EP2993960B1 - Grate for a cooking device and cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a grate for a cooking device and such a cooking device.

In cooking devices such as microwave devices or ovens with an integrated microwave device, a rack is provided in the cooking space. Racks for cooking devices with a microwave function require a frame which is higher than the shelf space of the rack in order to prevent food containers, in particular containers filled with liquids, from sliding down. An elevated free-standing frame can act as an antenna for the microwave radiation. This can lead to local heating of the grate.

The grate can be designed geometrically in such a way that heating by the microwave is prevented. So far, given the dimensions given by the cooking appliance, the front and the rear frame part of the grate have been designed by means of corresponding embossing in such a way that there is no heating during microwave operation. If the cooking appliance geometry is changed, an embossing of the front and rear frame parts of the grate is not possible.

In the US 2010/0084355 A1 grates are disclosed in which all bars are connected to the frame. However, these grates are complex to manufacture.

From the US 2014/0216438 A1 a grate is known for an oven. The grate has a series of bars that are attached to support bars. On the side of the grate, which faces the user during operation of the furnace, there is an area in which the bars are not passed through to the support bar lying on the edge. This allows the user to reach into the grate to move the grate.

From the EP 2 738 474 A1 a grate for a microwave oven is known. The grate has bars and support bars. The distances between the bars ensure that as little microwave radiation as possible is absorbed in the grate

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved grate for a cooking appliance.

Accordingly, a grate for a cooking device with a frame and a footprint is proposed. The footprint has at least one support bar and a number of N lattice bars, the N lattice bars each being connected to the support bar and the support bar being connected to the frame at two points. The frame is electrically conductively connected to the footprint via a number of M short-circuit wires, the number M of the short-circuit wires being smaller than the number N of the bars.

Advantageously, the geometric relationships are coordinated in such a way that heating of the grate by microwaves is prevented. In addition, the arrangement of the short-circuit wires from the shelf to the frame makes it possible to adapt them to changed cooking chamber geometries in order to avoid local heating of the grate during microwave operation. This means that there is no risk for the user to burn himself on the grate. Furthermore, no microwave power is unnecessarily converted into heat and the efficiency is thus improved.

The grate can also be easily manufactured. The footprint preferably has essentially straight bars. The elaborate production of curved sections at the ends of all bars can be omitted, as can all bars being attached to the frame. Material can also be saved since not all bars are extended beyond the footprint to the frame.

According to one embodiment, the respective one of the M short-circuit wires runs perpendicular to the support rods. As a result, the frame can additionally be electrically conductively connected on one side to the footprint on which there is not already a connection via the support rods. Advantageously, there is no element of the frame on this side, in particular no element of the frame that is too long, which could act as an antenna.

According to the invention, the frame is raised compared to the footprint. This advantageously prevents food containers from sliding down.

According to the invention, the number M of short-circuit wires is two, three or four. A lot of material can advantageously be saved by using only a few short-circuit wires.

According to a further embodiment, the respective one of the M short-circuit wires is designed as an extension of a lattice rod. Advantageously, no additional element then has to be used for a short-circuit wire. Alternatively, the short-circuit wire can also be designed as an extra element.

According to the invention, the M short-circuit wires are attached to the underside of the frame. Advantageously, this results in no projections on the frame, on which one could get caught with a food container when the food container is placed in or removed from the cooking space.

According to the invention, the grate has two or more short-circuit wires on each side of the frame, which is connected to the footprint via the short-circuit wires in order to prevent the grate from tipping over on a base. The grate designed in this way advantageously fulfills the requirement of being able to be inserted into a baking sheet or a combination pan without tipping over.

According to a further embodiment, the footprint is limited to the outside by two support rods. The footprint advantageously has a high degree of stability. According to a further embodiment, the two supporting bars, which limit the footprint to the outside, run perpendicular to the bars. This advantageously results in a grid-like arrangement.

According to a further embodiment, the frame is connected to the standing surface in an electrically conductive manner via the two support rods which limit the standing area to the outside. Advantageously, the location from which the electrically conductive connection from the floor space to the frame is realized can be varied continuously along the respective carrying rod.

According to a further embodiment, the height of the frame is constant in relation to the footprint. This advantageously results in a frame that lies in a single plane.

According to a further embodiment, the short-circuit wires have a Z-shaped bend. This advantageously means that food containers can also protrude near the short-circuit wires beyond the edge of the shelf.

According to a further embodiment, the bars are straight. Advantageously, the lattice bars can be easily produced.

According to a further embodiment, the lattice bars are arranged above the carrying bar. This advantageously ensures that the food containers stand securely on the shelf.

Furthermore, a cooking device with such a grate is proposed. Such a cooking device is, for example, a microwave device or an oven with an integrated microwave device.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with reference to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines Rostes, die nicht Teil der Erfindung ist.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Rostes; und
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Rostes in einem Backblech.

Further advantageous refinements and aspects of the invention are the subject of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a grate, which is not part of the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a grate; and
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a grate in a baking sheet.

In the figures, elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols, unless stated otherwise.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a grate 1 for a cooking appliance, which is not part of the invention. In particular, the grate 1 is suitable for a microwave device or an oven with an integrated microwave device. Cooking vessels or the like can be placed on a shelf 5. The footprint 5 in Fig. 1 has three support bars 3a, 3b, 3c and a plurality of bars 4 on. The bars 4 are attached to the support bars 3a, 3b, 3c. Two outer support rods 3a, 3c limit the footprint 5 to the outside in two directions. In the other two directions, the footprint 5 is delimited by a lattice bar 4. There is a frame 2 around the footprint 5. The frame 2 can also be referred to as a railing. The frame 2 is arranged in an elevated position relative to the footprint 5, ie the frame 2 is at a certain height 8 with respect to the footprint 5.

In the Fig. 1 the three support rods 3a, 3b, 3c are arranged parallel to one another and connected to the frame 2 at their respective ends. The frame 2 shown is essentially rectangular. On both sides of the frame 2, on which the frame 2 is not connected to the mounting surface 5 via the support rods 3a, 3b, 3c, one can in Fig. 1 each see a short-circuit wire 6a, 6b. The short-circuit wire 6 can also be referred to as a short-circuiting bracket.

Without the short-circuit wire 6a, 6b, a long frame piece would arise, which can act as an antenna for the microwaves. This would result in local heating of this frame piece during microwave operation. For this reason, in order to prevent local heating of a frame piece, the short-circuit wire 6a, 6b is attached. A user who comes into contact with the grate 1 cannot burn himself.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a grate 1 for a cooking appliance. This grate 1 is also particularly suitable for a microwave device or an oven with an integrated microwave device. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the number of short-circuit wires 6. On both sides of the frame 2, on which the frame 2 is not connected to the footprint 5 via the support rods 3a, 3b, 3c, can be seen in Fig. 2 two short-circuit wires 6a, 6c; 6b, 6d see.

Due to the many electrically conductive loops that the grate 1 forms, it is extremely complex to calculate the absorption of the microwave radiation by the grate 1 exactly. For which cooking chamber geometry, which number of short-circuit wires 6 is required in order to reliably exclude the local heating of the frame 2, is therefore preferably determined through experiments. In general, the grate will have N bars 4 and M short-circuit wires 6. N and M are natural numbers. The condition 1 ≤ M <N applies.

If the number M of short-circuit wires 6 is smaller than the number N of bars 4, this has the following advantages. Firstly, material is saved. The fewer short-circuit wires 6 are used, the less material is used. On the other hand, fewer connections have to be made on frame 2. Each short-circuit wire 6 must be attached to the frame 2. The fewer short-circuit wires 6 are used, the fewer connections between the frame 2 and the short-circuit wires 6 have to be realized. The smaller the number of short-circuit wires 6, the lower the production expenditure for the grate 1. Therefore, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten short-circuit wires 6 per grate 1 are preferably used. One, two, three or four short-circuit wires 6 per grate 1 are particularly preferably used.

A short-circuit wire 6 for preventing the local heating of the grate 1 and in particular the frame 2 is particularly useful at the points where the frame 2 is not already connected to the standing surface 5 in an electrically conductive manner via a carrying rod 3. This can e.g. can be achieved by a short-circuit wire 6 running perpendicular to a support rod 3. Thus, short-circuit wire 6 and support rod 3 on frame 2 do not necessarily meet.

The footprint 5 can provide a single support rod 3. In this case, the support rod 3 preferably runs through the center of the footprint 5. However, the footprint 5 can also provide a plurality of support rods 3. In particular, two, three, four, five or six support rods 3 can be used. The plurality of support rods 3 can run parallel to one another. However, they cannot run parallel to each other. It is also possible for the support rods 3 to cross.

The footprint 5 can be limited to the outside by two support rods 3a, 3c. A configuration in which two support rods 3a, 3c limit the footprint 5 in two opposite directions to the outside has a high stability. The two support bars 3a, 3c, which limit the footprint 5 to the outside, can be perpendicular to the bars 4 stand. In this case there is a grid-like arrangement. The use of support rods 3a, 3c, which limit the footprint 5 to the outside, has yet another advantage. The frame 2 can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the positioning surface 5 via the two support rods 3a, 3c, which limit the positioning surface 5 to the outside. In this case, the location from which the electrically conductive connection is made from the standing surface 5 to the frame 2 can be continuously shifted along the respective carrying rod 3a, 3c.

The frame 2 can be raised compared to the footprint 5. This prevents food containers from sliding down from the grate 1. Furthermore, the height 8 of the frame 2 can be constant in relation to the footprint 5. The frame 2 thus lies in a single plane. This has the advantage that one does not get caught on an uneven frame 2 when inserting food containers into the cooking space and when removing food containers from the cooking space.

The respective one of the M short-circuit wires 6 can be designed as a separate element which is fastened to the frame 2 as well as to the footprint 5. The respective one of the M short-circuit wires 6 can also be designed as an extension of a lattice rod 4. In this case, the extended lattice bar is only attached to the frame 2.

Furthermore, the respective one of the M short-circuit wires 6 can be attached to the underside of the frame 2. In this case, there are no protrusions through the short-circuit wires 6 on the top of the frame 2, on which one could get caught with a food container when the food container is placed in or removed from the cooking space.

The bars 4 of the footprint 5 can run parallel to each other. The bars can also not run parallel to each other. It is also possible for the bars to cross. The bars 4 can be straight or curved. The bars 4 are preferably straight. Then they are particularly easy to manufacture. Lattice bars 4, which have a short-circuit wire 6 at one end, can be bent in the region of the short-circuit wire 6. Lattice bars 4 which have a short-circuit wire 6 at two ends can be in the region of the two short-circuit wires 6 be curved. Furthermore, the bars 4 can be arranged above the support bars 3. As a result, the many bars 4 can form a flat footprint 5 on which a food container finds a secure stand.

The short-circuit wires 6 can have a Z-shaped bend. In the 1 and 2 such short-circuit wires 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are shown. Due to this shape of the short-circuit wires 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, food containers can also protrude near the short-circuit wires 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d beyond the edge of the shelf 5.

The one in the 1 and 2 The frame 2 shown is essentially rectangular. However, the frame 2 does not have to be rectangular, but can also have a different shape.

All stainless steel variants can be used as materials for grate 1. In particular, the grate 1 can have chrome-nickel steel.

Fig. 3 shows a grate 1 according to the second embodiment, ie with two short-circuit wires 6a, 6c; 6b, 6d on one side, which is inserted into a baking sheet 7. If the rack 1 is placed in a baking tray 7 or if a combination pan is used, then liquids dripping from the rack 1 can be collected. As described above, a short-circuit wire 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d is preferably attached below the frame 2. If such a grate 1 with only one short-circuit wire 6a, 6b is placed under one side of the frame 2 in a baking sheet 7, then the grate 1 will tip over the short-circuit wire 6. In contrast, if the grate 1 has two or more short-circuit wires 6a, 6c; 6b, 6d on each side of the frame 2, which is connected to the standing surface 5 via the short-circuit wires 6, a tilting of the grate 1 on the baking sheet 7 can be avoided. A grate 1 designed in this way will therefore not tip over when it is placed in a baking sheet 7 or a combination pan.

A cooking appliance with such a grate 1 allows safe handling of the cooking appliance, since a user of the cooking appliance cannot burn himself on the grate 1. Such a cooking device is, for example, a microwave device or an oven with an integrated microwave device.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

Reference symbols used:

1

rust

2nd

frame

3rd

Carrying stick

4th

Lattice bar

5

Footprint

6

Short-circuit wire

7

Baking sheet

8th

Height of the frame

Claims (12)

1. Wire rack (1) for a cooking appliance, with a frame (2), and placement area (5), which has at least one support bar (3) and a number of N grid bars (4), wherein the N grid bars (4) are each connected to the support bar (3) and the support bar (3) is connected to the frame (2) at two points, wherein the frame (2) is raised in relation to the placement area (5) and is connected to the placement area (5) in an electrically conductive manner via a number of M short-circuit wires (6), characterised in that the M short-circuit wires (6) are attached to the underside of the frame (2), wherein the number M of short-circuit wires (6) is less than the number N of grid bars (4), and wherein the wire rack (1) has two or more short-circuit wires (6) per side of the frame (2), which are connected to the placement area (5) via the short-circuit wires (6), in order to avoid a tilting of the wire rack (1) on a base support.
2. Wire rack (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the M short-circuit wires (6) run perpendicularly to the support bars (3).
3. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 2, characterised in that the number M of short-circuit wires is two, three or four.
4. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the M short-circuit wires (6) are designed as an extension of a grid bar (4).
5. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the placement area (5) is outwardly delimited by two support bars (3a, 3c).
6. Wire rack (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the two support bars (3a, 3c), which outwardly delimit the placement area (5), run perpendicularly to the grid bars (4).
7. Wire rack (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the frame (2) is connected to the placement area (5) in an electrically conductive manner via the two support bars (3a, 3c), which outwardly delimit the placement area (5).
8. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the height of the frame (2) in relation to the placement area (5) is constant.
9. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 8, characterised in that the short-circuit wires (6) have a Z-shaped bending.
10. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 9, characterised in that the grid bars (4) are straight.
11. Wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 10, characterised in that the grid bars (4) are arranged above the support bar (3).
12. Cooking appliance with a wire rack (1) according to one of claims 1 - 11.

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