GB2195176A

GB2195176A - Domestic cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2195176A
Application number: GB08711132A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Hatfield
Original assignee: Thorn EMI Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: Thorn EMI Appliances Ltd
Priority date: 1986-09-18
Filing date: 1987-05-12
Publication date: 1988-03-30
Also published as: GB8622529D0; GB8711132D0

Abstract

A gas or electrically heated cooking appliance has a pivotal cover (1). The cover is coupled to manual control taps (3) by means of a mechanical latching arrangement in the form of a bar (7) and a plate (6). The plate is displaced sideways (direction A) in response to opening of a tap (3) and has a tongue (9) which enters a slot (10) in the bar preventing the cover being lowered. When all the taps (3) are closed the plate is biassed by spring (11) in the opposite direction freeing bar (7) and allowing the cover to be lowered. The latching arrangement is said to prevent opening(s) the taps (3) whenever the cover (1) is in its lowered position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Domestic cooking appliance This invention relates to a domestic cooking appliance fitted with a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position and it relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a domestic cooking appliance including, or consisting of, a hob fitted with a pivotal cover.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to both gas and electrically heated cooking appliances.

According to the invention there is provided a gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance including a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position, at least one gas or electrically energised heating element, manual control means displaceable from an extreme setting to connect a supply of gas or electricity to said heating element and a mechanical latching arrangement coupling said cover and said manual control means so as to prevent displacement of said control means from said extreme setting whenever the cover assumes said fully lowered position and to prevent positioning of the cover in said fully lowered position unless said control means assumes said extreme setting.

It will be apparent that said mechanical latching arrangement is effective to protect the cover against damage which might otherwise arise either by lowering the cover while a heating element is in an energised condition or by energising the heating element while the cover is in the fully lowered position.

In the case of a gas-fired domestic cooking appliance the latching arrangement is effective to prevent gas escaping from a burner unlit should a control tap be opened while the cover is in the fully lowered position.

In order that the invention may be carried readily into effect an embodiment thereof is now described, by way of example, by reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a gas-fired cooking hob, partly cut away to reveal a mechanical latching arrangement.

Referring now to the drawing the hob is fitted with a pivotal cover 1, typically made of toughened glass, ceramic or enamelled metal, which can hinge on an axis 2 between a fully raised vertical position, as shown, and a fully lowered, horizontal position, covering a number of burners (typicaly four) located on a hob tray. Each burner is associated with a respective user-operable gas tap 3 which can be rotated on the axis of a central spindle 4 to regulate a supply of gas to the burner. The gas taps are mounted on a facia panel FP along a front edge of the hob.

The spindle 4 of each gas tap extends through a respective opening 5 formed in a flat plate 6 positioned immediately behind the facia panel. The spindles are coupled to the plate by means of suitable cams or levers (not shown) which are arranged to effect a lateral movement of the plate (in the direction designated A in the drawing) whenever any of the taps is displaced from its closed setting to initiate a supply of gas to a respective burner.

A bar 7 coupled to the cover through a lever arm 8 can slide with respect to one side of the hob, in forward or rearward directions (as referenced at B in the drawing) in response to lowering or raising of the cover.

Plate 6 is formed with a tongue 9 which, in the displaced condition of the plate, may enter a slot 10 in the bar. The slot and tongue are correctly aligned to permit entry provided the cover is in the vertical, fully raised position and it will be clear that the cover may not be lowered from the vertical positon unless plate 6 is first retracted by returning all the taps to their closed positions. A spring 11 acts between the plate and the hob chasis to urge the plate towards the retracted position.

It, on the other hand, the cover assumes the fully closed position the tongue cannot enter slot 10 and so in these circumstances bar 7 prevents displacement of the plate and ensures that the supply taps are maintained in a closed condition.

Slot 10 need not necessarily be provided and, in an alternative embodiment bar 7 has a plain end. Tongue 9 abuts the end of the bar to prevent closure of the cover while any of the supply taps is in an open condition.

It will be appreciated that the latching arrangement prevents the cover from being lowered while any burner is lit and also prevents gas being supplied to a burner while the cover is in the fully closed position. In this way the latching arrangement serves to protect the cover against damage and also prevents an inadvertent, possibly dangerous leakage of gas while the cover is down.

It will be noted that the latching arrangement does not require a safety cut-off valve to control a flow of gas in dependence on the position of the pivotal cover and in this regard, at least, provides a relatively cheap alternative to other arrangements which have been proposed hitherto.

1. A gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance including a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position, at least one bas or electrically energised heating element, manual control means displaceable from an extreme setting to connect a supply of gas or electricity to said heating element and a mechanical latching arrangement coupling said cover and said manual control means so as to prevent displacement of said control means from said extreme setting whenever the cover

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Domestic cooking appliance This invention relates to a domestic cooking appliance fitted with a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position and it relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a domestic cooking appliance including, or consisting of, a hob fitted with a pivotal cover. It will be understood that the invention is applicable to both gas and electrically heated cooking appliances. According to the invention there is provided a gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance including a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position, at least one gas or electrically energised heating element, manual control means displaceable from an extreme setting to connect a supply of gas or electricity to said heating element and a mechanical latching arrangement coupling said cover and said manual control means so as to prevent displacement of said control means from said extreme setting whenever the cover assumes said fully lowered position and to prevent positioning of the cover in said fully lowered position unless said control means assumes said extreme setting. It will be apparent that said mechanical latching arrangement is effective to protect the cover against damage which might otherwise arise either by lowering the cover while a heating element is in an energised condition or by energising the heating element while the cover is in the fully lowered position. In the case of a gas-fired domestic cooking appliance the latching arrangement is effective to prevent gas escaping from a burner unlit should a control tap be opened while the cover is in the fully lowered position. In order that the invention may be carried readily into effect an embodiment thereof is now described, by way of example, by reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a gas-fired cooking hob, partly cut away to reveal a mechanical latching arrangement. Referring now to the drawing the hob is fitted with a pivotal cover 1, typically made of toughened glass, ceramic or enamelled metal, which can hinge on an axis 2 between a fully raised vertical position, as shown, and a fully lowered, horizontal position, covering a number of burners (typicaly four) located on a hob tray. Each burner is associated with a respective user-operable gas tap 3 which can be rotated on the axis of a central spindle 4 to regulate a supply of gas to the burner. The gas taps are mounted on a facia panel FP along a front edge of the hob. The spindle 4 of each gas tap extends through a respective opening 5 formed in a flat plate 6 positioned immediately behind the facia panel. The spindles are coupled to the plate by means of suitable cams or levers (not shown) which are arranged to effect a lateral movement of the plate (in the direction designated A in the drawing) whenever any of the taps is displaced from its closed setting to initiate a supply of gas to a respective burner. A bar 7 coupled to the cover through a lever arm 8 can slide with respect to one side of the hob, in forward or rearward directions (as referenced at B in the drawing) in response to lowering or raising of the cover. Plate 6 is formed with a tongue 9 which, in the displaced condition of the plate, may enter a slot 10 in the bar. The slot and tongue are correctly aligned to permit entry provided the cover is in the vertical, fully raised position and it will be clear that the cover may not be lowered from the vertical positon unless plate 6 is first retracted by returning all the taps to their closed positions. A spring 11 acts between the plate and the hob chasis to urge the plate towards the retracted position. It, on the other hand, the cover assumes the fully closed position the tongue cannot enter slot 10 and so in these circumstances bar 7 prevents displacement of the plate and ensures that the supply taps are maintained in a closed condition. Slot 10 need not necessarily be provided and, in an alternative embodiment bar 7 has a plain end. Tongue 9 abuts the end of the bar to prevent closure of the cover while any of the supply taps is in an open condition. It will be appreciated that the latching arrangement prevents the cover from being lowered while any burner is lit and also prevents gas being supplied to a burner while the cover is in the fully closed position. In this way the latching arrangement serves to protect the cover against damage and also prevents an inadvertent, possibly dangerous leakage of gas while the cover is down. It will be noted that the latching arrangement does not require a safety cut-off valve to control a flow of gas in dependence on the position of the pivotal cover and in this regard, at least, provides a relatively cheap alternative to other arrangements which have been proposed hitherto. CLAIMS

1. A gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance including a pivotal cover displaceable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position, at least one bas or electrically energised heating element, manual control means displaceable from an extreme setting to connect a supply of gas or electricity to said heating element and a mechanical latching arrangement coupling said cover and said manual control means so as to prevent displacement of said control means from said extreme setting whenever the cover assumes said fully lowered position and to prevent positioning of the cover in said fully lowered position unless said control means assumes said extreme setting.

2. A gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance according to Claim 1 wherein said mechanical latching arrangement comprises a bar responsive to displacement of the cover and a plate, cooperable with the bar, responsive to displacement of said manual control means.

3. A gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance according to Claim 2 wherein said bar and plate have a cooperable slot and tongue.

4. A gas or electrically heated domestic cooking appliance substantially as herein described by reference to the accompanying drawing.