EP3126745B1

EP3126745B1 - Kitchen oven

Info

Publication number: EP3126745B1
Application number: EP15718095.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vittorio BERTAZZONI; Bujar Taga
Original assignee: Smeg SpA
Current assignee: Smeg SpA
Priority date: 2014-04-04
Filing date: 2015-03-25
Publication date: 2021-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-25
Also published as: EP3126745A1; WO2015150983A1

Description

The present invention relates to a kitchen oven.
Throughout the description and in the following claims, the words "front", "rear", "lower", "upper", "below", "above", "horizontal", "vertical" or similar words and expressions are used to refer to positions in space of the oven or of oven elements when the oven is arranged in the operative position thereof in a house kitchen.
As it is known, kitchen ovens comprise a cooking chamber and, at a front surface thereof, a door for opening/closing the cooking chamber. The kitchen ovens are also provided with an opening for the passage of hot air outwards to cool the electrical components of the oven and the front part of the oven itself. The hot air flow that passes through the opening is generated by a fan for air circulation that is positioned above the cooking chamber.
Typically, the door is hinged at a lower or lateral wall of the front surface of the cooking chamber and it is movable between a closing position of the cooking chamber and an opening position of the cooking chamber by acting on a handle that is positioned at an upper or lateral portion of the door.
In many known ovens, the opening for the passage of hot air is arranged over the door, when it is in the closing position. In such a case, the opening for the passage of hot air is defined by a slit having a width that is substantially the same as the width of the oven and a height that is reduced but in any case clearly visible. For example, such a slit can have a height of 7 - 10 mm.
Ovens provided with foldaway handles are also known, that is ovens in which the handle is movable between a resting position, in which the handle does not project from the front of the door, and an operating position, in which the handle projects from the front of the door and can be used to open or close the door. In the resting position, the foldaway handle is housed in a seat that is specifically formed on the door.
The Applicant has observed that in known kitchen ovens the opening for the passage of hot air, and possibly the housing seat of the foldaway handle, defines, in the front part of the oven, a surface discontinuity that penalises the aesthetic appearance of the oven.
EP 2182145 discloses a domestic appliance door having a door handle with bracket part and a handle bar. The handle bar has control element, where the door handle is concealed in the domestic appliance door. An actuating element is arranged on the handle bar.
DE 102008043364 discloses a household appliance door having a door handle that is in the form of a bow-shaped handle. A door front has a recess, where a bracket of the bow-shaped handle is partially lowered into the recess in a retracted resting position.
DE 102010001587 discloses a domestic appliance device with at least one diaphragm element and at least one bearing unit which movably supports the diaphragm element on at least one unit. In order to achieve a comfortable operability, at least a part of the diaphragm element is arranged on at least two opposite sides of the unit.
The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is that of providing a kitchen oven that solves or minimises in a substantial manner the drawbacks of known kitchen ovens, in particular, that improves the aesthetic appearance of the oven.
The idea of solution of the present invention is to close the opening for the passage of hot air when the kitchen oven is switched off.
The present invention thus relates to a kitchen oven according to claim 1.
Preferred characteristics of the oven are mentioned in claims 2-10.
Advantageously, in the oven of the present invention the foldaway handle is used to at least partially close the opening for the passage of hot air when the oven is switched off, so as to considerably reduce, or almost completely eliminate, the undesired surface discontinuity created on the front surface of the oven from the same opening for the passage of hot air. Essentially, a considerable improvement in the general aesthetic appearance of the oven is achieved.
Preferably, the handle comprises a substantially flat front surface.
In such a way the advantageous results discussed above can be even more appreciated.
Preferably, when the handle is at the aforementioned resting position, the front surface thereof substantially lies on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface of the door.
Such a provision makes it possible to reduce, in an even more considerably manner, the undesired optical effect of surface discontinuity created by the presence of the opening for the passage of hot air when the door is closed and the handle is in a position such as to not project with respect to the door.
Preferably, the oven according to the present invention comprises an user interface panel having a substantially flat front surface which lies substantially on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface of said door when said door is at said closing position.
More preferably, the opening for the passage of hot air is interposed between the aforementioned panel and the door.
Even more preferably, when the handle is at the aforementioned resting position, the substantially flat front surface thereof substantially lies on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface of the aforementioned panel.
In such a way the entire front surface of the oven appears to be substantially flat and without discontinuity, wholly benefiting the appearance of the oven.
In the present invention, the handle is associated to the door through an articulated parallelogram kinematic mechanism.
Such a kinematic mechanism makes it possible to easily and efficiently move the handle with respect to the door between the resting position and the operating position described above.
Preferably, the oven according to the present invention comprises at least one heating element for heating said cooking chamber, a fan arranged above said cooking chamber for ejecting the hot air outside the oven, an electromagnetic control device for moving said handle between said operating position and said resting position and an electronic control device configured to act on said electromechanical control device for moving said handle.
More preferably, said electronic control device is configured to act on said electromechanical control device for automatically moving said handle to said operating position when said at least one heating element and/or said fan are/is switched on.
In such a way it is possible to guarantee the evacuation of the hot air that is accumulated above the cooking chamber during the operation of the oven, so as to achieve a suitable cooling of all the electrical components of the oven within the operation parameters thereof as well as of the front surface of the oven.
Preferably, said electronic control device is configured to act on said electromechanic control device for automatically moving said handle to said resting position when said at least one heating element and said fan are switched off.
In such a way it is ensured that the handle is arranged in a non-projecting position with respect to the door as well as that the opening for the passage of hot air is closed when the oven is switched off and the temperature inside the cooking chamber is below a predetermined value. The closure of the handle can, in this case, also be activated manually by the user.
Preferably, said electronic control device is configured to act on said electromechanic control device for automatically moving said handle to said operating position when said at least one heating element is switched off and said fan is switched on.
In such a way it is ensured the evacuation of hot air in a predetermined time period after switching off the oven, so as to allow the cooling of the electrical components of the oven as well as of the front surface of the oven. In such a time period the opening of the handle is moreover activated in an automatic manner following a manual attempt of closing the handle by the user.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings and given only as an indication and not for limiting purposes. In such drawings:

figure 1 is a cross-section schematic view of an upper portion of a kitchen oven according to the present invention, in a configuration in which the oven is switched off;
figure 2 is a schematic cross-section view of the portion of kitchen oven of figure 1, in a configuration in which the oven is open or in a configuration in which the oven is switched off, such a configuration being immediately after a configuration in which the oven is switched on;
figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view of an upper area of the portion of kitchen oven of figure 1.

With reference to the figures, reference numeral 10 indicates a kitchen oven in accordance with the present invention.
The oven 10 comprises a cooking chamber 12 that is provided with at least one heating element 14. Outside the cooking chamber 12, in particular above the cooking chamber 12 (as shown in the non-limiting example of figures 1-3), a compartment 13 is provided. The compartment 13 is provided with a fan 16 for expelling from the oven hot air that is accumulated above the cooking chamber 12. Such hot air is expelled through an opening 20 for the passage of hot air, such an opening 20 being located at the compartment 13.
At a front surface 12a of the cooking chamber 12, the oven 10 further comprises a door 18 for opening/closing the cooking chamber 12.
The door 18 comprises a substantially flat front surface 18a.
The opening 20 for the passage of hot air is formed in the oven 10 at an outer position with respect to the door 18. In particular, in the non-limiting example illustrated in the figures, the opening 20 for the passage of hot air is arranged above the door 18, when it is in a closing position of the cooking chamber 12. Alternatively, in an embodiment out of the invention, the opening 20 can be arranged below the door 18 or on a side thereof, in any case always in an adjacent position with respect to the door 18.
The opening 20 for the passage of hot air can for example have a rectangular shape, with a height, for example, that is comprised between about 7 and about 10 mm, and a width that is substantially the same as the width of the oven.
In particular, the door 18 is movable between the closing position of the cooking chamber 12 and an opening position wherein it opens the cooking chamber 12. Typically, the door 18 is hinged to the cooking chamber 12 along a direction that is substantially horizontal or vertical, at a lower or lateral portion (not illustrated) of the oven 10.
The door 18 comprises a foldaway handle 22 that is movable between an operating position, wherein the handle 22 projects from the substantially flat front surface 18a of the door 18 (as illustrated in figure 2) so as to allow the opening/closure of the oven 10, and a resting position, in which the handle 22 does not project from the front surface 18a of the door 18 (as illustrated in figures 1 and 3). In this context, when referring to the resting position of the handle 22, that is to the condition in which the handle 22 does not project from the front surface 18a of the door 18, reference is made to a condition in which the handle 22 projects minimally, that is in an negligible way with respect to the condition in which the handle 22 is in the above-described operating position thereof.
In accordance with the invention, when the handle 22 is in the resting position and the door 18 is closed, it closes at least partially the opening 20 for the passage of hot air (as illustrated in figures 1 and 3). In such an operative configuration therefore the handle 22 is arranged exactly in the position in which the opening 20 for the passage of hot air is provided.
Preferably, the handle 22 substantially closes the entire opening 20 for the passage of hot air, except for a small clearance provided for preventing sliding of the handle 22 on the door 18. For example, it can be provided a clearance of about 1 - 2 mm along the height of the opening 20.
The handle 22 preferably comprises a substantially flat front surface 22a. When the handle 22 is at the resting position, the front surface 22a of the handle 22 substantially lies on a same plane as the front surface 18a of the door 18.
Furthermore, the oven 10 comprises an user interface panel 26.
The panel 26 has a substantially flat front surface 26a that substantially lies on the same plane as the front surface 18a of the door 18 when the door 18 is in the closing position.
The opening 20 for the passage of hot air is interposed between the panel 26 and the door 18 when the door 18 is at the closing position.
In the non-limiting example illustrated in the figures, the panel 26 is arranged above the opening 20 for the passage of hot air.
When the handle 22 is at the resting position thereof (figures 1 and 3), the front surface 22a of the handle 22 substantially lies on the same plane as the front surface 26a of the panel 26. A small clearance is provided between the handle 22 and the panel 26 so as to prevent sliding of the handle 22 on the panel 26. For example, such a clearance can be of about 1 - 2 mm along the height of the opening 20.
In accordance with the invention, when the handle 22 is in the resting position thereof (figures 1 and 3), the area between the panel 26 and the door 18 (corresponding to the area in which the opening 20 is for the passage of hot air is provided), is occupied by the handle 22. In particular, the handle 22 occupies in height at least half of such an area, more preferably at least two thirds of such an area, even more preferably at least three quarters of such an area.
As shown in the figures, the handle 22 is associated to the door 18, and it can be moved with respect to the door 18, through an articulated parallelogram kinematic mechanism 28, which gives the handle 22 a swinging movement with respect to the door 18. Such a movement essentially consists of a horizontal translation movement (which is suitable for moving the handle 22 frontally with respect to the door 18, in any case keeping it at the same height as the opening 20 for the passage of hot air) and in a subsequent and/or simultaneous vertical translation movement (which is suitable for making the handle 22 reach a different height from the opening 20 for the passage of hot air). In embodiments out of the invention, it is possible to foresee coupling and movement systems for the handle that are different from the one herein illustrated and described, like for example sliding systems which are obvious to a man skilled in the art. According to the invention, the kinematic mechanism 28 comprises a pair of push rods 28a, 28b which connect the handle 22 to the door 18. The push rods 28a, 28b are pivoted, at opposite ends 28a', 28a" and 28b', 28b" respectively to the handle 22 and the door 18 (figure 3).
Each push rod 28a, 28b comprises two portions that are inclined with respect to one another. The push rod 28a, which is further away from the cooking chamber 12 with respect to the push rod 28b, has its two inclined portions that are inclined with respect to one another by a smaller angle (for example about 70° -100°, preferably between about 80° and about 90°) with respect to that of the two inclined portions of the push rod 28b (which, on the other hand is for example comprised between about 90° and about 170°, preferably between about 120° and about 140°). As illustrated in figure 2, the push rod 28a abuts against an upper portion 18b of the door 28, when the handle 22 is at the operating position illustrated in figure 2. Moreover, as illustrated in figure 3, the push rod 28b includes a recess 28b"', inside which an elbow-portion 28a'" of the push-rod 28a slides during the movement of the handle 22 between the resting position and operating position thereof, and vice versa.
An electric activation of the kinematic mechanism 28 is provided.
The kinematic mechanism 28 can also comprise at least one spring (not illustrated), preferably a torsion spring that is associated with at least one of the ends 28a', 28a", 28b', 28b" of the handle 22, which is configured for assisting the movement of the handle 22 from the resting position to the operating position following a pressure exerted by the user on the front surface 22a of the handle 22.
When the handle 22 is at the resting position (figures 1 and 3), the push rods 28a, 28b are housed between two opposite planes that are substantially parallel and that define a gap 18c inside the door 18. In particular, the aforementioned substantially parallel opposite planes are located at an external wall 18d and at an internal wall 18e of the door 18 (figure 3).
The oven 10 further comprises an electromechanical control device 30 for moving the handle 18 between the operating position and the resting position, and an electronic control device 32 that is configured to act upon the electromechanical control device 30.
A non-limiting example of the electromechanical control device 30 comprises an electric motor, preferably with a control system provided with a position sensor activated upon exerting a pressure by a user.
The electric motor can be fitted at the end 28a" of the push-rod 28a, as shown in figure 3.
The operation of the oven 10 according to the present invention is described below, with particular reference to the figures.
When the oven 10 is switched off, i.e. the heating elements 14 and the fan 16 are switched off, the handle 22 is in at the resting position thereof (figure 1 and 3).
In such an operative configuration, if the user presses the handle 22 so as to open it (i.e. to move it to the operating position thereof shown in figure 2), the electronic control device 32 acts upon the electromechanical control device 30 for automatically moving the handle 22 to the operating position of figure 2.
When the user switches on the oven 10, the heating elements 14 (and possibly also the fan 16) are switched on and the handle 22 is automatically brought to the operating position thereof shown in figure 2.
In such an operative configuration, if the user presses the handle 22 to close it (i.e. to move it to the resting position thereof shown in figure 1), the control device 32 acts on the electromechanical control device 30 so as to automatically move the handle 22 back to the operating position thereof shown in figure 2.
Indeed, when the oven 10 is switched on, it is desired the opening 20 for the passage of hot air to be open, so as to allow the air (moved in particular by the fan 16) to come out from the oven 10. The flow of hot air that comes out from the oven 10 is schematically shown in figure 2 with an arrow F.
When at the end of the cooking cycle the oven 10 is switched off, for a period of time immediately following the switching off of the oven 10, the fan 16 remains switched on so as to cool all the electrical components and the external walls of the oven, including the door 18. Such an operative configuration is illustrated in figure 2.
In such an operative configuration, the temperature inside the cooking chamber 12 is greater than a predetermined safety temperature, which can be for example 100 - 120°C and the control device 32 acts on the electromechanical control device 30 so as to keep the handle 22 in the operating position thereof until the temperature in the cooking chamber 12 does not drop below the predetermined safety temperature and the fan 16 is switched off. The temperature inside the cooking chamber 12 is detected through a special temperature sensor that is specifically provided in the oven 10. The safety temperature corresponds to a temperature at which the inner and outer surface temperature of the door 18 is sufficiently low so as to prevent the user from being burnt upon an accidental contact with the oven.
If during the cooling of the oven 10 the user tries to close the handle 22 (i.e. to move it to the resting position thereof shown in figure 1), the control device 32 acts on the electromechanical control device 30 so as to automatically move the handle 22 back to the operating position thereof shown in figure 2.
When the fan 16 switches off, the control device 32 acts on the electromechanical control device 30 for automatically moving the handle 22 back to the resting position thereof shown in figure 1.
It is also foreseen that when there is no voltage provided by the electric system, the handle 22 can be brought from its resting position of figure 1 to its operating position of figure 2 so as to allow the door 18 to open and allow a technician to have access inside the oven 10.
Of course, with the purpose of satisfying specific and contingent needs, a man skilled in the art may carry out numerous modifications and variants.

Claims

Kitchen oven (10), comprising:
- a cooking chamber (12);

- a compartment (13) arranged outside said cooking chamber (12); the kitchen oven (10) further comprising, at a front surface (12a) of said cooking chamber (12):

- a door (18) for opening/closing said cooking chamber (12); and

- an opening (20) for the passage of hot air adjacent to said door (18), said opening (20) for the passage of hot air being formed in the oven (10) at an outer position with respect to said door (18), said opening (20) being located at said compartment (13);
wherein the door (18) is movable between a closing position wherein it closes said cooking chamber (12) and an opening position wherein it opens said cooking chamber (12) and comprises a foldaway handle (22) movable between an operating position in which said handle (22) projects from a substantially flat front surface (18a) of said door (18), and a resting position in which said handle (22) does not project from said substantially flat front surface (18a) of said door (18);
characterised in that said handle (22) is associated to the door (18) and can be moved with respect to the door (18) through an articulated parallelogram kinematic mechanism (28) which gives the handle (22) a swinging movement with respect to the door (18), the kinematic mechanism (28) comprising a pair of push rods (28a, 28b) which connect the handle (22) to the door (18), the push rods (28a, 28b) being pivoted, at opposite ends (28a', 28a"; 28b', 28b") respectively to the handle (22) and the door (18), each push rod (28a, 28b) comprising two portions that are inclined with respect to one another, wherein a first push rod (28a) which is further away from the cooking chamber (12) with respect to a second push rod (28b) has its two inclined portions that are inclined with respect to one another by a smaller angle with respect to that of the two inclined portions of the second push rod (28b) and abuts against an upper portion (18b) of the door (28) when the handle (22) is at the operating position, wherein the second push rod (28b) includes a recess (28b'") inside which an elbow-portion (28a'") of the first push-rod (28a) slides during the movement of the handle (22) between the resting position and operating position thereof, and vice versa, wherein when said handle (22) is at said resting position, it closes at least partially said opening (20) for the passage of hot air.
Kitchen oven (10) according to claim 1, wherein said handle (22) comprises a substantially flat front surface (22a).
Kitchen oven (10) according to claim 2, wherein, when said handle (22) is at said resting position, the front surface (22a) thereof substantially lies on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface (18a) of said door (18).
Kitchen oven (10) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an user interface panel (26) having a substantially flat front surface (26a) which lies substantially on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface (18a) of said door (18) when said door (18) is at said closing position, wherein said opening (20) for the passage of hot air is interposed between said panel (26) and said door (18).
Kitchen oven (10) according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein, when said handle (22) is at said resting position, the substantially flat front surface (22a) thereof substantially lies on the same plane as the substantially flat front surface (26a) of said panel (26).
Kitchen oven (10) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least one heating element (14) for heating said cooking chamber (12), a fan (16) arranged above the cooking chamber (12) for ejecting the hot air outside the oven, an electromechanical control device (30) for moving said handle (22) between said operating position and said resting position and an electronic control device (32) configured to act on said electromechanical control device (30) for moving said handle (22).
Kitchen oven (10) according to claim 6, wherein said electronic control device (32) is configured to act on said electromechanical control device (30) for automatically moving said handle (22) to said operating position when said at least one heating element (14) and/or said fan (16) are/is switched on.
Kitchen oven (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said electronic control device (32) is configured to act on said electromechanical control device (30) for automatically moving said handle (22) to said resting position when said heating element (14) and said fan (16) are switched off.
Kitchen oven (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said electronic control device (32) is configured to act on said electromechanical control device (30) to automatically move said handle (22) to said operating position when said at least one heating element (14) is switched off and said fan (16) is switched on.
Kitchen oven (10) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said handle (22) is movable between said resting position and said operating position upon a pressure exerted by a hand of a user on said handle (22).