Kitchen worktop with induction HOB and method for realizing the kitchen worktop

Abstract

It is disclosed a worktop (1) for a kitchen comprising an induction hob (2) defining a cooking portion (4) and a countertop (3) extending peripherally to the induction hob (2). The induction hob (2) is made of the same material as the countertop (3). Between the induction hob (2) and the countertop (3) there is a perimetric slit (6) within which the induction hob (2) is freely expandable.

Description

[0001] KfTCHEN WORKTOP WITH INDUCTION HOB AND METHOD FOR

[0002] REALIZING THE KITCHEN WORKTOP

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present Invention relates to a kitchen worktop in which an induction hob is installed and a method for realizing the kitchen worktop.

[0006] The present invention falls within the field of “invisible” induction hobs. PRIOR ART

[0007] To date, invisible induction hobs are known in which the surface defining the cooking hob (for example in marble or stoneware) is integrated into the worktop of a kitchen.

[0008] The Applicant has observed that the known invisible induction hobs have the disadvantage of being fixed directly under the worktop creating a continuity therewith.

[0009] In particular, it is known that the induction hob can create thermal expansions that could lead to damage to the induction hob itself and / or the worktop when such expansions are excessive.

[0010] In other words, the installation of the invisible hobs under the worktop realized as a single element can create possible cracks / damage to the kitchen worktop.

[0011] Italian Patent Application No. IT201800006548 discloses a kitchen worktop provided with an induction hob defined directly in the worktop.

[0012] In particular, IT201800006548 discloses that each induction coil 4 is coupled to a zone 3 of the lower surface 2b of a slab 2 defining the kitchen worktop 1 ; moreover, IT201800006548 discloses that a layer 5 made of titanium is interposed between each induction coil 4 and the slab 2 at the respective zone 3 of the lower surface 2b.

[0013] IT201800006548 further discloses (see Figures 6 and 7) to realize a through hole 7 in the slab 2 at each zone 3 coupled to the respective coil 4, thus obtaining two or more through holes 7 equal to the number of induction coils 4.

[0014] Spanish utility model no. ES 1228326 U discloses a worktop provided with a through hole 4 for each cooking zone 2 of the ceramic type, so as to obtain two or more through holes 4 equal to the number of the induction coils, in which there is an opening 6 between each hole 4 and the respective portion 5 of the worktop of the cooking zone 2.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The technical task of the present invention is thus to provide a kitchen worktop and a method for realizing the kitchen worktop that are able to overcome the drawbacks arising from the prior art.

[0017] The object of the present invention is thus to provide a kitchen worktop and a method for realizing the kitchen worktop that allow to avoid the occurrence of damage to the induction hob and / or the worktop itself.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is thus to provide a kitchen worktop and a method for realizing the kitchen worktop that allow an effective integration between the worktop and the induction hob itself.

[0019] The specified technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a worktop for a kitchen comprising an induction hob and a countertop.

[0020] The induction hob comprises a cooking portion comprising one or more induction coils.

[0021] The countertop extends peripherally to the induction hob.

[0022] The induction hob is made of the same material as the countertop.

[0023] Between the induction hob and the countertop there is a perimetric slit within which the induction hob is freely expandable.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, the worktop further comprises a lighting system, in particular a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system, arranged inside the slit and configured to generate a light beam exiting the slit.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the worktop further comprises a gasket arranged within the slit.

[0026] The specified technical task and the specified objects are also achieved by a method for realizing a worktop for a kitchen subject-matter of the present invention, comprising the steps of:

[0027] - selecting a slab-shaped element in a specific material in order to realize the worktop;

[0028] - realizing an induction hob in a portion of the slab-shaped element of the worktop.

[0029] The step of realizing the induction hob is carried out by defining a perimetric slit between the induction hob and the worktop.

[0030] In one embodiment, the step of realizing the induction hob is carried out by defining the perimetric slit between the induction hob and a countertop extending peripherally to said induction hob.

[0031] Advantageously, the slit allowing the free movement of the induction hob allows to avoid the formation of cracks or other forms of damage in the worktop or in the induction hob itself.

[0032] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of an embodiment of a worktop and a method for realizing the worktop.

[0034] Such a description will be set out below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided solely for illustrative and therefore non-limiting purposes, in which:

[0035] - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a worktop that is the subject-matter of the present invention;

[0036] - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an induction hob installed in the worktop of Figure 1 ;

[0037] - Figures 2A and 2B are schematic sectional representations of the worktop.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the attached figures, a worktop for a kitchen has been indicated overall with 1 which, for simplicity of description, will be referred to below as worktop 1 .

[0039] The worktop 1 comprises an induction hob 2 and a countertop 3.

[0040] The induction hob 2 is of the invisible type, that is an induction hob 2 that is blended or integrates with the rest of the kitchen worktop 1 .

[0041] The induction hob 2 defines a cooking portion 4 (that is an area) comprising one or more induction coils, which are positioned below the cooking portion 4.

[0042] In one embodiment, the induction hob 2 further comprises a user interface panel 5 that can be positioned at different points of the induction hob 2 with which a user can interact to command one or more of the components and / or operations of the induction hob 2 and of the cooking portion 4, in particular to control the switching on and off of the induction coils.

[0043] The countertop 3 extends peripherally to the induction hob 2.

[0044] The induction hob 2 (or the cooking portion 4) is made of the same material as the countertop 3.

[0045] In particular, the worktop 1 is a slab-shaped element having a through hole and the induction hob 2 comprises a portion of the same slab-shaped element housed in the through hole, wherein said portion of the slab-shaped element (and thus the induction hob 2) is supported by a support structure 8, as will be explained in more detail below; therefore the induction coils are coupled to the lower surface of the slab-shaped element portion of the induction hob 2.

[0046] The thickness of the slab-shaped element of the countertop 3 is substantially equal to the thickness of the portion of the slab-shaped element of the induction hob, wherein said thickness is for example comprised between 6 millimetres and 20 millimetres, in particular it is equal to about 12 millimetres.

[0047] Even more particularly, the perimetric shape of the slab-shaped element portion of the induction hob 2 is substantially the same as the shape of the perimeter of the through hole, and furthermore the surface of the slabshaped element portion of the induction hob 2 is slightly smaller than the surface of the through hole, so as to allow the perimetric slit 6 to be realized as illustrated above.

[0048] In one embodiment, the induction hob 2 (or the cooking portion 4) comprises an upper surface made, alternatively, of glass, non-ferritic metal (e.g. aluminium, brass, copper, bronze), cement, stoneware, ceramics, marble, quartz or derivatives or compounds thereof. Therefore, the upper surface of the countertop 3 is also made of glass, non-ferritic metal, cement, stoneware, ceramics, marble, quartz or derivatives or compounds thereof.

[0049] In another embodiment, the surface of the induction hob 2 (or the cooking portion 4) is made of AISI 304 steel.

[0050] The term AISI 304 steel refers to an austenitic stainless steel alloy of the AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) series composed of at least 50% iron, about 18% chromium, about 8% nickel, and is also commercially indicated with 18-8 steel.

[0051] In one embodiment, the countertop 3 has an opening within which the induction hob 2 is installed or installable and having an area greater than an area of the induction hob 2.

[0052] In one embodiment, the opening has a length “L1 ” comprised between 58 centimetres and 83 centimetres and a width “L2” comprised between 49 centimetres and 52 centimetres.

[0053] Between the induction hob 2 and the countertop 3 there is a perimetric slit 6 within which the induction hob 2 or the cooking portion 4 is freely expandable.

[0054] The slit (or opening) 6 extends along the entire perimeter around the induction hob 2.

[0055] In one embodiment, the slit 6 is defined through cutting, by milling, mechanical cutting, water cutting or laser cutting.

[0056] In one embodiment, the slit 6 results from the difference between the area of the opening of the countertop 3 and the area of the induction hob 2. Advantageously, the slit 6 allows a free expansion of the induction hob 2 within the countertop 3 and thus allows to avoid the formation of cracks or other damages both on the induction hob 2 and on the countertop 3.

[0057] Furthermore, the use of a perimetric slit 6 around the induction hob 2 greatly simplifies the realization of the induction hob 2, because it does not require the movement of electronic devices that power and drive the operation of the induction coils of the cooking portion 4, wherein said electronic devices are positioned below the slab defining the induction hob 2 or the cooking portion 4.

[0058] In particular, the slit 6 is made externally with respect to the area occupied by the electronic devices that power and drive the operation of the plurality of induction coils: in this way it is not necessary to move the electronic devices that are mounted under the induction coils.

[0059] In one embodiment, the slit 6 has a thickness suitable for containing a maximum expansion of the induction hob 2 caused by the heat generated by the kitchenware during use of the induction hob 2 itself.

[0060] In one embodiment, the slit 6 has a thickness comprised between 1 millimetre and 4 millimetres, in particular comprised between 1 millimetre and 2 millimetres.

[0061] In one embodiment, the slit 6 has a thickness of 3 millimetres.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the worktop 1 , the worktop 1 itself further comprises a lighting system, in particular a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system arranged inside the slit 6 and configured to generate a light beam exiting the slit 6.

[0063] In particular, the lighting system is arranged on the perimeter of the expandable portion of the induction hob 2 and is configured to illuminate the area surrounding the induction hob 2 of the worktop 1 or of the countertop 3.

[0064] In addition, the lighting system defines a block that prevents liquids or food residues from falling inside the cabinet “M" on which the worktop 1 is installed. According to one embodiment of the worktop 1 , the worktop 1 further comprises a gasket 7 arranged within the slit 6.

[0065] The gasket 7 is preferably interposed between the induction hob 2 and the countertop 3: in this way, the gasket 7 allows to avoid possible damage to the induction hob 2 and / or to the countertop 3 in case of thermal expansions lower than the overall thickness of the slit 6.

[0066] In addition, the gasket 7 prevents liquids or food residues from falling inside the cabinet “M” on which the worktop 1 is installed.

[0067] In one embodiment, the worktop 1 comprises both the lighting system and the gasket 7.

[0068] In one embodiment, the worktop 1 further comprises a support structure 8, preferably made of metal, configured in use to anchor the induction hob 2 to a cabinet “M” or similar installation structure of the worktop 1 and to maintain the induction hob 2 flush with the countertop 3.

[0069] Advantageously, the support structure 8, in addition to allowing to keep the induction hob 2 and the countertop 3 flush, guarantees to keep the various electronic elements in position with the material defining the worktop 1 by anchoring them to the cabinet “M”.

[0070] In one embodiment, the worktop 1 has the slit 6 (otherwise called the cutting or escape line) around the perimeter of the cooking portion 4 to allow the thermal expansions not to damage or crack the entire slab of the induction hob 2.

[0071] Advantageously, the presence of the lighting system and / or of the gasket 7 allows to avoid infiltration of liquids and / or food residues through the slit 6 within the cabinet “M” in which the worktop 1 is installed.

[0072] Advantageously, the presence of the lighting system allows to illuminate the area around the induction hob 2 and to signal the presence of liquids and / or food residues within the slit 6.

[0073] The present invention also relates to a method for realizing a worktop 1 as described above.

[0074] The method comprises a first step of selecting a slab-shaped element in a specific material in order to realize the worktop 1 .

[0075] In one embodiment, the slab-shaped element is made of glass, non-ferritic metal (e.g. aluminium, brass, copper, bronze), cement, stoneware, ceramics, marble, quartz, or derivatives or compounds thereof.

[0076] The method further comprises a step of realizing an induction hob 2 in a portion of the slab-shaped element.

[0077] In one embodiment, the step of realizing the induction hob 2 is realized by cutting the slab-shaped element so as to realize a perimetric slit 6 between the induction hob 2 and a further portion of the slab-shaped element extending peripherally to the induction hob, wherein the further portion defines the countertop 3 of the worktop.

[0078] In another embodiment, the step of realizing the induction hob 2 is realized by milling, mechanical cutting, water cutting or laser cutting of the slabshaped element, so as to obtain an opening in the slab-shaped element (in particular, a through hole) in which to house the induction hob 2.

[0079] In one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of installing a lighting system, preferably an LED lighting system, and / or a gasket 7 within the slit 6.

[0080] Advantageously, the present invention is capable of overcoming the objectives emerged from the prior art.

[0081] Advantageously, the worktop 1 and the method for realizing the worktop 1 allow to avoid the occurrence of damage to the induction hob 2 and / or to the worktop 1 (or the countertop 3) itself.

[0082] Advantageously, the worktop 1 and the method for realizing the worktop 1 allow an effective integration between the worktop 1 (or the countertop 3) and the induction hob 2 itself.

Claims

CLAMS1 . Worktop (1 ) for a kitchen comprising:- an induction hob (2) defining a cooking portion (4) comprising a plurality of induction coils;- a countertop (3) extending peripherally to said induction hob (2); wherein said induction hob (2) is made of the same material as said countertop (3); and wherein between said induction hob (2) and said countertop (3) there is a perimetric slit (6) within which said induction hob (2) is freely expandable.

2. Worktop according to claim 1 , wherein the worktop is a slab-shaped element having a through hole and wherein the induction hob (2) comprises a portion of the slab-shaped element housed in the through hole.

3. Worktop according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the induction hob comprises electronic devices for powering and driving the plurality of induction coils, and wherein the slit is made externally to the area occupied by the electronic devices for powering and driving the plurality of induction coils.

4. Worktop (1 ) according to claims 1 -3, further comprising a lighting system arranged inside said slit (6) and configured to generate a light beam exiting said slit (6).

5. Worktop (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the lighting system is of the light-emitting diode type.

6. Worktop (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a gasket (7) arranged inside said slit (6).

7. Worktop (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slit (6) has a thickness comprised between 1 millimetre and 4 millimetres.

8. Worktop (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said countertop (3) has an opening within which said induction hob (2) is installed and having an area greater than an area of said induction hob (2), preferably said opening having a length (L1 ) comprised between 58 centimetres and 83 centimetres and a width (L2) comprised between 49 centimetres and 52centimetres.

9. Worktop (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said induction hob (2) comprises an upper surface made of glass, non-ferritic metal, cement, stoneware, ceramics, marble, quartz or derivatives or compounds thereof.

10. Worktop (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support structure (8), preferably made of metal, configured in use to anchor said induction hob (2) to a cabinet (M) or similar installation structure and to maintain said induction cooking hob (2) flush with said countertop (3).1 1 . Method for realizing a worktop (1 ) for a kitchen, the method comprising the steps of:- selecting a slab-shaped element in a specific material in order to realize the worktop;- realizing an induction hob (2) in a portion of said slab-shaped element of the worktop by cutting the slab-shaped element so as to realize a perimetric slit (6) between said induction hob (2) and a further portion of the slabshaped element extending peripherally to said induction hob (2) and defining a countertop of the worktop.

12. Method for realizing a worktop according to claim 1 1 , wherein said slit is made externally to the area occupied by electronic devices for powering and driving a plurality of induction coils of the induction hob.

13. Method for realizing a worktop according to claims 1 1 or 12, wherein said cutting of the slab-shaped element is realized by milling, mechanical cutting, water cutting or laser cutting.

14. Method for realizing a worktop according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a step of installing a lighting system and / or a gasket (7) inside said slit (6).

15. Realization method according to claim 14, wherein the lighting system is of the light-emitting diode type.

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