Patent Application
20220120443
This present disclosure relates to built-in cooking appliances. In campers, trailers, or other recreational vehicles (RVs), space is a premium. Consumers want the cooking options that are available in their house without consuming the large space these appliances typically require. A microwave oven is a staple appliance in an RV, along with a refrigerator and gas cooktop. Some microwave ovens have a convection oven feature, meaning the microwave also has an electric heating element, allowing the user to cook with microwave energy, heating elements, or a combination of both. The cooktop is typically mounted into a cutout in the countertop and the microwave is mounted nearby but still separate. This requires additional wiring and cabinet modifications to install both devices. Further, built-in microwaves can suffer from overheating, shortening the life of the electronic components, and posing a safety risk. An improved device is needed.
The present disclosure describes a combination gas cooktop and microwave in a single device. The gas cooktop is affixed to an enclosure that receives the microwave. The combination cooktop and microwave can mount in a similar or same cabinet and countertop cutout as an existing oven and cooktop, simplifying RV design and allowing standardizing of interior components. The cooktop is part of an enclosure that has a cavity to retain the microwave. The cavity allows airflow around the microwave to keep electronic components cool and providing insulation from surrounding cabinet materials.
A combination cooktop and microwave cooking appliance 10 is shown in
The shell 24 has a bottom wall 40, a back wall 42, and side walls 44, 46. As installed, the side walls 44, 46, back wall 42, and bottom wall 40 are hidden from the user. The back wall 42 includes ventilation apertures 50 and cord access 52 into the cavity 26. The bottom wall 40 includes a guide ridge 58 that partially surrounds anchoring apertures 60 on three sides. The guide ridge 58 is a raised surface above the surface of the bottom wall 40. The anchoring apertures 60 are holes through the bottom wall 40 that are positioned to correspond to mounting points on the microwave 22. The side walls 44, 46 are affixed to the bottom wall 40 and back wall 42. A top wall 48 is spaced from and substantially parallel to the bottom wall 40. The bottom wall 40 is substantially parallel to the top wall 48, but individual elevation differences, such as the guide ridge 58 prevent perfect geometric parallelism to the top wall 48. The side walls 44, 46, bottom wall, 40, top wall 48, and back wall 42 cooperate to form the cavity 26. As shown, the side walls 44, 46 extend beyond the top wall 48 and terminate at top flanges 45, 47. This is shown in
As shown, the cooktop 20 is powered by natural gas, propane, or other combustible fuel. A gas supply 70 is where the appliance 10 is connected to the external fuel source (not shown). The supply 70 feeds a regulator 72 which feeds a manifold 74 and valves 76. For each valve 76, there is a burner 78 that is affixed to the top wall 48. In the embodiment shown herein, there are three valves 76 and burners 78, but a different number of is contemplated. Knobs 79 control each valve 76 for the user to adjust the flame for each burner 78. A cover 80 overlays the top wall 48 and is removable. The cover 80 has lateral sides 81, 83 that are separated by a drip pan 82. The drip pan 82 has burner apertures 84 and a removable grate 86 to give clear access to the burners 78 and drip pan 82. The cover 80 includes a hinged glass lid 90 that is movable between an opened and closed position. The lid 90 is hinged between the lateral sides 81, 83 of the cover 80 and the lid folds so the front portion overlays the rear portion. The rear portion of the lid 90 is hinged with respect to the cooktop 20 for access to the rear burners. In
The removable front cover 30 is affixed to the shell 24 with fasteners are inserted through holes in front flanges 54, 56 in corresponding side walls 44, 46. The fasteners thread into threaded holes on the front cover 30. The front cover 30 includes a central cover opening 32 that includes side inset walls 34 and a top inset wall 36. A bottom wall 38 is located opposite of the top inset wall 36. The walls 34, 36, 38 surround the central cover opening and extend inwardly into the cavity 26. The inset walls 34, 36 include a step that is offset from the central cover opening 32. By being bent towards the opening 32, the step on the inset walls 34, 36 effectively narrows the central cover opening 32. The removable front cover 30 has a front surface 35 that includes an area with a vent 37. As shown, the front surface 35 is flat or planar. The vent 37 is a plurality of apertures through the front surface 35 to provide a path for heated air 116 to exit the cavity 26. The vent 37 is located just below the knobs 79 at a high point relative to the cavity 26. Because hot air rises, the location of the vent 37 prevents hot air from building up inside the cavity 26.
The microwave 22 is affixed and located inside the cavity 26 through the anchoring apertures 60. Fastening feet 120 thread into corresponding receivers 122 in the bottom through the anchoring apertures 60. Each receiver 122 has a recessed pocket that receives the respective fastening foot 120 to pinch the portion of the bottom wall 40 around the respective anchoring aperture 60. This affixes and locates the microwave 22 inside the cavity 26. The microwave 22 has a face 100 comprising a door 102 and a button panel 104. The face 100 extends to a microwave shell 28, which has roughly the same outside envelope. In other words, the face 100 has a perimeter profile that is aligned with the microwave shell 28. This is visible in
While not explicitly shown in the FIGS., the microwave 22 may include convection oven components. As is known in the art, a convection microwave oven can cook through conventional microwave energy or heating elements. The heating elements are commonly coupled with a fan or blower to circulate the heated air inside the cooking area of the microwave. Whether the microwave 22 includes convection oven components or is a conventional microwave, heated air 116 is exhausted from the microwave 22 during use.
To remove the microwave 22 from the appliance 10 for replacement, repair, or maintenance, the user first removes the appliance 10 from its mounting location (not shown). Next, the user removes the fasteners that retain the front cover 30 to the front flanges 54, 56. The fasteners for the front cover 30 are otherwise covered or hidden by the cabinetry in the mounting location for the appliance 10. The user unscrews the fastening feet 120 to detach the microwave 22 from the bottom wall 40. To install the microwave 22, the user places it inside the cavity 26 and extends the cord through the cord access 52. The user uses the guide ridge 58 to align with the receivers 122 to the anchoring apertures 60. The fastening feet 120 are installed into the receivers 122 through the anchoring apertures 60. This aligns the face 100 so that the removable cover 30 can be installed. The fasteners are installed to secure the front cover 30 to the front flanges 54, 56.
It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.
