GB2149909A - Method of and equipment for mounting a cooker hob plate in a frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of a cooker hob comprises positioning a plate (2), which preferably consists of glass ceramic material and in or below which are arranged heating elements, in a surrounding frame (3) so that a gap (7a, 7b) is present between the plate rim and the frame. The gap is closed off by at least one sealing member (13) for the formation of a chamber, into which a flowable sealing material (12) is introduced and subsequently solidified by, for example, heating. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of and equipment for mounting a cooker hob plate in a frame The present invention relates to a method of and equipment for mounting a cooker hob plate in a surrounding frame and to a cooker hob comprising such a frame and plate.

In the manufacture of a cooker hob of that kind, for example according to DE-PS 28 1 9 118, numerous operating steps, many of which have to be performed manually, are required. Known cooker hobs consist of, for example, a surrounding metallic frame with a limb which is stepped down from above and extends towards the frame centre to form a support bed for a glass ceramic plate placed thereon. Introduced into the region of a gap between the frame and plate is an adhesive or sealing mass on which the plate rests and which closes off the vertical, upwardly open gap between the plate edge and frame. This sealing mass is to be prevented from protruding above the upper side of the plate and for this purpose the mass is at first laid around the limb.Thereafter, spacer elements are laid on the limb to obtain a defined spacing between the plate and frame limb, after which the plate is placed on the mass and on the spacer elements. Thereafter, the vertical gap between the plate edge and frame is filled out by a further adhesive substance and subsequently manually smoothed to be flush with the plate surface.

After subsequent hardening of the mass at increased temperatures for approximately 24 hours, the plate rim still has to be mechanically cleaned of adhesive substance residues.

Most of these steps can be performed only manually.

For the fastening of a rinsing basin or cooker hob in an opening of a table plate, it is known from DE-OS 29 34 21 5 to use, as a support element for the basin or hob, a Cshaped profile strip which is placed on the boundary edge of the table plate and in that case forms an adhesive chamber. This is filled with a pourable synthetic adhesive substance, for example a hardenable multi-component adhesive, and the profile strip is connected with the table plate. The manufacture of the hob or basin itself is not facilitated thereby.

It would thus be desirable to simplify the manufacture of a cooker hob and reduce the cost thereof, particularly by avoiding manual operations, as well as improve quality and appearance.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of mounting a cooker hob plate in a surrounding frame, comprising the steps of causing the hob plate to be so positioned in the frame that a gap is present between the frame and the rim of the plate, closing off the gap by at least one sealing member so as to form a chamber, introducing a flowable adhesive and sealing material into the gap and causing or allowing the material to solidify thereby to sealingly connect the plate to the frame.

After positioning of the plate in the frame, the actual embedding takes place, i.e. gluing and sealing-off, preferably in a single operating step which can be carried out automatically. Following this embedding operation, only the solidification process is left. Trials have shown that the time and cost for the manufacture of a cooker hob can thereby be reduced and that manual work may no longer be required. If a two-component adhesive substance is used, the hardening time at a temperature of about 1 50 C can be reduced to about 20 minutes. A finishing operation is no longer required.

Preferably, the sealing material is introduced into the chamber under pressure so that complete filling thereof is ensured.

Particular advantages may result if at least a sealing member which is pressed onto the frame and plate in the upper gap region comprises a resilient material. By pressing on of the sealing member, the resilient surface thereof completely and cleanly closes the gap between the plate rim and frame, while the resilient material projects convexly into this separating gap. The result, after introduction of the sealing material, is a gap filling which is slightly concave, projection of the sealing material above the upper plate surface being avoided.

Alternatively, the introduction of the sealing material takes place free of pressure. After the turning of the unit of frame and plate, the sealing material flows into the gap region, which has been closed off. Here, too, a clean and secure sealing and gluing together of the plate and frame is obtained.

Advantageously, a preferably surrounding seal is formed at a peripheral support web or flange of the frame, by which support web the cooker hob can rest on a worktop. In this case, a further chamber is formed by the support web on the one hand and by a sealing member on the other hand, wherein the shape of the sealing member determines the profile of the later seal. Preferably, all chambers, for example the chamber in the gap region and the chamber at the peripheral support web, are interconnected in terms of flow, so that the manufacture of the gap seal and the outer support seal can take place in a single operating step, i.e. for example a single injection operation.In addition, a recess can be provided in the upper side of the frame, in which recess lies a designation strip which, by the introduction of the sealing material into a chamber formed in the recess and below the strip, is firmly connected with the frame and without further connecting devices.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided equipment for use in carrying out the method of the first aspect, the equipment comprising a frame-shaped sealing member so adapted in shape and dimensions to the frame and the plate positioned in the frame with said gap present therebetween as to be pressable against the frame and the plate to close off the gap at an upper region thereof.

Preferably, the equipment comprises a further sealing member so adapted in shape and dimensions to the frame and the plate positioned in the frame with said gap present therebetween as to be pressable against the frame and the plate to downwardly close off the gap. In this case, the further or lower sealing member can take over a sealing function insofar as the construction of the frame permits this. Thus, the possibility exists of pressing the lower sealing member onto the gap region between plate underside and frame so that a further, separate sealing element can be dispensed with in this region.

In one embodiment, the further sealing member is so engageable with the underside of the plate at a spacing from the periphery thereof and with the frame as to bound a space extending under the plate. Consequently, a hollow space does not need to be present at the frame side for the final arresting of the plate. After the introduction and hardening of the sealing material, the plate is held in the solidified material and thus firmly connected with the frame solely through the moulded shape defined by the further sealing member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooker hob comprising a hob plate mounted in a surrounding frame by a method of the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the frame comprises a substantially horizontal base portion or frame limb which engages behind the plate rim and together with a shaped-on support limb serves for support of the plate and formation of the chamber for the sealing material. In this case, an injection or inlet opening and a rising or outlet opening are provided, preferably at diametrally opposite places, whereby the flowable sealing material is introduced under pressure through the injection opening into the chamber until it issues from the rising opening so as to signal complete filling of the chamber. This filling operation can be fully automatic, for example through arrangement of a switch in the region of the rising opening, on the actuation of which by outflowing material the injection operation is terminated.

The flow process can be facilitated if the frame limb is rounded off in the corner region.

It has been mentioned that a further sealing member, for example of resilient material, can be used for sealing off the gap at the plate underside but if this is not readily possible in view of the construction of the frame, a surrounding sealing element can be fastened to that side of the support limb which faces the plate. This sealing element can be constructed in the shape of, for example, a hose or bead and serve mainly for the purpose of sealing off the gap region between the plate underside and the frame during the injection operation. This sealing element can also be arranged so as to be able to hold the plate in a predetermined setting relative to the frame after the laying of the plate in the frame and during the filling operation.Thus, for example, the sealing element can have a concave surface so that a suction effect arises on compression thereof between plate and sealing element. Alternatively, a support limb or limbs with an adhesive coating adhering to the underside of the plate can be provided, for example in corner regions of the frame.

With advantage, a heater element, preferably an electric heater wire or layer, is arranged in the gap between the frame and plate. This heater element is surrounded after the introduction of the sealing material, whereafter the solidification process can take place by, for example, application of voltage to the heater element. This can be carried out without changing the position of the hob or removal of it from a manufacturing jig. It is also possible to provide the sealing member or members with an integrated heater which can be switched on after the introduction of the sealing material so that the hardening process takes place immediately after the filling operation. In either case, advantages derive from avoidance of the need to transport the frame and plate to a hardening plant.

Examples of the method and embodiments of the equipment and cooker hob of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view, on the line I-I of Fig. 4, of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a first method exemplifying the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but on the line ll-ll of Fig. 4 and showing additional parts of the hob and equipment; Figure 3 is a view, to an enlarged scale, of part of the cooker hob of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a frame of the cooker hob of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a second method exemplifying the invention; ; Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a part of a cooker hob frame modified compared with that of Fig. 4; Figure 7 is a plan view of the frame part of Fig. 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a third method exemplifying the invention, additionally showing alternative forms of part of the frame; Figure 9 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a fourth method exemplifying the invention; Figure 10 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a fifth method exemplifying the invention; Figure 11 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a sixth method exemplifying the invention;; Figure 12 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a seventh method exemplifying the invention; Figure 13 is a sectional view of the hob part of Fig. 1 2 on completion of manufacture; Figure 14 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by an eighth method exemplifying the invention; Figure 15 is a sectional view of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a ninth method exemplifying the invention; and Figures 1 6A to 1 6D are sectional views of part of a cooker hob and equipment for manufacture thereof by a tenth method exemplifying the invention, showing four successive operating steps of the method.

Referring now to be drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 part of a cooker hob which comprises a surrounding rectangular frame 1 of, for example, aluminium extrusions, a glass ceramic plate 2, radiant heater elements (not shown) at the underside of the plate 2, and optionally also a lower cover (not shown). The frame 1 has a substantially double-L profile in cross-section with a vertical base limb 3, a horizontal, peripheral and likewise surrounding support web 4, a horizontal surrounding frame web 5 and an upwardly projecting support limb 6. The finished cooker hob is supported by the underside of the support web 4 on the rim of a cut-out of a worktop with the interposition of a seal. The plate 2 bears on the support limb 6. Thus, a gap 7 with a horizontal portion 7a and a vertical portion 7b is formed between the frame 1 and the plate rim (Fig. 3b).The gap is filled completely by a sealing material 12, preferably by a two-component adhesive substance, which has the task of mechanically connecting the plate 2 firmly with the frame 1 and sealing off the gap so that, for example, moisture cannot enter. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame 1, from which can be seen the support web 4, the frame limb 5 and the support limb 6. As Figs. 2 and 4 show, a stub pipe 8 with a filling opening 9 is formed on the limb 5 in a corner of the frame 1, the opening 9 having a conical cross-section and being connectible, by pressing, with the connecting nozzle 10 of an injection tool. A rising opening 11 is disposed in the limb 5 at the diametrally opposite corner of the frame.The sealing material 12, which is initially capable of flow, is introduced under pressure through the opening 9 into the gap 7 until this material issues from the opening 11, whereby it is signalled that the entire gap has been filled.

The direction of flow is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. In order to prevent the material 1 2 from issuing out of the gap, the gap opening between the plate edge 2a and the limb 3 of the frame 1 is closed off all round by a sealing member 1 3 of equipment for use in performance of the method, which sealing member in plan also has the shape of a frame and consists of resilient material with closed surface. The member 1 3 is pressed by a rigid pressure plate 14 over the gap region in arrow direction, wherein the surface of the member 1 3 projects slightly convexly into the gap 7b due to the resilience of the sealing member material. A shape 1 5 which is slightly bowed downwardly is thus formed at the top of the gap, as Fig. 3 shows particularly clearly.In order to prevent the issue of the sealing material 1 2 out of the gap between the limb 6 and the plate underside, there is provided a second sealing member 1 6 which can, for example, also consist of resilient material. This, also frame-shaped, sealing member 1 6 has a profile corresponding to the external profile of the limbs 5 and 6 and a pressure projection 1 7 by which the sealing member 1 6-pressed by a second rigid pressure plate 1 8 in arrow direction-bears against the underside of the plate 2.As is indicated by a C-shaped line in Fig. 1, the two pressure plates 14 and 1 8 with the sealing wedges 1 3 and 1 6 are components of equipment into which the individual parts of the cooker hob are laid and clamped. As Fig. 2 shows, the pressure plate 1 8 has openings 1 9 and 20 in the region of the openings 9 and 11 and corresponding openings 21 and 22 are provided at these places in the sealing member 1 6. In this manner, the gap 7 is completely closed off, with the exception of the openings 9 and 11, so that a chamber is formed. The flowable sealing material 1 2 is now introduced under pressure through the opening 9 into the chamber until this material issues from the opening 11.Subsequently, the material 1 2 is subjected to an increased temperature of, for example, 1 50 C and hardened, for example over about 20 minutes. There results a complete filling of the chamber and a clean termination of the upper gap opening at the portion 7b. Fig. 3 shows that a clean and continuous transition is present from the slightly bevelled plate edge 2a and to the frame part lying slightly thereabove. Subse quent cleaning of the plate surface 2a is not required, since the resilient material of the sealing member 1 3 presses very closely against the transition edges of the plate 2 and frame 1 and does not leave any gaps.

A metallic layer 1 3a can be provided in the region of the surface of the sealing member 1 3 defining the shape 1 5, so as to prevent adhesion of the resilient material of the member 13 to the sealing material 1 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a variant of a frame 1'.

To be recognised in this case are a space 7' and a surrounding support shoulder 23 for a plate (not shown) layable into the space 7'. A horizontal wall 24 is disposed lower than the support shoulder 23 and an encircling, deepened groove 25 is disposed between the well 24 and the shoulder 23. The walls defining the space 7', inclusive of the groove 25 and shoulder 23, are rounded off in the corner regions in the manner shown in Fig. 7 and a filling opening 9', which opens into the groove 25, is again disposed in the corner region. In this manner, the flow of sealing material into the space 7' is improved.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a T-section frame 26 is provided with a support web 27 and with a further web 28 which at the upper side engages over and covers the rim of the plate 2. A support limb for the plate 2 is not provided. Instead, at the inward sides of two pressure plates 14 and 1 8 the equipment for use in manufacturing the hob comprises a resilient sealing member 29, which is of substantially. L-shaped cross-section according to the course of the web 28 and plate surface and which seals off the gap between the underside of the web 28 and the plate surface, and a further sealing member 30, one surface of which is obliquely inclined and which resiliently bears against the vertical part of the frame 26 on the one hand and against the underside of the plate 2 at a spacing from its edge on the other hand.In this manner there is formed a chamber which extends behind the plate rim and is downwardly bounded by the sealing member 30. The sealing member 30 has a filling opening 31 and a rising opening (not shown). After the pressing together of the frame 26 and plate 2 between the pressure plates 14 and 18, flowable sealing material is introduced under pressure through the opening 31 into the chamber and subsequently hardened. As will be explained in connection with the following embodiments, it is advantageous if heater elements are provided in the sealing member itself or in the chamber, so that the sealing material can be hardened with the frame and plate in situ in the equipment. In this case, the plate rim is surrounded by hardened seal ing material and thereby firmly connected with the frame.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the frame is so constructed that a lower sealing member is superfluous. In the embodiment according to Fig. 8, the upwardly open gap between the frame 32 and the plate edge 2a is again sealed and closed off by a resilient sealing member 1 3. In place of a lower sealing member, the frame 32 has a horizontal frame limb 33 with a vertical web 35 carrying a sealing element 34a, 34b or 34c. The sealing element is provided at its underside with a groove, for example 34c', and is pressable and thereby fastenable by this groove onto the vertical web 35. The sealing element 34a has the shape of a mushroom head and the sealing element 34b a hat shape.The sealing element 34c at the upper side has a concave, resilient support and suction surface 36, which on pressing against the plate 2 sucks firmly against the underside thereof and thus, during assembly. holds the plate 2 in a predetermined setting.

Support projections 37, which are provided with an adhesive coating 38 adhering to the underside of the plate 2, can be provided alternatively or additionally for plate fixing, for example at the four corners of the frame 32.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, the frame 39 also has a horizontal frame limb 40 with an upwardly projecting support limb 41, in which a hose-shaped surrounding sealing element 42 or an adhesive tape or the like is located.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 10, the frame 32' is similar to the frame 32 according to Fig. 8 and has a sealing element 34a at a frame limb 33 and adhesive elements 38 on several support projections 37, arranged for example diagonally, for fixing the plate 2. A surrounding heater member 43, which consists of a material with good thermal conductivity, for example aluminium, and in its interior contains a resistance heater 44, serves for performance of the hardening process after the introduction of the sealing material into the hollow space between the frame 32' and the plate 2. An insulation member 45 is disposed between the heater member 43 and the pressure plate 1 8.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 11, a heater element is arranged in the hollow space between the frame 32' and the plate 2.

Direct heating of the sealing material 1 2 takes place and the heater element remains in the cooker hob after the hardening process. The heater element can be constructed in the form of a sheathed heater wire 46 with electrical connections 47 or in the form of a heater layer 48 providing resistance heating, the layer being printed on the underside of the plate 2.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 2 and 13, the frame 49, which is connected with the plate 2 in the described manner, is provided at the underside of its surrounding support web 50 with a seal 51 which is of zig-zag sectional shape and which supports the cooker hob on a worktop into which it is inserted. For the formation of this seal 51 the equipment with the pressure plates 14 and 52 is provided underneath the support web 50 with an additional surrounding sealing member wedge 53, which is, for example, resilient and which is pressed against the underside of the web 50.This sealing member 53 is so constructed that it downwardly bounds a chamber or hollow space with a zigzag sectional shape according to the sealing profile shown in Fig. 1 3. The pressure plate 52 has a profiling adapted to the frame shape and a support arm 54 for the additional sealing member 53. The member 53 has a funnel-like filling opening 55 as well as a rising opening (not shown) so that the sealing material can be introduced under pressure into the hollow space by, for example, injection.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 15, a common sealing member 57 is provided for sealing the gap 7 between the frame 56 and the plate 2 and for defining the hollow space for the rim seal 51. A filling opening 59 is provided in a horizontal limb 58 of the frame 56, whilst in the vertical part of the frame 56 preferably several connecting channels 60 are formed to interconnect the gap and the aforementioned hollow space in terms of flow. For the filling of both the gap and the hollow space with sealing material, only a single injection operation is necessary. Thus, the gap seal in the region between the frame and plate and the rim seal 51 are produced in a single operating step.

Use of the concept of simultaneous filling of several hollow spaces is also made in the embodiment according to Fig. 14. In this embodiment, the rear side of the frame 61 is flat and possesses a horizontal limb 62 with support limbs 63 for the plate 2, a vertical part 64, a slightly obliquely inclined limb 65 with an insertion groove or recess 66 for a designation strip 67, and an obliquely inclined support web 68. A vertical frame part 69, which is provided with several connecting channels 70, extends down from the frame limb 65. A lower sealing member 71 is so constructed that hollow spaces 72, 73 and 74 are formed at the underside of the limb 65, at both sides of the frame part 69 and underneath the support web 68, wherein the hollow space 74 is again bounded by a zig-zag surface of the sealing member 71.Several connecting channels 70 are also disposed in the part 64 so that all hollow spaces are connected one with the other in terms of flow inclusive of the gap or hollow space 7 between the frame 61 and the plate 2. Additionally, these hollow spaces are connected through connecting channels 75 in the region of the limb 65 with the groove 66 for the designation strip 67, which groove is closed off upwardly by the strip 67 and the resilient sealing member 76 shaped in accordance with the frame profile. This sealing member 76 also serves for sealing off of the gap between the frame and the plate edge. The flowable sealing material is forced into the gap 7, and thereby into all remaining hollow spaces, by way of a filling opening 77 in the limb 62 and in the sealing member 71. These hollow spaces are filled and the zig-zag sectioned rim seal is formed underneath the web 68.Simultaneously, the strip 67 is firmly connected with the frame through filling of the groove 66 with the sealing material, so that further fastening elements are not needed.

Whilst the sealing material 1 2 was introduced under pressure into the hollow spaces in the case of the preceding embodiments, the introduction of the sealing material takes place free of pressure in the case of the embodiment of Figs. 1 6A to 16D. In this case, initially, the flowable sealing material 1 2 is introduced free of pressure into a trough 78 of the frame 79 according to Fig. 16A, the frame 79 again possessing a horizontal limb 80 with a sealing element 81 and a support limb 82. After introduction of the material 12, the plate 2 is laid into the frame so as to be supported on the sealing element 81 (Fig.

16B). The gap between the plate edge 2a and the frame 79 is now closed off by the surrounding sealing member 1 3, which is component of the equipment with the two pressure plates 14 and 18. After the pressing together of the pressure plates, the device is turned 180 from the setting of Fig. 1 6C into the setting of Fig. 16D. The sealing material 1 2 now flows out of the trough 78 and into the gap between the plate edge 2a and the frame and between frame limb 80 and plate underside, whereby the entire gap region between plate 2 and frame 79 is sealed off.

It is, of course, possible to modify the method as well as the equipment for use in performance of the method. Thus, for example, at least the sealing member covering the upper gap rim can be constructed, for example, as a roller or as a member displaceable in the course of the method so that only a partial hollow space is created, into which the sealing material is then introduced in stages, for example by means of a movable filling or injection device. Moreover, different possibilities exist for obtaining a clean sealing surface in the region of the upper gap. Thus, the sealing member can be provided at least at this place with a lining which prevents adhesion of the sealing material to the sealing member. This lining can consist of a metallic material, for example aluminium. The possibility also exists of arranging a separate antiadhesion film between the sealing member and gap.

Claims (46)

1. A method of mounting a cooker hob plate in a surrounding frame, comprising the steps of causing the hob plate to be so positioned in the frame that a gap is present between the frame and the rim of the plate, closing off the gap by at least one sealing member so as to form a chamber, introducing a flowable adhesive and sealing material into the gap and causing or allowing the material to solidify thereby to sealingly connect the plate to the frame.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of solidifying the material comprises heating the material.

3. A method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the step of introducing comprises feeding the material under pressure into the chamber.

4. A method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the step of introducing comprises feeding the material into a space adjacent to the gap prior to the closing off step and inverting the frame and plate after the closing off step to cause the material to flow into the gap.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material is a two-component adhesive substance.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing off step comprises pressing said at least one sealing member against at least one of the plate and the frame.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one sealing member is resiliently pressed against the plate, the frame or the plate and frame.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one sealing member comprises resilient material and is so pressed against the plate and the frame as to convexly project into the gap between the frame and plate rim, solidification of the material taking place without adhesion to the sealing member.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises a peripheral support flange and the method comprises the additional steps of forming a further chamber at the underside of the flange by means of a sealing member, introducing a flowable adhesive and sealing material into the further chamber, and causing or allowing the material in the further chamber to solidify thereby to form a sealing body at the underside of the flange.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is provided at an upper side thereof with a recess and the method comprises the additional steps of closing the recess by insertion therein of a strip so as to form a chamber below the strip, introducing a flowable adhesive and sealing material into the chamber below the strip and causing or allowing the material in the chamber below the strip to solidify thereby to fix the strip in the recess.

11. A method as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the step of introducing the material into the further chamber or the chamber below the strip, as the case may be, is carried out by an injection process.

1 2. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the chambers are interconnected by connecting channels.

1 3. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A method substantially as herein be fore described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A method substantially as herein be fore described with reference to Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 12 and 1 3 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 5 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 6A to 1 6D of the accompanying drawings.

24. Equipment for use in carrying out the method claimed in claim 1, comprising a frame-shaped sealing member so adapted in shape and dimensions to the frame and the plate positioned in the frame with said gap present therebetween as to be pressable against the frame and the plate to close off the gap at an upper region thereof.

25. Equipment as claimed in claim 24, comprising a further sealing member so adapted in shape and dimensions to the frame and the plate positioned in the frame with said gap present therebetween as to be pressable against the frame and the plate to downwardly close off the gap.

26. Equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the further sealing member is so engageable with the underside of the plate at a spacing from the periphery thereof and with the frame as to bound a space extending under the plate.

27. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the sealing member or one of the sealing members, as the case may be, is provided in one region thereof with an inlet opening to enable introduction of the adhesive and sealing material into the gap and in another region thereof with an outlet opening.

28. Equipment as claimed in claim 27, wherein said other region is the region most distant from said one region.

29. Equipment as claimed in either claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the sealing member with said openings is provided with a heating element.

30. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the first-mentioned sealing member comprises a body of resilient material provided with a layer of material resistant to adhesion of said adhesive and sealing material to the member.

31. Equipment as claimed in claim 30, wherein the adhesion-resistant material is a metallic material.

32. Equipment as claimed in claim 24 and substantially as hereinbefore described in connection with the method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 23.

33. A cooker hob comprising a hob plate mounted in a surrounding frame by the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23.

34. A cooker hob comprising a hob plate mounted in a surrounding frame by the method claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a base portion which extends under the plate at a spacing therefrom to downwardly bound the gap and which is provided with a support limb for the plate.

35. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 34, wherein said frame base portion is provided with at least one inlet opening for the adhesive and sealing material and with at least one outlet opening.

36. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 35, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular in shape and said at least one inlet opening and said at least one outlet opening are each disposed at a respective one of two diametrically opposite corners of the frame.

37. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 36, wherein said frame base portion is rounded in the region of the frame corners.

38. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein the support limb is provided with a sealing element engaging the underside of the plate.

39. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 38, wherein the sealing element comprises resilient material and has a concave surface so engaging the plate at extremities of the surface as to cause the plate and the element to be maintained in contact by suction effect.

40. A cooker hob as claimed in either claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the sealing element is provided at a side thereof remote from the plate with a groove receiving the support limb thereby to mount the element on the limb.

41. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein the support limb is provided with an adhesive layer adhering to the underside of the plate.

42. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 41, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular in shape and a plurality of such support limbs are arranged in at least some of the corner regions of the frame.

43. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 42, comprising a heater element arranged in the gap.

44. A cooker hob as claimed in claim 43, wherein the heater element is an electric heating wire or layer.

45. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 44, wherein the plate comprises glass ceramic material.

46. A cooker hob as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 45, comprising heating elements arranged below the plate.