EP3087325A1

EP3087325A1 - Door for use in a household appliance and household appliance having the same

Info

Publication number: EP3087325A1
Application number: EP13811993.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fatih Ceylan; Serdar Turkoz; Hasan Yoruk
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2013-12-24
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Also published as: WO2015096865A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door (1) for use in a household appliance, in particular an oven. The door (1) comprises an outer glass pane (2), an inner glass pane (3), a frame (4) for holding the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) and an intermediate glass pane (5) which is arranged between the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3), wherein two mounting elements (6) each having a guide (7) for slidably receiving and supporting upper corners (8) of the intermediate glass pane (5) respectively, wherein the two mounting elements (6) are separately provided from the frame (4), and wherein the two mounting elements (6) are respectively embedded into a pair of openings (9) which are formed into opposing lateral sides (10) of the frame (4).

Description

DOOR FOR USE IN A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a door for use in a household appliance, in particular an oven. The present invention more particularly relates to a door with an intermediate glass pane.
The exposed parts of a household appliance must be generally kept well below dangerous temperature limits to protect the user from skin burns and scalding. Especially in an oven, exposed parts such as the oven door is directly subjected to radiant heat emanated from the cooking chamber. During a cooking process, the handle and the outer glass pane of the oven door can easily get hot. Therefore, increased measures must be taken to cool down the oven door to safe temperatures.
Several techniques have been devised for cooling an oven door. In a commonly known technique the oven door is provided with a ventilation hole. The air inside the oven door is drawn through the ventilation hole into a process air duct by the suction effect of a fan, and subsequently discharged into the environment. A drawback of this techniques is that using a fan generally increases the overall manufacturing costs and the energy consumption of the oven.
In another commonly known technique, an intermediate glass pane is arranged between the outer glass pane and an inner glass pane of the oven door to function as an additional thermal barrier. In this technique the hot air inside the oven door can be discharged into the environment, for example, by natural convection via a ventilation hole formed in the oven door.
DE 101 43 925 A1 discloses a cooking appliance door. This cooking appliance door includes an outer glass pane, an inner glass pane, and the intermediate glass pane. The intermediate glass pane is arranged between the outer glass pane and inner glass pane. The cooking appliance door further includes a frame which holds the outer glass pane and an inner glass pane. The intermediate glass pane is inserted into a gap defined by a flange and an L-shaped profile which are circumferentially formed on the frame.
A drawback of the above conventional cooking appliance door is that a manufacturing of the frame involves assembly of several parts which incurs additional costs. Also the intermediate glass pane is susceptible to vibrations and breakage.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a door for use in an oven which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art and which is easy to manufacture and assemble.
This objective has been achieved by the door according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, and the household appliance according to the present invention as defined in claim 15. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The door according to the present invention comprises two mounting elements each having a guide for slidably receiving and supporting upper corners of the intermediate glass pane respectively. The two mounting elements are separately provided from the frame. The two mounting elements are respectively embedded into a pair of openings which are formed into opposing lateral sides of the frame.
In an embodiment, each guide has protrusions which abut the lower surface and the upper surface of the intermediate glass pane. The protrusions provide a relatively high friction to prevent the intermediate glass pane from sliding. In addition the protrusions firmly press onto the intermediate glass pane so as to diminish vibrations and prevent the intermediate glass pane from clattering or the like under load. In a version of this embodiment, the protrusions of each guide are formed in a staggered arrangement to improve a grip.
In another embodiment, each guide is reinforced with supporting ribs. The supporting ribs prevent the mounting element from breakage when the intermediate glass pane exerts high forces onto the guide.
In another embodiment, each mounting element has a ventilation hole which fluidly connects a space between the outer glass pane and the inner glass pane to the outside. The ventilation hole fluidly connects the space on both sides of the intermediate glass pane with the outside.
In another embodiment, one of the mounting elements has an inclined portion which matches a chamfered corner of the intermediate glass plane. Thereby, an incorrect mounting of the intermediate glass pane is prevented.
By the present invention, a door has been provided which is easy to manufacture and assemble. The intermediate glass pane can be safely installed into the door of the present invention.
Additional advantages of the door and the household appliance according to the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a door according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 – is another schematic perspective view of the door according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 – is a schematic perspective exploded partial view of the door according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 – is a schematic perspective partial view of the door according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 – is a schematic perspective enlarged partial view of the detail A in Fig. 4;
Figure 6 – is a schematic perspective view of a mounting element according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 – is another schematic perspective view of the mounting element according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 – is a schematic partial rear view of the door according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 – is a schematic cross sectional partial bottom view of the door shown in Fig. 8, taken along the line B-B;
Figure 10 – is a schematic enlarged partial bottom view of the detail D in Fig. 9;
Figure 11 – is a schematic cross sectional partial side view of the door shown in Fig. 8, taken along the line C-C;
Figure 12 – is a schematic enlarged partial side view of the detail E in Fig. 11.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.
1. Door
2. Outer glass pane
3. Inner glass pane
3a. Lower side
4. Frame
5. Intermediate glass pane
5a. Lower surface
5b. Upper surface
5c. Bottom side
6. Mounting element
7. Guide
8. Upper corner
9. Opening
10. Lateral side
11. Inner side
12. Flange
13. Protrusion
14. Supporting ribs
15. Ventilation hole
16. Space
17. Inclined portion
18. Chamfered corner
19. U-shaped profile
20. Hinge elements
21. End portion
22. Receiving gap
23. Reinforcement plate
24. Through-hole
25. Handle
26. Claws
The door (1) is suitable for use in a household appliance (not shown), in particular an oven (Figs. 1 and 2). The door (1) comprises an outer glass pane (2), an inner glass pane (3); a frame (4) for holding the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) and
an intermediate glass pane (5) which is arranged between the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) (Figs. 1 to 4).
The door (1) according to the present invention comprises two mounting elements (6) each having a guide (7) for slidably receiving and supporting upper corners (8) of the intermediate glass pane (5) respectively (Figs. 3 and 4). The two mounting elements (6) are separately provided from the frame (4) (Fig. 6). The two mounting elements (6) are respectively embedded into a pair of openings (9) which are formed into opposing lateral sides (10) of the frame (4) (Figs. 3 and 4).
In an embodiment, the mounting element (6) is made of a heat resistant and resilient plastic material. The mounting element (6) can be manufactured by a molding process.
In another embodiment, the two mounting elements (6) are respectively embedded from an inner side (11) of the frame (4) into the pair of openings (9) by compression fit (Figs. 3 and 4). In a version of this embodiment, the mounting element (6) has been provided with claws (26) which catch the frame (4) (Fig. 6).
In another embodiment, each mounting element (6) has a flange (12) which abuts against an inner side (11) of the frame (4) (Fig. 5). In a version of this embodiment, the mounting element (6) has an oblong shape (6).
In another embodiment, each guide (7) includes a pair of protrusions (13) which are configured to abut respectively on a lower surface (5a) and an upper surface (5b) of the intermediate glass pane (5) (Figs. 11 and 12). The protrusions (13) provide a relatively high friction to prevent the intermediate glass pane (5) from sliding. In addition the protrusions (13) firmly press onto the intermediate glass pane (5) so as to diminish vibrations and prevent the intermediate glass pane (5) from clattering or the like. In a version of this embodiment, the protrusions (13) of each guide (7) are formed in a staggered arrangement.
In another embodiment, each guide (7) is reinforced with a plurality of supporting ribs (14) (Fig. 6). The supporting ribs (14) prevent the mounting element (6) from breakage when the intermediate glass pane (5) exerts high forces onto the guide (7) (Figs. 9 and 10).
In another embodiment, each mounting element (6) has one or more than one ventilation hole (15) which fluidly connects a space (16) between the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) to the outside. The ventilation hole (15) fluidly connects the space on both sides of the intermediate glass pane (5) with the outside (Figs. 11 and 12).
In another embodiment, at least one of the mounting elements (6) has an inclined portion (17) which is configured to match a chamfered corner (18) of the intermediate glass pane (5) (Figs. 3 and 6). Thereby, an incorrect mounting of the intermediate glass pane (5) is prevented (Figs. 3 and 4). This is particularly important when the intermediate glass pane (5) has a non-uniform structure.
In another embodiment, the frame (4) is configured by a u-shaped profile (19). In this embodiment, the frame has two lateral sides (10) and an upper side which connects the lateral sides (11) (Fig. 3). In a version of this embodiment, the u-shaped profile has a substantially rectangular cross section (Figs. 9 and 11).
In another embodiment, the door (1) further comprises a pair of hinge elements (20) (Figs. 1 and 2). Each of the hinge elements (20) are respectively secured to the frame (4) by way of insertion into open end portions (21) of the u-shaped profile (19) (Figs. 3 and 4).
In another embodiment, each hinge element (20) has a receiving gap (22) for supporting a lower side (3a) of the inner glass pane (3) (Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 11).
In another embodiment, the door (1) further comprises a reinforcement plate (23) which is connected to the pair of hinge elements (20) (Figs. 3 and 4). The reinforcement plate (23) configures a bottom of the door (1) (Figs. 1 and 2). In addition, the reinforcement plate (23) has one or more than through hole (24) for draining condensate water (Fig. 2). Thereby, the condensate is prevented from dropping onto the floor.
In another embodiment, a bottom side (5c) of the intermediate glass pane (5) is supported by the reinforcement plate (23). Thereby, the intermediate glass pane (5) is secured to the frame (4) from below.
In another embodiment, the outer glass pane (2) is secured to the frame (4) by an adhesive.
In the subsequent description an assembly process of the door (1) will be explained by way of giving an example. First, the frame (4) is provided. The mounting elements (6) are inserted into the openings (9) on the frame (4) from an inside such that the flanges (12) firmly abut against the inner sides (11) of the frame (4). Then, the upper corners (8) of the intermediate glass pane (5) are slidably engaged with the mounting elements (6). The hinge elements (20) are inserted into the open-end portions (21) of the frame (4). Subsequently the hinge elements (20) are fixed to the frame (4). The reinforcement plate (23) is aligned across the legs of the u-shaped profile (19) while supporting the bottom side (5c) of the intermediate glass pane (5). The reinforcement plate (23) is fixed to the hinge elements (20) for example by using screws (not shown). The outer glass pane (2) is fixed onto the frame (4) by using an adhesive. The inner glass pane (3) is placed on the frame (4) while inserting the lower side (3c) of the intermediate glass pane (5) into the receiving gaps (22). The inner glass pane (3) is subsequently fixed to the frame (4) by an adhesive or other mechanical means. The door (1) is provided with a handle (25) (Figs. 1 to 12). Thereafter, the door (1) is ready for use in a household appliance.
The present invention also proves a household appliance (not shown) which comprises the door (1) of the present invention.
In an embodiment, the household appliance is an oven (not shown) which comprises a cooking chamber and the door (1) of the present invention. The door (1) is pivotably arranged to open/close the cooking chamber. The door (1) is connected to a main body of the oven through the hinge elements (20).
By the present invention, a door (1) has been provided which is easy to manufacture and assemble. The intermediate glass pane (5) can be safely installed into the door (1).

Claims

A door (1) for use in an household appliance, in particular an oven, the door (1) comprising an outer glass pane (2), an inner glass pane (3), a frame (4) for holding the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) and an intermediate glass pane (5) which is arranged between the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3), characterized in that two mounting elements (6) each having a guide (7) for slidably receiving and supporting upper corners (8) of the intermediate glass pane (5) respectively, wherein the two mounting elements (6) are separately provided from the frame (4), and wherein the two mounting elements (6) are respectively embedded into a pair of openings (9) which are formed into opposing lateral sides (10) of the frame (4).
The door (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two mounting elements (6) are respectively embedded from an inner side (11) of the frame (4) into the pair of openings (9) by compression fit.
The door (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each mounting element (6) has a flange (12) which abuts against an inner side (11) of the frame (4).
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each guide (7) includes a pair of protrusions (13) which are configured to abut respectively against a lower surface (5a) and an upper surface (5b) of the intermediate glass pane (5).
The door (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the protrusions (13) of each guide (7) are formed in a staggered arrangement.
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each guide (7) is reinforced with a plurality of supporting ribs (14).
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each mounting element (6) has one or more than one ventilation hole (15) which fluidly connects a space (16) between the outer glass pane (2) and the inner glass pane (3) to an outside.
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of the mounting elements (6) has an inclined portion (17) which is configured to match a chamfered corner (18) of the intermediate glass pane (5).
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the frame (4) is configured by u-shaped profile (19).
The door (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that a pair of hinge elements (20) each respectively secured to the frame (4) by way of insertion into open-end portions (21) of the u-shaped profile (19).
The door (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that each hinge element (21) has a receiving gap (22) for supporting a lower side (3a) of the inner glass pane (3).
The door (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a reinforcement plate (23) which is connected to the pair of hinge elements (20), wherein the reinforcement plate (23) configures a bottom the door (1), and wherein the reinforcement plate (23) has one or more than through hole (24) for draining condensate water.
The door (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a bottom side (5c) of the intermediate glass pane (5) is supported by the reinforcement plate (23).
The door (1) according to any one of claims 1 to13, characterized in that the outer glass pane (2) is secured to the frame (4) by an adhesive.
A household appliance, in particular an oven comprising a cooking chamber and a door (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the door (1) is pivotably arranged to open/close the cooking chamber.