GB2297612A

GB2297612A - Cooking hob

Info

Publication number: GB2297612A
Application number: GB9601962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Veraldo Zamagni
Original assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1995-02-01
Filing date: 1996-01-31
Publication date: 1996-08-07
Also published as: GB9601962D0; ITPN950007V0; DE29601489U1; ES1033102Y; FR2730041A1; ITPN950007U1; IT238833Y1; ES1033102U

Abstract

A hob (10) for domestic kitchens of the type referred to as a vanishing hob, that is to say which in the operative position is raised with respect to the worktop of the adjacent units, while in the rest condition it is lowered with the closure cover (16) in line with the worktop of the adjacent units. The hob is connected to the cover by means of two pivoted parallelograms, one on each side of the hob, each comprising a pair of levers (18, 19) hinged to a container (12) and to a guide bar (20). The bottom of the hob is supported by wheels (21, 22) which run on the respective guide bars. Each rear lever (18) is then connected by a further lever (23) to a support element (24), by means of which the rear edge of the cover is hinged to the container. <IMAGE>

Description

VANISHING HOB The present invention concerns a hob for domestic kitchens of the type known as a "vanishing" hob, that is to say a hob which in the operative condition is raised with respect to the worktop of the adjacent units while in the rest condition it is lowered and with the upper closure cover flush with the worktop of the adjacent units.

Normally, in domestic kitchens, the worktop (with or without upper closure cover) is supported above the worktop and is thus raised with respect to the top of the units which are adjacent thereto. In other arrangements the hob is mounted in a built-in position with respect to the surface of the worktop, in such a way as to maintain a surface co-planar relationship with the tops of the adjacent units.

In both the above-mentioned cases the position of the hob is fixed.

Patent FR-A-2683622 for example describes a hob with counterbalanced cover, substantially in accordance with one of the above-mentioned constructions. That permits greater ease of cleaning and also imparts a more agreeable aesthetic appearance to all of the kitchen units.

However the known constructions are not completely rational since in those constructions with a raised surface the position of the pots is uncomfortable and the possibility of spillage thereof is dangerous, while in the designs with a built-in hob there are substantial dimensional constraints (in use of the pans) and functional constraints (in regard to the efficiency and control of the heating elements).

The main aim of the present invention is therefore that of providing a hob which, with simple structural contrivances, makes it possible to eliminate all the disadvantages of the various known solutions. In particular, in comparison with raised hobs, the hob according to the invention permits better cleaning and improved operative reliability and safety and also aesthetic coordination with the other kitchen units and domestic electric appliances; and, in comparison with built-in hobs, it also makes it possible to facilitate movement of the pans, to improve the efficiency and control of the heating elements, and to reduce the depth of the assembly.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hob, comprising at least one heating element, at least one grid for supporting cooking pots or pans, and a control panel, said hob being mounted in a container which is adapted to be built into a worktop and being provided with a closure cover, wherein said hob is connected by actuating means and sliding means to said cover in such a way that opening and closure of the cover respectively causes the hob to be raised and lowered.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view in section of a hob in the operative position with the upper cover open; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view in section of the hob of figure 1 in the rest condition with the cover closed In the drawings, reference is made to a gas hob 10 mounted in a worktop 11. The hob 10 is formed by a box-like container 12 which is mounted in a built-in condition with its upper edge level with the worktop 11, and which comprises: a plurality of burners 13 (only a single one is visible in the drawings), a single grid or a plurality of individual grids 14 for supporting the pans, a control panel 15 and an upper cover 16.

The burners 13 are mounted in the hob 10, projecting from the upper surface thereof, and are normally connected by means of flexible conduits (not shown) to a gas supply (not shown).

As is known, a similar construction can also be easily provided with electrical heating elements.

The grid 14 is supported, as usual, on an upper edge 17 of the hob 10 and is removable to make it easier to clean the hob.

The control panel 15 comprises the knobs for the supply of gas, which are connected to the gas feed conduits.

The upper cover 16 is hinged to the hob and can assume an open position (figure 1) corresponding to an operative condition of the hob or a closed position (figure 2) corresponding to a rest or inactive position of the hob.

It will be appreciated that the cover 16 may alternatively be hinged on the inward sides of an optional unit housing containing same or at the top in the rear part of the housing.

A salient feature of the hob according to the invention is represented by the connecting means between the hob itself and the cover 16. Those means are preferably formed by two pivoted parallelograms, one on each side of the hob 10 and each comprising a pair of levers 18,19 which are disposed one at the front and one at the rear with respect to the hob 10. The ends of each lever 18,19 are respectively hinged to the interior of the container 12 and to the ends of a guide bar 20. The lateral edge of the bottom of the hob 10 is supported by means of wheels 21,22 on the two guide bars 20, one for each side of the hob 10. Each rear lever 18 is then connected by means of a further lever 23 to a support element 24, by means of which the rear edge of the cover 16 is hinged to the container 12.

The mode of operation of the arrangement described is simple. To move the hob 10 from the rest position (Figure 2) to the working position (Figure 1), it is only necessary to raise the cover 16 by rotating it upwardly by means of the hinge elements 24. The rotary movement is then transmitted by way of the levers 23 to the levers 18 and then by means of the guides 20 the levers 19. The guides 20 are then displaced with a translatory movement towards the rear part of the container 12 and with a simultaneous lifting movement.

In conclusion, due to the effect of the thrust of the guides 20 and the rotary movement of the wheels 21,22 on the guides 20, the hob 10 is displaced upwardly, as is required to move it into the operative position.

Conversely, the downward movement of the cover 16, by rotating it about its hinges 24, causes reversal of the rotary and sliding movements described hereinbefore for the components making up the pivotal mounting mechanism, with the result that the hob 10 is moved into the rest position, that is to say in which it is completely retracted into the container 12.

It will be appreciated that the described solution may also be embodied with arrangements which are different but which are entirely equivalent, provided that the hob 10, in accordance with the invention, is to be of the type referred to as "vanishing", that is to say it is raised with respect to the worktop in the operative position and set down in the worktop in the rest condition. Therefore any man skilled in the art can replace the actuating means with pivoted levers 18,19,20,23,24 by actuating means with fluidic or electrical control, which is automatic rather than manual.

Claims

1. A hob, comprising at least one heating element, at least one grid for supporting cooking pots or pans, and a control panel, said hob being mounted in a container which is adapted to be built into a worktop and being provided with a closure cover, wherein said hob is connected by actuating means and sliding means to said cover in such a way that opening and closure of the cover respectively causes the hob to be raised and lowered.

2. A hob according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprise at least one pair of levers connected to a guide on which the bottom of the hob is slidably supported, at least one of the levers being pivoted to the cover.

3. A hob according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said sliding means are formed by wheels.

4. A hob according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said actuating means and said sliding means are provided on both sides of the hob.

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