GB2152988A

GB2152988A - Oven door seal

Info

Publication number: GB2152988A
Application number: GB08334483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Brett
Original assignee: SILICONE ALTIMEX Ltd
Current assignee: SILICONE ALTIMEX Ltd
Priority date: 1983-12-24
Filing date: 1983-12-24
Publication date: 1985-08-14
Also published as: GB8334483D0; GB2152988B

Abstract

An oven door is sealed by a continuous loop (3) of an elastomeric material located between the confronting surfaces of the door (4) and its frame (2) by tabs (8) which project from the frame and are curved to form the seal around the corners. The elastomeric material has a profile which includes a base portion (6) engaged by the tabs (8) and a flexible sealing portion (7) projecting outwardly therefrom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating or cooling enclosure This invention relates to a heating or cooling enclosure, for example a domestic oven.

The use of seals comprising a continuous loop of an elastimeric material for sealing the gap between the door and the surround to an opening of an oven or the like is disclosed in Specification No.

2,106,974A. A problem with this type of seal is that is requires anchoring clips to be inserted into the seal at the corners, the clips engaging holes provided in the door surround or frame. This operation increases the cost of the seals, and in certain circumstances can lead to weakening of the seal where the clips are inserted.

The present invention provides a heating or cooling enclosure comprising a door and a frame having confronting surfaces, and a seal therebetween, the seal comprising a continuous loop of an elastomeric material and having a profile which includes a base portion and a sealing portion extending therefrom, one of the confronting surfaces being provided with a seal-retaining formation adjacent to each corner of the door when closed against the frame, each seal-retaining formation comprising at least one curved tab arranged to engage the base portion of the seal to hold the seal on the said surface and to curve the seal around the corner.

Preferably each seal-retaining formation comprises pair of curved tabs, the space between the tabs ideally being sufficient to permit a finger or thumb to be passed therebetween to assist in installation and tensioning of the seal. In order to ensure that the seal is evenly tensioned around the frame, locating marks may be provided on the seal for alignment with the tabs, suitably for positioning in the space between the tabs of each pair.

The tabs may be formed by punching and bending of the metal forming the surface to which the seal is attached, or the tabs may be formed separately and attached to the surface, e.g. by welding.

The tabs are suitably provided on the frame.

In the enclosure according to the invention, the seal is of simple, and therefore inexpensive construction, and does not have weak points which may lead to early failure of the seal.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front part of an oven in accordance with the invention, showing the seal installed; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the seal and door frame of the oven shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows an alternative form of seal usable in the enclosure of the invention.

The oven shown in Figure 1 has an opening 1 surrounded by a rectangular frame 2 upon which the seal 3, in the form of a continuous loop formed from an extruded strip of an elastomeric profile material, is attached. The strip is formed into a loop and the ends are butt jointed together using a metal insert which is bonded into adjacent hollow portions of the strip to form a joint 5. A door 4 is hingedly attached to the oven so as to close against the frame 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, the strip 3 has a profile which comprises a hollow base portion 6 and a flexible sealing portion 7 extending outwardly therefrom. The strip forming the seal is of a design well known in the sealing of oven doors and the like.

At each corner of the frame, a pair of tabs 8 is formed by punching the metal of the frame 2 and bending outwardly the punched out portions to a maximum distance of, for example, 3 mm from the remainder of the frame. The tabs 8 together define a curve, for example having a radius of 50 mm, around which the seal can be passed without significant deformation when under tension, for example stretched by 12% of the length thereof. A gap 9 is left between the tabs 8, or is formed by cutting a larger continuous tab, the gap 9 being of sufficient width to enable a thumb or finger to be inserted to pull the seal into position with the base portion 6 thereof inserted beneath the tabs 8.

Marks may be made onthe base portion of the seal during preparation of the continuous loop, to assist in accurate and uniform tensioning of the seal. The marks are located in the gaps 9.

The cut ends of the loops may be located together by inserting opposed ends of a roughened metal connecting strip into the hollow portions of adjacent ends of the strip, a cold cure adhesive being used to secure the metal strip in place, so that the ends of the seal 3 butt together.

If necessary, further cut outs can be provided in the tabs 8 to assist in locating the seal with its base portion underneath the tabs.

Figure 3 shows an alternative sealing strip wherein the base portion is in the form of a flat flap 30 and the sealing portion is a hollow compressible portion 31 one side 32 thereof being moulded with an inward deflection to assist collapse of the portion 31 when the door is pressed against it, thereby ensuring a tight seal to prevent the escape of hot gases from the oven, for example.

1. A heating or cooling enclosure, comprising a door and a frame having confronting surfaces, and a seal therebetween, the seal comprising a continuous loop of an elastomeric material and having a profile which includes a base portion and a sealing portion extending therefrom, one of the confronting surfaces being provided with a seal-retaining formation adjacent to each corner of the door when closed against the frame, each seal-retaining formation comprising at least one curved tab arranged to engage the base portion of the seal to hold the seal on the said surface and to curve the seal around the corner.

2. An enclosure according to Claim 1, wherein each seal-retaining formation comprises a pair of curved tabs.

3. An enclosure according to Claim 2, wherein

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heating or cooling enclosure This invention relates to a heating or cooling enclosure, for example a domestic oven. The use of seals comprising a continuous loop of an elastimeric material for sealing the gap between the door and the surround to an opening of an oven or the like is disclosed in Specification No. 2,106,974A. A problem with this type of seal is that is requires anchoring clips to be inserted into the seal at the corners, the clips engaging holes provided in the door surround or frame. This operation increases the cost of the seals, and in certain circumstances can lead to weakening of the seal where the clips are inserted. The present invention provides a heating or cooling enclosure comprising a door and a frame having confronting surfaces, and a seal therebetween, the seal comprising a continuous loop of an elastomeric material and having a profile which includes a base portion and a sealing portion extending therefrom, one of the confronting surfaces being provided with a seal-retaining formation adjacent to each corner of the door when closed against the frame, each seal-retaining formation comprising at least one curved tab arranged to engage the base portion of the seal to hold the seal on the said surface and to curve the seal around the corner. Preferably each seal-retaining formation comprises pair of curved tabs, the space between the tabs ideally being sufficient to permit a finger or thumb to be passed therebetween to assist in installation and tensioning of the seal. In order to ensure that the seal is evenly tensioned around the frame, locating marks may be provided on the seal for alignment with the tabs, suitably for positioning in the space between the tabs of each pair. The tabs may be formed by punching and bending of the metal forming the surface to which the seal is attached, or the tabs may be formed separately and attached to the surface, e.g. by welding. The tabs are suitably provided on the frame. In the enclosure according to the invention, the seal is of simple, and therefore inexpensive construction, and does not have weak points which may lead to early failure of the seal. Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front part of an oven in accordance with the invention, showing the seal installed; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the seal and door frame of the oven shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows an alternative form of seal usable in the enclosure of the invention. The oven shown in Figure 1 has an opening 1 surrounded by a rectangular frame 2 upon which the seal 3, in the form of a continuous loop formed from an extruded strip of an elastomeric profile material, is attached. The strip is formed into a loop and the ends are butt jointed together using a metal insert which is bonded into adjacent hollow portions of the strip to form a joint 5. A door 4 is hingedly attached to the oven so as to close against the frame 2. Referring now to Figure 2, the strip 3 has a profile which comprises a hollow base portion 6 and a flexible sealing portion 7 extending outwardly therefrom. The strip forming the seal is of a design well known in the sealing of oven doors and the like. At each corner of the frame, a pair of tabs 8 is formed by punching the metal of the frame 2 and bending outwardly the punched out portions to a maximum distance of, for example, 3 mm from the remainder of the frame. The tabs 8 together define a curve, for example having a radius of 50 mm, around which the seal can be passed without significant deformation when under tension, for example stretched by 12% of the length thereof. A gap 9 is left between the tabs 8, or is formed by cutting a larger continuous tab, the gap 9 being of sufficient width to enable a thumb or finger to be inserted to pull the seal into position with the base portion 6 thereof inserted beneath the tabs 8. Marks may be made onthe base portion of the seal during preparation of the continuous loop, to assist in accurate and uniform tensioning of the seal. The marks are located in the gaps 9. The cut ends of the loops may be located together by inserting opposed ends of a roughened metal connecting strip into the hollow portions of adjacent ends of the strip, a cold cure adhesive being used to secure the metal strip in place, so that the ends of the seal 3 butt together. If necessary, further cut outs can be provided in the tabs 8 to assist in locating the seal with its base portion underneath the tabs. Figure 3 shows an alternative sealing strip wherein the base portion is in the form of a flat flap 30 and the sealing portion is a hollow compressible portion 31 one side 32 thereof being moulded with an inward deflection to assist collapse of the portion 31 when the door is pressed against it, thereby ensuring a tight seal to prevent the escape of hot gases from the oven, for example. CLAIMS

3. An enclosure according to Claim 2, wherein the tabs in each pair are sufficiently spaced to permit a finger or thumb to be passed therebetween.

4. An enclosure according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the seal is provided with locating marks for alignment with the tabs, thereby ensuring uniform tensioning of the seal.

5. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the tabs are integral with the surface to which the seal is attached.

6. An enclosure according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the tabs are welded to the surface to which the seal is attached.

7. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the tabs are provided on the frame.

8. An oven susbtantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.