EP3040625A1

EP3040625A1 - A cooktop and hinged cover having a lighting unit

Info

Publication number: EP3040625A1
Application number: EP15199811.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Engin Atalay; Sevgi COSAR; Hasan Emrah TORUN
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2014-12-29
Filing date: 2015-12-14
Publication date: 2016-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-14
Also published as: EP3040625B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a hob (13) having a top plate (14); a cover (19) hinged to the top plate (14) and movable between a closed position and an open position and; a hinge (7) having a hinge bearing (71) pivoting the hinge (7) onto the top plate (14). The hinge bearing (71) has at least one illuminating member (3).

Description

The invention relates to cooking devices comprising illumination members providing to illuminate a cover or a top plate of the cooking device.
Cooking devices are usually manufactured in a structure as only a hob or a range with a hob having a top plate part integrated to an oven part. The hobs have a cover covering the top plate while the hob is not in use or retaining open while the hob is in use. The cover is manufactured from ceramic and particularly glass materials. The cover of the cooking device hinged to the top plate pivotally between a horizontal position covering an upper side of the top plate and an upright position in which the top plate is exposed.
In the prior art, there are some embodiments having illuminating members providing to illuminate the top plate. So, cooking pan and meal in the cooking pan can be seen while cooking. And there are some embodiments providing esthetical view on the household appliance.
One of the embodiment with an illuminating member can be seen from the document with the publication number, FR2598204 . The invention relates to a domestic appliance comprising at least one cooking surface and a cover for protecting this cooking surface. It is characterized in that it comprises, associated with the cover, means for illuminating the surface of the hot plate of the cooking surface, so as to illuminate the top of the dishes placed on the hot plate.
Another embodiment with an illuminating member can be seen from the document with the publication number, EP2189727 . A hand grip of a domestic appliance comprises a LED light source, two fastening elements and a grip portion having a window and a cover fitted in the window, transparent to the light rays emitted by the light source.
Purpose of the invention is to illuminate a cover or a top plate of a cooking device and also to provide an esthetical view for the cooking device.
In order to achieve above object, the invention relates to a cooking device comprising a hob having a top plate; a cover hinged to the top plate and movable between a closed position and an open position and; a hinge having a hinge bearing pivoting the hinge onto the top plate. The hinge bearing has at least one illuminating member. Thus, the illumination of the cover or the top plate of a cooking device is provided. And also an esthetical view for the cooking device is provided.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, the illuminating member comprises a diffuser and a light source positioned under the diffuser. Thus, light beams can be diffused by the diffuser and the light source provides the light. The diffuser may be manufactured from an opal glass or an opaque plastic. The illuminating member is LED and the light source has a LED PCB card.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the light source comprises at least one mounting opening. Thus, the light source can be mounted to the diffuser.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the diffuser comprises at least one mounting tab. Thus, the mounting tab of the diffuser is passed through the mounting opening for fixing the light source to the diffuser.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the diffuser is in a form like a semi circle. Thus, semi circular form of the diffuser provides to diffuse the light beams along the semi circle form.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the diffuser is formed as being angled. Thus, the angle of the diffuser provides to focus light beams along the limited angle. The limited angle is exactly or nearly 180°.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the angle of the diffuser is arranged as diffusing the light from the light source to many directions towards to the top plate and the cover. Thus, the top plate and the cover are illuminated.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the hinge bearing comprises a housing for disposing the illuminating member. Thus, mounting of the illuminating member is easy and practical by disposing the illuminating member into the housing.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the diffuser is disposed as embedded in the housing of the hinge bearing. Thus, the hinge bearing with an illuminating member provides an esthetical view and the diffuser can be held harmless in the housing.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the housing is formed at a top part of the hinge bearing. Thus, the illumination is provided at a visible part of the cooking device.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the cooking device comprises at least one electrical transmission means connected to the illuminating member for transmitting electrical energy to the illuminating member. Thus, electrical energy to the illuminating member is provided by means of the electrical transmission means.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the electrical transmission means comprises at least one electrical terminal connected to the light source. Thus, the electrical terminals provide to transmit the electrical energy by contacting to the light source and especially to the LED PCB card.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the electrical terminal is disposed at an inner part of the hinge bearing. Thus, electrical transmission means particularly electrical terminal can be hidden at the inner part of the hinge bearing. As a result of this, electrical terminal can be secured from fluid leakages and can be held harmless.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the electrical transmission means is a cable. Thus, the electrical transmission is provided in a reliable manner.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, the cooking device comprises a sealing between the housing and boundaries of the diffuser where the diffuser contacts to the housing. Thus, the sealing prevents water or another fluid leakage towards inside the housing.

Explanation of Diagrams:

Figure 1: is a perspective view from the front of a cooking device particularly a hob.
Figure 2: (Detail A) is a detail view taken from figure-1.
Figure 3: is a perspective view from the front of a cooking device.
Figure 4: is a perspective view from the front of a hinge bearing having an illuminating member.
Figure 5: is a perspective view from the lower part of the hinge bearing.
Figure 6: is a perspective view from the lateral side of the illuminating member.
Figure 7: is a perspective view from the lateral side of a diffuser of the illuminating member.
Figure 8: is a perspective view from the lateral side of a light source of the illuminating member.

The invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a hinge (7) particularly a hinge bearing (71) with an illuminating member (3).
Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a cooking device () particularly a hob (13). Figure 2 (Detail A) is a detail view taken from figure-1. Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front of a cooking device (1). The cooking device (1) can be structured as a hob (13) or an oven having at least one cooking chamber (12) or a cooking device with the oven and the hob integrated on the same body (11). A hob (13) of this kind of a cooking device is set on a top plate (14). The top plate (14) is integrated to the body (11). There is a pan-support (16) which will support cooking pans, pots etc. on the top plate (14). A control panel (17) is disposed on a front side of the body (11) where easy to reach. Buttons (18) provides to adjust properly heat of the cooking chamber (12) and/or gas flow for the burners (15), are disposed on the control panel (17).
A hinge (7) provides to pivot a cover (19) of the cooking device (1) on the body (11) or on the top plate (14) of the cooking device (1). The cover (19) can be structured as a cover which can be closed onto the hob (13) (figure-1). The cover (19) is pivoted onto the body (11) of the cooking device (1), detachably. A hinge bearing (71) of the hinge (7) provides to fix the hinge (7) to the body (11). Hence, the hinge bearing (71) is disposed onto the top plate (14) in a manner passing a snap connector (713) of the hinge bearing (71) through a plug-in opening (141) formed on the top plate (14).
An upper profile (23) is formed in a manner being adaptable to an upper side of the cover (19) of an upright position of the cover (19). The upper profile (23) is manufactured from a metal material. The cover (19) is manufactured from a ceramic-based material particularly a glass material. The hinge bearing (71) is manufactured from a non-conductive material particularly a glass-fiber reinforced plastic. In an alternative embodiment, the hinge bearing (71) can be manufactured from a conductive material, in this case, security measures are taken by applying electrical insulation on the hinge bearing (71).
Figure 4 is a perspective view from the front of a hinge bearing (71) having an illuminating member (3). Figure 5 is a perspective view from the lower part of the hinge bearing (71). The hinge bearing (71) comprises a hinge holder (711) and a snap connector (713) integrated to the hinge holder (711). The hinge holder (711) is in a form of similar to a right trapezium having a rounded top part (717) and the snap connector (713) is in a form of similar to a rectangular prism. A mounting groove (712) is formed on the hinge holder (711). A bearing member (73) is fixed to the hinge bearing (71) by means of passing a bearing pin (731) of the bearing member (73) of the hinge (7) through the mounting groove (712). Latching tongues (714) are formed on wall portions (715) of the snap connector (713) in various types. Latching tongues (714) provides to fix the hinge bearing (71) to the top plate (14) by means of latching tongues (714) are passed through the plug-in opening (141). As it can be seen from the figure 4, there is a housing (716) formed on a top part (717) of the hinge bearing (71). The housing (716) is as extending towards inside of the hinge bearing (71) as an opening where the diffuser (31) of the illuminating member (3) can be disposed in a fit manner.
Bearing member (73) is mounted to the hinge bearing (71) by the bearing pin (731). The bearing member (73) comprises a profile part (732) integrated to the bearing member (73) and disposed at a rear side of the bearing member (73), facing to the cover (19). The profile part (732) is formed like having a "U" cross-section and as extending along the bearing member (73). A cover housing (733) is formed on the profile part (732). The cover housing (733) has a U-shaped cross section. The cover (19) fits on the profile part (732) by means of one edge of the cover (19) is passed into the cover housing (733). Thus, the cover (19) is mounted to the hinge (7) detachably. The cover (19) is mounted to the body (11) by attaching the one edge of the cover (19) by two hinges (7). The cover (19) is mounted and fixed to the profile part (732) of the bearing member (73). The cover (19) is detachable to the profile part (732) (figure-1, Figure-2 (Detail A)).
Figure 6 is a perspective view from the lateral side of the illuminating member (3). The illuminating member (3) comprises a diffuser (31) and a light source (33). In an embodiment of the invention, the illuminating member (3) is LED and the light source (33) has LED, LED PCB card and a socket (35) wherein the LED and the LED PCB card is disposed. And also the PCB card with an Aluminum block cooler is used as a cooling member for the LED. The electrical transmission is provided through the hinge bearing (71) by electrical transmission means. The electrical transmission means comprises at least one electrical terminal connected to the light source (33) particularly to the socket (34).
In an embodiment of the invention, electrical transmission means is a cable. The snap connector (713) of the hinge bearing (71) is hollow. Thus, the light source (33) and the socket (35) and cable terminals are disposed in an inner part (718) of the hinge bearing (71) (not shown in the figures). By the way the inner part (718) can be seen from the figure-5. There is enough space to dispose the light source (33) and to pass through the cables inside the hinge bearing (71) for connecting the light source (33).
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the illuminating member (3) may be a power LED or a halogen lamp or another kind of lamps.
Figure 7 is a perspective view from the lateral side of the diffuser (31) of the illuminating member (3). The diffuser (31) is designed as an angled diffuser. The shape of the angled diffuser (31) is like a semi circular and has sectional cuts at both sides corresponding to each other. The semi circular form of the diffuser (31) is formed and extending nearly or exactly with 180° angle. The diffuser (31) provides to diffuse the light beams along 180° angle of the diffuser (31). Light beams are being diffused at many directions along the 180° angle. The diffuser (31) diffuses the light homogenously and secures the light source (33). The diffuser (31) has high temperature endurance. The high temperatures can be operating temperatures for the burners (15) of the hob (13). There is a distance between the burners (15) and the hinges (7). But during the cooking period of time, the hinges (7) and also the diffuser (31) can overheat. For this reason the diffuser (31) is manufactured from a kind of material having high temperature endurance. The diffuser (31) can be manufactured from an opal glass or an opaque plastic. And also, a prismatic member can be used in the diffuser (31) for controlling or focusing to the light beams.
Figure 8 is a perspective view from the lateral side of the light source (33) of the illuminating member (3). The socket (35) of the light source (33) comprises at least one mounting opening (34). The diffuser (31) has at least one mounting tab (32). The mounting tab (32) of the diffuser (31) is passed through the mounting opening (34) for fixing the light source (33) to the diffuser (31). Light can be arranged or chosen at desired light intensity and the angle of the light source (33) can be provided at desired angle before fixing the light source (33).
The illuminating member (3) particularly the diffuser (31) is mounted to the housing (716) of the bearing member (73). There is a sealing between the housing (716) and boundaries of the diffuser (31) where the diffuser (31) contacts to the housing (716). Sealing prevents water or other fluid leakages towards inside the bearing member (73) from the housing (716).
And also the similar sealing is provided between the hinge bearing (71) and the plug-in opening (141) of the top plate (14). Thus, sealing prevents water or other fluid leakages towards inside the top plate (14) from the plug-in opening (141).
In a detailed description of the invention, the subject matter cooking device (1) operates as explained below. The cooking device (1) comprises hinge bearings (71) with the illuminating members (3). The hinge bearings (71) provide to fix the bearing members (73) of the hinges (7) and also the cover (19) onto the top plate (14) pivotally. The cover (19) is movable pivotally between a horizontal position covering an upper side of the top plate (14) and an upright position in which the top plate (14) is exposed. The horizontal position of the cover (19) can be called a closed position and the upright position of the cover (19) can be called an open position. The illuminating members (3) on the hinge bearings (71) illuminate the cover (19) and also the top plate (14) and provide an esthetical view for the cooking device (1). The diffuser (31) of the illuminating member (3) provides to diffuse the light beams along 180° angle of the diffuser (31). Light beams are being diffused at many directions along the 180° angle. Activation of the illuminating member (3) can be realized by a switching member (21) and the switching member (21) is set on the control panel (17).
In an opened position of the cover (19) on the top plate (14), an angle between the cover (19) and the top plate (14) is 90° or approximately 100°.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, in a closed position of the cover (19) in which position of the cover (19) is closed down onto the top plate (14), a switch for the illuminating member (3) can be switched off automatically by the movement of the cover (19). However in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the switch can be arranged as switching on and providing electrical current transmission when the cover (19) is in a closed position on the top plate (14) automatically by the movement of the cover (19).
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the form of the diffuser (31) can be changed and light diffusing angles of the diffuser (31) can be varying.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the top plate (14) of the hob (13) can be formed and mentioned as the body (11) of the cooking device (1) where the cover (19) is hinged by hinges (7).
An electronic card (22) can be disposed in the body (11) of the cooking device (1) for controlling the illuminating member (3). The electronic card (22) controls an electric circuit for the illuminating member (3).

Reference Numbers

1.: Cooking device
11.: Body
12.: Cooking chamber
13.: Hob
14.: Top plate
141.: Plug-in opening
15.: Burner
16.: Pan-support
17.: Control panel
18.: Button
19.: Cover

21.: Switching member
22.: Electronic card
23.: Upper profile

3.: Illuminating member
31.: Diffuser
32.: Mounting tab
33.: Light source
34.: Mounting opening
35.: Socket

7.: Hinge
71.: Hinge bearing
711.: Hinge holder
712.: Mounting groove
713.: Snap connector
714.: Latching tongue
715.: Wall portion
716.: Housing
717.: Top part
718.: Inner part
73.: Bearing member
731.: Bearing pin
732.: Profile part
733.: Cover housing

Claims

A cooking device (1) comprising a hob (13) having a top plate (14); a cover (19) hinged to the top plate (14) and movable between a closed position and an open position and; a hinge (7) having a hinge bearing (71) pivoting the hinge (7) onto the top plate (14) characterized in that; the hinge bearing (71) has at least one illuminating member (3).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating member (3) comprises a diffuser (31) and a light source (33) positioned under the diffuser (31).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the light source (33) comprises at least one mounting opening (34).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the diffuser (31) comprises at least one mounting tab (32) formed as corresponding to the mounting opening (34).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the diffuser (31) is in a form like a semi circle.
The cooking device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser (31) is formed as being angled.
The cooking device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the angle of the diffuser (31) is arranged as diffusing the light from the light source (33) to many directions towards to the top plate (14) and the cover (19).
The cooking device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge bearing (71) comprises a housing (716) for disposing the illuminating member (3).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 2 and 8, wherein the diffuser (31) is disposed as embedded in the housing (716) of the hinge bearing (71).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the housing (716) is formed at a top part (717) of the hinge bearing (71).
The cooking device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the cooking device (1) comprises at least one electrical transmission means connected to the illuminating member (3) for transmitting electrical energy to the illuminating member (3).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the electrical transmission means comprises at least one electrical terminal connected to the light source (33).
The cooking device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the electrical terminal is disposed at an inner part (718) of the hinge bearing (71).
The cooking device (1) according to anyone of the claim 11-13, wherein the electrical transmission means is a cable.
The cooking device (1) according to anyone of the claim 8-14, wherein the cooking device (1) comprises a sealing between the housing (716) and boundaries of the diffuser (31) where the diffuser (31) contacts to the housing (716).