EP2110611A2

EP2110611A2 - household cooking appliance comprising a suspended unit

Info

Publication number: EP2110611A2
Application number: EP09157655A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alberto Gasparini; Paolo Faraldi
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2008-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2009-10-21
Also published as: ITTO20080292A1; EP2110611A3

Abstract

A cooking appliance comprises a suspended unit (8) configured to serve as an oven and a hood, having a casing (20), a muffle at least partially defining a cooking chamber (31), means for heating the cooking chamber (11, 35, 36) and support means (41, 42, 43a, 45). The casing (20) has a lower opening substantially aligned or concentric with respect to a lower opening of the muffle and the cooking chamber (31) is in fluid communication with a duct (50) which connects a fumes outlet (51) of the muffle (30) to a suctioning group (6). The support means (41, 42, 43a, 45) are prearranged such that the suspended unit (8) is adapted to be displaced between a raised and a lowered position with respect to a support surface (2, 10a), where in the lowered position the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle are substantially closed by the means of a support surface (2, 10a). The duct (50) is adapted to vary in configuration, when the suspended unit (8) is displaced between the raised and lowered position.

Description

The present invention refers to a household cooking appliance comprising a suspended unit having a casing, a muffle defining at least part of a cooking chamber, means for heating the cooking chamber and support means. The units of the indicated type - usually referred to as "raised-level units", "eye-level units" or "wall-mounted units" in the English terminology - typically serve as ovens.
In some known appliances the suspended unit is configured to serve not only as an oven but also as a suction hood. For this purpose, the suspended unit is arranged in such a manner to be above a cooking hob which is integrated in the worktop of a kitchen furniture or which is part of a free-standing stove or free-standing range. The casing and the muffle of the suspended unit are generally of classic conception, i.e. they are substantially hollow-parallelepiped-shaped, open at the front part; a glass door is articulated at the front part of the casing to allow access to the cooking chamber.
Provided for between the body of the muffle and the casing of the suspended unit is at least one cavity or duct, which is in fluid communication with one or more openings provided for in the lower wall of the casing, preferably provided for at such openings being means for filtering air. The abovementioned cavity or duct is in fluid communication with the suctioning branch of a fan accommodated in the casing, whose discharge branch is connected to a flue for evacuating fumes from the household environment.
The suspended unit may be used as an oven, according to the traditional method, to heat food products in the cooking chamber, and simultaneously serve as a hood. For the latter purpose, when a container holding contents prepared for cooking is placed on one heating element of the cooking hob, the abovementioned fan is activated: in this manner, any fumes and/or vapours generated by the cooking of the preparation are suctioned upwards, into the abovementioned cavity or duct present between the muffle and casing of the suspended unit, through the openings present in the lower wall of the casing, before being discharged into the evacuation flue.
Known appliances are poorly efficient regarding effective capacity to evacuate cooking fumes, vapours and odours from the household environment and they are scarcely versatile to use.
An aim of the present invention is that of making a cooking appliance, comprising a suspended unit configured to serve as an oven and hood, having a high effectiveness and efficiency, particularly in terms of capacity to remove or evacuate and discharge cooking fumes and/or vapours generated in a household environment.
Another aim of the present invention is that of making a cooking appliance comprising a suspended unit that is easy and versatile to use for a user, as well as having an enhanced functionality.
These and other aim are attained, according to the present invention, by a cooking appliance having the characteristics indicated in the attached claims, which form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.
Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention shall be apparent from the following description and from the attached drawings, strictly provided exemplifying and non-limiting purposes, wherein:

figures 1 and 2 are front, partial and schematic views of a household environment in which a cooking appliance according to the invention is installed, with a suspended unit of the appliance in two different use conditions;
figures 3 and 4 are perspective, partial and schematic views, of the household environment of figures 1 and 2, with the suspended unit in the two abovementioned different use conditions;
figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that of figure 4, in an enlarged scale and in which the suspended unit has a front door open;
figure 6 is a bottom perspective, partial and schematic view of the suspended unit;
figures 7 and 8 are perspective, partial and schematic views and in enlarged scale, of a part of the household environment of figures 1 and 2, with some furnitures omitted and/or partially sectioned, and with the suspended unit in the abovementioned use conditions;
figures 9 and 10 are lateral, partial and schematic views, in enlarged scale, of a part of the household environment of figures 1 and 2, with the suspended unit in the abovementioned use conditions;
figures 11 and 12 are perspective, sectioned and partial views of a part of the household environment of figures 1 and 2, with the suspended unit in the abovementioned use conditions;
figure 13 is a partial and schematic view illustrating the path of a fumes evacuation flow and of a cooling flow in the appliance according to the invention;
figure 14 is a section similar to that of figure 12 illustrating the path of two fumes evacuation flows in the appliance according to the invention;
figures 15 and 16 are perspective, partial and schematic views of a household environment in which a cooking appliance according to a variant of the invention is installed, with a suspended unit in two different use conditions;
figure 17 is a view similar to that of figure 16, with some furnitures partially sectioned;
figure 18 is a bottom perspective, partial and schematic view of another variant of the invention, with the suspended unit in a first condition;
figures 19 and 20 are views similar to that of figure 18, in small scale, with the suspended unit in two further conditions;
figure 21 is a perspective schematic view, in partial section, of a suspended unit according to another variant of the invention;
figure 22 is a perspective, sectioned and partial view of the unit of figure 21.

Figures 1 - 4 schematically represent a portion of a household environment, and specifically a kitchen. 1 is used to indicate a floor furniture, defining a worktop 2. Installed above the furniture 1, spaced therefrom, are some suspended units, anchored to a vertical wall 3 of the environment, and specifically two furnitures 4 and 5, a suctioning group 6, a cover 7 of a fumes evacuation duct (not shown) and a suspended unit 8 which, in an embodiment of the invention, is configured to serve as an oven and a hood. Installed between the suctioning group 6 and the unit 8 is a cover 9 that can be extended or retracted. For the sake of simplification, in the description hereinafter the unit 8, representing the main object of the present invention, shall be referred to as "oven".
According to an aspect of the invention, and as observable from the comparison between figures 1 and 2, the oven 8 is mounted in such a manner to be moved between a raised position (figure 1 and 3) and a lowered position (figures 2 and 4), with respect to a support or rest surface provided beneath the oven itself. In the illustrated embodiment, mounted at the top 2 is a built-in cooking hob 10, which preferably embodies the abovementioned support surface for the oven 8, when the latter is in the respective lowered positioned; the cooking hob 10 is thus installed beneath the oven 8 and, in the non-limited example illustrated, has a larger upper surface area with respect to the area defined by the lower part of the oven.
As observable in figure 5, the oven 8 has a casing 20 that surrounds a muffle 30, the latter defining at least part of a cooking cavity or chamber 31; the casing 20 and the muffle 30 each have an upper wall, a rear wall and two lateral walls, not indicated by reference signs. For indicative purpose, the casing may measure about 600 mm wide x 550 mm high x 550 mm deep and the muffle about 450 mm wide x 330 mm high x 400 mm deep. The casing may comprise a plurality of sheet panels fixed onto a framework of the oven 8, while the body of the muffle 30 may be configured in a single piece, also made of metal sheet, externally provided with a layer made of insulating material, not represented.
Provided for in the front part of the casing 20 is an access opening, substantially aligned or concentric with respect to a front opening of the muffle 30. In the illustrated example the front part of the casing 20 comprises a small upper transverse panel 21, at which there is a control panel of the oven 8, not represented, and a substantially overturned U-shaped frame-like element 22, i.e. with two parallel uprights and an upper crosspiece that surround the front opening of the muffle 30; the frame-like element 22 closes - at the front part - a cavity or interspace existing between the casing 20 and the muffle 30. In a possible embodiment, the abovementioned control panel may also be provided for controlling an electrical heating part of the hob 10, or possibly a gas part thereof, should the same be of the type having a flame electronic control (i.e. without manual valves). In a different embodiment, the control panel of the oven 8 is located on the hob 10 and provides for both controlling and monitoring the operations of the oven 8, and controlling and monitoring the operations of the hob 10: in such case, the transverse panel 21 may be absent or used for a different purpose.
Provided for at the front part of the casing 20 is a door 23, preferably at least partially transparent. In the represented example the door 23 is mounted with respect to the casing 20 to rotate according to a substantially vertical axis. The door 23 may be hinged or articulated to the casing 20 or to the internal framework of the oven 8 according to any known method, for example even by rotating around a horizontal axis or by means of a pantograph opening and closure movement system. The door 23 is preferably provided with a handle, not represented.
On the front part of the frame 22 there are sealing means, intended to sealingly cooperate with the door 23 when the latter is in the respective closure position. In the illustrated example these means comprise a gasket 24 having a longitudinal development similar to that of the frame 22, in such a manner to surround the front opening of the casing and/or muffle 30 on three sides. A gasket 24 may be possibly be mounted on the door 23, additionally or alternatively to the gasket provided for on the frame-like element 22.
In an embodiment of the invention, the casing 20 and the muffle 30 each have a lower opening, the two lower openings facing each other, i.e. substantially concentric or aligned with respect to each other. The casing and the muffle are substantially without a bottom: more in particular, in the example illustrated in figure 6, the body of the muffle 30 is entirely or almost entirely open in the lower part thereof, while the casing 20 has a lower wall 25, substantially made up of a sort of U-shaped frame, which delimits the lower opening of the casing and which surrounds the lower opening of the muffle 30 along the respective rear and lateral sides. This wall 25 closes - at the rear part - the abovementioned cavity defined between the casing 20 and the muffle 30. The lower opening of the casing 20 is very large, almost entirely involving the lower face of the casing itself, and the size of the lower opening of the muffle 30 is in the order of that of the lower opening of the casing 20.
As explained hereinafter, according to an aspect of the invention, at the lowered position of the oven 8 the lower openings of the casing 20 and of the muffle 30 are substantially closed by means of the abovementioned support surface. For such purpose, preferably there are sealing means on the external front part of the lower wall 25, intended to sealingly cooperate with the abovementioned support surface when the oven is in the respective lowered position. In the illustrated example these means are represented by a gasket 26 having a longitudinal development similar to that of the lower wall 25, in such a manner to surround the lower opening of the casing 20 and/or of the muffle 30 on three sides. Sealing means may be possibly provided for on the upper surface of the support surface, additionally or alternatively to the gasket 26 provided for on the lower wall 25.
Preferably, associated to the support surface are reference means adapted to signal the user the portion of the surface itself useable as a wall which delimits the cooking chamber at the lower part thereof when the oven 8 is at the lowered position. For example, such reference means comprise a serigraph applied to the cooking hob 10 at the contact surface between the surface itself and the lower wall 25 of the oven 8. Alternatively, such reference means comprise a drawing on the hob 10 which at least partially serves as an accommodation of the gasket 26. Further alternatively, the abovementioned reference means comprise light signal means, such as for example a set of LEDs, arranged to define the contour of the portion of the hob 10 useable in combination with the oven 8.
As observable in figure 6, the door 23 preferably includes at least two plates or panels 23a and 23b, preferably at least partially made of transparent material such as for example glass, between which an interspace 23c is defined. At least one of the panels 23a and 23b (advantageously the internal panel 23b) is removable, so as to allow the user to clean the panels 23a and 23b, and specifically the surface of the same facing the interspace 23c. Should the door include three panels, and hence two interspaces, advantageously provided for is at least the partial removability of the internal and central panels.
In a preferred embodiment, mounted at least along the lower edge of the internal sheet 23b of the door is a gasket, not represented in the figures, susceptible to sealingly cooperate with the abovementioned support surface when the oven 8 is in the respective lowered position. A removable and cleanable filtering element may be applied to the lower part of the interspace 23c, so as to reduce the amount of dirt that can enter the interspace 23c.
Also partially observable in figure 6 are the rear wall and a lateral wall of the muffle 30, respectively indicated with 30a and 30b. In the currently preferred embodiment of the invention means for heating the cooking chamber 31 are mounted inside the oven 8; furthermore, preferably, the oven 8 is of the ventilated type, i.e. provided with means suitable to generate circulation or forced movement of air inside the chamber 31, when the latter is being used for cooking. For such purpose, in a preferred embodiment, fixed at the rear wall 30a of the muffle is a shell 32 provided with passages or slots 32a, defined between the shell 32 and the wall 30a being a cavity accommodating both the rotor of a fan, and a circular electrical resistance, for heating the cooking chamber 31. The abovementioned rotor and the corresponding actuation electrical motor are indicated with 33 and 34 in figure 9-10 and 11-12, and indicated in the same figures with 35 is the abovementioned circular resistance. Additionally or alternatively to the resistance 35 the means for heating the cooking chamber 31 may comprise an upper or "grill-type" resistance, mounted inside the muffle 30, in proximity to the upper wall thereof; such grill-type resistance is indicated with 36 in figures 9-10 and 11-12.
Still referring to figure 6, the lateral wall 30b of the muffle 30 is provided with lateral support means, attained for example by drawing the wall 30b or made of metal wire and of the type fixable or removable through dedicated guides, for shelves or trays of the oven 8; in the illustrated example these means comprise a support 37, formed by welded metal bars and defining sliding guides for an edge of respective shelves or trays; analogous support means are provided for at the other lateral wall of the muffle 30 not shown in figure 6.
In figures 7 and 8 the oven 8 and some of the other elements of the previous figures are represented partially and/or with parts removed and/or partially sectioned. These figures show how the structure of the oven 8 comprises a framework formed by a plurality of metal sections, some of which are indicated with 40. The sections 40 are extended in a cavity existing between the muffle 30 and the casing 20 of the oven 8 and they can be used for fixedly connecting the muffle itself to the panels which compose the casing 20.
The oven 8 is further provided with support means which, according to the invention, are prearranged to allow moving the casing 20, or the oven 8, between the abovementioned raised and lowered positions. Such support means comprise guide means, preferably configured to constrain the oven 8 to perform a linear movement when moving between the raised and lowered positions. In the example illustrated in figure 7 and 8, these guide means comprise two parallel linear guides, one of which is indicated with 41, which are connected to the framework comprising the metal sections 40. The guide means further comprise two second parallel linear guides, one of which is indicated with 42, fixed against the wall 3 of the household environment. The moveable guides 41 are coupled to the fixed guides 42 such that the oven 8 may translate in a guided manner between the raised and lowered positions; the means used for mutually coupling the guide 41 and 42 in a sliding manner may comprise rolling members, such as rolls or wheels, so as to facilitate the movement and make it more accurate. Obviously the specific configuration of the guide means may be of any known type, even different from the exemplified one.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the movement of the oven 8 between the lowered and raised positions is of the motorised type, and for such purpose the support means of the oven 8 comprise a controllable actuation arrangement. This actuation arrangement preferably comprises an electric motor, prearranged to determine the movement of a transmission member connected to the structure of the oven 8, the electric motor being controllable in order to selectively cause, through the abovementioned transmission member, the movement of the casing towards the entirely raised position or towards the entirely lowered position or towards an intermediate position between the raised and the lowered one, depending on the required use. The intermediate positions acquirable by the oven 8 may preferably be at least three (respectively at ¼ travel, ½ travel, ¾ travel); it may be preferably provided for that the adjustment of the positions acquirable by the oven 8 be continuous and be selected by the user, for example depending on the size of the cooking containers used on the cooking hob 10 or on the intensity desired for suctioning fumes and/or vapours and/or odours.
In the example illustrated in figures 7 and 8 provided for this purpose is a winch device, substantially comprising an electric motor 43 supported by a metal support 44 fixed onto the wall 3 of the household environment. Keyed to the motor shaft 43 is a pulley member 43a, to which the end of a cable 45 is fixed, preferably an at least partially metal cable, which provides the abovementioned transmission member. The other end of the cable 45 is connected to the structure of the oven 8, preferably to the metal framework comprising the sections 40. Possibly associated to the support 44 are functional complements for the actuation arrangement, such as for example one or more idler pulleys, cable tensioning means, an end-of-stroke micro-switch or an encoder detector, etcetera.
Advantageously applied to the appliance, and in particular to the oven 8, may be safety sensor devices, of any known type (for example optical or ultrasound sensors), intended to reduce the risk that the oven 8, during its descent, might knock against elements (such as for example the handle of a pan) which occupy the space travelled by the walls of the oven itself, or cause damage to the user, for example crushing the hand of the user inadvertently placed on the cooking hob 10. The abovementioned safety detector devices are thus susceptible to detect a situation of possible risk regarding the oven 8 or the user of the same and instantly stop the descent motion of the oven 8, and possibly determine an ascent motion after stopping.
Still with the aim of guaranteeing adequate safety for the user it can be provided for that, associated to the guide elements of the oven 8 (for example to the sliding guide 41-42), be braking means that intervene in case of breakage on one of the devices that actuate the movement (for example in case of disengagement or breakage of the cable 45, detectable through a torque sensor associated to the motor 43). Such braking means can determine the blocking of the movement in the oven 8 or a slow descent thereof up to obtaining the lowered position.
In an embodiment of the invention the cooking chamber 31 of the oven 8 is connected, by means of a duct, to a flue for evacuating fumes and/or vapours and/or cooking odours from the household environment. Preferably, this duct has an inlet end in fluid communication with a fumes discharge of the muffle 30 and an outlet end connectable in fluid communication with a suctioning group, installed in fixed position outside the oven 8. The abovementioned duct is susceptible to vary in terms of configuration, when the oven 8 is moved between the raised and lowered position, and for such purpose it is preferably susceptible to acquire a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the example represented in figures 7 and 8 the abovementioned duct comprises for such purpose a bellows pipe, indicated with 50.
In figures 11-12 the abovementioned fumes discharge, which is preferably but not necessarily formed in the upper wall of the muffle 30, is indicated with 51 and connected thereto is the lower end, the inlet one, of the pipe 50. The upper end, the discharge one, of the pipe 50 is connected to a body or casing 6a of the suctioning group indicated with 6 (see figures 1-4). The casing 6a, preferably made of metal sheet, internally defines a suctioning passage or compartment, indicated with 6b, which is susceptible to be subjected to depression by means of a fan, indicated with 52. In the example illustrated in figures 8-12 the fan 52, advantageously of the centrifugal type and preferably with adjustable speed, is held by a support 44 of the motor 43 and it is accommodated in the suctioning passage 6b defined by the casing 6a; the casing 6a is open at the rear part and it is placed fluid tight against the wall 3, by interposing suitable sealing means, such as a gasket and/or sealing material.
The suctioning mouth or branch of the fan 52 faces the passage 6b, in such a manner to cause, when the fan 52 is operating, a depression in the passage itself. The outlet mouth or branch of the fan 52 is instead connectable to a discharge pipe or flue, indicated with 53, which can be concealed by means of a cover, such as the one indicated with 7: in such case the household cooking appliance according to the present invention is capable of serving as a suctioning hood, the duct 53 serving for discharging suctioned fumes and/or vapours and/or odours outside the household environment. In an alternative embodiment, the flow outwards the fan 52 is recirculated into the household environment, after being suitably filtered of fumes and/or vapours and/or odours (for example through an additional filtration treatment, particularly effective against odours, performed downstream of the fan 52 using a device such as activated carbon filters): in such case the household cooking appliance according to the present invention is thus capable of serving as a filtering hood.
A suctioning flow within the cooking chamber 31 is generated with the fan 52 operating, for discharging fumes and/or vapours and/or odours from the former through the pipe 50.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, present between the casing 20 and the muffle 30 of the oven is an interspace or channelling which is in fluid communication with the inlet end of a second duct, and the second duct has the respective outlet end connectable in fluid communication to a suctioning group, preferably but not necessarily the same suctioning group to which the pipe 50 is connected.
In the example represented in figures 7-12 the second duct comprises a bellows pipe, indicated with 54, made similar to pipe 50 and thus also susceptible to acquire an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, respectively when the oven 8 is in the lowered position or in the raised position. The figures show how, in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the pipes 50 and 54 are substantially concentric, i.e. with a part of pipe 50 extending into pipe 54, the first being longer than the second.
With special reference to figures 7 and 8, a shell 55 is fixed externally to the upper wall of the muffle, indicated with 30c, in such a manner that defined between the two parts in question is an interspace or internal channelling, indicated with 56 in figures 9-14. The shell 55 has a hole at which the lower end, the inlet one, of the pipe 54 is connected. The upper end, the outlet one, of the pipe 54 is instead connected to the casing 6a of the suctioning group 6, in such a manner to be inside the suctioning passage 6b. Figures 7-14 show how, preferably, the upper end of the pipe 50 slightly projects beyond the upper end of the pipe 54, so as to prevent the flows passing through the two pipes from interfering with each other. Such mounting of the upper ends of the pipes 50 and 54 is obtainable through any known method, for example by using a ring or counter-ring for fixing the pipe 54 configured for holding also the upper end of the pipe 50 in raised position.
The internal channelling 56 extends above the muffle 30 towards the front part of the casing 20, up to the frame 22. Present in the upper transverse section of the frame 22 is at least one slot, partially visible in figure 5, where it is indicated with 56a. The arrangement is such that, when the door 23 of the oven 8 is closed, the upper end of the interspace 23c of the door itself is near the slot 56a, and in fluid communication therein (see for example figure 13). Generated through such arrangement - when the fan 52 is operating - through the pipe 54 is a suctioning flow within the channelling 56 in such a manner to cause, through the slot 56a, an ascent flow of air into the interspace 23c of the door 23: thus, into practice, air at substantially room temperature is suctioned by the lower opening of the interspace 23c, and this airflow travels through the interspace itself from the bottom to the top, in such a manner to reduce the temperature of the door 23.
The flow paths of the fumes/vapours/odours discharged from the chamber 31 and the cooling flow of the door 23 are schematically illustrated in figure 13.
The arrows indicated with F1 represent fumes and/or vapours and/or odours generated or gathered in the chamber 31, respectively when the oven 8 is used for cooking or when the oven serves as a suctioning or filtering hood. The fumes F1 exit from the muffle 30 through the upper outlet 51, pass into the pipe 50 and end up into the duct 6b, from where they are discharged into the flue 53, through the fan 52. The arrow indicated with F2 instead represents the airflow at room temperature which passes through the interspace 23c of the door 23 from the bottom to the top, such flow then passing through the slot 56a of figure 5, to reach into the channelling 56; the air used to cool the door 23 passes in the interspace existing between the pipes 54 and 50 (arrows F3) through the upper hole of the shell 55, before ending up in the duct 6b and possibly being discharged into the flue 53, through the fan 52.
In an advantageous embodiment, the oven 8 is provided with a controllable shutter device, including a plug member which is mounted in a moveable manner at the fumes outlet 51 of the muffle 30. In the figures, the plug member of this shutter device is represented by a circular-shaped flap 57, which is mounted at the fumes outlet 51 in such a manner to be able to rotate around a transverse axis at the same outlet. For such purpose, the flap 57, preferably made of metal, is integral with a rod 57a susceptible to be rotated by means of an electric actuator, indicated with 58 in figures 11-12. By controlling the supply of the actuator 58 it is possible to vary the position of the flap 57, so as to increase or reduce the passage section of the fumes outlet 51.
In an embodiment of the invention the means for heating the cooking chamber 31 comprise at least one source of heat that is positioned at the support surface with which the oven 8 cooperates when at lowered position. For such purpose, the oven 8 is mounted in such a manner that, when the oven itself is in the raised position, the abovementioned source of heat is beneath the lower openings of the casing 20 and of the muffle 30; with the oven 8 in the lowered position, the source of heat substantially faces the cooking chamber. The abovementioned source of heat belongs to a cooking device that is also useable when the oven 8 is in the raised position, i.e. a cooking device that is susceptible to operating independently with respect to the oven 8.
In the represented example, the aforementioned cooking device capable of operating independently is represented by the cooking hob 10, whose upper part also represents the support surface for the oven 8. The abovementioned source of heat comprises at least one of the heating elements of the cooking hob 10. For the sake of simplification, the figures schematically show only one heating element, indicated with 11, intended to face inwards the chamber 31. The element 11 is preferably made up of an electric resistance or heating plate arranged beneath a plate 10a made of crystal or ceramic-glass material, or any other suitable material, which makes the top of the cooking hob 10, according to the technique widely known in the cooking hobs industry defined as "glass-ceramics". In possible variants, the heating element 11 is of any other conception known in the cooking hobs industry, such as a plate or electric resistance (for example made of cast iron) mounted exposed on an upper plate of the hob 10, or still an induction heating element mounted beneath an upper plate of the hob 10, or still a gas burner, for example an "undertop" gas burner (i.e. of the type described in EP-A-0 586 104 ).
When the oven 8 is in the lowered position element 11 may be used for heating the cooking chamber 31 from the bottom; when the oven 8 is in a raised position, the oven 8 may serve as a suctioning or filtering hood and element 11 may be used for heating a container bearing a food product to be cooked.
In an advantageous embodiment, the cooking hob 10 comprises at least one second source of heat that is in an offset position with respect to the lower openings of the casing 20 and of the muffle 30 of the oven 8, and in such a manner that, when the oven 8 is in the lowered position, the at least one second source of heat does not face the cooking chamber 31, i.e. it is outside the casing and the muffle.
For such purpose, for example, the upper part of the cooking hob 10 may have an overall width of about 90 cm and a depth of about 52 cm, with a main portion (for example about 60 cm wide), which is intended to be "covered" by the oven 8 when the latter is in the lowered position: provided for within this main portion is the heating element 11 (as mentioned, also provided for may be several heating elements 11 intended to face towards the inside of the cooking chamber). A second portion of the upper part of the hob 10 (for example about 30 cm wide) is provided with the abovementioned at least one second source of heat: provided for in the illustrated example are two distinct heating elements, made up of two gas burners indicated with 12 (for simplifying and non-limiting purposes, in figures 7 and 11 the gas burners 12 may be of the type that exploits the technology described in the patent application WO2007/036772 and they are capable of generating the so-called "flat flame"). Also the elements 12 can be of a type different from the one indicated, for example of the electric resistance or plates type, exposed or undertop, undertop gas burners, induction heating elements etcetera. As imaginable, when the oven 8 is used in the lowered configuration, the heating elements 12 may be used for cooking elements outside the chamber 31.
In this embodiment the casing 6a of the suctioning group 6 may be conveniently configured to serve as a "stationary hood", and hence serving to suction the additional cooking fumes and/or vapours and/or odours with respect to those obtainable through the oven 8. For this purpose, in the shown example, a part 6c of the casing 6a is extended laterally with respect to the oven 8. This lateral extension 6c has a connection vertical portion and a substantially horizontal end arranged over the heating elements 12: this horizontal end portion is provided, in its lower face, with one or more openings - one of which is schematically represented in figure 6, indicated with 6d - which are in fluid communication with the internal suctioning passage 6b of the casing 6a. Preferably, mounted at the opening/s 6d is a removable and/or replaceable filter, not indicated.
When a container is placed on one of the heating elements 12 and the fan 52 is operating, the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours possibly generated during cooking are suctioned through the portion 6c of the casing 6a, and then discharged into the flue 53. Figure 14 schematically illustrates the paths of the fumes in case of simultaneous use of the oven 8 in lowered position and one of the burners 12, with arrows F1 indicating the fumes generated within the cooking chamber 31 and arrows F4 indicating the fumes generated by the burner 12 (the respective containers bearing the food elements to be cooked are not represented in the chamber 31 and on the burner 12 for clarity purposes).
Lastly, provide for in the embodiment exemplified in the figures between the oven 8 and the casing 6a of the suctioning group 6 is an extendable and retractable cover, which conceals the pipe 54 (or pipes 50 and 54 if the latter are adjacent, or only pipe 50 if pipe 54 is not provided). In the illustrated case the cover 9 is substantially of the telescopic type, and comprises two or more elements with different dimensions in transverse section, which slide inside each other. These telescopic elements are indicated in some of the figures 7-14 with 9a, 9b and 9c, element 9c, having greater dimensions in transverse section, being integral to the oven 8.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a first filtration of the fumes evacuated from the cooking chamber 31 is performed by means of a filter, preferably a metal filter, mounted on the top face of the muffle 30 in proximity to the connection hole 51 between the latter and the internal pipe 50. This filter, not represented in the figures, is preferably mounted in a removable manner, so as allow periodical cleaning or washing (in such case it may be advantageous to provide for an electric resistance of the tilting type). A second filtration is performed through replaceable filters, also not represented, for example of the activated carbon type, arranged in the suctioning compartment 6a, preferably at the outlets of the pipes 50 and 54. The casing 6a is advantageously provided with an access door, indicated with 6e in some of the figures, so as to allow an easy replacement or an easy cleaning of the filters located in the casing 6a for the user. The main filtering system (at the outlet of the muffle) and the secondary one (at the outlet of the pipes 50, 54) ensure the protection of the elements located inside the suctioning compartment 6a, such as the fan 52 and the movement members comprising the motor 43.
The general operation of the appliance according to the invention is as follows.
In the position illustrated in figures 1 and 3 the oven 8 serves as a suctioning or filtering hood. In such situation, when a container bearing a food product to be cooked is arranged on the hob 10 - and specifically on the heating element 11 thereof - the fan 52 may be actuated, so as to suction the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours generated by the cooking in progress on the hob 10. In this mode of use, the muffle 30, open below, acts as an actual collector of fumes/vapours/odours that rise upwards from cooking hob 10. A similar operation of the muffle 30, and indeed more effective, is attained at any intermediate position the oven 8 is made to acquire.
Furthermore, in this step, the operation of the fan 52 causes - for the reasons explained beforehand - also a suctioning flow through the interspace 23c of the door 23, which contributes to further collection and evacuation of the cooking fumes/vapours/odours (as mentioned, possible dirt depositing in the interspace 23c may be removed by dismounting the panel 23b). Should a further cooking container be placed on at least one of the heating elements 12 of the hob 10, the related fumes/vapours/odours are suctioned by means of the lateral extension 6c of the casing 6a of the suctioning group 6, as described beforehand.
The control systems of the cooking hob 10 and the oven 8 (or of the ventilation group 6, when the latter is provided with an independent control system with respect to that of the oven 8), preferably of the electronic type, may be conveniently prearranged for dialoguing and/or interacting with each other, for example through a radiofrequency or wired connection, in such a manner that the switching on of one of the heating elements 11, 12 of the cooking hob 10 also determines the actuation of the fan 52.
In the position illustrated in figures 2 and 4 the oven 8 may be used strictly serving as an oven. In this case, the user first controls the lowering of the oven 8 through suitable means for controlling the motor 43, comprising for example a small panel having means (such as two buttons) for manually controlling the descent and the ascent of the oven 8, and possibly means for selecting the speed of the motor of the fan 52. Such panel, which was not represented in the figures for the sake of simplification, may be configured as an independent furniture, installed in a position easily reachable by the user, or its functions may be integrated in the control panel of the oven 8 (or possibly in the control panel, not represented, of the cooking hob 10).
The system for controlling the movement means is preferably provided with means for detecting the attainment of the end-of-stroke positions when raising and lowering the oven 8. These detections means may be of any known type and comprise, for example, an encoder detector associated to the motor 43, or a pair of end-of-stroke switches, respectively for detecting through mechanical contact the attainment of the two limit positions, or even position sensors (for example proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, optical sensor, inductive sensors) at fixed position with respect to the oven 8, for detecting the attainment of the two limit positions without mechanical contact.
With the oven 8 in lowered position, the gasket 26 is in sealing contact with the surface 10a of the cooking hob 10, thus with the lower openings of the casing and muffle closed. Thus, the user may arrange a container bearing at least one food product to be cooked inside the cooking cavity 31, due to the presence of the openable and closable door 23.
The container may be directly placed on the surface 10a of the hob, or on one of the shelves and tray held by the supports 37 (figure 6). Then, the user may select the desired cooking mode, through the control panel of the oven (not represented), with the selected programme which may provide for the actuation of the circular resistance 35 and/or of the grill resistance 36 and/or of the ventilation system 33-34. Possibly, still operating as an oven, additionally or alternatively to the heating elements 35 and/or 36 of the oven 8, the actuation of the heating element 11 of the cooking hob 10 may be provided for: advantageously the control systems of the oven 8 and the hob 10 may be prearranged for dialoguing and/or interacting also in such a manner that the selection of at least one cooking programme of the oven 8 determines the actuation of the heating element 11 of the hob 10. Obviously, for some types of cooking performable with the oven 8 the heat contribution of the element 11 is not required and, on the contrary, the cooking hob 10 may be used independently with respect to the oven 8, as mentioned.
When cooking in the oven mode, the flap 57 may acquire a position for closing the fumes outlet 51, or it may be more or less open, to maintain the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours generated during the cooking inside the chamber 51, or evacuate them at a higher or lower rate depending on the type of cooking. For such purpose, the arrangement of the flap 57, i.e. the control of the respective actuator 58, may be managed by the control system of the oven 8, for example depending on the type of cooking programme selected; preferably, the positioning of the flap 57 and the speed of the fan 52 are managed in a coordinated manner, as explained hereinafter.
Even in case of use of the appliance strictly in the oven mode, should another cooking container be placed on one of the heating elements 12 of the hob 10, the relative fumes are suctioned by means of the lateral extension 6c of the casing of the suctioning group 6 (see figure 14).
In the position illustrated in figures 2 and 4 the oven 8 may also be used only as a suctioning or filtering hood, particularly when the heating element 11 of the cooking hob 10 is used for performing cooking or preparations that generate intense fumes and/or vapours and/or odours in the household environment, and which are normally performable in an oven: think for example of the case where the heating element 11 of the hob 10 is used for deep frying or frying (it should be observed that for such types of cooking processes even normal hoods may be unsuitable to perform an effective suctioning of fumes and odours). In such case the oven 8 may also be moved to the entirely lowered position, in such a manner that the muffle 30 surrounds the cooking container placed on the element 11 of the hob 10, with the fan 52 active and the flap 57 opened to a substantial extent, so as to immediately suction fumes and odours from the chamber 31, preventing the risk of dispersion into the household environment.
This mode of use, definable as "lowered hood" (suctioning or filtering) is advantageously useable even when installed under the oven 8 is an appliance different from a cooking hob, such as for example a built-in appliance of the type known in the industry by the term "built-in domino" or "domino", i.e. an apparatus intended to be built-in in a special upper compartment with which the hob of a kitchen unit is provided, such compartment being closed at the upper part through the same appliance, generally lying on the respective edges. The appliance in question may comprise at least one grill domino, or one barbecue domino, or a frying domino, or a boiling domino. Reference shall be made to EP-A-1 649 794 for an example of the device of this type, useable in combination with the oven 8. In case of combination with a domino, the surface for supporting the oven 8 may be represented by the top 2 in which the domino compartment is recessed, or by the edge of such compartment. Clearly the oven 8 can be used as a hood with a built-in domino even at raised or intermediate position with respect to the limit ones.
The oven 8 is advantageously useable as a suctioning or filtering hood even when the cooking is performed in the household environment using a "small" household appliance, i.e. a household appliance independent from the oven, the cooking hob and the unit 1: for example think about household deep-fryers or electric steak grills. For such purpose, the deep fryer or steak grill may be placed on the cooking hob 10 in the zone where the heating element 11 is provided for (which shall obliviously remain OFF). The oven 8 may be maintained in the raised position or possibly even in the lowered position in such a manner that the muffle 30 surrounds the household appliance in question, with the fan 52 active and the flap 57 open. However, preferably, in this type of use, the oven 8 is moved to the intermediate position, or neared to the upper part of the household appliance in question, in such a manner to perform an effective action of suctioning the cooking fumes, vapours and odours. For such purpose, as already mentioned, the means for controlling the raising/lowering movements of the oven may be prearranged to allow stopping the movement of the oven in intermediate positions with respect to the end-of-strokes ones of figures 1, 3 and 2, 4.
Due to the shutter device 57-58 it is possible to obtain a differentiation of the flow rate of the fumes/vapours/odours suctioned through the pipe 50, for example depending on the type of cooking and/or the desired fumes and/or vapours and/or odours suctioning entity. For example, when using the appliance strictly as an oven a minimum evacuation may be provided for (flap 57 closed or slightly open); when using in the "lowered hood" mode, the flap 57 may be at an intermediate position; when using in the strictly suctioning (or filtering) hood mode, the flap 57 may be moved to maximum opening. Obviously, the differentiation of the fumes/vapours/odours evacuation flow rate may be controlled, not only through the partialisation of the fumes outlet 51 of the muffle 30 through the flap 57, but also through the selection of the different speeds of rotation of the fan 52.
In the various conditions of use, the pipe 54 is used to trigger a suctioning airflow which passes through the interspace 23c of the door 23. The cooling of the door 23 is enabled in such manner, guaranteeing low temperature on its outer surface, especially when using in the strictly oven mode. As explained, when the oven 8 is in the raised position the cooling flow of the door 23 is complementary to that of the pipe 50, to evacuate fumes/vapours/odours generated during the cooking on the portion of the hob 10 beneath the oven 8. The air suctioned through the pipe 54 allows "diluting" the fumes suctioned through the internal pipe 50 inside the casing 6a.
The solution according to the invention allows considerably enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of evacuating and discharging cooking fumes and/or vapours and/or odours generated in a household environment, with respect to the oven-hood combined appliances of the prior art. This performance improvement is firstly possible due to the fact that the cooking chamber 31 serves as an actual fumes and/or vapours and/or odours collector, even when the oven is used in suctioning or filtering hood mode. Secondly, the suctioning mouth obtained through the bottom opening of the casing and of the muffle of the oven has comparatively much larger dimensions with respect to the solutions of the prior art. Thirdly, the possibility of lowering the oven towards a cooking hob or any other cooking household appliance allows - in combination with the aforementioned characteristics - an extremely effective collection and channelling of fumes and/or vapours and/or odours outside the household environment.
The fact that, in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the group for suctioning fumes and/or vapours and/or odours is located in a remote position with respect to the hood, allows using a bigger fan with respect to the prior art and not occupy useable space inside the casing of the oven (which, considering the same overall dimensions with an oven-hood of the known type, shall thus have a larger cooking chamber or a better insulation). Still referring to the preferred embodiment in question, the fan which serves to suction the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours is also advantageously used for obtaining the cooling of the door of the oven, with further advantages in terms of reducing the components installed in the oven, and hence increasing the useful capacity of the cooking chamber or of the insulation characteristics.
The proposed appliance is extremely easy to use and versatile for the user, allowing the latter a plurality of possible uses and various coking processes. It shall for example be observed that for the same cooking process, a first part of the cooking may be performed using only the cooking hob 10, exploiting its heating element 11, and a second part of the cooking of the same preparation may be performed using the oven 8, in lowered position, exploiting one of its heating elements 25 and/or 36, possibly in conditions of forced ventilation. The almost total absence of the bottom of the muffle considerably facilitates the operations for cleaning the cooking chamber.
The described appliance allows integrating the oven and hood functions in the space usually dedicated to the suctioning hood alone, above the cooking hob, finding an advantageous use in the so-called "built-in" kitchens.
It is clear that the cooking appliance described in the example may be subjected to various modifications by a man skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a variant according to which the casing of the suctioning group 6 has a lateral extension 6c having a different shape with respect to the substantially L-shaped one of the homologous extension of the previous figures. Also in this embodiment, the extension 6c is adjacent to the oven 8, but it has a prism-shape body that substantially develops only in the vertical direction, in a manner parallel to the oven. The face of the extension 6c opposite to that facing the oven 8 has at least one portion tilted towards the oven (in the example shown in figures 15-17, the extension 6c has a longitudinal section substantially shaped to form a rectangular trapezium). This tilted portion comprises a grid or filter element, indicated with 6f, preferably mounted in a removable manner, at whose rear part the extension 6c has at least one opening in communication with the suctioning passage 6b; the arrangement is such that the heating elements 12 are substantially in the area delimited by the vertical projection on the hob 10 of the tilted wall formed by element 6f. This embodiment allows reducing the overall dimensions of the lateral extension 6c, simultaneously allowing it to effectively serve as a stationary hood.
As mentioned, the cooking hob 10 may be advantageously provided with several heating elements in the part covered by the oven 8 thereof. Such case is for example observable in figure 15, where provided for in the part of the hob 10 at the left of the burners 12 are five heating elements, for example undertop electric resistances or plates. Element 11, in central position, is intended to entirely face inwards the chamber 31, in a central zone, in such a manner to be used for heating the cooking chamber 31 when the oven 8 is lowered entirely. The other four heating elements, indicated with 11a, are at the sides of element 11 and they are in such positions that they partially face inwards the cooking chamber of the oven: for this reason, in the shown example, the elements 11a are useable only when the oven 8 is in a raised position with respect to the hob 10. Obviously, also the element 11 can be used for heating a container on the hob 10, when the oven is raised.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 schematically show a further variant, according to which a pre-filtration system is provided for, operating upstream of the cooking chamber 31 and comprising a filtering element useable when the oven 8 operates in the suctioning or filtering hood mode, in raised position with respect to the support surface. Preferably, this pre-filtration system is configured in such a manner that the abovementioned filtering element may acquire an inoperative condition, when the oven is in the entirely lowered position on the respective support surface, and an operative position when, as mentioned, the oven is in a raised position with respect to the hob.
The mentioned filtering element is conceived to be arranged at the lower openings of the casing 20 and muffle 30, in such a manner to perform a preliminary filtering action. Advantageously, the filtering element may also be used as a lower closure of the oven, when the oven itself and the hob 10 are not used.
In the example shown in figures 18-20 the filtering element, indicated with 60, is substantially curtain-shaped, i.e. it comprises a flexible sheet made of filtering material wound around a central element, to form a sort of roll 61 which is supported in a rotating manner. The material in question may be of any known type suitable for filtering, such as porous or net material of the paper, fabric, synthetic, metal type, etcetera.
In the shown example, the means rotatingly supporting the roll 61 (for example a reel device) are mounted at the lower end of the extension 6c of the casing of the suctioning group 6, and the filtering element 60 is useable only when the oven 8 is in the entirely raised position. Alternatively, the support means may be directly mounted on a side of the casing 20 of the oven 8, slightly above the level of the lower wall 25, for example on the part opposite to that represented in the figures, in case of absence of the suspended furniture 4 or in case the latter is sufficiently spaced laterally from the oven 8.
The filtering element 60 may be configured as a repeated use product (i.e. replaceable only periodically) or as a consumable product (for example a roll from which the used portion is removed from time to time) or still as a washable product, after dismounting the respective support means. For example, the element 60 may be formed by a sheet made of synthetic, fabric or metal mesh material, with the roll 61 supported by means of a winder/roller device having a configuration similar to that of a common roll curtain. Should the filtering material be paper, the support means may be of conception similar to that used in household environment for common kitchen paper rolls; in this case, the sheet used to make the filtering element shall advantageously be provided with weakening lines, so as to facilitate the tearing of the of the part used form time to rime and intended to be disposed of. Obviously the described pre-filtration system also comprises means suitable for blocking and maintaining the end of the element 60 in position on the opposite part with respect to the roll 61 or the related support means. Depending on the type of element 60 and its support system, these blocking means may consist of hooks, clips, Velcro-like systems, bi-adhesive systems, magnet systems, and so on and so forth, all attainable through methods known to a man skilled in the art. These blocking means are preferably associated to the oven 8, but they can be possibly provided for on a part of the kitchen furniture adjacent to the oven 8, for when the latter is in a raised position (for example on the furniture 4 of figure 18).
As observable, the system described is very easy to use. When pre-filtration is not required, or when the oven 8 is required to be moved to the entirely lowered position on the support surface 2 or 10, the filtering element 60 is not used for "closing" the cooking chamber 31 at the lower part, as observable in figure 18. On the contrary, when pre-filtration of the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours a the inlet of the cooking chamber 31 is required (or when the chamber 31 simply requires to be closed at the lower part) with the oven 8 in the raised position, the element 60 (or a portion thereof) is unwound from the roll 41 to extend slightly below the wall 25 of the casing of the oven, to "close" the lower openings or the casing and muffle, as observable in figure 20. Figure 19 illustrates - simply for exemplifying purposes - an intermediate position of the element 60 with respect to the open and closed one.
In a further variant (particularly suitable when the oven 8 is provided with pyrolysis cleaning functions) at least one of the front opening and the lower opening of the oven 8 is delimited over the entire related perimeter by the structure of the oven, instead of being delimited only partially (three sides only) as the case of the previous versions. For such purpose, in the example illustrated in figures 21 and 22, the front frame 22 of the casing 20 also has a lower crosspiece, indicated with 22a. Thus through this solution, the gasket 24 is advantageously configured in such a manner to entirely surround (on four sides, in the example) the front opening of the casing and/or of the muffle 30. It shall be observed that, with such solution, also the gasket intended to provide the sealing at the lower face of the oven 8 (for reference see the gasket 26 of figure 6) may be advantageously configured in such a manner to entirely surround (on four sides, in the example) the lower opening of the casing 20 and/or of the muffle 30. Alongside the advantage of obtaining a better sealing (both at the front and lower part) against the heat generated inside the cooking chamber, such variant also has the advantage of having a door 23 that is easier to open when the same can be opened by rotating around a vertical axis, avoiding friction phenomena between a sealing gasket arranged beneath the door 23 and the hob 10.
In a possible further variant, not shown, provided for is a suctioning flow for discharging heat from the interspace present between the muffle and casing, so as to guarantee lower temperature of the external structure of the oven 8, and in particular of the lateral walls of such external structure, which, being arranged in proximity to the furnitures 4 and 5, could damage the furnitures themselves in case of excessive heating thereof. Such flow may for example be obtained by providing for a series of calibrated passages that put the abovementioned interspace in communication with the duct 56 used to generate the cooling flow of the door 23. A possibility is that of providing for a series of holes on the upper wall of the casing 20, at the parts of the interspace between the muffle 30 and the lateral and rear external panels of the casing 20, and a series of holes in the casing 6a of the suctioning group 6, in the part thereof arranged above the casing 20.
As already explained above, the cooking hob 10 may be replaced, or possibly comprise, a functional module for frying, or boiling, or cooking by vapour, etcetera. Should a module different from a cooking hob (such as a domino of the indicated type) be provided for beneath the oven 8, the surface for supporting the oven itself may be represented by the top 2 in which such module is built-in.
The oven 8 according to the invention may be provided with a function for pyrolytic cleaning of the cooking chamber 31. In such embodiment, the oven itself is provided with a door-lock device which is configured, according to the per se known technique, to prevent the opening the door 23 during the pyrolytic cleaning step. Furthermore, in such embodiment, the control system of the oven is configured in such a manner that the pyrolytic cleaning function may be performed only if the oven 8 is in the lowered position and in such a manner that the oven 8 cannot be moved towards the raised position, during the performance of such cleaning function, both the opening of the door 23 and the raising of the oven 8 being allowed only after the temperature inside the cooking chamber 31 drops below a predetermined value (such predetermined value may be equivalent to about 200°C). The prevention of the raising the oven 8 may be preferably obtained through the actuation of a mechanical lock (such as for example a pin actuated by an actuator, which engages a corresponding seat obtained on a member for moving the oven 8, for example on the moveable guide 41 and/or on the fixed guide 42). The prevention of the raising of the oven 8 may also be provided for during the execution of the cooking programme, be the oven 8 a pyrolytic one or a non-pyrolytic one.
The door 23 of the oven 8 may be replaced by a fixed transparent window, for cases in which the oven is not provided with shelves or trays.
The pipes 50 and 54 shall not necessarily be concentric, the same possibly being distinct from each other, and adjacent; from such point of view it is also clear that, instead of single suctioning group, distinct fans can be used, one serving to suction the fumes and/or vapours and/or odours, and the other serving to cool the door and/or the interspace of the oven.
The possibility to vary the configuration of the pipe 50 and/or 54, when the oven 8 is moved between the raised and the lowered position, does not necessarily imply that the pipe itself be entirely or partially extendable and retractable, other solutions being possible for such purpose.
As explained, the means for guiding and moving the oven 8 may be made differently with respect to that exemplified in the figures. For example, the cable 45 may be replaced by a solution of the rack and pinion type. In another possible variant, the means for supporting the oven 8 may be configured to allow a manual movement of the oven itself between the two end-of-stroke positions, preferably in an assisted manner, for example through a system with a gas spring and/or with a counterweight. Furthermore, it is possible to provide for electronic or electromechanical systems for controlling the speed of the motor, to optimise the descent and ascent speed of the oven 8.
The control systems of the oven 8 and the cooking hob 10 (and possibly the suctioning group 6, if the latter is separated from that of the oven and hob) may be configured to dialogue and interact with each other. In a possible variant a single and centralised control system is provided, to manage the functionalities of the oven 8, the hob 10 and the group 6. In such case, even a single user interface or control panel can be provided for controlling the functionalities associated to the three mentioned units from a single point.

Claims

A household cooking appliance comprising a suspended unit (8) configured to serve as an oven and a hood, the suspended unit (8) having a casing (20), a muffle (30) at least partially defining a cooking chamber (31), means for heating the cooking chamber (11, 35, 36) and support means (41, 42, 43, 45), characterised in that:
- the casing (20) has a lower opening substantially aligned or concentric with respect to a lower opening of the muffle (30),

- the cooking chamber (31) is in fluid communication with a duct (50) having an inlet end, in fluid communication with a fumes outlet (51) of the muffle (30), and an outlet end connectable in fluid communication to a suctioning group (6),

- the support means (41, 42, 43, 45) are prearranged such that the suspended unit (8) is adapted to be displaced between a raised and a lowered position with respect to a support surface (2, 10a), in the lowered position the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle (30) being substantially closed by means of the support surface (2, 10a),

- the duct (50) is adapted to vary the configuration thereof, when the suspended unit (8) is displaced between the raised and lowered position.
The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the heating means (11, 35, 36) comprise at least one first source of heat (11) at the support surface (2, 10a), the suspended unit (8) being mounted such that, when the suspended unit (8) is in the raised position, the at least one first source of heat (11) is beneath the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle (30) and, when the suspended unit (8) is in the lowered position, the at least one first source of heat (11) substantially faces inside the cooking chamber (31).
The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the at least one source of heat (11) belongs to a cooking device (10) adapted for use even when the suspended unit (8) is in the raised position, or adapted to operate independently with respect to the suspended unit (8).
The appliance according to claim 3, wherein the cooking device is a cooking hob (10), which also preferably provides the support surface (10a).
The appliance according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cooking device (10) comprises at least one second source of heat (12) in an offset position with respect to the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle (30) such that, when the suspended unit (8) is in the lowered position, the at least one second source of heat (12) does not face inside the cooking chamber (31) or it is outside the casing (20).
The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the suspended unit (8) has an interspace or internal channelling (56) which is in fluid communication with an inlet end of a further duct (54), the further duct (54) having an outlet end that is connectable in fluid communication to a suctioning group (6).
The appliance according to claim 6, wherein
- the inlet end of the duct (50) is connected to a fumes outlet (51) of the muffle (30), the inlet end of the further duct (54) is connected to an air outlet of the interspace or internal channelling (56) and the duct (50) extends within the further duct (54), and/or

- the suspended unit (8) has a front door (23) with at least one cooling interstice (23c) which is in fluid communication with the interspace or internal channelling (56).
The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the support means (41, 42, 43, 45) comprise at least one of:
- guide means (41, 42), for constraining the suspended unit (8) to a linear movement during the displacement between the raised and lowered positions, and

- an actuation arrangement (43, 45) including an electric motor (43) adapted to cause the movement of a transmission member (45) connected to the suspended unit (8), the electric motor (43) being controllable to determine, through the transmission member (45), the displacement of the suspended unit (8) between the raised and lowered positions.
The appliance according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the duct (50) is susceptible to acquire a retracted and an extended configuration, respectively when the suspended unit (8) is in the raised position and in the lowered position, the duct preferably comprising a bellows duct (50).
The appliance according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a controllable shutter device (57, 58), including a plug member (57) mounted in a displaceable manner at the fumes outlet (51) of the muffle (30).
The appliance according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the casing (20) and the muffle (30) has sealing means (26) that at least partially surround the lower opening thereof, the sealing means (26) being configured to cooperate with the support surface (2, 10a) when the suspended unit (8) is in the lowered position.
The appliance according to claim 1, further comprising the abovesaid suctioning group (6), the suctioning group including a respective casing (6a) provided with an internal suctioning passage (6b) susceptible to be subjected to depression by means of a fan (52), particularly a centrifugal fan with adjustable speed, the outlet end of the duct (50) being connected to the internal suctioning passage (6b).
The appliance according to claims 5 and 12, wherein the casing (6a) of the suctioning group (6) has a portion (6c) which is arranged above the at least one second source of heat (12) and which is provided with at least one respective inlet (6d) in fluid communication with the internal suctioning passage (6b).
The appliance according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pre-filtration system upstream of the cooking chamber (31), which includes a filtering element (60) adapted to acquire an operative position, when the suspended unit (8) is in a raised position with respect to the support surface (2, 10a), and an inoperative position, when the suspended unit (8) is on the support surface (2, 10a).
A household cooking appliance comprising a suspended unit (8) having a casing (20), a muffle (30) at least partially defining a cooking chamber (31), means for heating the cooking chamber (11, 35, 36) and support means (41, 42, 43, 45), characterised in that:
- the casing (20) has a lower opening substantially aligned or concentric with respect to a lower opening of the muffle (30),

- the support means (41, 42, 43, 45) are prearranged such that the suspended unit (8) is adapted to be displaced between a raised and a lowered position with respect to a support surface (2, 10a), in the lowered position the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle (30) being substantially closed by means of the support surface (2, 10a),

- the means for heating (11, 35, 36) comprise at least one first source of heat (11) at the support surface (2, 10a), the suspended unit (8) being mounted such that, when the suspended unit (8) is in the raised position, the at least one first source of heat (11) is beneath the lower openings of the casing (20) and of the muffle (30) and, when the suspended unit (8) is in the lowered position, the at least one first source of heat (11) substantially faces inwards the cooking chamber (31),
where in particular the at least one source of heat (11) belongs to a cooking device (10) adapted for use even when the suspended unit (8) is in the raised position, or a cooking device adapted to operate independently with respect to the suspended unit (8).