GB2226399A

GB2226399A - Cooking hobs

Info

Publication number: GB2226399A
Application number: GB8829734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Willis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-21
Filing date: 1988-12-21
Publication date: 1990-06-27
Also published as: GB8829734D0

Abstract

A work-top assembly comprises a work-top with a gas or electric hob set therein, such that the hot-plates A are aligned with the length of the work-top and set towards the rear thereof, leaving a work-top surface to the front of the hob of approximately the same depth as the front to back dimension of the line of hot-plates A. <IMAGE>

Description

In-Line Domestic Hobs This invention relates to an in-line domestic hob.

Fitted hobs are well-known items of kitchen furniture. They fit a hole especially cut in the work-top. They have various fuels to heat them, the most common two being natural gas and electricity. They may or may not be lidded. They can be made out of various materials, the most common being enamelled sheet.

They invariably are of the "four square" layout and have been since their first appearance many years ago.

They are dangerous for the following reasons:a) Utensils placed on the outside hobs can easily be reached by children.

b) The old and infirm, using the work-top for support, can be in a dangerous situation because of the proximity of the hob to the edge of the work-top.

c) If all four hobs are in use the removal of a utensil full of hot food necessitates the movement of the feet or a state of imbalance.

d) If food in a utensil at the rear has to be inspected or stirred either c) above has to be performed on a front utensil or the task is performed over the hot contents on a front hob.

e) In the event of a fire at one of the hobs in the front switching off is hazardous because of the proximity of the controls to the front hob.

f) In e) above the burning substance does not have far to travel to the edge and, hence, to the greasy floor.

g) The proximity of the front hobs to the edge of the work-top facilitates the splashing and splattering of inflammable materials such as fat, grease and oils onto the floor covering creating a slippery and/or inflammable surface.

Additionally, they are unhygienic because of the ease with which fats, oils and other food substances are splashed and splattered onto the kitchen floor.

They do not utilise space efficiently. The most useful part of the work-top for most kitchen tasks is the first 300cm. On a work-top of standard size 1000 x 600 incorporating a "foursquare" hob only half of the most useful part i.e. half of the nearest 1000 x 300 is available.

According to the invention there is provided a cooking hob unit wherein two or more hobs are set in line at the rear of the unit, leaving a working top surface to the front of approximately the same depth as the depth of the line of hobs. The controls can be positioned at either end of the line of hobs and/or in the work-top front and/or in the front vertical surface of the kitchen unit. There may be three, four or more hobs.

Figure 1 shows a four-in-line layout of hobs A with controls B on the right hand side.

Figure 2 shows a four-in-line layout of hobs A with controls B near edge of work-top.

Figure 3 shows a four-in-line layout of hobs A with controls B in front vertical surface of kitchen unit and off-set to the left.

Figure 4 shows a three-in-line layout of hobs with central controls set in front vertical surface.

Figure 5 shows a four-in-line layout of hobs with two large hobs D and two small hobs E with off-centre controls B near edge of work-top.

Claims

1. A cooking work-top assembly comprising a work-top unit with a cooking hob unit set therein such that the hobs are generally aligned with the length of the work-top unit and set towards the rear edge of the work-top unit, leaving a working top surface to the front of the hob unit of approximately the same depth as the front to back dimension of the line of hobs.

2. A work-top assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hob controls are located at the end of the line of hobs, and/or in the work-top front surface, and/or on a vertical front face of the work-top unit.

3. A work-top assembly according to claim 1 and claim 2, wherein there are at least three in-line hobs.

4. A cooking work-top assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings, figures 1 to

5.