WO2008080944A2

WO2008080944A2 - A cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2008080944A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/064575
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davut Ayhan Serabatir; Erol Karaer
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2007-12-27
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: WO2008080944A3; TR200905036T1

Abstract

The present invention, relates to electrical cooking appliances (1) that comprise heaters (3), which are provided with ease of assembly. The heater (3) is assembled on the lower panel (4) by means of helical springs (5), in such a way that the heater is pressed against an upper panel (2) from below. Each of the springs is fixed on the lower panel (4) by means of.a housing (6) and a protrusion (7).

Description

Description A COOKING APPLIANCE

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric cooking appliance that comprises heaters, which are enabled to be assembled easily.

[0002] One or more heaters are provided in cooking appliances. The heaters are mounted on the lower panel by welding or attaching by means of helical or leaf springs. Particularly the vitro-ceramic type heaters should abut against the glass panel above for preventing heat loss; however, cannot be adhered to the glass since the temperature is too high. Therefore, pressure is applied on the glass by the springs on the lower panel. The heater is attached to the lower panel symmetrically with at least two springs in order to apply a homogeneous pressure on the glass. In the state of the art, various methods are used in assembling the heater for the purpose of increasing thermal efficiency, increasing safety and lowering manufacturing costs.

[0003] In the state of the art United States of America Patent No US5847364, the securing of heating elements is explained. A rim is formed on the support panel for each radiant heating element. Each rim comprises two slots. Both slots are positioned with approximately 180° angle. The radiant heating element is secured by engaging the hook portion of the first spring in the first slot and engaging the hook portion of the second spring in the second slot.

[0004] In the state of the art Great Britain Patent No GB2114731 , a cooking appliance comprising a heater is disclosed wherein the assembly of the heater is completed by placing the resilient support member on the lower panel, on the projection around the heater.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking appliance that comprises at least one heater that allows ease of assembly.

[0006] The cooking appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] The cooking appliance of the present invention comprises an upper panel, a lower panel and one or more heaters disposed between the upper and lower panels. The heater is mounted on the lower panel by means of springs. The cooking appliance comprises a housing disposed on the lower panel to which the last coil of the spring engages when the heater is rotated and a protrusion to which the spring is fixed to the lower panel and hence locking the heater on the lower panel by skipping over a coil remaining on the lower panel. When the last coil of the spring is inserted into the housing and rotated together with the springs on the heater, the last coil of the spring passing into the housing and under the lower panel, bears against the side of the housing due to rotation and at the same time the coil remaining above the lower panel skips over the protrusion and prevents the rotation of the spring.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, three springs are secured on the heater, preferably with 120° angles between each other. [0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, when the locking process of the heater on the lower panel is completed, the last coil of the spring is secured on the lower panel by using a fastening element underneath the lower panel. [0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the wall thickness of the lower panel is smaller than the distance between the coils of the spring. [0011] By means of the present invention, the heater with the springs thereon is rotated to be locked on the lower panel. This provides to shorten the duration of the assembly and reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the reliability of the assembly is increased by firmly locking the heater on the lower panel. [0012] The cooking appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0013] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a cooking appliance. [0014] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the lower panel. [0015] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of detail A in Figure 2.

[0016] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the heater before mounting on the lower panel. [0017] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the heater before locking on the lower panel. [0018] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the heater mounted on the lower panel. [0019] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooking appliance

2. Upper panel

3. Heater

4. Lower panel

5. Spring

6. Housing

7. Protrusion

8. Depression

[0020] The cooking appliance (1) of the present invention comprises an upper panel (2) preferably manufactured of glass or ceramic, at least one heater (3) disposed under the upper panel (2), a lower panel (4) that forms a closed space wherein the electric elements and connections of the heater (3) are situated and one or more helical shaped springs (5) formed of coils, fastened to the heater (3) disposed on the lower panel (4), that provides the heater (3) to lean towards the upper plate (2) while it is mounted on the lower plate (4) (Figure 1).

[0021] The cooking appliance (1) comprises a housing (6) situated on the lower panel (4) wherein the last coil of the spring (5) is inserted, and a protrusion (7) that passes over one of the coils remaining over the lower panel (4) compressing the spring (5) between itself and the housing (6) for locking the heater (3) on the lower panel (4) when the heater (3) is rotated with the spring (5) thereon (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

[0022] In this embodiment, the distance between the protrusion (7) and the housing (6) is equal to the inner diameter of the spring (5) and the distance between the coils of the spring (5) is greater than the wall thickness of the lower panel (4).

[0023] In the cooking appliance (1) of the present invention, the heater (3) is seated on the lower panel (4) for assembling (Figure 4) and the last coil of the spring (5) is inserted into the housings (6) such that the end thereof remains under the lower panel (4). Then the heater (3) is rotated radially clockwise or counterclockwise, the end portion of the last coil of the spring (5) rotates in the housing (6) and bears on to the underside of the lower panel (4) (Figure 5). While the spring (5) rotates, at the same time another coil passes over the protrusion (7) and prevents the spring (5) and hence the heater (3) from rotating. In this position, the coils of the spring (5) are compressed between the housing (6) and the protrusion (7), providing the heater (3) to be locked on the lower panel (4) (Figure 6). In this embodiment, in order to increase reliability of the assembly, the last coil of the spring (5) is secured on the lower panel (4) by using a fastening element and the mounting process of the heater (3) on the lower panel (4) is completed.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking appliance (1) comprises one or more depressions (8) into which each heater (3) is seated on the lower panel (4). The housing (6) is situated on this depression (8). The depression (8) guides the movement of the heater (3) seated on the springs (5) and the lower panel (4) and maintains the last coil of the spring (5) to be fitted into the housing (6). In this embodiment, the housing (6) is configured as a hole or channel formed on the depression (8).

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, three springs (5) are secured on the heater (3) with preferably 120° angles in between.

[0026] In the cooking appliance (1) of the present invention, rotating the heater (3) with the springs (5) thereon to lock on the lower panel (4) shortens the duration of the assembly and lowers manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the reliability of the assembly is increased by firmly locking the heater (3) on the lower panel (4).

Claims

[0001] A cooking appliance (1) comprising an upper panel (2), at least one heater (3) disposed under the upper panel (2), a lower panel (4) that forms a closed space wherein the electric elements and connections of the heater (3) are situated and one or more helical shaped springs (5) fastened to the heater (3) disposed on the lower panel (4), formed of coils that provide the heater (3) to lean towards the upper plate (2) while it is mounted on the lower plate (4) and characterized by a housing (6) situated on the lower panel (4) wherein the last coil of the spring (5) is fitted, and a protrusion (7) that bears on the coil of the spring (5) by passing over one of the coils remaining on the lower panel (4) when the heater (3) is rotated with the spring (5) thereon for locking the heater (3) on the lower panel (4).

[0002] A cooking appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the spring (5) of which the distance between the coils is greater than the wall thickness of the lower panel (4).

[0003] A cooking appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the protrusion (7) and the housing (6), the distance between being equal to the inner diameter of the spring (5).

[0004] A cooking appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by one or more depressions (8) into which the heater (3) is seated with the springs (5) thereon that guides the movement of the springs (5) and maintains the last coil of the spring (5) to be fitted into the housing (6).

[0005] A cooking appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the housing (6) that is formed as a hole or channel formed on the depression (8).