US2831955A

US2831955A - Cooking top assembly

Info

Publication number: US2831955A
Application number: US481389A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert G Sheidler
Original assignee: Tappan Co
Current assignee: White Consolidated Industries Inc
Priority date: 1955-01-12
Filing date: 1955-01-12
Publication date: 1958-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-22

Description

April 22, 1958 R. G. SHEID LER COOKING TOP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 12. 1955 INVENTOR. ROBERT 6.5Hf/DLER BY M Y ATTOkA/CYs.

m mumnnvi I United States Patent COOKING TOP ASSEMBLY Robert G. Sheidler, Lucas, Ohio, asslguor to The Tappan Company, a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1955, Serial No. 481,389

Claims. (Cl. 219-37) This invention relates, as indicated, to cooking or range structure of the type adapted to be mounted in a counter, kitchen drainboard, base cabinet or the like, and, more particularly, to such an assembly characterized by improved means for thus mounting the same.

The cooking tops now finding increasing use in homes,

cooperably with built-in oven units serving to replacethe conventional cabinet type of range, are mounted substantially flush in the kitchen drainboard or another similar work counter, so that the heating elements, generally electric, are approximately at the counter level. The tops are unitary, in most cases comprising a metal rough-in box adapted to fit within an opening formed in the counter and a metal cover plate for the box having a decorative finish, such as of stainless steel, adapted to be positioned at the top surface of the counter. Various mounting arrangements are utilized to suspend and hold firmly the assembly in the opening, without detracting from the appearance of the unit.

It is generally considered undesirable to employ fastening elements, for example screws, which pass downwardly through the cover plate, since the heads of such elements would be visible and unsightly. For this reason, considerable use has been made of a peripheral clamping ring of general T-shaped cross-section, the top of which commonly overlies the marginal edge of the cover plate and the adjacent portions of the counter, thus obscuring the joint. The depending leg of such ring is adapted to be engaged by special attaching members secured to the counter around the opening therein, the engagement being such that the members may be adjusted to draw the ring firmly down against the cover plate and counter.

The use of this'ring, however, has several disadvantages, both from cost and facility of use standpoints. It is, of course, a separate assembly, at least the exposed upper part of which must likewise have a decorative finish. Rather careful cutting of the opening for the cooking top is required, since the limited width of the ring top must completely cover the joint and overlie the adjacent plate and'counter portions sufliciently to permit effective clamping in the manner noted. This required exactness of the fit is emphasized by the fact that the ring, for practical reasons, ismade in one piece with rounded corners, whereby the opening in the counter must be carefully cut with corresponding corner radii.

A further major disadvantage of such a prior assembly is the necessity for applying and finally tightening the clamping members from outside of the rough-in box.

This involves working in the almost always limited space beneath the counter, with the result that a satisfactory installation may be ditficult and laborious to obtain.

It is accordingly, a primary object of my present invention to provide a cooking top assembly of economical nature which may, moreover, be very easily installed in a kitchen counter or the like.

Another object is to provide a cooking top assembly including mounting means for installing the same in support frame structure, with the mounting means applied and made fully operative to clamp the assembly from within the interior thereof. This particular feature is of considerable importance in permitting an installation 'to be made conveniently in a matter of minutes and without the exercise of any particular skill.

It is also an object to provide an improved cooking top assembly of this nature having clamping means readily adapted for use with counters or drainboards of widely varying thickness. v

A further object is to provide a cooking assembly comprising a cover plate unmarred but for conventional heating element openings and adapted to overly in clamped relation to counter adjacent an opening therein without the use of a separate clamping ring or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan view of two cooking tops in ac cordance with the present invention as installed in a kitchen counter or drainboard;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. l to an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates a portion of a horizontal counter or kitchen drainboard supported in suitable manner above cabinet structure indicated generally at 11. Such counter may be made of any conventional material, covered or uncovered, and, insofar as here pertinent, is intended to represent any form of cabinet top or frame within which it is desired to mount a unitary cooking assembly.

The counter is provided with a first rectangular opening 12 Within which an electrical surface unit cooking top 13 is mounted and a second opening 14, likewise rectangular, having mounted therein an electrical griddle unit 15. Two different types of cooking tops have been illustrated to show that the basic constructionfwith which the invention is concerned, and particularly the manner of mounting the units, is not limited to any specific type of cooking device. Both assemblies are alike in that they comprise a metal cover plate, 16 for the

unit

13 and 17 for the unit 15, having apertures for reception of the respective heating elements. plate 16, two circular apertures, 18 and 19, of different diameter are provided to receive

electrical surface units

20 and 21, respectively, which are of conventional type and need not be described in more detail. It should be noted, however, that they are removably disposed'in such apertures in the usual manner. Removably supported in aperture 22 of cover plate 17 is a conventiona electrically heated griddle 23. g The peripheral edge of each cover plate is turned downwardly, as shown at 24 for theplate 16; it will be understood that'plate 17 is similarly formed in this respect. This serves to strengthen the plate edges and additionally improves the appearance of the installations. The plates are, as illustrated, rectangular and of such dimensions as to overlie the counter portions adjacent the respectively associated openings in the same. The surface unit assembly 13 is provided with control switches 25 of customary In the case of nature in thefront wall 26 of the cabinet structure, while the griddle top has a .control switch 27 at the rear of its cover plate.

Continuing now with a description of the surface unit assembly 13, the cover plate 16 of the same is secured to a metal rough-in box 28 having an open top closed by such plate, end walls 29, side walls 30 and a bottom wall 31. This box is rectangular and of less area than the cover plate, so that the latter projects outwardly beyond the walls of the box at all sides. The dimensioning of the ing, to the underside of the same and projecting downwardly through an angle support which is secured to the box around the top edge thereof. Nuts 36 are threaded on the studs 34, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, thereby to bolt the plate to the box, the number of studs and the spacing of the same being selected to provide a firm union of the parts. The assembly as supplied comprises this arrangement of cover plate and rough-in box, and it will be seen that when inserted in the counter opening, the box is suspended therein by the engagement of the cover plate with the counter portions adjacent the opening.

An improved mounting means for clamping the assembly in the counter is provided; the side walls 30 of the rough-in box having plural clamping regions each comprising a series of vertically spaced knock-out tabs 37, preferably arranged in two rows. Immediately above each such tab, the wall is embossed outwardly to form a dimple 38. In the construction illustrated, two such groups of knock-outs and associated dimples are formed in each side wall, all groups corresponding so that the knock-out tabs in the different clamping regions are in like horizontal planes.

With particular reference to Fig. 5, a clamping member 39 is employed at each such clamping region of the box and disposed to pass through the wall aperture formed by pushing a selected knockout tab outwardly. One end 40 of such member is disposed substantially vertically inside the box in the operative clamping position of the member and has an adjusting screw 41 threaded therethrough'into engagement with the side wall 30 of the box in the dimple thereof above the particular knock-out used. It will be clear that the dimple assists in maintaining the screw in proper engaged relation, slippage of the inner end thereof on-the wall being precluded. Extending from the lower end of portion 40, substantially at right angles, is an intermediate portion 42 which passes through the knock-out aperture. The clamping member has a downwardly formed shoulder 43 at the end of portion 42 which overlies the exterior of the box wall at and just below the aperture and continuing therefrom is an upwardly extending portion 44 adapted to engage the underside of the counter. The upper, external end 45 of the member is bent down so that a rounded contact is made with the counter.

It will accordingly be seen that threading of screw 41 in a direction tending to move the end portion 40 of the clamping member away from the box wall causes the other end of the member to be drawn tightly up against the underside of the counter, the shoulder 43 serving to form a fulcrum at the point of side Wall engagement by preventing the clamping member from shifting bodily inwardly. The force thus exerted is generally in opposition to the outer periphery of the cover plate overlying the counter thereby to form a force couple, the cover being drawn downwardly, which effectively clamps the assembly in place. The same action is obtained at each of the four clamping areas, a similar clamping member being operative in the same manner at each location.

Clamp members 39 are positioned from within the rough-in box 28 and screws 41 are likewise actuated from the box interior, access being provided by the cover plate apertures adapted to receive the surface units. The entire installation is, therefore, accomplished from above the counter and may conveniently be made in a matter of minutes. After the assembly has been clamped in the manner disclosed, the surface units are then inserted and connected to complete the installation.

The-provision of several knock-outs arranged in a number of spaced horizontal planes adapts the assembly for efficient mounting in counters or frames of varying thickness, those knock-outs affording the noted operative disposition or" the clamping members relative to the counter being utilized. It will be understood that the lower portion of the griddle assembly 15 also comprises a rough-in box to which its cover plate 17 is secured in the manner described, and that such box is similarly clamped in the counter opening provided therefor, as indicated by the further clamps 39 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this structure, the opening for the griddle element proper affords the access to the box interior.

Thus, the invention embodies a simple and conveniently usable mounting scheme for installing box-like structure having a fully or partially open top, regardless of specific functional design, in a support frame. Because the clamping is wholly accomplished by work within the structure, an installation is made possible even in locations where the back or underside of the frame is not at all accessible. Such extreme flexibility is, moreover, had at less expense than the more limited and less easily applied mounting afforded by a peripheral ring clamp of the type mentioned earlier and now popularly employed.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A cooking top assembly adapted to be mounted in an opening provided therefor in a counter or the like, comprising a substantially rectangular rough-in box having an open top and a plurality of knock-out portions formed in the side walls of the same at each of a number of peripherally spaced locations, the knock-out portions at each such location being arranged in like vertically spaced-apart relation and the side walls of the box being further provided with an inner indentation spaced slightly above each knock-out portion, an apertured cover plate secured at the top edge of said box, said plate being likewise rectangular but of larger size than the box so as to extend beyond the periphery of the latter, the dimensions of the box and cover having such relation to the counter opening that the box fits within the same While the marginal portion of the plate overlies the counter around the opening, clamping members disposed to extend from within said box outwardly through side wall openings provided by displacement of corresponding knock-out portions at the several locations of the same, each such clamping member having an inner end portion through which an adjusting screw is threaded into engagement with the side wallin the indentation above the particular knock-out portion thus utilized and an up wardly extending outer end portion adapted to bear against the underside ofv the counter, said clamping members being formed with intermediate shoulder portions which abut the outer side wall surfaces of the box below the knock-out openings through which they respectively extend, whereby generally downward force on the inner end portions of the clamping members resulting from adjustment of such screws causes the members to fulcrum at the box side walls and exert upward pressure against the underside of the counter thus drawing the box and cover plate downwardly, the assembly thereby being clamped firmly to the counter, and a heating unitremovably disposed in the aperture of said cover plate.

2. A cooking top assembly adapted to be mounted in an opening provided therefor in a counter or the like, comprising a rough-in box having an open top and a plurality of knock-out portions formed in the side walls of the same at each of a number of peripherally spaced locations, the knock-out portions at each such'location being arranged in like vertically spaced-apart relation, an apertured cover plate secured at the top edge of said box and extending outwardly therebeyond, the dimensions of the box and cover have. such relation to the counter opening that the box fits within the same while the marginal portion of the plate overlies the counter around the opening, clamping members disposed toextend from within said box outwardly through side wall openings provided by displacement of corresponding knock-out portions at the several locations of the same, each such clamping member having an inner end portion through which an adjusting screw is threaded into engagement with the side wall above the knock-out opening through which it passes and an upwardly extending outer end portion adapted to bear against the underside of the counter, said clamping members being formed with intermediate shoulder portions which abut the outer side wall surfaces of the box below the knock-out openings through which they respectively pass, thereby to pivot the clamping members at the box side walls when such screws are adjusted to exert a generally downward force on the inner end portions of the members, the outer end portions of the clamping members thus acting upwardly against the underside of the counter to draw the box and cover plate down firmly to clamp the assembly to the counter, and a heating unit removably disposed in the aperture of said cover plate,

3. A cooking top assembly adapted to be mounted in an opening provided therefor in a counter or the like, comprising a rough-in box having an open top and a plurality of apertures in the side walls thereof arranged in peripherally spaced-apart relation in substantially the same plane, an apertured cover plate secured to said box at the top edge of the latter and extending outwardly therebeyond, the box being adapted to fit within the counter opening with the outwardly projecting portion of the cover plate overlying the counter, a clamping member extending through each such side wall aperture, each clamping member having an inner end portion through which an adjusting screw is threaded into engagement with the side wall above the respectively associated aperture and an outer end portion adapted to bear against the underside of the counter, the clamping members further having intermediate portions overlying the outer surfaces of the box side walls beneath the openings through which they respectively extend, whereby adjustment of such screws results in the clamping members pivoting at the box side walls and exerting upward pressure against the underside of the counter firmly to clamp the assembly,

' same plane, an apertured cover plate secured to said box at the top edge of the latter and extending outwardly tl'rerebeyond, the box being adapted to fit within the counter opening with the outwardly projecting portion of the cover plate overlying the counter, a clamping member extending through each such side wall aperture, each clamping member having an inner end portion through which an adjusting screw is threaded into engagement with the side wall above the respectively associated aperture and an outer end portion adapted to bear against the underside of the counter, the clamping members further having intermediate portions overlying the surfaces of the box side Walls beneath the openings through which they respectively extend, whereby adjustment of such screws results in the clamping members pivoting at the box side walls and exerting upward pressure against the underside of the counter firmly to clamp the assembly, and a heating unit removably disposed in the aperture of said cover plate. I

5. A cooking top assembly adapted to be mounted in an opening provided therefor in a counter or the like,

comprising a rough-in box having an open top and a plurality of apertures in the side walls thereof arranged in peripherally spaced-apart relation in substantially the same plane, an apertured cover plate secured to said box at the top edge of the latter and extending outwardly therebeyond, the box being adapted to fit within the counter opening with the outwardly projecting portion of the cover plate overlying the counter, a clamping member extending through each such side wall aperture, each clamping member having an inner end portion through which an adjusting screw is threaded into engagement with the side wall in which the respectively associated aperture is located at a point spaced vertically from such aperture and an outer end portion adapted to bear against the underside of the counter, the clamping members further having intermediate portions overlying the surfaces of the box side walls adjacent the openings through which they extend, adjustment of such screws resulting in the clamping members pivoting at the box side walls to exert upward pressure against the underside of the counter and thereby firmly clamp the assembly, and a heating unit removably disposed in the aperture of said cover plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,953,145 Wilson Apr. 3, 1934 a 7 2,502,553 Ball Apr. 4, 1950 2,551,759 Pence May 8, 1951 2,563,735 Mitchell Aug. 7, 1951 2,584,187 Crist Feb. 5, 1952 2,752,609 Phelps July 3, 1956