Method for the built-in installation of a cooking hob

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the built-in installation of a cooking hob in a countertop, wherein the sealing of the perimeter of a glass-ceramic panel of the cooking hob is performed using a substrate acting as a filler element and topped with a sealing adhesive resistant to the high temperatures typical of cooking processes.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for the built-in installation of a cooking hob in a countertop (countertop). More particularly, the invention concerns a method for the flush built-in installation of a cooking hob with a countertop.Background

[0002] Modern cooking hobs generally comprise a glass-ceramic panel under which a housing containing one or more heating elements is arranged.

[0003] In a radiant-type hob, the heating elements are electrical resistances, while in an induction hob the heating elements are coils designed to generate a magnetic field.

[0004] The arrangement of the heating elements defines one or more cooking zones on the glass-ceramic panel, on which a user interface is also set, for selecting and controlling the cooking zones. The user interface interacts with a driving and control unit for the heating elements, which is arranged in the body which houses the heating elements.

[0005] In a gas hob, the heating elements are instead burners protruding from respective apertures in the surface of the glass-ceramic panel. In this case, the body of the cooking hob houses the gas supply ducts to the individual burners and their respective adjustment valves, whose knobs protrude from other apertures obtained in the surface of the glass-ceramic panel.

[0006] In view of built-in installing a cooking hob into a countertop, an aperture suitable for housing the cooking hob body is typically made in the latter. The glass-ceramic panel is placed on the countertop, being generally wider than the body and acting as a cover over the countertop aperture. The body of the cooking hob is anchored under the countertop using specific fastening means, such as for example brackets and screws, or arms with snap-fit elastic elements. In this way, only the glass-ceramic panel protrudes from the countertop, while the body, generally bulkier in the vertical direction, is hidden beneath it. To prevent the passage of solid particles such as dust and food residues, or fluids such as water, detergents or cooking liquids under the countertop, the perimeter of the glass-ceramic panel is typically sealed using appropriate adhesives resistant to the high temperatures typical of the cooking processes, for example silicone-based adhesives.

[0007] Built-in installations where the glass-ceramic panel of a cooking hob is flush with the countertop, making it substantially coplanar with it, are increasingly common. As in a traditional built-in installation, the body of the cooking hob is housed in the aperture made in the countertop, while the glass-ceramic panel rests on a recessed portion of the latter created around the aperture.

[0008] Flush built-in installations with the countertop are increasingly popular because they maximize the workspace available to a user. Indeed, when the cooking hob is not in use, a user has a larger working surface, which becomes even the entire countertop surface plus that of the glass-ceramic panel in the case of radiant and induction cooking hobs.

[0009] Flush built-in installations with the countertop are also highly appreciated from an aesthetic standpoint, thanks to the clean and sober lines and shapes of the glass-ceramic panels.

[0010] Similarly to the traditional built-in installations discussed above, in flush installations it is also necessary to seal the perimeter of the glass-ceramic panel to prevent the passage of fluids and solid particles beneath the countertop. Indeed, the glass-ceramic panel is typically inserted with clearance in the recessed portion of the countertop to account for dimensional tolerances, defining with respect to said recessed portion a peripheral gap through which fluids and solid particles can pass.

[0011] The use of sealing adhesives for flush countertop installations is widely known in the field and described, for example, in patent publications DE3150450A1 and EP0036190A1. The use gaskets made of silicone materials is also known, as described in patent publication EP2144012A1.

[0012] The use of sealing adhesives is generally preferred over gaskets because they ensure better fluid ingress protection due to being injected in a fluid state and easily filling all available space before the curing phase. However, sealing adhesives require special injection tools and good manual operator skill, and have a curing time of several hours, thus preventing immediate use of the cooking hob after installation.

[0013] Moreover, due to their strong adhesive power, it is extremely difficult to completely remove a cured sealing adhesive to dismount a cooking hob from a countertop for repair or replacement.

[0014] During the removal of a cured sealing adhesive, there is also a high risk of damage and / or scratching to the adjacent surfaces of the countertop and the cooking hob's glass-ceramic panel due to the tools used, typically the blade of a utility knife or a screwdriver.

[0015] Gaskets allow immediate use of a cooking hob after installation, are much easier to install than sealing adhesives, and also easier to remove for repair or replacement. However, depending on their shape and manufacturing tolerances, they do not always guarantee complete filling of the gap and thus a perfect sealing against the passage of solid particles and fluids.Summary of the invention

[0016] The technical problem addressed and solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a method for the flush built-in installation of a cooking hob with a countertop that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0017] This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1.

[0018] Preferred features of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0019] In the method according to the invention, the sealing of the perimeter of the glass-ceramic panel is performed using a substrate acting as a filler element, such as a gasket, strip or similar, topped with a sealing adhesive resistant to high temperatures typical of cooking processes, for example a silicone-type adhesive.

[0020] More particularly, a substrate is initially inserted into the peripheral gap surrounding the glass-ceramic panel, placed in abutment against the recessed portion of the countertop. The filler element has a height less than the depth of the gap, thus acting as a filler element that allows injecting a layer of sealing adhesive into the gap. This layer tops the substrate, completely filling the gap up to the level of the adjacent surfaces of the countertop and the glass-ceramic panel.

[0021] At the end of the installation, the peripheral gap is thus partially filled by the substrate and partially by the layer of sealing adhesive. The substrate remains hidden beneath the sealing adhesive layer.

[0022] The installation method according to the present invention combines the ease of use of a substrate with the sealing power of adhesives, ensuring the same level of sealing and surface continuity as an exclusively adhesive seal.

[0023] In case of removal of the cooking from the respective countertop, the adhesive layer, being thinner than in a traditional sealing method, can be easily removed using a tool such as a utility knife tip or the end of a paperclip to grasp the substrate which, when pulled vertically, carries with it the overlying adhesive layer.

[0024] Other advantages, features and modes of use of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments, presented by way of non-limiting example.Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a cooking hob during built-in installation in a countertop; figures 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing consecutive phases of the sealing of the cooking hob; Figure 5 shows the cooking hob installed in the countertop; Figures 6 and 7 show consecutive phases of the sealing removal between the cooking hob and the countertop. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0026] With initial reference to figure 1, a modern cooking hob 100 generally comprises a glass-ceramic panel 110 under which a body 120 is disposed, housing one or more heating elements (not shown).

[0027] For exemplary and non-limiting purposes, the following description will refer to a radiant or induction-type cooking hob, wherein the heating elements are electrical resistances designed to emit a thermal energy flow, or coils designed to generate a magnetic field. In both cases, the glass-ceramic panel is completely flat without protruding elements, and the arrangement of the heating elements in the body 120 defines one or more cooking zones on the glass-ceramic panel 110, typically identified by combinations of graphic line (not shown).

[0028] A user interface (not shown) is typically present on the glass-ceramic panel 110, for selecting and controlling the heating elements defining the cooking zones. The user interface interacts with a driving and control unit for the heating elements, which is housed in the body 120.

[0029] As known, to built-in installing a cooking hob 100 into a countertop 200, an aperture 210 suitable for housing the body 120 of the cooking hob 100 is typically made in the countertop 200.

[0030] In case of a flush installation, i.e., substantially coplanar with the countertop 200, the aperture 210 is surrounded by a portion 220 of the countertop which is suitably recessed to receive and house the glass-ceramic panel 110 of the cooking hob 100 with peripheral clearance.

[0031] As shown in the cross-section of figure 2, the profile in in cross-section of the countertop 200 thus has a stepped configuration, and the depth of the recessed portion 220 is substantially equal to, particularly greater than or equal to, the thickness of the glass-ceramic panel 110 of the cooking hob 100. In this way, the surface of the countertop 200 and that of the glass-ceramic panel 110 are substantially aligned.

[0032] Various solutions are known to ensure perfect coplanarity between the glass-ceramic panel 110 and the countertop 200. In the illustrated embodiment, spacers 111, such as a plurality of silicone rubber feet, are applied beneath the glass-ceramic panel 110.

[0033] The body 120 of the cooking hob 100 is anchored under the countertop 200 using appropriate fastening means, such as arms 300 with elastic snap-fit elements. Anchoring the body 120 under the countertop 200 secures the cooking hob 100 in the vertical direction.

[0034] Still referring to figure 2, a peripheral gap 230 exists between the glass-ceramic panel 110 and the recessed portion 220, determined by the clearance between the perimeter of the recessed portion 220 and that of the glass-ceramic panel 110 of the cooking hob 100. For exemplary and non-limiting purposes, this gap 230 typically has a width between 1 and 5 mm and a depth between 3 and 15 mm, suitable for compensating the manufacturing tolerances of glass-ceramic panels.

[0035] To prevent the passage of solid particles such as dust and food residues, or fluids such as water, detergents or cooking liquids beneath the countertop 200, the glass-ceramic panel 110 must be sealed along its perimeter. The sealing is performed by filling the gap 230 with a sealing material.

[0036] According to the present invention, the gap 230 is sealed using a substrate topped with a sealing adhesive, such as a silicone adhesive.

[0037] With reference to figure 3, a substrate 400 is initially inserted into the peripheral gap 230, for example a polymer extrudate such as for example a silicone gasket resistant to the high temperatures characteristic of cooking processes.

[0038] The substrate 400 is placed in abutment against the recessed portion 220 of the countertop 200. The substrate 400 thus obtains a filler element for the gap 230, with the ensuing creation of a first barrier against the passage of fluids and solid particles. As can be seen, the substrate is preferably a ready-to-use element independent of the cooking hob and its glass-ceramic panel.

[0039] The substrate 400 has a height less than the depth of the gap 230, for example between 50% and 75% of the depth of the gap. This allows injecting a layer 410 of sealing adhesive into the gap 230 which, as shown in figure 4, tops the substrate 400, completely filling the gap 230 up to the level of the previously aligned countertop 200 and glass-ceramic panel 110, thus creating a perfect surface continuity.

[0040] At the end of the installation, the gap 230 is thus partially filled by the substrate 400 and partially by the layer of sealing adhesive 410. As shown in figure 5, the substrate 400 remains hidden beneath the layer of sealing adhesive 410.

[0041] According to a further aspect of the invention, the substrate 400 may consist of one or more filler layers, for example one or more extrudates in polymer material, designed to establish the desired sealing level before injecting the adhesive layer 410, and thus before final sealing. Such extrudates may be, for example, gaskets in silicone material.

[0042] The installation solution described above offers several advantages.

[0043] During the installation of a cooking hob 100 into a countertop 200, the use of the substrate 400 facilitates the phase of filling the gap 230, as it is a quick and simple operation that does not require specific tools.

[0044] Moreover, the addition of the sealing adhesive layer 410 above the substrate 400 requires a smaller adhesive of adhesive than traditional sealing methods, while ensuring the same level of sealing against passage of fluid and solid particle, as well as the same coplanarity and continuity of the adjacent surfaces of the glass-ceramic panel 110 of the cooking hob 100 and the countertop 200.

[0045] The reduced quantity of adhesive used for sealing the gap 230 shortens its curing time, allowing use of the cooking hob 100 much sooner than a adhesive sealing installation of the traditional type.

[0046] Further advantages of the above described installation method relate to potential needs for removing the cooking hob 100 from the countertop 200 for replacement or repair.

[0047] The reduced quantity of sealing adhesive allows removal of the layer 410 much more easily compared to a traditional situation wherein the entire gap 230 is filled with adhesive. Indeed, the area of the mutually sealed surfaces is smaller. Consequently, there is no risk of damage and / or scratching to the surfaces of the countertop 200 and the glass-ceramic panel 110 of the cooking hob 100.

[0048] Furthermore, as schematically shown in figure 6, using a simple tool, such as for example a utility knife blade or the end of a paperclip, it is possible to pierce the layer of sealing adhesive 410 and grasp the substrate 400. As shown in figure 7, by vertically pulling the so-grasped substrate 400, the same can be manually extracted from the gap 230, and removing therewith the entire sealing adhesive layer 410.

[0049] It will be understood that the built-in installation method according to the present invention can be equally applied with the same advantages to gas cooking hobs having a body closed by a glass-ceramic panel.

[0050] The present invention has been described thus far with reference to its preferred embodiments. It should be understood that other embodiments pertaining to the same inventive core, as defined by the claims below, may exist.

Claims

1. A method for the built-in installation of a cooking hob in a countertop, said method comprising the following steps: i) providing a cooking hob (100) comprising a glass-ceramic panel (110) and a body (120) that is arranged under said glass-ceramic panel (110) and accommodates one or more heating elements; ii) providing a countertop (200); iii) forming an aperture (210) in said countertop (200), said aperture (210) being configured to receive the body (120) of said cooking hob (100), as well as a recessed portion (220) surrounding said aperture (210), said recessed portion (220) being so sized to accommodate the glass-ceramic panel (110) with a peripheral clearance; iv) fitting the body (120) of the cooking hob (100) into the aperture (210) formed in the countertop (200) and arranging the glass-ceramic panel (110) on the recessed portion (220), said peripheral clearance defining a peripheral gap (230) around the glass-ceramic panel (110); v) providing a substrate (400) configured to be fitted into said peripheral gap (230), said substrate (400) having a height less than the depth of the peripheral gap (230); vi) fitting the substrate (400) into the peripheral gap (230) so that the substrate (400) abuts the recessed portion (220); vii) injecting a sealing adhesive into the peripheral gap (230) atop the substrate (400) up to the level of the countertop (200) and the glass-ceramic panel (110) of the cooking hob (100).

2. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the recessed portion (220) is greater than or equal to the thickness of the glass-ceramic panel (110) of the cooking hob (100).

3. The installation method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of alignment of an upper surface of the glass-ceramic panel (110) of the cooking hob (100) with a surface of the countertop (200), said alignment step being carried out before the step vi) of fitting the substrate (400) into the peripheral gap (230).

4. The installation method according to claim 3, wherein said alignment phase is carried out by arranging a plurality of spacers (111) between the glass-ceramic panel (110) of the cooking hob (100) and the recessed portion (220) of the countertop (200).

5. The installation method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate (400) comprises one or more layers made of a filling material.

6. The installation method according to claim 5, wherein the substrate (400) comprises one or more extruded elements made of a polymeric material.

7. The installation method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the substrate (400) comprises one or more gaskets made of a silicone material.

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