EP2930437B1

EP2930437B1 - Domestic cooking oven comprising a door

Info

Publication number: EP2930437B1
Application number: EP15248017.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Scoponi; Fabio Gambardella
Original assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2014-04-08
Filing date: 2015-04-03
Publication date: 2017-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-03
Also published as: EP2930437A1; EP3073199A1

Description

The present invention relates to a domestic cooking oven comprising a door.
The present invention particularly relates to ovens of the pyrolytic type, doors of ovens of the pyrolytic type and processes of assembly thereof.
The known cooking ovens are provided with a door for accessing the cooking chamber.
The door usually has one or more glass plates capable of simultaneously reducing the loss of heat from the oven through the door itself and guaranteeing the user visibility of the cooking chamber and of the food contained therein, without there being any need to open the door.
There are known ovens of the pyrolytic type, which provide for a suitable selfcleaning cycle by means of pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a process of decomposition of a compound with thermal means and it enables, upon activation of the dedicated cycle, the cooking chamber of the ovens to be cleaned through pulverization of the substances, is carried out by raising the temperature to very high values, even above 500°C. In this manner, the surfaces of the muffle and any baking pans and grills present inside the oven during the pyrolytic cycle can also be sanitized.
In the known ovens of the pyrolytic type, there are usually three glass plates, which are necessary to avoid heat loss towards the outside of the oven; this is particularly undesirable, as it would compromise the efficiency of the pyrolysis cycle, which requires high operating temperatures.
In the known ovens, the glass plates can be removably fitted in the door. Removable installation of the glass plates in the door derives mainly from the need for a periodic cleaning of the glass plates, and it moreover enables them to be replaced as needed.
The known ovens have dedicated mechanisms enabling the glass plates to be removed.
Such mechanisms are capable of locking the glass plates in the door and releasing the mechanism permits the removal of the glass plates themselves.
Such mechanisms are usually engaged to the door by means of screws and thus to enable removal of the glass plates the mechanisms must be unscrewed.
Following cleaning or replacement of the glass plates, the glass plates are set back into their respective seats in the door and the mechanism is screwed back onto the door.
However, the process of assembling the door is particularly long.
Moreover, releasing the dedicated mechanism to enable removal of the glass plates is not particularly easy.
Document EP2386800A1 discloses an oven door comprising two lateral columns, an outer pane, an inner pane and a cover frame for covering the top sides of the columns and the inner pane: when the cover frame is in a mounted state, the inner pane is clamped by the cover frame; whilst when the cover frame is in an intermediate state, the inner pane is removable from the inner sides of the columns.
Document DE202005016504U1 discloses an oven door structure in which spaced inner and outer panes are fixed to a frame comprising a couple of mounting bars, in order to form an intermediate cavity for the passage of a stream of air by thermal convection.
Document EP1030116A2 discloses an oven door comprising of a removable inner pane, an outer pane and two parallel side profiles, wherein the inner pane has a lower profile for a removable fastening to the side profiles. Document EP2075509A1 discloses an oven door comprising an outer pane, a couple of side profiles positioned on two sides at the rear of the outer pane, an upper profile positioned on the upper rear side of the outer pane and an inner pane attached to the profiles.
Document EP1640493A2 discloses a lock device for an oven door, comprising a catch capable of angular movement and an actuating system apt to determine the passage of the catch between an inoperative condition, in which the opening of the door is enabled, and an operative condition, in which opening of the door is prevented.
Document DE10336138B3 discloses an oven door including a frame, a pane and a clamping device for detachably securing the pane to the door frame, the clamping device including an elastic member.
A principal object of the present invention is to resolve one or more of the problems found in the prior art.
One object of the present invention is to provide a domestic cooking oven comprising a door endowed with a stable and rational mechanism of locking and unlocking the plates in the door.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an oven whose plates are easily removable from the door.
A further object of the present invention is to simplify the process of assembling the door of domestic cooking ovens. These objects and still others, which will become more apparent from the following description, are substantially achieved by a domestic cooking oven comprising a door, said domestic cooking oven being according to claim 1.
According to the invention, a door (3) of a domestic cooking oven (1) is envisaged, comprising:

a first and a second upright beam (8, 9) having a prevalent longitudinal development and reciprocally parallel, each upright beam (8, 9) having a respective first and a respective second end portion (10, 11) reciprocally opposite with reference to the prevalent longitudinal development of the respective upright beam (8, 9);
at least a first and a second plate (31, 32) having longitudinal edges (38) reciprocally parallel and opposite, and transversal edges (39) also reciprocally parallel and opposite, extending orthogonally to the longitudinal edges (38), the first and second upright beams (8, 9) being fixed to the first plate (31) and the longitudinal edges (38) of the second plate (32) being removably coupled to the upright beams (8, 9) in a mounting position in which the first plate (31) defines an outer surface of the door (3) and the second plate (32) is set parallel and internally relative to the first plate (31);
a first and a second distinct locking element (14, 15) removably or movably engaged respectively to the first and second upright beams (8, 9) in the respective first end portion (10) of said upright beams (8, 9), the locking elements (14, 15) being configured to be selectively movable between at least one operating position, wherein they are engaged to the respective upright beams (8, 9) in such a way as to lock at least the second plate (32) in the mounting position and at least one unlocked position, wherein they enable the extraction of the second plate (32) from the door (3),

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first end portion (10) of the upright beams (8, 9) is positioned in the first portion (4) of the door (3) and the second end portion (11) of the upright beams (8, 9) is positioned in the second portion (5) of the door (3).
In an other example not part of the invention, the first end portion (10) of the upright beams (8, 9) is positioned in the second portion (5) of the door (3) and the second end portion (11) of the upright beams (8, 9) is positioned in the first portion (4) of the door (3).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the door (3) comprises in the first portion (4) a handle (30) positioned on the outer surface of the first plate (31) and a reinforcement element (13) positioned and fixed internally relative to the first plate (31) relative to the handle (30), said reinforcement element (13) extending transversally along a width of the door (3) and the first and the second locking elements (14, 15) being placed in proximity to opposite ends of the reinforcement element (13).
In a further example, the reinforcement element (13) and the first and second locking elements (14, 15) are formed by three distinct pieces.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each locking element (14, 15) has a latch/unlatch mechanism (17) enabling the locking element (14, 15) to selectively switch between the operating position and the unlocked position.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each locking element (14, 15) has a latch/unlatch mechanism (17), each latch/unlatch mechanism (17) comprising a deformable portion (18) cooperating with the first end portion (10) so as to enable the locking element (14, 15) to switch from the operating position into the unlocked position.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each locking element (14, 15) has a latch/unlatch mechanism (17) of a snap type.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each locking element (14, 15) has an actuating portion (20) shaped as a button suitable for actuating said latch/unlatch mechanism (17).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each locking element (14, 15) has a actuating portion (20) suitable for actuating said latch/unlatch mechanism (17) and each upright beam (8, 9) comprises in the first end portion (10) a coupling portion (19) receiving, in the operating position of the locking element (14, 15), said actuating portion (20), actuating said portion (20) enabling the locking element (14, 15) to switch from the operating position to the unlocked position.
In an other example, each upright beam (8, 9) has, in the second end portion (11), one or more limit-stop supports (123) for the plates (32, 33), at least one transversal edge (39) of the second plate (32) and/or of the third plate (33) being in abutment, respectively, against at least one of said supports (123).
In an other example, the door (3) comprises one or more hinges (6) intended to be engaged to the frame (2) of an oven (1), said at least one hinge (6) being engaged to the door (3) in the second portion (5).
In an other example, each locking element (14, 15) has a latch/unlatch mechanism (17) enabling the locking element (14, 15) to selectively switch between the operating position and the unlocked position, the latch/unlatch mechanism (17) comprising a deformable portion (18) cooperating with the first end portion (10) to enable the locking element (14, 15) to switch from the operating position to the unlocked position, the deformable portion (18) consisting of an elastically deformable tab comprising a protuberance engageable in the operating position of the locking elements (14, 15) to a coupling portion (19) in the first end portion (10) of the respective upright beams (8, 9), preferably in a through opening (191) fashioned in the first end portion (10) of the respective upright beams (8, 9).
According to the invention, a domestic cooking oven (1) is envisaged, comprising:

an external frame (2);
a muffle housed inside the frame (2) and defining a cooking chamber;
a door (3) for accessing the cooking chamber in accordance with any of the aspects from the first to the thirteenth.

According to the invention, the oven further comprises a door locking mechanism (22) configured to selectively operate between a position of constraining the door (3), in which it prevents the door (3) from opening, at least in a condition of high temperature of the oven (1) during a process of pyrolytic cleaning thereof, and a release position, in which it does not prevent the door (3) from opening, said mechanism (22), in the position of constraining the door (3), being engaged to said first upright beam (8) and extending at least partially within said first locking element (14).
In a sixteenth aspect in accordance with the fifteenth aspect, the first locking element (14) has at least one opening (21) disposed in a upper and/or lower portion of the locking element (14), the door locking mechanism (22) comprising a constraining element (220) that extends at least partially within the first locking element (14) at said at least one opening (21).
In a further example, which is not part of the invention, a process of assembling a door (3) of a domestic cooking oven (1) is envisaged, the door (3) being in accordance with any of the aspects from the first to the thirteenth and the oven (1) being in accordance with the fourteenth or fifteenth or sixteenth aspect, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a first and a second upright beam (8, 9) having a prevalent longitudinal development and being reciprocally parallel, each upright beam (8, 9) being provided with at least one guiding portion (12) for receiving one or more plates and one or more limit-stop supports (123) for one or more plates;
providing at least a first and a second plate (31, 32) having longitudinal edges (38) reciprocally parallel and opposite and transversal edges (39), also reciprocally parallel and opposite, extending orthogonally to the longitudinal edges (38);
providing a first and a second locking element (14, 15);
fixing said first and said second upright beam (8, 9) to the first plate (31), said first plate (31) defining an outer surface of the door (3);
inserting said second plate (32) in guiding portions (12) of the first and second upright beams (8, 9) until a transversal edge (39) comes to abut against one or more limit-stop supports (123) of the upright beams (8, 9);

In an eighteenth aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the first and second upright beams (8, 9) are glued to the first plate (31).
There now follows, by way of non-limiting example, a detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

figure 1 represents a domestic cooking oven according to the present invention;
figure 2 represents an axonometric view of the door of an oven according to the present invention;
figure 3 represents a rear view of the door of the oven of figure 1 to which a door locking mechanism is engaged;
figure 4 represents a side view of the door of figure 3;
figure 5 represents a side view of the door of figure 3, with some elements removed;
figure 6 represents a detail of the door of figure 5;
figure 7 represents a rear view of the door of an oven according to the present invention;
figure 8 represents a side view of the door of figure 7;
figure 9 represents an exploded view of the door according to the present invention;
figure 10 represents a detail of the door of figure 9;
figure 11 represents another exploded view of the door according to the present invention;
figure 12 represents a rear view of the door according to the present invention to which a door locking mechanism is engaged, with some elements removed;
figure 13 represents the section XIV-XIV of figure 12;
figure 14 represents the section XV-XV of figure 12;
figure 15 represents the section XVI-XVI of figure 12;
figure 16 represents a detail of figure 15.

With reference to the figure, 1 denotes overall a domestic cooking oven, for example of the pyrolytic type.
The oven 1 comprises a frame 2, which constitutes an external weight-bearing structure of the oven 1 and houses within it a muffle defining a cooking chamber.
The oven 1 further comprises a door 3 rotatably engaged to the frame 2 and movable between a closed position, in which it precludes access to the cooking chamber, and an open position, in which the cooking chamber is accessible from outside the oven 1.
The door 3 comprises a first and a second portion 4, 5 which are reciprocally opposite; in the second portion 5, the door 3 can be rotatably engaged to the frame 2, for example by means of one or more hinges 6.
Preferably, the second portion 5 of the door 3 is hinged in a lower front portion of the oven 1, so as to enable the door 3 to be opened and closed by rotating it about a substantially horizontal axis.
The door 3 further comprises a handle 30 positioned in the first portion 4 of the door 3, as illustrated in figure 1; the handle 30 enables the door 3 to be easily gripped and moved between the closed position and the open position.
The door 3 comprises at least a first and a second plate 31, 32. Advantageously, for example in ovens of the pyrolytic type, the door 3 can further comprise a third plate 33. Optionally, in ovens of the pyrolytic type a fourth plate (not illustrated in the appended figures) can also be provided.
Preferably, the plates 31, 32, 33 are made of a suitable material enabling visual accessibility to the cooking chamber and the food contained therein without there being any need to open the door 3.
The first plate 31 defines an outer surface of the door 3, as illustrated, for example, in figure 5 and in figure 8.
The plates 31, 32, 33 have longitudinal edges 38 which are reciprocally parallel and opposite and transversal edges 39, also reciprocally parallel and opposite, extending orthogonally to the longitudinal edges 38.
From a dimensional viewpoint, the plates can have overall dimensions that differ from one another; for example the first plate 31 can have a greater length (calculated as the distance between the opposite longitudinal edges 38) and height (calculated as the distance between the opposite transversal edges 39) than the second and/or the third plate 32, 33. As illustrated by way of non-limiting example in figure 11, the first plate 31 has a length and a height that are greater than the length and height of the other plates 32, 33 and the second plate 32 can have a length that is shorter than the length of both the first and third plates 31, 33. Given the shorter length of the second plate 32 relative to the respective lengths of the first and third plates 33, the sectioning plane of the section XIV-XIV illustrated in figure 12 does not intercept the second plate 32 (broken line in figure 12) and therefore in the corresponding section XIV-XIV of figure 13 the first and third plates 31, 33 are illustrated.
The door 3 further comprises a first and a second upright beam 8, 9, which are configured to engage one or more plates, as will be described below. In other words, the first and second upright beams 8, 9 form a frame configured to receive one or more plates.
The first and second upright beams 8,9 have a prevalent longitudinal development and have a first and a second end portion 10, 11 reciprocally opposite along the longitudinal extent of the upright beams 8,9.
The first and second upright beams 8,9 are fixed to the first plate 31, for example by gluing. Advantageously, the first and second upright beams 8,9 are formed by two distinct pieces, which can be fixed to the first plate 31 independently of each other.
The first and second upright beams 8, 9 are engaged to the first plate 31 in such a way that the first and second end portions 10, 11 are respectively positioned in the first and second portions 4, 5 of the door 3.
With regard to the second and third plates 32, 33, they are removably engaged to the upright beams 8,9 at least at the respective longitudinal edges 38.
In the mounting position of the plates, the first plate 31 is fixed to the upright beams 8,9 and the second and third plates 32, 33 are removably engaged to the upright beams 8,9. In particular, the first, second and third plates 31, 32, 33 are arranged parallel to one another and are respectively positioned in an outer portion, in an intermediate position in an inner portion of the door 3. In other words, the first plate 31 defines the outer surface of the door 3, the second plate 32 is an intermediate plate and the third plate 33 defines the inner surface of the door 3 facing toward the cooking chamber in the closed position of the door 3, as illustrated in figure 15 and in figure 16.
In order to enable the second and third plates 32, 33 to be inserted and housed in the upright beams 8,9, the latter are provided with respective guiding portions 12, as illustrated in figure 15. In particular, each upright beam 8, 9 is provided with at least one first guiding portion 121 designed and intended to enable the second plate 32 to be slidingly received in the mounting position. Figure 11, for example, illustrates an embodiment wherein each upright beam 8,9 is provided with two first guiding portions 121.
If a third plate 33 is also provided, the first and second upright beams 8, 9 can further comprise a second guiding portion 122 designed and intended to enable the third plate 33 to be received and to at least partially come into abutment against the third plate 33 in the mounting position of the third plate 33.
The mounting position of the third plate 33 is for example illustrated in figures 13 and 14.
The first and second upright beams 8, 9 can further comprise, respectively, one or more limit-stop supports 123 for the second and third plates 32, 33 set in the respective second end portions 11, as illustrated in figure 9.
The limit-stop supports 123 are suitable for ensuring at least one abutment surface against which the transversal edges 39 of the second and third plates 32, 33 come into abutment upon the insertion of the second and third glass plates 32, 33 in the door 3. The upright beams 8, 9 can have a single limit-stop support 123 comprising a plurality of grooves whose number is equal to that of the plates to be removably received in the door 3 or a plurality of limit-stop supports 123.
As illustrated by way of non-limiting example in figure 10, the upright beams 8, 9 can have, for example, two limit-stop supports 123; in the mounting position of the plates 32, 33, the lower transversal edge 39 of the second plate 32 is in abutment against one of the two limit-stop supports 123 and the lower transversal edge 39 of the third plate 33 is in abutment against the limit-stop support 123.
The mounting position of the plates 31, 32, 33 is for example illustrated in figure 15.
In the first portion 4, the door 3 can further comprise a reinforcement element 13 (also called head piece), which is configured to impart structural solidity to the door 3 and extends transversely to the upright beams 8, 9 along a width of the door 3. Advantageously, the reinforcement element 13 is positioned and fixed, for example by gluing, internally to the first plate 31 in an opposite position relative to handle 30, which is positioned on the outer surface of the first plate 31.
The door 3 further comprises a first and a second locking element 14, 15, mutually distinct and separate, of the second and of the third plate 32, 33. The locking elements 14, 15 are engaged, respectively, to first and second upright beams 8,9 in the respective first end portions 10 and are configured to be selectively movable between at least one operating position and at least one unlocked position.
In the operating position the locking elements 14, 15 are engaged to the respective upright beams 8,9 in such a way as to lock the second and third plates 32, 33 in the mounting position, whilst in the unlocked position the locking elements 14, 15 enable the second and third plates 32, 33 to be extracted from the door 3. The operating position of the locking elements 14, 15 is for example illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 12, whilst figures 2, 7, 8 illustrate the locking elements 14, 15 disengaged from the upright beams 8, 9, in a possible unlocked position.
The first and second locking elements 14, 15 are distinct from each other, so that they can be independently engaged to and disengaged from the respective upright beams 8, 9. In other words, the first locking element 14 is formed by one piece and the second locking element 15 is formed by another piece that is distinct and separate from the piece forming the first locking element 14.
In the first portion 4 of the door 3, the first and second locking elements 14, 15 can be placed in proximity to opposite ends of the reinforcement element 13. In particular, the reinforcement element 13 and the first and second locking elements 14, 15 form three distinct pieces.
When the locking elements 14, 15 are in the unlocked position, the user, in order to extract the second or third plate 32, 33, lifts the plate vertically for a first length and then rotates it in such a way as to pull it out diagonally relative to the first plate 31, which is non-removably fixed to the upright beams 8, 9. In the non-limiting example embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rotation of the second and third plates 31, 33 is necessary in order to be able to extract them since positioned above the plates 31, 33 there is the reinforcement element 13, which has overall dimensions such as to prevent, depending on its depth in the direction orthogonal to the first plate 31 to which it is engaged, the extraction of the second and of the third plate 32, 33 in a direction parallel to the first plate 31.
The first and second locking elements 14, 15 can further have an abutment surface 16, which, in the operating position of the locking elements 14, 15, is facing an end portion of a prevalent development surface (the front or rear flat surface) of the second and/or third plate 32, 33, or is in abutment against said prevalent development surface. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the abutment surfaces 16 of the first and second locking elements 14, 15.
The locking elements 14, 15 can be movably or removably engaged to the respective upright beams 8,9.
If they are movably engaged, the locking elements 14, 15 will be constrained to the respective upright beams 8, 9 both in the operating position and in the unlocked position. According to this engagement, in order to switch between the operating position and the unlocked position there can be envisaged a movement of rotation and/or translation of the locking elements 14, 15 relative to the respective upright beams 8, 9, away from the operating position, notwithstanding the connection between the locking elements 14, 15 and the respective upright beams 8, 9. Following this movement of the locking elements 14, 15, the plates can be extracted from the door 3.
If they are removably engaged, in the operating position the locking elements 14, 15 will be constrained to the respective upright beams 8, 9, whilst in the unlocked position they will be disengaged and removed from the upright beams 8, 9 in order to enable extraction of the plates.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the engagement between the locking elements 14, 15 and the respective upright beams 8, 9 is of a removable type.
The first and second locking elements 14, 15 have a latch/unlatch mechanism 17 which, as a consequence of the actuation of the mechanism 17 itself, enable them to switch selectively between the operating position and the unlocked position. The latch/unlatch mechanism 17 of the first and second upright beams 8, 9 can comprise a deformable, in particular elastically deformable portion 18, intended to be engaged in at least one coupling portion 19 of the first and second upright beams 8, 9.
Preferably, the coupling portion 19 is disposed in the first end portion 10 of each upright beam 8, 9. In the operating position of the locking elements 14, 15, the deformable portions 18 of the latch/unlatch mechanisms 17 of the first and second locking elements 14, 15 are engaged to the first and second upright beams 8, 9 in respective coupling portions 19, as illustrated in figure 4 with reference to the second locking element 15 and second upright beam 9.
Each coupling portion 19 can consist, for example, of a through opening 191, as illustrated in figure 8 and in figure 9 with reference to the first upright beam 8. Preferably, the latch/unlatch mechanism 17 is a mechanism of the snap type.
The latch/unlatch mechanism 17 can further comprise an actuating portion 20 shaped as a button which enables the latch/unlatch mechanism 17 to be acted on in such a way as to switch the respective locking element 14, 15 from the operating position to the unlocked position. Advantageously, the actuating portion 20 of the latch/unlatch mechanism 17 can coincide with the deformable portion 18. In the operating position of the locking elements 14, 15, the button-shaped actuating portion 20 is housed in the coupling portion 19, formed, for example, by the through opening 191. Advantageously, the actuation of the button-shaped actuating portion 20 is facilitated by the presence of the through opening 191. However, switching the locking elements 14, 15 from the unlocked position to the operating position can be achieved simply by engaging the first and second locking elements 11, 15, respectively, to the first and second upright beams 8, 9 in the respective coupling portions 19. In other words, at the time the locking elements 14, 15 engage the first and second upright beams 8, 9, the deformable portion 18, on reaching the corresponding coupling portion 19, will engage thereto by means of a snap movement. Therefore, in the operating position of the locking elements 14, 15, they are substantially wedged into the respective coupling portions 19 placed in the first end portions 10, respectively, of the first and second upright beams 8, 9.
In order to subsequently unlock the locking/release mechanism 17, it is necessary to act on the button-shaped actuating portion 20, which, on deforming elastically, disengages from the respective coupling portion 19, enabling the removal of the locking elements 14, 15.
Advantageously, the locking elements 14, 15 can be manually engaged to the respective upright beams 8, 9 without the use of tools.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least the first locking element 14 is hollow at the top and/or bottom; in other words, it can have an opening 21 located in an upper and/or lower portion of the locking element 14. Advantageously, both the first and second locking elements 14, 15 have a respective opening 21.
For example, figures 13 and 14 illustrate a first locking element that has an upper opening 21.
As said previously, domestic cooking ovens 1 of the pyrolytic type envisage suitable high-temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycles. During this operating mode, it is important to prevent the door 3 from being opened and therefore access to the cooking chamber; further operating modes of the oven 1 can also be envisaged, during which it can be advantageous to prevent the door 3 from being opened. For example, the opening of the door 3 can be prevented in the presence of children in the room where the oven 1 is located in order to ensure their safety.
To this end, the domestic ovens 1 of the pyrolytic type according to the present invention can comprise a door locking mechanism 22 configured to operate selectively between a position of constraining the door 3, in which it prevents the door 3 from being opened, and a position of releasing the door 3, in which it does not prevent the door 3 from being opened.
The door locking mechanism 22 comprises a constraining element 220, which, in the position of constraining the door 3, is engaged to the first upright beam 8 in the first end portion 10, as illustrated in figure 12 and in figure 14. In figure 14 it is further possible to note that, in the position of engagement of the constraining element 220 to the first upright beam 8, the constraining element 220 extends at least partially within the first locking element 14 at the upper opening 21. The constraining element 220 extends partially within the first locking element 14 until coming into contact with the first upright beam 8.
According to a variant non illustrated in the appended figures, the constraining element 220 can extend at least partially within the first locking element 14 at a lower opening 21.
Figure 5 and figure 6, on the other hand, illustrate the entire door locking mechanism 22; the locking elements 14, 15 are not represented in such figures in order to illustrate the engagement of the constraining element 220 to the first upright beam 8.
The constraining element 220 can for example consist of a latch.
Locking of the door 3 is ensured by actuation of the locking mechanism 22, which results in the switching from the release position of the door 3 to the position of constraining the door 3. Actuation of the door locking mechanism 22 moves the constraining element 220 from the release position of the door 3 to the position of constraining the door 3, for example by means of one or more translational or rotational-translational movements of the constraining element 220.
The door locking mechanism 22 can be manually actuated by the user, for example by pressing a suitable dedicated pushbutton, or it can be automatically actuated by the oven 1 following the selection of one or more operating modes of the oven 1 (such as pyrolytic cleaning) or as a consequence of a given threshold value of an operating parameter of the oven 1 being exceeded. For example, an oven 1 of the pyrolytic type can automatically actuate the door locking mechanism 22 as a consequence of a threshold temperature (for example during the pyrolysis cycle) being exceeded by the temperature inside the cooking chamber.
The present invention further relates to a process of assembling a door for a domestic cooking oven 1, particularly an oven of the pyrolytic type.
The process comprises fixing the first and second upright beams 8, 9 to the first plate 31; subsequently, the second and third plates 32, 33 are inserted in the guiding portions 22 of the first and second upright beams 8, 9 until the transversal edges 39 of the plates 32, 33 come into abutment against the respective limit-stop supports 123. After the plates 32, 33 have been engaged to the upright beams 8,9, the first and second locking elements 14, 15 are engaged, respectively, to the first and second upright beams 8, 9 in the first respective end portions 10.
The present invention makes it possible to obtain one or more of the following advantages and to resolve one or more of the problems encountered in the prior art.
First of all, the present invention makes it possible to lock the plates in the door and to remove the locking elements of the plates without the aid of tools.
The present invention further provides a simple and rational process of assembling the door of an oven.
The invention is moreover convenient to use, easy to implement and simple and economical to construct.

Claims

Domestic cooking oven (1) comprising:
i) an external frame (2);

ii) a muffle housed inside the frame (2) and defining a cooking chamber;

iii) a door (3) for accessing the cooking chamber, said door (3) comprising:
- a first and second upright beams (8, 9) having a longitudinal prevalent development and reciprocally parallel, each upright beam (8, 9) having a respective first and a respective second end portion (10, 11) reciprocally opposite with reference to the longitudinal prevalent development of the respective upright beam (8, 9),

- at least one first and a second plate (31, 32) having longitudinal edges (38) reciprocally parallel and opposite, and transversal edges (39) also reciprocally parallel and opposite, extending orthogonally to the longitudinal edges (38), the first and second upright beams (8, 9) being fixed to the first plate (31) and the longitudinal edges (38) of the second plate (32) being removably coupled to the upright beams (8, 9) in a mounting position in which the first plate (31) defines an outer surface of the door (3) and the second plate (32) is arranged parallel to the first plate (31),

- a first and a second distinct locking element (14, 15) removably or movably engaged respectively to the first and second upright beams (8, 9) at the respective first end portion (10) of said upright beams (8, 9), the locking elements (14, 15) being configured for being selectively movable between at least one operating position wherein they are engaged to the respective upright beams (8, 9) such as to lock at least the second plate (32) in the mounting position and at least one unlocked position wherein they enable the extraction of the second plate (32) from the door (3),

- a first portion (4) and a second portion (5) opposite to the first portion (4), the door (3) being rotatably mountable to a frame (2) of the oven (1) at the second portion (5), the first end portion (10) of the upright beams (8, 9) being positioned at the first portion (4) of door (3) and the second end portion (11) of the upright beams (8, 9) being positioned at the second portion (5) of the door (3);
characterized in that the domestic cooking oven (1) further comprises a door locking mechanism (22), configured for selectively operating between a door constraining position in which it prevents the door (3) from opening, and a release position in which it does not prevent the door (3) from opening, said mechanism (22), in the door constraining position, being engaged to said first upright beam (8) and extending at least partially within said first locking element (14).
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to claim 1, wherein the door (3) further comprises a third plate (33), the second plate (32) being interposed between the first and the third plates (31, 33), the third plate (33) being mounted parallel to the second plate (32) and defining an inner surface of door (3), and wherein the locking elements (14, 15) are further configured for locking, in the operating position, also the third plate (33) in the mounting position and enabling, in the unlocked position, the extraction of the third plate (33) from the door (3).
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two upright beams (8, 9) are formed by two distinct pieces, each of them is independently fixed to the first plate (31) and/or wherein each upright beam (8, 9) is provided with at least one first guiding portion (121) for enabling to slidingly receive the second plate (32) in the mounting position or wherein each upright beam is provided with a second guiding portion (122) for enabling to slidingly receive the third plate (33) in the mounting position.
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the locking elements (14, 15) have at least one abutment surface (16) which, in the operating position of said locking elements (14, 15) faces, or is positioned in abutment to, an end portion of a prevalent development surface of the second and/or third plate (32, 33).
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each locking element (14, 15) has a latch/unlatch mechanism (17) enabling the locking element (14, 15) to selectively switch between the operating position and the unlocked position and wherein the latch/unlatch mechanism (17) comprises a deformable portion (18) cooperating with the first end portion (10) in order to enable the locking element (14, 15) to shift from the operating position to the unlocked position and/or wherein the latch/unlatch mechanism (17) is of a snap type.
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to claim 5, wherein each locking element (14, 15) has an actuating portion (20) shaped as a button suitable for actuating said latch/unlatch mechanism (17), and wherein each upright beam (8, 9) comprises at the first end portion (10), a coupling portion (19) receiving, in the operating position of the locking element (14, 15), said actuating portion (20), actuating said portion (20) enabling the locking element (14, 15) to switch from the operating position to the unlocked position.
Domestic cooking oven (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the door (3) comprises at the first portion (4) a handle (30) arranged on the outer surface of the first plate (31) and a reinforcement element (13) positioned and internally fixed to the first plate (31) with respect to the handle (30), said reinforcement element (13) extending transversally along a width of the door (3) and the first and the second locking elements (14, 15) being placed in proximity of, and flanking, opposite ends of the reinforcement element (13).