Extendable oven rack assembly

Abstract

An extendable oven rack assembly includes an oven rack adapted for positioning in an oven cavity. The rack is supported on two telescoping extension slides shaped for being received in support slots or ledges of an oven cavity. The telescoping extension slides are made of at least a first section received in fixed position within an oven. At least a second section is slidable in relationship to the first section and can be extended out of the oven. The second section supports the oven rack thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to an extendable oven rack assembly for use in an oven. More particularly, the invention relates to an extendable oven rack including telescoping slides for use in an oven cavity and for maximum extension, out of the oven. [0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art [0004] In cooking appliances such as ovens, or free standing ranges which include ovens, the oven cavity is typically populated with one or more racks to support food items being cooked in the oven. The oven cavities include a plurality of sets of slots, ledges or wire rack supports (hereinafter “oven supports”) in the opposite side walls thereof which allow the oven racks to be slidably received within the oven cavity. The oven supports also typically include an upward projection near the front of the oven cavity which often serves as a stop against a corresponding projection both in the front and in the back of an oven rack to prevent ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an extendable oven rack assembly that can be easily moved in and out of an oven cavity. The assembly includes a rack and two telescoping extension slides that are received in the rack supports. The slides can be locked in different positions to support the rack at different levels. The rack also has tabs that engage with a spring clip to prevent the rack from sliding out of the oven cavity. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a convenient and easy-to-use oven rack assembly that can be adjusted to different needs and preferences.

Problems solved by technology

In these types of arrangements, due to the fact that the oven rack must be supported over a substantial portion thereof by the oven supports of the oven cavity, the amount which the rack can be extended out of the oven cavity is limited.

This results in difficulty in positioning food items on such racks or in removing the food items from the rack.

This also creates a danger that the person removing or replacing such items on the oven rack may inadvertently contact the hot walls of the oven cavity.

While desirable from the perspective of allowing greater extension of the oven rack out of the cavity of the oven, this type of arrangement takes up a substantial amount of additional space within an oven cavity due to the fact that it is essentially a double rack arrangement, with each rack separated from each other by a space consuming roller mechanism.

As such, while desirable from the perspective of allowing a rack to be extended outside of the oven cavity, this type of rack arrangement substantially decreases the useable volume in an oven cavity, particularly when multiple rack assemblies of this type are used.

While providing a more simplified arrangement than a double rack assembly, this design still suffers from the requirement of having a compound rack system wherein two racks are required, one being a wire frame rack and the other being the actual rack that holds the food being cooked in the oven.

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