Patent Application
20210239324
One aspect of the invention relates to a door for a cooking appliance. The door has a front pane and a further pane arranged such that it is spaced apart therefrom. The door further has a recessed grip, which is embodied in the upper region of the door and which can be gripped from the top. A further aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising such a door.
Doors for cooking appliances are known in a wide variety of embodiments. They usually have a pane pack comprising at least two separate panes, which are arranged in parallel with and spaced apart from one another. These plate-shaped panes are usually glass panes.
Such a door is known for example from DE 10 2010 041 022 A1. There, the door has four separate panes. The inner pane is designed there as a one-piece, trough-shaped part in which two intermediate panes are received. A front pane of this pane pack is arranged on a trough flange of this trough-shaped inner pane on the front side. When viewed in the height direction, this front pane is embodied with greater dimensions than the inner pane and the intermediate panes. When viewed in the height direction, the front pane therefore projects beyond the other panes in an upward direction. A handle element is thereby formed behind the front pane in the pane point itself. However, the door there has no further components other than the pane pack. The panes are thus held accordingly only by the trough-shaped inner pane itself.
Furthermore, a door for a cooking appliance is known from DE 10 2009 026 959 A1. Provision is made there for a door body having a glass plate as its front pane. A separate handle tray is incorporated in an upper region of this door body, which handle tray is open toward the top and can be gripped from the top.
Furthermore, the door can also have a light element. A frame is arranged separately from the door and thus externally to the door on a housing of the cooking appliance, on which the door is then arranged in a pivotable manner. In the closed state of the door, the door is surrounded by this frame, which is fixed on the housing side.
An object of the present invention is to create a door for a cooking appliance which can be structured more variably in terms of being equipped with individual components and, in this regard, then also to enhance the functionality of the door. Accordingly, it is also an object of the invention to create a household appliance with such a door.
One aspect of the invention relates to a door for a cooking appliance. The door has a front pane. The door also has a further pane which is separate from the front side and arranged such that it is spaced apart therefrom. The door also has a recessed grip, which is embodied in the upper region of the door. The recessed grip can be gripped from the top. When viewed in the depth direction of the door, a separate functional frame of the door is arranged in an intermediate space between the front pane and the further pane. The functional frame has a delimiting web which protrudes upward on an upper frame part such that the recessed grip is embodied in the upper frame part. The recessed grip is delimited by the delimiting web on the front side. According to such an embodiment, a door with an increased number of separate components is provided. These components enable the door to be structured variably and flexibly. In particular, the functional assignment of functions of the door to individual components is thereby enabled in an individual and improved manner. In particular, the handle in its specific embodiment as a recessed grip is thus incorporated into the frame part which is separate from the panes. The specific position of this frame part, namely between the front pane and the further pane in a connection direction between these two panes, then also enables the additional function that the functional frame can be used as a spacing element for the two panes. By the recessed grip likewise being embodied in a specific manner, namely by a delimiting web drawn upward on the front side, which is in particular integrated into the frame part and thus embodied in one piece therewith, it is once again possible in this context to achieve a compact embodiment with a reduced number of components in this regard. In this context, the front pane is then provided without a functional contribution to the geometric design of the recessed grip. An undesired smearing or a significant manifestation of fingerprints or the like on this front pane can thereby be avoided. Undesired impact or other wear on the front pane, in particular on the upper edge, can also thereby be avoided, since the front pane no longer effectively forms the direct and no longer covered delimitation of the recessed grip in this context, as is the case in the prior art. Any chipping of edges of this front pane can also thereby be avoided.
In this context, the separate functional frame with this upper frame part also represents a more robust and, in this regard, more stable component.
It is preferably provided that the delimiting web is embodied protruding upward and projecting freely in an upward direction on a region of the upper frame part facing toward the front pane. The recessed grip is thereby also provided with corresponding depth and it is made possible in a simple and user-friendly manner to grip behind the frame part. The functionality of the recessed grip is highly advantageous in this context. Furthermore, according to such an embodiment, the delimiting web can also be designed in a highly filigreed and nevertheless mechanically stable manner, so that here on the one hand weight can be saved and on the other hand the recessed grip is not undesirably restricted when viewed in the depth direction of the door.
It is preferably provided that the delimiting web is embodied protruding upward with an oblique orientation facing away from the further pane such that the recessed grip is embodied to widen out toward a recessed grip opening. A recessed grip is thereby provided which can be gripped particularly easily in the upper region and has a correspondingly greater width here. An undesired complicated and only very narrow gripping with fingers of one hand is thereby avoided. An undesired impact of fingers on an only very narrow recessed grip can thereby also be avoided, as the recessed grip is also correspondingly enlarged by this widening. In particular, it is also achieved by way of this embodiment that, on account of this obliquely oriented protrusion, a kind of roof pitch or an overhang projecting forward on the front side is formed in comparison to the front pane, so that an additional protection of the front pane, in particular in the upper edge area, is enabled by such an orientation of the delimiting web.
It is preferably provided that the recessed grip is delimited directly on the rear side, and thus on the side facing toward the further pane when viewed in the depth direction, by a front side of the further pane. As a result, the further pane is also used in a multifunctional manner, as it also represents a delimiting wall of the recessed grip. The shape complexity of the frame part can thereby be reduced, as an additional delimiting wall for the recessed grip, which would then be formed by the upper frame part itself, is not required. An embodiment of this type can however also be provided.
It is advantageously provided that an in particular strip-like fascia panel separate therefrom is arranged on an upper edge of the front pane and covers the delimiting web on the front side at least in regions. The separate fascia panel is in particular also a separate component from the delimiting web. By way of such an embodiment, a covering of the delimiting web on the front side can be achieved such that an individual optical overall impression of the front side can also be produced here, which is then influenced by the fascia panel. In particular, individual optical variants can then be formed in this context while nevertheless enabling a uniform, identical part to be used with regard to the functional frame. Furthermore, this separate fascia panel also forms a highly individual edge protection for the upper edge or the upper side of the front pane. In this context, it can be provided that only this separate fascia panel covers the upper edge of the front pane and that the functional frame, in particular the delimiting web, is arranged such that it is spaced apart from the front pane, in particular from the upper edge of the front pane. Especially if the functional frame is embodied from metal, for example, it is thus possible to avoid undesired impairments of the front pane, for example scratching or the like. Furthermore, such an embodiment with a separate fascia panel enables a certain apex to be achieved for this delimiting web, which can then be embodied to be particularly filigreed. In particular, a delimiting wall of the recessed grip is then formed on the front side by the delimiting web and the fascia panel, which is likewise oriented in an upward direction in this regard. As a result, a very substantial subcomponent of the recessed grip, namely this front recessed grip part, is also designed in a more stable and robust manner. By gripping around or behind and in this context also normally gripping this delimiting web with the fascia panel which is then preferably provided, an improved force absorption is then also enabled such that, when the door is pulled forward and thus a force exerted on the delimiting web and the fascia panel, a higher mechanical stability is achieved. An undesired deformation or yielding of the delimiting web can thereby be avoided.
It is advantageously provided that the fascia panel rests directly on the delimiting web. The above-mentioned advantages are thereby achieved to a particular degree. In particular, an adhesive bonding can in addition be embodied between the delimiting web and the fascia panel. Undesired position changes or relative movements between these two components can thereby be avoided in an even more improved manner.
It is preferably provided that an upper edge of the further pane, when viewed in the height direction of the door, is arranged higher than an upper edge of the front pane. In particular, this upper edge of the further pane is arranged higher than an upper edge of the delimiting web. The front pane is thereby embodied as a relatively large plate, as a result of which on the one hand the delimitation of the recessed grip on the rear side is advantageously provided extensively and adequately. Specifically by such an embodiment of a large further pane, the possibility is then also created that this further pane is a front pane of a pane pack of the door. In one advantageous embodiment, this pane pack then does not have this front pane, but instead has separate further panes in addition to the further pane, in particular at least one further additional pane, which when viewed in the depth direction is mounted to the rear and is thus arranged on the opposite side of the front pane from the further pane. As a result, a conventional pane pack of a door can also be formed with the further pane, which then serves as the front pane of the pane pack, and said additional panes, at least one further intermediate pane and an inner pane. In this context, said pane pack then also fulfills the conventional functions regarding on the one hand reducing the thermal energy loss from a cooking compartment of a cooking appliance and on the other hand preventing the front pane from heating up in an undesired manner. To this end, in particular corresponding ventilation mechanisms are also provided in the pane pack, as is the case in conventional pane packs for conventional doors. Precisely in such an embodiment comprising a pane pack specified in this connection, the front pane and the functional frame are then effectively an additional front attachment module on the front pane of the pane pack. Compared to conventional embodiments of a door comprising such a pane pack, this attachment which is attached accordingly onto the front pane toward the front can be regarded as an add-on module which enables and delivers the abovementioned additional functions. In this embodiment, the recessed grip is thus disposed not behind but instead in front of the front pane of such a pane pack. The front side of the front pane delimits the recessed grip to the rear. The recessed grip thus protrudes out of the pane pack toward the front.
It can also be provided that, in a further embodiment, the front pane contributes functionally at least in a supporting manner to the functions of such a pane pack and thus can form part of a pane pack which is then innovative and supplemented in this regard.
It is preferably provided that a frame which is separate from the panes and from the separate functional frame is arranged in an intermediate space between the front pane and the further pane, which frame has a funnel-shaped connecting member when viewed in the depth direction of the door. In such an embodiment, there are then effectively two separate frames, namely the functional frame on the one hand and this additional frame on the other hand. Both are then arranged in particular in this intermediate space between the front pane and the further pane.
Viewed generally, the arrangement of the functional frame in the intermediate space should be understood accordingly to mean that the functional frame extends at least partially into the volume space which is actually delimited only between the two panes, namely the front pane and the further pane. When viewed in a vertical section through the door, the functional frame is thus arranged such that it at least partially overlaps both the front pane and also the further pane.
The same can be said in particular of the further frame. In particular, this further frame is arranged in its entirety within this intermediate space.
On account of the funnel-shaped connecting member of the separate frame, the latter has a subcomponent which enables individual optical aspects associated specifically with this geometric embodiment. When viewed from the front side, the funnel shape which then converges to the rear in the depth direction produces an optical depth effect of a light pattern, which also enables a certain specific three-dimensionality of the door lighting. Furthermore, this funnel-shaped connecting member delimits a very specific receiving space or volume space, wherein this volume space is then formed effectively in the shape of a truncated pyramid. This funnel-shaped connecting member effectively produces a kind of optical fascia panel, which creates the impression that the actual window opening is displaced further toward the rear so that a corresponding view through the door is made possible, with a very specific optical viewing effect nevertheless being achieved on account of the funnel-shaped connecting member.
It is advantageously provided that the door has at least one light element, with which light can be radiated onto the additional separate frame such that the light is or can be radiated onto the oblique walls of the funnel-shaped connecting member facing toward the front pane. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment, as it enables highly individual lighting scenarios in the door interior. A particularly advantageous aspect of the active connection between the funnel-shaped connecting member and this generated light is that a highly specific frame-like light effect or a light pattern is thus produced, enabling a highly spatial embodiment of the light image on account of the funnel-shaped connecting member. Because this light image can then also be perceived and viewed through the front pane when the door is viewed from the front, since the front pane is transparent at least in this section in which the funnel-shaped connecting member is arranged, the advantages specified above can be enabled. In particular, a light frame can be produced here as a light pattern.
It is preferably provided that the light element is a light guide. As a result, the light from a light source can be guided in a very targeted manner into specific regions and radiated in a highly individual manner. In particular, this enables light to be radiated in a very defined manner onto the oblique walls forming or delimiting the funnel-shaped connecting member. As a result, the specific light pattern or light image described above can be generated in a particularly advantageous and homogeneous manner.
In particular, the light guide is embodied to be rod-shaped. As a result, a very extensive and even and thus homogeneous radiation of light into a larger region of the connecting member, in particular onto an entire oblique wall of such a connecting member, can be enabled.
In particular, it is provided that the light element is arranged in a channel-like receptacle of the frame. As a result, a more mechanically stable seating of the light element can be achieved. In particular, it is thereby also enabled that the light element can be disposed in the immediate vicinity of and thus in particular directly adjacent to an oblique wall of the funnel-shaped connecting member. This accordingly enables the light from the light guide to be radiated directly and via a short path onto an oblique wall of the funnel-shaped connecting member. This enables the light pattern to be generated evenly and the loss of radiated light to be kept to a minimum.
In particular, the channel-like receptacle is open toward the front pane and the bottom of the channel thus faces toward the further pane. According to this embodiment, the light guide is in particular also exposed on the side facing toward the front pane.
As a result, it is possible, depending on requirements, also to enable an individual radiation directly onto the front pane in this regard. This can take place individually, in particular as a function of the design of the light guide.
It is preferably provided that the receptacle is open toward the front pane and surrounds the funnel-shaped connecting member circumferentially at least in regions. By the funnel-shaped connecting member being surrounded in this way in an essentially frame-like manner by this receptacle, one or more light guides can be arranged on various sides of this funnel-shaped connecting member. In particular, the funnel shape is an angular funnel shape, which is embodied as a truncated pyramid shape. In this context, the roof of this truncated pyramid shape is embodied as a hole or aperture. In particular, this funnel-shaped connecting member is thus formed such that the oblique walls represent the lateral walls of such a truncated pyramid. The truncated pyramid base and the truncated pyramid roof are not present in this context, so that the connecting member effectively forms only the lateral walls of such a truncated pyramid.
The further separate frame is preferably embodied in one piece. It can be embodied in particular from sheet metal, and it can be provided in particular that the individual parts are produced by stamping and/or reforming, such as bending or the like. In particular, this then also applies to the receptacle for the light element.
The light element advantageously has a bulge-shaped light radiation region when viewed in a cross-section at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the light element, which light radiation region is arranged facing toward the funnel-shaped connecting member and/or has a notch as a prism structure on the side facing toward the front pane. As a result, light can particularly advantageously be radiated in a defined manner directly onto an oblique wall. In particular, an individual further radiation in the direction of the front pane can thus take place directly.
It is preferably provided that, in a corner region of the frame, a support element separate therefrom is arranged for a light source, with which light from the light source can be coupled into the light element which in particular rests directly thereon. A light source can be for example a light-emitting diode or a light-emitting diode assembly. In particular, a heat sink for this light source is also arranged in this corner region. As a result, the light source can have a compact structure and can be positioned as required in the door. In this context, a light guide can then in particular be embodied in one piece and in a homogeneous manner as a rod extending over the entire length of an oblique wall of the funnel-shaped connecting member. As well as enabling the light from the light source to be coupled simply and extensively into this light guide, this also enables the light from the light guide to be radiated in a particularly homogeneous and even manner over the entire length of the oblique wall.
It is preferably provided that the further pane is a front pane of a pane pack of the door, wherein the front pane and the functional frame are attached as a front module attachment to a front side of the front pane. The advantages which can be achieved in this regard have already been set out above.
A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a door for a cooking appliance. The door has a front pane and a further pane arranged such that it is spaced apart therefrom. A frame which is separate from the panes is arranged in an intermediate space between the front pane and the further pane. In a cross-sectional representation of the door, this means that the frame extends at least in regions into the intermediate space and in particular is arranged in its entirety therein. In this cross-sectional representation, the frame is thus arranged such that it overlaps the panes when viewed in a direction parallel to the two planes. The frame has a funnel-shaped connecting member, wherein the door has at least one light element, with which light can be radiated onto the frame such that the light is or can be radiated directly onto the oblique walls of the funnel-shaped connecting member which face toward the front pane. The oblique walls are embodied such that the funnel shape of the connecting member delimits a truncated pyramid shape. In this context, the oblique walls form the lateral wall of this truncated pyramid shape.
Embodiments of the aforementioned first independent aspect of a door are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the aforementioned further independent aspect with regard to the door.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance having a door in accordance with an aforementioned aspect.
The cooking appliance has in particular a housing, in which a cooking compartment is embodied. This is delimited in particular by walls of a muffle. The door is preferably arranged in a movable manner on the housing and arranged on the housing to close the cooking compartment on the front side.
The cooking appliance can be for example an oven or a steam cooking appliance or a microwave cooking appliance. Particularly in the case of a microwave cooking appliance, the door can then also be a microwave door and be constructed accordingly in this regard. In such an embodiment, too, a front module attachment as already described in examples above can then be arranged on the front side of the front pane.
The designations “above”, “below”, “in front”, “behind”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction”, etc. indicate positions and orientations during proper use and arrangement of the appliance.
Further features of the invention are disclosed in the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned in the description above and the features and combinations of features set out below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respective combination given, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention which are not explicitly shown in the figures and described, but which arise and can be created through separate combinations of features from the embodiments described, are therefore also to be considered as included and disclosed. Embodiments and combinations of features can also be regarded as disclosed which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail making reference to schematic drawings, in which:
In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.
In particular, a module attachment is formed by the front pane 6, the functional frame 7 and the frame 8 separate therefrom, which module attachment is arranged on a front side 15 of the further pane 9. This further pane 9 here in particular represents a front pane of the pane pack 10. The module attachment is thus arranged adjacently around the pane pack 10 on the front side.
As can also be seen in
As can also be seen in
As can be seen in
It is provided that the door 5 has a fascia panel 26 which is separate from the functional frame 7 and also from the further frame 8. This fascia panel 26 is arranged, in particular directly, on the upper edge 25 of the front pane 6. It fully covers the upper edge 25 from above. This fascia panel 26 likewise has a subregion 27 which projects upward and is arranged with an oblique orientation which corresponds to the oblique orientation of the delimiting web 23. When viewed in the depth direction, this subregion 27 projects forward in relation to the front pane 6, in particular the upper edge 25. A corresponding collar is thereby formed.
The fascia panel 26 extends beyond this and partially behind the front pane 6, and rests on a rear side 28 of the front pane 6. Furthermore, it is provided in particular that this fascia panel 26 and the functional frame 7 rest directly on one another.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the recessed grip 22 is delimited on the rear side by the further pane 9. The front side 15 thus forms a direct delimiting wall of the recessed grip 22. When viewed in the depth direction, the recessed grip 22 is thus arranged in front of the further pane 9 and in particular also outside and in front of the pane pack 10.
Furthermore,
As already shown in
As can be seen here, this funnel shape is oriented such that the oblique walls 31 to 34 widen out in a forward direction from the further pane 9 to the front pane 6.
As can be seen here, in the exemplary embodiment the further frame 8 rests both on the front side 15 of the further pane 9 and also on the rear side 28 of the front pane 6. In particular, the further frame 8 can thus also be regarded as a spacing element in the intermediate space 20 between the front pane 6 and the further pane 9. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment the functional frame 7 likewise represents a spacing element between the front pane 6 and the further pane 9, especially in active connection with the fascia panel 26 in the upper region. In the lower region, as can be seen in
Furthermore,
In the representation in
Via the specific radiation regions 45 of the light elements 41 embodied as light guides, light is radiated in a targeted manner into the funnel-shaped connecting member 30, in particular onto the oblique walls 33, 34. Four light elements 41 are preferably provided, which are in each case arranged adjacent to an oblique wall 31, 32, 33 and 34. As a result, an almost circumferentially closed light guide can be embodied and light radiated particularly evenly onto the oblique walls 31 to 34.
In this way, a specific frame-like light pattern which can be perceived on the front side through the front pane 9 is created, in particular with a corresponding depth effect and a light image appearing accordingly through the funnel-shaped connecting member 30.
In one exemplary embodiment, this pane 52 can be the front pane 6, for example. It can also be the further pane 9.
In general, an individual lighting scenario can be created by way of the lighting device with a light element 41 and a light source 50. As a result, for example specific operating states of the cooking appliance 1 can be displayed optically. In this context, different light patterns and/or different light colors can be associated with different operating states. For example, a white illumination can be used here to indicate an activated state. In particular, it is possible for example to use a blue light color to indicate that a specific operating program is running. This operating program can be a preparation program. A further different light color, for example orange, can be used to optically indicate a pyrolysis operation of the cooking appliance.
It is also possible that, in a deactivated state of the cooking appliance, the lighting device is nevertheless operated and as a result the inactive appliance is represented with a specific ambient light in this door 5. Furthermore, in a general embodiment it is additionally provided that a type of fascia panel for components disposed therebehind, in particular of the pane pack 10, is also formed by the further frame 8 and in particular the funnel-shaped connecting member 30. Because a cut-out 56 (
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2018 214 143.6 | Aug 2019 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/065485 | 6/13/2019 | WO | 00 |
