EP2192352B1 - Cooking hob and method for manufacturing a hob - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a hob, in particular a gas hob, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention further relates to a method for producing such a hob, in particular a gas hob, wherein an upper support element, in which at least one cooking point is arranged, is connected to a lower support member by means of at least one support member.

State of the art

For the production of gas hobs are used as the upper support member usually formed by a punching process shaped metal cover plates. However, due to the different recovery behavior of various raw material batches, such as stainless steel and enamelled steel, a correct flatness of the metal cover plate on the lower support element, the so-called lower shell, can not be guaranteed. Therefore, nowadays the parts of the gas hob are manually aligned again.

In order to prevent deformation of the gas hob, according to the prior art further, the metal cover plate is fastened by screws to the lower shell. By means of the screwing, both an initial deformation in the production of the gas hob and a heat-induced deformation when using the gas hob are to be prevented. The manual alignment of the metal cover plate to the lower shell and the screwing these two parts together, however, is time consuming and thus a relatively large cost factor in the production of the gas hob.

From the pamphlets GB 588,682 and US 2,806,464 It is known to support the metal cover plate mounted on the lower shell hooks. Although these hooks support the metal cover plate, but do not fix them in the vertical direction and thus can not cause a flat position of the metal cover plate on the lower shell.

In order to prevent lateral slippage of the metal cover plate on the lower shell, the metal cover plate according to the document GB 102,985 vertically extending and on the side walls of the lower shell fitting noses or clamps. A correct flatness of the metal cover plate on the lower shell is not supported by these noses or brackets.

Furthermore, from the publications US 5,549,098 and EP 0 181 141 A2 and from the published abstract of a Japanese patent JP 06213465 A multi-part support elements known by means of which the metal cover plate is locked to the lower shell. In these systems, a portion of the metal cover plate is formed as a tab or snap connection and cooperates for fastening the metal cover plate with a arranged on the lower shell counterpart.

A disadvantage of the publication JP 06213465 A known system is that the tab of the metal cover plate is visible from the outside when mounted hob. In this tab, dust and cooking residues can accumulate.

Installation of the document EP 0 181 141 A2 Known cooktop comprises two steps, namely the placement of a tee on a arranged on a side wall of the lower shell nose and connecting this tee with the metal cover plate.

According to the document US 5,549,098 an elastically formed, at right angles extending from the metal cover plate downwardly extending snap element is pushed over a arranged on a side wall of the lower shell nose. In this type of connection, the connection between the metal cover plate and the side wall of the lower shell is visible from the top of the hob as a narrow gap. This gap can be annoying when cleaning the hob.

The publication US 2 994 317 A1 discloses a staple formed of spring steel for clamping a cooktop panel on a cooktop tray. One end of this clip rests on the outside of the top of the hob cover plate. The opposite end of the clamp is hooked into a side wall of the hob cavity. The vast majority of this spring clip is located outside the hob. When installing this hob, first the hob cover plate is placed on the hob and then the hob cover plate is clamped by means of the outside of the hob arranged spring clip on the hob hob.

Furthermore, FIG. 9 of the document discloses DE 34 40 868 A1 a two-piece clamps arranged outside the hob for clamping a hob cover plate on a hob cavity.

A hob with a concealed arranged in the hob support member for releasably fixing the upper support member to the lower support member is in the document WO 2008/080795 A2 disclosed. The mounting element of this hob is a connecting spring with an elastic extension, which is shaped as an inverted V. In the assembled state of the hob, this V-shaped elastic extension exerts from the interior of the hob from a force on the hob cover plate, which presses the hob cover plate on the hob. A bend of the V-shaped elastic extension connecting the legs to each other points away from the hob cavity. The V-shaped elastic extension is arranged substantially vertically. In order to optimize the power transmission, the V-shaped elastic extension has a pressure extension (B).

Furthermore, the document discloses GB 430 829 A a hob with a hidden arranged in the hob support member. The support member is a holder rotatably supported on the lower support member, which is adapted to cooperate with a arranged on the upper support member hook such that the upper support member is releasably fixed to the lower support member.

From the publication DE 44 34 821 A1 a hob according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. In this hob, the pocket-like Aufnehmung is formed by a hole in the frame of the upper support member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Problem, Solution, Advantages

Based on the disadvantages and inadequacies set out above, and in appreciation of the outlined prior art, the present invention has the object, a cooktop of the type mentioned and a method of the type mentioned in such a way that the hob in a simple manner and without manual readjustment can be assembled, the upper support member should be reliably protected against distortion and the pocket-like Aufnehmung of the upper support member simply above the support area over it to be movable and to be moved down from the support area.

This object is achieved by a hob with the features specified in claim 1 and by a method having the features specified in claim 12. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective subclaims.

Thus, the present invention is based on providing an additional support member. This support member has at least one mounting portion, which is releasably arrangeable for fixing the upper support member in a pocket-like Aufnehmung the upper support member. So that the holding area can be detachably arranged in the pocket-like recess, the holding element is at least partially made of elastic material. Thus, the holder portion can be moved into the pocket-like recess and out of the pocket-like recess.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic material is at least one resilient material, for example spring steel. The support member may thus be bent to its elastic limit, to then elastically return to the initial state without permanent deformation. This makes it possible to move the pocket-like Aufnehmung of the upper support member over the support area over it or to move and move down from the support area or pull down.

For example, the support portion may be bent away from the pocket-like recess, prior to placement of the upper support member on the lower support member, using force. After placing the upper support member, the support portion then shifts by its spring force in the direction of the pocket-like Aufnehmung and fixes the pocket-like Aufnehmung of the upper support member on the lower support member. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the support member fixes the pocket-like Aufnehmung in the manner of a spring clip or spring clip.

To release the upper support member, the support member, for example by means of a lever, are removed from the pocket-like Aufnehmung.

The support member is preferably on the lower support member, for example, at least one of the vertically extending to the upper support member side walls of the lower support member, releasably or non-detachably attached, for example screwed, snapped or glued. It can be mounted in any area of the lower support element. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support member is arranged in each case in the region of the corners of the side walls of the example quadrangular lower support member.

To reliably prevent distortion of the upper support element, the upper support element is preferably connected both on its front side facing the operating side of the hob and on its rear side remote from the operating side of the hob by means of at least one holding element with the lower support element. The hob thus preferably has at least two support elements, which are arranged to each other such that they the upper support member in horizontal Assembly of the hob according to the invention scratches on the visible side of the hob arise.

Another advantage of the present invention is that, in contrast to the prior art in which the upper and lower support members are bolted together, no holes or special geometries need to be mounted in the upper support member in accordance with the present invention for attachment of the upper support member.

In the hob according to the invention, the upper support member can be easily attached to the lower support member. The upper support element is only placed on the lower support element, in particular on the support element arranged on the lower support element, and pressed in the direction of the lower support element.

Also, the upper support member can be easily removed from the lower support member by the upper support member is removed from the lower support member. To remove the upper support member whose hidden corners can be used.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the support member for fixing the upper support member to the lower support member requires only a few contact points.

Brief description of the drawings

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities for embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claim 1, on the other hand, further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be described below, inter alia, with reference to the by the FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrated embodiment explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel für ein Kochfeld gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung, das nach dem Verfahren gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung hergestellt wird;

Fig. 2

in schematischer Querschnittdarstellung das Kochfeld aus Figur 1, beim Aufsetzen des oberen Tragelements auf das untere Tragelement;

Fig. 3

in schematischer Querschnittdarstellung das Kochfeld aus Figur 1 im zusammengesetzten Zustand;

Fig. 4

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Halterungselement des Kochfelds aus Figur 1;

Fig. 5

in Seitenansicht das Halterungselement aus Figur 4;

Fig. 6

in perspektivischer Darstellung das untere Tragelement des Kochfelds aus Figur 1 mit zwei am unteren Tragelement befestigten Halterungselementen; und

Fig. 7

in vergrößerter Darstellung eines der Halterungselemente aus Figur 6.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a hob according to the present invention, which is produced by the method according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

in a schematic cross-sectional view of the hob FIG. 1 when placing the upper support member on the lower support member;

Fig. 3

in a schematic cross-sectional view of the hob FIG. 1 in the assembled state;

Fig. 4

in perspective view of a support member of the hob FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 5

in side view, the support member FIG. 4 ;

Fig. 6

in a perspective view of the lower support member of the hob FIG. 1 with two support elements attached to the lower support element; and

Fig. 7

in an enlarged view of one of the support members FIG. 6 ,

The same or similar embodiments, elements or features are in the FIGS. 1 to 7 provided with identical reference numerals.

Best way to carry out the invention

FIG. 1 shows a gas hob 100 with an upper support member 40, namely a cooktop cover plate, and a lower support member 50, namely a hob cavity. To assemble the gas hob 100, the cooktop panel 40 is placed on the cooktop panel 50, more specifically on a support member 10 disposed on the cooktop panel 50, and pushed toward the cooktop panel 50.

The support member 10 is at least partially formed of elastic, preferably made of elastic material, and has an elastically or resiliently movable mounting portion 12.

This makes it possible to slide a pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 of the hob cover plate 40 over the support portion 12 and to arrange this releasably in the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42. The pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 can thus be moved over the support portion 12 of the support member 10 and moved down from the support portion 12.

When passing through the hob cavity 50 facing bottom 42 d of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 of the support portion 12 is compressed and pushed away from the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42. After passing through the bottom 42d of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42, the support portion 12 moves back toward the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 and assumes its original shape.

If the holder portion 12 is arranged in the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42, he fixed it in the manner of a spring clip on the hob 50. Since the holder portion 12, the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 fixed by spring force on the hob 50, the hob cover plate 40 is held flat on the hob 50 and Deformation or bulging of the hob cover plate 40 reliably prevented.

The hob 100 according to the present invention can be opened quickly and easily, for example, for maintenance or repair work. To open in the FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrated gas hob 100, the cooktop cover plate 40, for example by means of a lever, removed from the cooktop 50. More specifically, the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 is levered down from the support portion 12.

The pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 is preferably formed of metal and integrally connected to the hob cover plate 40. A metal pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 has a certain elasticity and can be expanded, for example by means of a lever and deducted from the support portion 12.

The Figures 1 and 2 show the gas hob when placing the cooktop cover plate 40 on the cooktop 50. In FIG. 3 the cooktop cover plate 40 is fixed by means of the support member 10 releasably secured to the cooktop 50.

• eine der Kochfelddeckplatte 40 zugewandte sich im Wesentlichen horizontal erstreckende obere Halterungsfläche 12a,
• eine der Kochfeldmulde 50 zugewandte sich im Wesentlichen horizontal erstreckende untere Halterungsfläche 12c und
• eine die obere Halterungsfläche 12a und die untere Halterungsfläche 12c miteinander verbindende Biegung 12b

auf.In the FIGS. 4 and 5 the support member 10 is shown. The support member 10 is formed integrally with the support portion 12. The support portion 12 extends substantially horizontally and has

• one of the hob cover plate 40 facing substantially horizontally extending upper support surface 12 a,
• one of the hob cavity 50 facing substantially horizontally extending lower support surface 12c and
• a bend 12b connecting the upper support surface 12a and the lower support surface 12c with each other

on.

As in the Figures 2 . 3 . 6 and 7 illustrated, this bend 12b is preferably oriented obliquely downwards, namely to the cooktop 50 facing the corner region 42c of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 aligned. This orientation of the bend 12b results because the upper support surface 12a extends slightly obliquely toward the hob cover plate 40, for example inclined at about 35 to 55 degrees to the horizontal. By this slight inclination of the upper support surface 12a and the bend 12b slipping over of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 on the support portion 12 and the removal of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42 from the support portion 12 is supported.

• zu einer sich vertikal erstreckenden Frontseite 42b der taschenartigen Aufnehmung 42 oder
• zu einem am oberen Ende der vertikalen Frontseite 42b der taschenartigen Aufnehmung 42 angeordneten oberen Eckbereich 42a
  gewandt sein.

Alternatively, the bend 12b may as well

• to a vertically extending front side 42b of the pocket-like recess 42 or
• to an upper corner region 42a arranged at the upper end of the vertical front side 42b of the pocket-like recess 42
  to be turned.

The support member 10 is preferably attached to one of the vertically extending to the cooktop cover plate 40 toward side walls 52 of the hob 50, releasably or non-detachably attached, for example screwed. In this case, the lower support surface 12c from the hob cover plate 40 facing edge 54 of the side wall 52 of the hob 50 are supported (see. FIGS. 1, 2 . 3 . 6 and 7 ).

The support member 10 may be disposed at at least one arbitrary position of the cooking field cover plate 40 bordering pocket-like Aufnehmung 42. The cooktop cover plate 40 can thus be fixed by means of one or more arbitrarily arranged support members 10 on the cooktop 50. As in FIG. 6 illustrated, at least one support member 10 is preferably arranged in each case in the region of the corners of the hob cavity 50.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Hob, in particular gas hob

10

Retaining element, in particular spring clip, for releasably securing the upper support member on the lower support member or for placing the upper support member on the lower support member

12

Holding region of the support member 10th

12a

upper support surface of the support portion 12th

12b

Bend of the support portion 12

12c

Lower support surface of the support portion 12th

40

Upper support member, in particular cooktop cover plate or so-called top sheet, or top shell of the hob 100th

42

the side wall 52 facing pocket-like Aufnehmung, for example, pocket-like fold, the upper support member 40th

42a

on the upper corner region of the pocket-like recess 42, which is remote from the lower support element 40, of the vertically extending front side 42b

42b

vertically extending front of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42

42c

on the lower support member 40 facing the end of the vertically extending front side 42b arranged lower corner region of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42nd

42d

the lower support member 50 facing underside of the pocket-like Aufnehmung 42nd

44

the lower support member 50 facing edge of the upper support member 40th

50

lower support element, in particular bottom plate or so-called bottom sheet, or lower shell, for example, hob trough or tray plate of the hob

52

vertically extending side wall of the lower support member 50

54

The upper support member facing edge of the side wall 52 of the lower support member 50th

Claims (12)

1. Cooking hob (100) having an upper support element (40), in which at least one cooking zone is arranged, a lower support element (50) and at least one retaining element (10) arranged in a concealed manner in the cooking hob for detachably fixing the upper support element (40) to the lower support element (50), wherein the upper support element (40) can be fastened to the lower support element (50), by positioning the upper support element (40) onto the retaining element (10) arranged on the lower support element (40) and pressing it in the direction of the lower support element (40), and wherein the retaining element (10) is formed at least partially from elastic material and has at least one elastically movable retaining region (12) which can be arranged in a pocket-type recess (42) of the upper support element (40) for fixing the upper support element (40) to the lower support element (50), and can be moved out of the pocket-type recess (42) for detaching the upper support element (40) from the lower support element (50), wherein the retaining element (10) fixes the upper support element (40) in the manner of a spring clamp or spring clip, and wherein the retaining region (12) of the retaining element (10) extends essentially horizontally and has

   - an upper retaining surface (12a) extending essentially horizontally and facing the upper support element (40),

   - a lower retaining surface (12c) extending essentially horizontally and facing the lower support element (50) and

   - a bend (12b) connecting the upper retaining surface (12a) and the lower retaining surface (12c) to one another,
   wherein the bend (12b) is oriented towards

   - a lower corner region (42c) of the pocket-type recess (42) which faces the lower support element (50) or

   - a vertically extending front side (42b) of the pocket-type recess (42) or

   - an upper corner region (42a) arranged at the upper end of the vertical front side (42b) of the pocket-type recess (42),

   characterised in that
   the pocket-type recess (42) is formed at least partially from an elastic material.
2. Cooking hob (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the elastic material is a resilient material, in particular spring steel.
3. Cooking hob (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the retaining element (10) is detachably or non-detachably fastened to the lower support element (50), in particular to at least one side wall (52) of the lower support element (50) extending vertically to the upper support element (40).
4. Cooking hob (100) according to claim 3, characterised by at least two retaining elements (10), which for example are arranged at regions of the lower support element (50) opposing one another.
5. Cooking hob (100) according to claim 4, characterised in that

   - the edge (54) of the lower support element (50) facing the upper support element (40) is polygonal, for example rectangular or square and

   - the retaining region (12) of the respective retaining element (10) is arranged in the region of one of the corners of the edge (54) of the lower support element (50) facing the upper support element (40).
6. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pocket-type recess (42) is integrally formed with the upper support element (40).
7. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the retaining region (12)

   - deforms on passing the underside (42d) of the pocket-type recess (42) facing the lower support element (50) and moves in the direction away from the pocket-type recess (42) and

   - after passing the underside (42d) of the pocket-type recess (42) moves back in the direction of the pocket-type recess (42) and assumes its original shape.
8. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the retaining element (10) is formed integrally with the retaining region (12).
9. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the upper retaining surface (12a) runs obliquely to the upper support element (40), for example is inclined by approximately 35 to 55 degrees to the horizontal.
10. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the lower retaining surface (12c) is arranged at the edge of the side wall (52) of the lower support element (50) facing the upper support element (40).
11. Cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the pocket-type recess (42)

    - runs around the entire circumference of the edge (44) of the upper support element (40) facing the lower support element (50) or

    - is arranged at the edge (44), facing the lower support element (50)

    -- of the front side of the upper support element (40) oriented to the operating side of the cooking hob and

    -- of the rear side of the upper support element (40) facing away from the operating side of the cooking hob.
12. Method for manufacturing a cooking hob (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an upper support element (40), in which at least one cooking zone is arranged, is detachably connected to a lower support element (50) by means of at least one retaining element (10), wherein to fasten the upper support element (50) to the lower support element (40) the upper support element (50) is placed onto the retaining element (10) arranged on the lower support element (40) and is moved in the direction of the lower support element (40), wherein the elastically, in particular spring elastically, movable retaining region (12) of the retaining element (10) is arranged in the pocket-type recess (42) of the upper support element (40).

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