Microwave cooking utensil and microwave

Abstract

To Improve container detachability in a container-suspension type microwave cooking utensil.SOLUTION: A microwave cooking utensil includes: a plate 10, which consists of a plate body 11 supported detachably within a heating chamber of a microwave and a support mechanism 15 provided on an undersurface of the plate body 11; and a container 20, which is supported detachably by the support mechanism 15 so as to be positioned at a distance above the bottom of the heating chamber. The container 20 includes: a container body 21 that has a bottomed cylindrical shape and includes a flange part 24 projecting from a periphery 23a outwards in its radial direction, coming into contact with the support mechanism 15; and a buffer member 25, which consists of an outer covering part 25a that has flexibility and covers at least a portion of the periphery 23a, an under covering part 25b that covers the undersurface of flange part 24, and a connection part 25c that connects the outer covering part 25a with the under covering part 25b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance for a microwave oven and a microwave oven.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that a container containing cooked food is placed in a heating chamber of a microwave oven while floating from the bottom surface of the heating chamber (container suspension method).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the container suspension method, the container is attached to and detached from the support mechanism for suspending the container. In Patent Document 1, the detachability of the container with respect to the support mechanism is not considered in terms of abnormal noise or operating feeling during attachment and detachment.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to improve the detachability of a container in a cooking appliance for a microwave oven using the container suspension method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In this specification, the term "microwave oven" includes, unless otherwise specified, those having a function as an oven (oven range) and those having a function as a grill.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention provides a microwave cooking utensil comprising: a plate body detachably supported in the heating chamber of a microwave oven body; a support mechanism provided on the lower surface of the plate body; and a container detachably supported by the support mechanism so as to be positioned at a distance from the bottom surface of the heating chamber, wherein the container has a container body that is bottomed cylindrical and has a flange portion that protrudes radially outward from the outer circumference; and a buffer member that is flexible and has an outer covering portion that covers at least a part of the outer circumference, a lower covering portion that covers the lower surface of the flange portion, and a connecting portion that connects the outer covering portion and the lower covering portion.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the flange portion of the container is covered with a flexible cushioning member, which prevents noise and damage to the container and the support mechanism when attaching or detaching the container from the support mechanism, thereby improving the ease of attaching and detaching the container in microwave oven cooking appliances that use a container suspension system.

[0009] The cushioning member may be made of silicone rubber.

[0010] With this configuration, since the cushioning member is made of silicone rubber, it can be easily attached to and detached from the container, improving the ease of cleaning both the container and the cushioning member.

[0011] The portion of the buffer member that contacts the container may be provided with a plurality of protrusions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0012] According to this configuration, even when the container or cushioning member is wet and the cushioning member is attached to the container, the detachment of the cushioning member from the container can be suppressed. More specifically, when the container or cushioning member is assembled while wet, water remaining in the area where the cushioning member and the container come into contact may form a continuous, annular water film in the circumferential direction. This annular water film reduces the coefficient of friction between the cushioning member and the container, causing the cushioning member to detach from the container. In contrast, since multiple protrusions are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the part of the cushioning member that comes into contact with the container, the continuous, annular water film in the circumferential direction is interrupted. As a result, the cushioning member and the container can come into direct contact, and the reduction in the coefficient of friction between the cushioning member and the container can be suppressed.

[0013] The aforementioned protrusion may be a ridge extending vertically along the outer circumference.

[0014] With this configuration, for example, compared to the case where the region along the outer circumference of the protrusion is short, it is easier to break the continuous annular water film in the circumferential direction, and the detachment of the buffer member from the container can be suppressed more effectively.

[0015] The lower covering portion may be provided with multiple contact portions that come into contact with the support mechanism, spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0016] With this configuration, the contact area between the cushioning member and the support mechanism can be reduced compared to the case where the entire circumference of the lower covering portion is in contact with the suspension rail 15 without providing a contact portion on the lower covering portion. As a result, friction when inserting the container into the support mechanism can be reduced, and the operability when attaching and detaching the container is improved.

[0017] A second aspect of the present invention provides a microwave oven comprising a microwave oven body and a microwave oven cooking appliance as described in the first aspect, wherein the microwave oven body is provided with guide rails for supporting the plate, and the plate is provided with a fitting portion that fits into a fitting portion formed on the guide rail.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, slippage of the plate from the guide rail is suppressed compared to a case where the fitting portion of the plate and the fitted portion of the guide rail are not provided.

[0019] The fitting portion and the fitted portion may be provided in an intermediate region in the front-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate.

[0020] This configuration improves operability when releasing the engagement between the plate and the guide rail and pulling the plate out of the heating chamber. When the engagement and mating parts are located at the rear of the plate, it is necessary to lower the front of the plate (in other words, lift the rear of the plate) to release the engagement when removing the plate. In other words, since the operating part and the pivot point are at the front of the plate, the operating force required to lift the rear of the plate is greater compared to when the operating part and the pivot point are spaced apart. In contrast, with this configuration, the engagement and mating parts are located in an intermediate region in the front-to-back direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate, thus reducing the operating force.

[0021] On the other hand, for example, if the fitting portion and the fitted portion are located on the front side of the plate, the front of the plate is lifted when removing the plate, so the pivot point can be separated from the front end which is the operating part, and the fitting between the plate and the guide rail can be released with a small operating force. However, when removing only the container from the plate, there is a risk that the plate will be pulled out together with the container due to the frictional force generated between the cushioning member located on the flange of the container and the guide rail. In contrast, with this configuration, since the fitting portion and the fitted portion are located in the intermediate region in the front-to-back direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate, the operating force required to release the fitting between the plate and the guide rail can be increased compared to when the fitting portion and the fitted portion are located on the front side of the plate, so that the plate does not fly out when removing only the container from the heating chamber. As a result, both ease of operation when pulling the plate out of the guide rail and the locking ability of the plate to the guide rail when attaching and detaching the container from the plate can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] In the cooking appliance for a microwave oven and the microwave oven of the present invention, the detachable property of the container in the cooking appliance for a microwave oven with a container suspension system is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the cooking appliance for a microwave oven and the microwave oven according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Front view of the cooking appliance for a microwave oven and the microwave oven according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance for a microwave oven and the microwave oven according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] Partially enlarged perspective view of the microwave oven with the door hidden. [Figure 6A] Exploded perspective view of the plate and the cover as seen from above. [Figure 6B] Exploded perspective view of the plate and the cover as seen from below. [Figure 6C] Perspective view of the plate as seen from below. [Figure 6D] Cross-sectional view of the plate and the cover member taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 6C. [Figure 6E] Bottom view of the plate and the cover member. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the container, the plate, and the guide rail of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] Exploded perspective view of the container and the buffer member. [Figure 9] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 10A] Developed view of the first modification example of the buffer member. [Figure 10B] Developed view of the second modification example of the buffer member. [Figure 10C] Developed view of the third modification example of the buffer member.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microwave cooking appliance 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as cooking appliance 2) and a microwave oven body 1 in which it is used.

[0026] The microwave oven body 1 comprises a housing 3 having a heating chamber 30 which is a rectangular parallelepiped space with an opening at the front in Figure 1, and a door 4 for opening and closing the opening. The heating chamber 30 is partitioned by an upper wall 31, a lower wall 32, a left side wall 33, a right side wall 34, and a rear wall 35. Hereinafter, the inside of the heating chamber 30 may be referred to as the "cabin." The upper wall 31, left and right side walls 33, 34, and rear wall 35 are all made of metal plates which are microwave reflectors. The lower wall 32 is made of a microwave-transmitting material such as ceramic, glass, or resin, and is attached to the upper end of a metal cover 32a which is a microwave reflector. The left and right side walls 33 and 34 of the cabin are provided with a pair of upper guide rails 51 and a pair of lower guide rails 55. The plates 10 of the cooking utensils 2, which will be described in detail later, are placed on the guide rails 51 and 55. The guide rails 51 and 55 and the cooking utensils 2 will be described in detail later.

[0027] Referring to Figure 4, the microwave oven unit 1 includes a microwave source 61, a heater (heater heating mechanism) 62, and a control unit 63.

[0028] The microwave source 61 is composed of, for example, a magnetron and microwaves the food being cooked in the heating chamber 30. The magnetron 61 is a microwave source that outputs microwaves and is located at one end of a metal duct 61a. The magnetron 61 and the duct 61a are arranged in the arrangement section 36, and the end of the duct 61a opposite to the magnetron 61 is connected to the cover 32a. Inside the cover 32a, an antenna 61b that can be rotated by a motor is positioned in the center of the lower wall 32 in the width direction and front-to-back direction. The microwaves output by the magnetron 61 are guided into the cover 32a by the duct 61a and output from the lower wall 32 into the heating chamber 30 via the antenna 61b, heating the food being cooked. The area of ​​the lower wall 32 indicated by reference numeral 61c constitutes the microwave transmission region, that is, the output section that outputs microwaves into the heating chamber 30. The output section 61c only needs to be located below the pair of upper guide rails 51, and may be located on the left and right side walls 33, 34 or the rear wall 35.

[0029] The heater 62 is located on the upper wall 31 side of the heating chamber 30. The heater 62 heats the food being cooked in the heating chamber 30 by radiant heat. In this embodiment, a pair of heaters 62 are arranged spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The heater 62 extends in the width direction from one side wall 33, 34 to the other. The heater 62 is located above a pair of upper guide rails 51. A heater may also be placed below the lower wall 32.

[0030] The control unit 63 controls the microwave source 61 and the heater 62 respectively to heat the food being cooked in the heating chamber 30. For example, a microcomputer can be used for the control unit 63. The heating process by the control unit 63 includes a microwave heating mode in which only the microwave source 61 is driven, a heater heating mode in which only the heater 62 is driven, and a combined heating mode in which both the microwave source 61 and the heater 62 are driven.

[0031] In combined heating mode, the control unit 63 automatically switches between, for example, microwave heating by the microwave source 61 and heater heating by the heater 62 to heat the food. Specifically, it drives the microwave source 61 and switches to microwave heating to cook the food to the center. After a preset microwave heating time or a microwave heating time set by the user has elapsed, the operation of the microwave source 61 is stopped. Subsequently, the heater 62 is driven to heat the food, searing the surface. After a preset heater heating time or a heater heating time set by the user has elapsed, the operation of the heater 62 is stopped. In combined heating mode, microwave heating may be performed after heater heating.

[0032] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the pair of upper guide rails 51 are positioned at the same vertical location on the left and right side walls 33 and 34. Each upper guide rail 51 has a roughly right-angled triangular cross-section in a front view and extends horizontally in the front-rear direction. Each upper guide rail 51 has an upper surface portion 52 and an inclined surface portion 53. The upper surface portion 52 protrudes inward from the left and right side walls 33 and 34 and extends in the front-rear direction. The inclined surface portion 53 is inclined downward from the inner end in the width direction of the upper surface portion 52 and is positioned outward in the width direction, and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0033] The upper surface portion 52 is provided with a stopper portion (fitting portion) 52a that restricts the rearward movement of the plate 10. The stopper portion 52a engages with a stopper portion 12c provided on the cover 12 attached to the plate 10, which will be described later. The stopper portions 52a are provided on the intermediate portion of the guide rail 51 in the front-rear direction. The stopper portion 52a is formed by a recess created by recessing the upper surface portion 52 downward. The stopper portion 52a may also be formed by a convex portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface portion 52. The stopper portion 52a may be provided on only one of the pair of guide rails 51.

[0034] A pair of lower guide rails 55 are each positioned at intervals below the upper guide rail 51 on the left and right side walls 33 and 34. The pair of lower guide rails 55 are positioned at the same location in the vertical direction. Each lower guide rail 55 has an upper surface portion 56 and an inclined surface portion 57. The upper surface portion 56 protrudes inward from the left and right side walls 33 and 34 and extends in the front-rear direction. The inclined surface portion 57 is inclined downward from the inner end in the width direction of the upper surface portion 56 and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The upper surface portion 56 is provided with a stopper portion 56a that restricts the rearward movement of the plate 10. The stopper portion 56a engages with a stopper portion 12c provided on the cover 12 attached to the plate 10, which will be described later. The stopper portions 56a are provided on the intermediate portion of the guide rail 55 in the front-rear direction. The stopper portion 56a is formed by a recess created by recessing the upper surface portion 56 downward. The stopper portion 56a may also be formed by a convex portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface portion 56. The stopper portion 56a may be provided on only one of the pair of guide rails 55.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3, the cooking utensil 2 comprises a rectangular plate 10 and a container 20 in a plan view.

[0037] Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, the plate 10 is made of a microwave-transmitting material, such as a ceramic material. The plate 10 comprises a plate body 11 and a suspension rail (support mechanism) 15.

[0038] The plate body 11 comprises a bottom wall portion 11a, an outer peripheral wall portion 11b, and a flange portion 11c. The bottom wall portion 11a is rectangular in shape when viewed from above. The bottom wall portion 11a is approximately the same size as the bottom wall 32. Food is placed on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 11a. The outer peripheral wall portion 11b rises continuously upward from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 11a. The flange portion 11c extends outward from the upper end of the outer peripheral wall portion 11b. The flange portion 11c comprises a front flange portion and a rear flange portion 11d that face each other in the front-rear direction (depth direction), and a left flange portion and a right flange portion 11e that face each other in the left-right direction (width direction). Covers 12 are attached to the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e.

[0039] The left and right flange portions 11e are provided with recesses 11f and projections 11g for engaging the cover 12. The recesses 11f are provided at the front and rear ends of the flange portion 11c. The recesses 11f are formed by recessing the upper surface of the flange portion 11e downwards. The projections 11g are provided at the front and rear ends of the flange portion 11e. The projections 11g are located at positions corresponding to the recesses 11f in the front-rear direction. At least a portion of the front-rear position of the projections 11g overlaps with the recesses 11f. The recesses 11f are formed by protruding the lower surface of the flange portion 11c downwards.

[0040] The cover 12 is made of heat-resistant resin. The cover 12 has a bottom cover portion 12a, an opening 12b, a stopper portion (fitting portion) 12c, and an engaging portion 12d. The bottom cover portion 12a extends in the front-rear direction along the lower surfaces of the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e, covering the lower surfaces of the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e from below.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6B, the openings 12b are provided at the front and rear ends of the bottom cover portion 12a. The openings 12b are positioned to correspond to the projections 11g on the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e. The openings 12b penetrate the bottom cover portion 12a in the vertical direction. When the cover 12 is attached to the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e, the openings 12b engage with the projections 11g on the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e.

[0042] The stopper portion 12c is provided on the middle of the bottom cover portion 12a in the front-rear direction. The stopper portion 12c is a projection that protrudes downward from the bottom cover portion 12a. When the plate 10 is positioned on the upper guide rail 51, the stopper portion 12c engages with the stopper portions 52a (see Figure 5) of the pair of upper guide rails 51. If the stopper portion 52a of the upper guide rail 51 is a convex portion, the stopper portion 12c may be formed by a recess created by recessing the lower surface of the bottom cover portion 12a upward. The stopper portion 12c may be provided on only one of the bottom cover portions 12a.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6A, the engaging portion 12d is provided at the front and rear ends of the bottom cover portion 12a. The engaging portion 12d is provided at positions corresponding to the recesses 11f of the left flange portion and the right flange portion 11e. The engaging portion 12d is L-shaped in a front view. The engaging portion 12d has a vertical side portion 12e extending upward from the outer end in the width direction of the bottom cover portion 12a, and an upper side portion 12f extending inward in the width direction from the upper end of the vertical side portion 12e. When the cover 12 is attached to the flange portion 11c, the upper side portion 12f engages with the recess 11f of the flange portion 11c.

[0044] Referring to Figures 6B and 6C, the suspension rails 15 are provided on the underside of the plate body 11 at intervals in the width direction, inward in the width direction from the outer peripheral wall portion 11b in the left-right direction. The suspension rails 15 extend linearly in the front-rear direction along the underside of the plate body 11 from the front end to the rear end. The suspension rails 15 are integrally formed with the plate 10. The front and rear ends of the suspension rails 15 and the front and rear ends of the plate body 11 are provided continuously so that they are on the same plane. More specifically, as shown by arrow α1 in Figure 6C, the front ends of the pair of suspension rails 15 are integrally formed and continuous with the front outer peripheral wall portion 11b of the plate body 11. As shown by arrow α2 in Figure 6B, the rear ends of the suspension rails 15 are integrally formed and continuous with the rear outer peripheral wall portion 11b of the plate body 11.

[0045] As shown in Figure 6D, the suspension rail 15 has an overall L-shaped cross-section when viewed from the front. The suspension rail 15 has a hanging portion 15a and a support portion 15e.

[0046] As shown in Figures 6C and 6E, the hanging portion 15a extends downward from the bottom wall portion 11a of the plate body 11. The rear end of the hanging portion 15a is provided with a thickened portion 15b that is thicker in the width direction than the front end. The inner surface 15c of the hanging portion 15a curves inward in the width direction toward the thickened portion 15b. More specifically, the inner surface 15c of the hanging portion 15a has a curved portion 15d that curves inward toward the rear from the middle portion in the front-rear direction. The curved portion 15d is located between the middle portion in the front-rear direction and the thickened portion 15b. The curvature of the curved portion 15d is set so that the curved portion 15d follows the flange portion 24 of the container 20 (see Figure 6E), which will be described later. When the container 20 is inserted into the suspension rail 15, the curved portion 15d and the flange portion 24 come into contact, causing the curved portion 15d to act as a stopper for the front-rear position of the container 20. Since the curved portion 15d and the flange portion 24 are in surface contact, cracks and other damage that may occur when the suspension rail 15 and the container 20 come into contact can be suppressed.

[0047] The support portion 15e protrudes inward in the width direction from the lower end of the hanging portion 15a. The support portion 15e extends in the width direction and the front-rear direction, and is strip-shaped with the width direction as the shorter side and the front-rear direction as the longer side. The support portion 15e is provided at positions corresponding to the front portion of the hanging portion 15a and the curved portion 15d. In other words, it is not provided in the thickened portion 15b. The inner ends 15f of a pair of opposing support portions 15e in the width direction are spaced apart from each other.

[0048] Referring to Figures 6D and 6E, multiple beads 17 are provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall 11a between the suspension rails 15 to reinforce the plate 10. The multiple beads 17 protrude downward from the lower surface of the bottom wall 11a and extend in the front-rear direction along the lower surface of the bottom wall 11a. Each bead 17 has a rectangular cross-section in front view, and the height H1 of each bead 17 is, for example, 1.5 mm. Each bead 17 is arranged evenly in the width direction between the suspension rails 15. The beads 17 may also have a triangular cross-section in front view, for example.

[0049] Referring to Figure 7, between adjacent beads 17, a portion is formed where the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 11a is recessed upward relative to the bead 17, i.e., an air vent 17a. The air vent 17a prevents the container 20 from adhering to the plate 10 when the opening is covered with plastic wrap or the like.

[0050] The air vent 17a only needs to provide a space between the bottom wall portion 11a and the container 20 (upper surface of the flange portion 24), and instead of a bead 17 that causes the bottom wall portion 11a to protrude downward, it may be composed of a plurality of recesses that cause the bottom wall portion 11a to be recessed upward.

[0051] Referring to Figure 7, the container 20 comprises a container body 21 and a buffer member 25. The container body 21 is made of a microwave permeable material, such as glass. The container body 21 is generally frustoconical in shape with an open top. The container body 21 has a bottom portion 22, a peripheral wall portion 23, and a flange portion 24. The container body 21 is substantially smooth.

[0052] Referring to Figures 4 and 7, the bottom portion 22 is generally circular in plan view and is provided opposite the lower wall 32 of the heating chamber 30. The peripheral wall portion 23 rises upward from the periphery of the bottom portion 22 and slopes outward toward upward. The outer diameter R1 of the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 23 is smaller than the distance W1 between the inner ends 15f of the pair of support portions 15e. The flange portion 24 spreads uniformly outward in the width direction from the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 23. The outer diameter R2 of the flange portion 24 is larger than the distance W1 between the inner ends 15f of the pair of support portions 15e. In this embodiment, the container 20 has been described as having a circular cylindrical bottom portion 22, but the container 20 can be a bottomed cylindrical shape. A bottomed cylindrical shape refers to a shape that has a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion rising from the bottom portion, and has an opening on the opposite side of the bottom portion. For example, the bottom of the container may be a rectangular tube made up of a square, or the bottom 22 may be a tube made up of other polygons or ellipses. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral wall is not limited.

[0053] Referring to Figure 4, the container 20, in which the food to be cooked is contained in the container body 21, is detachably supported on the suspension rail 15 by inserting both sides of the flange portion 24 into the suspension rail 15 of the plate 10. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the flange portion 24 of the container 20 is supported on the suspension rail 15 by being placed on the support portion 15e of the suspension rail 15. When the container 20 is supported on the plate 10, the upper part of the container body 21 and the bottom wall portion 11a of the plate 10 face each other. The plate 10 and the container 20 supported on it are placed inside the heating chamber 30 through the opening of the heating chamber. The left flange portion 11d and the right flange portion 11e of the plate body 11 are placed on the guide rail 51, thereby supporting the plate 10 inside the heating chamber.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, the height position of the guide rail 51 inside the chamber, the shape of the plate 10, the length of the hanging portion 15a of the suspension rail 15, and the height of the container 20 are set so that a gap L1 is provided between the bottom surface of the chamber and the bottom surface 22 of the container 20. The gap L1 is set such that, for example, the vertical distance L2 from the lower wall 32 of the heating chamber 30 to the top surface (cooked food) of the bottom 22 of the container 20 is between 5 mm and 30 mm.

[0055] When the container 20 is placed on the support portion 15e of the suspension rail 15, the glass container 20 is moved in the front-back direction while in contact with the support portion 15e made of ceramic material, which generates noise. In response to this, the container 20 is fitted with a cushioning member 25 to suppress the noise.

[0056] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the buffer member 25 is separate from the container body 21 and is made of, for example, silicone rubber, which is both microwave-transparent and flexible. The buffer member 25 is annular and is attached to the peripheral wall portion 23 and flange portion 24 of the container body 21. The inner diameter R3 of the buffer member 25 before it is attached to the container body 21 is smaller than the outer diameter R1 of the peripheral wall portion 23. The buffer member 25 is made of a rubber sheet with a thickness of about 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm and covers the lower surface 24a of the flange portion 24 and the outer peripheral surface 23a of the peripheral wall portion 23 from the outside of the container body 21. The buffer member 25 may be endless and does not have to be annular.

[0057] As shown in Figure 7, the buffer member 25 is in an inverted L shape when viewed from the front and has an outer covering portion 25a, a lower covering portion 25b, and a connecting portion 25c. The outer covering portion 25a extends vertically along the inclination of the peripheral wall portion 23 of the container body 21 and covers the outer peripheral surface 23a of the container body 21. The lower covering portion 25b extends in the width direction along the flange portion 24 and covers the lower surface 24a of the flange portion 24. The connecting portion 25c connects the upper end of the outer covering portion 25a and the inner end of the lower covering portion 25b.

[0058] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the lower surface of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the support portion 15e (lower covering portion 25b) is provided with a contact portion 25g that contacts the support portion 15e. Specifically, multiple contact portions 25g are provided at intervals around the entire circumference of the lower covering portion 25b. The contact portion 25g is hemispherical in shape, protruding downward from the lower surface of the lower covering portion 25b, with the hemispherical apex contacting the upper surface of the support portion 15e. By providing the contact portion 25g, the area in contact between the lower covering portion 25b and the support portion 15e is reduced compared to the case where the entire lower covering portion 25b contacts the support portion 15e. The shape of the contact portion 25g can be any shape that reduces the contact area with the support portion 15e, for example, it can be a triangular shape with its apex pointing downward.

[0059] The cushioning member 25 is elastically deformed to expand in diameter and attached to the peripheral wall portion 23 and flange portion 24 of the container body 21, starting from the bottom portion 22 and moving towards the flange portion 24. Once the cushioning member 25 is attached to the predetermined mounting position, it contacts the peripheral wall portion 23 due to its elastic restoring force, and the attached state is maintained by the frictional force between the cushioning member 25 and the container body 21.

[0060] If a liquid such as water remains between the cushioning member 25 and the container body 21, the coefficient of friction between the cushioning member 25 and the container body 21 decreases, making it easier for the cushioning member 25 to detach from the container body 21. In response to this, the cushioning member 25 has a structure that breaks the water film that is continuous in the circumferential direction between the cushioning member 25 and the container body 21.

[0061] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the portion of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the container body 21 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 25d arranged at intervals around its entire circumference. Each protrusion 25d is a long projection perpendicular to the circumferential direction and along the outer circumferential surface 23a. Specifically, the surface of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the container body 21 has grooves 25e arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, recessed in a direction away from the container body 21. The protrusions 25d are portions formed between adjacent grooves 25e. The protrusions 25d extend across the inner ends of the outer covering portion 25a, the connecting portion 25c, and the lower covering portion 25b.

[0062] The lower end of the outer covering portion 25a is provided with an annular portion 25f that is continuous with the protrusion 25d and extends circumferentially, contacting the outer circumferential surface 23a of the container body 21. In this embodiment, the lower end of the outer covering portion 25a is not provided with a groove portion 25e. As a result, when the container 20 with the cushioning member 25 attached is viewed from the bottom, the cushioning member 25 is continuous circumferentially, so the appearance is not impaired by attaching the cushioning member 25. However, the groove portion 25e may be provided from the upper end to the lower end of the outer covering portion 25a so as to divide the annular portion 25f in the vertical direction.

[0063] When the cushioning member 25 is attached to the container body 21, the cushioning member 25 does not contact the container body 21 at the groove portion 25e, but it does contact the container body 21 at the protrusion portion 25d, thereby cutting the circumferentially continuous water film between the cushioning member 25 and the container body 21. The protrusion portions 25d are arranged at a ratio of 25% to 65% of the circumference of the cushioning member 25. If it is less than 25%, it is difficult for the protrusion portions 25d to cut the water film. If it exceeds 65%, the friction when attaching the cushioning member 25 to the container body 21 increases, making it difficult to attach.

[0064] The microwave oven 1 and microwave cooking appliance 2 configured in this way have the following features.

[0065] Since the flange portion 24 of the container 20 that abuts against the suspension rail 15 is covered with a flexible cushioning member 25, it is possible to prevent noise and damage to the container 20 and the suspension rail 15 when attaching or detaching the container 20 to and from the suspension rail 15, thereby improving the ease of attaching and detaching the container 20 in the microwave oven cooking appliance 2 that uses a container suspension system.

[0066] Since the cushioning member 25 is made of silicone rubber, it can be easily attached to and detached from the container 20, improving the ease of cleaning both the container 20 and the cushioning member 25.

[0067] The portion of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the container 20 is provided with multiple protrusions 25d arranged at circumferential intervals. Therefore, even when the cushioning member 25 is attached to the container 20 while the container 20 or cushioning member 25 is wet, the cushioning member 25 can be prevented from detaching from the container 20. More specifically, when the container 20 or cushioning member 25 is assembled while wet, water remaining in the portion of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the container 20 may form a continuous, annular water film in the circumferential direction. This annular water film reduces the coefficient of friction between the cushioning member 25 and the container 20, causing the cushioning member 25 to detach from the container 20. However, since the portion of the cushioning member 25 that contacts the container 20 has multiple protrusions 25d arranged at circumferential intervals, the continuous, annular water film in the circumferential direction is interrupted. This allows the cushioning member 25 and the container 20 to come into direct contact, and the reduction in the coefficient of friction between the cushioning member 25 and the container 20 can be suppressed.

[0068] Since the protrusion 25d is a long ridge along the outer peripheral portion 23a perpendicular to the circumferential direction, it is easier to cut through the continuous annular water film in the circumferential direction compared to, for example, the case where the region along the outer peripheral portion of the protrusion 25d is short, and the detachment of the buffer member 25 from the container 20 can be suppressed more effectively.

[0069] Since the lower covering portion 25b is provided with multiple contact portions 25g that contact the suspension rail 15 at intervals in the circumferential direction, the contact area between the buffer member 25 and the suspension rail 15 can be reduced compared to the case where the entire circumference of the lower covering portion 25b is in contact with the suspension rail 15 without the contact portions 25g on the lower covering portion 25b. As a result, friction when inserting the container 20 into the suspension rail 15 can be reduced, and the operability when attaching and detaching the container 20 can be improved.

[0070] Since the plate 10 is provided with a stopper portion (fitting portion) 12d that fits into a stopper portion (fitting portion) 52a formed on the guide rail 51, the slippage of the plate 10 from the guide rail 51 is suppressed compared to a case where neither the stopper portion 12d of the plate 10 nor the stopper portion 52a of the guide rail 51 is provided.

[0071] Since the stopper portions 12d and 52a of the plate 10 and the guide rail 51 are located in an intermediate region in the front-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate 10, the operability is improved when releasing the engagement between the plate 10 and the guide rail 51 and pulling the plate 10 out of the heating chamber 30. If the engagement portion 12d and the fitted portion 52a are located on the rear side of the plate 10, it is necessary to lower the front of the plate 10 (in other words, lift the rear of the plate 10) to release the engagement when removing the plate 10. In other words, since the operating part and the pivot point are at the front end of the plate 10, the operating force required to lift the rear of the plate 10 is greater compared to when the operating part and the pivot point are spaced apart. In contrast, with this configuration, since the engagement portion 12d and the fitted portion 52a are located in an intermediate region in the front-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate 10, the operating force can be reduced.

[0072] On the other hand, if, for example, the fitting portion 12d and the fitted portion 52a are located on the front side of the plate 10, the front of the plate 10 is lifted when removing the plate 10, so the pivot point can be moved away from the front end which is the operating part, and the fitting between the plate 10 and the guide rail 51 can be released with a small operating force. However, when removing only the container 20 from the plate 10, there is a risk that the plate 10 will be pulled out together with the container 20 due to the frictional force generated between the cushioning member 25 located on the flange portion 24 of the container 20 and the guide rail 51. In contrast, with this configuration, since the fitting portion 12d and the fitted portion 52a are located in the intermediate region in the front-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the plate 10, the operating force required to release the fitting between the plate 10 and the guide rail 51 can be increased compared to the case where the fitting portion 12d and the fitted portion 52a are located on the front side of the plate 10, so that the plate 10 does not fly out when removing only the container 20 from inside the heating chamber 30. As a result, both ease of operation when pulling the plate 10 out from the guide rail 51 and the locking mechanism of the plate 10 against the guide rail 51 when attaching or detaching the container 20 from the plate 10 can be achieved.

[0073] Various modifications of the cushioning member 25 will be described below, but unless otherwise specified, the same aspects as in the embodiments will be described. In the drawings referred to below, the same elements as in the embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0074] As shown in Figure 10A, instead of the protrusion 25d of the buffer member 25, it may be formed by a row of circular protrusions 125d arranged in a vertical direction. Multiple rows of circular protrusions may be provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0075] As shown in Figure 10B, instead of the protrusion 25d of the buffer member 25, it may be formed by a row of elliptical protrusions 225d arranged in a vertical direction. Multiple rows of elliptical protrusions may be provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0076] As shown in Figure 10C, instead of the protrusion 25d of the cushioning member 25, it may be formed by a row of inclined protrusions arranged vertically, each in which a first inclined portion that slopes upward from one side to the other in the circumferential direction and a second inclined portion that slopes upward from the other side to the one side in the circumferential direction are continuous inverted V-shaped protrusions 325d. Multiple rows of inclined protrusions may be provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction. In this way, the top of the V shape is provided in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow, making it easy to attach the cushioning member 25 to the container 20.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the plate 10 is made of a ceramic material, but the plate 10 can be any microwave-transmitting material, such as heat-resistant resin, heat-resistant glass, or ceramics.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the plate 10 is equipped with a cover 12 was explained, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the cover 12 may not be provided. In this case, the stopper portion may be provided directly on the flange portions 11e and 11d.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the buffer member 25 is attached to the peripheral wall portion 23 of the container 20 from the lower surface of the flange portion 24. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and it may also be arranged around to the upper surface side of the flange portion 24.

[0080] Furthermore, the microwave cooking appliance and microwave oven of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0081] 1. Microwave oven 2. Cooking utensils for microwave ovens 10 plates 11 Plate body 12d Stopper part (fitting part) 15. Suspension rail (support mechanism) 20 containers 21 Container body 23a Outer periphery 24 Flange section 25 Cushioning material 25a Outer sheathing part 25b Lower covering part 25c connection 25d convex part 25g Contact part 30 Heating chamber 32 Bottom wall (bottom surface) 51 Guide rail 52a Stopper part (fitted part)

Claims

1. a plate having a plate body detachably supported in a heating chamber of a microwave oven body and a support mechanism provided on a lower surface of the plate body; a container detachably supported by the support mechanism so as to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the heating chamber; The container comprises: a cylindrical container body with a bottom and a flange portion protruding radially outward from an outer periphery; A microwave cooking appliance comprising a buffer member having a flexible outer covering portion that covers at least a portion of the outer periphery, a lower covering portion that covers the underside of the flange portion, and a connecting portion that connects the outer covering portion and the lower covering portion.

2. 2. The microwave oven cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is made of silicone rubber.

3. 3. The microwave oven cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member has a plurality of protrusions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on a portion of the buffer member that contacts the container.

4. 4. The microwave oven cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the convex portion is a ridge extending vertically along the outer periphery.

5. 3. The microwave oven cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the lower cover portion is provided with a plurality of abutment portions spaced apart in the circumferential direction, the abutment portions being in contact with the support mechanism.

6. The microwave oven itself, The microwave cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, The microwave oven body is provided with a guide rail for supporting the plate, The plate has a fitting portion that fits into a fitting portion formed on the guide rail.

7. 7. The microwave oven according to claim 6, wherein the fitting portion and the fitted portion are provided in a middle region in a front-rear direction, which is an insertion direction of the plate.

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