COOKING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a bottom wall that has an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a cooking appliance. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance that includes a metal body having a wall with first and second depressions defined by interior and exterior surfaces of the wall, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cooking appliance includes a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a bottom wall that has an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooking appliance includes a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a plurality of walls. At least one of the plurality of walls includes an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first depression, and the exterior surface defines a second depression that is opposite of and aligned with the first depression defined by the interior surface.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a metal body for a cooking appliance includes a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls, and a second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall. The bottom wall includes an interior surface that partially defines a cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a cooking appliance that includes a first cooking cavity and a second cavity disposed above the first cooking cavity.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a metal body of a cooking appliance that includes a bottom wall that defines a depression.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the metal body of the cooking appliance illustrating a depression defined by an exterior surface of the bottom wall of the metal body.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the metal body illustrating a side wall of the metal body and a portion of the exterior surface of the bottom wall of the metal body that is opposite a depression defined by an interior surface of the bottom wall of the metal body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at line V-V of FIG. 2 that illustrates an interior surface of the bottom wall defining a first centrally located depression and an exterior surface of the bottom wall that defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a bottom wall of a metal body of a cooking appliance, illustrating first and second centrally located depressions defined by interior and exterior surfaces of the bottom wall, respectively.

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components related to a cooking appliance. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 3. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such article or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the article or apparatus that comprises the element.

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.

In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

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 or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and/or any additional intermediate members. Such joining may include members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another (i.e., integrally coupled) or may refer to joining of two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature, or may be removable or releasable in nature, unless otherwise stated.

The terms “substantial,” “substantially,” and variations thereof as used herein are intended to note that a described feature is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. Moreover, “substantially” is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, “substantially” may denote values within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

As used herein the terms “the,” “a,” or “an,” mean “at least one,” and should not be limited to “only one” unless explicitly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to “a component” includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, reference numeral 10 generally designates a cooking appliance 10. The cooking appliance 10 includes a metal body 12 that defines a cooking cavity 14 and includes a bottom wall 16. The bottom wall 16 has an interior surface 18 that partially defines the cooking cavity 14 and an exterior surface 20 opposite the interior surface 18. The interior surface 18 defines a first centrally located depression 22. The exterior surface 20 defines a second centrally located depression 24 that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 10 defines the cooking cavity 14. In some implementations, the cooking appliance 10 can define a plurality of cooking cavities 14. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 10 is a double oven that includes a first cooking cavity 14A and a second cooking cavity 14B that is positioned above the first cooking cavity 14A. In the illustrated embodiment, the first cooking cavity 14A is a lower cooking cavity and the second cooking cavity 14B is an upper cooking cavity. However, it is contemplated that the first cooking cavity 14A may be the upper cooking cavity and the second cooking cavity 14B may be the lower cooking cavity, in some implementations. In various embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 can include at least one heating element that is configured to heat the at least one cooking cavity 14. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 10 includes first and second doors 26, 28 that can be closed and opened to deny and provide access to the first and second cooking cavities 14A, 14B, respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in various embodiments, the cooking appliance 10 includes a body 12 that defines the cooking cavity 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 10 includes first and second bodies 12 that respectively define the first and second cooking cavities 14A, 14B. The body 12 of the cooking appliance 10 that defines the cooking cavity 14 can be a metal body 12. A variety of types of metals are contemplated. In some implementations, the metal body 12 is formed of steel, such that the body is a steel body. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the metal body is formed of cold-rolled, mild unalloyed deep drawing steel.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the body 12 of the cooking appliance 10 that defines the cooking cavity 14 can include a plurality of walls 30. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the body 12 includes the bottom wall 16, a top wall 32 opposite the bottom wall 16, a first side wall 34 that extends between the top and bottom walls 32, 16, a second side wall 36 that extends between the top and bottom walls 32, 16 opposite the first side wall 34, and a back wall 38 that extends between the first and second side walls 34, 36 and between the top and bottom walls 32, 16. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the back wall 38 is disposed opposite an opening 40 to the cooking cavity 14. It is contemplated that the body 12 can be an assembly of a plurality of components. For example, the back wall 38 and the top wall 32 may be distinct components that are coupled to another component of the body 12 that forms the first and second side walls 34, 36 and the bottom wall 16 of the body 12. In some implementations, the top and bottom walls 32, 16 and the first and second side walls 34, 36 may form a first distinct component, and the back wall 38 forms a second distinct component that is configured to be coupled to the first distinct component to form the metal body 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, at least one of the plurality of walls 30 of the metal body 12 includes the interior surface 18 that partially defines the cooking cavity 14 and the exterior surface 20 opposite the interior surface 18. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom wall 16 includes the interior surface 18 that partially defines the cooking cavity 14 and the exterior surface 20 that is opposite the interior surface 18. In various embodiments, the interior surface 18 of the at least one wall 30 defines the first depression 22, and the exterior surface 20 of the at least one wall 30 defines the second depression 24 that is opposite the first depression 22. In various implementations, the second depression 24 is opposite of and aligned with the first depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the interior surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 defines the first depression 22, and the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 defines the second depression 24 that is opposite of and aligned with the first depression 22. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the first depression 22 is horizontally aligned with the second depression 24. In other words, the first depression 22 and the second depression 24 are aligned laterally and longitudinally, such that a vertical line extending through the second depression 24 would also extend through a portion of the first depression 22.

In some implementations, the first and/or second depressions 22, 24 may be centrally located depressions 22, 24. In other words, the center point of the wall 30 that defines the first and second depressions 22, 24 may overlap with the first and second depressions 22, 24. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the first depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 is a first centrally located depression 22, as the first depression 22 generally surrounds the center point of the bottom wall 16 as defined by the intersection of the lateral center line of the bottom wall 16 and the longitudinal center line of the bottom wall 16. Likewise, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the second depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 is a second centrally located depression 24, as the second depression 24 extends about the aforementioned center point of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12.

Referring still to FIGS. 2-6, in some implementations, the first depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18 is larger than the second depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 opposite the interior surface 18. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first centrally located depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 has a larger outline than the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16. As illustrated, the outline of the first centrally located depression 22 generally surrounds the outline of the second centrally located depression 24 in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the metal body 12. In some implementations, the first depression 22 has a first maximum depth and the second depression 24 has a second maximum depth, wherein the first maximum depth is greater than the second maximum depth. For example, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first centrally located depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 has a second maximum vertical depth, wherein the first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some implementations, the vertical depth of the second depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 varies laterally and is uniform longitudinally. In other words, the vertical depth of the second depression 24 may vary along the lateral extent of the second depression 24, while the vertical depth of the second depression 24 may remain uniform along the longitudinal extent of the second depression 24 at a given lateral position of the second depression 24. For example, in the embodiment of the metal body 12 illustrated in FIG. 3, the depth of the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 varies along the lateral extent of the second centrally located depression 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the vertical depth of the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 is uniform along its longitudinal extent in the forward and rearward directions (left and right directions from the perspective of a viewer of FIG. 4).

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, in some implementations, the upward-most portion of the second depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls 34, 36. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the portion of the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 that is nearest to the top wall 32 of the metal body 12 is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls 34, 36 of the metal body 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, as well as the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second depression 24 bows upward as the second depression 24 extends laterally toward the lateral center point of the bottom wall 16, such that the second centrally located depression 24 is vertically deepest at the lateral center point of the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in some implementations, the portion of the interior surface 18 that defines the first centrally located depression 22 includes a convex portion 42 that parallels the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the interior surface 18 includes the convex portion 42 that parallels the contour of the second centrally located depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 of the bottom wall 16. In some implementations, the interior surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 that defines the first centrally located depression 22 may omit the convex portion 42, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The cooking appliance 10 of the present disclosure may provide a variety of advantages. For example, the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 including the first depression 22 defined by the interior surface 18 and the second depression 24 defined by the exterior surface 20 opposite the first depression 22 reduces audible popping that occurs as the bottom wall 16 of the metal body 12 undergoes deformation due to thermal expansion during heating of the cooking cavity 14 defined by the metal body 12.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cooking appliance includes a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a bottom wall that has an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface.

According to another aspect, the metal body is a steel body.

According to another aspect, the portion of the interior surface that defines the first centrally located depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

According to another aspect, the metal body further includes a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls, a second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall, and a back wall that extends between the first and second side walls and between the top and bottom walls. The back wall is disposed opposite an opening to the cooking cavity.

According to another aspect, the portion of the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface that is nearest to the top wall is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls.

According to another aspect, the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth. The first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

According to another aspect, the vertical depth of the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface varies laterally and is uniform longitudinally.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooking appliance includes a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a plurality of walls. At least one of the plurality of walls includes an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first depression, and the exterior surface defines a second depression that is opposite of and aligned with the first depression defined by the interior surface.

According to another aspect, the second depression defined by the exterior surface is horizontally aligned with the first depression defined by the interior surface.

According to another aspect, the plurality of walls includes a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls, and a second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall. The bottom wall includes the interior surface that defines the first depression and the exterior surface that defines the second depression.

According to another aspect, the portion of the interior surface that defines the first depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

According to another aspect, the upward-most portion of the second depression defined by the exterior surface is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls.

According to another aspect, the first depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth. The first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

According to another aspect, the vertical depth of the second depression defined by the exterior surface varies laterally and is uniform longitudinally.

According to another aspect, the plurality of walls further includes a back wall that extends between the first and second side walls and between the top and bottom walls. The back wall is disposed opposite an opening to the cooking cavity.

According to another aspect, the metal body is a steel body.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a metal body for a cooking appliance includes a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls, and a second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall. The bottom wall includes an interior surface that partially defines a cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression.

According to another aspect, the portion of the interior surface that defines the first centrally located depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

According to another aspect, the first centrally located depression is larger than the second centrally located depression.

According to another aspect, the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth. The first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure 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 connectors 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 disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising: a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a bottom wall that has an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the metal body is a steel body.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the portion of the interior surface that defines the first centrally located depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the metal body further comprises: a top wall opposite the bottom wall;a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls;a second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall; anda back wall that extends between the first and second side walls and between the top and bottom walls, wherein the back wall is disposed opposite an opening to the cooking cavity.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the portion of the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface that is nearest to the top wall is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth, and wherein the first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the vertical depth of the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface varies laterally and is uniform longitudinally.

8. A cooking appliance, comprising: a metal body that defines a cooking cavity and includes a plurality of walls, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls includes an interior surface that partially defines the cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a first depression, and the exterior surface defines a second depression that is opposite of and aligned with the first depression defined by the interior surface.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the second depression defined by the exterior surface is horizontally aligned with the first depression defined by the interior surface.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the plurality of walls comprises: a bottom wall;a top wall opposite the bottom wall;a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls; anda second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall, wherein the bottom wall includes the interior surface that defines the first depression and the exterior surface that defines the second depression.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the portion of the interior surface that defines the first depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the upward-most portion of the second depression defined by the exterior surface is positioned substantially equidistantly from the first and second side walls.

13. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the first depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth, and wherein the first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the vertical depth of the second depression defined by the exterior surface varies laterally and is uniform longitudinally.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the plurality of walls further comprises: a back wall that extends between the first and second side walls and between the top and bottom walls, wherein the back wall is disposed opposite an opening to the cooking cavity.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the metal body is a steel body.

17. A metal body for a cooking appliance, comprising: a bottom wall;a top wall opposite the bottom wall;a first side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls; anda second side wall that extends between the top and bottom walls opposite the first side wall, wherein the bottom wall includes an interior surface that partially defines a cooking cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and wherein the interior surface defines a first centrally located depression, and the exterior surface defines a second centrally located depression that is opposite of and horizontally aligned with the first centrally located depression.

18. The metal body of claim 17, wherein the portion of the interior surface that defines the first centrally located depression includes a convex portion that parallels the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface of the bottom wall.

19. The metal body of claim 17, wherein the first centrally located depression is larger than the second centrally located depression.

20. The metal body of claim 19, wherein the first centrally located depression defined by the interior surface has a first maximum vertical depth, and the second centrally located depression defined by the exterior surface has a second maximum vertical depth, and wherein the first maximum vertical depth is greater than the second maximum vertical depth.