EP3359881B1

EP3359881B1 - Cooking appliance with an illuminating device

Info

Publication number: EP3359881B1
Application number: EP15775235.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ihsan Arslantekin; Erol Karaer; Oguz TAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-10-08
Filing date: 2015-10-08
Publication date: 2020-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-08
Also published as: TR201613250A2; WO2017059914A1; EP3359881A1; PL3359881T3

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance. The present invention more particularly relates to the illuminating device that illuminates the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance.
Cooking appliances are commonly known in the art. A cooking appliance commonly comprises a cooking chamber and an illuminating device that illuminates the cooking chamber. When the illuminating device is switched on, the user can see the cooked product inside the chamber through the door window and can decide without opening the door whether the cooking process must be terminated or continued. The illuminating device commonly comprises an optical waveguide that transmits the light from the light source into the cooking chamber. The optical waveguide commonly includes a bundle of optical fibers or alternatively an optical light pipe.
US20130081610 (A1 ) discloses an oven which has a bundle of optical fibers and a light source. US20120125911 (A1 ) discloses an oven which has an optical light pipe and a light source.
DE202015104575 discloses a domestic appliance with an interior which is bounded by a wall, - with a recess (41) in which a domestic appliance lamp for illuminating the interior is seated, wherein the home appliance lamp is provided - with a LED as lighting means.
EP2647917 discloses a household appliance has a receiving space for a to be-picked product, and is delimited by a wall, where a lighting device is provided to illuminate the receiving space and the light emitted from a light source of the lighting device is coupled over a partially elastically formed light guide into the receiving space and the light guide is sealingly arranged in an opening in the wall of the receiving space and one section of the light guide is essentially consists of an elastic material and another section consists of a rigid material.
EP2251588 discloses a lamp for household device and household device with a lamp, wherein the lamp has a front-lateral translucent cover connected with a housing part and a light source arranged at a side of the housing part.
A common problem with the prior art oven is that the bundle of optical fibers is comparatively expensive, and thus increases the overall cost of the appliance. In contrast thereto, the optical light pipe is comparatively less expensive. However, the optical light pipe is vulnerable to breakage when the appliance is quickly and forcefully hit.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance with an illuminating device and which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved production and improved assembly. This objective has been achieved by the cooking appliance as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The cooking appliance of the present invention comprises an illuminating device, which comprises an elastic holder that is adapted to hold the light source and the adjacent end of the optical waveguide together and one or more elastic suspension members that are each adapted to resiliently hang the elastic holder into main body of the appliance.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the light source and the optical waveguide can be protected against excessive mechanical stress by virtue of the elastic holder and the elastic suspension member which enable a resilient hanging installation. Thereby, the illuminating device can be more effectively protected against damages that are caused by the accidents which unavoidably occur during use or transportation. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the light source and the optical waveguide can be assembled beforehand with the elastic holder. Thereafter, the illuminating device can be tested and installed into the appliance through the elastic suspension member. Thereby, the assembly process can be expedited, and thus the production costs can be further reduced. Thereby, also the maintenance of the illuminating device becomes easier.
In alternative embodiments, the illuminating device comprises a moldable optical silicone and a glass rod which are serially coupled and held together by the elastic holder. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the cost of the illuminating device can be reduced. These embodiments are also particularly advantageous as the moldable optical silicone can be flexibly bent around the corners, and thus the light source can be located at a position that is suffiently far away from the heat source. Thereby, the light source can be effectively protected from the excessive heat, and can be more efficiently operated.
In other alternative embodiments, the elastic suspension member comprises a force-fitting connection and/or a form-fitting connection for releasably engaging the elastic holder with the casing of the appliance. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the illuminating device can be easily assembled with or disassembled from the appliance. Thereby, the assembly costs can be reduced, and the illuminating device can be easily serviced.
In another embodiment, the elastic holder further holds a metal heat sink adjacently to the light source. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the the light source can be effectively protected from overheating and can be more efficiently operated. Thereby, also the light source can be located at a position that is comparatively closer to the heat source, and the length of the optical wave guide can be decreased, and thus the costs can be further reduced.
In another embodiment, at least one elastic suspension member is disposed onto the elastic holder in close proximity to the heat sink. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the elastic suspension member can more effectively cushions the illuminating device from inevitable knocks.
In another embodiment, the heat sink is secured into a recess in the elastic holder through an elastic retaining member. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the heat sink can be securely held in place, and the light source can be reliably cooled.
In another embodiment, the elastic holder has an elastic sleeve that firmly accommodates one end of the optical waveguide adjacently to the light source. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the optical waveguide can be safely secured relative to the light source.
In another embodiment, the elastic sleeve has an extended rear section that is filled with a moldable optical silicone adjacently to the light source, and a front section that firmly accommodates a glass rod which is serially coupled with the moldable optical silicone. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the moldable optical silicone can be flexibly bent around the corners, and thus the light source can be located at a position that is comparatively cold.
In other alternative embodiments, the extended rear section is respectively straight or curved. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the illuminating device can be easily installed in various locations inside the appliance. Thereby, the space inside the appliance can be more effectively used.
In another embodiment, the elastic sleeve has a funnel shaped opening so as to receive the respective end of the optical waveguide. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the optical waveguide can be easily assembled with the elastic holder.
In another embodiment, the elastic sleeve has a stopper that restricts backward movement of the optical waveguide. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjacent light source can be effectively protected from excessive mechanical stress.
The elastic holder is a single piece made from a suitable silicone rubber. This is particularly advantageous as the illuminating device can be easily assembled with the optical waveguide, the light source, and the heat sink beforehand. Thereafter, the illuminating device can be easily installed into the appliance by means of the elastic suspension member.
In another embodiment, the other end of the optical waveguide is secured into a through hole on the ceiling by means of coupling means such that the light beam emerging from the optical waveguide impinges onto the center region of the cooking chamber. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can clearly see the cooked product when the illuminating device is switched on.
In another embodiment, the illuminating device is located in close proximity to the upper front part of the cooking chamber. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the the cooked product can be more intensively illuminated from the front side which is exposed to the user.
In other alternative embodiments, the cooking appliance is provided as a free-standing type appliance or a built-in type appliance. The cooking appliance may also be provided with a cooking top in addition to the cooking chamber.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the illuminating device and the cooking appliance of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a schematic partial perspective view of a cooking appliance, which has an illuminating device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 - is another schematic partial perspective view of the cooking appliance, which has an illuminating device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 - is another schematic partial perspective view of a cooking appliance, which has an illuminating device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 - is a schematic partial sectional view of a cooking appliance, which has an illuminating device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 - is a schematic perspective view of an elastic holder used in the illuminating device;
Figure 6 - is a schematic sectional view of the elastic holder of Fig. 5;
Figure 7 - is another schematic partial sectional view of a cooking appliance, which has an illuminating device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 - is a schematic perspective view of the illuminating device of Fig. 7;
Figure 9 - is a schematic perspective view of the elastic holder used in the illuminating device of Fig. 8;
Figure 10 - is another schematic perspective view of the elastic holder of Fig. 8.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1.: Illuminating device
2.: Cooking appliance
3.: Main body
4.: Chamber
5.: Light source
5a.: Light beam
6.: Waveguide
7.: Holder
8.: Suspension member
9.: Casing
10.: Barbed projection
11.: Heat sink
12.: Recess
13.: Retaining member
14.: Band
15.: Hole
15a.: Passage
16.: Sleeve
17.: Channel
18.: Front section
19.: Rear section
20.: Optical silicone
21.: Glass rod
22.: Opening
23.: Stopper
24.: Handle
25.: Ceiling
26.: Through hole
27.: Coupling means
27a.: Tube
27b.: Nut
28.: Heating unit
29.: Control unit
30.: Control panel
31.: Tray

The illuminating device (1) is suitable for use in a cooking appliance (2). The cooking appliance (2) comprises a main body (3) that includes a cooking chamber (4), a heating unit (28) for heating the cooking chamber (4), a control unit (29) for controlling the heating unit (28) and a control panel (30) that includes a user-interface (4c) for receiving user inputs (Fig. 1 to 10).
The illuminating device (1) comprises a light source (5) and an optical waveguide (6) that is adapted to transmit the light from the light source (5) into the cooking chamber (4).
The illuminating device (1) of the cooking appliance of the present invention further comprises an elastic holder (7) that is adapted to hold the light source (5) and the adjacent end of the optical waveguide (6) together and one or more elastic suspension members (8) that are each adapted to resiliently hang the elastic holder (7) into main body (3).
The cooking appliance (2) of the present invention comprises one or more illuminating devices (1), wherein the control panel (30) is adapted to allow the user to control each illuminating device (1).
In alternative embodiments, the illuminating device (1) comprises a moldable optical silicone (20) and a glass rod (21) which are serially coupled and held together by the elastic holder (7).
In another embodiment, the main body (3) of the appliance (2) comprises a sheet metal casing (9) which includes one or more installation holes (not shown). In this embodiment, one or more elastic suspension members (8) each comprises an elastic barbed projection (10) that is adapted to snap-fittingly engage with the respective installation hole on the sheet metal casing (9) by way of insertion.
In another embodiment, the illuminating device (1) further comprises a metal heat sink (11) for cooling the light source (5). In this embodiment, the elastic holder (7) is further adapted to hold the heat sink (11) adjacently to the light source (5). In this embodiment, the elastic suspension member (8) is disposed onto the elastic holder (7) in close proximity to the heat sink (11).
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a recess (12) that is adapted to accommodate the heat sink (11) and an elastic retaining member (13) that is adapted to secure the heat sink (11) to the recess (12).
In another embodiment, the elastic retaining member (13) comprises an elastic band (14) that is adapted to force-fittingly engage with the periphery of the heat sink (11) and to clamp the heat sink (11) into the recess (12).
In another embodiment, the metal heat sink (11) is a single piece made from aluminum. In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a hole (15) that is adapted to accommodate the light source (5).
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a passage (15a) that is adapted to accommodate the electric wiring (not shown) to the light source (5).
In another embodiment, the light source (5) comprises one or more light emitting diodes (not shown).
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises an elastic sleeve (16) which encloses a channel (17) that is adapted to firmly accommodate one end of the optical waveguide (6) adjacently to the light source (5).
In another embodiment, the elastic sleeve (16) has a front section (18) and an extended rear section (19) which jointly enclose the channel (17). In this embodiment, the extended rear section (19) is filled with a moldable optical silicone (20) adjacently to the light source (5). In addition, the front section (18) firmly accommodates a glass rod (21) which is serially coupled with moldable optical silicone (20). In this embodiment, the moldable optical silicone (20) and the glass rod (21) define the optical waveguide (6).
In another embodiment, the extended rear section (19) of the sleeve (16) is straight.
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a funnel shaped opening (22) that is disposed onto the front end of the channel (17) and adapted to receive the respective end of the optical waveguide (6).
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a stopper (23) that is disposed onto the rear end of the channel (17) and adapted to abut against the respective end of the optical waveguide (6) inside the channel (17).
In another embodiment, the elastic holder (7) further comprises a handle (24) for gripping when installing the respective end of the optical waveguide (6) into the elastic sleeve (16). The elastic holder (7) is a single piece made from a suitable silicone rubber.
In another embodiment, the ceiling (25) of the cooking camber (4) includes a through hole (26) for receiving a coupling means (27) that secures the other end of the optical waveguide (6) into the through hole (26) on the ceiling (25) such that the light beam (5a) emerging from the optical waveguide (6) impinges onto the tray (31) inside the cooking chamber (4).
In another embodiment, the coupling means (27) comprises a flanged and threaded coupling tube (27a) for receiving the respective end of the optical waveguide (6). In this embodiment, the coupling tube (27a) can be secured to the ceiling (25) and clamped to the respective end of the optical waveguide (6) by means of two respective nuts (27b).
In another embodiment, the illuminating device (1) is located below the control panel (30) and in close proximity to the upper front part of the cooking chamber (4). In this embodiment, the downstream end of the waveguide (6) is slanted such that the light beam (5a) emerging from the optical waveguide (6) impinges onto the center of the tray (31) inside the cooking chamber (4).
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the light source (5) and the optical waveguide (6) can be protected against excessive mechanical stress by virtue of the elastic holder (7) and the elastic suspension member (8) which enable a resilient hanging installation. Thereby, the illuminating device (1) can be more effectively protected against damages that are caused by accidents which unavoidably occur during use or transportation. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the light source (5) and the optical waveguide (6) can be assembled beforehand with the elastic holder (7). Thereafter the illuminating device (1) can be tested and installed into the appliance (2) by means of the elastic suspension member (8). Thereby, the assembly process can be expedited, and thus the production costs can be reduced. Thereby, also the maintenance of the illuminating device (1) becomes easier. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

A cooking appliance (2) comprising: a main body (3) that includes a cooking chamber (4); an illuminating device (1) comprising a light source (5) and an optical waveguide (6) that is adapted to transmit the light from the light source (5) into the cooking chamber (4), wherein the illuminating device comprises an elastic holder (7) that is adapted to hold the light source (5) and the adjacent end of the optical waveguide (6) together; and
one or more elastic suspension members (8) that are each adapted to resiliently hang the elastic holder (7) into main body (3); characterized in that the elastic holder (7) is a single piece made from silicone rubber.
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (3) comprises a sheet metal casing (9) which includes an installation hole, the illuminating device (1) being characterized in that one elastic suspension member (8) comprises an elastic barbed projection (10) that is adapted to snap-fittingly engage with the installation hole on the sheet metal casing (9) by way of insertion.
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooking appliance (2) further comprises a metal heat sink (11) for cooling the light source (5), wherein the elastic holder (7) is further adapted to hold the heat sink (11) adjacently to the light source (5), and wherein elastic suspension member (8) is disposed onto the elastic holder (7) in close proximity to the heat sink (11)
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises a recess (12) that is adapted to accommodate the heat sink (11) and an elastic retaining member (13) that is adapted to secure the heat sink (11) to the recess (12).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic retaining member (13) comprises an elastic band (14) that is adapted to force-fittingly engage with the periphery of the heat sink (11) and to clamp the heat sink (11) into the recess (12).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises a hole (15) that is adapted to accommodate the light source (5).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises an elastic sleeve (16) which encloses a channel (17) that is adapted to firmly accommodate one end of the optical waveguide (6) adjacently to the light source (5).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the elastic sleeve (16) has a front section (18) and an extended rear section (19) which jointly enclose the channel (17), wherein the extended rear section (19) is filled with a moldable optical silicone (20) adjacently to the light source (5), and wherein the front section (18) firmly accommodates a glass rod (21) which is serially coupled with moldable optical silicone (20), and wherein the moldable optical silicone (20) and the glass rod (21) define the optical waveguide (6).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the extended rear section (19) of the sleeve (16) is straight or curved.
The cooking appliance (2) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises a funnel shaped opening (22) that is disposed onto the front end of the channel (17) and adapted to receive the respective end of the optical waveguide (6).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises a stopper (23) that is disposed onto the rear end of the channel (17) and adapted to abut against the respective end of the optical waveguide (6) inside the channel (17).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic holder (7) further comprises a handle (24) for gripping when installing the respective end of the optical waveguide (6) into the elastic sleeve (16).
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a moldable optical silicone (20) and a glass rod (21) which are serially coupled and held together by the elastic holder (7).
The cooking appliance (2) according to any of the above claims comprising
a heating unit (28) for heating the cooking chamber (4),

a control unit (29) for controlling the heating unit (28) and

a control panel (30) that includes a user-interface for receiving user inputs, cha

racterized in that

the cooking appliance comprises one or more of the illuminating device (1), wherein the control panel (30) is adapted to allow the user to control each illuminating device (1).