CN117716177A - Apparatus, system and method for modular manufacturing of cooking appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for manufacturing a cooking appliance. The apparatus, system and method may include: a universal equipment housing including at least a power supply harness and a plurality of female latch points on a top and front portion thereof; a folding module comprising a cooktop and an oven front hinged to the cooktop, the oven front comprising at least an oven door matingly associated with a frame and having a door hinge connected to the outer door and passing through the frame; and a plurality of male latches associated with the folding module, including at least one male latch associated with a portion of the door hinge passing through the frame, each male latch being capable of latching into a corresponding one of a plurality of female latch points to form a complete stove of the manufactured stove when latched.

Description

Apparatus, system and method for modular manufacturing of cooking appliances

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims that the title filed at 2021, 7, 27 is: the priority benefits of application Ser. No.17/386,227, which claims the title filed on day 23, 6, 2021, continue to be part of the "apparatus, system and method for Modular manufacturing of cooking appliances: U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/417,404, entitled "apparatus, system and method for Modular manufacturing," filed on even 17 th month 1 in 2020, claims the benefit of priority of International application Ser. No. 2020/014038, entitled "apparatus, system and method for Modular manufacturing," filed on even 17 th month 1 in 2019, claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.62/793,624, entitled "apparatus, system and method for Modular manufacturing," each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth in its respective entirety.

Background

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to manufacturing, and more particularly, to an apparatus, system, and method for modular manufacturing of cooking appliances.

Background

In presently known manufacturing operations, such as for large devices (e.g., appliances), an ever increasing number of components and component-related aspects are added to the manufactured devices in order to provide functionality that meets modern expectations. For example, with the advent of the internet of things (IoT), it is often desirable not only for modern devices to have a highly intuitive user interface that additionally includes a wide range of applications and changing functionality available via the user interface, but also for the devices to be able to communicate, such as simple communications in which device errors are indicated, recorded, and communicated, or such as more complex communications. Both types of communication may occur over a wireless connection, for example to or via a home network to a brand center, etc. Furthermore, it is expected that these increasingly capable devices not only provide the broad functionality previously described, but that these devices operate more consistently and well and last longer.

Unfortunately, the increasing number of features, communication aspects, etc., as well as the manufacturer's preferences for increased productivity, yield, etc., have provided for maintaining manufacturer profitability inconsistent with typical device manufacturing techniques. Indeed, most devices are mostly manufactured manually, rather than in a manner that differs from those devices that were manufactured long before the availability of graphical user interfaces, device lighting, device communication, etc.

For example, most devices include a plurality of wire harnesses each having a plurality of fasteners at different positions throughout the device, the wire harnesses transmitting signals and power to and from a plurality of circuit boards, electrical components, and the like (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "components"). In order to provide sufficient space for the functional aspects of the device, often these large numbers of fasteners, wiring, components, etc. must be placed in awkward positions throughout the device. Thus, manual installation of all of these aspects can be awkward and difficult, and such installation is further highly repetitive and may require different levels of strength, e.g., to make connection and fastening aspects. These variations may even occur between identical components on different devices due in part to engineering tolerances present in the housing of the manufacturing device.

This repetitive and time consuming nature of installing wiring, harnesses, fasteners and components within equipment at difficult angles and with varying strength often results in damage to the workplace. Such manufacturing complexity and workplace damage may slow down production time, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, the manufacturing complexity discussed herein requires a significant amount of storage and floor space dedicated to the installation phase of the work in progress inventory, as well as aspects that must be installed into the work in progress inventory. Furthermore, for large "box" shaped appliances, such as certain cooking appliances, a "base cabinet" is hardly required except for the inclusion of lights and wiring for power, but nonetheless these large cabinets must be kept in stock and must be included in the manufacturing process with the "smart" hardware and software elements and must also be stored after manufacture and before sale. This need for storage and processing space further limits throughput in the production line and limits the ability to store inventory after manufacture and at retail outlets.

More specifically, typical production lines in the prior art require transporting equipment such as large appliances being manufactured from one station to another in order to be able to manually install unique components at each new station. Thus, each station requires specialized workers who repeatedly install the same or similar components during operation. Needless to say, at least the aforementioned throughput afforded by the work-in-process inventory limits the availability of equipment streams from one station to another and, as described above, the repetitive aspect required by the laborers causes work dissatisfaction and repetitive work injuries. Still further, as described above, combinations of the above aspects reduce yield and productivity.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure is and includes an apparatus, system and method for manufacturing at least a range or oven. The apparatus, system and method may include a universal device housing capable of providing at least a back, a bottom and sides of a fabricated stove or oven, wherein the universal device housing includes at least a power supply harness and a plurality of female latch points on a top and a front thereof; a folding module comprising a cooktop (cookie) adapted to form a top of the manufactured stove (store) and a toaster front hinged to the cooktop, the toaster front adapted to form a front of the manufactured stove, the toaster front comprising at least a toaster door cooperatively associated with a frame and having a door hinge connected to and passing through the outer door (door); and a plurality of male latches associated with the folding module, including at least one male latch associated with a portion of the door hinge passing through the frame, each male latch being capable of latching into a corresponding one of a plurality of female latch points so as to form a complete one of the manufactured stoves when latched.

The apparatus, system, and method may additionally be used in a manufactured oven, and may include: a universal equipment enclosure capable of providing at least a back, a top, a bottom, and sides of a fabricated oven, wherein the universal equipment enclosure comprises at least a power supply harness and a plurality of female latch points on a front thereof; a modular oven front adapted to form a front of a manufactured oven, the modular oven front comprising at least an oven door matingly associated with a frame and having a door hinge connected to the oven door and passing through the frame; and a plurality of male latches associated with the modular oven front including at least one male latch associated with a portion of the door hinge passing through the frame, each male latch being capable of latching into a corresponding one of a plurality of female latch points to form a fully manufactured oven when latched.

Drawings

The disclosed non-limiting embodiments are discussed with respect to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals designate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of modular manufacturing;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a manufacturing system;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of manufacture;

FIG. 4A illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 4B illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 4C illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 4D illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 5A illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 5B illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 5C illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 6A illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 6B illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 6C illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 6D illustrates aspects of an embodiment;

FIG. 6E illustrates aspects of an embodiment; and

fig. 6F illustrates aspects of an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the devices, systems, and methods described herein, while eliminating, for the sake of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and operations are known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein for the sake of brevity. However, the present disclosure is deemed to still include all such elements, variations and modifications of the described aspects known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Embodiments are provided throughout so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosed embodiments to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that certain specific details need not be employed, and that the embodiments may be practiced in different forms. Accordingly, the embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. As noted above, in some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known equipment structures, and well-known techniques may not be described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and "including" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless specifically determined as a preferred or required order of execution, the steps, processes, and operations described herein should not be construed as necessarily requiring their execution in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed in place of or in combination with the disclosed aspects.

When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "engaged to," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged to, connected to or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present unless expressly stated otherwise. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a similar fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). Furthermore, as used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Furthermore, although the terms first, second, third and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the embodiments.

Embodiments provide a method whereby assembly time may be reduced by ten times or more than prior art for manufacturers of certain devices (e.g., large appliances, and in particular large cooking appliances such as ovens, ranges and cooktops). More specifically, embodiments include prefabrication of discrete parts or discrete device subsystems, for example in the form of snap-in, screw-in or snap-in modules, which may be common on all devices in certain locations in the device, for simple inclusion into the device during manufacture. The module subsystem may be fully snapped onto one or more internal supports or fasteners already within the device housing. In some cases, the equipment enclosure may include a cabinet (cabinet), such as an oven cabinet, which may include certain standard hardware, such as power wiring, internal lights, and/or internal shelves.

Thus, one or more aspects of device manufacturing may be automated, e.g., allowing robotics to be used; small differences between the devices can be largely eliminated; manufacturing yield and yield can be increased; and can improve the efficiency and flow of storing the manufactured appliances after manufacture. Advantageously, the foregoing allows the modules to be provided to the production line independently, discretely and conveniently. Furthermore, the production line can generate and store many of the necessary modular inventory offsite, at least because of the elimination of the large variations in available throughput that occur in the prior art. Needless to say, quality control and inspection of the equipment may also occur in large amounts off site, as the quality of the individual modules may be inspected off-line. This, of course, further improves manufacturing yield.

It should be appreciated that each of the above aspects improves the yield and productivity as described above. Further, it will be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art, through the disclosed embodiments, may further substantially address repetitive motion injuries, cutting injuries, other injuries, and job satisfaction.

Fig. 1 shows a device 12 consisting of a plurality of snap modules 14 during the manufacture 10 of the device 12, the device 12 comprising a device housing 13 adapted at least to receive the modules 14. It should be noted that the embodiment of fig. 1 is provided as an example only, and that any large device or appliance (e.g., oven) having multiple subsystems may utilize the disclosed embodiments.

Each module 14 shown in fig. 1 may include a number of components 14a, b, c. Furthermore, each module 14 may include connections 16, 18 between components 14a, b., and to external elements of the device as needed, as well as mounts 20 for components 14a, b., to securely hold each component in place within module 14, as well as external mounts 22 for the entire module 14 to also be placed into device 12 as needed during manufacture.

The components may include, but are not limited to, appliance components. As an example, the module 14 may include components of a front, rear or embedded head of an oven, such as components including a human-machine interface (HMI), a control unit, a wireless or wired communication chipset and components, wireless devices, valves, hoses, coining components, and the like. Thus, the modules 14 may be mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical, either alone or in combination.

As shown, some modules 14 may include not only internal components 14a, b to provide operability for the module 14, but also external components 14x, y, z, such as dials, buttons, push-buttons (flat or raised), sensors (e.g., push sensors), lights, and the like. Using the above-described device mounts 22, each module 14 may be placed in place in the device 12 manually or automatically during manufacturing, in which position the fixed mounts/fasteners 22 for that module 14 may be fastened into the device 12 to allow operability of the inner components 14a, b..and the outer components 14x, y..as discussed throughout.

It will be appreciated that the manufacture of the apparatus 12 according to fig. 1 may free up floor space and limit storage requirements in the production line 30, in warehouses, in-situ storage, etc., thereby enabling more units to be transported and having improved quality control. For example, quality control 36 may be implemented at the formation site of each module 14 such that quality control 42 in the production line may be minimized, or quality control 42 in manufacturing may simply provide redundancy with quality control 36 done off-site, thereby improving yield, throughput, and product performance of production line 30, which may also reduce manufacturing center costs, such as by minimizing inventory, reducing inspection requirements, reducing labor requirements, improving on-site logistics, etc.

In addition, one or more modules 14 may be manufactured, transported, and/or sold from a particular location, while the housing 13 may be supplied separately. For example, a retail store may have a number of available or existing enclosures 13 that may operate with various modules 14, such as may correspond to increasingly sophisticated models of a hierarchical series for a particular appliance, such as an oven, all of which correspond to the same cabinet 13. Thus, the retail store may stock each hierarchical series of modules 14 in a number and may also stock cabinets 13 to correspond to each sales of each module 14. Furthermore, the foregoing allows the manufacture of a single cabinet 13 type, for example by on-line ordering, and the transport of this cabinet 13 to one site and individually to the site of any module 14 corresponding to the ordered hierarchical model in the series of models.

As shown in fig. 2, providing a plurality of clasp modules 14 may or may not further reduce the number of stations 102 required in the production line 30. For example, rather than a manufacturing employee 104 working on only one aspect of the device 12 before the device 12 is transferred to the next station 102, each station 102 may allow for the installation of one or more clasp modules 14, e.g., where all clasp modules 14 in a particular portion of the device 12a are ergonomically installed at a single manufacturing station 102.

By providing the disclosed clasp module, and for example in any embodiment in which one or more modules in a particular aspect of the apparatus are installed at a single station substantially simultaneously, the ergonomics of the station may be improved as described above. For example, the need for unnatural angles for installation aspects may be largely eliminated in embodiments, as the modules may be specifically formed to follow the angles of the equipment enclosure for installation, and/or may be installed automatically. Furthermore, the attachment of the modules within the device may be easily rotatable and may be easily adjusted in compliance with the principles of Z-axis and/or neutral plan manufacturing, thereby improving employee health and return on investment.

Furthermore, since the attachment of many of the components within the module and/or one or more of the modules to the cabinet may be performed off-line, the number of aspects that need to be attached to the equipment during manufacturing is greatly minimized. That is, in the known art 20 components are required to be individually attached across multiple stations in a production line, the embodiment may provide a single module comprising all 20 components, requiring that only a single component, i.e. a module, be attached at a single station in a production line. Furthermore, since the design of the modules is independent of the design of the overall device, each module may be designed to more easily allow access to components, for example for low production or replacement of faulty components, or for later replacement using faulty components.

Furthermore, as described above, integrating the module into a manufacturing system allows improved correction of defects over known techniques. In fact, quality control at the module formation site allows for correction of most defects before the module reaches the manufacturer's facility. Thus, embodiments may significantly improve line throughput over known techniques. That is, in the prior art, quality control is typically performed at least at several stations during the production line, even at the lowest severity of the quality control system, and additional testing is performed at the end of the production of the equipment. Needless to say, this increases the likelihood of defects entering the manufacturing process, for example between inspection stations or throughout the operation of a plurality of stations each performing its respective function.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method 200 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As shown, at step 202, a plurality of modules are designed to perform the functions provided by the device, typically with other modules. Further, at step 202, each of these modules is designed to be located within the device, such as in at least an interior portion of the device, and/or sometimes in an exterior portion of the device.

At a next step 204, the various components necessary to perform the function of a given module are selected for placement on the module. Thus, each of these components may have fasteners, locations, and any other aspects necessary to perform the function and/or fasten the components within the module, such as routing, connecting traces, soldering, etc. These components are then placed, fastened, physically and/or electrically connected in their respective locations on the module at step 206. Thus, at step 206, the module is provided with external fasteners to ultimately allow placement of the module into the device and/or interconnection with other modules.

Each module is preferably placed into the overall device at its design/designated location. As non-limiting examples, such placement into the overall device at step 207 may be accomplished manually, robotically, or a combination thereof.

Furthermore, the method discussed above with respect to fig. 3 may additionally include an optional step 208 for quality control checking, such as when one or more components are placed into a module, when a module is placed into a device, when other modules in a device are placed with a module, or when production of the final device is completed. Needless to say, aspects of this step 208 may be performed at different locations, such as at the module generator and at the manufacturer, based on the present disclosure.

Fig. 4A shows a cabinet 13, the cabinet 13 being adapted to provide a household or commercial stove 1500, i.e. a combined oven and cooktop; and a cooktop 14x and a cooktop front 14y modular assembly 14 separate from the cabinet. As shown, the modular assembly 14 may be provided separately, e.g., separately from the cabinet 13, and may be removed from the separate package 1502 for association with the cabinet 13, e.g., at the time of manufacture factory reception, at a retail establishment reception, at a commercial or residential location, etc.

Fig. 4B shows an initial step of the stove module 14 and its associated cabinet 13 after removal of the module assembly 14 from its packaging 1502. As shown, the cabinet 13 may include typical of those "universal" items of a stove, such as shelves or shelves 1504 within the stove 1500, internal lighting 1510 within the stove 1500, and plug and/or power harness assemblies 1512 that can be associated with a socket power supply 1514, so that power can be provided to the stove cabinet 13 and modules 14 when associated with the cabinet 13. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the utility power plug and power harness assembly 1512 may alternatively be associated with the modular portion 14 of the stove 1500 such that power is provided to the cabinet 13 when the modular portion 14 is associated with the cabinet 13. In either case, however, the cabinet portion 13 may serve as a "dummy" portion of the stove 1500, and thus may be a standard for multiple models of stoves of a given manufacturer, or a standard for models from different manufacturers.

As further shown in fig. 4B, the modular assembly 14 may be provided with one or more hinges 1530 such that the cooktop 14x and the cooktop front 14y may be compactly folded and/or may be unfolded at approximately right angles in order to associate the modular assembly 14 with the cabinet 13. Notably, the hinge 1530 (or hinges) can be of any type known to those skilled in the art, and can be a single-use or multiple-use hinge. Thus, the hinge 1530 of the stove module 14 may include a multi-position locking mechanism 1532, for example, that may lock the module 14 in a compact folded position and/or an open position to be associated with the cabinet 13.

The association of the module 14 with the cabinet 13 is shown in fig. 4C. Notably, a latch position 1550 on the cabinet 13 is shown in fig. 4C, the latch position 1550 may include a female opening 1550a adapted to receive a male locking mechanism 1560 on the module 14 when the cooktop portion 14x of the module 14 is associated with an upper portion of the cabinet 13 in a locked position. These locking mechanisms 1550a/1560 may include any locking system known to those skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, a snap lock that securely grips a male portion (and/or a clip (clip) or tab) 1560 on the bottom side of the cooktop module 14x into a female portion 1550a of a locking location 1550 on the cabinet 13 when the cooktop 13 is placed in place on top of the cabinet 13. These locking locations 1550 may have any location or number of mating locking portions adapted to receive the cooktop 14x therein or thereon, and thus, the locking locations 1550 may be concave as described above, or may be convex portions on the cabinet 13 and concave portions on the underside of the cooktop 14x, as just a non-limiting example.

Fig. 4D more particularly illustrates a hinge 1530 that exists between the cooktop front 14y and cooktop 14x. Notably, the hinge 1530 in fig. 4D is shown at the outermost portion of the stove module 14 so as to provide maximum stability between the stove top portion 14x of the module and the stove front portion 14y of the module during the folding and unfolding process.

Fig. 5A shows the unfolded cooktop module 14x in more detail during association with the cooktop cabinet 13. As shown, the stove module 14 may include a plurality of latch points 1560, such as male hooks and/or tabs that lock into the female portion for association with female eye portions/latch locations 1550 on the cabinet 13 for association with both the top and front sides of the cabinet 13 when the stove module 14 is deployed. Aspects of the stove 1500 in fig. 5A further illustrate a stove door 1600 associated with the stove front of the front module 14 y. The oven door 1600 can open outwardly from the oven 1500 and thus can form different portions of the oven front module 14y that nest closely within the outer frame portion 1602 of the oven front module 14, allowing the opening and closing of the oven door 1600 in combination with the proper latching of the outer frame portion 1602 of the oven front module 14y to the front of the cabinet 13.

Also shown in fig. 5A is a hinge portion 1700 that allows the oven door 1600 to be opened once the oven door 1600 and the stove front module 14y are latched into the cabinet 13. Fig. 5B illustrates this aspect of the embodiment with greater specificity. Notably, the hinge 1700a for the oven door 1600 is suitably connected to the oven door 1600 and into and through the frame portion 1602 of the oven front module portion 14 y. This extension through the frame 1602 includes a receiving feature 1700b for the hinge portion 1700a on the cabinet side of the frame 1602, and may additionally include a latching feature 1700c on or extending from the receiving portion 1700b (e.g., via a spring), the latching feature 1700c for mating between the latching feature 1700c of the hinge receiving portion 1700b and a latching location 1550 on the cabinet 13. Simply, the cabinet 13 may thus receive the hinge 1700 into an open position 1550 on the cabinet 13 and may receive a latch of the hinge 1700, and thus also a latch of the frame 1602 through which the hinge 1700 passes, to attach the outer door 1600 and the frame to the cabinet, while also allowing the oven door 1600 to open and close in conjunction with actuation of the hinge 1700. A fully assembled stove 1500 is shown in fig. 5C.

In an embodiment similar to that shown in fig. 4 and 5 above, fig. 6 shows a modular oven 1800 having an open door 1600 and having an oven cabinet 13 that can be inserted into a receiving recess, for example, in a residential or commercial wall in which the oven 1800 is to operate. As shown in fig. 6A, the oven front module 14 may be provided separately from the oven cabinet 13, and the oven cabinet 13 may again include features typical in ovens, such as shelves/racks 1502, power supplies, power supply line bundles 1512, and one or more lights 1510.

Fig. 6B provides a rear view of the oven front module 14 from the side of the cabinet. As shown, the frame 1602 is provided with a hinge receiver 1700b and a plurality of mating latches. An oven door 1600 associated with the hinge 1700 is provided on the opposite side of the frame 1602 from the cabinet 13. Fig. 6C again shows the insertion of a latch 1560 comprising a latch/clip 1700C associated with hinge receiver 1700b into a cabinet 13 for an oven.

Fig. 6D more particularly illustrates the association of a hinge receiver 1700b having a latch portion 1700c with a receiving portion 1550 of the cabinet 13 such that the hinge 1700a is received to allow the oven front door 1600 on the opposite side of the frame 1602 to be opened. Notably, a comparison of fig. 6D and 5B shows that the latch features 1700c associated with the hinge receptacles 1700B can be placed in different locations for different cooking appliances, for example, to account for the most appropriate latch due to gravity or other reasons. For example, the latch/clip 1700c of fig. 6D extends along a horizontal plane, while the latch/clip 1700c of fig. 5B extends along a vertical plane.

Fig. 6E shows the insertion of an oven module 14 with a frame 1602 and hinged oven door 1600 into a typical oven cabinet 13. As shown, many latches, including, for example, latches on hinge receptacles as discussed throughout, may latch into a cabinet to provide a finished oven. Such a finished oven 1800 is shown in fig. 6F.

Thus, it will be appreciated from the description of the embodiments discussed that the modular portions of the cooking appliance described in fig. 4, 5 and 6 may include the "brains" of the appliance. That is, any manual or electronic actuator, electronic heating element, software and firmware, LED or similar lighting, user alert or messaging, etc. may be provided in association with the module rather than the cabinet. Thus, one or more latch positions discussed throughout may also include an electrical docking connection. That is, the placement of the modules discussed throughout the present disclosure into the latched position may also be placed on an electrical docking connection that may provide, for example, power and command electrical signal transmission between the cabinet and the modules once the electrical docking is performed.

Needless to say, and as discussed throughout, aspects of each module may include known features that allow interoperability of the module with the entire device. As an example, these features may include proprietary or publicly available electrical connectors, external wiring, insulation, bumpers, knobs, adjusters, and the like.

It should be understood that any exemplary computing, processing, and controlling are merely illustrative of computing that may be used in the systems and methods described herein and are not limiting of the implementation of the systems and methods described herein to having different components and configurations. That is, the concepts described herein may be implemented in any of a variety of environments using a variety of components and configurations.

In the foregoing detailed description, various features may be grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited.

Furthermore, the description of the disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (20)

1. A manufactured stove, comprising:

a universal equipment housing capable of providing at least a back, a bottom, and sides of the manufactured stove, wherein the universal equipment housing comprises at least a power supply harness and a plurality of female latch points on a top and a front thereof;

a folding module comprising a cooktop adapted to form a top of the manufactured stove and an oven front hinged to the cooktop adapted to form a front of the manufactured stove, the oven front comprising at least an oven door, the oven door being adaptively associated with a frame and having a door hinge connected to the outer door and passing through the frame;

a plurality of male latches associated with the folding module, including at least one male latch associated with a portion of the door hinge passing through the frame, each male latch being capable of latching into a corresponding one of the plurality of female latch points so as to form a complete range of the manufactured range when latched.

2. The stove of claim 1, wherein the female latch point comprises an internal groove for receiving the Yang Shuansuo.

3. The stove of claim 1, wherein the male latch comprises a clip.

4. The stove of claim 1, wherein the male latch comprises a spring.

5. The stove of claim 1, wherein the universal device housing includes a lamp located inside thereof and in electrical communication with the power supply wire bundle.

6. The stove of claim 1, wherein the universal device housing includes at least one oven rack therein.

7. The stove of claim 1, wherein the cooktop comprises a plurality of burners.

8. The stove of claim 7, wherein the cooktop comprises 4 burners.

9. The stove of claim 1, wherein the outer door includes a window therethrough.

10. The stove of claim 1, wherein the door hinge includes a recessed hinge receptacle as part of passing through the frame, and wherein the hinge of the door hinge hinges into and out of the hinge receptacle.

11. The stove of claim 10, wherein the at least one male latch associated with the door hinge extends vertically downward therefrom and is attached to the hinge receptacle.

12. The stove of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of human-machine interfaces on the folding module.

13. The stove of claim 12, wherein the plurality of human-machine interfaces comprise electrical connections to electrical connectors on one of the male latches, and wherein a continuous circuit is completed from the human-machine interfaces through the power-line bundles when latching a male latch comprising the electrical connectors to the female latch point.

14. A manufactured oven, comprising:

a universal equipment enclosure capable of providing at least a back, a top, a bottom, and sides of the manufactured oven, wherein the universal equipment enclosure comprises at least a power supply harness and a plurality of female latch points on a front thereof;

a modular oven front adapted to form a front of the manufactured oven, the modular oven front including at least an oven door matingly associated with a frame and having a door hinge connected to the outer door and passing through the frame;

a plurality of male latches associated with the modular oven front including at least one male latch associated with a portion of the door hinge passing through the frame, each male latch being capable of latching into a corresponding one of the plurality of female latch points to form a complete manufactured oven when latched.

15. The oven of claim 14, wherein the female latch point comprises an inner slot for receiving the Yang Shuansuo.

16. The oven of claim 14, wherein the male latch comprises a clip.

17. The oven of claim 14, wherein the male latch comprises a spring.

18. The oven of claim 14, wherein the door hinge includes a recessed hinge receptacle as part of passing through the frame, and wherein the hinge of the door hinge hinges into and out of the hinge receptacle.

19. The oven of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of human-machine interfaces on the modular oven front.

20. The oven of claim 19, wherein the plurality of human-machine interfaces comprise electrical connections to electrical connectors on one of the male latches, and wherein a continuous circuit is completed from the human-machine interfaces through the power-line bundles when latching the Yang Shuansuo comprising the electrical connectors to the female latch point.