WO2009083389A1

WO2009083389A1 - A cooktop

Info

Publication number: WO2009083389A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/066955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cemalettin Kalayci; Onder Fesligil
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-12-31
Filing date: 2008-12-06
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: EP2238390A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cook top (1) comprising a glass - ceramic upper plate (2) disposed on the top portion, a frame (4) whereon the upper plate (2) is mounted, a lower plate (5) supporting the frame (4) and the upper plate (2), a heater (6) mounted between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5) and a casing (7) wherein the heater (6) is emplaced maintaining the assembly of the heater (6) between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5), and a support member (12) pushing the casing (7) upwards by means of springs (10) thereby pressing on the glass - ceramic upper plate (2) from below.

Description

A COOKTOP

[0001] The present invention relates to a cook top that comprises heaters which are enabled to be assembled easily.

[0002] In state of the art implementations, one or more heaters are provided in the cook tops. The heaters are mounted on the lower casing of the cook top by welding on to the casing or attaching to helical or leaf springs fastened by screws. In particularly the cook tops comprising a glass-ceramic top plate, the heaters should abut against the glass plate above for preventing heat loss, however cannot be adhered to the glass since the temperature is too high. Therefore, the heater is pushed against the glass by the force of the spring on the lower casing. Since the distance between the glass ceramic upper plate and the lower plate is limited, problems arise in the assembly and functioning of the springs pushing the heater to the upper plate, the heating elements cannot be supported properly and the heating elements can come loose during transportation and use.

[0003] In the Patent Document No US6207934, in a cook top having a glass ceramic panel, an installation shoulder used in supporting the heater elements is explained.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cook top comprising a glass-ceramic upper plate wherein the assembly conditions of the heater contacting under the upper plate is enhanced.

[0005] The cook top realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0006] The cook top comprises a glass-ceramic upper plate, a frame disposed under the upper plate and a lower plate whereon the frame is seated and the heaters inside casings are emplaced in the space between the upper plate and lower plate. The cook top of the present invention comprises a support member produced of a single piece metal sheet, extending diagonally between the frame arms and maintaining the heater casing to be positioned under the upper plate and suspended between the frame arms. [0007] Springs are provided at the ends of the support member and the casing is pushed towards the upper plate by means of the springs. The strap shaped body of the support member maintains the casing to be held suspended between the frame arms and to be supported from below by contacting the base of the heater casing longitudinally.

[0008] The support member comprises spring extensions formed by bending the ends of the springs at both ends to be attached to the side support wall of the casing and protrusions formed by cutting and bending (puncturing) the portions of the springs before the bends for fastening to the frame arms.

[0009] Housings are provided on the side support wall of the casing wherein the spring extensions are seated and the support member is attached to the casing by means of the spring extensions and the housings.

[0010] Frame holes are provided on the frame arms wherein the protrusions are fitted. The support member is attached to the frame by the protrusions arranged thereon and the frame holes.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the springs disposed at the ends of the support member are U shaped.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the springs disposed at the ends of the support member are S shaped.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, in the frame, frame holes are provided on each frame arm, vertical to each other whereto the casing is attached by the support member, arranged in a row in the direction of the frame arms, so that the casings containing the heaters of different shapes and sizes can be supported. The support member is fitted to the suitable frame holes lined up on the frame arms around the casing by means of the frame protrusions so that the heater casings of various sizes mounted between the frame arms can be supported.

[0014] The cook top realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0015] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cook top.

[0016] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the heaters and the support members on the lower plate of a cook top.

[0017] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of a heater and the casing wherein the heater is emplaced. [0018] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of a heater mounted between the frame arms of the cook top by means of the support member. [0019] Figure 5 - is the schematic section view of detail A in Figure 4. [0020] Figure 6 - is the schematic perspective view of a heater mounted by means of the support member fitted to the frame holes. [0021] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a support member having U shaped springs at the end portions. [0022] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of a support member having S shaped springs at the end portions. [0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cook top

2. Upper plate

3. Frame arm

4. Frame

5. Lower plate

6. Heater

7. Casing

8. Base

9. Side support wall

10. Spring

11. Body

12. Support member

13. Spring extension

14. Protrusion

15. Housing

16. Frame hole

[0024] The cook top (1) comprises a glass-ceramic upper plate (2) disposed on the top portion, a frame (4) having four frame arms (3) arranged on its periphery, whereon the upper plate (2) is mounted, a lower plate (5) supporting the frame (4) and the upper plate (2), a heater (6) mounted between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5) and a casing (7) wherein the heater (6) is emplaced, maintaining the assembly of the heater (6) between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5). [0025] The casing (7) comprises a base (8) on the lower side thereof, whereon the heater (6) is seated and a side support wall (9) forming an outward step on its perimeter. [0026] The cook top (1) of the present invention comprises a support member

(12)

- produced of a single piece metal sheet,

- fastened from both ends to two frame arms (3) joining at the corner of the frame (4) and extending diagonally between the frame arms (3),

- having two springs (10) at both ends, formed by bending the ends thereof fastened to the frame arms (3), maintaining the casing (7) to press on the upper plate (2) from below by pushing the side support wall (9) upwards, and a strap shaped body (11), joining the springs (10), contacting the base (8) almost all along the length by extending from one side of the base (8) to the other and holding the casing (7) under the upper plate (2), suspended between two frame arms (3) joined to each other and supporting the casing (7) from below.

[0027] While the cook top (1) is produced, the upper plate (2) and the frame (4) are adhered to each other with e.g. silicon and then turned upside down, then the casing (7) containing the heaters (6) therein are fastened to the frame arms (3) by means of the support member (12). After the casing (7) is emplaced in the specified position on the upside down upper plate (2) between two frame arms (3), the support member (12) is disposed on the base (8) and the springs (10) at the ends of the support member (12) are fastened to the frame (4) and the casing (7). Afterwards, the group formed by the upper plate (2), frame (4), casings (7) and the support member (12) is turned upside down and emplaced on the lower plate (5).

[0028] The support member (12) comprises two spring extensions (13) at the ends of the springs (10) for attaching thereof to the side support wall (9) and two protrusions (14) situated at the portion of the springs (10) joined with the body (11) prior to the bend for fastening to the frame arms (3).

[0029] The spring extension (13) is formed by bending the ends of the springs

(10) and the protrusion (14) is formed by cutting and bending (puncturing) the portions of the springs (10) joined with the body (11) prior to the bend.

[0030] The casing (7) comprises more than one housing (15) disposed on the side support wall (9) thereof wherein the extensions (13) are seated, and the support member (12) is fastened to the casing (7) by means of the spring extensions (13) and the housings (15).

[0031] The frame (4) comprises more than one frame hole (16) arranged on the frame arms (3) wherein the protrusions (14) are seated. The support member (12) is attached to the frame (4) by means of the protrusions (14) disposed on the support member (12) and the frame holes (16).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the support member (12) comprises springs (10) formed by bending the ends in a U shape (Figure 7).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the support member (12) comprises springs (10) formed by bending the ends in an S shape (Figure 8).

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the frame (4) comprises frame holes (16) on each frame arm (3) vertical to each other whereto the casing (7) is attached by the support member (12), arranged in a row in the direction of the frame arms (3) so that the casings (7) containing the heaters (6) of different shapes and sizes can be supported.

[0035] The support member (12) is fitted to the suitable frame holes (16) arranged in a row on the frame arms (3) around the casing (7) so that the casings (7) of various sizes attached between the frame arms (3) can be supported by means of the frame protrusions (14) and accordingly the body (11) adjusts the position of the support member (12) to extend from one side to the other, contacting the base (8) in accordance with the variable casing (7) dimensions. The body (11) of the support member (12) enables the casing (7) to be supported from below against loads in a balanced manner by passing from the center of the base (8) or a point near the center.

[0036] In the cook top (1) of the present invention, the casing (7) wherein the heater (6) is contained is pressed towards the upper plate (2), supported from below in the possible minimum distance between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5), the requirements for increasing the distance between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5) and using assembly apparatus that take up much space is eliminated for supplying the necessary pressing force, and thereby the need for an operation on the lower plate (5) to secure the support member (12) is not required since the support member (12) is mounted to the frame (4) by means of the springs (10) at its ends. The support member (12) is made up of a single piece and single-handedly provides the support that can be supplied by a multi-piece apparatus, for example by only three or four separate spring assembly apparatuses around the casing (7), thereby maintaining advantage in material and labor costs.

Claims

1. A cook top (1) comprising a glass - ceramic upper plate (2) disposed on the top portion, a frame (4) having four frame arms (3) arranged on its periphery, whereon the upper plate (2) is mounted, a lower plate (5) supporting the frame (4) and the upper plate (2), a heater (6) mounted between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5) and a casing (7) wherein the heater (6) is emplaced maintaining the assembly of the heater (6) between the upper plate (2) and the lower plate (5), having a base (8) on the lower side thereof, whereon the heater (6) is seated and a horizontal side support wall (9) forming an outward step on its perimeter and characterized by a support member (12)

- produced of a single piece metal sheet,

- having two springs (10) at both ends, formed by bending the ends thereof fastened to the frame arms (3), maintaining the casing (7) to press on the upper plate (2) from below by pushing the side support wall (9) upwards, and a strap shaped body (11), joining the springs (10), contacting the base (8) almost all along its length by extending from one side of the base (8) to the other and holding the casing (7) under the upper plate (2), suspended between two frame arms (3) joined to each other.

2. A cook top (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the support member (12) comprising two spring extensions (13) at the ends of the springs (10) for attaching thereof to the side support wall (9) and two protrusions (14) situated at the portion of the springs (10) joined with the body (11) before the bend for fastening to the frame arms (3).

3. A cook top (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the casing (7) comprising more than one housing (15) disposed on the side support wall (9) wherein the extensions (13) are seated, and enabling the support member (12) to be fastened by means of the spring extensions (13) and the housings (15).

4. A cook top (1) as in Claims 2 and 3, characterized by the frame (4) comprising more than one frame hole (16) arranged on the frame arms (3) wherein the protrusions (14) are seated and enabling the support member (12) to be attached by means of the protrusions (14) disposed on the support member (12) and the frame holes (16).

5. A cook top (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the support member (12) comprising springs (10) formed by bending the ends in a U shape.

6. A cook top (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by the support member (12) comprising springs (10) formed by bending the ends in a S shape.

7. A cook top (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the frame (4) comprising frame holes (16) on each frame arm (3) vertical to each other, arranged in a row in the direction of the frame arms (3) and enabling the support member (12) to be fitted to the suitable frame holes (16) lined up on the frame arms (3).