A COOKING DEVICE
The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a connection member that provides the gas taps to be fixed on the lower casing.
In gas cooking devices, the gas has to be conveyed to the cooking device and submitted to the control of the user by means of taps. The gas is brought to the taps by means of a gas pipe and the user can determine the amount of flame by opening/closing the taps by means of the knobs located on the cooktop.
Holes as many as the number of taps are arranged on the gas pipe. The gas taps are connected to these holes with leak-proofing gaskets. Gas leakage occurs even if leak-proofing gasket is used due the tap inlet and gas pipe gas outlet not being fitted tightly, in other words, when insufficient pressure is exerted on the gasket. Therefore, a connection member is used for tightly fitting the taps and the gas pipe to one another.
The connection member is also an element that affects the positions of the taps. When the taps are arranged side-by-side, all of them are desired to be aligned at the same level. Otherwise, the tap shafts cannot be exactly centered in the holes situated on the cooktop through which they pass. In this situation, problems are encountered due to reasons like the knob being jammed. Furthermore, the exterior appearance of the cooking device is deteriorated since the taps not being aligned properly with respect to one another also affects the positions of the knobs corresponding thereto.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP0877206, a cooker is described comprising more than one gas tap, connected to the main gas rail, connected to the side wall of the base panel and wherein the main gas rail is disposed between the gas taps and the side wall of the base panel.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2242823, a cooker is described comprising a recess on the side wall of the lower casing that is formed by deep drawing and having a shape suitable for placing the main gas pipe.
In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Document No. GB2181534, a cooker is described comprising a plate that is connected to the lower casing from one end by a spring and that supports the gas taps disposed into the holes thereon.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device wherein the taps are provided to be disposed to the lower casing and the cooktop in an aligned manner.
The cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a gas pipe providing gas to be conveyed from the mains to the taps and more than one tap providing gas to be controllably delivered to the burners located on the cooktop by being connected to the gas pipe. The taps are fixed to the side wall of the lower casing by means of a connection member. The connection member is almost L shaped, having a first arm that extends parallel to the base of the lower casing and a second arm extending parallel to the side wall. The connection member is fixed on the lower casing by seating the extension connected to the second arm, extending outwards in perpendicular direction to the second arm, on the skirt situated on the side wall of the lower casing. The cooktop is disposed on the lower casing so as to extend towards under the skirt arranged on its exterior sides. The cooking device furthermore comprises at least one guide produced to be integrated with the extension, crossing over the skirt by extending from the extension towards over the skirt and remaining between the skirt and the flange. The distance of each tap to the side wall is equal to each other by means of the guide. Thus, the taps are provided to be positioned with respect to the lower casing. When the cooktop is placed on the lower casing, the cooktop bears against the guide. Consequently, the cooktop is also provided to be positioned with respect to the taps. By means of the connection member, the taps are provided to be placed on a straight line, thereby eliminating the problems to be encountered like axial eccentricity during operation of the taps.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide has a cambered shape. Thus, the crossing of the guide over the skirt and extending outwards is facilitated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a connection member is disposed on each end of the extension. Thus, the connection member is provided to be positioned in a balanced manner with respect to the lower casing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, more than one hole is arranged on the extension. During assembly of the connection member to the lower casing, the extension is seated on the skirt, the screws etc fastening elements are inserted through the holes and the connection member is fixed to the lower casing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the gas pipe is positioned so as to be situated on the second arm, the taps are fixed to the second arm from the lower and upper sides of the gas pipe by aligning the outlet ports of the gas pipe with the inlet ports of the taps.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the gas pipe is seated into the recess arranged on the second arm. The recess is shaped as a depression compatible with the shape of the gas pipe. Thus, clasping of the gas pipe is facilitated.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection member is produced from a thicker metal sheet with respect to that of the lower casing. Thus, the strength of the connection member is increased and prevented from being easily deformed.
By means of the present invention, the problems encountered during assembly of the taps like axial eccentricity are eliminated by maintaining the taps providing gas control to be positioned with respect to the lower casing and the cooktop .
The cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a cooking device.
Figure 2 – is the perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention without the cooktop.
Figure 3 – is the partial top view of an embodiment of the present invention without the cooktop.
Figure 4 – is the partial perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention without the cooktop.
Figure 5 – is the perspective view of a connection member.
Figure 6 – is the partial cross-sectional view of a lower casing, the cooktop, the connection member and the gas pipe.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
- Cooking device
- Lower casing
- Base
- Side wall
- Cooktop
- Skirt
- Flange
- Tap
- Gas pipe
- First arm
- Second arm
- Guide
- Connection member
- Extension
- Hole
- Recess
The cooking device (1) comprises an open-top, box shaped lower casing (2,) having a base (3) and more than one side wall (4) surrounding the base (3), a cooktop (5) disposed on the lower casing (2) and equipped with burners providing heating and/or cooking thereon, a skirt (6) extending from the upper side of the side wall (4) in parallel direction to the base (3), a flange (7) extending outwards from the side of the cooktop (5) towards under the skirt (6), more than one tap (8) providing delivery of gas to be burned to the cooktop (5) burners in the amount determined by the user and a gas pipe (9) providing delivery of gas to be burned from the mains to the taps (8).
The cooking device (1) of the present invention furthermore comprises a connection member (13) having
- a first arm (10) seated on the base (3),
- a second arm (11) connected to the first arm (10), extending in perpendicular direction to the first arm (10), whereon the taps (8) are secured such that the gas pipe (9) remains between the taps (8) and itself,
- an extension (14) extending from the second arm (11) towards over the skirt (6), providing fixing on the skirt (6) by being seated on the skirt (6),
- at least one guide (12) integrated with the extension (14), extending from the extension (14) towards between the skirt (6) and the flange (7) by crossing over the skirt (6).
During assembly of the cooking device (1), the gas pipe (9) is placed on the second arm (11) and the gas taps (8) are fixed on the second arm (11) such that the inlet port of each tap (8) is aligned with the outlet ports on the gas pipe (9). The second arm (11) extends almost parallel to the side wall (4). The extension (14) extends over the skirt (6) and the connection member (13) is provided to be fixed on the lower casing (2) by fixing the extension (14) on the skirt (6). When the connection member (13) is fixed on the lower casing (2), the guide (12) extending outwards from the extension (14) is seated on the skirt (6) and projects towards the outside of the skirt (6). When the cooktop (5), whereon the burners are disposed, is placed on the lower casing (2), the guide (12) extends towards between the skirt (6) and the flange (7). The distance of each tap (8) to the side wall (4) is constant and equal to one another since the guide (12) is produced as a single piece with the first arm (10), the second arm (11) and the extension (14). Thus, the taps (8) are provided to be aligned with respect to the lower casing (2). The cooktop (5) is disposed on the lower casing (2) so as to bear against the guide (12). Consequently, the cooktop (5) is also provided to be positioned with respect to the taps (8). Accordingly, by means of the guide (12), each tap (8) is provided to be positioned on the connection member (13) at the same level. Thus, the knobs disposed on the cooktop (5), connected to each tap (8) and controlling flow of gas from the tap (8) to the burners, are provided to be centered without any problems. Consequently, the problems like improper operation due to incorrect positioning of the taps (8) with respect to the cooktop (5) are prevented.
By means of producing the guide (12) in a monoblock with the first arm (10), the second arm (11) and the extension (14), the assembly tolerance between the taps (8) and the cooktop (5) is minimized. Furthermore, the movements of the cooktop (5) in the horizontal plane are prevented since the cooktop (5) bears on the guide (12).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (12) is of curved configuration. Accordingly, the guide (12) can be easily mounted on the skirt (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a connection member (13) is disposed on each end of the extension (14). Thus, the connection member (13) is provided to be supported by the lower casing (2) in a balanced manner. Furthermore, the cooktop (5) is provided to be supported from both ends since the cooktop (5) bears against each guide (12). Thus, the cooktop (5) is prevented from rotating on the skirt (6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises more than one hole (15) arranged on the extension (14), providing the connection member (13) to be mounted on the lower casing (2). The extension (14) is seated on the skirt (6) during assembly of the connection member (13) to the lower casing (2). The connection member (13) is fixed on the lower casing (2) by inserting any one fastening element like the screw etc through the holes (15).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the gas pipe (9) is situated between the connection member (13) and the taps (8) and is sandwiched between the connection member (13) and the taps (8) as the taps (8) are screwed to the connection member (13). The taps (8) are screwed to the second arm (11) from above and below such that the gas pipe (9) remains in the middle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises a recess (16) situated on the second arm (11) wherein the gas pipe (9) is seated. The recess (16) extends longitudinally on the second arm (11). The shape of the recess (16) is of curved configuration and compatible with the cylindrical shape of the gas pipe (9).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the wall thickness of the connection member (13) is higher with respect to the lower casing (2). The connection member (13) is produced from sheet metal. Thus, the strength of the connection member (13) is increased and prevented from being deformed under the supported loads.
In the cooking device (1) of the present invention, the cooktop (5) is provided to be positioned with respect to the taps (8) by means of the connection member (13) used. The taps (8) are provided to operate without any problems by being aligned at the same level.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.