Patent Application
20180187902
Accessory racks may be connected to appliances through a connector disposed within the cooking cavity of the appliance. It is desired for the connector to be locatable within the cavity.
In at least one aspect, a cooking appliance is disclosed. The cooking appliance includes a pair of opposing sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. A heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A rack is coupled with a sliding structure. The sliding structure is disposed proximate the pair of sidewalls. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate and engage the powered accessory with the rack. A second locating assembly is disposed between the sliding structure and the opposing sidewalls. A third locating assembly is disposed on a rear portion of the rack.
In at least another aspect, a cooking appliance is disclosed. A pair of sidewalls and a rear wall define a heating cavity. A heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A rack is defined by a plurality of wires coupled to a frame. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate the powered accessory on the rack.
In at least another aspect, a powered accessory system for use in an appliance is disclosed. The powered accessory system includes a base pan that is configured to be selectively engaged with a rack within a cavity of said appliance. A first base structure is disposed on a bottom portion of the base pan. The first base structure defines a groove therein. A second base structure is disposed on the bottom portion of the base pan and is separated from the first base structure. A connecting plug is in communication with the said appliance.
Selective engagement of the connecting plug with a cavity connector that is disposed within the cavity of said appliance places the powered accessory in communication with said appliance.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The cavity connector 20 is disposed within the interior surface 22 of the heating cavity 16. The cavity connector 20 is in communication with the heating cavity 16. In this manner, the cavity connector 20 is accessible by the user within the heating cavity 16. For example, in various embodiments, the cavity connector 20 can be disposed within the rear wall 14 of the heating cavity 16. It is also contemplated that the heating cavity 16 can include a plurality of cavity connectors 20 disposed in various positions of the heating cavity 16 to be accessed when the powered accessory 28 is disposed in engagement with any one of the racks 24, 40. According to various embodiments, each rack 24, 40 can be positioned in conjunction with a separate and dedicated cavity connector 20 positioned for providing electrical power to the powered accessory 28 when the powered accessory 28 is disposed in a corresponding rack 24, 40.
The cavity connector 20 can be installed within the cooking appliance 10 either during or after manufacture. When installed after manufacture, it is contemplated that a spacer or plug 30 can be installed within the heating cavity 16 of the appliance 10. When the cavity connector 20 is installed, the spacer or plug 30 can be removed and the cavity connector 20 inserted to be engaged, attached, or otherwise placed in communication with the various electrical, communications, and/or user interface systems of the appliance 10.
Referring to
The powered accessory 28 can include a base pan 48 that may be disposed on and/or engageable with any of the racks 24, 40. The base pan 48 may include a resistive heating element that can be placed in selective communication with the cavity connector 20. In this manner, as the powered accessory 28 is engaged with one of the racks 24, 40, the engaged or connected powered accessory 28 can be placed in communication with the cooking appliance 10 via the cavity connector 20.
The base pan 48 for the powered accessory 28 can be used in conjunction with various accessory inserts. These accessory inserts can include, but are not limited to, a grilling insert, a cooking stone insert, a steaming insert, a smoker insert, a rotisserie insert, a canning insert, a pressure cooking insert, a slow cooker insert, an internal convection insert, sous-vide heater, a deep-frying insert, an air-frying insert, an air roaster insert, an air-crisper insert, a dedicated heating chamber insert, combinations thereof, and other similar inserts. It is contemplated that at least a portion of the accessory inserts can be used in combination with the resistive heating element.
According to the various embodiments, each of the accessory inserts can be used in conjunction with a dedicated powered accessory 28, such that each of the at least one powered accessory 28 can have a dedicated insert used only for that powered accessory 28 (i.e.. each insert has a dedicated base pan 48, the specific insert has its own base pan 48, and/or the specific insert does not need a base pan 48). Alternatively, the plurality of powered accessories 28 can share common components, such as the base pan 48 that are interchangeable with respect to the insert being used.
The powered accessory 28 may include the one or more locating assemblies to assist in coupling the connection plug 30 to the connector as the accessory, disposed on the rack 24, is slid into the heating cavity 16. In various embodiments, the first locating assembly 32 is disposed on a bottom portion 50 (
Referring to
One or more partial length frame support wires 68 may extend partially between the lateral end portions 64, 66 of the frame 56. One or more of the upper surface wires 62 (e.g., wires 70) may terminate at the partial length frame support wires 68 thereby defining a void 72. The void 72, along with a forward portion 74 of the frame 56, may be utilized as a handle for moving the rack 24 within and/or outside of the heating cavity 16.
The third locating assembly 36 may be centrally disposed on the rear portion 38 of the rack 24. The third locating assembly 36 may be configured as one or more surface wire member extensions 78 that protrude above the frame 56 and/or rearwardly of the frame 56. When the rack 24 is slid rearward within the heating cavity 16 (i.e., into the heating cavity 16), the third locating assembly 36 may contact the rear wall 14 of the heating cavity 16 to prevent further insertion of the rack 24 into the heating cavity 16. Thus, the third locating assembly 36 may help locate the rack 24, and in some instances, the powered accessory 28 disposed on the rack 24, in a forward/rearward direction 46 within the heating cavity 16. Additionally, in various embodiments, the third locating assembly 36 may interact with the base pan 48, when the base pan 48 is disposed on the rack 24. For example, the base pan 48 may contact the third locating assembly 36 prior to sliding the rack 24 into the heating cavity 16. In such instances, the base pan 48 may be disposed in a position such that the cavity connector 20 and connection plug 30 may mate as the rack 24 is slid into the heating cavity 16.
Referring to
According to the various embodiments, the electrical contact 82 of the cavity connector 20 can include a plurality of electrical contacts 82 that correspond to the electrical tabs 86 of the connecting plug 30. It is also contemplated that the electrical tabs 86 of a particular connecting plug 30 for a corresponding powered accessory 28 can include a predetermined pattern of electrical tabs 86. This predetermined pattern of electrical tabs 86 engage the electrical contacts 82 of the plurality of electrical contacts 82 of the cavity connector 20. In this manner, the predetermined pattern of electrical tabs 86 engages the electrical contacts 82 that correspond to the predetermined pattern. As such, the predetermined pattern can serve to identify a particular powered accessory 28 of a plurality of powered accessories 28 that are alternatively and selectively engaged with the cavity connector 20. This configuration can serve as an accessory detection mechanism disposed within the cavity connector 20.
Referring to
The resilient component 88 may be disposed within the plate 90, or integrally formed therewith. The resilient component 88 may be coupled to an outer surface 102 of the plate 90 on a first side 92 of the resilient component 88 through the usage of a fastener, such as a rivet. However, it is contemplated that the resilient component 88 may be attached through any other mechanical fastener, adhered thereto (e.g., welded), or otherwise coupled to the plate 90 in various embodiments. The resilient component 88 may be configured from a metallic material that may be formed from a planar sheet. Alternatively, any other material having resilient characteristics and is capable of standing temperatures of approximately 500° F. without deforming may utilized, according to some embodiments.
An opposing side 94 of the resilient component 88 may include an upper portion 96 having a hemmed edge and a lower portion 98 that may be disposed through a slot 100 defined by the plate 90 and along an inner surface 104 of the plate 90. The lower portion 98 may be configured as a guide tab 106. The guide tab 106 may slide along the plate 90 as the resilient component 88 is disposed in a wide range of positions. Accordingly, an end portion of the upper portion 96 may be disposed proximate the outer surface 102 of the plate 90 while the lower portion 98 is disposed proximate the inner surface 104 to hold the resilient component 88 within the plate 90.
In use, as a contact portion 108 of the resilient component 88 contacts the sidewall 12 of the cavity 16, a curvature of the resilient component 88 is altered. The first side 92 of the resilient component 88 maintains a constant position while the opposing side 94 of the resilient component 88 extends away from the first side 92. Accordingly, the resilient component 88 presses the sliding structure and/or the rack 24 away from the wall to maintain the rack 24 in a substantially constant lateral position. In various embodiments, the resilient component 88 may be of any geometry and/or form to contact the sidewall 12 and the plate 90 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Referring to
In order to consistently locate the base pan 48 on the rack 24, the first set of base structures may define a groove 118. The groove may be centrally located, or offset from a centerline of the first base structure 112. The groove 118 may be dimensioned to partially encompass one or more of the wires 114 of the rack 24. For example, as illustrated in
The first and second base structures 112, 116 may be coupled to the bottom portion 50 of the base pan 48 through the usage of a fastener, such as a pin 120. However, it is contemplated that the first and/or second base structures 112, 116 may be attached to the base pan 48 through any other mechanical fasteners, adhered thereto (e.g., welded), or otherwise coupled to the base pan 48 in various embodiments. In various embodiments, the first and/or second base structures 112, 116 may be integrally formed with the base pan 48.
Referring to
Referring still to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
A variety of advantages may be derived from the use of the present disclosure. For example, the locating assemblies provided herein allow for simple and repeatable locating of a powered accessory connection plug within a cavity connector. Moreover, the locating assemblies provided herein may be manufactured at low costs.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
Furthermore, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected” or “operably coupled” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Some examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited, to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
