EP3710754B1

EP3710754B1 - Cooker device with improved upper plate assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3710754B1
Application number: EP18782405.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Murat MAMATOGLU; Yasin Sedat Yirmili; Osman Cengiz; Recep KARAGOZ; Metin OZCAN; Yalcin OZKAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-11-17
Filing date: 2018-10-02
Publication date: 2021-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-02
Also published as: EP3710754A1; PL3710754T3; WO2019096488A1

Description

The present invention relates to a cooker device wherein the upper plate on which cooking operations are performed, is enabled to be detachably assembled.
In cooker devices, e.g. in cooking ranges and ovens, the upper plates on which electric heaters and/or gas burners enabling cooking are disposed, are made of sheet material and are coated with enamel. While fixing an enamel coated upper plate on a lower housing, it can be subjected to strains and impacts, damaging the enamel which is a fragile material. In the state of the art, connecting springs are used, enabling the upper plate to be assembled on the lower housing without screws, however, it is not possible to avoid crackings of enamel occurring during assembly of the upper plate. The connecting spring used in assembling the upper plate, is mounted to the lower housing by means of screws, and the screw coupling causes crackings of enamel during shipping. Furthermore, a gap is left between the upper plate and the lower housing even in minimal measure deviations, negatively effecting the appearance.
The European patent application no. EP2192352 (A2 ) relates to a cooking range comprising a lower support member and an upper support member on which cooking operation is performed, wherein the upper support member is detachably fixed on the lower support member by means of an elastic retainer.
The European patent no. EP2097680 (B1 ) relates to a cooker device comprising an upper plate on which gas burners and/or electric heaters are disposed, and a connecting spring enabling the upper plate to be detachably attached to a body and damping the forces received on the upper plate.
Document WO 2016/177411 A1 describes a fastening device for use in a cooking appliance comprising a casing for accommodating one or more heating units. The casing includes a lower casing and an upper casing. The upper casing has a horizontally inwardly bending peripheral rim. The fastening device comprises: a fastening clip for releasably fastening the upper casing to the lower casing. The fastening clip comprises: an attachment section for detachable attachment to the lower casing and a clamping section for releasably clamping the horizontally inwardly bending peripheral rim of the upper casing from the inside towards the lower casing.
Document DE 196 13 320 C1 discloses a working surface fixing system for a domestic electrical appliance.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a cooker device comprising a connecting spring fixed without screws, enabling the upper plate on which cooking operations are performed to be detachably assembled.
The cooker device realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is disclosed in the claims.
In the cooker device of the invention, the connecting spring enabling the upper plate to be detachably assembled to the lower housing, comprises a seat resting on the lower housing, and a main extension extending upwards and in an inclined manner from the seat, whose portion flexing when the upper plate is being assembled is shaped by being bent in a V-shape. The connecting spring also comprises at least one detent extending outwards from the seat, enabling locking by being engaged to the retainer disposed on the lower housing, thus snap-fit mounting of the connecting spring to the lower housing is enabled without screws.
In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting spring comprises a U-shaped seat resting on the base of the lower housing, and a horizontal extension formed by bending in horizontal direction an arm of the seat extending upwards. The connecting spring is pushed downwards by being depressed through the extension, and is fixed on the lower housing.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting spring comprises two elastic side extensions disposed on both sides of the main extension.
In another embodiment of the invention, an opening is provided on the lower housing, and the connecting spring is flexed by a screwdriver introduced through said opening, enabling demounting of the upper plate for maintenance or repairs.
The cooker device realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an upper plate, a lower housing and a connecting spring provided in a cooker device.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connecting spring.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the connecting spring and the upper plate mounted to the lower housing.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower housing with the connection spring mounted.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lower housing with the connection spring and the upper plate mounted.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an oven using the connection spring of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1. Cooker device
2. Upper plate
3. Skirt
4. Lower housing
5. Connecting spring
6. Seat
7. Main extension
8. Retainer
9. Detent
10. Horizontal extension
11. Side extension
12. Opening
13. Protuberance

The cooker device (1), e.g. a cooking range or an oven, comprises an upper plate on which electric heaters and/or gas burners are disposed, made by shaping sheet material and coating with enamel, at least one skirt (3) surrounding the upper plate (2) at least partially, shaped by bending the edge portions, preferably the front edge of the upper plate (2), a lower housing (4) on which the upper plate (2) is assembled, and at least one connecting spring (5) fixed on the lower housing (4), enabling the upper plate (2) to be detachably assembled to the lower housing (4), and enabling damping the forces received on the upper plate (2).
The connecting spring (5) comprises a seat (6) resting on the lower housing (4), forming the lower portion of its body, and a resilient main extension (7) extending upwards and in an inclined manner from the seat (6), whose portion between the skirt (3) and the lower housing (4) is shaped by being bent in a V-shape.
The cooker device (1) of the invention comprises at least one retainer (8) provided on the base of the lower housing (4), enabling the connecting spring (5) to be fixed on the lower housing (4) by way of snap-fit method, and at least one detent (9) provided on the connecting spring (5), extending outwards from the seat (6) and enabling locking by engaging the retainer (8).
The connecting spring (5) is assembled to the lower housing (4) by being depressed manually or automatically from above. In the assembly process, the detents (9) extending outwards from the seat (6) below the connecting spring (5), engage the retainers (8) on the lower housing (4). The connecting spring (5) is thus fixed to the lower housing (4) without screws. After mounting of the connecting spring (5), the upper plate (2) is detachably attached to the lower housing (4). While the upper plate (2) is being attached to the lower housing (4), the skirt (3) abuts the V-shaped portion of the main extension (7) of the connecting spring (5), the main extension (7) flexes backwards, and the skirt (3) partly fits below the V-shaped portion at the end of the main extension (7).
In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting spring (5) comprises a seat (6) shaped by being bent in a U shape, resting on the base of the lower housing (4). Detents (9) are provided on both sides of the seat (6), and the detents (9) enable locking by engaging to the retainers (8) during mounting of the connecting spring (5) to the lower housing (4).
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting spring (5) comprises a horizontal extension (10) shaped by bending an arm of the U-shaped seat (6) inwards in horizontal direction, applying pressure on the upper surface of the connecting spring (5) for mounting the connecting spring (5) to the lower housing (4) by pushing the connecting spring (5) downwards.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting spring (5) comprises two resilient side extensions (11) extending upwards and in an inclined manner from the seat (6) on both sides, i.e. left and right sides of the main extension (7), enabling stability of the upper plate (2) by abutting the lower surface of the skirt (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises at least one opening (12) provided on the front or the side wall of the lower housing (4), and a protuberance (13) provided on the connecting spring (5), enabling -without sliding of the screwdriver- the connecting spring (5) to be flexed backwards by means of a screwdriver introduced through the opening (12) and thereby enabling the upper plate (2) disconnected from the connecting spring (5) to be demounted for maintenance or repairs.
In the cooker device (1) of the invention, cracking (flaking) of the enamel is avoided by damping impacts received on the upper plate (2) by means of a connecting spring (5). The connecting spring (5) is assembled to the lower housing (4) without screws, enabling compliance for automation and presenting cost advantage. The connecting spring (5) pulls the upper plate (2) in vertical direction towards the lower housing (4), leaving no gap in between the upper plate (2) and the lower housing (4).

Claims

A cooker device (1) comprising an upper plate on which electric heaters and/or gas burners are disposed, at least one skirt (3) shaped by bending the edge portions of the upper plate (2), surrounding the upper plate (2) at least partially, a lower housing (4) on which the upper plate (2) is assembled, and at least one connecting spring (5) enabling the upper plate (2) to be detachably assembled to the lower housing (4), having a seat (6) resting on the lower housing (4), and a resilient main extension (7) extending upwards and in an inclined manner from the seat (6), whose portion between the skirt (3) and the lower housing (4) is shaped by being bent in a V-shape,
wherein at least one retainer (8) is provided on the base of the lower housing (4), characterized in that the at least one retainer (8) enables the connecting spring (5) to be fixed to the lower housing (4) by way of snap-fit method, and wherein at least one detent (9) is provided on the connecting spring (5), extending outwards from the seat (6) and enabling locking by engaging the retainer (8).
A cooker device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the connecting spring (5) having a U-shaped seat (6) resting on the base of the lower housing (4).
A cooker device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the connecting spring (5) comprising a horizontal extension (10) shaped by bending in horizontal direction an arm of the U-shaped seat (6), enabling the connecting spring (5) to be mounted to the lower housing (4) by being pushed downwards.
A cooker device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the connecting spring (5) comprising two resilient side extensions (11) extending upwards and in an inclined manner from the seat (6) at both sides of the main extension (7), abutting on the lower surface of the skirt (3).
A cooker device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one opening (12) provided on the lower housing (4), and by a protuberance (13) provided on the connecting spring (5), enabling the connecting spring (5) to be flexed backwards by means of a screwdriver introduced through the opening (12).