GB2129927A

GB2129927A - Cooker hob

Info

Publication number: GB2129927A
Application number: GB08329419A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinrich Detterbeck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-12
Filing date: 1983-11-03
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: AT382449B; DE3241964C2; CH663657A5; DE3241964A1; ATA376883A; FR2536154B1; GB8329419D0; IT1169952B; FR2536154A1; IT8323681A0; GB2129927B

Abstract

A cooker hob, especially a hob insertable between worktop surfaces at a spacing from each other, comprises a frame-like carrier for a hob plate (1), which has cooking zones and preferably consists of glass ceramic material, and heating devices (29) underneath the hob plate. The carrier comprises a front and rear cross member (2, 3), which are formed from elongate aluminium extrusions and which are connected together by side panels (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooker hob The present invention relates to a cooker hob, and has particular reference to a hob insertable between worktop surfaces spaced apart from each other.

It would be desirable to provide a cooker hob which can be the subject of production starting from a basic construction standard for different hob types, wherein apart from simplification of production also versatility can be enhanced.

According to the present invention there is provided a cooker hob comprising a carrier frame, a hob plate carried by the frame and having a plurality of cooking zones, and heating means arranged underneath the hob plate, the frame comprising a front and a rear elongate cross member each formed by a profile extrusion, and two side panels connecting the members together at their ends.

Through dividing the carrier frame into two separately manufactured cross members and particularly through formation of these members from profile extrusions, the possibility exists for different hob widths and depths to be produced with use of the same basic constructional elements, i.e. the same cross members, which can be cut from prefabricated strips according to the desired length. These cross members are connected together in simple manner by way of the side panels, whereby a load-bearing, rigid frame is provided for the hob plate, for example of glass ceramic material, as well as for other hob components such as heater devices, electrical or electronic components and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cross members have fastening openings, which are continuous in longitudinal direction and in which fastening elements for the connection of the members with the side panels are engaged, for example by screwing into place. In the simplest case, self-tapping screws are inserted into corresponding openings of the side panels and screwed in the fastening openings. These continuous fastening openings can be produced without great effort in the extrusion process.

According to a further preferred feature, the cross members also have longitudinal mounting openings which communicate with longitudinal slots, into which support elements for components such as heater devices, operating panel and the like are inserted and held in place. These longitudinal slots can also be produced without difficulty in the extrusion process. The openings thereby have two functions, namely that of fastening, for example screw connections of the side panels, and that of mounting support elements for functional hob components. It is advantageous if the support elements include support rails for the support of the relatively heavy hob plate and support rails for the support of the heater devices arranged underneath the hob plate.

Preferably, the last-mentioned support rails are provided with longitudinal apertures in which centring elements for the heater devices are longitudinally displaceable and locatable. Through the presence of these longitudinal apertures and the longitudinal slots, which preferably extend perpendicularly to each other, it is possible to arrange the heater devices in different positions below the hob plate, as the support rails can be displaced into virtually any desired setting due to the presence of the longitudinal slots extending over the entire hob width so that, in conjunction with the longitudinal apertures, the heater devices can be arranged at almost any desired place underneath the hob plate.

Preferably, the front cross member has a recess which is continuous in longitudinal direction and open at one side, preferably the front side, a metal splash guard plate being mounted in the recess to be withdrawable. Through the construction of the cross member as an extruded profile, the creation of such a recess is not only possible without difficulties, but is advantageous from the viewpoint of minimising the mass of the extrusion.

Preferably, the recess in the front cross member is defined between two arms carrying the mounting openings and longitudinal slots for the support rails. These arms thus have a double function, namely a carrier function in respect of the longitudinal slots and longitudinal mounting openings and a boundary function in respect of the recess, which is preferably so dimensioned that the splash guard is slidably engaged therein without further guidance means. Preferably, the plane of movement of the splash guard is such that the guard can cover an operating panel arranged below the hob plate, for example at the front side, so that during operation of the cooker hob splattering of the control panel can be effectively prevented.

It is of course possible to form the carrier frame from more than two extruded profile cross members. For example there may be provided underneath the front cross member a further cross member which, in conjunction with the firstmentioned front cross member, carries a preferably upward inciined operating panel with indicating and operating elements.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a cooker hob embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of a support rail in the hob of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of part of the hob of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a cooker hob comprising a frame-iike carrier for a hob plate 1 consisting of glass ceramic material, the carrier comprising a rear spar 2, an upper front spar 3, a lower front spar 4 and two lateral side cheeks 5. All of the spars are constructed as extruded profiles and consist of, for example, aluminium. These extruded profiles are produced as hulk stock lengths and can be cut from the stock lengths according to the desired hob width.

The rear spar 2 has a rearwardly open protrusion 6, a support flange 7 for the support of the hob plate 1, a lower profile projection 8 and, at the rear side of the projection 8, a hook-like projection 9 with a bearing slot 10. Openings 12, which are continuous, i.e. extend along the entire length of the spar 2, and with which outwardly open longitudinal slots 1 3 communicate, are provided in the corner region of the protrusion 6 and one above the other on the profile projection 8. The longitudinal slots 1 3 also extend along the entire length of the spar 2.

The front spar 3 is formed substantially from the two arms 14 and 15, which are connected each with the other at the rearward side of the spar by way of a web 16. These arms 14 and 15 are provided at their rearward ends with continuous openings 12 with longitudinal slots 13 which face the slots 1 3 of the spar 2. Further openings 12 with longitudinal slots are provided at about the centre of the arm 15 and in the proximity of the forward end of the arm 14. The two arms 14 and 15 and the web 16 bound a recess 17, which is open towards the front side of the hob and also extends along the entire length of the spar 3, the recess being shaped to narrow towards the front side. For this purpose, the arm 15 is arranged obliquely, while the arm 14 extends substantially horizontally.As a result, a slot 18, into which a metal spray-protection plate 1 9 is insertable, is formed between the two arms 14 and 15. The plate 1 9 is almost completely inserted into the recess 1 7 and is withdrawable, as required, into the setting which is indicated in chain-dotted lines and in which it covers an operating panel 21 (to be described in the following) so as to protect it from fat sprayed from the hob plate.

A support flange 20 for a front pane of the operating panel 21 is formed on the forward end of the arm 1 5. The lower front spar 4 is constructed in the manner of a flat angle piece arranged at an inclination and has a support flange 22 at its forward end for the operating panel and a bearing slot 23 at its rearward end. The spar 4 also has longitudinal openings 12 and longitudinal slots 13.

The three spars 2, 3 and 4 are connected together by side cheeks 5 arranged one at each side of the hob. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3 screws 24 are provided for the interconnection of these parts, the screws being inserted from the outside into the side cheeks 5 and screwed into the openings 1 2. The screws can be, for example self-tapping screws. The side cheeks each have a profile which substantially follows the geometric arrangement of the spars, as apparent from Fig. 1, but project at the front side over the inclined front surface with the operating panel 21.

As shown in Fig. 1, at least one support rail 25 is inserted into the mutually facing longitudinal slots 13 of the upper openings 12 of the spars 2 and 3 and located in place thereby, this rail having an upwardly bent portion which bears indirectly or directly against the underside of the hob plate 1 and serves for the support of the hob plate. If so desired, several such support rails 25 are provided over the entire hob width. Further support rails 26 are inserted into the slots 13 of the lower openings 12 and located thereby. The support rails 26 support a heater body 27, which is only schematically illustrated and which comprises a trough-like insulating housing 28 with a spiral heating element 29 arranged therein.A centring pin 31, in the form of a screw with lock nut 30, is fastened at one of the support rails 26 in about its centre and engages, at a preferably conically shaped centring point thereof, into a corresponding depression in the centre of the heater body 27 so as to centre this heater body. A double-armed contact pressure spring 32, which resiliently presses the heater body 27 against the underside of the hob plate 1, is firmly connected with the support rail 26 by way of the lock nut 30.

Brackets 33, which are secured by screws to the rail 26, serve for additional fixing of the rail, each bracket having a concave groove which receives a convex surface of the spar 2 or 3 in the region of one of the openings and is tightened against this surface. Fig. 1 also makes it clear that it is possible through this kind of support to displace the rail 26 along the continuous openings 12 into virtually any desired position. A variation of the setting of the heater body 27, transversely to this displacement direction, is also possible by provision of longitudinal apertures 34 in the rail 26, whereby resetting of the centring pin 31 can be effected.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating panel 21 essentially consists of a front glass pane 35 and a switch carrier 37 which is arranged therebehind and spaced therefrom by spacer pieces 36. The switch carrier 37 carries electrical switches 38 with operating knobs 39. A shaped bearing flange 40 for the switch carrier 37 is provided on the spar 4. The switch carrier 37 and thereby also the glass pane 35 are pressed by a leaf spring 41, located under bias in slots 13 of the spars 3 and 4, against the bearing flange and thereby held in place.

As already mentioned, the plate 1 9 is withdrawable above the operating panel 21, the plate being provided at its inner end with an abutment projection 42 which, in the withdrawn setting, abuts a lug 43.

A substantially L-shaped cover 44 is inserted into the bearing slots 10 and 23 and can be additionally connected at one end to the spar 2 by means of a screw 45. The cover 44 closes off the interior space formed by the spars below the hob plate 1.

The hob itself is insertable between two horizontal worktop members or portions 46 arranged at a spacing from each other and extends from the front edges of the portions 46 to a setting wall 47. Kitchen fittings, for example a drawer 48 and a shutter 49, can be arranged below the worktop portions 46, as shown in Fig. 3.

A built-in oven 50 can, for example, be disposed below the hob.

Claims

1. A cooker hob comprising a carrier frame, a hob plate carried by the frame and having a plurality of cooking zones, and heating means arranged underneath the hob plate, the frame comprising a front and a rear elongate cross member each formed by a profile extrusion, and two side panels connecting the members together at their ends.

2. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross members are provided with fastening openings extending longitudinally thereof and the side panels are connected to the members by fastening elements engaged in the openings.

3. A cooker hob as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cross members are provided with mounting openings extending longitudinally thereof and with longitudinal slots communicating with the openings, support elements being mounted at end portions thereof in the slots and mounting openings and being arranged to support parts of the hob.

4. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the cross members is provided with an upper and a lower one of such mounting openings and the slots associated with the upper and lower mounting openings of one of the cross members are arranged to face, respectively, the slots associated with the upper and lower mounting openings of the other cross members, one plurality of such support elements being mounted in the upper mounting openings and associated slots and arranged to support the hob plate and a further plurality of such support elements being mounted in the lower mounting openings and associated slots and arranged to support the heating means.

5. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support elements of said further plurality are elongate and are provided with longitudinally extending apertures receiving centring elements centring heating devices of the heating means, the centring elements being adjustable in position by displacement along the apertures.

6. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 5, comprising spring elements fastened to the centring elements and arranged to bias the heating devices.

7. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front cross member is provided with a recess extending longitudinally thereof and open at one side of the member, a withdrawable splash guard being mounted in the recess.

8. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 7 when appended to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the recess is defined between two arms of the front cross member, the upper and lower mounting openings, and associated slots, of the cross member being arranged at ends of the arms.

9. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier frame comprises a further front elongate cross member formed bya profile extrusion and connected at its ends to the side panels at a location below the first-mentioned front cross member, an operating panel of the hob being mounted between the two front cross members.

10. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 9 when appended to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the support elements comprise a resilient member which is mounted at end portions thereof in one of the mounting openings, and associated slot, of the first-mentioned front cross-member and in a corresponding mounting opening and slot of the further front cross-member and which is arranged to resiliently press the operating panel against abutments of the two front cross members.

11. A cooker hob as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a base cover member engaged in a slot of mounting means provided on a rear side of the rear cross member and in a slot of further mounting means arranged at the base of the front side of the hob.

12. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 11 when appended to either claim 9 or claim 10, the further mounting means being arranged on the further front cross member.

1 3. A cooker hob substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.