EP3126744A1 - Cooking appliance, in particular for domestic use - Google Patents

Cooking appliance, in particular for domestic use

Info

Publication number
EP3126744A1
EP3126744A1 EP15724758.6A EP15724758A EP3126744A1 EP 3126744 A1 EP3126744 A1 EP 3126744A1 EP 15724758 A EP15724758 A EP 15724758A EP 3126744 A1 EP3126744 A1 EP 3126744A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
muffle
lighting device
cooking appliance
cooking
upper corner
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15724758.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabio Gambardella
Matteo Scoponi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Indesit Co SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indesit Co SpA filed Critical Indesit Co SpA
Priority claimed from PCT/IB2015/052390 external-priority patent/WO2015151041A1/en
Publication of EP3126744A1 publication Critical patent/EP3126744A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00—Details
    • F24C15/008—Illumination for oven cavities
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
    • B23P21/00—Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
    • B23P21/008—Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control the assembling machines or tools moving synchronously with the units while these are being assembled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B10/00—Power and free systems
    • B61B10/02—Power and free systems with suspended vehicles
    • B61B10/025—Coupling and uncoupling means between power track abd vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D65/00—Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
    • B62D65/02—Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
    • B62D65/18—Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G19/00—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
    • B65G19/02—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers
    • B65G19/025—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers for suspended articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G19/00—Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
    • B65G19/18—Details
    • B65G19/22—Impellers, e.g. push-plates, scrapers; Guiding means therefor
    • B65G19/24—Attachment of impellers to traction element
    • B65G19/245—Attachment of impellers to traction element for article conveyors, e.g. for container conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
    • B23P2700/00—Indexing scheme relating to the articles being treated, e.g. manufactured, repaired, assembled, connected or other operations covered in the subgroups
    • B23P2700/50—Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Cooking appliances in particular for household use (such as, for example, an oven or a cooking range, wherein "cooking range” refers to a household appliance comprising at least one oven and at least one cooking top), are usually provided with a cooking compartment for cooking foodstuffs, said cooking compartment being obtained in a muffle of the cooking appliance and being delimited by a bottom wall, a back wall, a top wall, and side walls of said muffle.
  • known muffles comprise an opening that puts the cooking compartment in communication with the outside environment in order to allow a user to place foodstuffs inside the cooking compartment.
  • Said opening can be closed with a door, which usually comprises a perimetric frame and supports a suitable thermal glass allowing the user to observe the cooking compartment and any foodstuffs being cooked; also, the door is horizontally pivoted to the oven muffle by means of hinges, which support it and guide its motion as it opens and closes the cooking compartment.
  • a door which usually comprises a perimetric frame and supports a suitable thermal glass allowing the user to observe the cooking compartment and any foodstuffs being cooked; also, the door is horizontally pivoted to the oven muffle by means of hinges, which support it and guide its motion as it opens and closes the cooking compartment.
  • the cooking appliances known in the art are fitted with a lighting device which allows illuminating the cooking compartment and any foods being cooked; said lighting device usually consists of a lamp associated with one of the muffle walls, in particular a back wall of said muffle. It has however been noticed that such a solution does not provide homogeneous and sufficient illumination throughout the cooking compartment, in particular when foodstuffs to be cooked are present inside the muffle. In fact, in such situations the foodstuffs interfere with the light beam of the lighting device, and create a grey area between the foodstuffs being cooked and the front portion of the muffle.
  • a cooking appliance (e.g. the one shown in document No. US7,252,402) is also known in the art which comprises a cooking compartment lighting system associated with a door, said door being horizontally pivoted to a muffle to allow access to the cooking compartment.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, accordin to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3a and 3b are, respectively, a front view and a sectional side view of the muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention
  • - Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention.
  • reference numeral 1 schematically designates as a whole a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, according to the present invention.
  • Said cooking appliance 1 comprises at least one cooking compartment 2 for cooking foodstuffs, said cooking compartment 2 being obtained in a muffle 10 of the cooking appliance 1 and being delimited by a bottom wall 11, a back wall 12, a top wall 13, a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 15 of said muffle 0.
  • bottom wall 11 and the top wall 13 are substantially opposite to each other, just like the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 15.
  • Fig. 1 does not show a door of the cooking appliance 1, which is preferably horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10 through hinges (not shown) that support it and guide it in its motion as it opens and closes the cooking compartment 2.
  • FIG. 1 also shows that the cooking compartment 1 according to the present invention preferably comprises:
  • a front panel 4 in particular comprising interface means 4A for displaying and/ or setting information about the operation of the cooking appliance
  • said front panel 4 is positioned on top of the muffle 10, so that the user can comfortably gain access to said interface means 4A while using the cooking appliance 1.
  • the cooking appliance 1 preferably comprises at least one support element 5 for dividing the cooking compartment 2 into a plurality of shelves and cooking foodstuffs on multiple levels, in particular by inserting one or more of said support elements 5 into suitable supports 5A (shown in simplified form in Fig. 2), which allow said support element 5 to be positioned at different levels of said first side wall 14 and second side wall 15.
  • suitable supports 5A shown in simplified form in Fig. 2
  • Figures 2 to 3b show a grid that represents said at least one support element 5; it is however clear that said at least one support element 5 may also consist of a baking pan or a dripping pan (not shown in the annexed drawings).
  • the cooking appliance 1 comprises at least one lighting device (designated as a whole by reference numeral 20) associated with said muffle 10 to allow illuminating the cooking compartment 2.
  • said at least one lighting device 20 is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 and in correspondence with a first upper corner 17 of said muffle 10, said at least one lighting device 20 being associated with said muffle 10 in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis A (drawn with a dashed-dotted line in Figures 2 to 4) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment 2.
  • said front frame 16 of the muffle 10 delimits an opening of the muffle 10, in particular said opening being opposite to the back wall 12 of the muffle 10; as known in the art, the opening of the muffle 10 allows the user to place foodstuffs into the cooking compartment 2 for cooking them.
  • said first upper corner 17 corresponds to a corner of the muffle 10 located between the top wall 13, the first side wall 14 and the front frame 16.
  • the front frame 16 substantially corresponds to that part of the muffle 10 which is closest to the door (not shown in the drawings) of the cooking appliance 1; also, the "central portion" of the cooking compartment 2 refers to the intermediate portion of said cooking compartment 2, i.e. a portion substantially equidistant from the door, the bottom wall 11, the back wall 12, the top wall 13 and the first and second side walls 14, 15 of the muffle 10.
  • the lighting device 20 is associated with said muffle 10 in an inclined manner.
  • said lighting device 20 is associated with the muffle 10 in such a way that its axis substantially coincides with said axis A of the light beam, and in such a way that:
  • a first angle Al (shown in Figure 3a) is formed between said axis A and a first plane PI in which the first side wall 14 lies;
  • a second angle A2 (shown in Figures 3b and 4) is formed between said axis A and a second plane P2 in which said front frame 16 lies.
  • Figures 3a to 4 only show the axis A of the light beam, in that it substantially coincides with the axis of the lighting device 20. Also, it clearly emerges from said Figures that said first angle Al and second angle A2 are the angles formed by the axis A with the first plane PI and with the second plane P2 towards the cooking compartment 2.
  • said first angle Al is between 15° and 45°
  • said second angle A2 is between 15° and 45°
  • the peculiar provisions of the present invention allow providing a cooking appliance 1, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device 20 that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the entire cooking compartment 2 of said cooking appliance 1, particularly when inside said cooking compartment 2 there are foodstuffs to be cooked and/ or at least one support element 5 adapted to allow cooking said foodstuffs on multiple levels.
  • the lighting device 20 has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate that portion of the food to be cooked which faces towards the door and the user, in particular without creating any grey areas between the food to be cooked and the front portion of the muffle 10.
  • the peculiar provisions of the present invention ensure adequate illumination of the cooking compartment 2 of the cooking appliance 1, in particular independently of the open or closed condition of the door horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10.
  • the peculiar position of at least one lighting device 20 according to the present invention is not in the way of any mechanisms associated with the horizontally-pivoted door for opening and/ or closing the latter.
  • the position of the lighting device 20 substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 facilitates the connection of said lighting device 20 to an electronic board (not shown in the drawings) associated with the front panel 4 of the cooking appliance 1, thus making such operations less costly.
  • the connections between the wire harness of the lighting device 20 and the front panel 4 are simpler.
  • the same wire harness is shorter than in prior-art solutions, in which the lighting devices are located in a remote position (being usually associated with a back wall of the muffle) with respect to the control board of the cooking appliance.
  • the first upper corner 17 of the muffle 10 is so realized as to comprise a first surface 17S which is substantially flat (shown in Figures 2 and 3b) and which has a first hole 17F (shown in Fig. 4) to allow accommodating said lighting device 20.
  • said substantially flat first surface 17S consists of a chamfer of a first edge SI (visible in Fig. 2) formed by the union of the top wall 13 and the first side wall 14.
  • the cooking appliance 1 comprises a second lighting device 20 (not shown in the drawings), which is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 and in correspondence with a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10, said second lighting device 20 being associated with said muffle 10 in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis (not shown in the drawings) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment 2.
  • said second upper corner 18 corresponds to a corner of the muffle 10 between the top wall 13, the second side wall 15 and the front frame 16.
  • the second lighting device 20 is associated with said muffle 10 in an inclined manner, in a way substantially similar to that described with reference to the lighting device 20 associated with the first upper corner 17 of the muffle 10 (i.e. in such a way as to form an angle, corresponding to the first angle Al, with a plane in which the second side wall 15 lies, and another angle, corresponding to the second angle A2, with the plane P2).
  • the second upper corner 18 of the muffle 10 is so realized as to comprise a second surface 18S which is substantially flat (shown in Figures 2 and 3a) and which has a second hole 18F (shown in Fig. 2) to allow accommodating said second lighting device 20.
  • said substantially flat second surface 18S consists of a chamfer of a second edge S2 (also visible in Fig. 2) formed by the union of the top wall 13 and the second side wall 15.
  • the second lighting device 20 positioned substantially in proximity to the front frame 16 at a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10 allows illuminating the cooking compartment 2 in an even more complete and diffused manner.
  • the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking compartment 2 can be illuminated from two different directions by light beams coming at different angles from a front portion (the one near the front frame 16) of the muffle 10; as a result, said illumination clearly eliminates any grey areas on the foodstuffs being cooked, thus allowing optimal vision of the cooking compartment 2 and of any foods placed therein by a user.
  • said at least one lighting device 20 comprises:
  • a body 21 adapted to be associated with a substantially flat first surface 17S of the first upper corner 17 and/or with a substantially flat second surface 18S of the second upper corner 18;
  • the body 21 and the muffle 10 comprise mutual coupling means 19, 21A allowing said lighting device 20 to be connected to the muffle 10; in particular, said mutual coupling means comprise at least one flexible tang 19 associated with the muffle 10 and adapted to cooperate with a step 21 A on the body 21, so as to effect a snap-type coupling between the lighting device 20 and the muffle 10.
  • the lighting device 20 is associated with the muffle 10 by inserting the body 21 into the first hole 17F, said insertion occurring by means of an outward movement from the inside of the cooking compartment 2.
  • the outer surface of the body 21 (when viewed in a section perpendicular to the axis A) and said holes 17F, 18F have a substantially circular shape.
  • the coupling between the body 21 of the lighting device 20 and said holes 17F, 18F occurs on a substantially circular surface; this ensures a firm and accurate mating of said elements, thereby improving the coupling thereof.
  • the lighting device 20 further comprises a cover 23 made of transparent or translucent material (preferably glass) adapted to substantially surround said light source 22, in particular for protecting it and for optimally diffusing the generated light.
  • the cover 23 is associated with the body 21 and/or with the muffle 10 via a screw connection.
  • the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one lighting device 20 that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the entire cooking compartment 2 of said cooking appliance 1, particularly when inside said cooking compartment 2 there are foodstuffs to be cooked and/ or at least one support element 5 adapted to allow cooking said foodstuffs on multiple levels.
  • the lighting device 20 has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate that portion of the food to be cooked which faces towards the door and the user, in particular without creating any grey areas between the food to be cooked and the front portion of the muffle 10.
  • Another advantage of the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention is that it has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate the cooking compartment 2 of the cooking appliance 1, in particular independently of the open or closed condition of a door horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10.
  • the peculiar position of at least one lighting device 20 according to the present invention is not in the way of any mechanisms associated with the horizontally-pivoted door for opening and/ or closing the latter.
  • the position of the lighting device 20 substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 facilitates the connection of said lighting device 20 to an electronic board (not shown in the drawings) associated with the front panel 4 of the cooking appliance 1, thus making such operations less costly.
  • a second lighting device 20 positioned substantially in proximity to the front frame 16 and in correspondence with a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10 allows illuminating the cooking compartment 2 in an even more complete and diffused manner.
  • the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking compartment 2 can be illuminated from two different directions by light beams coming at different angles from a front portion of the muffle 10; as a result, said illumination clearly eliminates any grey areas on the foodstuffs being cooked, thus allowing optimal vision thereof by a user.
  • a further advantage of the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention is that the provisions of the present invention allow coupling said at least one lighting device 20 to the muffle 10 in a quick, easy, firm and accurate manner, in addition to making the replacement of the lighting device 10, should it be necessary, much easier.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Electric Stoves And Ranges (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance (1), in particular for household use, comprising: - at least one cooking compartment (2) for cooking foodstuffs, said at least one cooking compartment (2) being obtained in a muffle (10) of the cooking appliance (1) and being delimited by a bottom wall (11), a back wall (12), a top wall (13), a first side wall (14) and a second side wall (15) of said muffle (10); - at least one lighting device (20) associated with said muffle (10) to allow illuminating the cooking compartment (2). The invention is characterized in that said at least one lighting device (20) is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame (16) of the muffle (10) and in correspondence with a first upper corner (17) of said muffle (10), said at least one lighting device (20) being associated with said muffle (10) in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis (A) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment (2)·

Description

"COOKING APPLIANCE, IN PARTICULAR FOR DOMESTIC USE"
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, according to the preamble of claim 1.
Cooking appliances, in particular for household use (such as, for example, an oven or a cooking range, wherein "cooking range" refers to a household appliance comprising at least one oven and at least one cooking top), are usually provided with a cooking compartment for cooking foodstuffs, said cooking compartment being obtained in a muffle of the cooking appliance and being delimited by a bottom wall, a back wall, a top wall, and side walls of said muffle.
In addition, known muffles comprise an opening that puts the cooking compartment in communication with the outside environment in order to allow a user to place foodstuffs inside the cooking compartment.
Said opening can be closed with a door, which usually comprises a perimetric frame and supports a suitable thermal glass allowing the user to observe the cooking compartment and any foodstuffs being cooked; also, the door is horizontally pivoted to the oven muffle by means of hinges, which support it and guide its motion as it opens and closes the cooking compartment.
The cooking appliances known in the art are fitted with a lighting device which allows illuminating the cooking compartment and any foods being cooked; said lighting device usually consists of a lamp associated with one of the muffle walls, in particular a back wall of said muffle. It has however been noticed that such a solution does not provide homogeneous and sufficient illumination throughout the cooking compartment, in particular when foodstuffs to be cooked are present inside the muffle. In fact, in such situations the foodstuffs interfere with the light beam of the lighting device, and create a grey area between the foodstuffs being cooked and the front portion of the muffle.
As a consequence, the above-described solution does not ensure adequate illumination of that portion of the foodstuff being cooked which faces towards the door and the user.
Besides, this problem is even more felt when the cooking compartment is subdivided into a plurality of rack levels. It is in fact known in the art to insert into the muffle at least one support element (e.g. a grid, a baking pan, a dripping pan), the side portions of which are usually associated with the side walls of the muffle; said support elements can be positioned at different heights in the cooking compartment, so that foods can be cooked on multiple levels. It is also clear that such support elements interfere with the light beam of the lighting device associated with a back wall of said muffle, and create a grey area between their body and the front portion of the muffle, thus not allowing proper illumination of that portion of the cooking compartment which faces towards the door and the user.
A cooking appliance (e.g. the one shown in document No. US7,252,402) is also known in the art which comprises a cooking compartment lighting system associated with a door, said door being horizontally pivoted to a muffle to allow access to the cooking compartment.
While it allows illuminating the portion of the foodstuff being cooked that faces towards the door and the user, it has been noticed that also this system has some drawbacks, since it can only provide illumination of the cooking compartment (and of any element to be cooked placed therein) when the horizontally-pivoted door is in a condition in which it closes the cooking compartment.
In this frame, it is the main object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the entire cooking compartment of said cooking appliance, in particular for household use.
It is the main object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the cooking compartment, particularly when inside said cooking compartment there are foodstuffs to be cooked and/or at least one support element adapted to allow cooking said foodstuffs on multiple levels.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device that ensures adequate illumination of that portion of the foodstuff to be cooked which faces towards the user.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device that ensures adequate illumination of the cooking compartment of the cooking appliance, in particular independently of the open or closed condition of the door horizontally pivoted to a muffle of said cooking appliance. Said objects are achieved by the present invention through a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, incorporating the features set out in the appended claims, which are intended to be an integral part of the present description.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, accordin to the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention;
- Figures 3a and 3b are, respectively, a front view and a sectional side view of the muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention; - Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the muffle of the cooking appliance according to the present invention.
Referring now to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 schematically designates as a whole a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, according to the present invention.
Said cooking appliance 1 comprises at least one cooking compartment 2 for cooking foodstuffs, said cooking compartment 2 being obtained in a muffle 10 of the cooking appliance 1 and being delimited by a bottom wall 11, a back wall 12, a top wall 13, a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 15 of said muffle 0.
It should be noted that the bottom wall 11 and the top wall 13 are substantially opposite to each other, just like the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 15.
For the purpose of providing a clearer view of the cooking compartment 2, Fig. 1 does not show a door of the cooking appliance 1, which is preferably horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10 through hinges (not shown) that support it and guide it in its motion as it opens and closes the cooking compartment 2.
Figure 1 also shows that the cooking compartment 1 according to the present invention preferably comprises:
- a casing or cabinet 3 adapted to contain the muffle 10;
- a front panel 4, in particular comprising interface means 4A for displaying and/ or setting information about the operation of the cooking appliance
1.
Preferably, said front panel 4 is positioned on top of the muffle 10, so that the user can comfortably gain access to said interface means 4A while using the cooking appliance 1.
The cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention preferably comprises at least one support element 5 for dividing the cooking compartment 2 into a plurality of shelves and cooking foodstuffs on multiple levels, in particular by inserting one or more of said support elements 5 into suitable supports 5A (shown in simplified form in Fig. 2), which allow said support element 5 to be positioned at different levels of said first side wall 14 and second side wall 15. By way of example, Figures 2 to 3b show a grid that represents said at least one support element 5; it is however clear that said at least one support element 5 may also consist of a baking pan or a dripping pan (not shown in the annexed drawings).
Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, it can be noticed that the cooking appliance 1 comprises at least one lighting device (designated as a whole by reference numeral 20) associated with said muffle 10 to allow illuminating the cooking compartment 2.
In accordance with the present invention, said at least one lighting device 20 is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 and in correspondence with a first upper corner 17 of said muffle 10, said at least one lighting device 20 being associated with said muffle 10 in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis A (drawn with a dashed-dotted line in Figures 2 to 4) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment 2.
In substance, said front frame 16 of the muffle 10 delimits an opening of the muffle 10, in particular said opening being opposite to the back wall 12 of the muffle 10; as known in the art, the opening of the muffle 10 allows the user to place foodstuffs into the cooking compartment 2 for cooking them.
Also, said first upper corner 17 corresponds to a corner of the muffle 10 located between the top wall 13, the first side wall 14 and the front frame 16.
Consequently, as can be noticed, the front frame 16 substantially corresponds to that part of the muffle 10 which is closest to the door (not shown in the drawings) of the cooking appliance 1; also, the "central portion" of the cooking compartment 2 refers to the intermediate portion of said cooking compartment 2, i.e. a portion substantially equidistant from the door, the bottom wall 11, the back wall 12, the top wall 13 and the first and second side walls 14, 15 of the muffle 10. As is particularly visible in Figures 3a to 4, the lighting device 20 is associated with said muffle 10 in an inclined manner.
In particular, said lighting device 20 is associated with the muffle 10 in such a way that its axis substantially coincides with said axis A of the light beam, and in such a way that:
- a first angle Al (shown in Figure 3a) is formed between said axis A and a first plane PI in which the first side wall 14 lies;
- a second angle A2 (shown in Figures 3b and 4) is formed between said axis A and a second plane P2 in which said front frame 16 lies.
It must be pointed out that Figures 3a to 4 only show the axis A of the light beam, in that it substantially coincides with the axis of the lighting device 20. Also, it clearly emerges from said Figures that said first angle Al and second angle A2 are the angles formed by the axis A with the first plane PI and with the second plane P2 towards the cooking compartment 2.
In a preferred embodiment, said first angle Al is between 15° and 45°, and said second angle A2 is between 15° and 45°.
The peculiar provisions of the present invention allow providing a cooking appliance 1, in particular for household use, comprising a lighting device 20 that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the entire cooking compartment 2 of said cooking appliance 1, particularly when inside said cooking compartment 2 there are foodstuffs to be cooked and/ or at least one support element 5 adapted to allow cooking said foodstuffs on multiple levels.
In fact, unlike prior-art cooking appliances, the lighting device 20 has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate that portion of the food to be cooked which faces towards the door and the user, in particular without creating any grey areas between the food to be cooked and the front portion of the muffle 10.
Furthermore, the peculiar provisions of the present invention ensure adequate illumination of the cooking compartment 2 of the cooking appliance 1, in particular independently of the open or closed condition of the door horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10.
It should also be noted that the peculiar position of at least one lighting device 20 according to the present invention, while ensuring illumination of the cooking compartment 2 at an optimal angle, is not in the way of any mechanisms associated with the horizontally-pivoted door for opening and/ or closing the latter.
In addition, the position of the lighting device 20 substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 facilitates the connection of said lighting device 20 to an electronic board (not shown in the drawings) associated with the front panel 4 of the cooking appliance 1, thus making such operations less costly. In fact, thanks to the provisions of the present invention, the connections between the wire harness of the lighting device 20 and the front panel 4 are simpler. Moreover, the same wire harness is shorter than in prior-art solutions, in which the lighting devices are located in a remote position (being usually associated with a back wall of the muffle) with respect to the control board of the cooking appliance.
According to the present invention, the first upper corner 17 of the muffle 10 is so realized as to comprise a first surface 17S which is substantially flat (shown in Figures 2 and 3b) and which has a first hole 17F (shown in Fig. 4) to allow accommodating said lighting device 20.
Preferably, said substantially flat first surface 17S consists of a chamfer of a first edge SI (visible in Fig. 2) formed by the union of the top wall 13 and the first side wall 14.
According to a further embodiment, the cooking appliance 1 comprises a second lighting device 20 (not shown in the drawings), which is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 and in correspondence with a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10, said second lighting device 20 being associated with said muffle 10 in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis (not shown in the drawings) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment 2.
In particular, said second upper corner 18 corresponds to a corner of the muffle 10 between the top wall 13, the second side wall 15 and the front frame 16.
Preferably, also the second lighting device 20 is associated with said muffle 10 in an inclined manner, in a way substantially similar to that described with reference to the lighting device 20 associated with the first upper corner 17 of the muffle 10 (i.e. in such a way as to form an angle, corresponding to the first angle Al, with a plane in which the second side wall 15 lies, and another angle, corresponding to the second angle A2, with the plane P2).
In addition, the second upper corner 18 of the muffle 10 is so realized as to comprise a second surface 18S which is substantially flat (shown in Figures 2 and 3a) and which has a second hole 18F (shown in Fig. 2) to allow accommodating said second lighting device 20.
Preferably, said substantially flat second surface 18S consists of a chamfer of a second edge S2 (also visible in Fig. 2) formed by the union of the top wall 13 and the second side wall 15.
The provision of the second lighting device 20 positioned substantially in proximity to the front frame 16 at a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10 allows illuminating the cooking compartment 2 in an even more complete and diffused manner. In fact, in accordance with this embodiment, the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking compartment 2 can be illuminated from two different directions by light beams coming at different angles from a front portion (the one near the front frame 16) of the muffle 10; as a result, said illumination clearly eliminates any grey areas on the foodstuffs being cooked, thus allowing optimal vision of the cooking compartment 2 and of any foods placed therein by a user.
With particular reference to Fig. 4, it can be noticed that said at least one lighting device 20 comprises:
- a body 21 adapted to be associated with a substantially flat first surface 17S of the first upper corner 17 and/or with a substantially flat second surface 18S of the second upper corner 18;
- a light source 22 associated with said body 21.
Preferably, the body 21 and the muffle 10 comprise mutual coupling means 19, 21A allowing said lighting device 20 to be connected to the muffle 10; in particular, said mutual coupling means comprise at least one flexible tang 19 associated with the muffle 10 and adapted to cooperate with a step 21 A on the body 21, so as to effect a snap-type coupling between the lighting device 20 and the muffle 10.
In particular, with reference to the lighting device 20 positioned at the first upper corner 17, the lighting device 20 is associated with the muffle 10 by inserting the body 21 into the first hole 17F, said insertion occurring by means of an outward movement from the inside of the cooking compartment 2. These provisions ensure a quick and easy coupling between the lighting device 20 and the muffle 10, in addition to making the replacement of the lighting device 20, should it be necessary, much easier.
In this regard, it must be pointed out that the same insertion operation can also be carried out for associating a second lighting device 20 (not shown in the drawings) with the second upper corner 18 of the muffle 10.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the body 21 (when viewed in a section perpendicular to the axis A) and said holes 17F, 18F have a substantially circular shape. As a consequence, the coupling between the body 21 of the lighting device 20 and said holes 17F, 18F occurs on a substantially circular surface; this ensures a firm and accurate mating of said elements, thereby improving the coupling thereof.
The lighting device 20 according to the present invention further comprises a cover 23 made of transparent or translucent material (preferably glass) adapted to substantially surround said light source 22, in particular for protecting it and for optimally diffusing the generated light. Preferably, the cover 23 is associated with the body 21 and/or with the muffle 10 via a screw connection.
The advantages of a cooking appliance, in particular for household use, according to the present invention are apparent from the above description. In particular, such advantages consist of the fact that the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one lighting device 20 that ensures homogeneous and optimal illumination of the entire cooking compartment 2 of said cooking appliance 1, particularly when inside said cooking compartment 2 there are foodstuffs to be cooked and/ or at least one support element 5 adapted to allow cooking said foodstuffs on multiple levels.
In fact, unlike prior-art cooking appliances, the lighting device 20 has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate that portion of the food to be cooked which faces towards the door and the user, in particular without creating any grey areas between the food to be cooked and the front portion of the muffle 10.
Another advantage of the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention is that it has been so conceived as to adequately illuminate the cooking compartment 2 of the cooking appliance 1, in particular independently of the open or closed condition of a door horizontally pivoted to the muffle 10.
It should also be noted that the peculiar position of at least one lighting device 20 according to the present invention, while ensuring illumination of the cooking compartment 2 at an optimal angle, is not in the way of any mechanisms associated with the horizontally-pivoted door for opening and/ or closing the latter.
In addition, the position of the lighting device 20 substantially in proximity to a front frame 16 of the muffle 10 facilitates the connection of said lighting device 20 to an electronic board (not shown in the drawings) associated with the front panel 4 of the cooking appliance 1, thus making such operations less costly.
The possible provision of a second lighting device 20 positioned substantially in proximity to the front frame 16 and in correspondence with a second upper corner 18 of said muffle 10 allows illuminating the cooking compartment 2 in an even more complete and diffused manner. In fact, in accordance with such an embodiment, the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking compartment 2 can be illuminated from two different directions by light beams coming at different angles from a front portion of the muffle 10; as a result, said illumination clearly eliminates any grey areas on the foodstuffs being cooked, thus allowing optimal vision thereof by a user.
A further advantage of the cooking appliance 1 according to the present invention is that the provisions of the present invention allow coupling said at least one lighting device 20 to the muffle 10 in a quick, easy, firm and accurate manner, in addition to making the replacement of the lighting device 10, should it be necessary, much easier.
The cooking appliance, in particular for household use, described herein by way of example may be subject to many possible variations without departing from the novelty spirit of the inventive idea; it is also clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the illustrated details may have different shapes or be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
It can therefore be easily understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described cooking appliance, in particular for household use, but may be subject to many modifications, improvements or replacements of equivalent parts and elements without departing from the inventive idea, as clearly specified in the following claims.

Claims

1. Cooking appliance (1), in particular for household use, comprising:
- at least one cooking compartment (2) for cooking foodstuffs, said cooking compartment (2) being obtained in a muffle (10) of the cooking appliance (1) and being delimited by a bottom wall (11), a back wall (12), a top wall (13), a first side wall (14) and a second side wall (15) of said muffle (10);
- at least one lighting device (20) associated with said muffle (10) to allow illuminating the cooking compartment (2),
characterized in that
said at least one lighting device (20) is positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame (16) of the muffle (10) and in correspondence with a first upper corner (17) of said muffle (10), said at least one lighting device (20) being associated with said muffle (10) in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis (A) substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment (2).
2. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said front frame (16) delimits an opening of the muffle (10), in particular said opening being opposite to the back wall (12) of the muffle (10).
3. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first upper corner (17) corresponds to a corner of the muffle (10) located between the top wall (13), the first side wall (14) and the front frame (16).
4. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lighting device (20) is associated with the muffle (10) in an inclined manner.
5. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said lighting device (20) is associated with the muffle (10) in such a way that its axis substantially coincides with said axis (A) of the light beam, and in such a way that a first angle (Al) is formed between said axis (A) and a first plane (PI) in which the first side wall (14) lies.
6. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said lighting device (20) is associated with the muffle (10) in such a way that its axis substantially coincides with said axis (A) of the light beam, and in such a way that a second angle (A2) is formed between said axis (A) and a second plane (P2) in which the said front frame (16) lies.
7. Cooking appliance (1) according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said first angle (Al) and said second angle (A2) are between 15° and 45°.
8. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first upper corner (17) of the muffle (10) is so realized as to comprise a first surface (17S) which is substantially flat and which has a first hole (17F) for accommodating said lighting device (20).
9. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking appliance (1) comprises a second lighting device (20) positioned substantially in proximity to a front frame (16) of the muffle (10) and in correspondence with a second upper corner (18) of said muffle (10), said second lighting device (20) being associated with said muffle (10) in a manner such as to generate a light beam having an axis substantially directed towards a central portion of said at least one cooking compartment (2).
10. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said second upper corner (18) corresponds to a corner of the muffle (10) located between the top wall (13), the second side wall (15) and the front frame (16).
11. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second lighting device (20) is associated with said muffle (10) in an inclined manner.
12. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said second upper corner (18) of the muffle (10) is so realized as to comprise a second surface (18S) which is substantially flat and which has a second hole (18F) for accommodating said second lighting device (20).
13. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lighting device (20) comprises: - a body (21) adapted to be associated with a substantially flat first surface (17S) of the first upper corner (17) and/ or with a substantially flat second surface (18S) of the second upper corner (18);
- a light source (22) associated with said body (21).
14. Cooking appliance (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the body (21) and the muffle (10) comprise mutual coupling means (19, 21 A) that allow said lighting device (20) to be connected to the muffle (10), in particular said mutual coupling means comprising at least one flexible tang (19) associated with the muffle (10) and adapted to cooperate with a step (21 A) of the body (21) so as to effect a snap-type coupling.
15. Cooking appliance (1) according to one or more of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that said at least one lighting device (20) comprises a cover (23) made of transparent or translucent material, preferably glass, adapted to substantially surround said light source (22).
EP15724758.6A 2014-01-24 2015-04-01 Cooking appliance, in particular for domestic use Withdrawn EP3126744A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20140054 2014-01-24
PCT/IB2015/052390 WO2015151041A1 (en) 2014-04-03 2015-04-01 Cooking appliance, in particular for domestic use

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3126744A1 true EP3126744A1 (en) 2017-02-08

Family

ID=50159461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15724758.6A Withdrawn EP3126744A1 (en) 2014-01-24 2015-04-01 Cooking appliance, in particular for domestic use

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3126744A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5076437U (en) * 1973-11-15 1975-07-03

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5076437U (en) * 1973-11-15 1975-07-03

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2015151041A1 *

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