EP4137748A1

EP4137748A1 - Cooking appliance comprising an illuminator

Info

Publication number: EP4137748A1
Application number: EP22189574.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masahiro Nishijima; Ryunosuke MAKINO
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2021-08-19
Filing date: 2022-08-09
Publication date: 2023-02-22
Also published as: JP2023028432A

Abstract

A cooking appliance (100) includes a cooking chamber, an illuminator (300), a holder (400), a fitting acceptor (500), and an opening and closing member (2). The cooking chamber takes in an object to be heated. The illuminator (300) illuminates the cooking chamber. The holder (400) holds the illuminator (300). To the fitting acceptor (500), the holder (400) is fitted. The opening and closing member (2) opens and closes the cooking chamber. The fitting acceptor (500) includes a main body and an elastic body elastically deformable with respect to the main body. The holder (400) includes a first interlocker that is interlocked with the main body and a second interlocker that is interlocked with the elastic body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses an oven lamp attaching device. The oven lamp attaching device includes a base for attachment and an oven lamp. The oven lamp is detachably attached to the base for attachment.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

PATENT DOCUMENT

Patent Document 1: JP S58-16572 U

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

In the oven lamp attaching device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the oven lamp is secured to the base for attachment. As a result, impact of opening and closing of an opening and closing member of a cooking appliance may damage an illuminator such as the oven lamp.
In view of the above problem, the present invention is aimed at providing a cooking appliance allowing the suppression of transmission of the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member to the illuminator.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

According to an aspect of the present invention, a cooking appliance including a cooking chamber, an illuminator, a holder, a fitting acceptor, and an opening and closing member is provided. The cooking chamber takes in an object to be heated. The illuminator illuminates the cooking chamber. The holder holds the illuminator. To the fitting acceptor, the holder is fitted. The opening and closing member opens and closes the cooking chamber. The fitting acceptor includes a main body and an elastic body elastically deformable with respect to the main body. The holder includes a first interlocker that is interlocked with the main body and a second interlocker that is interlocked with the elastic body.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the cooking appliance of the present invention, the transmission of the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member to the illuminator is suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating an illuminator, a holder, and a fitting acceptor in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the illuminator, the holder, and the fitting acceptor in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the fitting acceptor in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the illuminator and the holder in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the illuminator in the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the illuminator in the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the holder in the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining an attachment method according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, an embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, components the same as or corresponding to the components in other figures are given the same reference signs, and the description on such components is not made anew.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cooking appliance 100 is described. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the cooking appliance 100. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates the cooking appliance 100 with an opening and closing member 2 closed. FIG. 2 illustrates the cooking appliance 100 with the opening and closing member 2 opened. Moreover, FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate an appearance of the cooking appliance 100 as obliquely viewed from an upper front. In the present embodiment, an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis orthogonal to one another are indicated in the figures. The z-axis is parallel to a vertical direction, and the x-axis and the y-axis are each parallel to a horizontal direction.
The cooking appliance 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is to cook an object to be heated. The object to be heated is exemplified by a food material. The cooking appliance 100 includes a heating chamber 1, the opening and closing member 2, an operation panel 3, and a cooking chamber 100A.
In the present embodiment, a side of the cooking appliance 100 where the operation panel 3 is arranged is assumed as the front side of the cooking appliance 100, and a side (back face side) opposite to the front side is defined as the rear side of the cooking appliance 100. A right side of the cooking appliance 100 as viewed from the front side is assumed as the right side of the cooking appliance 100, and a side opposite to the right side is defined as the left side of the cooking appliance 100. An upper side of the cooking appliance 100 as viewed from the front side is assumed as the upper side of the cooking appliance 100, and a side (bottom side) opposite to the upper side is defined as the lower side of the cooking appliance 100. The sides as above do not limit the orientation of the cooking appliance 100 upon use.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heating chamber 1 is a box-shaped member. Specifically, the heating chamber 1 has a right outer wall 1G, a left outer wall 1H, a top outer wall 1J, a bottom outer wall 1F, and a rear outer wall 1K. The heating chamber 1 houses the cooking chamber 100A.
The opening and closing member 2 opens and closes the cooking chamber 100A. The opening and closing member 2 is rotatable about one side of the left outer wall 1H as an axis of rotation, for instance. To be specific, the opening and closing member 2 is openably supported by a hinge (hinging member).
The operation panel 3 accepts an operation by a user. Examples of the operation include a process for cooking the object to be heated. Specifically, the operation panel 3 includes a display, a storage, and a controller. The display displays various kinds of information. A specific display includes a liquid crystal panel.
Next referring to FIG. 3, the cooking appliance 100 is detailed. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance 100 according to the present embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates the cooking appliance 100, from which the heating chamber 1 has been removed.
The cooking chamber 100A illustrated in FIG. 3 is to take in the object to be heated. The shape of the cooking chamber 100A is nearly rectangular-parallelepipedic, for instance. Specifically, the cooking chamber 100A has a right wall 1A, a left wall 1B, a rear wall 1E, an opening 100B, a top wall 1C, and a bottom wall 1D. The opening 100B opens in a first direction D1. The first direction D1 is a forward direction. The opening 100B communicates with the exterior of the cooking chamber 100A. The rear wall 1E is arranged apart from the opening 100B in a direction opposite to the first direction D1. In other words, the opening 100B is opposite to the rear wall 1E.
The right wall 1A and the left wall 1B each extend from the rear wall 1E along the first direction D1. The right wall 1A and the left wall 1B are opposite to each other in a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is a leftward direction.
The top wall 1C and the bottom wall 1D each extend from the rear wall 1E along the first direction D1. The top wall 1C and the bottom wall 1D are opposite to each other in a third direction D3. The third direction D3 is an upward direction (direction opposite to the vertical direction).
The right wall 1A, the left wall 1B, the top wall 1C, the bottom wall 1D, and the rear wall 1E are made of metal, for instance.
A space R is formed between the heating chamber 1 and the cooking chamber 100A. Specifically, the space R is located between the right outer wall 1G of the heating chamber 1 and the right wall 1A. The space R is also located between the top outer wall 1J of the heating chamber 1 and the top wall 1C.
The cooking appliance 100 further includes a grill 16. The grill 16 is arranged in the space R between the top wall 1C and the top outer wall 1J. The grill 16 conducts heat generated by a heater to the object to be heated, so as to cook the object to be heated.
The cooking appliance 100 further includes an illuminator 300, a holder 400, and a fitting acceptor 500. The illuminator 300 illuminates the cooking chamber 100A. To the fitting acceptor 500, the holder 400 is fitted. The holder 400 holds the illuminator 300. The illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 are arranged in the space R. The illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 are arranged on an upper side of the right wall 1A. The illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 are arranged on a front side of the right wall 1A.
In the top wall 1C, a plurality of openings are provided in a region located below the illuminator 300. As a result, the illuminator 300 illuminates the cooking chamber 100A. The illuminator 300 emits light toward the rear wall 1E and the bottom wall 1D of the cooking chamber 100A. As a result, the interior of the cooking chamber 100A or the object to be heated as placed in the interior of the cooking chamber 100A is irradiated with the light. Such irradiation makes it possible to observe at length the interior of the cooking chamber 100A or the object to be heated as placed in the interior of the cooking chamber 100A.
Next referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 are detailed. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the illuminator 300, the holder 400, and the fitting acceptor 500 in the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, a lower end portion of the fitting acceptor 500 is secured to an upper portion of the right wall 1A. The fitting acceptor 500 may be secured to any of the right wall 1A, the left wall 1B, the top wall 1C, the bottom wall 1D, the rear wall 1E, the right outer wall 1G, the left outer wall 1H, the top outer wall 1J, the bottom outer wall 1F, and the rear outer wall 1K.
Next referring to FIG. 6, the fitting acceptor 500 is detailed. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the fitting acceptor 500 in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the fitting acceptor 500 includes a main body 510 and an elastic body 520. The fitting acceptor 500 is made of a synthetic resin, for instance.
The main body 510 includes a perpendicular part 512 and a horizontal part 511. The horizontal part 511 is nearly plate-shaped. The perpendicular part 512 and the horizontal part 511 extend along a front and rear direction of the cooking appliance 100. To be specific, the horizontal part 511 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the third direction D3. The horizontal part 511 is secured on the upper side of the right wall 1A. The perpendicular part 512 is nearly plate-shaped. To be specific, the perpendicular part 512 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the second direction D2. A lower portion of the perpendicular part 512 is secured to an upper face of the horizontal part 511.
The elastic body 520 has the shape of a stick extending along an up and down direction. The elastic body 520 extends along the third direction D3. A lower portion of the elastic body 520 communicates with the upper face of the horizontal part 511. The perpendicular part 512 and the elastic body 520 are spaced apart. Specifically, the elastic body 520 is arranged apart from the perpendicular part 512 in the second direction D2. In addition, the elastic body 520 is arranged apart from the perpendicular part 512 in the first direction D1. In other words, the elastic body 520 is arranged on a side of the fitting acceptor 500 closer to the opening and closing member 2.
The elastic body 520 is elastically deformable with respect to the main body 510. For instance, an upper portion of the elastic body 520 is elastically deformable along the second direction D2. In other words, the upper portion of the elastic body 520 is elastically deformable along a direction perpendicular to the right wall 1A. In other words again, the upper portion of the elastic body 520 is elastically deformable in a direction where the illuminator 300 protrudes from the holder 400.
Next referring to FIG. 7, the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 are detailed. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the holder 400 includes a first interlocker 410 and a second interlocker 420.
The first interlocker 410 is nearly plate-shaped. To be specific, the first interlocker 410 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the second direction D2. The first interlocker 410 is interlocked with the main body 510. Specifically, the first interlocker 410 is secured to the main body 510.
The second interlocker 420 is nearly plate-shaped. To be specific, the second interlocker 420 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the second direction D2. The second interlocker 420 is interlocked with the elastic body 520. Specifically, the second interlocker 420 is secured to the elastic body 520. The elastic body 520 is elastically deformable with respect to the main body 510. If the elastic body 520 moves along the second direction D2, for instance, the second interlocker 420 also moves along the second direction D2.
When the opening and closing member 2 is opened or closed, the right wall 1A sometimes vibrates along the second direction D2. Such vibration of the right wall 1A is transmitted to the illuminator 300. If the right wall 1A vibrates along the second direction D2, for instance, the elastic body 520 relieves the vibration of the right wall 1A. To be specific: If the right wall 1A instantaneously moves along the second direction D2, the elastic body 520 slowly transmits the movement of the right wall 1A to the illuminator 300.
As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7, the elastic body 520 of the fitting acceptor 500 is elastically deformable with respect to the main body 510 of the fitting acceptor 500. Consequently, the elastic body 520 is able to absorb the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member 2. As a result, the transmission of the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member 2 to the illuminator 300 is suppressed.
Since the elastic body 520 has the shape of a stick extending along the up and down direction, the transmission of the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member 2 to the illuminator 300 is suppressed with a simple configuration.
Next referring to FIGS. 8 through 10, the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 are detailed. FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the illuminator 300 in the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the holder 400 in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10, the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 are separable from each other.
The illuminator 300 includes a bulb 310 and a socket 320, for instance. The bulb 310 has a filament. The bulb 310 is nearly cylindrical in shape with a center axis extending along the second direction D2. The illuminator 300 may be a light emitting diode (LED).
The socket 320 is nearly tubular in shape with a center axis extending along the second direction D2. The socket 320 is made of a synthetic resin, for instance. To the socket 320, the bulb 310 is attached. The bulb 310 is attached to the socket 320 through a screw-in mechanism, for instance. Specifically, the bulb 310 is attached to the left of the socket 320 in the second direction D2.
The socket 320 has a tubular body 322, a first protrusion 323, a second protrusion 324, and a projected part 321. The first protrusion 323 protrudes outward from the tubular body 322. Specifically, the first protrusion 323 extends from the tubular body 322 along the direction opposite to the first direction D1. The first protrusion 323 has a first slit 323a extending along the up and down direction. The first slit 323a is recessed in the first direction D1.
The second protrusion 324 protrudes outward from the tubular body 322. Specifically, the second protrusion 324 extends from the tubular body 322 along the first direction D1. The second protrusion 324 has a second slit 324a extending along the up and down direction. The second slit 324a is recessed in the direction opposite to the first direction D1. The projected part 321 is nearly rectangular-parallelepipedic in shape. The projected part 321 extends from the tubular body 322 along the third direction D3.
The holder 400 includes a main body 470, a first socket anchor 430, a second socket anchor 440, a recessed part 450, and a horizontal part 460. The recessed part 450 is an example of a "third interlocker". The main body 470 is nearly plate-shaped. To be specific, the main body 470 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the second direction D2. The holder 400 is made of metal or a synthetic resin, for instance.
The recessed part 450 is interlocked with the projected part 321. The recessed part 450 is arranged between the first interlocker 410 and the second interlocker 420.
The first socket anchor 430 is arranged between the first interlocker 410 and the recessed part 450. The first socket anchor 430 protrudes from the main body 470 in the second direction D2. The first socket anchor 430 is inserted into the first slit 323a. Specifically, the first socket anchor 430 abuts a left face of the first slit 323a in the second direction D2, and the main body 470 abuts a right face of the first slit 323a in a direction opposite to the second direction D2.
The second socket anchor 440 is arranged between the recessed part 450 and the second interlocker 420. The second socket anchor 440 protrudes from the main body 470 in the second direction D2. The second socket anchor 440 is inserted into the second slit 324a. Specifically, the second socket anchor 440 abuts a left face of the second slit 324a in the second direction D2, and the main body 470 abuts a right face of the second slit 324a in the direction opposite to the second direction D2.
The illuminator 300 is arranged between the recessed part 450 and the fitting acceptor 500 in the up and down direction.
The horizontal part 460 is nearly plate-shaped. To be specific, the horizontal part 460 substantially has the shape of a plate perpendicular to the third direction D3. The horizontal part 460 is arranged in an upper portion of the holder 400. As a result, it is possible to press the horizontal part 460 when the first interlocker 410 is inserted into an insertion acceptor 513 and the second interlocker 420 is interlocked with the elastic body 520, so that the rotation of the holder 400 is facilitated.
As described above, the socket 320 and the holder 400 are different members. Consequently, the socket 320 and the holder 400 can each be made of a more preferable material. For instance, the socket 320 is made of a synthetic resin and the holder 400 is made of metal or a synthetic resin.
The holder 400 includes the first socket anchor 430, the second socket anchor 440, and the recessed part 450 and is as such able to suppress the rotation as well as frontward and rearward tilts of the socket 320. Specifically, the interlock of the projected part 321 and the recessed part 450 with each other suppresses the rotation of the socket 320, and the interlock of the first slit 323a and the first socket anchor 430 with each other and the interlock of the second slit 324a and the second socket anchor 440 with each other suppress the rotation as well as frontward and rearward tilts of the socket 320. As a result, the vibration transmitted to the illuminator 300 is suppressed, so that the load on the illuminator 300 is reduced.
Moreover, the illuminator 300 is arranged between the first interlocker 410 and the second interlocker 420, so that the transmission of the impact of opening and closing of the opening and closing member 2 to the illuminator 300 is further suppressed.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, the fitting acceptor 500 is detailed. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastic body 520 includes a first regulator 521 and a second regulator 522. The first regulator 521 and the second regulator 522 are arranged on a side farther from the cooking chamber 100A of the elastic body 520. The first regulator 521 and the second regulator 522 are spaced apart in the up and down direction. The second interlocker 420 is arranged between the first regulator 521 and the second regulator 522.
The second regulator 522 preferably extends in a direction inclined to a direction where the first regulator 521 extends. To be specific, the distance between the second regulator 522 and the first regulator 521 is gradually reduced in the first direction D1. As a result, the movement in the first direction D1 of the second interlocker 420 with respect to the elastic body 520 is regulated.
The first regulator 521 protrudes more in the direction opposite to the second direction D2 as the first regulator 521 extends lower. Such configuration makes it easy to arrange the second interlocker 420 between the first regulator 521 and the second regulator 522.
The main body 510 includes the insertion acceptor 513. The insertion acceptor 513 is arranged on a side of the main body 510 closer to the cooking chamber 100A. The first interlocker 410 is inserted into the insertion acceptor 513 so as to interlock the insertion acceptor 513 with the first interlocker 410. The insertion acceptor 513 is in the form of a pocket opened in the first direction D1. As a result, it is possible to regulate the movement in the direction opposite to the first direction D1 of the first interlocker 410 with respect to the main body 510. It is preferable that the insertion acceptor 513 is nearly rectangular in shape with at least one corner rounded. Such shape facilitates the rotation of the holder 400 when the first interlocker 410 is inserted into the insertion acceptor 513 and the second interlocker 420 is interlocked with the elastic body 520.
The following description is made with reference to FIG. 11 so as to fully explain an attachment method for attaching the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 to the fitting acceptor 500. FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the attachment method. As illustrated in FIG. 11, a manufacturer initially inserts the first interlocker 410 into the insertion acceptor 513.
Next, the manufacturer rotates the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 about the insertion acceptor 513 as an axis of rotation. The second interlocker 420 then causes the upper portion of the elastic body 520 to move in the second direction D2. The manufacturer further rotates the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 about the insertion acceptor 513 as the axis of rotation. The upper portion of the elastic body 520 moves in a direction opposite to the second direction D2 and, as a result, the second interlocker 420 is arranged between the first regulator 521 and the second regulator 522. As described before, the elastic body 520 is arranged on the side closer to the opening and closing member 2 of the fitting acceptor 500, which facilitates attachment works.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. The present invention, however, is not limited to the above embodiment but worked in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. In the figures, respective components are chiefly illustrated in a schematic manner for easier understanding, and the illustrated components are different in thickness, length, number, and the like from actual components as a matter of convenience of drawing the figures. The material, shape, size, and the like of each component described in the above embodiment are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications can be made as long as the effects of the present invention are practically achieved.

(1) In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11, the opening and closing member 2 is rotatable about one side of the left outer wall 1H as the axis of rotation, to which the present invention is not limited. The opening and closing member 2 may be drawable in the first direction D1.
(2) In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11, the elastic body 520 has the shape of a stick extending along the up and down direction, to which the present invention is not limited. The elastic body 520 may be a spring.
(3) In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11, the illuminator 300 and the holder 400 are separable from each other, to which the present invention is not limited. The illuminator 300 and the holder 400 may be integrated with each other.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a cooking appliance and is industrially applicable.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

2: opening and closing member
100: cooking appliance
100A: cooking chamber
100B: opening
300: illuminator
400: holder
500: fitting acceptor

Claims

A cooking appliance (100) comprising:
a cooking chamber (100A) that takes in an object to be heated;

an illuminator (300) that illuminates the cooking chamber;

a holder (400) that holds the illuminator;

a fitting acceptor (500) that the holder is fitted to; and

an opening and closing member (2) that opens and closes the cooking chamber,

wherein the fitting acceptor includes a main body (510) and an elastic body (520) elastically deformable with respect to the main body, and

wherein the holder includes a first interlocker (410) that is interlocked with the main body and a second interlocker (420) that is interlocked with the elastic body.
The cooking appliance according to claim 1,
wherein the holder further includes a third interlocker (450) that is interlocked with an upper portion of the illuminator,

wherein the third interlocker is arranged between the first interlocker and the second interlocker, and

wherein the illuminator is arranged between the third interlocker and the fitting acceptor in an up and down direction.
The cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the elastic body has a shape of a stick extending along an up and down direction,

wherein a lower portion of the elastic body and the main body communicate with each other, and

wherein the elastic body is elastically deformable in a direction where the illuminator protrudes from the holder.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 through 3,
wherein the elastic body includes a first regulator (521) and a second regulator (522) that extends in a direction inclined to a direction where the first regulator extends,

wherein the first regulator and the second regulator are arranged on a side of the elastic body farther from the cooking chamber, and

wherein the second interlocker is arranged between the first regulator and the second regulator.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 through 4,
wherein the main body includes an insertion acceptor (513) that is interlocked with the first interlocker inserted in the insertion acceptor, and

wherein the insertion acceptor is nearly rectangular in shape with at least one corner rounded.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein the illuminator is arranged between the first interlocker and the second interlocker.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 through 6,
wherein the fitting acceptor extends along a front and rear direction of the cooking appliance, and

wherein the elastic body is arranged on a side of the fitting acceptor closer to the opening and closing member.
The cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 through 7,
wherein the illuminator includes a tubular body (322), a first protrusion (323) that protrudes outward from the tubular body, and a second protrusion (324) that protrudes outward from the tubular body,

wherein the first protrusion has a first slit (323a) extending along an up and down direction,

wherein the second protrusion has a second slit (324a) extending along the up and down direction, and

wherein the holder includes a first socket anchor (430) that is inserted into the first slit and a second socket anchor (440) that is inserted into the second slit.