EP3087803A1

EP3087803A1 - A connection apparatus that provides ease of assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3087803A1
Application number: EP14790625.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Murat MAMATOGLU; Davut Ayhan Serabatir; Merih Tarimtoru
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2014-10-30
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Also published as: WO2015096920A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection apparatus (1) that enables a cooktop (S) suitable for being placed in an opening (A) on a counter (W) to be connected to the counter (W), that comprises a support (2) mounted on the cooktop (S) and that provides ease of assembly.

Description

A CONNECTION APPARATUS THAT PROVIDES EASE OF ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a connection apparatus that enables the cooktop to be mounted on the counter in an easy and proper manner.
In kitchen furniture, a housing is opened on the counter and the cooktop is placed there into.
The assembly of the cooktops on the counter is generally realized by instruments such as drill, screwdriver etc. that can not be easily used by every user. Moreover, adjusting the level of the cooktop with respect to the counter is a cumbersome process due to the different thicknesses of counters. Therefore, it is preferred that the cooktops can be easily mounted in a simple and leak-proofing manner by the level thereof being adjusted by the user.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2110607, a cooking hob is disclosed which comprises a one-piece fastening element mounted into the cut-out on the counter in a simple manner.
The connection apparatus realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a support that aligns the counter with a cooktop lower casing suitable for being placed into the counter and a level adjustment rod that adjusts the position of the cooktop with respect to the counter by being mounted on the support by means of more than one claw arranged consecutively in different horizontals axes thereon such that at least one portion thereof remains between the support and the counter. The cooktop can be easily mounted so as to be almost at the same level with the working area on the counter independently from the thickness of the counter into which the cooktop is intended to be placed. Thus, the cooktop is prevented from being mounted to the counter so as to form protrusions or recesses on the counter, the esthetic perception is improved and the cooktop is enabled to be embedded in the counter in a water-tight manner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection apparatus comprises an interlocking member that locks the support onto the cooktop and that is mounted on the cooktop and the support such that the height thereof remaining between the cooktop and the support can be adjusted. The interlocking member enables the level of the cooktop, the position of which is adjusted with respect to the counter by means of the level adjustment rod, to be fine tuned, and the cooktop to be fixed at the adjusted height.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the interlocking member comprises more than one protrusion that is disposed on the interlocking member in the same vertical axis and that enables the interlocking member to gradually move inside the support. By means of the extensions arranged consecutively, the interlocking member changes place on the support in a controlled manner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection apparatus comprises a T-shaped stopper that is provided at the end of the interlocking member mounted into the cooktop and that prevents the interlocking member from dislodging from the cooktop by bearing against the cooktop. While the interlocking member fixes the support by being pulled downwards, the stopper enables the interlocking member to remain connected to the cooktop by bearing against the cooktop side wall.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the support is mounted into a housing arranged on the cooktop by means of a protrusion provided thereon when placed on the cooktop. The support furthermore comprises a support member extending such that the cooktop lower casing remains between the protrusion and the support member, and an elbow-shaped rest that grips the cooktop side wall.
A connection apparatus realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the partial perspective view of the counter, the cooktop and the connection apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 – is the partial cross-sectional view of the counter, the cooktop and the connection apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 – is the partial perspective view of the counter, the cooktop and the connection apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 – is the view of detail A in Figure 3.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Connection apparatus
Support
Claw
Level adjustment rod
Interlocking member
Extension
Stopper
Housing
Protrusion
Support member
Rest
Cut-out
Hole

W. Counter
S. Cooktop
The connection apparatus (1) comprises a support (2) that is mounted on the lower plate of a cooktop (S) suitable for being placed in an opening (A) on the counter (W). By means of the support (2), the cooktop (S) is mounted to the counter (W) by being aligned with the counter (W).
The connection apparatus (1) that enables the cooktop (S) of the present invention to be connected to the counter (W), comprises a level adjustment rod (4) on which more than one claw (3) is provided at different levels in the vertical direction with respect to different counter (W) thicknesses (h), the level adjustment rod (4) being mounted to the support (2) so as to bear against a claw (3) at a level that corresponds to the thickness (h) of the counter (W) and preventing the movement of the cooktop (S) in the vertical direction by bearing against the lower surface of the counter (W). By means of the level adjustment rod (4), the cooktop (S) is mounted into the counter (W) so as to be almost at the same level with the working area on the counter (W) in any case independently from the thickness (h) of the counter (W). The connection apparatus (1) enables the user to easily mount the cooktop (S) into the counter (W) without requiring additional instruments such as drill, screwdriver etc. or assembly service.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the support (2) comprises a cut-out (12) that is arranged thereon, against the surface of which the level adjustment rod (4) bears by means of the claw (3) by being passed therethrough. Thus, the level adjustment rod (4) is easily mounted on the support (2). The level adjustment rod (4) is gradually mounted on the support (2) by the claws (3) stretching backwards.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection apparatus (1) comprises an interlocking member (5) that enables the support (2) to be fixed to the cooktop (S) by one end thereof being mounted to the support (2) and the other end being mounted to the cooktop (S) and that aids in adjusting the level of the cooktop (S). When pulled in the direction of gravity when it is inside the support (2), the interlocking member (5) firmly grips the counter (W) between the edge of the cooktop (S) remaining on the counter (W) and the support (2). Thus, the interlocking member (5) fixes the support (2) to the cooktop (S) and enables the position of the cooktop (S) to be adjusted with respect to the counter (W) together with the level adjustment rod (4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the interlocking member (5) comprises more than one consecutive extension (6) that enables the interlocking member (5) to gradually change its place in the vertical axis wherein the support (2) on which the interlocking member (5) is mounted is situated. The extensions (6) are disposed in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity so as to prevent the interlocking member (5) from dislodging from the support (2).
In a derivative of this embodiment, the support (2) comprises a hole (13) that is arranged thereon, against the surface of which the interlocking member (5) bears by means of the extension (6) by being passed therethrough.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection apparatus (1) comprises a T-shaped stopper (7) that is provided at the end of the interlocking member (5) mounted into the cooktop (S) and that prevents the interlocking member (5) from dislodging from the cooktop (S) by bearing against the cooktop (S). When the interlocking member (5) is pulled downwards inside the support (2), the stopper (7) bears against the cooktop (S) side wall.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the support (2) comprises a protrusion (9) that is fitted into a housing (8) arranged on the lower casing of the cooktop (S) when the support (2) is placed on the cooktop (S), a support member (10) against which the lower casing of the cooktop (S) extending parallel to the protrusion (9) bears, and a rest (11) that is contacted by the side wall of the cooktop (S) positioned so as to be almost vertical to the support member (10). Thus, the support (2) is firmly mounted on the cooktop (S).
By means of the present invention, thanks to the connection apparatus (1), the cooktop (S) can be easily mounted so as to be almost at the same level with the working area on the counter (W) independently from the thickness of the counter (W) into which the cooktop (S) is intended to be placed. Thus, the cooktop (S) is prevented from being mounted to the counter (W) so as to form protrusions or recesses on the counter (W), the esthetic perception is improved and the cooktop (S) is enabled to be embedded in the counter (W) in a water-tight manner.

Claims

A connection apparatus (1) enabling a cooktop (S) suitable for being placed in an opening (A) on the counter (W) to be connected to the counter (W), comprising a support (2) mounted on the cooktop (S) lower plate, characterized by a level adjustment rod (4) on which more than one claw (3) is provided at different levels in the vertical direction with respect to different counter (W) thicknesses (h), the level adjustment rod (4) being mounted to the support (2) so as to bear against a claw (3) at a level that corresponds to the thickness (h) of the counter (W) and preventing the movement of the cooktop (S) in the vertical direction by bearing against the lower surface of the counter (W).
A connection apparatus (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the support (2) comprising a cut-out (12) provided thereon, against the surface of which the level adjustment rod (4) bears by means of the claw (3) by being passed therethrough.
A connection apparatus (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by ant interlocking member (5) that enables the support (2) to be fixed to the cooktop (S) by one end thereof being mounted to the support (2) and the other end being mounted to the cooktop (S) and that aids in adjusting the level of the cooktop (S).
A connection apparatus (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the interlocking member (5) having more than one consecutive extension (6) that enables the interlocking member (5) to gradually change place in the vertical axis wherein the support (2) on which the interlocking member (5) is mounted is situated.
A connection apparatus (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the support (2) comprising a hole (13) provided thereon, against the surface of which the interlocking member (5) bears by means of the extension (6) by being passed therethrough.
A connection apparatus (1) as in any one of the Claims 3 to 5, characterized by the interlocking member (5) comprising a T-shaped stopper (7) that is provided at the end of the interlocking member (5) mounted into the cooktop (S) and that prevents the interlocking member (5) from dislodging from the cooktop (S) by bearing against the cooktop (S).
A connection apparatus (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the support (2) comprising a protrusion (9) that is mounted into a housing (8) arranged on the cooktop (S) when the support (2) is placed on the cooktop (S), a support member (10) against which the lower casing of the cooktop (S) extending parallel to the protrusion (9) bears and a rest (11) that is contacted by the side wall of the cooktop (S) positioned so as to be almost vertical to the support member (10).