Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6242724
-
Patent Number
6,242,724
-
Date Filed
Thursday, December 30, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walberg; Teresa
- Pwu; Jeffrey
Agents
- Bushnell, Esq.; Robert E.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 219 756
- 219 752
- 219 763
- 219 521
- 219 754
- 219 755
- 126 340
- 126 339
- 312 236
- 099 DIG 14
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting capacity of a cooking chamber of a microwave oven, including a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber and a second cavity; and an adjustable section for selectively adjusting the capacity of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first and second cavities by being selectively coupled in the body.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. ยง119 from my application MICROWAVE OVEN filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jan. 21, 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1810/1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly to a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting a capacity of a cooking chamber which is defined within an integrally formed case of the microwave oven.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a microwave oven is a device for cooking food by using microwaves. The microwaves are generated by a magnetron, and are radiated into the food to collide the molecules in the food so that frictional heat is generated to cook the food. There are various types of microwave ovens, and one example is shown in FIG.
1
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the microwave oven includes a body
10
having a box-shaped case
11
, and front and rear panels
12
and
13
which are arranged in front and back of the case
11
, respectively. In the case
11
, a cooking chamber
30
is formed to receive the food to be cooked, and the cooking chamber
30
is opened/closed by a door
20
which is pivotally mounted on one side of the front panel
12
.
Meanwhile, as shown in
FIG. 2A
, the cooking chamber
30
formed within the case
11
has a rather sufficient capacity due to the existence of a first cavity
31
which is concaved from an upper side of the case
11
, and a second cavity
32
which is communicated with the first cavity
31
.
Then, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the cooking chamber of a reduced capacity, the case
11
is integrally formed in a manner that the space defined by the first cavity
31
is removed, while the space defined by the second cavity
32
remains. Such is shown in FIG.
2
B.
Further, the microwave oven includes a device chamber
40
which is defined at an inner side of the microwave oven. In the device chamber
40
, electric components such as a magnetron (not shown) for generating high frequency microwaves, a high voltage transformer
41
for transmitting high voltage to the magnetron, and a high voltage capacitor
42
, etc., and other components such as a fan motor
43
for cooling the heat generated from the respective electric components, etc., are installed. The device chamber
40
is enclosed by an outer panel
50
.
Further, in front of the device chamber
40
, a control panel
60
is formed on the front panel
12
, having a plurality of function buttons for inputting user's commands about cooking functions and operation execution, etc.
In the microwave oven constructed as above, the cooking operation begins as the user places the receptacle holding the food to be cooked on a tray in the cooking chamber
30
, and manipulates the function buttons on the control panel
60
. As the cooking operation begins, the microwaves are generated from the magnetron (not shown) in the device chamber
40
, and are radiated into the food through certain processes, to heat/cook the food.
The conventional microwave oven, however, has a shortcoming particularly when manufacturing the case for defining the cooking chamber as follows:
As shown in
FIG. 2A
, when manufacturing the cooking chamber
30
with sufficiently large capacity, the second cavity
32
is communicated with the first cavity
31
which is concaved from the upper side of the case
11
. Meanwhile, when manufacturing the cooking chamber
30
with a reduced capacity, the second cavity
31
is removed, and the case
11
is integrally formed as shown in FIG.
2
B.
Accordingly, an additional cost is required for molding the case, and the manufacturing cost increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting capacities thereof by an adjustable member without having to manufacture cases for the respective capacities.
The above object is accomplished by a microwave oven including: a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber and a second cavity; and adjustable section for selectively adjusting capacities of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first and second cavities by being selectively coupled in the body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the invention, and may of the attendant advantages, thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of a conventional microwave oven;
FIGS. 2A and 2B
are sectional views of the conventional microwave oven having cooking chambers of different capacities, respectively;
FIG. 3
is a front perspective view of a microwave oven showing the inner structure of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of an adjustable plate employed to adjust the capacities of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of the microwave oven having a reduced capacity by the adjustable plate shown in
FIG. 4
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
FIG. 3
is a front perspective view of a microwave oven showing the inner structure of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention, and
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of an adjustable plate employed to adjust the capacities of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention.
The microwave oven according to the present invention includes a box-shaped case
11
. A cooking chamber
30
is formed within the case
11
. The cooking chamber is defined by a first cavity
31
concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber
30
, and a second cavity
32
.
Further, the cooking chamber
30
has an adjustable section
70
for adjusting the capacities of the cooking chamber
30
by blocking the first cavity
31
from the second cavity
32
.
Here, the adjustable section
70
is made of a rectangular adjustable plate
75
of a certain thickness which has substantially the same width as the second cavity
32
. The adjustable plate
75
includes a pair of coupling protrusions
73
protruded from a rear side, and a pair of locking protrusions
74
protruded from the upper surface of the adjustable plate
75
at the front side portion of the adjustable plate
75
.
Meanwhile, the second cavity
32
has a pair of coupling holes
71
formed on a rear wall
33
thereof, to receive the pair of coupling protrusions formed on the rear side of the adjustable plate
75
. Further, the second cavity
32
includes a pair of locking holes
72
formed on an upper wall
34
thereof, to receive the pair of locking protrusions
74
protruded from the upper surface of the adjustable plate
75
at the front side portion thereof.
Here, the pair of coupling protrusions
73
are supported just by being inserted in the coupling holes
71
. The pair of locking protrusions
74
, however, are forcibly inserted in the pair of locking holes
72
, and accordingly, it is preferable that the pair of locking protrusions
74
are made of wedge-shaped hook members which have a certain elasticity.
Although it is depicted as the coupling and locking protrusions
73
and
74
are formed in pairs on the adjustable plate
75
, and the coupling and locking holes
71
and
72
are formed in pairs on the second cavity
32
, the number of coupling and locking protrusions and holes
73
,
74
and
71
,
72
can be increased for a greater degree of coupling with the adjustable plate
75
.
Also, it is more preferable that the adjustable plate
75
is made of a permeable synthetic resin such as a polypropylene and mica sheet, etc., for permitting an efficient permeation of the microwaves from the magnetron therethrough. At the same time, however, it is also possible that the adjustable plate
75
is made of the same metallic plate as the upper wall
34
of the cooking chamber
30
.
Since the operation of the subject microwave oven constructed as above is the same as the operation of the conventional microwave oven, a repetitious description thereof will be omitted, but attention is invited to the unique features of the present invention.
First, when manufacturing the case
11
of the subject microwave oven, the second cavity
32
and the first cavity
31
concaved from the second cavity
32
and communicated with the second cavity
32
are made in a manner that the first and second cavities
31
and
32
integrally form the case
11
.
A pair of coupling holes
71
are formed on the upper side of the rear wall
33
of the second cavity
32
, and a pair of locking holes
72
are formed on the front side of the upper wall
34
.
Next, the rectangular adjustable plate
75
of a certain thickness having substantially the same width as the second cavity
32
is made. Here, a pair of coupling protrusions
73
are protruded from the rear side of the adjustable plate
75
to correspond with the pair of coupling holes
71
formed on the second cavity
32
. Further, on the front side of the adjustable plate
75
, a pair of locking protrusions
74
are protruded to correspond with the pair of locking holes
72
of the second cavity
32
.
Accordingly, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the case
11
with a sufficiently large capacity, the microwave oven is forwarded for shipment without employing the adjustable plate
75
therein, in an initial state in which the first and second cavities
31
and
32
integrally form the case
11
by being communicated with each other.
Then, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the case
11
with reduced capacity, the adjustable plate
75
is employed in the cooking chamber
30
as the coupling protrusions
73
of the adjustable plate
75
are coupled with the coupling holes
71
of the second cavity
32
, and the locking protrusions
74
are locked in the locking holes
72
of the second cavity
32
. Accordingly, the first cavity
31
is sealed from the second cavity
32
.
As a result of employing the adjustable plate
75
in the microwave oven, the capacity of the cooking chamber
30
is decreased, so that the microwave oven having available space within the second cavity
32
only is mass-produced.
Accordingly, by integrally forming the case
11
with the first and second cavities
31
and
32
, and by selectively attaching or detaching the adjustable plate
75
in or from the case
11
, the capacity of the cooking chamber
30
is easily adjusted.
As described above, according to the present invention, the case
11
defining the cooking chamber
30
of the microwave oven is integrally formed, while the capacity thereof is selectively adjustable. Accordingly, an additional cost for molding the case is reduced, and the total manufacturing cost is decreased.
Although it is depicted that the capacity of the case
11
of the microwave oven is adjusted by the adjustable plate
75
, which is selectively attached or detached in or from the case during the manufacturing process in the present invention, such is not limited thereto only, but can have modifications such as enabling a user to adjust the capacity of the cooking chamber
30
by himself/herself with the adjustable plate
75
which can be distributed along with the microwave oven, or the like.
Further, although it is depicted that the first cavity
31
is formed on the upper wall of the cooling chamber
30
, such is also not limited thereto, but can have modifications such as the first cavity
31
is formed on the rear wall of the cooking chamber
30
, or the like.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A microwave oven comprising:a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber, and a second cavity; and adjustable means for selectively adjusting a capacity of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first cavity from the second cavity by being selectively attached in the body.
- 2. The microwave oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable means is comprised of a rectangular plate member.
- 3. The microwave oven as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the adjustable means comprises:a plurality of coupling protrusions protruded from a rear side thereof; and a plurality of locking protrusions protruded from an upper surface of the adjustable means at a front side thereof, and the body comprises: a plurality of coupling holes formed on a rear wall of the second cavity to receive the plurality of coupling protrusions of the adjustable means, and a plurality of locking holes formed on an upper wall of the second cavity to receive the plurality of locking protrusions of the adjustable means.
- 4. The microwave oven as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of coupling protrusions are supported simply by being inserted into the coupling holes of the second cavity, and the plurality of locking protrusions are formed of hook members having a certain elasticity to be forcibly inserted in the plurality of locking holes of the second cavity, respectively.
- 5. The microwave oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable means is comprised of permeable synthetic resins which permit microwaves to pass therethrough.
- 6. The microwave oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable means is comprised of a metallic plate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
P99-1810 |
Jan 1999 |
KR |
|
US Referenced Citations (7)