Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6561180
-
Patent Number
6,561,180
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, January 15, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 13, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bennett; Henry
- Basichas; Alfred
Agents
- Diederiks & Whitelaw, PLC
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An oven door assembly having a minimum number of required components parts is constructed by attaching a pair of spaced hinge assemblies, preferably through a tab and slot arrangement to the first panel, and positioning a central window pack on a first panel. A second panel is then snap-fit directly through the hinge assemblies to the first panel, thereby indirectly securing the second panel to the first panel through the hinge assemblies with the window pack therebetween.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cooking appliances and, more particularly, the construction and assembly of an oven door which includes components that are snap-fit together in order to simplify assembly and reduce production costs.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Ovens and their general construction are well known. In general, an oven includes a cooking cavity having an opening which is selectively closed by a door assembly. Usually, ovens are of two general configurations, the ovens are either built-in units, i.e. into a cabinet or wall, or the oven is a free standing range including a cooktop. The doors furnished with ovens can be composed of multiple components which can include a sealing panel, thermal insulation, a window, an intermediate panel, an outer panel, handles, hinges and, in some instances, a decorative face covering. In order to join all of the aforementioned components into a door, a large number of fasteners or welds are typically required.
A major disadvantage of this known arrangement is the number of assembly operations and fasteners required to construct the oven door. The relatively large number of parts, and complexity of construction increases manufacturing costs. As the home appliance industry is highly competitive, reducing the number of component parts and simplifying construction could lead to a tremendous cost and efficiency savings. However, the overall assembly must still be structurally sound and reliable. Although attempts have been made to simplify the overall construction of an oven door, there exists a need in the art for an improved oven door construction assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An oven door constructed in accordance with the present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the art by reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall construction of an oven door. Specifically, the oven door of the present invention includes a first panel adapted to seal the oven cavity of a cooking appliance, a hinge assembly secured to the first panel, at least one internal door component positioned against the first panel, and a second panel which is snap-fit to the hinge assembly securing the internal door component in position.
Preferably, the hinge assembly is secured to the first panel by first positioning a tab located on a first end of the hinge assembly in a slot provided on an edge portion of the first panel. The hinge assembly is then rotated so as to be positioned against the first panel. Once the hinge assembly is in place, the internal door component(s) is installed in at central portion of first panel. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, a pre-assembled internal component taking the form of a window pack is utilized. More specifically, the window pack includes an interlocking frame assembly which utilizes matching L-shaped frame elements designed to secure two glass panes in a spaced relationship. Each of the L-shaped frame elements includes a tab and slot structure designed to snap-fit the frame elements into a substantially rectangular support for the glass panes. Once the internal door components are in position, a second panel is snap-fit to the hinge assembly thereby securing the window pack between the first and second panels.
Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the invention provides for an oven door assembly having a minimum number of required component parts and employs constructions steps which simplifies the construction process and leads to an overall cost savings for the manufacturer. In any event, additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a wall oven including multiple oven cavities having associated, identical door assemblies constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the door assembly shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is an exploded view of a window pack incorporated in the door assembly of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged view of a portion of the window pack of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is an enlarged, cross-sectional side view of a frame connection utilized in the window pack of
FIGS. 3 and 4
;
FIG. 6
is a perspective, partly assembled view of the door assembly of the invention;
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view of a snap-fit connection portion of the door assembly of the invention in an initial connection stage; and
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 7
, but depicting the snap-fit connection in a final connection stage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With initial reference to
FIG. 1
, an oven door assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at
1
. Although the actual cooking appliance to which door assembly
1
can be applied can vary, the invention is shown in connection with a cooking appliance
2
depicted as a wall oven. In the embodiment shown, cooking appliance
2
constitutes a dual oven wall unit which includes identically constructed upper and lower oven door assemblies
1
. Cooking appliance
2
further includes a structural frame
3
supporting an upper cooking cavity
4
and a lower cooking cavity
5
. According to the present invention, an associated door assembly
1
is provided to selectively provide access to a respective one of upper and lower cooking cavities
4
and
5
. Although cooking appliance
2
is depicted as a wall oven, it should be understood that door assembly
1
is not limited to this model type and can be incorporated into various types of oven configurations, e.g., cabinet mounted ovens and ranges.
Cooking appliance
2
is shown to incorporate an upper control panel
12
. In the embodiment shown, control panel
12
includes first and second rows of oven control buttons
13
and
14
for programming, in combination with a numeric pad
15
and a display
17
, particular cooking operations for oven cavities
4
and
5
respectively. Since the general programming and operation of cooking appliance
2
is known in the art and does not form part of the present invention, these features will not be discussed further here.
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of door assembly
1
according to the preferred embodiment and illustrates the various internal components of door assembly
1
. The major internal components are: a first panel
67
, hinge assemblies
68
and
69
, a window pack
70
, a second panel
71
, and an outer panel
73
. Outer panel
73
has associated therewith a handle
74
(see
FIG. 1
) and a decorative cover
75
to complete the assembly. The construction and interconnection of these components will now be described in detail.
First panel
67
is preferably, substantially rectangular and includes a multi-level base portion
80
, a window opening
81
, and a peripheral edge portion
82
. More specifically, peripheral edge portion
82
is defined by a top portion
84
, a bottom portion
85
, a left side portion
86
and a right side portion
87
. Top portion
84
includes a first end
89
having a pair of adjacent slots
90
and a second end
91
having matching slots
92
. Bottom portion
85
includes a first end
93
having a slotted opening
94
having both vertical and horizontal components and a second end
95
having a matching opening
96
which also extends in two, substantially perpendicular planes. Slots
90
and
92
, as well as openings
94
and
96
, are provided in connection with the mounting of the hinge assemblies
68
and
69
to the first panel
67
as will be detailed more fully below.
Hinge assemblies
68
and
69
are substantially identically constructed and therefore a detailed description will now be provided in connection with the construction of hinge assembly
68
and it is to be understood that hinge assembly
69
is correspondingly constructed. Hinge assembly
68
is constituted by a hinge bar
103
having a first end
104
and a second end
105
. A pivoting hinge arm
107
projects forward from second end
105
of hinge bar
103
. Hinge arm
107
is adapted to extend through opening
94
and to be interconnected with the frame
3
of cooking appliance
2
to pivotally mount door assembly
1
across a respective oven cavity
4
,
5
. In the most preferred embodiment, hinge bar
103
is constituted by an elongated U-shaped channel member including opposing side portions
109
and
110
joined through a web
111
(also see FIGS.
7
and
8
). Each of side portions
109
and
110
includes a plurality of snap elements
113
, such as holes, arranged at spaced locations between first end
104
and second end
105
. In addition, first end
104
including at least one tab element
118
and, preferably, a pair of adjacent tab elements
118
.
Reference will now be made to
FIGS. 2-5
in describing the preferred construction of window pack
70
of door assembly
1
. In a manner known in the art, window pack
70
is provided to enable a consumer to view the contents of a particular cooking cavity
4
,
5
. As shown, window pack
70
includes a substantially rectangular metal frame
135
and opposing panes of glass
140
and
141
. In a preferred embodiment, frame
135
includes substantially identical L-shaped frame elements
145
and
146
. Each L-shaped frame element
145
,
146
includes a long leg portion
147
and a short leg portion
148
. Additionally, each frame element
145
,
146
includes a pair of generally U-shaped tracks
155
and
156
joined by a web
158
. Tracks
155
and
156
are adapted to receive and maintain glass panes
140
and
141
in a spaced relationship. A plurality of glass retainer elements
160
are stamped into tracks
155
and
156
to support each glass pane
140
,
141
within a respective track
155
,
156
. Glass retainer elements
160
are simply defined by bent, preferably metal tab portions of tracks
155
and
156
which function to bias glass panes
140
and
141
in order to substantially reduce the effects of vibration caused by operation of door assembly
1
. To aid assembly, a tab element
165
having a spring retaining portion
166
is provided at the terminal end of each long leg portion
147
and a matching slot
170
is provided at the terminal end of each short leg portion
148
.
During assembly of window pack
70
, each of glass panes
140
and
141
are inserted into a respective one of tracks
155
and
156
of an L-shaped frame element
145
,
146
such that glass panes
140
and
141
rest against respective retainer elements
160
. The opposing L-shaped frame elements
145
and
146
are positioned such that one short leg portion
148
is arranged adjacent to a corresponding long leg portion
147
. Once positioned in this manner, each of tab elements
165
is interengaged with an associated slot
170
. In this manner, frame elements
145
and
146
are snap-fittingly interconnected to form window pack
70
.
Referring mainly to
FIG. 2
, second panel
71
is preferably, substantially rectangular in shape and includes a base portion
176
having a window opening
177
. Base portion
176
is preferably formed with an in-turned top lip
180
, an in-turned bottom lip
181
, an out-turned right side lip
182
and an out-turned left side lip
183
. As shown, each of right and left side lips
182
and
183
includes a plurality of snap members
185
arranged at spaced locations there along. In the preferred embodiment shown, snap members
185
are constituted by dimpled, resilient tab portions of right and left side lips
182
and
183
.
Outer panel
73
is preferably formed of metal and defines a substantially rectangular member including a window opening
190
. As will be discussed more fully below, outer panel
73
is adapted to encompass first and second panels
67
and
71
, with hinge assemblies
68
and
69
and window pack
70
sandwiched therebetween. Decorative panel
75
is optionally provided and preferably constitutes a glass panel having a substantially opaque outer area
192
and a substantially clear inner window area
193
. Although decorative panel
75
is preferably made of glass, various other materials could be employed for decoratively covering the outer surface of outer panel
73
. However, no decorative panel
75
need be provided.
Reference will now be made to FIGS.
2
and
6
-
8
in describing the preferred manner in which door assembly
1
is assembled. Initially, hinge assemblies
68
and
69
are secured to first panel
67
by positioning tab elements
118
within respective slots
90
and
92
on first panel
67
. Hinge assemblies
68
and
69
are then rotated into contact with first panel
67
until hinge arms
107
project through openings
96
. Next, pre-assembled window pack
70
, constructed as previously described, is positioned onto first panel
67
between hinge assemblies
68
and
69
such that window panes
140
and
141
are exposed in opening
81
. A gasket (not shown) may be provided as a seal between the perimeter of window pack
70
and opening
81
. In addition to window pack
70
, thermal insulation (not shown) of a type well known in the art is also be preferably incorporated into door assembly
1
to reduce any heat transfer from a respective oven cavity
4
,
5
to the exterior.
After window pack
70
is positioned on first panel
67
, second panel
71
is secured to first panel
67
through hinge assemblies
68
and
69
. More specifically, snap members
185
on the left panel edge
182
are engaged with associated snap elements
113
on hinge assembly
68
. Second panel
71
is subsequently rotated into contact with hinge assembly
69
, wherein the snap members
185
of right panel edge
183
are snap-fit to the associated snap elements
113
on hinge assembly
69
, wherein window pack
70
is secured therebetween.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, after second panel
71
is secured to first panel
67
through hinge members
68
and
69
, outer panel
73
is secured to first panel
67
and second panel
71
. In general, outer panel
73
and decorative panel
75
simply complete the overall oven door assembly
1
, with outer panel
73
actually extending around and being attached, preferably through the use of screws (not shown) to first panel
67
. Outer panel
73
is preferably a metal panel having a substantially rectangular area including a window opening
190
which is aligned with opening
177
. Decorative panel
75
is preferably a glass panel having a substantially opaque outer area
192
and a substantially clear inner window area
193
. Although decorative panel
75
is illustrated as glass, any suitable material for covering the outer surface of outer panel
73
would be acceptable, particularly since panel
75
is for decorative purposes and is an optional part for oven door assembly
1
. Finally, handle
74
is secured to door assembly
1
completing the construction.
Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the invention provides for an oven door assembly having relatively few component parts which are assembled in a simplified construction process, leading to a significant cost savings. In any event, it should be understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof Additionally, it should be recognized that the use of terms such as top, bottom, left and right have been presented for illustrative purposes only and should not limit the scope of the present invention. Instead, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. In a cooking appliance including an oven cavity having an associated access opening, a door assembly provided to selectively seal the opening, said door assembly comprising:a substantially rectangular first panel; at least one hinge assembly attached to the first panel, said hinge assembly including a side portion provided with a plurality of snap elements; a window pack including at least one glass pane for viewing the oven cavity through the door assembly; and a second panel including at least one edge portion provided with a plurality of snap members which are engaged with the snap elements of the at least one hinge assembly, wherein the second panel interconnected to the first panel through the hinge assembly with the window pack therebetween.
- 2. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first panel includes at least one slot for attaching the hinge assembly thereto.
- 3. The door assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hinge assembly includes at least one tab element positioned in the at least one slot.
- 4. The door assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one hinge assembly includes a pair of spaced hinge members, which each hinge member having a pivoting hinge arm at an end opposite the at least one tab element.
- 5. The door assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first panel is formed with a pair of spaced, slotted openings, each said pivoting hinge arm projecting through a respective one of the pair of slotted openings.
- 6. The door assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the slotted openings extends in two, substantially perpendicular planes.
- 7. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the snap elements constitutes an opening formed in the at least one hinge assembly and each of the plurality of snap elements constitutes a flexible tab.
- 8. The door assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the resilient tab is dimpled.
- 9. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window pack includes a first glass pane, a second glass pane and a frame structure, said frame structure including at least two interlocked frame elements extending about portions of each of the first and second glass panes and maintaining the first and second glass panes in a spaced relationship.
- 10. The door assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the frame structure included two generally L-shaped members.
- 11. The door assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the generally L-shaped members includes means for snap-fitting the L-shaped members together.
- 12. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a substantially rectangular outer panel including a window opening, said outer panel extending about a portion of and being secured to the first panel, with the second panel arranged therebetween and the window pack being aligned with the window opening.
- 13. The door assembly as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a decorative panel attached to the outer panel.
- 14. A method of assembling an oven door comprising:attaching at least one hinge assembly to a first panel of the oven door; positioning at least one internal door component against the first panel; and snap-fittingly attaching a second panel directly to the hinge assembly such that the first panel is coupled to the second panel through the hinge assembly while securely retaining the at least one internal door component therebetween.
- 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one internal door component constitutes a window pack.
- 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: creating the window pack by: positioning first and second glass panes within tracks formed in a first frame element; and interlocking a second frame element to the first frame element, with the first and second frame elements extending about portions of each of the first and second glass panes, while maintaining the first and second glass panes in a spaced relationship.
- 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: interlocking the first and second frame elements solely through a snap-fit connection.
- 18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: securing an outer panel about portions of the first panel, with the second panel and the at least one internal component therebetween.
- 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: securing a decorative panel to the outer panel.
US Referenced Citations (20)