BACKGROUND
The present device generally relates to a rack system for an appliance. A number of different types of appliances, including cooking appliances such as ovens and the like, include racks positionable in various vertical locations within the interior of the appliance. The racks are configured to support cooking articles and/or food items thereon, for example, for cooking within the appliance. The racks are repositionable to provide the desired positioning relative to operative elements (such as burners or the like) for cooking of related food items, for example. Further, the racks are slideably supported to be extendable partially out of the appliance cavity for easier insertion and removal of the related cooking articles and food items. Various support structures have been used to provide for the needed retention, adjustment, and extension of such racks within the associated appliance.
SUMMARY
In at least one aspect, a rack system for a cooking appliance cavity includes a first support unit including a plurality of rack support bars extending in a first direction and a first connecting member extending in a second direction normal to the first direction and defining a body portion having the support bars coupled therewith, a first end with a first post and a first stepped segment between the first post and the body portion, and a second end with a second post and a second stepped segment between the second post and the body portion. The system further includes first and second mounting blocks, each defining a first face with a channel extending inwardly therefrom and a second face normal to the first face and having a notch extending inwardly therefrom and intersecting with the channel such that a first portion of the channel is open on the second surface and a second portion of the channel is enclosed behind the second face. The first and second mounting blocks are spaced apart with the respective notches thereof disposed toward each other and the first and second posts are respectively received in the second portions of the channels of the first and second mounting blocks.
In at least another aspect, a cooking appliance includes an interior cavity with a first vertical interior wall and first and second mounting blocks coupled with the first interior wall. Each mounting block defines a first face with a channel extending inwardly therefrom a second face normal to the first face and having a notch extending inwardly therefrom and intersecting with the channel such that a first portion of the channel is open on the second surface and a second portion of the channel is enclosed behind the second face. The first and second mounting blocks are spaced apart with the respective first surfaces thereof disposed toward each other. The appliance further includes a first support unit including a plurality of rack support bars extending in a first direction and a first connecting member extending in a second direction normal to the first direction and defining a body portion having the support bars coupled therewith, a first end with a first post and a first stepped segment between the first post and the body portion, and a second end with a second post and a second stepped segment between the second post and the body portion, the first and second posts being respectively received in the second portions of the channels of the first and second mounting blocks.
In at least another aspect, a rack system includes a first support unit including a plurality of rack support bars extending in a first direction and a first connecting member extending in a second direction normal to the first direction and defining a body portion having the support bars coupled therewith, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The system further includes first and second mounting blocks, each defining a first face with a channel extending inwardly therefrom a second face normal to the first face, each of the channels defining respective closed portions. The first and second mounting blocks are spaced apart with the first faces thereof facing each other, and the first and second ends of the first connecting member are respectively received in the closed portions of the channels of the first and second mounting blocks in a slidable manner such that the support unit is moveable into an intermediate position with the second post removed from the closed portion of the channel.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an oven having an interior cavity with a rack system therein;
FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view showing portions of the rack system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a support unit retained within the oven cavity;
FIG. 4 is a further side perspective view of the support unit in a removal position with respect to the oven cavity;
FIG. 5 is a further side perspective view of the support unit in a disengaged position with respect to the oven cavity;
FIG. 6 is a front, cross-section view of a portion of the support unit and a related retention feature associated with the system;
FIG. 7 is a front, cross-section view of another portion of the support unit and a related retention feature associated with the system;
FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the rack system in an installed position;
FIG. 9 is a perspective detail view of another portion of the rack system in the installed position; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective detail view of the portion of the rack system of FIG. 9 in an intermediate position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the device may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a rack system for a cavity 12 of a cooking appliance 14. The system 10 includes a first support unit 16a including rack support bars 18 extending in a first direction 20 and a connecting member 22 extending in a second direction 24 normal to the first direction 20 and defining a body portion 26 having the support bars 18 coupled therewith. The connecting member 22 further includes a first end 28 with a first post 30 and a first stepped segment 32 between the first post 30 and the body portion 26, and a second end 34 with a second post 36 and a second stepped segment 38 between the second post 36 and the body portion 26. The system 10 further includes a first mounting block 40 and a second mounting block 42, each defining a first face 44 with a channel 46 extending inwardly therefrom and a second face 48 normal to the first face 44 and having a notch 50 extending inwardly therefrom and intersecting the channel 46 such that a first portion 52 of the channel 46 is open on the second face 48 and a second portion 54 of the channel 46 is enclosed behind the second face 48. The first 40 and second 42 mounting blocks are arranged in a pair corresponding with a position of the first connecting member 22 and are spaced apart with the respective notches 50 thereof disposed toward each other (i.e. with respect to the open portions 52 of the channels 48 as defined by the notches 50). The first 30 and second 36 posts are respectively received in the second portions 54 of the channels 48 of the first 40 and second 42 mounting blocks.
As further shown in FIGS. 1-10, the cooking appliance 14 can be in the form of an oven, and the interior cavity 12 can define a first vertical interior wall 56 with the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 coupled with the first interior wall 56 in the above-described spaced apart manner for retention of support unit 16a with interior wall 56. As shown, the cavity 12 of the appliance 14 is in the form of a typical oven interior cavity such that interior wall 56 extends to a depth comparable to that of an ordinary oven. In this manner, support unit 16a may extend a corresponding depth, such as through at least about 80% of the depth of wall 56. To provide adequate retention of support unit 16a in such a configuration with a wall 56 such as that which is illustrated in the example of FIGS. 1-10, system 10 may further include an additional pair of mounting blocks that are identical to the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 described above and, thusly, also referred to as first and second mounting blocks 40,42, with the first mounting block 40 designating the upper mounting blocks in the pairs of first and second mounting blocks 40,42 and the second mounting block 42 designating the lower mounting blocks. In this arrangement, the respective pairs of mounting blocks 40,42 can be spaced from each other to span a significant portion of the depth of the corresponding support unit 16. In this arrangement, the support unit 16a can be configured with two connecting members 22 that are both as described above, and thusly both designated as connecting members 22. The connection members 22 are both coupled with the rack support bars 18 spaced positions to provide adequate support for the support bars 18. The additional connecting member 22 is, thusly, coupled with the associated first and second mounting blocks 40,42 in a similar manner to that which is discussed above with the first and second ends 28,34 of the connecting member 22 being respectively received within the associated mounting blocks 40,42.
Additionally, the cavity 12 can define a second vertical wall 58 opposite the first vertical wall 56 and system can, accordingly, further include a second support unit 16b that is essentially a mirror image of the support unit 16a associated with first vertical wall 56. In that respect, second support unit 16b similarly includes rack support bars 18 extending in the first 20 direction and connecting members 22 extending in the second direction 24 and defining respective body portions 26 having the support bars 18 coupled therewith either directly or by way of frame 49. Also similar to the discussion above, connecting members 22 include respective first ends 28 and opposite second ends 34. Similar to the discussion above of first support unit 16a, second support unit 16b can be releasably coupled with second vertical wall 56 by way of additional pairs or mounting blocks 40,42 that are generally identical to those discussed above, and described further below. As further shown in FIG. 1, the opposite first and second support units 16a and 16b can be used to retain one or more racks 60 spanning a distance 62 between first and second support units 16a,16b and resting on a pair of aligned ones of the first and second plurality of rack support bars 18 in a manner similar to a typical oven rack, including facilitating inward and outward sliding of racks 60 with respect to cavity 12, repositioning of racks 60 at various heights and relative spacing within cavity 12, supporting of various cookware articles and/or food items within cavity 12, and the complete removal of racks 60 form appliance 14.
As discussed further below, the mounting blocks 40,42 and the corresponding first and second ends 28,34 of the connecting member 22 facilitate retention of support units 16a,16b within cavity 12 in the desired position for retention of racks 60 in a removable manner. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the mutual arrangement between first and second mounting blocks 40,42 and first and second ends 28,34 of connecting members 22 is such that support units 16a,16b can be disengaged from the respective walls 56,58 to which they are retained by sliding the support unit 16a or 16b upwardly into an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 3, rotating the lower end of the support unit 16a or 16b inwardly away from the wall 56 or 58, as shown in FIG. 4, and moving the support unit 16a or 16b downwardly, as shown in FIG. 5. Such removal can be used in cleaning support units 16a,16b and/or cavity 12 including vertical walls 56,58. Additionally, removal can allow replacement of support units 16a,16b with similar units having different support bar 18 configurations or to replace damaged or worn support units 16a,16b, for example.
The removable fixation of support units 16a,16b is particularly achieved by structuring first and second ends 28,34 of the connecting members 22 to be respectively received in the closed portions 54 of the channels 46 of the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 in a slideable manner, which allows the support unit 16a,16b to be moveable into the intermediate position depicted in FIG. 3. When moved into the intermediate position, the second post 36 of the second end 34 is removed from the closed portion 54 of the associated channel 46 such that post 36 is aligned with the notch 50 in the second mounting block 42. Further, when the support unit is in the intermediate position, at least a portion of the first end 28, including first post 30 is at least partially within the closed portion 54 of the channel 46 of the first mounting block 40 such that some support is provided for support unit 16a during the initial stage of the removal process.
As shown in FIG. 4, the support unit 16a is further moveable from the intermediate position of FIG. 3 into a removal position by rotation of the support unit 16a such that the second end 34 of the connecting member 22 is moved away from the second mounting block and, accordingly, through notch 50 to be clear of the corresponding second mounting block 42. During such rotation, first post 30 remains at least partially within the closed portion 52 of the corresponding channel 46 of first mounting block 42, as discussed further below. From the removal position, support unit 16a can be moved into the disengaged position of FIG. 5 by movement of support unit in a downward manner (that may also including simultaneous inward movement away from vertical wall 56) to achieve sliding of the first end 28, particularly of first post 30 out of the channel 46 of the first mounting block 40. When in such a position, support unit 16a is fully disengaged from cavity 12 and can be thusly removed therefrom. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-5 the movement of supporting unit 16a through the positions shown for removal thereof cause the same movement and reconfiguration of both connecting members 22 with respect to both of the corresponding sets of mounting blocks 40,42. Further, it is noted that support unit 16b is removed/disengaged from cavity 12 in a similar manner with upward sliding and rotation away from second vertical wall 56.
As can be appreciated, support units 16a,16b can be re-assembled with cavity 12 by alignment of first posts 30 with the corresponding notches 50 and/or channels 46 of the respective first mounting blocks 40 (FIG. 5) and upward/outward movement of support unit 16a,16b to move posts 30 into the closed portions 52 of channel 46 (FIG. 4). Subsequently, support unit 16a,16b can be rotated with the lower end thereof moving toward the respective wall 56,58 to move second posts 36 through notches 50 and into the open portions 52 of the corresponding channels 46 of the respective second mounting blocks 42. Support unit 16a,16b can then be lowered into the engaged position of FIG. 1, with both first and second posts 30,36 positioned within the closed portions 54 of the channels 46 in first and second mounting blocks 40,42, respectively.
As mentioned above, the connecting members 22 and mounting blocks 40,42 are mutually structured and positioned to facilitate the above-described retention and removal of support units 16a,16b from cavity 12. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, each connecting member 22 defines body portion 26 with first end 28 having first post 30 and first stepped segment 32 between the first post 30 and the body portion 26. Opposite first end 28, second end 34 includes second post 36 and second stepped segment 38 between the second post 36 and the body portion 26. The cross-section views of FIGS. 6 and 7 further illustrate the manner in which first and second mounting blocks 40,42 define their first faces 44 with the respective channels 46 extending inwardly from the first faces 44. The respective second faces 48 are normal to the first faces 44 with notch 50 extending inwardly from first faces 44 and intersecting with the channel 46 such that first portion 52 of the channel 46 is open on the second face 48 and the second portion 54 of the channel 46 is enclosed behind the second face 48. With additional reference back to FIG. 3, the first and second mounting blocks 42 are spaced apart with the respective first faces 44 and, accordingly the open portions of notches 50, disposed toward each other and spaced to mutually retain the first and second posts 30,34 in the respective closed portions 54 of the channels 46 of the first and second mounting blocks 40,42.
As further shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the notches 50 of the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 define respective closed ends 64 along the second faces 48 of the mounting blocks 40,42. As shown in FIG. 7, the second stepped segment 38 of second end 34 of connecting member 22 abuts a portion of the closed end 64 of the notch 50 of the second mounting block 42 when the support unit 16a is in an installed condition relative to the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 (the same also applies to support unit 16b when in its corresponding position). In this manner, the force of gravity on support unit 16a maintains second post 36 in its position within the closed portion 54 of channel 46 with the resting of second stepped segment 38 on the closed end 64 of notch 50 maintaining the corresponding position of connecting member 22 (and therefore support unit 16a) in first direction 20.
As shown in FIG. 6, the first mounting block 42 is positioned vertically above the second mounting block (i.e. in first direction 20) in a generally aligned manner such that, when the support unit 16a is in the installed position, the body portion 26 of the connecting member 22 extends vertically and is supported by resting of the second stepped segment 38 against the closed end 64 of the notch 50 of the second mounting block 42. The distance between mounting blocks 40,42 in the first direction 20 is, accordingly, such that, when support unit 16a is in the installed position, the closed portion 54 of the channel 50 of first mounting block 40 receives first post 30 with the first stepped segment 32 spaced away from the closed end 64 of the notch 50 of first mounting block 40. In such a position, the closed end 64 of notch 50 of first mounting block 40 is spaced from first stepped segment 32 by a distance sufficient to allow support unit 16a to be raised into the intermediate position of FIG. 4, in which second post 36 is within the open portion 52 of channel 50, as shown in FIG. 10.
To accommodate the above-described positioning of the closed end 64 of the notch 50 of first mounting block 40 relative to first stepped segment 32, first post 30 is of a length sufficient to remain at least partially within the closed portion 54 of channel 50 both when support unit 16a is in the installed position of FIG. 3 and when support unit 16a is raised into the intermediate position. In this respect, first stepped segment 32 is present to achieve the desired vertical orientation of body 26 of connecting member 22 and to prevent support unit 16a from being raised to a position in first direction 20 in which it interferes with vertical wall 56 during rotation of support unit 16a into the intermediate position by abutting the corresponding closed end 64 of the respective notch 50. To achieve the desired sizing of first post 30, a distance 70 between a first end surface 66 defined on first post 30 and a second end surface 68 defined on second post 36 is greater than a distance 72 between the facing closed ends 64 of the notches 50 of the first and second mounting blocks 40,42. In a similar manner, a distance 74 between the first and second stepped segments 32,38 is less than the distance 72 between the closed ends 64 of the notches 50 by approximately the difference between distance 70 and distance 72.
The configuration of first and second ends 28,34 with respect to the above-described features of first and second mounting blocks 40,42 facilitates the above-described arrangement in which the first and second posts 30,36 are engaged with the respective channels 50 of the first and second mounting blocks 40,42 in the described slidable manner such that the second stepped segment 38 is moveable away from the closed end 64 of the notch 50 of the second mounting block 40 during movement of the support unit 16a into the intermediate position, as shown between FIGS. 9 and 10. When the support unit 16a is in the position shown in FIG. 10, the second post 36 is removed from the closed portion 54 of the channel 50, with at least a portion thereof disposed within the open portion 52 of the channel 46 of the second mounting block 42 and aligned with notch 50 for rotation of support unit 16a away from wall 56, while the first post 30 remains at least partially within the closed portion 54 of the channel 46 of the first mounting block 40. As shown in FIG. 6, at least first mounting block 40 can be configured such that channel 46 passes fully therethrough, which can allow for sliding of first post 30 outwardly from first mounting block 40 to accommodate the extended length thereof relative to second post 36. Second mounting block 42 can be similarly structure such that first and second mounting blocks 40,42 can be generally identical in structure with only their relative positioning within cavity 12 differentiating them for purposes of this disclosure. Further, first and second mounting blocks 40,42 can be generally solid structures in the areas surrounding channel 46 and notch 50 and can be of a metallic material or the like able to retain support units 16a,16b, as described herein, and with heat-resistive qualities to withstand the environment within cavity 12 when appliance 14 is, for example, in the form of an oven.
As noted above, when moved into removal position (FIG. 4) by rotation of the support unit 16a such that the second post 36 is moved out of the corresponding channel 46 through the notch 50 of the second mounting block 42 with the first post 30 positioned within the closed portion 54 of the channel 46 of the first mounting block 40. Support unit 16a is then moved from the removal position to the disengaged position (FIG. 5) by sliding of the first post 30 out of the channel 46 of the first mounting block 40. As discussed above, support unit 16a can be re-installed within cavity 12 by reversing the removal process.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described device and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the device disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present device. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
Patent Application
20190346148
