EP3395124A1

EP3395124A1 - An induction heating cooker comprising a light source

Info

Publication number: EP3395124A1
Application number: EP16804778.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Davut Ayhan Serabatir; Mehmet Murat MAMATOGLU; Merih Tarimtoru; Caglar VARAN; Ugur Camli; Yasin Sedat Yirmili
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-12-25
Filing date: 2016-11-30
Publication date: 2018-10-31
Also published as: WO2017108356A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an induction heating cooker (1) comprising a body (2), a top plate (3) that covers the upper surface of the body (2) and that is produced from a translucent material, at least one light source (4) that is disposed in the body (2) and that provides the display of the operational status, and at least one light guide (5) that provides the transfer of the light from the light source (4) towards under top plate (3).

Description

AN INDUCTION HEATING COOKER COMPRISING A LIGHT SOURCE

The present invention relates to an induction heating cooker comprising a light source that provides visual notifications for the user.
In induction heating cookers, operational status of the cooker is communicated to the user generally by means of light sources that provide visual warnings for the user. The light sources cannot be placed in proximity of the top plate of the cooker that reaches high temperatures during operation since the light sources are vulnerable against high temperatures. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source that is placed away from the top plate is transmitted by means of light guides to the top plate. The light guide provides the collection and transmission of almost all radiation emitted from the light source to the top plate. The power of the light guide to illuminate the top plate which is translucent depends on the intensity of the carried light as well as the distance thereof to the top plate. In the case that the light guide is positioned so as to touch the top plate, the light guide may cause the breaking of the top plate or the light guide may be deformed by being subjected to high temperatures in the course of time. In the case that the distance between the top plate and the light guide is excessive, the user hardly sees the light reflected on the top plate in a blurry manner. Moreover, since the space for mounting inside the induction heating cooker is limited, the light source and the light guides can be effectively positioned.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US5013893, a light guide extending along the circumference of the heater is disclosed. It is disclosed that there is a certain distance between the light guide and the top plate.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of an induction heating cooker wherein the assembly of the light guide is simplified.
The induction heating cooker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a top plate produced from a translucent material such as ceramic, glass, etc., a light source energized depending on the operational status of the induction heating cooker, and a light guide that carries the light emitted from the light source towards under the top plate. Thus, a region on the top plate is illuminated and the users are provided with a visual warning about the operational status of the induction heating cooker.
The induction heating cooker of the present invention comprises a holder whereon the light guide is placed, that is attached to the lower surface of the top plate and that enables the light guide to be positioned as almost adjacent to the top plate. The gap between the light guide and the top plate prevents problems such as breaking, deformation, etc. that may result from the contact of the light guide and the top plate and enables the light to be clearly seen on the top plate. By means of the holder, the distance between the light guide and the top plate is maintained. Moreover, by fixing the holder on the lower surface of the top plate, the need for sparing space within the body for mounting the light guides is eliminated and ease of assembly is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the light guide is in the form of a rod, and a housing in the form of a channel is provided on the holder wherein the light guide extends. An opening is arranged on the upper side of the housing, that enables the light to reach the top plate. By means of the housing, the light guide can be easily mounted on the holder.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the light guide is placed inside the housing such that one end thereof extends to the outside of the housing. A casing wherein the light source is disposed is connected to the end of the light guide that extends to the outside of the housing. The light source is connected to the end of the light guide by means of the casing and thus carried by the holder. Thus, saving from space is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder is adhered under the top plate. Thus, the need for using fixing elements such as claw, screw, etc. to fasten the holder into the body is eliminated and ease of assembly is provided.
In another embodiment of the present invention, more than one cooking zone is provided on the top plate and the holders each belonging to a different cooking zone are attached to the top plate so as to be in the middle of the top plate. Since the holders are positioned between the cooking zones, the need for sparing an additional mounting space on the top plate is eliminated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing is produced from a metal material. The casing surrounds the light source so as to prevent the same from getting hot and to enable the same to have a longer life span.
By means of this embodiment, the light guide, the light source and the casing are held together in a compact manner and can be easily placed into the body. By mounting the holder at a desired region under the top plate, the top plate is illuminated efficiently.
The induction heating cooker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where
Figure 1 - is perspective view of the induction heating cooker related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is perspective view of the top plate and the holder related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is perspective view of the holder and the casing related to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is exploded view of the holder, the light guide and the casing related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is partial perspective view of the holder and the casing related to an embodiment of the present invention.
The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:

Induction heating cooker
Body
Top plate
Light source
Light guide
Holder
Housing
Opening
Casing
Tape

(C) : Cooking zone
The induction heating cooker (1) comprises a body (2), a top plate (3) that covers the upper surface of the body (2) and that is produced from a translucent material, at least one light source (4) that is disposed in the body (2) and that provides the display of the operational status, and at least one light guide (5) that provides the transfer of the light from the light source (4) to the top plate (3). The light source (4) is placed inside the body (2) so as not to be affected from heat and the light from the light source (4) is carried by means of the light guide (5) towards under the translucent top plate (3) that reaches high temperatures during the cooking process.
The induction heating cooker (1) of the present invention comprises at least one holder (6) that is fixed on the top plate (3), whereon the light guide (5) is placed and that enables the light guide (5) to be held such that a certain distance remains between the light guide (5) and the top plate (3) (Figure 2). The holder (6) holds the light guide (5) such that there is always enough distance between the light guide (5) and the top plate (3) and such that the light guide (5) extends parallel to the top plate (3). Thus, any deformation that may result from the contact of the top plate (3) and the light guide (5) is prevented and the user is enabled to clearly see the light. By connecting the holder (6) to the top plate (3), the need for sparing a space in the body (2) for the light guide (5) is eliminated. Thus, the light guides (5) can be integrated inside the body (2) without any additional cost and without changing molds. The holder (6) also provides that the distance between the top plate (3) and the light guide (5) is maintained in the case that the top plate (3) moves or stretches for a certain amount toward the body (2) due to the load on the top plate (3).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the induction heating cooker (1) comprises the rod-shaped light guide (5), a housing (7) that is disposed on the holder (6) and wherein the light guide (5) extends, and an opening (8) that is arranged on the side of the housing (7) facing the top plate (3) and that enables the light to reach the top plate (3) (Figure 3). By placing the light guide (5) in the housing (7), the light guide (5) is enabled to be protected from external factors and the assembly thereof on the holder (6) is simplified.
In another embodiment of the present invention, one end of the light guide (5) extends to the outside of the housing (8) and a casing (9) wherein the light source (4) is disposed is connected to the end of the light guide (5) outside the housing (8) (Figure 4, Figure 5). The casing (9) provides the connection of the light source (4) to the light guide (5) and at moreover surrounds the light source (4), thus protecting the same from external factors.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holder (6) is fixed to the top plate (3) by being adhered. The holder (6) is attached to the top plate (3) by means of adhesive tapes (10) (Figure 4). Thus, the mounting of the holder (6) is simplified.
In another embodiment of the present invention, more than one cooking zone (C) is arranged on the top plate (3), and more than one holder (6) each belonging to a separate cooking zone (C) is placed on the top plate (3) so as to remain between the cooking zones (C) (Figure 2). Thus, the need for sparing an additional space on the top plate (3) for placing the holders (6) is eliminated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing (9) is produced from a metal material. Thus, the casing (9) and hence the light source (4) can be positioned just under the top plate (3) that reaches high temperatures during the cooking process. Thereby the need for using of a light source (4) which is resistant to high heat is eliminated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the light source (4) is a LED. Thereby the light source (4) is enabled to have a long life.
By means of the present invention, the mounting of the light source (4) and the light guide (5) that are placed in the induction heating cooker (1) is simplified. The holder (6) can be fastened on the top plate (3) without sparing a mounting space inside the body (2). Thus, the holder (6) can be easily integrated with different types of induction heating cookers (1) without the need for an extra mold and mounting cost.

Claims

An induction heating cooker (1) comprising a body (2), a top plate (3) that covers the upper surface of the body (2) and that is produced from a translucent material, at least one light source (4) that is disposed in the body (2) and that provides the display of the operational status, and at least one light guide (5) that provides the transfer of the light from the light source (4) to the top plate (3), characterized by at least one holder (6) that is fixed on the top plate (3), whereon the light guide (5) is placed and that enables the light guide (5) to be held such that a certain distance remains between the light guide (5) and the top plate (3).
An induction heating cooker (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the rod-shaped light guide (5), a housing (7) that is disposed on the holder (6) and wherein the light guide (5) extends, and an opening (8) that is arranged on the side of the housing (7) facing the top plate (3) and that enables the light to reach the top plate (3).
An induction heating cooker (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the light guide (5) of which one end extends to the outside of the housing (8) and a casing (9) that is connected to the end of the light guide (5) outside the housing (8) and wherein the light source (4) is disposed.
An induction heating cooker (1) as in Claim 1 to Claim 3, characterized by a holder (6) that is fixed to the top plate (3) by being adhered.
An induction heating cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by more than one cooking zone (C) that is arranged on the top plate (3), and more than one holder (6) each belonging to a separate cooking zone (C) that is placed on the top plate (3) so as to remain between the cooking zones (C).
An induction heating cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the casing (9) that is produced from a metal material.
An induction heating cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the light source (4) which is a LED.