WO2018202372A1

WO2018202372A1 - A cooktop comprising a knob with a light source

Info

Publication number: WO2018202372A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/058298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Resul KARTAL; Kadir SILAHTAROGLU; Sonat Yayla; Ali Levent Hasanreisoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-05-04
Filing date: 2018-03-30
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-04
Also published as: TR201706591A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooktop (1) comprising a burner plate (2); a plurality of burner groups (3) that produce flames with the burning of flammable gases and that enable the flame to reach and heat the cooking vessel wherein the cooking occurs; at least one grate (4) that is placed on the burner plate (2) so as to surround the burner group (3), and a plurality of knobs (5) that are disposed on the burner plate (2), that are used to adjust the cooking temperature by being rotated, each knob (5) corresponding to a burner group (3).

Description

A COOKTOP COMPRISING A KNOB WITH A LIGHT SOURCE

The present invention relates to a cooktop comprising a knob with a light source.

In state of the art embodiments, cooktops comprise burner groups having at least one burner plate whereon cooking vessels, for example pots are placed and a plurality of burner heads that enable the vessels to be heated on the burner plate. In cooktops, grates that are preferably produced from cast iron and situated on the cooktop are used whereon containers such as pot, pan, etc. are placed. When the user places the cooking vessel on any one of the burner groups, he/she locates the knob on the control panel that controls the relevant burner group among the knobs each corresponding to a burner group and controls the amount of flame spreading from the burner group.

In the state of the art, in order for the user to locate the knob that controls the burner group whereon the cooking vessel is placed, symbols are provided next to the knobs, showing the position on the cooktop of the burner group related to the knob. However, it is difficult for the user to locate the burner group on the layout shown with symbols and the user may be required to test different burner groups more than once to locate the required burner group.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1829071, a household appliance is disclosed, that comprises a knob mounted to the panel.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooktop where ease of utilization is provided.

The cooktop realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a burner plate; a plurality of burner groups that produce flames with the burning of flammable gases and that enable the flame to reach and heat the cooking vessel wherein the cooking occurs; at least one grate that is placed on the burner plate so as to surround the burner group, and a plurality of knobs that are disposed on the burner plate, that are used to adjust the cooking temperature by being rotated, each knob corresponding to a burner group. In a mixing chamber arranged in the burner group, the flammable gas and the ambient air are mixed and the vessels placed on the burner group are heated with the flames coming out of the holes.

The cooktop of the present invention comprises a light source disposed on each knob; a switch that is disposed at the base of the burner plate and that provides the transmission of energy to the light source, and a plurality of arms with one end extending to the burner group and the other to the switch, that are movably disposed on the grate. When the user places the cooking vessel on one of the burner groups on the burner plate, the cooking vessel contacts the arm extending towards the burner group. Thus, the cooking vessel triggers the arm and enables the arm to contact the switch. When the arm contacts the switch, the circuit transmitting electrical energy to the light source on the knob that controls the burner group whereon the vessel is placed is closed and the light source is energized, and thus, the user is enabled to distinguish the knob that controls the burner group he/she wants to operate.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises the arm that is disposed so as to rotate around the axis where the latter is connected to the grate by means of a joint. When the cooking vessel is placed on the grate, the cooking vessel pushes downwards the end of the arm extending towards the burner group. As the arm rotates around the joint, the end of the arm extending towards the switch bears against the switch and enables the circuit transmitting electrical energy to the light source to be closed. When the user removes the cooking vessel off the grate, the force applied by the cooking vessel onto the arm is cut off, and the arm moves and rotates around the joint back to the initial position thereof. When the contact of the arm with the switch ends, the electrical energy transmission to the light source is cut off.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises the L-shaped arm. In this embodiment, the arm comprises a first extension extending towards the burner group and a second extension extending towards the switch. The first extension is positioned under the cooking vessel so as to contact the cooking vessel. The second extension extends in the vertical direction towards the switch positioned at the base of the burner plate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises at least one protrusion disposed on the arm. By means of the protrusion provided by forming the upper surface of the arm, the contact of the cooking vessel with the arm is facilitated. Thus, without the need for the arm to protrude outwards from the grate, the cooking vessel is enabled to move the arm, thereby increasing user satisfaction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises at least one abutment that is disposed on the arm. By means of the abutment disposed at the end of the arm in contact with the switch and preferably produced from elastic material, the arm is prevented from hitting and damaging the switch.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises at least one housing arranged on the knob and the light source that is placed into the housing.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop comprises the light source that is a LED. By means of the LED light source, the user is enabled to easily locate the energized light source.

By means of the present invention, a cooktop is realized, wherein the user can easily locate the knob that controls each burner group and ease of utilization is provided.

The cooktop 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 cooktop.

Figure 2 – is the partial perspective view of the cooktop in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the knobs disposed on the cooktop in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the partial schematic view of the cooktop in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 - the partial schematic view of the cooktop after the cooking vessel is placed on the cooktop in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the bottom partial perspective view of the cooktop in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 - the bottom partial perspective view of the cooktop after the cooking vessel is placed on the cooktop in another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooktop
Burner plate
Burner group
Grate
Knob
Light source
Switch
Arm
Joint
Protrusion
Abutment
Housing
First extension
Second extension

The cooktop (1) comprises a burner plate (2); a plurality of burner groups (3) that produce flames with the burning of flammable gases and that enable the flame to reach and heat the cooking vessel wherein the cooking occurs; at least one grate (4) that is placed on the burner plate (2) so as to surround the burner group (3), and a plurality of knobs (5) that are disposed on the burner plate (2), that are used to adjust the cooking temperature by being rotated, each knob (5) corresponding to a burner group (3) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The cooktop (1) of the present invention comprises

- a light source (6) that is disposed on each knob (5),

- a switch (7) that is disposed at the base of the burner plate (2) and that provides the transmission of electrical energy to the light source (6), and

- a plurality of arms (8) with one end extending to the burner group (3) and the other to the switch (7), that are movably disposed on the grate (4).

The cooking vessel placed on the grate so as to be over the burner group (3) contacts the end of the arm (8) extending towards the burner group (3) and moves the arm (8). Thus, the end of the arm (8) extending towards the switch (7) moves and contacts the switch (7), and by means of the switch (7), electrical energy is transmitted to the knob (5) that controls the burner group (3) whereon the cooking vessel is placed. With the energy transmitted via the switch (7), the light source (6) on the knob (5) is energized and the user is enabled to locate the knob (5) that controls the burner group (3) whereon the cooking vessel is placed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises the arm (8) that is disposed so as to rotate around the axis where the latter is connected to the grate (4) by means of a joint (9). The arm (8) is detachably disposed on the grate (4) by means of the joint (9). When placed on the grate (4), the cooking vessel contacts the end of the arm (8) extending towards the burner group (3) and applies force so as to enable the arm (8) to be rotated around the joint (9). When the arm (8) is rotated with the force applied by the cooking vessel, the end of the arm (8) extending towards the switch (7) contacts the switch (7) and enables the light source (6) on the knob (5) that controls the burner group (3) whereon the cooking vessel is placed to be energized.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises the L-shaped arm (8). In this embodiment, the arm (8) comprises a first extension (13) extending towards the burner group (3) and a second extension (14) extending towards the switch (7). While the first extension (13) of the arm (8) extending towards the burner group (3) is positioned parallel to the burner plate (2) on the grate (4), the second extension (14) of the arm (8) extending towards the switch (7) on the base of the burner plate (2) is positioned perpendicularly to the burner plate (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises at least one protrusion (10) disposed on the arm (8). By means of the protrusion (10) on the end of the arm (8) extending towards the burner group (3) that extends outwards in the vertical direction from the burner plate (2) , the contact of the cooking vessel with the arm (8) is facilitated. In this embodiment, when the cooking vessel is placed on the burner group (3), the base of the cooking vessel contacts the protrusion (10) and enables the arm (8) to move.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises at least one abutment (11) that is disposed on the arm (8). The abutment (11) positioned on the end of the arm (8) preferably produced from metal extending towards the switch (7) so as to be positioned between the arm (8) and the switch (7) moves together with the arm (8) and contacts the switch (7) when the cooking vessel is placed on the grate (4). By means of the abutment (11), heat transfer from the arm (8) to the switch (7) is obviated, and the switch (7) is prevented from heating up and burning.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises at least one housing (12) arranged on the knob (5) and the light source (6) that is placed into the housing (12). By means of the housing (12) positioned on the upper side of the knob (5) facing the user, the user is enabled to easily locate the energized light source (6).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooktop (1) comprises the light source (6) that is a LED. By means of the LED light source (6), the user is enabled to easily locate the energized light source (6).

In the cooktop (1) of the present invention, the light source (6) disposed on the knob (5) corresponding to the burner group (3) whereon the cooking vessel is placed is enabled to be energized. Thus, the knob (5) controlling the burner group (3) whereon the cooking vessel is placed can be easily located.

Claims

A cooktop (1) comprising a burner plate (2); a plurality of burner groups (3) that produce flames with the burning of flammable gases and that enable the flame to reach and heat the cooking vessel wherein the cooking occurs; at least one grate (4) that is placed on the burner plate (2) so as to surround the burner group (3), and a plurality of knobs (5) that are disposed on the burner plate (2), that are used to adjust the cooking temperature by being rotated, each knob (5) corresponding to a burner group (3), characterized by

- a light source (6) that is disposed on each knob (5),

- a switch (7) that is disposed at the base of the burner plate (2) and that provides the transmission of electrical energy to the light source (6),

- a plurality of arms (8) with one end extending to the burner group (3) and the other to the switch (7), that are movably disposed on the grate (4).
A cooktop (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the arm (8) that is disposed so as to rotate around the axis where the latter is connected to the grate (4) by means of a joint (9).
A cooktop (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the L-shaped arm (8).
A cooktop (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by at least one protrusion (10) arranged on the arm (8).
A cooktop (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one abutment (11) arranged on the arm (8).
A cooktop (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one housing (12) arranged on the knob (5) and by the light source (6) placed into the housing (12).
A cooktop (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the light source (6) which is a LED.