GAS COOKER

Abstract

A gas cooker is provided. First and second front burners are disposed on the left and the right of a front upper surface of a top plate at an interval in a row. Lower ignition parts of the first and second front burners are disposed at a distance from an imaginary straight line passing through central points of the first and second front burners in parallel with the front end of the top plate, toward a front end of the top plate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0033884 (filed on Apr. 17, 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cooker, and more particularly, to a gas cooker heating items to be cooked using gas.

A cooker refers to an electronic home appliance that heats items to be cooked (hereinafter, referred to as “foods”) using gas or electricity. Especially, some cookers such as a gas range and a gas oven are equipped with a plurality of top burners. The top burner heats foods directly by a flame generated by burning gas. A plurality of the top burners is arranged at intervals on an upper surface of a top plate which forms an upper surface of the gas range or the gas oven.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a gas cooker improved in safety during use.

In one embodiment, a gas cooker includes: a top plate; first and second front burners arranged at an interval in a row on the left and the right of a front upper surface of the top plate, each comprising a lower ignition part for mounting of a spark plug; and at least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate. The lower ignition part of the first front burner may be disposed nearer to a front end of the top plate than an imaginary straight line passing through a central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is, and the lower ignition part of the second front burner may be disposed nearer to the front end of the top plate than an imaginary straight line passing through a central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is.

In another embodiment, a gas cooker includes: a top plate; first and second front burners arranged in a row on left and right ends of a front upper surface of the top plate, each comprising a lower ignition part for mounting of a spark plug; and at least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate. An imaginary straight line extending from a central point of the first front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with a front end of the top plate may be inclined to each other by a predetermined angle, and an imaginary straight line extending from a central point of the second front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate may be inclined to each other by a predetermined angle

In another embodiment, a gas cooker includes a top plate; a first front burner disposed at a left end of a front upper surface of the top plate and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof; a second front burner disposed at a right end of the front upper surface of the top plate, forming a row with the first front burner, and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof; and at least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof. The flame holes of the first and second front burners may be arranged along the circumferences of the first and second front burners except parts of the circumferences within an area defined by the straight line passing through a central point of the first front burner perpendicularly to a front end of the top plate, the straight line passing through a central point of the second front burner perpendicularly to the front end of the top plate, an imaginary straight line passing through the central points, and the front end of the top plate.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas cooker according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing main parts of the gas cooker according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are operation state views illustrating processes of a safety test for the gas cooker according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing main parts of a gas cooker according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing main parts of a gas cooker according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a gas cooker according to a first embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas cooker according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing main parts of the gas cooker according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the gas cooker 10 includes a main body 100 forming an appearance thereof. The main body 100 includes a top burner unit 200, an oven unit 300, a warming drawer 400, a back guard 500, a control panel 600 and a top burner control unit 700.

The top burner unit 200 and the oven unit 300 cook foods therein. The warming drawer 400 heats a container holding the foods.

The control panel 600 is input with an operation signal for operation of the gas cooker 10 and displays various information related to the operation of the gas cooker 10 to the outside. The top burner control unit 700 opens and closes a valve which supplies gas to the top burner unit 200. The back guard 500 guides combustion gas generated during cooking of the foods in the oven unit 300.

More specifically, the top burner unit 200 is disposed at an upper end of the main body 100. The top burner unit 200 includes a plurality of top burners 220 burning gas and thereby heating a container holding the foods. The top burner 220 will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Additionally, the top burner unit 200 is provided with a plurality of grates 270. The container to be heated by the top burner 220 is seated on the grate 270.

The oven unit 300 is disposed in the middle part of the main body 100, that is, under the top burner unit 200. A cooking chamber (not shown) is provided inside the oven unit 300. The foods are cooked by a heater (not shown) in the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is selectively opened and closed by a door 310. The door 310 pivots up and down by its upper edge about its lower edge with respect to the main body 100, thereby opening and closing the cooking chamber. A door handle 320 is disposed on an upper front part of the door 310 for a user to grip when opening and closing the door 310.

The warming drawer 400 is disposed under the oven unit 300, that is, at a lower part of the main body 100. The warming drawer 400 is mounted to move in and out of the main body 100 in a drawer manner. The container holding the foods is received in the warming drawer 400 and heated by the heater of the cooking chamber or a separate heater for warming. The warming drawer 400 includes a drawer handle 410 disposed on an upper front part thereof for a user to grip to move the warming drawer 400 in and out.

The back guard 500 is disposed at an upper rear end of the main body 100, that is, a rear part of the top burner unit 200, extending upward from the upper surface of the main body 100. The back guard 500 includes a path formed therein in communication with the cooking chamber. Accordingly, combustion gas generated in the oven unit 300 while the foods is cooked in the cooking chamber flows through the path and is discharged out of the cooking chamber.

The control panel 600 is disposed on a front surface of the back guard 500. The control panel 600 includes an input part receiving various operation signals for actual operations of the oven unit 300 and the warming drawer 400 and a display part displaying various information related to the operations of the oven unit 300 and the warming drawer 400.

The top burner control unit 700 includes a plurality of operation knobs 710 provided corresponding to the top burners 220 in number. The operation knobs 710 selectively open and close valves that supply gas to the respective top burners 220.

The top plate 210 forms an upper appearance of the top burner unit 200. The top plate 210 includes burner mounting parts 211 to which the top burners 220 are mounted. The burner mounting parts 211 protrudes upward so that parts of the top plate 210 have substantially circular cross-sections. Therefore, upper surfaces of the burner mounting parts 211 are disposed relatively higher than an upper surface of the top plate 210.

The top burners 220 may include top burners 220, 230, 240, 250, and 260 arranged on the upper surface of the top plate 210 in at least two rows, for example, front and rear rows. More specifically, the top burners 220, 230, 240, 250, and 260 may be a first front burner 220, a second front burner 230, a first rear burner 240, a second rear burner 250, and a central burner 260. The first and second front burners 220 and 230 are disposed on the left and the right of a front upper surface of the top plate 210. The first and the second rear burners 250 and 250 are disposed on the left and the right of a rear upper surface of the top plate 210. The central burner 260 is disposed in the center of the top plate 210, i.e., between the first and second front burners 220 and 230 and the first and second rear burners 240 and 250. In the present embodiment, the central burner 260 has a substantial oval form extending in a forward and backward direction of the gas cooker 10.

The first and second front burners 220 and 230 respectively include burner heads 221 and 231 and burner caps 227 and 237. Referring to FIG. 2, the first and second front burners 220 and 230 respectively include a plurality of flame holes 223 and 233 arranged along circumferences of the burner heads 221 and 231. A gas mixture, that is, a mixture of air and the gas supplied to the first and second front burners 220 and 230 is discharged through the flame holes 223 and 233 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230. In addition, the burner heads 221 and 231 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 respectively include lower ignition parts 225 and 235. The lower ignition parts 225 and 235 each include a spark plug (not shown) for ignition of the gas mixture discharged from the flame holes 223 and 233 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230. The lower ignition parts 225 and 235 are each disposed at one side of the circumference of each of the burner heads 221 and 231. Accordingly, the flame holes 223 and 233 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 are not formed at one side of the circumferences of the burner heads 221 and 231, that is, positions corresponding to the lower ignition parts 225 and 235 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230. The burner caps 227 and 237 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 are seated on upper surfaces of the burner heads 221 and 231.

The first and second rear burners 240 and 250, and the central burner 260 also include burner heads 241, 251, and 261 and burner caps 247, 257, and 267, respectively. Since the first and second rear burners 240 and 250 and the central burner 260 are structured substantially in the same manner as the first and second front burners 220 and 230, a detailed description about the structure of the rear burners 240 and 250 and the central burner 260 will be omitted.

Meanwhile, one of safety tests for gas cookers tests whether a fabric T (FIG. 4) ignites, which is attached to a front side of containers C1 and C2 (See FIGS. 3 and 4) holding foods by the first and second front burners 220 and 230. According to the present embodiment, positions of the lower ignition parts 225 and 235 of the first and second burners 220 and 230 are restricted such that ignition of the fabric T used in the safety test is prevented.

More specifically, the lower ignition part 225 of the first front burner 220 is disposed in such a manner that a straight line M1 extending from the central point A1 of the first front burner 220 to the lower ignition part 225 of the first front burner 220 is inclined forward by a predetermined angle, exemplarily by less than about 10°, with respect to an imaginary straight line L1 passing through the central point A1 of the first front burner 220 in parallel with a front end of the top plate 210. Also, the lower ignition part 235 of the second front burner 230 is disposed in such a manner that a straight line M2 extending from a central point A2 of the second front burner 230 to the lower ignition part 235 of the second front burner 230 is inclined forward by a predetermined angle, exemplarily, by less than about 10°, with respect to an imaginary straight line L2 passing through the central point A2 of the second front burner 230 in parallel with the front end of the top plate 210. Here, the lower ignition parts 225 and 235 are disposed substantially in an area between straight lines N1 and N2 that respectively pass through the central points A1 and A2 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 in a perpendicular direction to the front end of the top plate 210.

The straight line M1 extending from the central line A1 to the lower ignition part 225 and the straight line M2 extending from the central point A2 to the lower ignition part 235 intersect in a space between the first and second front burners 220 and 230. In other words, an intersection point Q of the straight lines M1 and M2 is disposed in the space between the first and second front burners 220 and 230.

Hereinafter, the operation of the gas cooker according to the first embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are operation state views illustrating processes of the safety test for the gas cooker according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, the containers C1 and C2 holding water are seated on the grates 270 adjacent to the first and second front burners 220 and 230, respectively. Here, a predetermined quantity of the water as required for the safety test, for example, about ¾ of the containers C1 and C2, may be put in the containers C1 and C2.

Referring to FIG. 4, next, the fabric T is disposed between the first and second front burners 220 and 230 in close contact with the front surfaces of the containers C1 and C2. In this state, the operation knob 710 is operated so that the containers C1 and C2 are heated by the first and second front burners 220 and 230. More specifically, the gas mixture is supplied to the first and second front burners 220 and 230 and the spark plugs to ignite the gas mixture are operated by the operation of the operation knob 710. Next, it is observed for a predetermined time required by the safety test, for example 30 seconds, whether the fabric T is ignited by flames from the first and second front burners 220 and 230.

As described above, the lower ignition parts 225 and 235 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 are disposed where ignition of the gas mixture is not actually performed such that ignition of the fabric T is prevented. As a result, ignition of the fabric T does not occur for the predetermined time while the containers C1 and C2 are being heated by the first and second front burners 220 and 230.

Hereinafter, a gas cooker according a second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing main parts of the gas cooker according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lower ignition part 225 of the first front burner 220 is disposed in such a manner that the straight line M1 extending from the central point A1 of the first front burner 220 to the lower ignition part 225 of the first front burner 220 is inclined by about 3° 30′ or less clockwise with respect to the imaginary straight line L1 passing through the central point A1 of the first front burner 220 in parallel with the front end of the top plate 210. Also, the lower ignition part 235 of the second front burner 230 is disposed in such a manner that the straight line M2 extending from the central point A2 of the second front burner 230 to the lower ignition part 235 of the second front burner 230 is inclined by about 7° 30′ or less counterclockwise with respect to the imaginary straight line L2 passing through the central point A2 of the second front burner 230 in parallel with the front end of the top plate 210. Here, the straight line M1 extending from the central line A1 to the lower ignition part 225 and the straight line M2 extending from the central point A2 to the lower ignition part 235 intersect in the space between the first and second front burners 220 and 230.

According to the present embodiment, differently from in the first embodiment, the straight lines M1 and M2 are inclined by different angles with respect to the straight lines passing through the central points A1 and A2 of the first and second front burners 220 and 230. This is because such a configuration is experimentally proved to be more effective in preventing ignition of the fabric of the safety test regarding the first and second front burners 220 and 230 under the same condition as described above.

Hereinafter, a gas cooker according a third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing main parts of the gas cooker according to the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the flame holes 223 and 233 are arranged along the circumferences of the first and second front burners 220 and 230 but not formed at parts of the circumferences. More specifically, the flame holes 223 and 233 are not formed at the parts within an area defined by the straight line N1 passing through the central point A1 of the first front burner 220 perpendicularly to the front end of the top plate 210, the straight line N2 passing through the central point A2 of the second front burner 230 perpendicularly to the front end of the top plate 210, an imaginary straight line N3 passing through the central points A1 and A2, and the front end of the top plate 210. The lower ignition parts 225 and 235 for mounting of the spark plugs (not shown) may be mounted at the parts where the flame holes 223 and 233 are not formed.

The gas cooker according to the above embodiments is capable of securing safety for a user using a top burner disposed at a front of a top plate of the gas cooker. Consequently, the user may cook foods using the gas cooker more safely.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A gas cooker comprising: a top plate;first and second front burners arranged at an interval in a row on the left and the right of a front upper surface of the top plate, each comprising a lower ignition part for mounting of a spark plug; andat least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate,wherein the lower ignition part of the first front burner is disposed nearer to a front end of the top plate than an imaginary straight line passing through a central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is, andthe lower ignition part of the second front burner is disposed nearer to the front end of the top plate than an imaginary straight line passing through a central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is.

2. The gas cooker according to claim 1, wherein the lower ignition parts of the first and second front burners are disposed such that an imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and an imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner intersect in a space between the first and second front burners.

3. The gas cooker according to claim 1, wherein the rear burner includes first and second rear burners arranged in a row at an interval in a left and right direction.

4. A gas cooker comprising: a top plate;first and second front burners arranged in a row on left and right ends of a front upper surface of the top plate, each comprising a lower ignition part for mounting of a spark plug; andat least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate,wherein an imaginary straight line extending from a central point of the first front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with a front end of the top plate are inclined to each other by a predetermined angle, andan imaginary straight line extending from a central point of the second front burner to a center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate are inclined to each other by a predetermined angle.

5. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner intersect in a space between the first and second front burners.

6. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein an intersection point between the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner is disposed nearer to the front end of the top plate than the central points of the first and second front burners are.

7. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is the same as an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate.

8. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate, and an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate are both about 10° or less.

9. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is different from an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate.

10. The gas cooker according to claim 4, wherein an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the first front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is about 3° 30′ or less, and an angle formed by the imaginary straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to the center of the lower ignition part of the second front burner and the imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate is about 7° 30′ or less.

11. A gas cooker comprising: a top plate;a first front burner disposed at a left end of a front upper surface of the top plate and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof;a second front burner disposed at a right end of the front upper surface of the top plate, forming a row with the first front burner, and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof; andat least one rear burner disposed at a rear upper surface of the top plate and provided with a plurality of flame holes arranged along a circumference thereof,wherein the flame holes of the first and second front burners are arranged along the circumferences of the first and second front burners except parts of the circumferences within an area defined by the straight line passing through a central point of the first front burner perpendicularly to a front end of the top plate, the straight line passing through a central point of the second front burner perpendicularly to the front end of the top plate, an imaginary straight line passing through the central points, and the front end of the top plate.

12. The gas cooker according to claim 11, wherein a straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to a central point of the part of the circumference of the first front burner, the part where the flame hole is not formed, is inclined by about 10° clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate, and a straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to a central point of the part of the circumference of the second front burner, the part where the flame hole is not formed, is inclined by about 10° clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate.

13. The gas cooker according to claim 11, wherein a straight line extending from the central point of the first front burner to a central point of the part of the circumference of the first front burner, the part where the flame hole is not formed, is inclined by about 3° 30′ clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the first front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate, and a straight line extending from the central point of the second front burner to a central point of the part of the circumference of the second front burner, the part where the flame hole is not formed, is inclined by about 7° 30′ clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to an imaginary straight line passing through the central point of the second front burner in parallel with the front end of the top plate.

14. The gas cooker according to claim 11, wherein a spark plug for ignition of a gas mixture discharged through the flame holes of the first and second front burners is mounted at the parts of the circumferences of the first and second front burners, the parts where the flame holes are not formed.