GB2200983A

GB2200983A - Inset cooking hob

Info

Publication number: GB2200983A
Application number: GB08802881A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pino Maroni
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1987-02-10
Filing date: 1988-02-09
Publication date: 1988-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-09
Also published as: GB8802881D0; IT211721Z2; GB2200983B; IT8734013V0

Abstract

An inset cooking hob of very small vertical size for fitting within a work surface of a thickness equal to or less than 30mm, comprises gas and/or electrical heating units, a cover 12 pivotable between a horizontal closure position and a vertical open position and a valve 13 for closing off the supply the resilient control pin 14 of which is mechanically connectable to the rearward edge of the cover 12 to permit supply to the heating units only when the cover is lifted into a vertical position. The supply valve (13) and the means (15, 16, 17) for mechanical connection of the cover (12) to the resilient pin (14) of the valve (13) are contained in the overall dimensions of the hob and said mechanical connecting means (15, 16, 17) extend almost horizontally and are associated with means (21, 22) for indicating the state of the supply valve (13). <IMAGE>

Description

INSET COOKING SURFACE The invention relates to an inset cooking surface, in particular to a cooking surface of very small vertical size and provided with gas and/or electrical heating units and a closure cover which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

Cooking surfaces which are referred to as compact or ultra-flat are suitable for being inset in a panel or a support and/or working surface member of a thickness equal to. or less than 30 mm and at the same time for permitting free use of the space below the cooking surface (for example for the insertion of further appliances or drawers or the like).

The safety standards applying in some countries which make up the market (for example Great Britain) lay down that stoves or cooking surfaces whether they are incorporated on a free-standing cooker our whether they are in the form of inset components, are to be provided with a valve or a safety cut-out which permits the feed of fuel or electrical power only when the top cover of the appliance is lifted into an open position.

For that purpose, the required valve is normally formed by a resilient closure member which is moved into the open position by a system of levers which can be actuated by the rearward edge of the cover, as described for example in British patents Nos 2109919 and 2144845.

However that arrangement of the valve or the cut-out device and the associated system of levers is too bulky also to be used in a cooking surface of the ultra-flat type. In addition to that, hitherto the valve or the supply cut-off device and the associated actuating levers have not had associated tharewith a device which provides the user with an indication that the supply has been switched on or switched off in a manner which is independent of the position occupied by the closure cover.

According to the present invention there is provided an inset cooking surface comprising gas and/or electrical heating units, a cover pivotable between a horizontal closure position and a vertical open position and a valve for closing off the supply having a control member resiliently movable to open or close the valve is mechanically connectable to the rearward edge of the closure cover to permit supply to the heating units only when the cover is lifted into a vertical position, in which the supply valve and means for mechanical connection of the cover to the control member of the valve are contained in the overall dimensions of the cooking surface and the mechanical connecting means extend at least approximately horizontally and are associated with means for indicating the state of switching on and switching off of the supply valve.

As will become apparent from the following description, the invention can provide an ultra-flat cooking surface for fitting in a worktop member of a standard thickness which is equal to or less than 30 mm and which is provide with a closure cover, with the limit positions of which are associated switching on and switching off of a gas or electrical power supply safety device which is contained within the overall dimensions of the

case surface and with which the user is provided with an indication that the supply safety device associated with the cover has been switched on or switched off.

The invention will be further described by way of nonlimitative example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cooking surface according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view on an enlarged scale of the detail indicated at A in figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail from figure 2 on an enlarged sale, and Figures 4 and 5 show in part a longitudinal section of the rearward region of the cooking surface with the safety device respectively in a position of preventing and a position of permitting the supply.

Figure 1 shows the inset cooking surface or hob 7 in accordance with the invention which can be fitted into a worktop member 8 (see figures 4 and 5) which is of a thickness equal to or less than 30 mm (for example the top surface member of a kitchen cabinet). The cooking surface 7 has heating unit 9 which in the illustrated embodiment are formed by burners supplied with gas by means of a supply conduit 10 (see figures 4 and 5). Control and indicator members 11 (see figure 1) are also disposed along one side of the cooking surface 7.

Hinged to the rearward edge of the surface 7 is a closure cover 12 which is made for example of transparent crystal glass and which can pivot between a horizontal closure position (see figure 4) and a vertical open position (see figure 5).

Fitted for example by means of screw systems (not shown) to the underside of the surface 7 and in the space between its rearward edge and the control and indicator members 11 is a supply safety valve 13 (see figures 4 and 5) which is capable of interrupting or permitting the flow of gas to be passed by way of the conduit 10 for the supply to the burners 9. The valve 13 which is known per se is provided with a closure member (not shown in the drawings) which can move horizontally within the valve 13 and which is held resiliently in the closure position.

In order to move the closure member into the open position, the arrangement has a pin 14 which projects from the rearward side of the valve 13 (see figures 4 and 5) and which is resiliently urged towards a position in which the valve 13 is shut off.

In accordance with the invention, a C-shaped bracket 15 (See figure 4) is provided in one piece at or fitted by means of screw systems to the rearward part of the valve 13.

The bracket 15 is perforated longitudinally for slidably accommodating a rod 16 which is almost horizontal and the associated return spring 17.

The spring 17 bears with its outward end against a stop collar ss on the rod 16 and bears with its other end against the internal end portion of the bracket 15.

The inward end of the rod 3 has a small plate or disc portion 19 which with its inward side is capable *t urging the resilient pin 14 into the valve 13. The outward end of the rod 16 has a plunger 20 provided with a suitably rounded surface for receiving the thrust force from the rearward edge of the cover 12.

Associated with the upper part of the plunger 20 is an indicator pin 21 whose free end can reciprocate within an indicator window 22 provided in a raised portion 23 (see figures 2, 3, 4 and 5) of the peripheral frame structure of the cooking surface 7. In figure 4 the cooking surface 7 is illustrated in the condition in which i t is not in use and the safety device is in operation. Indeed, the top cover 12 is lowered, the rod 16 and the resilient pin 14 are released and the closure member of the valve 13 closes the supply conduit 10.

When the cooking surface 10 is put into use, the cover 12 is raised and the rearward edge thereof presses against the rod 16 and the pin 14, causing the supply valve 13 to be opened (see figure 5).

The condition of the supply safety device being cut in or cut out is indicated to the user by virtue of the positions ON (figures 2 and 5) and OFF (figures 2 and 4) which the pin member 21 occupies in the indicator window 22.

It should be noted that in the cooking surface 7 according to the invention the safety device comprising the valve 13 and the rod 16 is advantageously contained within the small overall dimensions of the unit 7.

In addition, the user is provided with a convenient display of the ON-OFF position of the supply safety device (figure 2).

It will be appreciated that the features of the cooking surface 7 according to the invention are not to be limited to the case of a gas supply but also apply in relation to a different type of supply, for example with electrical power or with a mixed supply (gas and electricity).

It is also clear that the cooking surface 7 according to the invention may be the subject of modifications and variations, for example the surface 7 may be of the type having the control and indicator members contained in a separate panel, without thereby departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inset cooking surface comprising gas and/or electrical heating units, a cover pivotable between a horizontal closure position and a vertical open position and a valve for closing off the supply having a control member resiliently movable to open or close the valve is mechanically connectable to the rearward edge of the closure cover to permit supply to the heating units only when the cover is lifted into a vertical position, in which the supply valve and means for mechanical connection of the cover to the control member of the valve are contained in the overall dimensions of the cooking surface and the mechanical connecting means extend at least approximately horizontally and are associated with means for indicating the state of switching on and switching off of the supply valve.

2. A cooking surface according to claim 1, which is of domestic type and of very small vertical size for fitting within a support and/or working panel member of a thickness equal to or less than 30 mm.

3. A cooking surface according to claims 1 or 2 whereinmechanical connecting means comprise a rod which is at least approximately horizontal and which is capable of sliding resiliently in a C-shaped bracket between an operative position in which the edge of the cover displaces it to actuate the control member of the valve and a rest position in which a return spring disengages it from the control member of the valve when the cover of the surface is lowered.

4. A cooking surface according to claims 1, 2. or 3 wherein the indicating means comprise a pin member which is associated with the outward end of the rod and which is slidable through an indicator window provided in a raised portion of the peripheral frame arrangement of the cooking surface.

5. A cooking surface constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.