EP4698826A1

EP4698826A1 - Connection apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4698826A1
Application number: EP24823826.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ergin Kaplan; Ayberk Salim MAYIL
Original assignee: Renta Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Dis Ticaret Ltd Sirketi; Renta Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Dis Ticaret LS
Current assignee: Renta Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Dis Ticaret Ltd Sirketi; Renta Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Dis Ticaret LS
Priority date: 2023-06-12
Filing date: 2024-05-28
Publication date: 2026-02-25
Also published as: WO2024258382A1; TR2023006844A1

Abstract

Our invention relates to a connection apparatus (1), which allows the mounting of a cooking hob in a mounting zone, is able to be easily attached to and detached from said cooking hob any time desired, is able to be used without having to perform any dismantling operation in said cooking hob, and comprises a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) to fix said cooking hob into said mounting zone.

Description

DESCRIPTION

CONNECTION APPARATUS

Technical Field

The invention relates to a connection apparatus usable in the cooking hobs.

More specifically, the invention relates to a connection apparatus, which enables a cooking hob to be mounted in a mounting zone with the help of a first portion and a second portion.

State of the Art

A built-in component is defined as an installation, article, etc. placed into a cavity or housing, and such components are mainly used today for positioning the white goods in certain zones of a kitchen. Positioning (embedding) a dishwasher under the kitchen worktop and positioning (embedding) a cooking hob on the kitchen worktop are examples of the built-in practices.

Today, the cooking hobs are usually positioned on the worktops in such a way that only the glass parts will be visible. Although it provides an aesthetic appearance, this approach involves some risks. Having the glass part of the cooking hob bear the entire weight of the cooking hob presents a situation that is mechanically improper and risky. In order to reduce this risk, solutions have been developed that are able to connect the cooking hob with the worktop in a permanent or nonpermanent manner. Here, it is aimed at mounting the cooking hob on the worktop by means of some apparatus. However, when said solutions were examined, it was realized that they were not adequate in terms of production cost, complicated fastening and locking mechanisms, etc. Moreover, a connecting element-fixing part is used when some of said apparatus is connected to the cooking hob. This causes an extra workload and extra cost.

The document no. EP2110607A1 discloses the fastening elements arranged at the outer portions of a cooking hob. Here, the first portion of the fastening element (the portion entering between the hob metal surface and the hob glass surface) is applied by gluing the same.

The document no. EP2144007B1 relates to a supporting apparatus for supporting the heater device on the lower panel of a cooking hob. This document discloses an angular flexible portion and a mounting portion. The document no. DE102008017776A1 discloses the spring elements made from resilient sheet metal for positioning a cooking hob in a recess available on a worktop. Said spring elements are configured in a way that is integral to the metal surface of the cooking hob. The fact that the metal surface and the spring elements are arranged in an integral manner may cause difficulty when forming a mold. On the other hand, the fact the fact that the spring elements and the metal surface are arranged in an integral manner implies the inability to detach the spring elements when desired. In such a case, it will not be possible to replace any of the spring elements when they become damaged.

The document no. US11454011 B2 discloses a connecting element used to fit a sink to a worktop. The connecting element mentioned in said document comprises more than one spring part, which provides the connection by way of being compressed. Since it comprises more than one spring part and connection part, said connecting element has a complex structure. Production costs increase when it is desired to manufacture such complex parts or apparatus.

Consequently, when the above-mentioned drawbacks are considered, the need for our invention becomes evident.

Object and Brief Description of the Invention

An object of the invention is to enable a cooking hob to be mounted in a mounting zone.

Another object of the invention is to enable a connection apparatus to be mounted to a cooking hob without the use of the fixing parts-connecting elements like screws, etc.

Another object of the invention is to enable the connection apparatus to be easily detached and reattached whenever desired.

Our invention relates to a connection apparatus that allows the mounting of a cooking hob in a mounting zone, is able to be easily attached to and detached from said cooking hob any time desired without using any connecting element, is able to be used without having to perform any dismantling operation in said cooking hob, and comprises a first portion and a second portion to fix said cooking hob into said mounting zone, wherein the first and second tabs available in the first portion abut and cling to an intermediate tray.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure-I An angular front perspective view of the connection apparatus Figure-2 An angular rear perspective view of the connection apparatus

Figure-3 A side sectional view of the connection apparatus showing different portions of said connection apparatus

Figure-3a A view of the first portion in the side section of the connection apparatus

Figure-3b A view of the second portion in the side section of the connection apparatus

Figure-4 Another angular rear perspective view of the connection apparatus

Figure-5 An angular exploded perspective view of the connection apparatus and the intermediate tray

Figure-6 An angular perspective view of the mounting of the connection apparatus to the intermediate tray

Figure-7 An angular perspective view of the connection apparatus in a state mounted to the intermediate tray

Reference Numerals

1 Connection apparatus

2 First portion

2.1 First bending point

2.2 Second bending point

2.3 First tab

2.4 Third bending point

2.5 Second tab

2.6 Fourth bending point

3 Second portion

3.1 Fifth bending point

4 Intermediate tray

4.1 First side

4.2 Seat

5 Flexing gap

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a one-piece connection apparatus (1) usable in the cooking hobs. More specifically, the invention relates to a connection apparatus (1), which allows the mounting of a cooking hob in a mounting zone, is able to be easily attached to and detached from said cooking hob any time desired without using any connecting element-fixing part (screw, etc.), and is able to be used without having to perform any dismantling operation in said cooking hob. No connecting element is used when connecting said connection apparatus (1) with the cooking hob. This reduces the cost and eliminates the extra workload generated when the user fits the connecting element. The connection apparatus according to the present invention allows for easy mounting owing to its one-piece structure.

The cooking hobs are the devices generally used to cook and heat the food and have types such as electric hobs, gas hobs, induction hobs, etc. Said cooking hobs are mainly used in the kitchens of houses. Said cooking hobs may be attached to a mounting zone in a kitchen. Here, the mounting zone may be a kitchen worktop. The worktop refers to a surface inside a kitchen that is mainly used for preparing food. While it is possible to position the cooking hobs at a location on the worktop, it is also possible to mount the same in a recess made in the worktop. The present invention relates to a connection apparatus (1), which enables a cooking hob to be mounted in a mounting zone. Moreover, said connection apparatus (1) is connected to said cooking hob without the use of a fixing part-connecting element (screw, etc.).

The mounting zone refers to the location where the cooking hob is to be mounted (e.g., the kitchen worktop, furniture, etc.). In order to facilitate the description, the directions will be named as the cooking hob side and the mounting zone side. Here, the cooking hob side refers to the direction where the cooking hob is present, while the mounting zone side refers to the direction where the mounting zone is present.

Said connection apparatus (1) basically consists of two main parts, namely at least one first portion (2) and at least one second portion (3). Said first portion (2) has the structures of at least one first bending point (2.1), at least one second bending point (2.2), at least one first tab (2.3), at least one third bending point (2.4), at least one second tab (2.5), and at least one fourth bending point (2.6). Said second portion (3) has at least one fifth bending point (3.1). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said cooking hob comprises at least one intermediate tray (4), which carries and houses the heater members. Said intermediate tray (4) has at least one first side (4.1) and at least one seat (4.2).

Said first portion (2) enables said connection apparatus (1) to be fixed/attached to the cooking hob. Said first portion (2) serves the function of a body for the connection apparatus (1). The first portion (2) in the connection apparatus (1) is formed by way of bending from said first bending point (2.1) up to a second bending point (2.2) at a certain angle in the upward direction, from said second bending point (2.2) up to a third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the cooking hob side, and from a third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side.

Said first bending point (2.1) refers to the point where said first portion (2) and said second portion (3) join. In other words, the first bending point (2.1) is the part that allows the formation of a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) by way of bending at a point of the connection apparatus (1). Said second bending point (2.2) refers to the point where the part of the connection apparatus (1) extends in an upward direction from said first bending point (2.1) and the part of the connection apparatus (1) extends up to said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the cooking hob side join. Said first tab (2.3) passes through a seat (4.2) in said intermediate tray (4) and abuts the side of said intermediate tray (4). In this way, the connection apparatus (1) becomes connected/fastened to the cooking hob. Said first tab (2.3) is formed by bending, at a certain angle towards the cooking hob side, a section taken from a region of said first portion (2) that extends in the downward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from a region of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the downward direction from the second bending point (2.2) in the continuation of said previous region. Said third bending point (2.4) refers to the point where the part of said first portion (2) extends from the second bending point (2.2) at a certain angle with respect to the cooking hob side and the part of said first portion (2) extends up to said fourth bending point (2.6) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side join. More specifically, the connection apparatus (1) bent from said third bending point (2.4) enables the formation of the region of the first portion (2) that extends in the upward direction to the mounting zone side and the region of the first portion (2) that extends in the downward direction to the mounting zone side. Said second tab (2.5) passes through a seat (4.2) in said intermediate tray (4) and abuts the side of said intermediate tray (4). In this way, the connection apparatus (1) becomes connected to the cooking hob. Said second tab (2.5) is formed by bending, at a certain angle towards the cooking hob side, a section taken from a region of said first portion (2) that extends in the upward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from a region of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the upward direction from said fourth bending point (2.6) in the continuation of said previous region. The part that extends in the upward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side is bent at a certain angle (at an almost right angle) in the upward direction from said fourth bending point (2.6). The structure of the first portion (2) is thus completed. Said second portion (3) extends at a certain angle from said first bending point (2.1). The ends of said second portion (3) are configured by bending the same from said fifth bending point (3.1) towards the cooking hob side and in a way to face said first bending point (2.1) at a certain angle. More specifically, said second portion (3) extends at a certain angle from the first bending point (2.1) to the mounting zone side and enables, owing to its structure capable of flexing, said cooking hob to be fixed into said mounting zone by way of being compressed.

The sides of the cooking hob where the connection apparatus (1) is to be fitted comprise an intermediate tray (4) in order to enable said connection apparatus (1) to be attached/fastened. Said intermediate tray (4) is the part that houses the components (mechanical and electronic) of the cooking hob. Said first sides (4.1) form said intermediate tray (4) by joining a base with certain geometry. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said intermediate tray (4) comprises at least four first sides (4.1). Said seat (4.2) is present on the first sides (4.1), where the connection apparatus (1) is to be fitted and is preferably configured in the middle part of said first sides (4.1). Said seat (4.2) houses the regions of the first portion (2) that extend in the downward and upward directions from the third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and that are connected together via said third bending point (2.4). As a result, when the connection apparatus (1) is connected with the intermediate tray (4), the first tab (2.3) and the second tab (2.5) that are present in said regions extending in the downward and upward directions pass through the seat (4.2). More specifically, said seat (4.2) is configured with a geometry that allows the engagement of the regions where said first tab (2.3) and said second tab (2.5) are present.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two flexing gaps (5). Said flexing gaps (5) are formed by removing a section taken from the regions of the first portion (2) that extend in the upward and downward directions from the third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from the parts of said first portion (2) that are bent at a certain angle in the upward direction from the fourth bending point (2.6) and at a certain angle in the downward direction from the second bending point (2.2), respectively, in the continuation of said previous regions. More specifically, a flexing gap (5) is formed in the upper part by removing/bending a section taken from the region of the first portion (2) that extends in the upward direction from the third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from the part of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the upward direction from the fourth bending point (2.6) in the continuation of said previous region. Similarly, a flexing gap (5) is formed in the lower part by removing/bending a section taken from the region of the first portion (2) that extends in the downward direction from the third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from the part of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the downward direction from the second bending point (2.2) in the continuation of said previous region. Said flexing gap/s (5) provide/s flexibility to said connection apparatus (1). According to our invention, when it is desired to connect a cooking hob, which comprises said structure of intermediate tray (4), with said mounting zone with the help of said connection apparatus (1), the first tab (2.3) and the second tab (2.5) pass through a seat (4.2) configured in the middle part of said first side (4.1) and about the inner part of the first side (4.1). On the other hand, said second portion (3) is compressed into the mounting zone to thus allow the cooking hob to be securely fixed by means of the connection apparatus (1).

The orientation or positional relationship indicated in this description by the terms “upper”, “lower” and “rear” is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the figures and is intended only to clarify the technical solution and facilitate the description. The orientation or positional relationship does not imply or indicate that the respective device or element requires a specific orientation or is built and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, said orientation or positional relationship may not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Claims

1. A one-piece connection apparatus (1), which allows the mounting of a cooking hob in a mounting zone, is able to be easily attached to and detached from said cooking hob any time desired, is able to be used without having to perform any dismantling operation in said cooking hob, and comprises at least one second portion (3) that extends at a certain angle from at least one first bending point (2.1) to said mounting zone side and that enables, owing to its structure capable of flexing, the cooking hob to be fixed into the mounting zone by way of being compressed, characterized in that, in order to enable said connection apparatus (1) to be connected with the cooking hob, a first portion (2) available in the connection apparatus (1), said first portion (2) serving the function of a body in the connection apparatus (1) and being formed by way of bending

• from said first bending point (2.1) up to a second bending point (2.2) at a certain angle in the upward direction,

• from said second bending point (2.2) up to a third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the cooking hob side, and

• from a third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side, comprises the components of

- at least one first tab (2.3) formed by bending, at a certain angle towards the cooking hob side, a section taken from a region of the first portion (2) that extends in the downward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from a region of the first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the downward direction from the second bending point (2.2) in the continuation of said previous region, and

- at least one second tab (2.5) formed by bending, at a certain angle towards the cooking hob side, a section taken from a region of the first portion (2) that extends in the upward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from a region of the first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the upward direction from a fourth bending point (2.6) in the continuation of said previous region.

2. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that said connection apparatus (1) comprises at least one first portion (2) and at least one second portion (3).

3. A connection apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said first portion (2) comprises at least one first tab (2.3) and at least one second tab (2.5).

4. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that said connection apparatus (1) comprises at least one first bending point (2.1), which allows the formation of said first portion (2) and said second portion (3) by way of bending at a point of said connection apparatus (1) and which is a junction.

5. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the ends of said second portion (3) are configured towards the cooking hob side and in a way to face said first bending point (2.1) at a certain angle.

6. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that, in order to provide flexibility, said connection apparatus (1) comprises at least two flexing gaps (5), said flexing gaps (5) being formed

• in the upper part by removing/bending a section taken from the region of said first portion (2) that extends in the upward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from the part of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the upward direction from said fourth bending point (2.6) in the continuation of said previous region, and

• in the lower part by removing/bending a section taken from the region of said first portion (2) that extends in the downward direction from said third bending point (2.4) at a certain angle with respect to the mounting zone side and taken from the part of said first portion (2) that is bent at a certain angle in the downward direction from said second bending point (2.2) in the continuation of said previous region.

7. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that said cooking hob comprises at least one intermediate tray (4).

8. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 7 characterized in that said intermediate tray (4) comprises at least four first sides (4.1).

9. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 7 characterized in that said intermediate tray (4) comprises at least one seat (4.2), which is configured in the middle part of said first sides (4.1) of said intermediate tray (4) where the connection apparatus (1) is to be fitted and which is configured with a geometry that allows the engagement of the regions where said first tab (2.3) and said second tab (2.5) are present.

10. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 7, 8 or 9 characterized in that, in order to enable the connection of a cooking hob, which comprises said structure of intermediate tray (4), with said mounting zone with the help of said connection apparatus (1), said connection apparatus (1) comprises at least one first tab (2.3) and at least one second tab (2.5), which pass through a seat (4.2) configured in the middle part of said first side (4.1) and abut the first side (4.1), and at least one second portion (3), which is compressed into the mounting zone to thus allow the cooking hob to be securely fixed by means of the connection apparatus (1).

11. A connection apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the connection apparatus (1) comprises at least one first tab (2.3) and at least one second tab (2.5) formed by bending a section taken from a region of the first portion (2) towards the side of the connection apparatus (1) facing the cooking hob.