EP4722601A1

EP4722601A1 - A cooking hob comprising holding means

Info

Publication number: EP4722601A1
Application number: EP24204358.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matej Kumperger; Benjamin KLAUZAR
Original assignee: Gorenje d o o; Gorenje doo
Current assignee: Gorenje d o o; Gorenje doo
Priority date: 2024-10-02
Filing date: 2024-10-02
Publication date: 2026-04-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob, comprising a body, arranged inside which are at least one induction module and a flat cover element made of glass or ceramic, which is provided to receive a container to be heated, and which covers the said body. A cover element (2) is formed with a plurality of holding means 5) and a bottom (3) of a body (1) is formed with a plurality of cut-outs (4), wherein the cut-outs (4) in the bottom (3) and the holding means (5) on the side of the cover element (2) facing the bottom (3) are arranged in such a way that each holding means (5) is, in the direction perpendicular to the bottom (3), aligned with each cut-out (4) in the bottom (3).

Description

The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob, comprising a body, arranged inside which are at least one heating element and a flat cover element made of glass or ceramic, which is provided to receive a container to be heated, and which covers the said body.
The cooking hob generally comprises a glass or ceramic plate, which is provided to receive the container to be heated and a metal body, arranged inside which is at least one induction module on a support plate, wherein the cooking hob is built into the work surface. The connection between the glass or ceramic plate and the metal body is normally designed with metal handles, which are adhesion bonded to the glass or ceramic plate and coupled with the metal body, for instance by means of a screw joint, snap-fit joint, and similar.
The attachment of the glass or ceramic plate to the body is, for instance, known from published patent applications EP 2 144 009 A1 , EP 3 351 859 A1 , EP 4 235 036 A1 , EP 2 110 607 A1 , CN 106196202 A . Known solutions for the connection between the glass or ceramic plate and the metal body comprise a set of complex elements, making up an expensive solution.
It is the object of the present invention to create a cooking hob comprising at least one holding means for the connection between the glass or ceramic plate and the metal body, which remedies the shortcomings of the known solutions.
The object according to the present invention is accomplished by the characteristics set forth in the characterising portion of claim 1. Details of the invention are disclosed in the corresponding sub-claims.
The invention is further described in detail by way of a non-limiting embodiment and with a reference to the accompanying drawings where

Fig. 1: shows an exploded three-dimensional view of a cooking hob,
Fig. 2: shows a side view and a partial cross-sectional view in the vertical plane of the cooking hob
Fig. 3: shows a three-dimensional view of a holding means
Fig. 4: shows the holding means of Fig. 3 as seen in the direction of the arrow A,
Fig. 5: shows the holding means of Fig. 3 as seen in the direction of the arrow C, and
Fig. 6: shows the holding means of Fig. 3 as seen in the direction of the arrow B.

A cooking hob, in particular an induction cooking hob, according to the present invention comprises a body 1, arranged inside which are at least one induction module not shown and a flat cover element 2 made of glass or ceramics, which is provided to receive a container to be heated and covering the said body 1.
A bottom 3 of the said body 1 is formed with a plurality of cut-outs 4, which are, in the non-limiting preferred embodiment, arranged at the periphery and the peripheral area of the bottom 3. At least one cut-out from the plurality of cut-outs 4 is optionally arranged in the central area of the bottom 3, which prevents a deflection of the bottom 3 when the latter is formed from a thin and flexible sheet. Furthermore, the said cover element 2 is, on the side facing the bottom 3 of the body 1, formed with a plurality of holding means 5, which are, in the non-limiting preferred embodiment, arranged at the periphery and the peripheral area of the cover element 2. The said plurality of cut-outs 4 or holding means 5 means at least two cut-outs 4 or at least two holding means 5.
The arrangement of the cut-outs 4 in the bottom 3 of the body 1 and the holding means 5 on the side of the cover element 2 facing the bottom 3 is formed in a manner that each holding means 5 is, in the vertical direction, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the bottom 3 of the body 1, aligned with each cut-out 4 in the bottom 3 of the body 1.
Each holding means 5 is connected to the cover element 2 by means of a material-formed joint, for instance in an adhesive manner. Moreover, each holding means 5 is connected to the bottom 3 of the body 1 by means of a form-locking joint, wherein each holding means 5 cooperates with the respective cut-out 4 in the bottom 3 of the body 1. This ensures rigid connection between the cover element 2 and the body 1, which is resistant to thermal and mechanical strain, wherein the cover element 2 holds induction coils and a user interface in the correct position.
The holding means 5 comprises at least two snap-fit elements 6 spaced apart from each other, with their first ends connected to the web 7, wherein the snap-fit elements 6 are formed to be elastically deformable in at least one direction, preferably in the direction transverse to the web 7. Elastic deformability can be achieved with a suitable form of a shaft 8 of the snap-fit element 6, for instance with a wavy shape thereof. It is also possible to configure the snap-fit element 6 in such a way that elastic deformability is achieved by means of the material of the shaft 8, which may be, for instance, more elastic than the rest of the snap-fit element 6. Another form of the snap-fit element 6 is possible, in such a way that elastic deformability is achieved by weakening in the form of a reduction in stiffness on the cross-section of the shaft 8. Other embodiments of the snap-fit element 6 are also possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The second, free end 9 of each-snap fit element 6 is, in the longitudinal and/or transversal direction of the web 7, formed with a curvature 9a, for instance with rounding or bevelling, which facilitates the entry of the holding means 5 into the cut-out 4. Each snap-fit element 6 is, at the transition from the curvature 9a to the shaft 8, formed with a recess 8a, inside which the periphery of the cut-out 4 is captured when the holding means 5 is installed in the cut-out 4 in a snap-fit manner. The connection between the snap-fit element 6 and the cut-out 4 is formed in such a way that the clearance between them, when engaged, is minimal, which ensures a constant spacing between the body 1 and the cover element 2.
The upper section of the web 7, which faces the cover element 2, is, in its longitudinal and/or transverse direction, at least partly formed with at least one depression or channel 10, which facilitates the application and distribution of the adhesion means when the holding means 5 is connected to the cover element 2 by means of a material-formed joint.
Furthermore, it is provided that the holding means 5 comprises at least one guide protrusion 11 coupled to the web 7, which, in the presented embodiment, is arranged between the snap-fit elements 6, wherein the free end, i.e. the end of the protrusion 11 facing away from the web, is formed with at least one inclination 12, which further facilitates the entry of the holding means 5 into the cut-out 4 in the bottom 3 of the body 1. The said protrusion 11 is, in the direction from the free end toward the web 7 and at the transition from the inclination 12 into the straight section, formed with a step 13, which is provided to cooperate with the surface of the bottom 3 of the body 1, which determines the passage of the assembly of the holding means 5 and the cover element 2 in the direction toward the body 1.
At least one free end of the oblong web 7 is optionally associated with a side 14, which extends in the direction away from the web 7 and toward the bottom 3 of the body 1 to such an extent that the free end of the side 14 is aligned with the step 13 of the protrusion 11. This ensures that the said free end of the side 14 is, together with the step 13, provided to cooperate with the surface of the bottom 3 of the body 1, which determines the passage of the assembly of the holding means 5 and the cover element 2 in the direction toward the body 1.
Upon installing the cover element 2 connected with the holding means 5 by means of a material-formed joint, the curvatures 9a, protrusions 11, and sides 14 are guided by means of a bend 1a of the body 1. This way, the holding means 5 can easily slide into their respective cut-outs 4, where they are locked. The said bend 1a, which is provided on the side of the body 1 facing the cover element 2 runs at least partly along the periphery of the body 1, preferably the entire periphery of the body 1.
The holding means 5 is made from an elastic reinforced polymer that has a high heat deflection temperature and is suitable for injection moulding.

Claims

A cooking hob comprising a body, arranged inside which is at least one induction module, and a flat cover element made of glass or ceramics, which is provided to receive a container to be heated and which covers the said body, characterised in that a cover element (2) is formed with a plurality of holding means (5) and that a bottom (3) of a body (1) is formed with a plurality of cut-outs (4), wherein the cut-outs (4) in the bottom (3) and the holding means (5) on the side of the cover element (2) facing the bottom (3) are arranged in such a way that each holding means (5), in the direction perpendicular to the bottom (3), is aligned with each cut-out (4) in the bottom (3), wherein each holding means (5) is connected to the cover element (2) by means of a material-formed joint and each holding means (5) is connected to the bottom (3) of the body (1) by means of a form-locking joint, wherein each holding means (5) cooperates with the respective cut-out (4) in the bottom (3) of the body (1).
The cooking hob according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding means (5) comprises at least two snap-fit elements (6) spaced apart from each other, with their first ends connected to a web (7), wherein a second free end (9) of each snap-fit element (6) is, in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the web (7), formed with a curvature (9a), wherein each snap-fit element (6) is, at the transition from the curvature (9a) into a shaft (8), formed with a recess (8a) provided to attach to the periphery of the cut-out (4).
The cooking hob according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the holding means (5) comprises, coupled with the web (7), at least one guide protrusion (11), wherein the free end, i.e. the end of the protrusion (11) facing away from the web, is formed with at least one inclination (12), wherein the protrusion (11) is, in the direction from the free end toward the web (7) and at the transition from the inclination (12) into the straight section, formed with a step (13), which is provided to cooperate with the surface of the bottom (3) of the body (1).
The cooking hob according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one free end of the oblong web (7) is associated with a side (14), which extends in the direction facing away from the web (7) and toward the bottom (3) of the body (1) to such an extent that the free end of the side (14) is aligned with the step (13) of a protrusion (11) and is provided to cooperate with the surface of the bottom (3) of the body (1).
The cooking hob according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the upper section of the web (7) facing the cover element (2) is, in its longitudinal and/or transverse direction, formed with at least one depression or channel (10), which facilitates the application and distribution of the adhesion means when the holding means (5) is connected to the cover element (2) by means of a material-formed joint.
The cooking hob according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the snap-fit elements (6) are formed to be elastically deformable in at least one direction.
The cooking hob according to claim 6, characterised in that the snap-fit elements (6) are formed to be elastically deformable in the direction transverse to the web (7).
The cooking hob according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said elastic deformability is achieved by means of a wavy form of the shaft (8) of the snap-fit element (6).
The cooking hob according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said elastic deformability is achieved with the material of the shaft (8), which is more elastic than the rest of the snap-fit element (6).
The cooking hob according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said elastic deformability is achieved by weakening in the form of a reduction in stiffness on the cross-section of the shaft (8) of the snap-fit element (6).