COOKING APPLIANCE
This invention relates to cooking appliances comprising electric heaters .
Electric heaters, such as of radiant form, are well known for use in cooking appliances, such as ovens or hobs. The heaters typically comprise a dish-like support, such as of metal, having a base and an upstanding peripheral rim and receiving at least one electric heating element. The dish-like support also typically has provided therein a base layer of thermal insulation material, such as microporous insulation material, and a peripheral wall of thermal insulation material.
Heaters of substantially the same basic construction are required to be accommodated in a wide variety of appliances. A problem with this is that a different mounting arrangement is generally required for each specific appliance application, such that the upstanding peripheral rim is appropriately shaped and integrally flanged to provide overall dimensions and a shape or profile suited to and complementary with a portion of an appliance in which the heater is to be mounted. This has required the provision of a wide range of individually- designed dish-like supports for heaters, according to
their specific applications, which is inconvenient and expensive .
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or minimise this problem.
According to the present invention there is provided a cooking appliance comprising: at least one electric heater comprising a dish-like support having a base and an upstanding peripheral rim and having received therein at least one electric heating element; and a substantially planar support member formed with at least one aperture for receiving the at least one electric heater, wherein at least one flange-like mounting means extends between the at least one heater and the support member, the mounting means being separate from and secured to the peripheral rim and the support member so as to support the at least one heater in the at least one aperture .
The at least one flange-like mounting means may be secured to the upstanding peripheral rim at a free edge region of the rim.
The at least one flange-like mounting means may comprise at least one first portion extending substantially
laterally from the upstanding peripheral rim and at least one second portion, substantially orthogonal to the at least one first portion, secured to the upstanding peripheral rim.
The upstanding peripheral rim may have at least one portion integral therewith and extending laterally from a free edge region thereof, the flange-like mounting means being overlyingly secured to the at least one portion integral with the upstanding peripheral rim.
The at least one flange-like mounting means may comprise a single frame-like component substantially surrounding the upstanding peripheral rim.
The at least one flange-like mounting means may comprise metal .
The at least one flange-like mounting means may be secured to the upstanding peripheral rim by means selected from: adhesive means; threaded fastener means; weld means; rivet means; tab means; and clip means.
The at least one flange-like mounting means may be arranged to accommodate one or more covering layers, such
as of fabric material comprising glass, ceramic or metal filaments, provided overlying the at least one heater.
The at least one flange-like mounting means may be dimensioned and/or shaped and/or profiled and/or otherwise adapted for securing to the support member.
The cooking appliance may be an oven or hob.
The dish- like support may comprise metal, or a non-metal such as a thermal insulation material .
The dish-like support may be provided with a base layer of thermal insulation material, such as microporous thermal insulation material, having the at least one electric heating element supported relative thereto.
A peripheral wall of thermal insulation material may be provided in the dish-like support, against the upstanding peripheral rim. Such peripheral wall of thermal insulation material may be separate from, or integral with, the base layer of thermal insulation material.
By means of the present invention a standard basic form of electric heater can be provided, having a dish-like support comprising a base and an upstanding peripheral
rim, the basic heater being customised for mounting in a specific appliance, such as an oven or hob, by simple addition of the separate flange-like mounting means. The flange-like mounting means is appropriately dimensioned, shaped and adapted to suit the individual requirements of each specific appliance.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the present invention incorporating an electric heater;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electric heater of Figure 1 mounted in an appliance;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of flange-like mounting means as provided on the electric heater of Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the present invention incorporating an electric heater; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of flange-like mounting means as provided on the electric heater of Figure 4.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , an electric heater 2 is mounted in an aperture in a wall 4 of a cooking appliance, such as an oven.
The heater 2 comprises a dish-like support 6 having a base 8 and an upstanding peripheral rim 10. The dish- like support suitably comprises metal, but could be of non-metallic material, such as moulded thermal insulation material . A base layer 12 of thermal insulation material, such as microporous thermal insulation material, is provided in the dish-like support 6. A peripheral wall 14 of thermal insulation material is also provided in the dish-like support 6 and is arranged to be either separate from, or integral with, the base layer 12.
At least one electric heating element 16 is supported relative to the base layer 12 of thermal insulation material . Such electric heating element or elements can comprise any of the well-known forms, such as wire, ribbon, foil, film or lamp forms, or combinations thereof.
In order to adapt the heater for mounting in the specific aperture in the wall 4 of the cooking appliance, a separate flange-like mounting means 18 is provided, comprising a metal frame arranged to substantially surround the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dishlike support 6. The flange-like mounting means 18 comprises a first portion 20 arranged to extend substantially laterally away from a free edge region 22 of the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dish-like support 6. The flange-like mounting means 18 has at least one second portion 24 arranged substantially orthogonal to the first portion 20. The at least one second portion 24 can comprise a plurality of tabs 24A or a continuous band 24B, and is arranged to contact and be secured to the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dishlike support 6.
The at least one second portion 24 of the flange-like mounting means 18 is secured to the upstanding peripheral rim 10 by any suitable means 26, such as adhesive means, threaded fastener means, weld means, rivet means, or tab or clip means.
The first portion 20 of the flange-like mounting means 18 is shaped and dimensioned to complement the shape and
dimensions of the aperture provided in the wall 4 of the cooking appliance.
The heater 2 is mounted in the aperture in the wall 4 of the cooking appliance with the first portion 20 of the flange-like mounting means 18 suitably secured to the wall 4 of the cooking appliance.
The heater 2 can be provided, if desired, with a covering layer 28, such as of a fabric material suitably comprising glass, ceramic or metal filaments. Such covering layer can be retained between the flange-like mounting means 18 and the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dish-like support 6.
The flange-like mounting means 18 enables a standard basic form of dish-like support 6 of a heater 2 to be simply and readily adapted for mounting in any specific shape and size of aperture in the wall 4 of a cooking appliance.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of electric heater 2A according to the present invention is shown, mounted in an aperture in the wall 4 of the cooking appliance. The heater 2A is substantially the same as the heater 2 of Figures 1 and 2 with the
exception that the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dish-like support 6 has at least one portion integral therewith and extending laterally therefrom at its free edge region. The at least one portion 10A can be in the form of tabs or can extend substantially continuously around the peripheral rim 10.
In this alternative embodiment, the flange-like mounting means 18A is in the form of a planar frame, as shown in Figure 5 and is arranged overlying and secured to the at least one portion 10A of the peripheral rim 10. The flange-like mounting means 18A is secured to the portion 10A of the peripheral rim 10 by any of the means 26 hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 for securing the flange-like mounting means 18 to the peripheral rim 10.
The flange-like mounting means 18A is shaped and dimensioned to enable the heater 2A to be accommodated in the aperture in the wall 4 of the cooking appliance.
When a covering means 28 (as hereinbefore described) is provided overlying the heater 2A, this may be retained in position between the at least one portion 10A of the upstanding peripheral rim 10 of the dish-like support 6 and the flange-like mounting means 18A.