Built-in HOB with a spring mounting bracket

Abstract

The invention relates to a built-in hob comprising a housing (10) having a base (13) and a side wall (12) rising from the peripheral edges of the base (13); a slot (11) opened on the side wall (12); a top plate (1) disposed on the upper edge of the side wall (12) so as to cover the housing (10). The hob includes a one-piece flat and thin metal mounting bracket (20) having a spring element (28) which passes through the slot (11) and rests only on the inner part (121) of the side wall (12) in a pre-assembly position to provide a single leg (283) to be held in the slot (11); and a spring extension (24) extending outwards from the slot (11) by being bent from the leg (283).

Description

[0001] BUILT-IN HOB WITH A SPRING MOUNTING BRACKET

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a hob with a spring mounting bracket, in particular a built-in hob.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Existing kitchen hobs are designed to be placed on a countertop surface and are equipped with various fastening elements to ensure installation. Generally, the upper and lower parts of these hobs are fixed to each other, and this junction is designed to facilitate the fixing of the hobs to the countertop surface. In the installation of the hob to the countertop, springs or latches that provide fixation between the hob and the countertop are generally used, as well as the possibility of pulling from under the countertop.

[0006] In the installation of the built-in hob to the countertop, the assembly of the structures that serve to mount the countertop and the hob by pulling from under the countertop creates an installation difficulty. In installations made by the method of pulling from under the countertop, there is generally no system that centers the hob on the countertop.

[0007] In a different hob installation, the fastening elements are fixedly mounted to the lower part or the upper part of the hob, and these elements provide the hob installation by being fixed in accordance with the cutout on the countertop surface. However, these systems generally require complex installation procedures, and it is difficult to fit the hobs properly into the countertop cutout.

[0008] EP3351859A1 discloses a mounting bracket for a hob, which has been developed for use in a hob or a similar hob and which includes details for the use of these mounting bracket components, designed to provide for the fixing, mounting or support of the hob system.

[0009] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a built-in hob that can be easily installed by a single operator, without the need for pre-fixing the mounting bracket. In order to achieve above objective, the invention is a built-in hob comprising a housing having a base and a side wall rising from the edges of the base; a slot opened on the side wall; a top plate disposed on the upper edge of the side wall so as to cover the housing. The built-in hob includes a one-piece flat and thin metal mounting bracket having a spring element which passes through the slot and rests only on the inner part of the side wall in a mounting position to provide a single leg to be held in the slot; and a spring extension extending outwards from the slot by being bent from the leg. The top plate can probably be made of glass ceramic or sheet metal. When the mounting bracket is placed in the slot in the mounting position, it remains suspended on the side wall by itself without the need for an additional fixing element, and the hob installation process can be easily performed by a single operator.

[0011] Preferably, a first elbow is obtained by bending the edge of the spring extension of the mounting bracket close to the slot. The first elbow ensures that the edge of the mounting bracket close to the slot is aligned towards the inner part. In this case, a compact spring element with a short extension is obtained inside the housing.

[0012] Preferably, a second elbow is provided on an edge opposite to the first elbow of the tab. The second elbow increases the structural strength of the spring extension.

[0013] Preferably, an alignment extension is provided at the end of the second elbow. The alignment extension facilitates the alignment of the bracket towards the slot during installation and increases the accuracy and speed of the installation.

[0014] Preferably, the spring extension includes an outer bend obtained by partially bending the edge away from the slot. By reducing the risk of catching or friction with other components around the slot during or after the mounting bracket is installed, it ensures that the installation process is smooth and the components are not damaged.

[0015] Preferably, a flange is provided adjacent to the outer part of the side wall at an angle to the spring extension. The flange ensures that the mounting bracket is fixed to the housing in a robust and stable manner adjacent to the side wall.

[0016] Preferably, it includes a screw hole provided on the side wall and a mounting hole provided in the flange to correspond to the screw hole on the side wall, and a fastening element that passes through the mounting hole and the screw hole to fix the mounting bracket to the side wall in a removable manner. In this case, the flange rests against the side wall by creating a pre-tension with the help of the fastening element. When the mounting bracket is held to the inner wall by the leg of the spring element in the mounting position, the flange can be fixed to the side wall by, for example, screwing the fixing element. In this way, the mounting bracket is mounted to the housing in a robust and removable manner.

[0017] Preferably, a recess is provided on the side wall towards the inner part of the housing so as to include the slot and the screw hole. Thus, the fixing element is protectively taken into the housing and these components are prevented from forming an obstacle by extending out of the side wall during assembly.

[0018] Preferably, an auxiliary spring element is provided on the edge of the spring element parallel to the tab. Thus, a pair of spring elements is obtained to provide support from two points and to prevent the mounting bracket from slipping or dislodging.

[0019] Preferably, the mounting bracket is in the form of a U-profile. Thus, both the outer bend and the spring element can be obtained by bending the mounting bracket from a metal strip as a single piece. The one-piece structure gives the mounting bracket high structural strength and flexibility.

[0020] Preferably, the first elbow is set at a narrow angle. Thus, when the mounting bracket rests on the inner wall, it easily resists the weight of the mounting bracket and the additional loads that may occur in the mounting position.

[0021] Preferably, the second elbow is set at a wider angle than the first elbow. Thus, the mounting bracket sits on the side surface with a wider contact area. In this way, the mounting stability is increased and the load distribution is improved.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Figure 1a is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the built-in hob subject to the invention, with a gas burner.

[0024] Figure 1b is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the built-in hob subject to the invention, with an electric heating plate.

[0025] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a representative embodiment of a hob housing with slots on its side walls. Figure 3 is a close-up view of a recess surrounding the slot on the housing in Figure 2.

[0026] Figure 4a is an external perspective view of a representative embodiment of the mounting bracket.

[0027] Figure 4b is an internal perspective view of the mounting bracket.

[0028] Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view of the built-in hob subject to the invention on a countertop cut, with the hob bracket in the mounting position.

[0029] Figure 5b is a cross-sectional view of the built-in hob given in Figure 5a after it has been mounted in the countertop cut with the mounting bracket compressed.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In this detailed description, the development subject to the invention is described with reference to examples, without any limitation, only to better explain the subject.

[0032] In Figure 1a and Figure 1 b, a top view of a hob with a rectangular flat top plate (1) made of glass ceramic is given. In Figure 1a, there is a gas heating element (3) placed on the upper part of the top plate (1 ), a grate (2) sitting on the top plate (1 ) surrounding the heating element (3), and a control element (4) in the form of a rotary hob knob arranged near the front edge of the top plate (1 ). In Figure 1 b, there is an electric heating element (3) placed on the upper part of the top plate (1) and a control element (4) consisting of touch buttons arranged near the front edge of the top plate (1 ).

[0033] In Figure 2, a tray-like sheet metal housing (10) is shown in a top perspective view. The housing (10) includes a flat and planar rectangular base (13) and a side wall (12) rising upwards circumferentially from the outer edges of the base (13). The side walls (12) are obtained by bending the sheet of the housing (10) vertically upwards. The side walls (12) have an outer part (122) facing the external environment and an inner part (121 ) facing into the housing (10) opposite thereto. There is a recess (123) formed from the outer part (122) to the inner part (121 ) near each corner of the side wall (12). As shown in close-up in Figure 3, two adjacent and spaced slots (11 ) in the form of a cut are opened in the recess (123), and a screw hole (15) is provided between the slots (11 ). In Figure 4a and Figure 4b, a mounting bracket (20) formed by bending from a metal plate transversely from end to end is shown from the outside and inside, respectively. The mounting bracket (20) includes a long spring extension (24) and a short outer bend (22) bent inwards at a right angle from one end thereof, and a fork-shaped spring element (28) bent inwards at a narrow angle from the opposite end and an auxiliary spring element (29) spaced therefrom. A semi-circular flange (264) is obtained by bending outwards at an angle and has a hole in the middle. The spring element (28) is bent inwards at a narrow angle with a first elbow (284) close to the spring extension (24). A second elbow (285) is obtained by bending the remote end of the spring element (28) outwards in the opposite direction. The part extending outwards from the second elbow (285) constitutes a short alignment extension (282).

[0034] In Figure 5a, the position of the built-in hob on a countertop (30) in a mounting position where the mounting bracket (20) is adapted to the housing (10) is shown in cross-section. Here, the countertop (30) is cut to open a hole through which the housing (10) can pass. The mounting bracket (20) is placed in the slot (11) on the housing (10) so that it can carry its own weight. While the mounting bracket (20) is being placed in the slot (11), each spring element (28, 29) is passed through the alignment extension (282) by aligning it with the corresponding slot (11), and the second elbow (285) and the first elbow (284) pass through the slot (11) respectively, taking the spring element (28) into the housing (10). In this position, the flange (264) hole is aligned with the screw hole (15). The spring extension (24) faces upwards on the outer part (122) of the side wall (12), forming a narrow angle with the upper part. The outer bend (22) faces the side wall (12) from its outer part (122). In this position, the mounting bracket (20) rests on the side wall (12) from the inner part (121) of the spring elements (28, 29) and remains fixed despite its own weight by being held by the slot (11 ) from below. The flange (264) rests on the part of the recess (123) surrounding the screw hole (15). The fastening element (262) is inserted to lock the mounting bracket (20) on the side wall (12). Then, the housing (10) is fitted into the hole in the countertop (30) as in Figure 5b. In this case, the top plate (1 ) is sits on top of the countertop (30) so as to cover the cutting area. Since the distance between the cut of the countertop (30) is narrow, the spring extension (24) is tensioned and bent during the placement of the housing (10). In this case, the outer bend (22) creates a pre-pressing force, and the free end of the spring extension (24) of the mounting bracket (20) contacts the side wall (12) from the outer part (122). The elbow of the outer bend (22) rests on the adjacent edge of the countertop (30).

[0035] The hob is seated on the countertop cut with the mounting bracket (20) via the spring extension (24) at the corners of the side walls (12) of its housing (10). The spring extension (24) of each mounting bracket (20) holds the housing (10) slightly above the countertop (30) cut, causing it not to fully enter the cut. By pressing the hob from above, the housing (10) fits fully into the cut with the compression of the spring extension (24) in between. The hob placed by this method is centered in the countertop (30). Centering ensures equal load distribution on the mounting brackets (20) carrying the housing (10). It also ensures the preservation of the functionality of elements such as gaskets used for sealing between the hob and the countertop (30). In addition, the force applied by the spring extension (24) of the mounting bracket (20) to the countertop walls via its elbow between the outer bend (22) prevents the housing (10) of the hob from coming out of the countertop (30), thus fulfilling its mounting duty.

[0036] REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0037] 1 Top plate

[0038] 2 Grate

[0039] 3 Heating element

[0040] 4 Control element

[0041] 10 Housing

[0042] 11 Slot

[0043] 12 Side wall

[0044] 121 Inner part

[0045] 122 Outer part

[0046] 123 Recess

[0047] 13 Base

[0048] 15 Screw hole

[0049] 20 Mounting bracket

[0050] 22 Outer bend

[0051] 24 Spring extension

[0052] 26 Mounting hole

[0053] 262 Fastening element

[0054] 264 Flange

[0055] 28 Spring element

[0056] 282 Alignment extension

[0057] 283 Leg

[0058] 284 First elbow

[0059] 285 Second elbow

[0060] 29 Auxiliary spring element

[0061] 30 Countertop

Claims

CLAIMS1. A built-in hob comprising a housing (10) having a base (13) and a side wall (12) rising from the peripheral edges of the base (13); a slot (11 ) opened on the side wall (12); a top plate (1 ) disposed on the upper edge of the side wall (12) so as to cover the housing (10), characterized by a one-piece flat and thin metal mounting bracket (20) having a spring element (28) which passes through the slot (11) and rests only on the inner part (121 ) of the side wall (12) in a pre-assembly position to provide a single leg (283) to be held in the slot (11); and a spring extension (24) extending outwards from the slot (11) by being bent from the leg (283).

2. A built-in hob according to Claim 1 , wherein a first elbow (284) is obtained by bending the edge of the spring extension (24) close to the slot (11 ).

3. A built-in hob according to Claim 2, wherein a second elbow (285) is provided on an edge opposite to its first elbow (284).

4. A hob according to Claim 3, wherein an alignment extension (282) is provided at the end of the second elbow (285).

5. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer bend (22) is obtained by partially bending the edge of the spring extension (24) away from the slot(11).

6. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a flange (264) is provided adjacent to the outer part (122) of the side wall (12) at an angle to the spring extension (24).

7. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a screw hole (15) is provided on the side wall (12) and a mounting hole (26) provided in the flange (264) to correspond to the screw hole (15) on the side wall (12), and a fastening element (262) that passes through the mounting hole (26) and the screw hole (15) to fix the mounting bracket (20) to the side wall (12) in a removable manner.

8. A built-in hob according to Claim 7, wherein a recess (123) is provided on the side wall(12) towards the inner part of the housing (10) so as to include the slot (11 ) and the screw hole (15).

9. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an auxiliary spring element (29) is provided on the edge of the spring extension (24) parallel to the tab.

10. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting bracket (20) is in the form of a U-profile.

11. A built-in hob according to Claims 2-10, wherein the first elbow (284) is set at a narrow angle.

12. A built-in hob according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second elbow (285) is set at a wider angle than the first elbow (284).

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