ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR A PANEL ASSEMBLY OF AN APPLIANCE

Abstract

An oven appliance including a plurality of sidewalls defining a cooking chamber within a cabinet; a door movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively open and close the cooking chamber; a bottom panel selectively received within the cooking chamber; a panel bracket provided at a bottom of the cabinet; and an elastic member provided between the bottom panel and the panel bracket, wherein the elastic member is configured to selectively bias the bottom panel toward a front of the oven appliance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to domestic appliances, and more particularly to aligning panels within cooking appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, oven appliances include one or more heat sources to provide different styles of heating to a cooking chamber. The one or more heat sources may be provided beneath the cooking chamber, e.g., along the vertical direction, to provide heat upward through a bottom panel of the cooking chamber. The bottom panel may protect the heat source from damage due to grease or food particles from cooked items within the cooking chamber. The bottom panel may thus collect much or all of the produced contaminants from the food items. Accordingly, the bottom panel may become dirty or damaged from food stuffs, stains, or certain elements bonding with the bottom panel.

Thus, the bottom panel must be cleaned at various intervals to maintain structural integrity, improve appearance, and prevent contamination of subsequent food items cooked within the cooking chamber. Currently, users of oven appliances must reach into the cooking chamber to scrub the panel, e.g., with a cleaning solution in order to clean the cooking chamber. Further, some conventional oven appliances allow for the bottom panel to be removed for easier cleaning. However, once the panel is removed, it can be difficult to re-insert and properly align the panel within the oven cavity or cooking chamber.

Accordingly, a bottom panel for a cooking chamber of an oven appliance that allows for easier installation and removal would be beneficial. In detail, a bottom panel for a cooking chamber of an oven appliance with self-aligning features would be particularly useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include a plurality of sidewalls defining a cooking chamber within a cabinet; a door movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively open and close the cooking chamber; a bottom panel selectively received within the cooking chamber; a panel bracket provided at a bottom of the cabinet; and an elastic member provided between the bottom panel and the panel bracket, wherein the elastic member is configured to selectively bias the bottom panel toward a front of the oven appliance.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a cavity assembly for an appliance is provided. The cavity assembly may include a plurality of sidewalls defining a chamber; a bottom panel removably provided within the chamber; a panel bracket provided at a bottom of the chamber, wherein the bottom panel and the panel bracket collectively form a housing below the chamber; and an elastic member provided between the bottom panel and the panel bracket within the housing, wherein the elastic member is configured to selectively bias the bottom panel toward a front of the appliance.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front view of an oven appliance according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a side view of the exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a top perspective view of an interior cooking chamber of the exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 provides a side cross-section view of a burner housing of the exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 provides close-up cross section view of the exemplary burner housing of FIG. 4 illustrating a bottom panel flange and a rear wall flange.

FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of a panel bracket according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” In addition, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “an embodiment” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of an oven appliance 100 for heating is shown according to the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 1 provides a front view of the oven appliance 100. FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional view of the oven appliance 100 taken along the 2-2 axis shown in FIG. 1. The oven appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 101 with a cooking chamber 116 positioned therein.

The cabinet 101 may extend between a first side 140 (FIG. 1) and a second side 141 (FIG. 1) along a lateral direction L. Further, the cabinet 101 may also extend between a front 142 (FIG. 2) and a back 143 (FIG. 2) along a transverse direction T. The cabinet 101 may further extend between a top 144 and a bottom 145 along a vertical direction V. Transverse direction T is substantially perpendicular to lateral and vertical directions L. V. Thus, vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are orthogonally oriented such that vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T form an orthogonal directional system.

Moreover, the chamber 116 may include a plurality of sidewalls including opposing sidewalls 118 (FIG. 3), bottom wall 119 (described in more detail below), back wall 120, and top wall 121 that define cooking chamber 116. Bottom wall 119 and top wall 121 are spaced apart along the vertical direction V, and sidewalls 118 extend along the vertical direction V between top wall 121 and bottom wall 119. Back wall 120 extends between sidewalls 118 along the lateral direction L and also extends between top wall 121 and bottom wall 119 along the vertical direction V.

Sidewalls 118 include supports 122 (FIG. 2) for supporting oven racks 132 (FIG. 2) that may be selectively positioned within chamber 116. Oven racks 132 include a top rack 136 and a bottom rack 138. Top rack 136 is positioned above bottom rack 138 along the vertical direction V. Additional supports 122 may be provided at or near a bottom of cooking chamber 116 to support bottom wall 119, which will be described in further detail below.

The oven appliance 100 may also include a door 104 with handle 106 that provides for opening and closing access to a cooking chamber 116. A user of the oven appliance 100 can place a variety of different items to be cooked in chamber 116 onto racks 132. Heating elements 117 may be positioned at the top and the bottom of chamber 116 to provide heat for cooking and cleaning. Such heating element(s) can be e.g., gas, electric, microwave, or a combination thereof. Other heating elements (not shown) could be located at other locations as well. A window 110 on door 104 allows the user to view e.g., food items during the cooking process.

Referring to FIG. 1, the oven appliance 100 may include a user interface 102 having a display 103 positioned on top panel 114 with a variety of controls 112. In certain embodiments, the interface 102 allows the user to select various options for the operation of oven appliance 100 including e.g., temperature, time, and/or various cooking and cleaning cycles. Operation of the oven appliance 100 can be regulated by a controller 160 (FIG. 2) that is operatively coupled e.g., in communication with, user interface panel 102, heating element(s), and other components of oven appliance 100 as will be further described.

For example, in response to user manipulation of the user interface panel 102, the controller 160 can operate heating element(s). The controller 160 can receive measurements from a temperature sensor 113 (FIG. 2) placed in cooking chamber 116 and e.g., provide a temperature indication to the user with display 103. By way of example, the controller 160 may include a memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs, or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of appliance 100. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one exemplary embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.

The controller 160 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout appliance 100. Thus, the controller 160 may be located under or next to the user interface 102 or otherwise within top panel 114. In an exemplary embodiment, input/output (“I/O”) signals are routed between the controller 160 and various operational components of appliance 100 such as heating element(s), controls 112, display 103, sensor(s), alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the user interface panel 102 may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block.

Although shown with touch type controls 112, it should be understood that controls 112 and the configuration of the oven appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. More specifically, user interface 102 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface 102 may include other display components, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. The user interface 102 may be in communication with the controller 160 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. Also, the oven appliance 100 is shown as a wall oven but the present invention could also be used with other appliances such as e.g., a stand-alone oven, an oven with a stove-top, and other configurations as well.

As discussed above, the plurality of sidewalls 118 defining cooking chamber 116 may include bottom wall 119. Bottom wall 119 may be formed as a removable panel assembly 170. In detail, removable panel assembly 170 may form bottom wall 119 of cooking chamber 116, and may be removable from cabinet 101 (e.g., for cleaning, replacement, etc.). According to at least some embodiments, panel assembly 170 may be removed without the use of any tools (e.g., screwdrivers, drills, clips, etc.). Thus, panel assembly 170 may be easily inserted and removed from cabinet 101. However, according to additional or alternatively embodiments, one or more fasteners may be included to selectively fasten panel assembly 170 (e.g., to cabinet 101).

Panel assembly 170 may include a panel 172 (e.g., a bottom panel 172). Panel 172 may be formed from a first material. The first material may be the same as the plurality of sidewalls forming cooking chamber 116. In at least one embodiment, panel 172 is formed from a metal. Additionally or alternatively, panel 172 may be coated with a predetermined enamel. The predetermined enamel coating may be a waterproof coating, for example, allowing panel 172 to be easily cleaned (e.g., in a dishwasher appliance). In some embodiments, the enamel coating is a non-stick enamel coating, increasing the cleanability of panel assembly 170.

Panel 172 may include a depression 173. For instance, a central portion of panel 172 may be concave along the vertical direction V (e.g., downward along the vertical direction V) to form depression 173 therein. Panel 172 may define a front end 174 and a rear end 176 opposite the front end 174 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). For instance, when panel assembly 170 is in an installed position within cooking chamber 116, front end 174 may be proximate door 104 while rear end 176 may be proximate back wall 120.

Panel assembly 170 may include a front air deflector 190. Front air deflector 190 may be attached to panel 170. For instance, front air deflector 190 may be attached to a top surface 1721 of panel 172 and protrude generally along the vertical direction V. Further, front air deflector 190 may extend generally along the lateral direction L.

Oven appliance 100 may include a burner housing 200. In some embodiments, burner housing 200 is provided below cooking chamber 116 (e.g., under the bottom wall 119). For example, air heated in burner housing 200 may pass into cooking chamber 104 via one or more outlet ports provided in panel 170. Oven appliance 100 may include a burner 180. Burner 180 may be provided beneath the bottom wall 102 (e.g., within the burner housing 200). Burner 180 may be a gas burner (e.g., a burner using a gas fuel to create a flame to produce heat). Burner 180 may have any suitable shape, for example, cylindrical, pancake (e.g., flat), square, etc. Burner 180 may be oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the burner 112 extends in the lateral direction L.

Referring briefly to FIGS. 4 and 6, burner housing 200 may include a base plate 202 and a plurality of side plates 204. Base plate 202 may extend along the lateral direction L and the transverse direction T. For instance, base plate 202 may form a bottom of burner housing 200 (e.g., such that burner 180 and panel 172 are positioned above base plate 202 along the vertical direction V). The plurality of side plates 204 may include two lateral side plates, a front plate, and a rear plate. Each of the plurality of side plates 204 may extend from a periphery of base plate 202. In detail, the front plate may extend upward (e.g., along the vertical direction V) from a front edge of base plate 202, a first lateral side plate may extend upward (e.g., along the vertical direction V) from a first lateral side edge of base plate 202, a second lateral side plate may extend upward (e.g., along the vertical direction V) from a second lateral side edge of base plate 202 (e.g., opposite to the first lateral side edge), and the rear plate may extend upward (e.g., along the vertical direction V) from a rear edge of base plate 202. Additionally or alternatively, each of the side plates 204 may extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction V. For instance, the front plate may extend upward along the vertical direction V and forward along the transverse direction T and the rear plate may extend upward along the vertical direction V and rearward along the transverse direction T. It should be understood that the boundaries of burner housing 200 may vary according to specific embodiments, and the disclosure is not limited to the examples given herein.

According to some embodiments, the rear panel of burner housing 200 is referred to as a panel bracket 206. Panel bracket 206 may selectively interact with panel assembly 170 (e.g., panel 172). For instance, panel bracket 206 may contact panel 172 when panel assembly 170 is in the inserted position, as will be discussed further below. Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, panel bracket 206 encompasses or forms the entire burner housing 200. Oven appliance 100 may include one or more elastic members or resilient members 208. For instance, elastic member 208 may be provided within burner housing 200. Elastic member 208 may be configured to provide a resilient or biasing force along the transverse direction T.

As shown in FIG. 6, two elastic members 208 may be provided at either lateral end of burner housing 200. For instances, a first elastic member 2081 may be provided at a first end of panel bracket 206 along the lateral direction L and a second elastic member 2082 may be provided at a second end of panel bracket along the lateral direction L. Elastic members 2081 and 2082 may be springs (e.g., cantilever springs, coil springs, leaf springs, etc.). For at least one example, elastic members 2081 and 2082 are cantilever springs attached to panel bracket 206. Thus, elastic members 2081 and 2082 may be integral with panel bracket 206. In detail, elastic member 208 (e.g., first elastic member 2081 or second elastic member 2082) may include a fixed end 210 and a free end 212, such that fixed end 210 is integral with panel bracket 206.

Fixed end 210 may be bent from a portion of panel bracket 206. Fixed end 210 may be positioned laterally inward from free end 212. For instance, as shown in FIG. 6 and with reference to first elastic member 2081, fixed end 210 is positioned closer to a center of burner housing 200 than free end 212 (i.e., free end 212 is positioned adjacent to a first lateral end 2001 of burner housing 200). Similarly, with reference to second elastic member 2082, fixed end 210 is positioned closer to the center of burner housing 200 than free end 212 (i.e., free end 212 is positioned adjacent to a second lateral end 2002 of burner housing 200). Free end 212 (e.g., of either first or second elastic member 2081 or 2082) may be positioned forward (e.g., along the transverse direction T) of fixed end 210. Accordingly, elastic member 208 (e.g., first and second elastic members 2081 and 2082) may protrude toward a front of oven appliance 100.

Additionally or alternatively, elastic member 208 may protrude in a direction normal to (or perpendicular to) panel bracket 206. For instance, elastic member 208 (e.g., first and second elastic members 2081 and 2082) may be cut from panel bracket 206. As seen in FIG. 5, panel bracket 206 may extend along a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T (e.g., upward and rearward). Thus, elastic member 208 (e.g., free end 212) may protrude at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T (e.g., upward and forward, complementary to panel bracket 206). However, it should be noted that elastic member 208 may be a separate piece, such as an individual coil spring, and the disclosure is not limited to the examples given herein. Additionally or alternatively, multiple elastic members 208 may be provided (e.g., in addition to first elastic member 2081 and second elastic member 2082). For instance, a plurality of elastic members 208 may be provided along the lateral direction L of panel bracket 206.

Referring still to FIG. 5, back wall 120 may include a bottom flange 214. Bottom flange 214 may protrude from a base of back wall 120 along the transverse direction T (e.g., toward a front of oven appliance 100). Bottom flange 214 may extend along the lateral direction L from a first lateral side to a second lateral side of back wall 120 (e.g., for a lateral width of cooking chamber 116). At least a portion of bottom flange 214 may be positioned over burner housing 200 (e.g., along the vertical direction V). In detail, bottom flange 214 may be positioned over elastic member 208 along the vertical direction V. In other words, elastic member 208 may be provided below bottom flange 214 along the vertical direction V. For instance, a front edge 2141 of bottom flange 214 may be provided at a location closer to the front of oven appliance 100 than a rear edge 213 of bottom panel 172 (e.g., along the transverse direction T when panel assembly 170 is in the installed position).

According to additional or alternative embodiments, bottom panel 172 may include elastic member 208. For instance, elastic member 208 may protrude from rear edge 213 of bottom panel 172 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). In some instances, elastic member 208 is provided on each of bottom panel 172 and panel bracket 206. Further still, elastic member 208 may be a separate piece attached or connected to bottom panel 172. For instance, elastic member may be a coil spring fixed to rear edge 213 of bottom panel 172. Additionally or alternatively, elastic member 208 may be a separate spring fixed to panel bracket 208 (e.g., burner housing 200). The connection between the elastic member 208 and one or more of bottom panel 172 or panel bracket 206 may be an adhesive, a fastener, a magnet, a clip, a snap, or the like.

When panel assembly 170 is in the installed position, rear edge 213 of bottom panel 172 may be provided underneath bottom flange 214 along the vertical direction V. Referring still to FIG. 5, at least a portion of rear end 176 of panel 172 may be positioned underneath bottom flange 214. Accordingly, panel assembly 170 may be restrained along the vertical direction V by bottom flange 214 (e.g., in an upward vertical direction). Additionally or alternatively, one or more posts 216 may be provided (e.g., within or attached to burner housing 200). Bottom panel 172 may be supported upward along the vertical direction V by the one or more posts 216. Accordingly, bottom panel 172 may be restrained along the vertical direction V by each of bottom flange 214 and the one or more posts 216.

Rear edge 213 may include a horizontal portion 220 and a vertical portion 222. Horizontal portion 220 may extend along the lateral direction L and the transverse direction T (e.g., rearward along the transverse direction T from bottom panel 172). Moreover, horizontal portion 220 may be offset from top surface 1721 along the vertical direction V. As shown in FIG. 5, horizontal portion 220 is provided below top surface 1721 by a predetermined amount. Horizontal portion 220 may be parallel with top surface 1721. Vertical portion 222 may extend from a distal end of horizontal portion 220 (e.g., along the vertical direction V). For instance, vertical portion 222 may protrude downward along the vertical direction V. Vertical portion 222 may be provided along the vertical direction V and the lateral direction L. Thus, vertical portion 222 may contact elastic member 208 in an installed position.

Panel assembly 170 may be inserted into cabinet 101 such that rear edge 213 passes under bottom flange 214. Rear edge 213 may then contact elastic member 208 (e.g., first elastic member 2081 and/or second elastic member 2082). Elastic member 208 may provide a biasing force against bottom panel 172 (e.g., at rear edge 213) thus biasing or pushing bottom panel 172 along the transverse direction T toward a front of oven appliance 100. Bottom flange 214 may thus overlap at least a portion of bottom panel 172 (e.g., horizontal portion 220) along the vertical direction V for a predetermined length. For instance, between about 1% and about 3% of bottom panel 172 may be positioned under bottom flange 214 along the vertical direction V.

Panel assembly 170 may be fixed upon being inserted to the installed position. For instance, when bottom panel 172 is positioned against elastic member 208 and below bottom flange 214, front end 174 of bottom panel 172 may be positioned against a front wall 204 of burner housing 200. According to some embodiments, front end 174 is provided adjacent to door 104 (e.g., adjacent to a door jamb or gasket). In some instances, front end 174 contacts a front flange extending inward from cabinet 101 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). Panel assembly 170 may be attached to oven appliance 100 via one or more fasteners 218. As shown in FIG. 4, fastener 218 may be provided at front end 174 of bottom panel 172. Additionally or alternatively, fastener 218 may selectively attached bottom panel 172 to burner housing 200 at a front end thereof. Advantageously, a user may easily access fastener 218 to remove panel assembly 170 from cabinet 101.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. An oven appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the oven appliance comprising: a plurality of sidewalls defining a cooking chamber within a cabinet;a door movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively open and close the cooking chamber;a bottom panel selectively received within the cooking chamber;a panel bracket provided at a bottom of the cabinet; andan elastic member provided between the bottom panel and the panel bracket, wherein the elastic member is configured to selectively bias the bottom panel toward a front of the oven appliance.

2. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a first elastic member provided at a first lateral side of the panel bracket, and wherein the oven appliance further comprises a second elastic member provided at a second lateral side of the panel bracket opposite the first elastic member.

3. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a cantilever spring attached to the panel bracket.

4. The oven appliance of claim 3, wherein the cantilever spring comprises a fixed end and a free end, and wherein the fixed end of the cantilever spring is integral with the panel bracket.

5. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the panel bracket forms a burner housing provided beneath the cooking chamber, and wherein the elastic member is provided within the burner housing.

6. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises a rear wall, the bottom panel being at least partially received under the rear wall in an installed position.

7. The oven appliance of claim 6, wherein the rear wall comprises a bottom flange protruding forward along the transverse direction, wherein the elastic member is provided below the bottom flange along the vertical direction.

8. The oven appliance of claim 7, wherein the bottom flange overlaps the bottom panel along the vertical direction for a predetermined length.

9. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is selectively coupled to the oven appliance via one or more fasteners provided at a front of the bottom panel along the transverse direction.

10. A cavity assembly for an appliance, the cavity assembly defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the cavity assembly comprising: a plurality of sidewalls defining a chamber;a bottom panel removably provided within the chamber;a panel bracket provided at a bottom of the chamber, wherein the bottom panel and the panel bracket collectively form a housing below the chamber; andan elastic member provided between the bottom panel and the panel bracket within the housing, wherein the elastic member is configured to selectively bias the bottom panel toward a front of the appliance.

11. The cavity assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic member is a first elastic member provided at a first lateral side of the panel bracket, and wherein the cavity assembly further comprises a second elastic member provided at a second lateral side of the panel bracket opposite the first elastic member.

12. The cavity assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic member is a cantilever spring attached to the panel bracket.

13. The cavity assembly of claim 12, wherein the cantilever spring comprises a fixed end and a free end, and wherein the fixed end of the cantilever spring is integral with the panel bracket.

14. The cavity assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises a rear wall, the bottom panel being at least partially received under the rear wall in an installed position.

15. The cavity assembly of claim 14, wherein the rear wall comprises a bottom flange protruding forward along the transverse direction, wherein the elastic member is provided below the bottom flange along the vertical direction.

16. The cavity assembly of claim 15, wherein the bottom flange overlaps the bottom panel along the vertical direction for a predetermined length.

17. The cavity assembly of claim 10, wherein the bottom panel is selectively coupled to the panel bracket via one or more fasteners provided at a front of the bottom panel along the transverse direction.

18. The cavity assembly of claim 10, wherein the appliance is a cooking appliance, the chamber is a cooking chamber, and the housing is a heating element housing in which one or more heating elements are provided.