GB2392363A

GB2392363A - Triangular oven

Info

Publication number: GB2392363A
Application number: GB0219783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sebastian Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-21
Filing date: 2002-08-21
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: GB0219783D0

Abstract

An oven which takes the form of a triangular prism, so as to make more efficient use of space. The oven may be a microwave oven, a conventional oven or a hybrid oven with both microwave and conventional cooking elements. The hypotenuse face of the oven may be curved to increase the size of circular dish that can be stored in the oven. The door may be hinged vertically or horizontally and may be formed on a vertical or horizontal surface.

Description

J - 1 DEVICE

This invention relates to ovens and in particular to microwave ovens.

Microwave ovens, table top conventional ovens and hybrid ovens comprising two or more of microwave ovens, electric grills, conventional ovens are well known devices that are readily available from high street retailers. Such ovens 10 are conventionally rectangular in shape and tend to occupy a significant area of a work counter or a table.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an oven comprising the form of a substantially 15 triangular prism. This advantageously enables the oven to be located at the corner of a surface, such as a table or worktop, without occupying the same area as a conventional oven with a rectangular footprint. This is of particular importance as smaller sized dwellings become more 20 prevalent, especially for those who are purchasing or renting their first property or those living alone.

Preferably, the oven is a microwave oven, although it may be a conventional oven or a hybrid oven combining both 25 microwave and conventional oven structure and functionality. The oven door may be located on one of the vertical faces of the oven and is preferably located on the hypotenuse face of the oven. The oven door may be hinged on a vertical edge, but preferably the door is 30 hinged on a horizontal edge. This provides the advantage

- 2 that a smaller area need be kept clear in order to open the door. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the door may be located on one of the horizontal faces of the oven, preferably the uppermost 5 horizontal surface. This further reduces the area that needs to be kept clear in order to open the door. The hypotenuse face of the oven may be curved.

The cooking elements may be arranged within a cavity 10 disposed adjacent to a main cooking cavity of the oven.

The cavity may be next to and parallel to a vertical face of the oven or it may be next to and parallel to a horizontal face of the oven. It is preferred to dispose the cavity next to and parallel to a vertical face of the 15 oven as this provides a smaller oven footprint.

The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures: 20 Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of an oven according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of an oven according to a second embodiment of the present 25 invention; and Figure 3 shows a schematic depiction of an oven according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 30 Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a plan view of a

device according to the present invention. Oven 100 has the form of a substantially triangular prism. Oven 100 comprises vertical planes 104a, 104c and 104d. Plane 104a is the hypotenuse of the triangular prism and planes 104c and 104d are arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular. In a preferred embodiment the horizontal lengths of planes 104c and 104d are substantially equal.

Oven 100 further comprises upper horizontal plane 104b and lower horizontal plane 104e.

The triangular footprint of the oven enables it to be placed adjacent to the corner of a wall or work unit whilst occupying a smaller area than a conventional rectangular oven (assuming that the length of the sides of 15 the oven are similar). The oven may be a conventional oven, a microwave oven or a hybrid oven encompassing both microwave and conventional oven structures and functionality. 20 On a conventional oven, the oven door tends to be located on one of the larger vertical planes. Oven 100 may have the door located on plane 104a, with the door being hinged on vertical edge 102a or 102c. Alternatively, to reduce the amount of worktop area that must be left clear in 25 order to allow unhindered opening of the door, the door can be hinged on either horizontal edge 102b or 102d. In a further alternative, the door may be located on horizontal plane 104b, with the door being hinged either on horizontal edge 102e or 102f. This arrangement 30 advantageously enables the area of the work surface

- 4 - adjacent to the oven to be used without needing to keep the area clear in order to be able to open the oven door.

Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a second 5 embodiment of the present invention in which the oven 100 further comprises a cavity 110 that is formed beneath the main cooking cavity 106 of the oven. Within cavity 110 are located, for an oven that comprises microwave cooking capabilities, the magnetron, microwave stirrer and the lo necessary control and power circuits required for the functioning of a microwave oven. For an oven with conventional cooking capabilities, the heating element(s), fan, and associated control and power circuits may be located within cavity 110. A plurality of input devices 15 112, such as pressure sensitive buttons and one or more display elements may be provided on the lower region of face 104a.

Alternatively, the cavity 110, the elements required for 20 cooking and the associated circuits may be located above the main cooking cavity 106. This arrangement would enable the inclusion of a grill but would prevent the oven door being located on horizontal plane 104b.

25 Cavity 110, along with the cooking elements and associated circuitry may be located in a vertical plane, that is parallel to and adjacent to either vertical plane 104c or 104d. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that this will increase the 'footprint' of the oven, reducing the 30 space efficiency that the triangular form of the oven

- 5 - provides. Figure 3 shows a schematic depiction of a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention. The plane 104a 5 of the oven is replaced by a curved convex plane. This provides a greater space within which a circular turntable may be located (enabling plates or dishes of a greater size to be placed within the oven for cooking). The curvature of plane 104a may take any form of convex curve, 10 but preferably takes the form of a flattened-off circular segment.

Claims

1. An oven comprising the form of a substantially 5 triangular prism.

2. An oven according to claim 1, wherein the oven is a microwave oven.

10 3. An oven according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the oven is a conventional oven.

4. An oven according to any preceding claim, wherein the oven door is located on one of the vertical faces of the 15 oven 5. An oven according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oven door is located on one of the horizontal faces of the oven.

6. An oven according to claim 4 wherein the oven door is located on the hypotenuse face of the oven.

7. An oven according to any preceding claim wherein the 25 oven door is hinged on a vertical edge.

8. An oven according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the door is hinged on a horizontal edge.

30 9. An oven according to any preceding claim wherein the

hypotenuse face of the oven is curved.

10. An oven as substantially described hereinbefore and with reference to Figures 1 to 3.