WO2008015184A2

WO2008015184A2 - Oven with shared heating element for cavity and cooktop

Info

Publication number: WO2008015184A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nihat Kandemir; Mehmet Marasli; Murat Kantas; Tulay Ibicek
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-07-31
Filing date: 2007-07-30
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: TR200900755T1; WO2008015184A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oven (1) with a cavity (V) and a cooktoρ (7). Both are heated by only one common heater (4). In order to control the amount of heat distributed from the heater (4) to the cavity (V) and/or to the cooktop (7), a screen (5) is installed above and/or below the heater. The screen (5) can be slit away, thereby opening the passage from the heater to the cooktop (7) resp. to the cavity (V) (open position). When the screens are slit above/below the heater (closed position), the passage of heat is avoided since the screen is designed as a reflector and/or heat insulator. If food is to be cooked on the cooktop (7), then the upper screen is moved to its open position, while the lower screen is kept closed. If, at the same time further cooking should take place in the cavity, then the lower screen is also opened. The screen is resilient and may be designed as a jalousie, which can be rollable, foldable, or just bendable to be stored in a side wall of the oven.

Description

AN OVEN

[0001] The present invention relates to an oven wherein the outer part can also be used as a cooker.

[0002] In ovens, generally two heaters are provided, one at the ceiling of the cooking cavity and the other at the base. Various solutions are developed for using at least one of these heaters outside the cooking cavity, by attributing a cooker function, enriching the utilization alternatives for the oven.

[0003] To this end, in some state of the art implementations, solutions are introduced based on the principle of taking the heater out of the oven. For example, in the United States of America patent no. US1208637, the heater connected to a cover on the oven remains on that cover when the cover is opened sideways to bring to a horizontal position. In the oven described in the European patent no. EP1435493, the top heater plate can be pulled out by sliding on the guide rails. In both of these implementations, the heater can be used as a cooktop by placing the cooking pots thereon.

[0004] However, the various problems related with moving the heater has led some experts towards solutions wherein the heater is stationary. To this end, the selected course is moving the reflectors that direct the heat of the heater towards the cooking cavity.

[0005] An example for these is explained in the Great Britain patent no.

GB263365. When the reflecting covers slide laterally for making use of the heat generated from the upper part of the heater, the heat emanated from above the heater can be utilized. However in this application spaces have to be left at both sides of the heater for fitting in the reflectors. These spaces prevent efficient utilization of the upper surface in the oven.

[0006] In the Great Britain patent no. GB20639, a heater that encompasses all the upper surface of the oven and covers above and below the heater are provided. When the upper surface of the heater has to be opened, the upper cover is slid sideways such that it projects out from the oven. This solution presents the problem of finding a suitable space next to the volume wherein the oven is placed.

[0007] In the Great Britain document no. GB20639, a heater disposed at the upper part of the cooking cavity is used in cooking the foodstuff contained in cooking utensils. When a cooking utensil is not placed at the upper part, the heater is covered with insulating blocks. The problem here is where to store these insulating blocks when not used.

[0008] In consideration of the problems relating to taking the reflector or the insulating block outside of the oven, in the Japanese patent no. JP3001016, the bow shaped reflectors are rotated around, to be positioned above or below the rod shaped heater. The reflectors are moved without projecting out of the oven. The reflector below the heater directs the heat generated by the heater towards the upper surface of the oven thus this surface can be used as a heating table. However, there are two basic problems related to passing the reflectors rotatably between the heaters. The first one is the need to dispose the heaters spaced apart and parallel to each other. In this case, it is not possible to apply more complex geometries for homogeneous distribution of the heat. The second one is that, only half of the total heater capacity can be used inside and above when heat is desired to be directed both inwards and upwards since, some of the reflectors have to be positioned below and some of them above.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to design an oven wherein the heat emanating from the heater is easily directed to the cooktop or the cooking cavity.

[0010] The oven designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims.

[0011] In the oven of the present invention wherein the upper surface is also used as a cooktop, the screen utilized as a reflector and/or an insulator is configured like a bendable, foldable resilient plate. In the active position, the screen that extends parallel to the cooktop where the heater is situated underneath and prevents the heat of the heater to be dispersed, can slidingly be taken to the parking position in the narrow space between the body and the chassis, hence the top of the heater can be opened. The screen can stand as a flat plate parallel to the side wall in the parking position, can also be folded over itself in zigzags or wrapped over itself into a roll.

[0012] Consequently the screen can be taken to the parking position without being detached or projecting out of the oven. Besides, an extra space large enough to affect the volume of the oven does not have to be reserved for this process. By means of the resilient structure of the screen, a very small space between the body and the chassis is sufficient for the parking position.

[0013] The screen is manufactured of resilient material thin enough to be foldable, bendable or like a pallet formed by bands of rigid material rotatably joined, being parallel to each other.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, a single screen is provided that is disposed at one position between the heater and the cooktop. In this position, the screen directs the heat emanating from the heater towards the cooking cavity. If cooking will be made on the oven, the screen is moved such that it goes around from the side of the heater towards the underneath. Accordingly, the screen directs the heat towards the cooktop.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, a screen is provided both above and below the heater. In this embodiment, if cooking will be made only at the upper part, the upper screen, if cooking will be made only at the lower part then the lower screen is drawn. If cooking will be made at both parts, then both screens are drawn from the level of the heater.

[0016] The screen can be changed from one position to the other either manually or automatically.

[0017] The oven designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the first embodiment of the oven wherein the screen is in the active position.

[0019] Figure 2 - is another schematic view of the first embodiment of the oven wherein the screen is in the parking position.

[0020] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the oven wherein the screen is in the active position.

[0021] Figure 4 - is another schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the oven wherein only the lower screen is in the active position. [0022] Figure 5 - is yet another schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the oven wherein both of the screens are in the parking position. [0023] Figure 6 - is a schematic view of the fifth embodiment of the oven. [0024] Figure 7 - is another schematic view of the fifth embodiment of the oven. [0025] Figure 8 - is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the oven. [0026] Figure 9 - is another schematic view of the third embodiment of the oven. [0027] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Oven

2. Body

3. Chassis

4. Heater

5. , 50. Screen

6. , 60. Guide

7. Cooktop

8. Drive mechanism [0028] The oven (1) comprises

- a body (2)

- a chassis (3) that encircles the cooking cavity (V) disposed within this body (2) wherein food items to be cooked are placed,

- a cooktop (7) arranged on the body (2), extending to outside, whereon containers (K) containing food to be cooked are placed, and

- at least one heater (7) disposed between the cooktop (7) and the chassis (3).

[0029] The oven (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a resilient screen (5), situated above and/or below the heater (4), that can be moved between two positions by bending, folding, having the feature of reflecting and/or insulating the heat of the heater (4), and at least one guide (6) configured as a rail, groove, worm gear etc. along which the screen (5) moves. The screen (5) at the active position, is situated between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7), prevents the heat emanated by the heater (4) from reaching the cooktop (7) and/or directs the heat towards the cooking cavity (V), when drawn to the parking position in a narrow space between the body (2) and the chassis (3), allows the heat emanating from the heater (4) to reach the cooktop (7) by moving out from between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0030] The screen (5) can be moved by the user between the two positions. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a drive mechanism (8). Thus the position of the screen can be changed automatically by means of the drive mechanism (8). The drive mechanism (8) can be actuated by the buttons pressed on by the user or by sensors that detect the presence of the pot/tray.

[0031] In this embodiment, heaters (4) such as infrared beam emitting tubes or resistance wires can be used. When the user cooks by placing a tray (T) in the cooking cavity (V), the screen (5) is at rest between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7) (Figure 1). The heat emanating from the heater (4) is prevented from reaching the cooktop (7) by the screen (5). When the user places a cooking utensil (K) such as a cooking pot, coffeepot etc. on the cooktop (7), the screen (5) slides along the guides (6) towards the side wall (Figure 2). When the screen (5) is drawn from between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7), at least some portion of the heat emanating from the heater (4) reaches the cooktop (7) and starts heating the food in the cooking utensil (K).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) is configured as a sort of film or folio, as thin as to allow a resilience of being bent/folded upon itself, or being bent approximately 90° as it changes to a position parallel to the side wall (Figure 8).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) is configured of bands arranged adjacently parallel to each other and movably joined by articulated joints (Figure 1 , Figure 6, Figure 9). The width of the bands is such that the screen (5) is allowed to rotate. This embodiment is very suitable for screens (5) made of a rigid material and having an insulative property (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) extends parallel to the side wall between the body (2) and the chassis (3) in the parking position by means of its resilient configuration. Since this embodiment can be actualized by a simple mechanism, it can be applied in different types of ovens. Besides, the screen (5) can fit in a space that is just a little wider than the wall thickness thereof in the parking position (Figure 1 and Figure

2).

[0035] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) rests between the body (2) and the chassis (3) folded on itself into a roll in the parking position (Figure 8). In this embodiment, the screen (5) is moved preferably by means of two drive mechanisms (8). One of the drive mechanisms (8) provides the screen (5) to be folded around a roll and brought to the parking position whereas the other moves the screen (5) in the opposite direction along the guide (6) to resume the active position again.

[0036] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) lies between the body (2) and the chassis (3) folded on itself in zigzags in the parking position (Figure 9). In this embodiment, the screen (5) is moved between the active position and the parking position by means of two drive mechanisms (8).

[0037] In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1 ) comprises a second screen (50) between the heater (4) and the chassis (3) and a second guide (60) along which this screen (50) is moved. In this embodiment, the upper screen (5) is drawn from under the heater (4) when a cooking pot (K) is placed on the cooktop (7), and the lower screen (50) is drawn when a tray (T) is placed in the cooking cavity (V). Drawing the two screens (5, 50) to the parking position together thus cooking both inside and above is possible (Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5).

[0038] In the first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, preferably two screens (5, 50) are used on the same side of the heater (4) (Figure 1 , Figure 3). The parking position of each screen (5) is on different sides of the body (2) hence the changeover from one function of the heater (4) (heating of the cooking cavity (V)) to the other (heating of the cooktop (7) can be relatively fast.

[0039] In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the screen (5) after sliding to one side between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7) due to the shape of the guide (6), turns 180° from the side of the heater (4) downwards to underneath the heater (4) and this time slides in the opposite direction to be located between the heater (4) and the chassis (3). In this position, the screen (5) allows the heat emanating from the heater (4) to reach only the cooktop (7). Consequently, the heat emanating from the heater (4) can be directed selectively to the cooktop (7) or to the cooking cavity (V) by a single screen (5) (Figure 6 and Figure 7). In the oven (1) of the present invention, the screen (5, 50) by means of the resilient configuration thereof, can be drawn from between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7) or the chassis (3) without projecting out of the oven (1) or occupying unnecessary space.

Claims

1. An oven (1) used in cooking foodstuffs, comprising - a body (2) - a chassis (3) that encircles the cooking cavity (V), disposed within this body (2), wherein food items to be cooked are placed, - a cooktop (7) arranged on the body (2), extending to the outside, whereon cooking utensils (K) containing food to be cooked are placed, - at least one heater (7) disposed between the cooktop (7) and the chassis (3) - a screen (5), situated above and/or below the heater (4), that can be moved between two positions, having the feature of reflecting and/or insulating the heat of the heater (4), in the active position, being situated between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7), preventing the heat emanated by the heater (4) from reaching the cooktop (7) and/or directing the heat towards the cooking cavity (V), allowing the heat emanating from the heater (4) to reach the cooktop (7) by moving out from between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7) in the parking position , and - at least one guide (6) on which the screen (5) moves, and characterized by a screen (5) having a resilient configuration that can be stored by being bended or folded in a narrow space between the body (2) and the chassis (3) in the parking position.

2. An oven (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a screen (5) as thin as to allow for movement.

3. An oven (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a screen (5) configured of bands arranged adjacently parallel and movably joined to each other.

4. An oven (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a screen (5) comprising bands that are wide enough to allow the screen (5) to rotate.

5. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by a screen (5) that extends parallel to the side wall between the body (2) and the chassis (3) in the parking position.

6. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by a screen (5) lying between the body (2) and the chassis (3) bent on itself in zigzags in the parking position.

7. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by a screen (5) lying between the body (2) and the chassis (3) folded on itself into a roll in the parking position.

8. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a second screen (50) between the heater (4) and the chassis (3), and a second guide (60) on which this screen (50) can move.

9. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by two screens (5) disposed adjacently in the active position, with the parking position of each one being on different sides of the body (2).

10. An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized by a guide (6) providing the screen (5) after sliding to one side between the heater (4) and the cooktop (7), to turn 180° from the side of the heater (4) downwards to go underneath the heater (4) and this time to slide in the opposite direction to be located between the heater (4) and the chassis (3).

11. An oven (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a drive mechanism (8) that changes the position of the screen (5) automatically.

12. An oven (1) as in Claim 11 , characterized by a drive mechanism (8) that is actuated by the buttons pressed on by the user or by sensors that detect the presence of the pot/tray.