GB2143029A

GB2143029A - Cooking hob

Info

Publication number: GB2143029A
Application number: GB08318458A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Gray
Original assignee: Thorn EMI PLC
Current assignee: Thorn EMI PLC
Priority date: 1983-07-07
Filing date: 1983-07-07
Publication date: 1985-01-30
Also published as: GB8318458D0; GB2143029B

Abstract

A cooking hob (1) includes a cover (6) pivotable between a horizontal position, covering a top surface (5) of the hob and an upright position in which the top surface (5) is exposed. A fluorescent light (10) is mounted on the cover adjacent a front edge (9) thereof and can illuminate the top surface whenever the cover is in the upright position. Alternatively the light may be mounted on a rear support of the hob, the cover provided with an aperture through which the lamp may project when the cover is in the upright position to permit illumination of the top surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooking hob The present invention relates to a cooking hob having a pivotable coverforthe hobtop.

In the invention, a cooking hob with a pivotable cover has lighting to provide illumination of the hob top surface when the cover is in a raised position suitable for cooking.

The present invention provides a cooking hob having a cover pivotable between a first position in which it overlies the top surface of the hob and a second position in which at least one heater of the hob is exposed to enable cooking on the hob, and at least one light capable of illuminating at least part of the hob top surface when the cover is in the second position.

Preferably the at least one light is fixed to the cover. Alternatively the at least one light is fixed to the hob or another stationary support and, when the cover is in the second position, it extends through one or more apertures in the cover in order to illuminate the hob top surface.

Preferably the at least one light comprises an elongate fluorescent light which extends parallel to the front edge of the cover.

Preferably the hob has switch means to operate automatically the light(s) when the cover is moved to the secnd position. Likewise the hob may have switch means to turn off automatically the light(s) when the lid is moved away from the second position. Alternatively the hob may have manually operable switch meansforturning on and/oroffthe light(s); preferably this switch means can provide a connection between the light(s) and the power supply only when the cover is in the second position.

Preferably the hob has means to provide counterbalance of the cover when in the second position in order that the latter is a stable position for the cover.

The hob may be fuelled by gas or by electricity, and may be installed in a kitchen unit or in part of a stand-alone cooker.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa side view of part of a cooker embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a modified cooker; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of another modified cooker.

In each of the Figures, a cooking hob of the type with a pivotable cover is provided with illumination of the hob top surface when the cover is in its raised position suitable for cooking.

Thus, Figure 1 shows the top part of a freestanding cooker which has a hob 1 with four gas burners (of which only two, referenced 2 and 3, are shown) each with pan supports 4 projecting from top surface 5 of the hob 1 and providing a rest for a pan (not shown).

Hob 1 also includes a cover 6 which is pivotable about an axis parallel to and adjacent the rear edge of hob top 5. Cover 6 can therefore be moved manually between a first horizontal position (shown in chain lines in Figure 1) in which it lies over hob top 5 to enclose the burners, and a econd vertical position (shown by the full lines in Figure 1) in which it stands clear of the burners and allows them to be used for cooking. Cover 6 is formed of a smoked glass panel 7 held within a frame made of four metallic flanged sides (of which only one lateral side 8 and the front side 9 can be seen in Figure 1).

An elongate neon lamp 10 is held within a section of the cover 6 defined by a protective transparent glass panel 11, such that the lamp lies substantially parallel to, and adjacent, the front side 9 of the cover.

Thus when cover 6 is in the second, vertical position, light from lamp 10 is directed onto the hob top 5.

Preferably the inner surfaces of side 9 and glass plate 7 adjacent lamp 10 have a light-reflective surface (not shown) in order to maximise the amount of light directed towards hob top; also or alternatively the lamp 10 may have a back reflector plate.

Thus, when the burners are not in use the cover 6 encloses hob top 5 (the neon lamp 10 being positioned just above, without contacting, top 5) to provide a flat top which can be used as a working surface; moreover, this flat top can have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. By utilising smoked glass in cover 6, the burners can be seen but only unobtrusively.

When it is desired to use one or more burners, the cover is readily pivoted to the vertical position and can be held there either by appropriate latching or by counterweights; the burners are then sufficiently exposed to permit cooking on the hob.

The hob 5 has a contact switch which connects automatically the lamp 10 to its power supply only when cover 6 is in the vertical position; in this way there is no risk of lamp 10 being on while cover 6 is in the horizontal position. In a modification, the hob has a manually-operable switch for the lamp 10; again this can only connect lamp 10 to its power supply when the cover is in the vertical position.

The hob 1 also has a shut-off valve to prevent the flow of gas to any of the burners except when the cover 6 is in its vertical position. Thus this prevents the risk of any burner being switched on when the cover is horizontal or partially raised.

In a modification, the contact switch is omitted and the hob has an indicator light which is activated whenever lamp 10 is on, thereby enabling an observer to see when the lamp is on while the cover is horizontal. As an alternative to the indicator lamp, the cover may have an aperture positioned so as to be readily seen when the cover is horizontal; thus when lamp 10 is on, light escapes through this aperture.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the hob in Figure 1, and differs in that an elongate neon lamp 20 is fixed to a back-panel 21 of hob 22, the cover 23 having an aperture 24 which passes over lamp 20 when cover 23 is moved to its vertical position. The aperture 24 may provide a grip whereby a person can hold the cover when pivoting it between the first and second positions.

It may be desirable for the top of cover 23 to have a continuous surface when it is horizontal. One way to achieve this is to provide a spring-loaded flap (not shown) which lies over aperture 24 to be substantially flush with the top of cover 23 when horizontal; however, as cover 23 approaches its second, vertical position, a rigid reflector plate positioned above lamp 20 urges this flap inwardly relative to the top of cover 23 thereby allowing aperture 24 to pass over lamp 20.

Figure 3 shows another modification of the hob of Figure 1, whereby a lamp 30 is fixed to a backplate 31 of hob 32 to be above the uppermost part of cover 33 when in the second vertical position.

In order to ensure that the top surface 34 of hob 32 is adequately illuminated with cover 33 in the second position, cover 33 has no front side corresponding to that referenced as 9 in Figure 1. The front edge of the top surface of cover 33 can readily be grasped by a person wanting to pivot it from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A cooking hob including a cover pivotable between a first position, wherein a top surface of the hob is covered, and a second position wherein said top surface is exposed; and a light capable of illuminating said top surface when said cover is in the second position.

2. A cooking hob according to Claim 1 wherein said cover, in the first position, covers the top surface of the hob in its entirety.

3. A cooking hob according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said light is mounted on the cover.

4. A cooking hob according to Claim 3 including reflective means arranged to direct light onto said top surface when the cover is in the second position.

5. A cooking hob according to Claim 1 wherein said light is mounted in fixed relation to the top surface.

6. A cooking hob according to Claim 5 wherein said light is mounted on a substantially upright support at the rear of the hob.

7. A cooking hob according to Claim 6 wherein said cover includes an aperture which is positioned and dimensioned to receive said light when the cover is located, in use, in said second position, thereby permitting illumination of the top surface.

8. A cooking hob according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 including switch means arranged to control the light in response to movement of the cover.

9. A cooking hob according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 including a manually operable switch means

10. A cooking hob according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 including means for counterbalancing the cover in said second position.

11. A cooking hob according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 including a plurality of said lights each arranged to illuminate a different, respective part of the top surface.

12. A cooking hob substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.