WO2014102043A1

WO2014102043A1 - A cooking device comprising control element

Info

Publication number: WO2014102043A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/075506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hasan Yoruk; Mehmet Baris Gocer; Yasin Sedat Yirmili
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-12-26
Filing date: 2013-12-04
Publication date: 2014-07-03
Also published as: EP2938928A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a cooking chamber (2), a panel (4) disposed at the upper side of the cooking chamber (2) and having at least one opening (5), an intermediate wall (3) that separates the section whereat the panel (4) is situated from the section whereat the cooking chamber (2) is situated, a control element (6) that extends from the inner side of the panel (4) towards the back side of the panel (4) at the level of the opening (5) and that provides the controlling of cooking parameters like temperature, time, a shaft (7), one end of which is connected to the control element (6), the other end extending outside the panel (4) by passing through the opening (5), and a knob (8) that is mounted to the panel (4) by being fitted on the shaft (7) and that enables the user to set the cooking parameters by rotating the shaft (7), and wherein the position of the control element (6) with respect to the panel (4) is provided to remain fixed.

Description

A COOKING DEVICE COMPRISING CONTROL ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a knob disposed on the panel and a control element that is adjusted by means of the knob.

In cooking devices, knobs are used, that are generally located on the panel at the front side of the cooking device and that are used for the adjustment of various cooking parameters. The desired cooking parameter is set as the knob is rotated around itself. The knob transmits its movement to a control element disposed at the rear side of the panel and the control element provides the selected setting to be run. A shaft is disposed on the control element that extends outside the panel from an opening arranged on the panel. The knob is fitted on the said shaft and the movements of the knob are transmitted to the control element by means of the said shaft. The control elements are generally fixed to the inner surface of the panel from one side and extend towards the rear side of the panel. The control element, the other end being free, sags downwards from the said free end in the course of time and causes the position of the shaft with respect to the panel to change. This results in problems like the knob connected to the shaft rubbing against the panel, being jammed or getting stuck.

In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP0156717, a cooking device comprising a rotary type button is described. The button disposed on the panel rotates the spindle on the box with electrical connections that is situated at the back side of the panel. The button is placed into a carrier and the electrical connection box is mounted to the carrier from the rear side by means of the spindle. In this embodiment, the spindle carries the electrical connection box. The body of the electrical connection box stays free.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device wherein the control element and the knob are connected to the panel rigidly.

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 panel disposed at the upper side of the cooking chamber, a control element disposed at the back side of the panel, a knob disposed at the front side of the panel and a shaft that provides the communication between the control element and the knob by passing through an opening on the panel. When the control element is mounted to the panel, a portion of the shaft connected to the control element projects out of the opening. The knob is mounted to the panel by being fitted on this portion of the shaft. By means of the preferably half cylindrical shape of the shaft, the knob, when rotated, also rotates the shaft and enables the parameter controlled by the control element to be changed. A support member is placed between the control element, extending from the inner surface to the rear side of the panel and the surface situated thereunder. One end of the support member bears against the intermediate wall and the free end of the control element is borne at the other end. Thus, the positions of the control element and the shaft connected to the control element are prevented from changing in the course of time. This prevents the knob mounted on the shaft from contacting the surface of the panel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member comprises a housing holding the control element and a carrier that extends from the housing towards the intermediate wall. The housing grips the control element, extending almost parallel to the intermediate wall, from its lower surface and the carrier functions as a foot by extending from below the housing in a perpendicular manner with respect to the housing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the carrier bearing against the intermediate wall is produced from material with a high coefficient of friction. With its end being produced from a material like rubber, etc., the carrier does not slide when disposed on the intermediate wall produced from metal sheet thanks to the effect of the weight on the housing as well. Thus, the support member is provided to be disposed into the body without using any kind of tool.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting of the support member is completed by inserting a locking mechanism situated at the end of the carrier into the cut-out on the intermediate wall. The resilient locking mechanism narrows while passing through the cut-out and gains a form that cannot be dislodged from the cut-out by getting wider and becoming free after its contact with the periphery of the cut-out is interrupted. Thus, the support member is prevented from being dislodged after being mounted on the intermediate wall.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member comprises at least one claw that extends upwards from the base of the housing, gripping the control element disposed inside the housing from its sides and preventing dislodgement thereof from the housing. In a version of this embodiment, the support member comprises at least one claw on each of the opposite sides of the housing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the carrier portion of the support member can be changed. Thus, the same support member can be utilized by changing the height of the carrier even if the distance between the control element and the surface under the control element changes. In a version of this embodiment, the carrier is telescopically configured. The height of the carrier can be changed by pulling out or pushing in from its end. In another version of this embodiment, a prestress element is situated at the inner side of the carrier which enables the carrier to remain at the desired height.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing and the carrier are produced as two separate pieces and are attached to one another by the protrusion located on the carrier being inserted into the hole situated on the housing. Thus, a modular structure is obtained.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing and the carrier are produced as a single piece. Thus, ease of production is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member is positioned so as to extend downwards from the free side of the control element, which is opposite to the side thereof fastened to the panel. Thus, the weight of the control element is balanced and a stronger connection is achieved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control element comprises a connection member wherein the knob is disposed. In this embodiment, the control element is fastened to the rear side of the connection member by means of the shaft.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing has almost the same height as the control element. Thus, no matter how long the control element is, it is prevented from buckling at the center portion.

By means of the present invention, the free end of the control element, that is fastened to the panel from one end, is borne in a balanced manner and the position of the control element with respect to the panel is prevented from changing. Thus, the shaft does not deviate from its rotational axis and the knob operates properly. The support member occupies a small area inside the body by means of its structure tapering from the base of the housing towards the end of the carrier.

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, the door of which is open.

Figure 2 – is the partial view of the cooking device.

Figure 3 – is the view of detail A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the control element related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the control element and the support member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the housing related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the perspective view of the carrier related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the support member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooking device
Cooking chamber
Intermediate wall
Panel
Opening
Control element
Shaft
Knob
Support member
Housing
Carrier
Cut-out
Locking element
Claw
Hole
Protrusion
Connection member

The cooking device (1) comprises

a cooking chamber (2),
a panel (4) disposed at the upper side of the cooking chamber (2) and having at least one opening (5),
an intermediate wall (3) that separates the section whereat the panel (4) is situated from the section whereat the cooking chamber (2) is situated,
a control element (6) that extends from the inner side of the panel (4) towards the back side of the panel (4) at the level of the opening (5) and that provides the controlling of cooking parameters like temperature, time,
a shaft (7), one end of which is connected to the control element (6), the other end extending outside the panel (4) by passing through the opening (5) and
a knob (8) that is mounted to the panel (4) by being fitted on the shaft (7) and that enables the user to set the cooking parameters by rotating the shaft (7).

When the knob (8) is rotated, the shaft (7) also rotates together with the knob (8) by means of the connection between the knob (8) and the shaft (7). The control element (6) sends signal to the component controlled thereby according to the movement of the shaft (7) and provides the respective parameter to be set to the value selected by the user by means of the knob (8). The communication between the control element (6) and the component controlled thereby is provided with the cables connected to the sockets on the control element (6). The panel (4) is placed on the front face of the body so as to remain at the upper side of the intermediate wall (3). The control elements (6) and the other electrical components are situated in the empty space located at the rear side of the panel (4) (Figure 1, Figure 4).

The cooking device (1) of the present invention comprises a support member (9), one end of which bears against the intermediate wall (3) and that provides the position of the control element (6) with respect to the panel (4) to remain fixed. The support member (9) functions as a bridge between the intermediate wall (3) and the control element (6). The control element (6) is prevented from sagging down in the course of time by means of the support member (9) that supports the control element (6) from below by bearing against the intermediate wall (3). Thus, the position of the shaft (7) connected to the control element (6) also remains fixed and the knob (8) mounted on the shaft (7) can perform its rotational movement without problems (Figure 2, Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (9) comprises a housing (10) whereon the control element (6) is disposed and a carrier (11) extending from the lower surface of the housing (10) towards the intermediate wall (3) and bearing against the intermediate wall (3) from one end in an unsliding manner. The housing (10) has a wide base such that at least some portion of the control element (6) is seated thereon. The carrier (11) is connected to the housing (10) from one end and enables the control element (6) to be carried by bearing against the intermediate wall (3) with the other end (Figure 6, Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the carrier (11) contacting the intermediate wall (3) is produced from a material having high coefficient of friction. Thus, the support member (9) can be disposed between the control element (6) and the intermediate wall (3) without requiring any connection element. After the control element (6) is disposed into the housing (10), the end of the carrier (11) is placed on the intermediate wall (3) and can hold onto the intermediate wall (3) without sliding by means of the material with high coefficient of friction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises a cut-out (12) formed on the intermediate wall (3). In this embodiment, the support member (9) comprises a locking element (13) that is disposed at the end portion of the carrier (11), that widens after being inserted through the cut-out (12) thanks to its resilient structure and thus that cannot be dislodged from the cut-out (12). The locking element (13) has a circular cross-section and the diameter of the cross-section increases from its end point towards the housing (10). The locking element (13), the diameter of its cross-section at the base point being greater than the diameter of the cut-out (12), narrows due to its resilient structure while being inserted through the cut-out (12) and resumes its initial state after passing to the rear side of the intermediate wall (3). Thus, the locking element (13) can be easily fitted into the cut-out (12) and cannot be dislodged when pulled (Figure 3, Figure 8).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (9) comprises at least one claw (14) that extends upwards from the side of the housing (10), that grips the control element (6) disposed inside the housing (10) and that prevents dislodgement thereof from the housing (10). The resilient claw (14) holds onto the lateral sides of the control element (6) when the control element (6) is seated into the housing (10) and prevents dislodgement of the control element (6) from the housing (10). Consequently, the position of the control element (6) in the cooking device (1) is provided to remain fixed (Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 8).

In a version of this embodiment, the support member (9) comprises at least one claw (14) on each of the opposite sides of the housing (10). In this embodiment, the control element (6) is disposed into the housing (10) by being passed between the claws (14) and when the control element (6) is seated into the housing (10) the claws (14) grip the control element (6) from its opposite sides. Thus, a strong connection is obtained.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the carrier (11) can be changed depending on the distance between the intermediate wall (3) and the control element (6). Thus, the same support member (9) can be used for different models, thus ease of assembly and storage is provided (Figure 8).

In a version of this embodiment, the carrier (11) is telescopically configured. The height of the carrier (11) can be easily adjusted by means of cylinders fitted into and able to slide on one another (Figure 8).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (9) comprises at least one hole (15) arranged on the base of the housing (10) and at least one protrusion (16) that is situated at the upper side of the carrier (11) and that provides the connection between the housing (10) and the carrier (11) by passing through the hole (15). In this embodiment, the housing (10) and the carrier (11) are produced as two separate pieces and are joined during assembly. Housings (10) and carriers (11) with different sizes can be combined together, providing ease of assembly (Figure 6, Figure 7).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (10) and the carrier (11) are produced as a single piece. Thus, molding costs decrease and production becomes easier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (9) is positioned so as to be close to the rear end of the control element (6) that is farthest away from the panel (4). Thus, the control element (6), one end of which is free, is prevented from sagging down from the free end.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises a connection member (17) that is mounted to the inner surface of the panel (4) and that facilitates the connection of the control element (6) with the knob (8). In this embodiment, the knob (8) is disposed into the connection member (17) and the control element (6) is fastened to the connection member (17) through a hole at the rear side of the connection member (17) by means of the shaft (7) (Figure 5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing (10) has almost the same height as the control element (6). Thus, no matter how long the control element (6) is, it is prevented from buckling at the center part (Figure 5).

By means of the present invention, the control element (6) and hence the shaft (7) are prevented from changing position in the course of time. Consequently, the problems like the knob (8), mounted on the shaft (7), rubbing against the panel (4), being jammed or getting stuck are eliminated. This provides decrease in malfunctions originating from the knob (8) and increase in consumer satisfaction.

Claims

A cooking device (1) comprising

- a cooking chamber (2),

- a panel (4) disposed at the upper side of the cooking chamber (2) and having at least one opening (5),

- an intermediate wall (3) that separates the section whereat the panel (4) is situated from the section whereat the cooking chamber (2) is situated,

- a control element (6) that extends from the inner side of the panel (4) towards the back side of the panel (4) at the level of the opening (5) and that provides the controlling of cooking parameters like temperature, time,

- a shaft (7), one end of which is connected to the control element (6), the other end extending outside the panel (4) by passing through the opening (5) and

- a knob (8) that is mounted to the panel (4) by being fitted on the shaft (7) and that enables the user to set the cooking parameters by rotating the shaft (7).

characterized by

- a support member (9), one end of which bears against the intermediate wall (3) and that provides the position of the control element (6) with respect to the panel (4) to remain fixed.
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the support member (9) comprising a housing (10) whereon the control element (6) is disposed and a carrier (11) extending from the lower surface of the housing (10) towards the intermediate wall (3) and bearing against the intermediate wall (3) from one end in an unsliding manner.
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the carrier (11), whereof the end contacting with the intermediate wall (3) is produced from a material having high coefficient of friction.
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized by a cut-out (12) formed on the intermediate wall (3) and the support member (9) comprising a locking element (13) that is disposed at the end portion of the carrier (11), that widens after being inserted through the cut-out (12) thanks to its resilient structure and thus that cannot be dislodged from the cut-out (12).
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 4, characterized by the support member (9) comprising at least one claw (14) that extends upwards from the side of the housing (10) and grips the control element (6) disposed inside the housing (10) and prevents the control element (6) from dislodging from the housing (10).
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that at least one claw (14) is situated on each of the opposite sides of the housing (10).
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 6, characterized by the carrier (11), the height of which can be changed depending on the distance between the intermediate wall (3) and the control element (6).
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the carrier (11) is telescopically configured.
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 8, characterized by the support member (9) comprising at least one hole (15) arranged on the base of the housing (10) and at least one protrusion (16) that is situated at the upper side of the carrier (11) and that provides the connection between the housing (10) and the carrier (11) by passing through the hole (15).
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the housing (10) and the carrier (11) are produced as a single piece.
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the support member (9) is positioned so as to be close to the rear end of the control element (6) that is farthest away from the panel (4).
The cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that a connection member (17) is mounted to the inner surface of the panel (4) and facilitates the connection of the control element (6) with the knob (8).
The cooking device (1) as in Claim 12, characterized in that the housing (10) hasalmost the same height as the control element (6).