Warming drawer, domestic warming appliance and kit comprising same

Abstract

The invention relates to a warming drawer (1) for warming food, having a food-receiving receptacle (8) which has a loading opening (7) open at the top, a lid (2) for covering the loading opening (7), and a seal (9) on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening (7), on which seal the lid (2) rests in the closed state, wherein the lid (2) has a disc stack (3, 4) including an outer disc (4) and an inner disc (3), of which, in the closed state of the lid (2), only the outer disc (4) rests on the seal (9). The invention also relates to a domestic warming appliance (H) having a drawer housing which the warming drawer (1) can be moved in and out of. The invention further relates to a kit comprising warming drawer (1) without lid, a first lid (2) with disc stack (3, 4), and a second lid (14) with individual disc (15). The invention can be particularly advantageously applied to steamer drawers.

Description

[0001] Warming drawer, household heat treatment device and set therewith

[0002] The invention relates to a warming drawer for heat-treating food, comprising a food receiving recess which has a loading opening open at the top, a lid for covering the loading opening, and a seal on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening, on which seal the lid rests when closed. The invention also relates to a household heat-treating appliance, comprising a drawer housing into which the warming drawer can be selectively extended and retracted horizontally. The invention further relates to a set comprising a warming drawer for heat-treating food, comprising a food receiving recess which has a loading opening open at the top, and a seal on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening, which is intended for a lid to rest on when closed, as well as at least one lid.The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to steam treatment drawers.

[0003] DE 10 2018 100 349 A1 discloses a cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber with a cooking chamber opening for filling the cooking chamber, a closure device for closing the cooking chamber opening, and a vacuum device operatively connected to the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is designed as a drawer that can be moved at least between an operating position and a loading position, wherein the cooking chamber opening is only accessible in the loading position. Furthermore, at least one dehumidification device is provided. In the method for keeping a food fresh in the cooking chamber of such a cooking appliance, the following steps are carried out in a suitable order before a cooking process: loading the cooking chamber; generating a vacuum in the cooking chamber; removing moisture from the cooking chamber by means of the dehumidification device.

[0004] EP 3 508 792 A1 discloses a cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber with a cooking chamber opening for filling the cooking chamber, a closure device for closing the cooking chamber opening, a vacuum device operatively connected to the cooking chamber, and a heating device. The cooking chamber is designed as a drawer that can be moved between an operating position and a loading position, with the cooking chamber opening being accessible only in the loading position. In the method for operating such a cooking appliance, the following steps are performed in a suitable order: loading the cooking chamber; generating a vacuum in the cooking chamber; heating the cooking chamber.

[0005] WO 2018 / 001509 A1 discloses a warming drawer for warming food, comprising: a housing comprising a cavity for receiving the food and an opening for access to the cavity; a tray for supporting the food, wherein the tray is extendably arranged in the cavity; and a drawer front for opening / closing the opening, wherein the drawer front is arranged on the front end of the tray, wherein the warming drawer further comprises a sealing skirt arranged on the inner surface of the drawer front and designed such that, when the drawer front is closed, it protrudes circumferentially into the opening and seals off the warm air contained in the cavity, wherein the housing is provided without an elastic seal around the opening.

[0006] WO 2022 / 184426 A1 discloses a food drawer comprising a support frame that can be extended horizontally from a drawer housing, a food receiving tray that can be inserted into the support frame and has a loading opening at the top, and a lid for covering the loading opening. The lid is displaceable horizontally on the support frame in the direction of travel of the support frame in such a way that, when the support frame is extended, it can be moved from a closed position into an open position, in which it is inserted into the drawer housing, and that, when the support frame is extended and in the open position, it can be moved into its closed position by retracting the support frame into the drawer housing. The food drawer is in particular a food drawer in the form of a steam treatment drawer.

[0007] WO 2022 / 200004 A1 discloses a steam treatment drawer. This drawer comprises a support frame with a steamer tray receptacle for inserting at least one steamer tray, an evaporator that can be arranged on the support frame, a drawer movement device connected to the support frame for horizontally moving the support frame relative to a drawer housing, and a lid for covering an upper side of at least the steamer tray receptacle. The lid has a cover plate covering the support frame and, on the left and right sides thereof, vertically downwardly extending side walls configured as guide rails. These side walls are mounted via rollers on lateral cheeks of the support frame configured as guide rails. A steam treatment cooking appliance comprises at least one drawer housing and a steam treatment drawer that can be moved horizontally relative to the drawer housing.A household cooking appliance comprises a steam treatment cooking appliance and, in addition, a further cooking appliance arranged separately therefrom, which has a stationary cooking chamber which can be closed with a door.

[0008] WO 2022 / 238117 A1 discloses a steamer tray designed for use in a steam treatment drawer. It comprises a tray section with a top-side loading opening and a steam inlet adapter arranged on an outer side of the tray section. At least a portion of the tray section and / or the steam inlet adapter is formed as a plastic injection-molded part, and at least one sensor component of a sensor is embedded in at least one plastic injection-molded part.A steam cooking appliance with a steam treatment drawer, wherein the steam treatment drawer can be extended horizontally from a drawer housing, has a steamer tray which can be inserted into the steam treatment drawer from above, and has a control device coupled to a sensor element, in particular a temperature sensor, of the at least one sensor, which control device is configured to control operation of the evaporator based on sensor measured values ​​sensed by means of the at least one sensor element.

[0009] WO 2022 / 238118 A1 discloses a steamer tray designed for use in a steam treatment drawer. It comprises a tray part with a top loading opening surrounded by an upper edge of the tray part, which has a shape that protrudes laterally outwardly beyond a side wall of the tray part, and a seal covering the top side of the upper edge, wherein the seal is removable from the upper edge.

[0010] It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a possibility of closing a top-side loading opening of a food receiving recess in a particularly compact and safe-to-handle manner.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in particular in the dependent claims.

[0012] The task is solved by a warming drawer for heat treatment of food, comprising

[0013] - a food receiving recess which has a loading opening open at the top,

[0014] - a lid to cover the loading opening and

[0015] - a seal on an edge area surrounding the loading opening on the side, on which the lid rests when closed, whereby

[0016] - the cover has a disc package including an outer disc and an inner disc, of which only the outer disc rests on the seal when the cover is closed.

[0017] When closed, this lid allows for a particularly low surface temperature on its upper side, specifically on the upper side of the outer pane. Because the outer pane rests on the seal, the other panes are positioned toward the food receiving recess when closed, thus allowing for a particularly flat design of the warming drawer.

[0018] In one embodiment, the warming drawer can be a cooking drawer, a steam treatment drawer, and / or a warming drawer. As a cooking drawer, it can be configured in particular for heat treatment in the form of cooking food located in the food receiving recess using heat. For this purpose, it can have, for example, one or more heat radiators such as electrical resistance heating elements (e.g., tubular heaters, thick-film heating cables, etc.), induction heaters, etc. As a steam treatment drawer, it can be configured for heat treatment of food located in the food receiving recess using hot steam. For this purpose, it can have, for example, an evaporator. As a warming drawer, it can be configured in particular for heat treatment in the form of keeping food warm in the food receiving recess.

[0019] The food receiving recess can be designed, in particular, in the form of a tray – removable or permanently installed. When the lid is in place or closed, a heat treatment chamber is defined at least by the food receiving recess and the lid. A seal is provided to prevent hot air, vapors, and / or steam from escaping from a gap between the food receiving recess and the lid. The seal is therefore attached to the warming drawer, not to the lid. This seal can also be referred to as a "lid seal."

[0020] An advantageous development for effective sealing is that the seal has at least one upwardly projecting sealing lip. The outer pane can be placed circumferentially on this at least one sealing lip.

[0021] A pane pack is understood to be a group of two or more panes arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another. The outer pane is the outermost pane of the pane pack which is furthest up or highest when the lid is closed and can therefore be touched by a user. The outer pane is therefore the pane which is furthest away from the food receiving recess when the lid is closed. The inner pane is then understood to be the other outer pane of the pane pack. The inner pane is therefore the pane which is furthest into the food receiving recess when the lid is closed. If the pane pack has more than two panes, the other panes can be referred to as intermediate panes and are arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane.The higher the number of panes in the pane package, the higher the temperature shielding tends to be and thus the lower the temperature on the outer pane tends to be.

[0022] A further development is that the panes of the pane stack are at least partially, in particular completely, transparent, so that the lid can advantageously serve as a viewing window for a user. To ensure that only the outer pane rests on the seal when the lid is closed, it is an advantageous development that the surface dimensions of the outer pane (length and width) are larger than the surface dimensions of the other panes, in particular the inner pane.

[0023] One embodiment allows the inner pane to be inserted into the food receiving recess when the lid is closed. This enables a particularly compact, particularly flat, design of the warming drawer. A further development is that, if at least one intermediate pane is present, at least one of these intermediate panes also inserts into the food receiving recess when the lid is closed. This enables particularly effective thermal shielding of the outer pane while maintaining a compact design.

[0024] One embodiment includes a lid that is pivotally attached to the warming drawer. This advantageously allows for precise, user-friendly placement of the lid. The lid can, for example, be pivotally attached to the warming drawer via a hinge.

[0025] In one embodiment, the warming drawer is designed so that the at least one pane, except for the outer pane, is guided past the seal when the lid is pivoted into or out of the closed state. This provides the advantage of particularly simple and low-wear opening and closing of the lid. When there are more than two panes, this design can apply, in particular, to all panes in the pane stack except for the outer pane. If the at least one inner or intermediate pane is held at its edge by a pane seal, this also includes the pane seal.

[0026] It is a further development if the material of the panes is the same, e.g. glass, in particular glass of the same type, e.g. borosilicate glass. It is a further development if the material of the panes is different, for example different types of glass are used, e.g. borosilicate glass is used for one pane and window glass for another. Another possibility for the material of the panes to be different is that at least one of the panes is made of glass and at least one other of the panes is made of plastic. This variety is made possible, among other things, by the fact that the panes of the pane package are at different temperature levels during a heat treatment process, are subject to different chemical stresses and / or have to comply with different boundary conditions (e.g. with regard to a maximum permitted temperature, impact resistance, etc.).

[0027] One embodiment is that at least the outer pane is made of plastic. This has the advantage of making the lid particularly lightweight and inexpensive. This takes advantage of the lower temperature level on the outer pane, which also allows the use of materials less temperature-resistant than glass. A further development is that at least the inner pane is made of glass and at least the outer pane is made of plastic.

[0028] One design involves connecting adjacent panes to each other via a circumferential pane seal. This advantageously creates a sealed gap between two adjacent panes, which can also serve as a thermal seal.

[0029] One design is for the edge area surrounding the loading opening to have a groove into which the seal is inserted. This is particularly easy to implement, especially if the food receiving recess is designed as a sheet metal, e.g., made of stainless steel. The seal can be inserted or snapped into the groove, for example.

[0030] The problem is also solved by a household heat treatment device comprising a drawer housing into which a warming drawer can be selectively extended and retracted horizontally as described above. The household heat treatment device can be designed analogously to the warming drawer, and vice versa, and has the same advantages.

[0031] In a further development, the household heat treatment appliance has a space arranged above the drawer housing for accommodating another cooking appliance, for example, an oven. Such a household heat treatment appliance can also be referred to as a "multi-cavity" appliance if the additional cooking appliance is present. The object is further achieved by a set comprising a warming drawer for heat-treating food. The warming drawer has a food receiving recess, which has a loading opening open at the top, and a seal on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening, which is provided so that a lid rests on it when closed. The set also has at least

[0032] - a first cover having a disc package including an outer disc and an inner disc, of which only the outer disc rests on the seal when the cover is closed, and

[0033] - a second lid with a single disc that rests on the seal when the lid is closed. Such a set can be designed analogously to the household heat treatment appliance and / or warming drawer described above, and vice versa, and has the same advantages.

[0034] This set offers the advantage of allowing the assembly of warming drawers with different lids using many identical parts. These different warming drawers can then serve different purposes (steam cooking only, keeping warm only, cooking and steaming and keeping warm, etc.). For example, the temperature of the outer pane during keeping warm may be within the permissible limits even if only a single pane is used. Different lids can also be used for different equipment levels of the same type of warming drawer (e.g., "Basic" with only one pane, "Comfort" with multiple panes, etc.).

[0035] In a further development, the single pane of the second cover corresponds to the outer pane of the first cover. This advantageously increases the number of identical parts.

[0036] In a further development, the warming drawers, to which different lids can be attached, are otherwise designed identically. This advantageously allows the number of identical parts to be increased even further. The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0037] Fig.1 shows a sectional view in an oblique view of a section of a warming drawer with a lid which has a disc package with two discs;

[0038] Fig.2 shows the warming drawer from Fig.1 in another sectional view in an oblique view;

[0039] Fig.3 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of a section of the warming drawer from Fig.1 in the area of ​​a seal with the lid in place;

[0040] Fig.4 shows, in a representation analogous to Fig.2, a warming drawer with a lid that has only one pane;

[0041] Fig.5 shows a sectional side view of a sketch of a section of the warming drawer from Fig.4 in the area of ​​a seal with the lid in place;

[0042] Fig.6 shows a sectional side view of the warming drawer from Fig.1 with the lid closed;

[0043] Fig.7 shows a sectional side view of the warming drawer from Fig.1 with the lid partially opened; and

[0044] Fig.8 shows a section of Fig.7 as a sectional side view.

[0045] Fig. 1 shows a section of a warming drawer 1 in an oblique sectional view. Fig. 2 shows the warming drawer 1 in another oblique sectional view. The warming drawer 1 can be a component of a household heat treatment appliance H.

[0046] The warming drawer 1 has a lid 2 which has a pane package 3, 4 with two panes arranged one behind the other, namely an inner pane 3 and an outer pane 4 arranged parallel to and at a distance from it. In a plan view of a flat side of the lid 2, the outer pane 4 is circumferentially larger (ie longer and wider) than the inner pane 3 and thus has a circumferential overhang compared to the inner pane 3.

[0047] The two panes 3, 4 are held together by a circumferential pane seal 5 glued to them, which also serves as a spacer to keep the gap 6 between the panes 3, 4 sealed. This is advantageous, for example, to keep the panes 3, 4 clear and to be able to use the gap 6 as a thermal seal. The panes 3, 4 can be transparent at least in some areas (e.g., in an area bordered by the pane seal 5). In one variant, the inner pane 3 can be made of glass, while the outer pane 4 is made of plastic.

[0048] The lid 2 is pivotally connected to the rest of the warming drawer 1 about a rotary hinge (not shown) and, when lowered or closed, covers a top loading opening 7 of a food receiving recess 8. When the lid 2 is closed, food placed in the food receiving recess 8 can be heat-treated, e.g., cooked using heat and / or steam, heat-treated, etc. A circumferentially closed ("lid") seal 9 is located on the surface of the warming drawer 1 at an edge area laterally surrounding the loading opening 7. The seal 9 can, for example, be inserted into a groove 10 surrounding the loading opening 7. In the closed state, the lid 2 rests on the seal 9, more precisely in such a way that the outer pane 4 rests on the seal 3 with its lateral projection area 11 opposite the inner pane 3, while the inner pane 3 is immersed in the food receiving recess 8.For this purpose, the surface dimensions of the inner pane 3 and the pane seal 5 are smaller than the dimensions of the loading opening 7, while the surface dimensions of the outer pane 4 are larger. The inner pane 3, including the pane seal 5, is guided past the seal 9 when the lid 2 is pivoted into or out of the closed state, thus not sliding or rubbing against the seal 9.

[0049] Fig. 3 shows a sectional side view of a section of the warming drawer 1 in the area of ​​the seal 9 with the lid 2 indicated in place. The projecting area 11 of the outer pane 4 rests on an upwardly projecting sealing lip 12 of the seal 9. In this variant, the pane seal 5 is arranged only between the inner pane 3 and the outer pane 4.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows, in a representation analogous to Fig. 2, a warming drawer 13 with a lid 14 having only one pane 15. Fig. 5 shows, as a sectional side view, a sketch of a section of the warming drawer 13 in the area of ​​a seal 9 with the lid 14 in place. The warming drawer 13 is designed similarly to the warming drawer 1, except that the lid 14 has only one pane 15, which structurally corresponds to the outer pane 4.

[0051] During assembly, a set of components comprising the warming drawer without a lid as well as the lid 2 and the lid 14 can be kept ready and then - e.g. depending on the customer's wishes - the warming drawer without a lid can be equipped with the desired lid 2 or 14 in order to obtain a finished warming drawer 1 or 13.

[0052] Returning to the warming drawer 1, Fig. 6 shows a sectional side view of the warming drawer 1 with the lid 2 closed. The lid 2 can be pivoted about a hinge 16. A food support 17 is also inserted into the food receiving recess 8.

[0053] Fig.7 shows a sectional side view of the warming drawer 1 with the lid 2 partially opened (here: by 35°). Fig.8 shows a sectional side view of a section from Fig.7. The warming drawer 1 is designed so that the inner pane 3 is guided past the seal 9 when the lid 2 is pivoted into or out of the closed state, as shown by the area surrounded by the dashed circle.

[0054] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

[0055] In general, "a", "an", etc., can be understood as a singular or a plural, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly one", etc. A numerical specification can also include exactly the specified number as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

[0056] List of reference symbols

[0057] 1 warming drawer

[0058] 2 lids

[0059] 3 inner pane

[0060] 4 Outer pane

[0061] 5 Window seal

[0062] 6 gap

[0063] 7 Loading opening

[0064] 8 Food receiving recess

[0065] 9 Seal

[0066] 10 gutter

[0067] 11 Overhang area

[0068] 12 Sealing lip

[0069] 13 Warming drawer

[0070] 14 lids

[0071] 15 slices

[0072] 16 Hinge

[0073] 17 Food carrier H Household heat treatment appliance

Claims

Patent claims 1. Warming drawer (1) for heat-treating food, comprising - a food receiving recess (8) which has a loading opening (7) open at the top, - a lid (2) to cover the loading opening (7) and - a seal (9) on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening (7), on which the lid (2) rests in the closed state, wherein - the cover (2) has a disc package (3, 4) including an outer disc (4) and an inner disc (3), of which only the outer disc (4) rests on the seal (9) when the cover (2) is closed.

2. Warming drawer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner pane (3) dips into the food receiving recess (8) when the lid (2) is closed.

3. Warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (2) is a component of the warming drawer (1) which is pivotably connected to the warming drawer (1).

4. Warming drawer (1) according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the warming drawer (1) is designed so that at least one pane (3) other than the outer pane (4) is guided past the seal (9) when the lid (2) is pivoted into or out of the closed state.

5. Warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the outer pane (4) is made of plastic.

6. Warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent panes (3, 4) are connected to one another via a circumferential pane seal (5).

7. Warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening (7) has a groove (10) into which the seal (9) is inserted.

8. Warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warming drawer (1) is a cooking drawer, a steam treatment drawer and / or a warming drawer.

9. Household heat treatment appliance (H), comprising a drawer housing into which the warming drawer (1) according to one of the preceding claims can be selectively extended and retracted horizontally.

10. Set comprising a warming drawer (1) for heat-treating food, comprising - a food receiving recess (8) which has a loading opening (7) open at the top, and - a seal (9) on an edge region laterally surrounding the loading opening (7), which is provided so that a lid (2, 14) rests on it in the closed state, and at least - a first cover (2) having a disc package (3, 4) including an outer disc (4) and an inner disc (3), of which only the outer disc (4) rests on the seal (9) when the cover (2) is closed, and - a second cover (14) with a single disc (15) which rests on the seal (9) when the cover (14) is closed.

Images