EP3847397A1

EP3847397A1 - A gas cooker comprising a knob

Info

Publication number: EP3847397A1
Application number: EP19748516.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yalcin OZKAN; Osman Cengiz; Mutlu MEDIN; Mehmet Murat MAMATOGLU; Metin OZCAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-09-05
Filing date: 2019-07-30
Publication date: 2021-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-30
Also published as: WO2020048686A1; EP3847397B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas cooker (1) comprising a burner plate (3) which has at least one opening thereon; a body (4) which defines a volume under the burner plate (3) wherein the pipes carrying the gas, the electrical components and connections are arranged; at least one tap (5) which is fixed into the body (4) and which provides the flow of gas; at least one shaft (6) which is disposed on the tap (5) and which provides the adjustment of the amount of the gas passing through the tap (5); and at least one knob (7) with one end connected to the shaft (6), which enables the shaft (6) to be moved to adjust the amount of the gas passing through the tap (5), wherein at least one connection element (8) is fixed onto the tap (5), and at least one fixing element (9) is mounted onto the connection element (8) such that the shaft (6) passes through the fixing element (9), thus at least partially limiting the wobbling right and left of the shaft (6) due to the movement transferred by the knob (7).

Description

A GAS COOKER COMPRISING A KNOB

The present invention relates to a cooker comprising a knob
Gas cookers generally comprise one or more than one burner, one or more than one gas tap which provides gas flow to each relevant burner and one or more than one knob which enables the user to control the gas flow from the gas tap to the burner. The gas tap is connected to the knob by means of a shaft in the gas tap. When the user wants to perform cooking on the cooker, he/she first pushes and rotates the knob for automatic ignition. After the ignition, the user lets the pushed knob to retract and rotates the knob to the desired position to adjust the flame power.
When the user moves the knob by pushing or rotating the same, the tap shaft connected to the knob also moves. Since the shaft is not supported by any component, the shaft wobbles left and right while moving, and as the tap shaft wobbles, the knob connected to the shaft also wobbles. This prevents the user from moving the knob in a convenient manner. In the course of time these wobbling movements cause the axis of the shaft to shift. Especially in the cookers with symbols showing the flame power visually according to the position of the knob, this causes a mismatch between the position of the knob and the symbols.
In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP1772674, a gas tap which is safely fixed to the cooker is disclosed.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a gas cooker wherein the knob thereof can be easily moved by the user without any wobbles to perform ignition or to adjust the flame power.
The gas cooker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the independent first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises at least one connection element which is fixedly connected onto the tap providing the gas flow, and at least one fixing element which is mounted onto the connection element such that a shaft, which is connected to the knob from one end and which adjusts the amount of gas passing through the tap depending on the movement of the knob, passes through the fixing element, thus at least partially limiting the wobbling right and left of the shaft due to the movement transferred by the knob. By limiting the wobbling of the shaft, the knob which is connected to the shaft is enabled to move without any wobbles, thus enabling the user to easily move the knob. Moreover, by limiting the wobbling of the shaft, the axis of the shaft is prevented from shifting in the course of time due to said wobbling movement, and in the cookers with symbols showing the flame power visually according to the position of the knob, the mismatch between the position of the knob and the symbols is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element comprises a first hole which enables the fixing element to be passed through to be mounted onto the connection element. Thus, the fixing element can be mounted onto the connection element in an easy and low-cost manner without using a plurality of mounting elements.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element comprises at least one second hole which enables the connection element to be fixedly connected to the tap by means of fixing means such as bolt, screw, etc. passing therethrough. Thus, by fixedly mounting the connection element onto the tap which is already fixed in the cooker body, the connection element disposed onto the fixing element is prevented from moving and displacing in the course of time, and the axis of the shaft is prevented from shifting after the assembly.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element is in the form of sheet metal. Thus, the connection element is prevented from occupying much space in the body and from increasing the weight of the cooker. Consequently, the dimensions and the weight of the cooker do not increase significantly, preventing any inconvenience during the transport of the cooker.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing element is produced from an elastic material such as plastic, etc. Thus, the sound which may be generated during the movement of the shaft inside the fixing element is minimized, and by minimizing the friction between the shaft and the fixing element, both the shaft and the fixing element are prevented from being deformed in the course of time due to friction.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing element comprises a head which is suitable to be inserted into the first hole, and a base which is arranged at one of the head and which is larger than the head. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the head and the base are in the form of concentric cylinders with a gap through which the shaft passes, and the diameter of the base is larger than the diameter of the head. While the fixing element is being placed onto the connection element, due to the difference of diameter, the head is passed through the first hole until the surface of the base remaining outside the head bears against the surface of the connection element surrounding the first hole. When said surface of the base contacts said surface of the connection element, the fixing element cannot be moved any more relative to the connection element and is mounted to the connection element in this position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element comprises at least one locking channel, and the fixing element comprises at least one protrusion at the outer surface thereof which is suitable for entering said locking channel. While the fixing element is being mounted onto the connection element, said protrusion is inserted into the first hole so as to enter the corresponding locking channel. Thus, while the shaft passing through the fixing element rotates, the fixing element is prevented from rotating relative to the connection element. Consequently, the connection between the fixing element and the connection element is prevented from weakening and getting lost due to the rotational movement of the fixing element relative to the connection element.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion extends along the outer surface of the head starting from over the base. Thus, the protrusion is supported by the base and prevented from being deformed, and the fixing element is enabled to be used for a long time.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas cooker further comprises at least one sealing element which covers the opening on the burner plate such that the shaft passes therethrough. By means of said sealing element, foreign matters such as food residues, etc. on the burner plate are prevented from entering the body through the opening. Moreover, by preventing the axis of the shaft from shifting in the course of time and thus preventing the axis of the knob from changing in the course of time by means of the fixing element which limits the wobbling of the shaft, the problem of the knob getting stuck on the sealing element and being prevented from returning to the initial position when the knob is pushed forward for ignition is eliminated.
By means of the present invention, with the fixing element mounted onto the connection element fixed onto the gas tap in the body, the wobbling left and right of the shaft is at least partially limited while the shaft moves with the translational and/or rotational movement imparted on the shaft by means of the knob to perform ignition and/or to adjust the flame power. By preventing the shaft from wobbling while moving, the user is enabled to easily move the knob while the axis of the shaft is prevented from shifting relative to the axis adjusted during the assembly of the cooker in the course of time due to the possible shifting of the shaft, and thus especially in the cookers with symbols showing the flame power visually according to the position of the knob, the mismatch between the position of the knob and the symbols is prevented. Moreover, by preventing the axis of the shaft from shifting, the knob is prevented from, upon being pushed for ignition, getting stuck onto the sealing element which covers the opening on the burner plate, and the knob is also enabled to easily return to the initial position after ignition.
The gas cooker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the gas cooker of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the partial cross-sectional view of the gas cooker of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the tap in the assembled state in the gas cooker of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the exploded view of the tap in the gas cooker of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooker
Opening
Burner plate
Body
Tap
Shaft
Knob
Connection element
Fixing element
First hole
Second hole
Head
Base
Locking channel
Protrusion
Sealing element

FM. Fixing means
The gas cooker (1) comprises a burner plate (3) which has at least one opening thereon; a body (4) which defines a volume under the burner plate (3) wherein the pipes carrying the gas, the electrical components and connections are arranged; at least one tap (5) which is fixed into the body (4) and which provides the flow of gas; at least one shaft (6) which is disposed on the tap (5) and which provides the adjustment of the amount of gas passing through the tap (5); and at least one knob (7) with one end connected to the shaft (6), which enables the shaft (6) to be moved to adjust the amount of gas passing through the tap (5). In the cooker (1), the shaft (6) passes through the opening (2) on the burner table (3) and is connected to the knob (7) outside the body (4), in other words over the burner plate (3). The user rotates the knob (7) and thus enables the shaft (6) to rotate as well, providing the adjustment of the amount of gas flowing through the tap (5). Moreover, the user pushes the knob (7) and enables the shaft (6) to make translational movement to perform the ignition.
The gas cooker (1) of the present invention comprises at least one connection element (8) which is fixed onto the tap (5), and at least one fixing element (9) which is mounted onto the connection element (8) such that the shaft (6) passes through the fixing element (9), thus at least partially limiting the wobbling right and left of the shaft (6) due to the movement transferred by the knob (7). The fixing element (9) houses the shaft (6) so as to enable the same to perform the rotational movement or the translational movement imparted onto the shaft (6) by the knob (7), but so as to prevent the same from wobbling left or right. By preventing the shaft (6) from wobbling, the knob (7) connected to the shaft (6) is also prevented from wobbling, and thus the user is prevented from encountering any difficulty while moving the knob (7) and enabled to easily moved the knob (7) by pushing and/or rotating the same. Moreover, by preventing the wobbling of the shaft (6), the axis of the shaft (6) is prevented from shifting in the course of time, and in the cookers (1) with symbols showing the flame power visually according to the position of the knob (7), the mismatch between the position of the knob (7) and the symbols is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element (8) of the gas cooker (1) comprises at least one first hole (10) through which the fixing element (9) passes. In this embodiment, the fixing element (9) is passed through said first hole (10) and is easily placed onto the connection element (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element (8) of the gas cooker (1) comprises at least one second hole (11) through which at least one fixing means (FM), which provides the fixing onto the tap (5), passes. Thus, the connection element (8) is enabled to be fixedly connected onto the tap (5), which is already fixed in the body (4), by means of fixing means (FM) such as bolt, screw, etc.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element (8) of the gas cooker (1) is in the form of a plate. Thus, the connection element (8) does not occupy a large space in the body (4) and have a relatively low weight. Consequently, the placement of the connection element into the body (4) does not significantly increase the dimensions of the body (4) nor the total weight of the cooker (1), providing ease of transport for the cooker (1).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing element (9) is produced from plastic. Thus, the sound which may be generated during the rotational and/or translational movement of the shaft (6), which is generally produced from metal material, inside the fixing element (9) is minimized, and the fixing element (9) and the shaft (6) are prevented from being easily deformed due to friction caused by the movement.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing element (9) comprises a head (12) which is suitable for passing through the first hole (10), and a base (13) which is arranged at one of the head (12) and which is larger than the head (12). While the fixing element (9) is being mounted onto the connection element (8), the head (12) is passed through the first hole (10) until the base (13), which is wider than the head (12), contacts the surface of the connection element (8) surrounding the first hole (10). After the base (13) contacts the surface of the connection element (8) surrounding the first hole (10), the head (12) is not allowed to move any more in the first hole (10), and thus the connection element (9) is prevented from inadvertently detaching from the connection element (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection element (8) comprises at least one locking channel (14) while the fixing element (9) comprises at least one protrusion (15) on the outer surface thereof which is suitable for entering said locking channel (14). In this embodiment, while the fixing element (9) is being passed through the first hole (11) on the connection element (8), the protrusion (15) is inserted into the locking channel (14). Thus, while the shaft (6) rotates, the fixing element (9), through which the shaft (6) passes, is prevented from rotating together with the shaft (6). Consequently, by placing the fixing element (9) onto the connection element (8) so as not to rotate, the connection between the fixing element (9) and the connection element (8) is prevented from weakening in the course of time due to the movement of the fixing element (9).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion (15) extends on the outer surface of the head (12) starting from over the base (13). Thus, the protrusions (15) is supported by the base (13) and prevented from being easily deformed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas cooker (1) further comprises at least one sealing element (16) which is placed onto the opening (2) on the burner plate (3) such that the shaft (6) passes therethrough. The sealing element (16) prevents any foreign matter from entering the body (4) through the opening (2) on the burner plate (3). In this embodiment of the present invention, by preventing the axis of the shaft (6) from shifting in the course of time and thus preventing the axis of the knob (7) from changing in the course of time by means of the fixing element (8), the problem of the knob (7) getting stuck on the sealing element (16) and being prevented from returning to the initial position when the knob (7) is pushed forward for ignition is eliminated.
By means of the present invention, with a connection element (8) fixed onto the tap (5) in the body (4) and the fixing element (9) placed onto the connection element (8) so as not to move relative to the connection element (8) and so as to allow the shaft (6) to pass therethrough, the wobbling left and right of the shaft (6) is at least partially limited while the shaft (6) moves with the translational and/or rotational movement imparted on the shaft (6) by means of the knob (7). By preventing the shaft (6) from wobbling while moving, the user is enabled to easily move the knob (7) while the axis of the shaft (6) is prevented from shifting relative to the axis adjusted during the assembly in the course of time due to the possible shifting of the shaft (6), and thus especially in the cookers (1) with symbols showing the flame power visually according to the position of the knob (7), the mismatch between the position of the knob (7) and the symbols is prevented. Moreover, by preventing the axis of the shaft (6) from shifting, the knob (7) is prevented from, upon being pushed for ignition, getting stuck onto the sealing element (16) which covers the opening (2) on the burner plate (3), and thus is enabled to easily return to the initial position after ignition.

Claims

A gas cooker (1) comprising a burner plate (3) which has at least one opening thereon; a body (4) which defines a volume under the burner plate (3) wherein the pipes carrying the gas, the electrical components and connections are arranged; at least one tap (5) which is fixed into the body (4) and which provides the flow of gas; at least one shaft (6) which is disposed on the tap (5) and which provides the adjustment of the amount of the gas passing through the tap (5); and at least one knob (7) with one end connected to the shaft (6), which enables the shaft (6) to be moved to adjust the amount of the gas passing through the tap (5), characterized by at least one connection element (8) which is fixed onto the tap (5), and at least one fixing element (9) which is mounted onto the connection element (8) such that the shaft (6) passes through the fixing element (9), thus at least partially limiting the wobbling right and left of the shaft (6) due to the movement transferred by the knob (7).
A gas cooker (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the connection element (8) comprising at least one first hole (10) through which the fixing element (9) passes.
A gas cooker (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the connection element (8) comprising at least one second hole (11) through which at least one fixing means (FM), which provides the fixing onto the tap (5), passes.
A gas cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the connection element (8) which is in the form of a plate.
A gas cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the fixing element (9) which is produced from plastic material.
A gas cooker (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized by the fixing element (9) comprising a head (12) which is suitable for passing through the first hole (10), and a base (13) which is arranged at one of the head (12) and which is larger than the head (12).
A gas cooker (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 6, characterized by the connection element (8) comprising at least one locking channel (14), and by the fixing element (9) comprising at least one protrusion (15) on the outer surface thereof which is suitable for entering said locking channel (14).
A gas cooker (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the protrusion (15) which extends on the outer surface of the head (12) starting from over the base (13).
A gas cooker (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one sealing element (16) which is placed onto the opening (2) on the burner plate (3) such that the shaft (6) passes therethrough.