WO2016050271A1

WO2016050271A1 - A cooking device having a safety arrangement with an internal lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO2016050271A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/070845
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ihsan Arslantekin; Merih Tarimtoru; Caglar VARAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-09-30
Filing date: 2014-09-30
Publication date: 2016-04-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting system and a secure application system for the operation of a cooking device. The present invention more particularly relates to a cooking device having at least one cooking device burner mechanism (1 ) with a lighting system adapted to provide a safer cooking operation by enabling visibility of the flame, the cooking device burner mechanism (1 ) having a tap (19) connection and being operable by means of a knob (2) operative in adjusting gas level of the cooking device.

Description

A COOKING DEVICE HAVING A SAFETY ARRANGEMENT WITH AN INTERNAL LIGHTING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a lighting system and a secure application system for the operation of a cooking device.

It is a well-known issue that when using a cooking device the flame coming from the burner may not be seen due to a multitude of reasons. When exposed to severe daylight the flame surrounding the burner can hardly be seen by the users. Users may sometimes set the burner to a lower setting and after the cooking process is accomplished, they may not see the flame and they may think that the heater is off. This situation results with the unnecessary usage of the resources and additional cost or even a fire in the house.

The cooking device may also be subjected to the wind and the flame may blow out. In such a circumstance the gas flow continues unless the user realizes the problem and if it is not timely realized, the gas coming from the heater may be poisonous after a while. A warning mechanism in cooking devices is therefore critical for such kind of situations.

Among others, a prior art publication in the technical field of the invention may be referred to as US2012247443, which discloses a safety system for gas-operated cooking appliances which include at least one burner which is connected to the mains gas network via a distributor, the gas flow of which is controlled by a manually operated gas tap. The burner includes a position switch, a flame detection device, an electrically controlled control valve which is installed in the mains gas network, a manually actuated restoring switch in operable communication with the control valve, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to open the control valve after the latter was shut off by the flame detector of the burner only when the control circuit simultaneously receives a signal from the restoring switch and the position switch. The safety system serves as a child safety measure which prevents an inadvertent re-activation of a gas flow system that has been shut off.

The present invention, on the other hand, addresses the situation where a lighting system is utilized in the cooking device system so that users are continuously visually informed of the operational state of the cooking device irrespective of whether the flame itself is clearly noticeable. Enlightening is therefore basically useful for disposing of the problems such as the situation under the daylight when the flame may not be seen enough.

A lighting system in this sense is also advantageous in terms of avoiding additional costs resulting from the unnecessary usage of the gas when turning off of the burner is forgotten in the case low heat setting is used during the cooking process, that is, when recognition of the operated lighting system is more probable.

Visual discernibility of the illumination effect is very critical in the case of wind exposure where poisoning may be in question. Normally a person may not recognize that the flame is extinguished unless controlling the cooking device whereas it is more likely for a person to see the lighting which acts as a warning sign for turning off the device.

This invention provides a lighting system for the cooking devices which operate together with an existing gas tap irrespective of the specific model or manufacturer of the tap.

This invention offers usage of an impermeable material to protect the inner elements and parts. The cleaning treatment process may be harmful for a cooking device because of the danger of water and detergent leakage. The leakage may reach to the inner parts of the device and disturb the functioning of the device by causing short circuits. This situation may also be resulted from the overflow of the liquids contained in pans when they are being cooked. As a precaution for such leakage problems, the invention proposes an improved impermeability effectively protecting the lighting system.

The present invention provides a lighting system and a safer operation system for the operation of a cooking device, as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1.

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for the operation of a cooking device.

The present invention proposes a cooking device having a lighting means driving mechanism such that the latter is actuatable while a knob for operating the cooking device is rotated. When the rotation is initiated, in first the lighting means driving mechanism activates a lighting system and only then an igniting means is fired. And likewise, the lighting system is deactivatable at the final stage of the reverse rotational movement of the knob at which point it is rotated to its original position.

The knob mechanically communicates with an inner hub tab so that the latter selectively actuates the lighting means driving mechanism. The latter is normally held in pressed position by the inner hub tab and is only released when the knob is rotated, upon which the normally open contacts thereof close and allow for powering a lighting carrier ring being provided with at least one lighting element.

The lighting carrier ring is an annular extension with a plurality of lighting elements so that when powered, an illumination effect is obtained around the annular root or skirt portion of the knob.

The lighting carrier ring is sealed between an upper mounting ring and a lower mounting ring from above and below and an annular impermeability seal is fitted to press against the lighting carrier ring to be laterally covering it whereby the lighting carrier ring leans against an inner annular flange portion of the upper mounting ring in a tightly sealed manner.

The upper and lower mounting rings are interconnected with each other by means of mating members while an inner hub is secured thereinbetween in an entrapped manner and restricted from movement with the exception to be rotatable around the main rotation axis of the knob.

A carrier body advantageously accommodates the lighting means driving mechanism and the igniting means such that the latter two are annularly positioned on the trajectory of the inner hub tab.

The carrier body has a first end with a locking element and a second end in the form of a locking slot whereby a desired number of carrier bodies can be modularly combined to form a plurality of cooking device burner mechanisms.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a cooking device, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the Claims, nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the Claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a side view of individual components of a cooking device burner mechanism in dismantled condition according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 demonstrates a general perspective view of the individual components of the cooking device burner mechanism according to the present invention without the lighting means driving mechanism, the igniting means and the carrier body.

Fig. 3a demonstrates a general perspective view of the lighting means driving mechanism and the igniting means and Fig. 3b demonstrates a general perspective view of the carrier body according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a perspective view of the cooking device burner mechanism in an assembled manner according to the present invention.

The following numerals are assigned to different part numbers used in the detailed description:

Cooking device burner mechanism
Knob
Upper mounting ring
Inner hub
Inner hub projections
Inner hub tab
Lighting carrier ring
Lighting element
Lower mounting ring
Lighting means driving mechanism
Igniting means
Carrier body
Locking element
Locking slot
Recessing part
Lighting mechanism receiving nest
Igniting means receiving nest
Impermeability seal
Tap

The present invention proposes a cooking device having a cooking device burner mechanism (1) conventionally having a tap (19) connection and also a lighting carrier ring (7), the latter being provided with at least one lighting element (8) as will be delineated hereinafter. An internal lighting system therefore provides that a user can operate the cooking device in a safer manner such that possibility for undesired situations such as a fire hazard can be prevented in an effective manner.

The lighting carrier ring (7) in accordance with the invention is situated on the rear side of a knob (2), i.e. opposite of the manually operated front side thereof, the knob (2) being conventionally operative in adjusting gas level of the cooking device. The lighting carrier ring (7) is actuatable in response to the rotational movement of the knob (2), which is operated by the user in order to initiate the cooking process. The lighting carrier ring (7) is electrically coupled with a lighting means driving mechanism (10) in the form of a switch so that rotational movement of the knob (2) mechanically drives the lighting means driving mechanism (10) to energize the lighting carrier ring (7).

The cooking device burner mechanism (1) comprises an upper mounting ring (3) and a lower mounting ring (9) between which an impermeability seal (18) is disposed to provide a tightened contact relationship between the upper and lower mounting rings (3, 9) as well as the lighting carrier ring (7) so as to surround and cover the latter laterally from around the same in a tightened contact relationship. Therefore, the lighting carrier ring (7) being sandwiched between two rings while at the same time being pressed by the impermeability seal (18) to lean against an inner annular flange portion extending from the upper mounting ring (3) ensures an improved impermeability for the lighting carrier ring (7). The lighting carrier ring (7) itself is an annular extension with preferably a plurality of lighting elements (8) disposed in an equally spaced manner around the annular extension.

The upper and lower mounting rings (3, 9) are interconnected with each other so as to enclose and incorporate an inner hub (4) thereinbetween being restricted from movement in an entrapped manner with the exception to be rotatable around the main rotation axis of the knob (2). The inner hub (4) permits the tap’s (19) shaft to extend into the center of the cooking device burner mechanism (1) having a through-hole inside. The centrally open structure of the inner hub (4) permits the user to interfere with the cooking device burner mechanism (1) by way of first removing the knob (2) and then reaching an adjustment bearing (not shown) on the shaft whereby the system can be manually manipulated to adjust the flow rate of the gas of the cooking device in accordance with a specific type of gas.

The inner hub (4) of the cooking device burner mechanism (1) comprises two different structural formations at both axial sides. Inner hub projections (5) maintain the fitting of the knob (2) onto the mechanism and an inner hub tab (6) normally stands on the lighting means driving mechanism (10) by making a pressure on it at the time zero, i.e. in non-operational state. Therefore, the inner hub tab (6) integral to the inner hub (4) rotates together with the knob (2) thanks to the inner hub projections (5) being in interengagement with the inner side surface of the knob (2). When the inner hub tab (6) displaces, the lighting means driving mechanism (10), normally having open contacts gets free as the displaced inner hub tab (6) releases the same and the lighting elements (8) on the lighting carrier ring (7) are accordingly energized.

The inner hub (4) inside the cooking device burner mechanism (1) can be further turned. When the turning angle gets to 60-85°, the inner hub tab (6) then actuates a second function which is basically imparting a rotary movement to an igniting means (11) in the counter-clockwise direction so that it ignites. When the inner hub (4) is turned in the clockwise direction, the igniting means (11) does not make any firing. When the inner hub (4) is rotated back to the zero position, the inner hub tab (6) presses the lighting means driving mechanism (10) again so that the lights are off.

The cooking device burner mechanism (1) further comprises a carrier body (12) which effectuates the holding of the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and the igniting means (11) respectively within a lighting mechanism receiving nest (16) and an igniting means receiving nest (17). It therefore advantageously accommodates two separate mechanisms to be annularly positioned to interact with the inner hub tab (6). The carrier body (12) as a single compact integral structure serves for housing the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and the igniting means (11) in a practical manner. The carrier body (12) has mutually reciprocating parts in the form of a locking element (13) and a locking slot (14) such that two carrier bodies (12) can cooperate to establish a mutual inter-connection whereby a plurality of cooking device burner mechanisms (1) can be mounted to each other in a modular, flexible and compact manner. Further, a recessing part (15) of the carrier body (12) allows for the mounting of power conductors in a clipped manner.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a cooking device having at least one cooking device burner mechanism (1) with a lighting system adapted to provide a safer cooking operation by enabling visibility of the flame, the cooking device burner mechanism (1) having a tap (19) connection and being operable by means of a knob (2) operative in adjusting gas level of the cooking device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a lighting means driving mechanism (10) is provided to be actuated in response to the rotational movement of the knob (2) in the manner that the lighting system is energized.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting means driving mechanism (10) is actuated before firing of an ignition means (11).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the knob (2) mechanically cooperates with the lighting means driving mechanism (10) by means of an inner hub tab (6).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the inner hub tab (6) presses on the lighting means driving mechanism (10) at the non-operated position of the knob (2) and releases the same at the rotated position of the knob (2).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting means driving mechanism (10) has open contacts at the non-operated position of the knob (2) and closed contacts at the rotated position of the knob (2).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a lighting carrier ring (7) being provided with at least one lighting element (8) is energized at the rotated position of the knob (2).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting carrier ring (7) is an annular extension with a plurality of lighting elements (8).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting carrier ring (7) is sandwiched between an upper mounting ring (3) and a lower mounting ring (9) while an impermeability seal (18) is disposed thereinbetween to annularly press against the lighting carrier ring (7) in a tightened contact relationship so as to cover the latter laterally from around the same.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting carrier ring (7) is forced by the impermeability seal (18) to lean against an inner annular flange portion extending from the upper mounting ring (3).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower mounting rings (3, 9) are interconnected with each other so as to secure an inner hub (4) thereinbetween in an entrapped manner with the exception to be rotatable around the knob’s (2) axis of rotation.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the inner hub (4) comprises inner hub projections (5) in interengagement with the knob (2).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lighting means driving mechanism (10) is deactivated at a final stage of the reverse rotational movement of the knob (2) after supply of gas is interrupted.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a carrier body (12) accommodates the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and the igniting means (11) respectively within a lighting mechanism receiving nest (16) and an igniting means receiving nest (17) such that the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and igniting means (11) are annularly positioned to interact with the rotational movement of the inner hub tab (6).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the carrier body (12) is a singular integral structure with the lighting mechanism receiving nest (16) and the igniting means receiving nest (17). This provides that a single body is manufactured at once to accommodate two separate mechanisms to be concurrently operable on the trajectory of the inner hub tab (6).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the carrier body (12) has mutually reciprocating parts in the form of a locking element (13) and a locking slot (14) such that two neighboring carrier bodies (12) cooperate to establish a mutual inter-connection whereby a plurality of cooking device burner mechanisms (1) are mounted to each other in a modular manner.

Therefore, a cooking device burner mechanism (1) comprising a plurality of lighting elements (8) on a lighting carrier ring (7) is proposed to provide an illuminated operation for a safer operation under the daylight where the flame may not be seen enough, when the flame blows out without the recognition of the user or when the cooking device is forgotten to be turned off. The impermeability seal (18) is proposed for the safety of the inner mechanism, namely the lighting carrier ring (7) of the cooking device in the case of leakages. The lighting means driving mechanism (10) and the igniting means (11) are placed on the carrier body (12) and are not interconnected with the tap (19) leading to the outcome that the lighting system can be fitted to various tap models.

Claims

A cooking device having at least one cooking device burner mechanism (1) with a lighting system adapted to provide a safer cooking operation by enabling visibility of the flame, the cooking device burner mechanism (1) having a tap (19) connection and being operated by means of a knob (2) operative in adjusting gas level of the cooking device, characterized in that

a lighting means driving mechanism (10) is provided to be actuated in response to the rotational movement of the knob (2) in the manner that the lighting system is energized.
A cooking device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the lighting means driving mechanism (10) is actuated before firing of an ignition means (11).
A cooking device as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knob (2) mechanically cooperates with the lighting means driving mechanism (10) by means of an inner hub tab (6).
A cooking device as in Claim 3, characterized in that the inner hub tab (6) presses on the lighting means driving mechanism (10) at the non-operated position of the knob (2) and releases the same at the rotated position of the knob (2).
A cooking device as in Claim 4, characterized in that the lighting means driving mechanism (10) has open contacts at the non-operated position of the knob (2) and closed contacts at the rotated position of the knob (2).
A cooking device as in Claim 5, characterized in that a lighting carrier ring (7) being provided with at least one lighting element (8) is energized at the rotated position of the knob (2).
A cooking device as in Claim 6, characterized in that the lighting carrier ring (7) is an annular extension with a plurality of lighting elements (8).
A cooking device as in Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the lighting carrier ring (7) is sandwiched between an upper mounting ring (3) and a lower mounting ring (9) while an impermeability seal (18) is disposed thereinbetween to annularly press against the lighting carrier ring (7) in a tightened contact relationship so as to cover the latter laterally from around the same.
A cooking device as in Claim 8, characterized in that the lighting carrier ring (7) is forced by the impermeability seal (18) to lean against an inner annular flange portion extending from the upper mounting ring (3).
A cooking device as in Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the upper and lower mounting rings (3, 9) are interconnected with each other so as to secure an inner hub (4) thereinbetween in an entrapped manner with the exception to be rotated around the knob’s (2) axis of rotation.
A cooking device as in Claim 10, characterized in that the inner hub (4) comprises inner hub projections (5) in interengagement with the knob (2).
A cooking device as in Claim 2, characterized in that the lighting means driving mechanism (10) is deactivated at a final stage of the reverse rotational movement of the knob (2) after supply of gas is interrupted.
A cooking device as in Claim 2 and 3, characterized in that a carrier body (12) accommodates the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and the igniting means (11) respectively within a lighting mechanism receiving nest (16) and an igniting means receiving nest (17) such that the lighting means driving mechanism (10) and igniting means (11) are annularly positioned to interact with the rotational movement of the inner hub tab (6).
A cooking device as in Claim 13, characterized in that the carrier body (12) is a singular integral structure with the lighting mechanism receiving nest (16) and the igniting means receiving nest (17).
A cooking device as in Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the carrier body (12) has mutually reciprocating parts in the form of a locking element (13) and a locking slot (14) such that two neighboring carrier bodies (12) cooperate to establish a mutual inter-connection whereby a plurality of cooking device burner mechanisms (1) are mounted to each other in a modular manner.