apparatus (5) in a mounted form. Similar details are illustrated in Figure 3.
Figures 4-6 provide views of the apparatus (5) according to the present invention from different angles. Said apparatus (5) is made from a material having a plate form. A wing (10) region extending to both sides is formed at the front part of said apparatus (5) provided with a "T" shape. Downward-facing curved protrusions (17, 17') are formed on both sides of said wing formation (10). These protrusions (17, 17') are also formed to enter into the slots (7, 7') formed on the frame (2) (see figures 2 and 3). A hole (16) is provided at the center of the wing (10), this hole (16) being used for fixing said apparatus (5) to a screw hole (8) provided on the frame (2) by means of a screw (6) (see figures 2 and 3). A tail region (11) extending backward from the central part of the wing (10) is strengthened by being bent to a certain angle through a bending line (15) provided close to the wing (10). A downward-facing curved protrusion (12) is formed at the farthermost point of the tail (11). Another protrusion (13) is formed at the lower part of said protrusion (12), continuing downwardly in a tapered manner. This protrusion (13) is formed to enter into the slots (20) provided on the heating elements (4) (see figures 2 and 3). The flanges (14, 14') provided between both of these protrusions (12, 13) lean against the smooth surface around the holes of heating elements (20). (The protrusion (13) is formed so as to taper downwardly in order to have it fastened to smaller holes (20). In this case, some portion of the protrusion (13) enters into the hole (20) and the edge of the protrusion (13) leans against the edge of the hole (20)).
As referred to hereinabove, the apparatus (5) according to the present invention is fastened to the edge of frame (2). As the apparatus (5) is mounted, the protrusions (17, 17') at the sides of the wing (10) become positioned in the slots (7, 7') at the frame, while the protrusion (13) at the rear of the tail (11) becomes positioned so as to enter into the hole (20) under the heating element. In this position, the flanges (14, 14') become leaned against the smooth surface around the holes of heating elements (20). A screw (6) is passed through a hole (16) provided at the wing (10) and is fastened to the screw hole (8) at the frame. As the screw (6) is turned and tightened in this hole (8), the apparatus (5) becomes bent from the tail (11) section, so that the lower surface of the wing (10) becomes entirely leaned against the frame (2). During this bending period, the tail (11) exerts force to the heating element (4) in the vertical direction (illustrated as the axis "Z" in Figure 3). This force prevents the heating element (4) from moving at the vertical direction. The placement of the protrusion (13) at the tip of said tail (11) in the hole (20) on the heating element (4) fixes the heating element (4) against any dislocation to occur at the horizontal directions (illustrated as the axes "X" and "Y" in Figure 3). As for the apparatus (5), it becomes fixed at the vertical direction on the frame (2) by means of said screw (6), and at horizontal directions by means of protrusions (17, 17') becoming introduced into said slots (7, 7'). Thereby, such electrical heating elements (4) used in vitroceramic cookers are fixed at any directions by means of the apparatus (5) according to the present invention. The number of said apparatus (5) to be provided at the edge of frame (2) may be increased or decreased according to the shape, size, and weight of such heating elements (5). Therefore, a plurality of slots (7, 7') and holes (8) are provided at the edge of frame (2).

Claims

A vitroceramic cooker (1) comprising a cooker frame (2); a vitroceramic glass (3) provided on said frame (2), onto which (3) kitchenware to be heated is/are positioned; electrical heating elements (4) provided at the lower surface of said vitroceramic glass (3); and at least one apparatus (5) with a plate form, which by being fastened to the edge of said frame (2) is used for fixing said heating elements (4) under said vitroceramic glass (3), characterized in that said apparatus (5) has a "T" shaped structure and comprises,
a wing (10) region extending to both sides at the front;
downward-facing curved protrusions (17, 17') extending from both sides of said wing (10) so as to enter into the slots (7, 7') on the frame;
a hole (16) provided at the central part of said wing (10) for fixing said apparatus (5) to a screw hole (8) on the frame (2) by means of a screw;
a tail region (11) extending backward from the central part of said wing (10) and being bent to a certain angle through a bending line (15) provided close to said wing (10);
a downward-facing curved protrusion (12) at the farthermost point of the tail (11);
another protrusion (13) at the lower part of said protrusion (12), tapering downwardly so as to enter into the holes (20) on the heating elements (4).
A cooker (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that flanges (14, 14') are provided between said protrusions (12, 13) on said apparatus (5).