Patent Application
20230175704
The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, and more particularly to restrictor plates to prevent contact with at least a portion of an oven appliance.
Cooking appliances generally define one or more enclosures supporting one or more heating elements. For instance, oven appliances can include a cabinet defining an insulated cooking chamber therein for receipt of food items for cooking. A cooktop having heating elements may be positioned at a top portion of the cabinet for, as an example, grilling, boiling, or frying food items thereon. Other heating elements, such as a bake heating element or broil heating element may be positioned within the cooking chamber to provide heat to food items located therein. The bake heating element is positioned at a bottom of the cooking chamber. The broil heating element positioned at a top of the cooking chamber. One or more electronic components may be housed within the cabinet outside of the cooking chamber.
In general, it can be desirable to limit a user's ability to contact or engage certain areas of an oven appliance. For instance, it may be useful to block or cover certain portions of a cabinet that might become hot during use. Recently, certain government or trade group standards having even incorporated requirements that accessible portions of an oven cabinet being maintained below one or more temperature thresholds during use. One such requirement is included in the updated UL858 standard (as is intended to take effect in March 2022), which adopts temperature thresholds for the increase in temperature for surfaces below 31 inches in gaps that are accessible by a specified access probe—such surfaces may be required to be measured by an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)-compliant temperature probe. For instance, a temperature threshold for bare or painted metal is 33° Celsius, hence the metal may be required to stay at or below is 58° Celsius in a 25° Celsius ambient environment.
In spite of the desirability to limit access or temperature to certain portions of an oven appliance, ensuring this can be difficult or expensive. For instance, simply adding insulating material to portions of the cabinet that are near the surface can significantly add to the cost or size of the oven appliance. Covering other portions of the oven appliance (e.g., near the opening to a cooking chamber) may interfere with necessary airflow, such that might be required to/from the cooking chamber or through the door. Moreover, simply adding an additional trim piece to block portion of the oven appliance, may add to the complexity, expense, or effort required, for instance, in assembling the appliance.
As a result, further improvements to oven appliances are needed. In particular, it may be advantageous to provide an oven appliance including one or more features for restricting access to certain portions of the cooking appliance (e.g., without interfering with operation, increasing the appliance footprint, or significantly raising assembly costs or complexity).
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include a cabinet and a door. The cabinet may include a top panel and a bottom panel. The cabinet may define a cooking chamber between the top panel and the bottom panel. The door may be mounted on the cabinet to selectively restrict access to the cooking chamber in a closed position. The door may include an inner liner and a rigid exterior panel. The door may extend along a vertical direction in the closed position between a top lip and a bottom lip. The bottom lip may include a base rim and a blocking panel. The base rim may extend along a lateral direction and a transverse direction beneath the rigid exterior panel. The blocking panel may extend downward from the base rim to restrict access to a front panel of the cabinet below the cooking chamber. The blocking panel may be spaced apart from the cabinet along the transverse direction.
In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a door assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The door assembly may include an inner liner and a rigid exterior panel. The inner liner may be received within a front opening of a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance. The rigid exterior panel may extend along a vertical direction between a top lip and a bottom lip. The bottom lip may include a base rim and a blocking panel. The base rim may extend along a lateral direction and a transverse direction beneath the rigid exterior panel. The blocking panel may extend downward from the base rim to restrict access to a portion of the cooking appliance below the cooking chamber.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows. Terms such as “inner” and “outer” refer to relative directions with respect to the interior and exterior of the oven appliance, and in particular the oven chamber(s) defined therein. For example, “inner” or “inward” refers to the direction towards the interior of the oven appliance. Terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the oven appliance (e.g., when the door is in the closed position). For example, a user stands in front of the oven appliance to open a door and reaches into the cooking chamber(s) to access items therein.
Turning to the figures,
Oven appliance 10 includes a cabinet 12 with an insulated cooking chamber 14 disposed within cabinet 12. Insulated cooking chamber 14 is configured for the receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. Oven appliance 10 includes a door 16 rotatably mounted to cabinet 12 (e.g., with a hinge). A handle 18 is mounted to door 16 and assists a user with opening and closing door 16 in order to access insulated cooking chamber 14. For example, a user can pull on handle 18 to open or close door 16 and access insulated cooking chamber 14.
Oven appliance 10 can include a seal (e.g., gasket) between door 16 and cabinet 12 that assists with maintaining heat and cooking fumes within insulated cooking chamber 14 when door 16 is closed as shown. Door 16 may include a window 22, constructed for example from multiple parallel glass panes to provide for viewing the contents of insulated cooking chamber 14 when door 16 is closed and assist with insulating insulated cooking chamber 14. A baking rack may be positioned in insulated cooking chamber 14 for the receipt of food items or utensils containing food items. The baking rack may be slidably received onto embossed ribs 24 or sliding rails such that the baking rack may be conveniently moved into and out of insulated cooking chamber 14 when door 16 is open.
Generally, various sidewalls define insulated cooking chamber 14. For example, insulated cooking chamber 14 includes a top wall 25 and a bottom wall 26 that are spaced apart along the vertical direction V. Left and right sidewalls 28 extend between top wall 25 and bottom wall 26, and are spaced apart along the lateral direction L. A rear wall 29 may additionally extend between the top wall 25 and bottom wall 26 as well as between the left and right sidewalls 28, and is spaced apart from door 16 along the transverse direction T. In this manner, when door 16 is in the closed position, a cooking cavity is defined by door 16 and top wall 25, bottom wall 26, sidewalls 28, rear wall 29, of insulated cooking chamber 14.
As further illustrated, cabinet 12 includes multiple panels that enclose insulated cooking chamber 14. For example, cabinet 12 includes a top panel 30 and a bottom panel 31 that are spaced apart along the vertical direction V. Left panel 32 and right panel 33 (as defined according to the view as shown in
In the included figures, panels 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of cabinet 12 are single ply sheet metal panels, but one skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitably rigid panel may be used while remaining within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, according to exemplary embodiments, panels 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 may be constructed from a suitably rigid and thermally resistant plastic. Additionally or alternatively, each panel 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 may include multiple layers made from the same or different materials, and may be formed in any suitable shape.
A lower heating assembly (e.g., bake heating assembly 40) may be positioned in oven appliance 10, and may include one or more heating elements (e.g., bake heating elements 42). Bake heating elements 42 may be disposed within insulated cooking chamber 14, such as adjacent bottom wall 26. In exemplary embodiments as illustrated, the bake heating elements 42 are electric heating elements, as is generally understood. Alternatively, the bake heating elements 42 may be gas burners or other suitable heating elements having other suitable heating sources. Bake heating elements 42 may generally be used to heat insulated cooking chamber 14 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 10.
Additionally or alternatively, an upper heating assembly (e.g., broil heating assembly 46) may be positioned in oven appliance 10, and may include one or more upper heating elements (e.g., broil heating elements 48). Broil heating elements 48 may be disposed within insulated cooking chamber 14, such as adjacent top wall 25. In exemplary embodiments as illustrated, the broil heating elements 48 are electric heating elements, as is generally understood. Alternatively, the broil heating elements 48 may be gas burners or other suitable heating elements having other suitable heating sources. Broil heating elements 48 may additionally be used to heat insulated cooking chamber 14 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 10.
In some embodiments, oven appliance 10 includes a cooktop positioned at top panel 30 of oven appliance 10. In such embodiments, top panel 30 may be a generally planar member having an upper surface that is perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In particular, top panel 30 may be formed from glass, glass ceramic, metal, or another suitable material. A plurality of heating assemblies (e.g., cooktop heating assemblies 50) may be mounted to or otherwise positioned on top panel 30. In some embodiments, heating assemblies 50 are positioned above insulated cooking chamber 14 of cabinet 12 (i.e., higher relative to the vertical direction V). Optionally, heating assemblies 50 may extend between cooking chamber 14 and top panel 30, within an open region that is defined between top panel 30 and the insulated cooking chamber 14. Cooking utensils, such as pots, pans, griddles, etc., may be placed on top panel 30 and heated with heating assemblies 50 during operation of the cooktop. In
In some embodiments, oven range appliance 10 also includes features for limiting or reducing heat transfer within door 16 (e.g., along the transverse direction T during operation of oven range appliance 10). As may be seen in
In some embodiments, door 16 defines an intake 76, an internal conduit or channel 74, and an exhaust 78. In some embodiments, intake 76 of door 16 is positioned at or adjacent bottom lip 72 of door 16 and permits air therethrough. For example, intake 76 may be defined by a restrictor plate 100 included with bottom lip 72, as will be described in greater detail below. Conversely, exhaust 78 of door 16 is positioned at or adjacent top lip 70 of door 16. Channel 74 extends between intake 76 of door 16 and exhaust 78 of door 16 (e.g., such that intake 76 and exhaust 78 are in fluid communication with each other when door 16 is in the closed position). Channel 74 may be defined, at least in part, by inner liner 92. Additionally or alternatively, channel 74 may be defined between inner liner 92 and rigid exterior panel 94 (e.g., along the transverse direction T when door 16 is in the closed position). During use, channel 74 permits the flow of air to flow through door 16 from intake 76 to exhaust 78. Exhaust 78 may be located at top surface of the door 16, a front surface of door 16, or a combination thereof.
The flow of air through door 16 can assist with limiting or reducing heat transfer along the transverse direction T (e.g., during operation of bottom or top heating elements 42 and 48 of oven range appliance 10). As an example, an inner surface of door 16 faces and is positioned adjacent cooking chamber 14 of cabinet 12 when door 16 is in the closed position. Conversely, an outer surface of door 16 is positioned opposite inner surface of door 16 and faces away from cooking chamber 14 of cabinet 12 when door 16 is in the closed position. The flow of air can be cool relative to the inner surface of door 16 such that the flow of air limits or reduces heat transfer between the inner surface of door 16 and the outer surface of door 16 during operation of bottom or top heating elements 48 and 42 of oven range appliance 10 (e.g., such that the outer surface of door 16 is cool relative to the inner surface of door 16). In such a manner, the outer surface of door 16 can be insulated.
In some embodiments, oven appliance 10 includes a drawer 80 movably mounted to cabinet 12. For instance, drawer 80 may be slidably mounted to cabinet 12 to selectively move forward/rearward along the transverse direction T. One or more slidable rails, bearings, or assemblies may be installed or mounted between drawer 80 and cabinet 12 to facilitate movement of drawer 80 relative to cabinet 12, as would be understood. As shown, drawer 80 may be disposed generally below cooking chamber 14. In particular, drawer 80 may be disposed below door 16 and restrictor plate 100 (e.g., such that neither door 16 nor restrictor plate 100 is in contact with drawer 80). Generally, drawer 80 is disposed between left panel 32 and right panel 33 (e.g., along the lateral direction L) Optionally, drawer 80 may be disposed above bottom panel 31. Alternatively, drawer 80 may be disposed below bottom panel 31 (e.g., such that an open cavity or recess is defined between panels 32, 33 below bottom panel 31 to receive drawer 80).
Oven appliance 10 is further equipped with a controller 58 to regulate operation of the oven appliance 10. For example, controller 58 may regulate the operation of oven appliance 10, including activation of heating elements 42, 48, 50, as well as heating assemblies 40, 46 generally. Controller 58 may be in operable communication (e.g., via a suitable electronic wired connection) with the heating elements 42, 48, 50 and other components of the oven appliance 10, as discussed herein. In general, controller 58 may be operable to configure the oven appliance 10 (and various components thereof) for cooking. Such configuration may be based on a plurality of cooking factors of a selected operating cycles, sensor feedback, etc.
By way of example, controller 58 may include one or more memory devices (e.g., non-transitive media) and one or more microprocessors, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with an operating cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In exemplary embodiments, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.
Controller 58 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout oven appliance 10. For instance, controller 58 may be located within a user interface panel 60 of oven appliance 10, as shown in
It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular style, model, or configuration of oven appliance 10. The exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures are for illustrative purposes only. For example, different locations may be provided for user interface panel 60, different configurations may be provided for the baking rack or ribs 24, different cooling air flow paths may be utilized, and other differences may be applied as well.
Turning now generally to
Generally, restrictor plate 100 (and thus bottom lip 72) includes a base rim 110 that extends along the lateral direction L from a first plate side 130 to a second plate side 132. Base rim 110 may further extend along the transverse direction T between a forward edge 112 (e.g., at a front surface of door 16) and a rearward edge 114. Although rearward edge 114 is disposed rearward from forward edge 112, rearward edge 114 may also be spaced apart from at least a portion of inner liner 92 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). Thus, rearward edge 114 may be held forward from a rearmost surface of inner liner 92. As shown, base rim 110 may be disposed beneath (e.g., directly beneath) rigid exterior panel 94. In some such embodiments, rigid exterior panel 94 is supported on base rim 110. For instance a bottom edge of rigid exterior panel 94 may rest on base rim 110.
In optional embodiments, a front rim 116 extends vertically (e.g., upward) from base rim 110. For instance, front rim 116 may extend upward from the forward edge 112. When assembled, front rim 116 may be disposed in front of a portion of rigid exterior panel 94. Front rim 116 may be disposed against a front-facing surface 118 of rigid exterior panel 94. Thus, front rim 116 may contain or restrict movement of rigid exterior panel 94 (e.g., forward movement along the transverse direction T).
Separate from or in addition to front rim 116, restrictor plate 100 may include an internal tab 138 that extends vertically (e.g., upward) from base rim 110. For instance, front rim 116 may extend upward from base rim 110 at a location rearward from forward edge 112 (e.g., between forward edge 112 and rearward edge 114 along the transverse direction T). When assembled, internal tab 138 may be disposed behind a portion of rigid exterior panel 94 (e.g., within channel 74). In some such embodiments, internal tab 138 may be disposed against and extend along a rearward surface of rigid exterior panel 94. Optionally, a plurality of discrete internal tabs 138 are provided on base rim 110. For instance, multiple internal tabs 138 may be laterally spaced apart along the base rim 110. Exterior panel 94 may be transversely bounded or held in place (e.g., relative to the transverse direction T) by front rim 116 and the internal tabs 138.
Restrictor plate 100 may further include a rigid blocking panel 120 that extends downward from base rim 110 (e.g., parallel or at a non-orthogonal angle relative to vertical direction V) from a top end 122 to a bottom end 124. In particular, blocking panel 120 may extend downward from rearward edge 114 of base rim 110. Blocking panel 120 further extends along the lateral direction L. Optionally, blocking panel 120 may extend along all or substantially all (e.g., more than 75%) of the lateral length from first plate side 130 to second plate side 132. When assembled a forward facing surface 134 is generally directed outward (e.g., in the transverse direction T), away from front panel 35 (e.g., and a rearmost surface of inner liner 92). As shown, forward facing surface 134 may further be directed downward. Opposite of forward facing surface 134, a rearward facing surface 136 is directed inward (e.g., in the transverse direction T), toward front panel 35 or cooking chamber 14 (e.g., and a rearmost surface of inner liner 92). Optionally, one or more gussets 140 may be formed between base rim 110 and blocking panel 120. Such gussets 140 may extend transversely across the rearward edge 114, for instance, from base rim 110 and to blocking panel 120.
In some embodiments, restrictor plate 100 (i.e., and thus bottom lip 72) defines one or more tab apertures 142. As shown, tab aperture 142 extends along the vertical direction V. Specifically, tab aperture 142 extends through blocking panel 120 or base rim 110. Tab aperture 142 may be formed as an suitable shape, but generally has a profile or perimeter with a maximum aperture dimension 144 and a minimum aperture dimension 146 (e.g., perpendicular to the passage defined by tab aperture 152, such as parallel to a corresponding portion of base rim 110 or blocking panel 120). The minimum aperture dimension 144, in particular, may be less than or equal to 9 millimeters (e.g., less than or equal to 8.6 millimeters). Notably, a UL-compliant access probe may be prevented from passing through a tab aperture 142. In certain embodiments, tab aperture 142 is formed from the stamping, bending, or otherwise separating of a select amount of material from blocking panel 120 or base rim 110 to form a corresponding internal tab 138. As shown, internal tab 138 extends vertically from a perimeter of the tab aperture 142. In some such embodiments, tab aperture 142 may generally be disposed rearward from internal tab 138. When assembled, tab aperture 142 may be defined rearward from the rigid exterior panel 94.
In exemplary embodiments, multiple discrete tab apertures 142 are defined. As shown, one or more of the tab apertures 142 may be spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction L. In optional embodiments, each tab aperture 142 corresponds to a discrete internal tab 138. Nonetheless, in alternative embodiments, each tab aperture 142 may correspond to multiple internal tabs 138, such as illustrated in
Returning generally to
In some embodiments, restrictor plate 100 further includes one or more mounting tabs securing restrictor plate 100 to door 16. For instance, one or more mechanical fasteners 102 may secure restrictor plate 100 to door 16 (e.g., by being disposed through the mounting tabs). As shown, one or more mounting tabs may be joined to inner liner 92. In some such embodiments, one or more mounting tabs (e.g., rear mounting tabs 152) may be disposed rearward from blocking panel 120. As shown, such rear mounting tabs 152 may extend horizontally. For instance, a bent mounting rim may extend upward (e.g., parallel to vertical direction V or at a non-orthogonal angle relative to transverse direction T) from blocking panel 120 while a rear mounting tab 152 extends horizontally (e.g., along the transverse direction T) from the bent mounting rim. As shown, multiple discrete rear mounting tabs 152 may be laterally spaced apart from each other (e.g., along a common bent mounting rim). Separate from or in addition to rear mounting tabs 152, a pair of intermediate mounting tabs 154 may be provided on restrictor plate 100. When assembled, rear mounting tabs 152 may be joined to separate side trim supports 158 (e.g., of the hinge assembly for door 16 or which otherwise extend vertically at opposite lateral sides of door 16). For instance, such intermediate mounting tabs 154 may extend vertically upward from restrictor plate 100. One intermediate mounting tab 154 may be disposed proximal to first plate side 130 while the other intermediate mounting tab 154 is disposed proximal to second plate side 132. Corresponding mechanical fasteners 102 may be disposed horizontally through such intermediate mounting tabs 154. As shown, the intermediate mounting tabs 154 may extend (e.g., directly) upward from base rim 110 (e.g., laterally outward from blocking panel 120). Optionally, one or more gussets 140 may be formed between base rim 110 and each intermediate mounting tabs 154. Such gussets 140 may extend transversely across the rearward edge 114, for instance, from base rim 110 and to a corresponding intermediate mounting tab 154.
Separate from or in addition to either rear mounting tabs 152 or intermediate mounting tabs 154, one or more skin mounting tabs 156 may be provided on restrictor plate 100. Such skin mounting tabs 156 may be selectively joined to an optional front skin 160 that can extend across a portion of the front surface of door 16 (e.g., to frame or visually bound at least a portion of exterior panel 94 or window 22—
Although restrictor plate 100 is mounted to door 16, though, restrictor plate 100 may also be spaced apart from cabinet 12. For instance, restrictor plate 100 may be at least spaced apart from front panel 35 along the transverse direction T. Thus, restrictor plate 100 may be prevented from contacting cabinet 12 (e.g., even when door 16 is moved to an open position or otherwise away from the closed position).
Along with being spaced apart from cabinet 12, restrictor plate 100 may be spaced apart from drawer 80. Specifically, restrictor plate 100 may be held above drawer 80 along the vertical direction. A vertical gap may be defined between an uppermost edge of drawer 80 and the bottom end 124 of restrictor plate 100.
In some embodiments, restrictor plate 100 spans the lateral distance or length of the opening to cooking chamber 14. As an example, cooking chamber 14 may extend along a lateral length in the lateral direction L between a first chamber side (e.g., at left panel 32) and a second chamber side (e.g., at right panel 34). In turn, restrictor plate 100 may extend along its own lateral length to span past the lateral length of cooking chamber 14. Thus, the first plate side 130 may be disposed outward from the first chamber 82 (e.g., to the left thereof) and the second plate side 132 may be disposed outward from the second chamber side (e.g., to the right thereof). Attempts to access any gap between door 16 and opening from an area beneath door 16 may thus be blocked by restrictor plate 100.
Advantageously, the above-described embodiments of door 16 or restrictor plate 100 may prevent access to otherwise elevated-temperature surfaces without interfering with operation, increasing the appliance footprint, or significantly raising assembly costs or complexity of appliance 10. Moreover, restrictor plate 100 may notably support front panel 94 while permitting air to door 16 (e.g., without permitting significant physical access to an internal channel 74 or otherwise creating a risk of a user engaging a hot surface)
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
