A support assembly for connecting the cooking chamber and the heater carrier in ovens

Abstract

The invention relates to a support assembly (K) that carries the load of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) in domestic type ovens (20) and ensures they remain fixed, as well as providing savings in raw material costs and ease of assembly.

Description

[0001] A SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR CONNECTING THE COOKING CHAMBER AND THE HEATER CARRIER IN OVENS

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a support assembly that is usable in domestic type ovens.

[0004] More specifically, the invention relates to a support assembly that carries the load of the cooking chamber and the heater carrier in domestic type ovens and ensures they remain fixed, as well as providing savings in raw material costs and ease of assembly.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] Domestic type ovens are devices that meet basic needs such as cooking, heating, and baking food in kitchens. These ovens, which usually have electricity or gas models, offer flexibility to the user with different cooking programs, temperature settings, and timer features. Domestic type ovens heat the ingredients within a closed cooking chamber during the food cooking process. The cooking chamber is configured to withstand high temperatures and is structured to provide suitable insulation and sealing so that ingredients are cooked efficiently under the effect of heat and steam. The temperature and humidity balance within the cooking chamber is of great importance in terms of the quality and safety of the cooking process. Resistances (heating elements) are present in electric ovens for the cooking process to be performed. In the prior art, these resistances are generally positioned at the bottom and top parts of the cooking chamber. Also in the prior art, the use of reflective plates, used to carry the resistances and direct the heat emitted from the resistances to the cooking chamber, is present.

[0007] Fixing the cooking chamber to the oven is important for safe and efficient use. An unfixed cooking chamber moves from its place as a result of vibrations and movements while the oven is operating. Another reason causing the cooking chamber to move from its place is the incorrect placement of the cooking chamber. The situation of the cooking chamber moving from its place or coming out causes unbalanced heat distribution during cooking, food not cooking properly, or a decrease in the performance of the oven. A cooking chamber that is not fixed poses a danger, especially when operating at high temperatures. With the risk of the cooking chamber sliding from its place or falling, both user safety is threatened, and the device is damaged. Therefore, fixing the cooking chamber constitutes a necessity for both safety and ideal cooking results.The heater carrier sheet refers to a structure located at the bottom part of the cooking chamber and configured to support the heater resistance. The sheet is generally fixed to the bottom region of the cooking chamber by means of screws. The support legs found under some heater carrier sheet models provide structural integrity by resting against the base sheet of the oven. The heater carrier sheet also undertakes the function of directing the thermal energy produced by the heater resistance to the cooking chamber by reflecting it. Positioning the sheet in this manner contributes to the homogeneity of the heat distribution in the cooking chamber and increases energy efficiency.

[0008] The fixing of the heater carrier sheet to the oven base is generally performed with techniques such as screws, special hook mechanisms, or the welding method. During this process, the sheet must be aligned exactly and fixed tightly. If the heater carrier sheet is not fixed properly, the resistance wires slide from their place, and this situation causes the oven to heat unevenly.

[0009] Today, regarding the techniques used for the fixing of the cooking chamber and the heater carrier sheet separately; the cooking chamber is fixed to the main body of the oven via various connection elements such as support elements, connection plates, and fixing parts placed at the bottom part of the cooking chamber. These parts generally support the cooking chamber with connection methods such as screws, rivets, or welding and limit its axial movement. These connection methods lead to complex assembly processes and increase production costs. On the other hand, the use of these connection elements creates difficulties during the assembly process and remains insufficient in terms of long-term durability. Some existing solutions also include flexible connection structures that allow the expansion of parts exposed to heat. However, this flexibility remains insufficient in providing the structural strength necessary for fixing the cooking chamber and leads to problems such as loosening or breaking in long-term uses. Furthermore, these structures have a limited effect regarding supporting the cooking chamber and load-bearing.

[0010] In cases where traditional cooking chamber fixing methods that are not an interlocking structure to the oven base are used during the production phase of the ovens, while the production worker turns the oven upside down and continues the production process, the apparatuses used in the fixing methods buckle, and the continuity of the production process is interrupted. For this reason, there is a need for assembly requirements that ensure the placement of parts in order from bottom to top.

[0011] Considering the limitations of traditional methods, there is a need for innovative support apparatuses in domestic type ovens that carry the load of the cooking chamber and the heater carrier together, limit axial and horizontal movements, and at the same time facilitate the assembly of the cooking chamber and heater carrier. Such an apparatus provides a more efficient assembly by facilitatingproduction processes in addition to increasing the general durability of the oven and supports the long-lasting use of the oven.

[0012] CN1280588C and CN220940787U disclose a cooking apparatus for ovens. These documents do not reveal the functions of carrying the cooking chamber and the heater carrier present in the current invention.

[0013] Considering these negativities, a need has become evident for a support assembly that provides savings in production and raw material costs and ease of assembly, prevents buckling during the production process, carries the load of the cooking chamber and the heater carrier, and ensures they (the cooking chamber and the heater carrier) remain fixed during the assembly process.

[0014] Object and Brief Description of the Invention

[0015] An object of the invention is to present a support assembly that carries the load of the cooking chamber and heater carrier in domestic type ovens and ensures they remain fixed.

[0016] Another object of this invention is to present a support assembly that provides savings in production and raw material costs.

[0017] Another object of this invention is to present a support assembly that provides ease of assembly.

[0018] Another object of this invention is to present a structure that prevents buckling in situations where the worker turns the oven upside down in the production process.

[0019] A support assembly for fixing the cooking chamber and the heater carrier to the body in an oven configured to cook food, having elements of a cooking chamber into which foods to be cooked are placed, a heater carrier connected to the cooking chamber from its bottom part, a body surrounding the cooking chamber and the heater carrier such that there is a certain gap layer between it and the heater carrier, a front wall in the form of a frame forming the front part of the body, and an oven door connected to the front wall and providing access to the cooking chamber; in order to ensure the fixing and load-bearing of the cooking chamber and the heater carrier by passing into the slots found in the heater carrier, comprising:

[0020] • at least one slot configured as an opening in the heater carrier and configured for the passage of an upper portion, and

[0021] at least one support element having at least one first portion configured as an extension in a first direction from the body bottom surface towards the heater carrier starting from at leastone bend point, wherein the upper portion passes through the slot found in the heater carrier to transfer the load of the heater carrier and the cooking chamber to the body bottom surface, and wherein the first portion rests under the heater carrier.

[0022] Brief Description of the Figures

[0023] Figure 1 A front, angled, perspective view of the oven is given.

[0024] Figure 2 A rear, angled, perspective view of the body bottom surface and the support element is given.

[0025] Figure 3 A rear, angled, perspective view where the heater carrier is aligned prior to being mounted to the body bottom surface is given.

[0026] Figure 4 A rear, angled, perspective view of the state where the heater carrier is mounted to the body bottom surface is given.

[0027] Figure 5 A side, angled, perspective sectional view of the state where the heater carrier is mounted to the body bottom surface is given.

[0028] Figure 6 A rear, angled, perspective sectional view of the state where the heater carrier and the cooking chamber are mounted to the body bottom surface is given.

[0029] Reference Numerals

[0030] I Support element

[0031] 1.1 Auxiliary element

[0032] 10 Bend

[0033] II First portion

[0034] 12 Upper portion

[0035] 13 Embossment

[0036] 20 Oven

[0037] 21 Body

[0038] 21.1 Front wall

[0039] 21.2 Body bottom surface

[0040] 22 Cooking chamber

[0041] 22.1 Rear surface

[0042] 22.11 Bottom element

[0043] 22.12 First hole

[0044] 23 Gap layer

[0045] 24 Heater carrier

[0046] 24.1 Slot

[0047] 24.11 Auxiliary slot

[0048] 24.2 Carrier edge

[0049] 24.21 Second hole

[0050] 24.3 Resistance24.4 Holder

[0051] 25 Oven door

[0052] A First direction

[0053] B Second direction

[0054] C First axis

[0055] K Support assembly

[0056] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0057] The invention relates to a support assembly (K) which carries the load of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) and ensures they remain fixed in domestic type ovens (20), and which provides savings in raw material costs and ease of assembly, thanks to a support element (1) (Figure 2) positioned on a body bottom surface (21.2) contained therein and a slot (24.1) positioned on the heater carrier (24). (Figure 4).

[0058] While the support element (1) and slot (24.1) elements forming the support assembly (K) have a monolithic configuration by operations such as bending, blanking, and pressing in certain directions of a sheet made of metal in the preferred configuration of the invention, in alternative configurations of the invention, these elements are presented by being brought together with methods such as screws, welding, etc.

[0059] The support element (1) basically consists of at least one bend (10), at least one first portion (11), at least one upper portion (12), and at least one embossment (13). The oven (20) has at least one body (21), at least one cooking chamber (22), at least one gap layer (23), at least one heater carrier (24), and at least an oven door (25). The body (21) has at least one front wall (21.1) and at least one body bottom surface (21.2). The cooking chamber (22) has at least one rear surface (22.1) and at least one bottom element (22.11). The bottom element (22.11) comprises at least one first hole (22.12). The heater carrier (24) has elements of at least one slot (24.1) and at least one carrier edge (24.2). The carrier edge (24.2) comprises at least one second hole (24.21).

[0060] While the detailed descriptions of the invention are being made, references indicated in the figures will also be cited for a better understanding of descriptions such as direction, axis, alignment, etc. Here, according to the figures; the first axis (C) expresses the horizontal axis dividing the heater carrier (24) symmetrically from the middle when viewed from the oven door (25). At the same time, right and left directions (when viewed from the oven door (25)) are indicated as invariant in the figures (Figure 2, Figure 3).

[0061] The support element (1), in the preferred configuration of the invention, is formed by bending a section having a certain width, length, and wall thickness on the body bottom surface (21.2) from atleast one bend (10) point in a first direction (A) (upwards), in other words, towards the heater carrier (24) and the cooking chamber (22). An upper portion (12) of the rectangular-form support element (1), which is distant from the body bottom surface (21.2) in the first direction (A), has a narrower width than the support element (1) and terminates after covering a certain distance in the first direction (A). The upper portion (12) is configured to allow the passage of itself through a slot (24.1) found in the heater carrier (24). Due to the upper portion (12) having a narrower width than the support element (1), a first portion (11) having a greater width than the upper portion (12) is formed in the part of the upper portion (12) facing the body bottom surface (21.2). The first portion (11) rests on the surface of the heater carrier (24) facing the body bottom surface (21.2) due to having a greater width than the slot (24.1) after the upper portion (12) passes through the slot (24.1). Thanks to this resting process, the load of the heater carrier (24) is transferred to the support element (1), and the transmission of the load of the heater carrier (24) and the cooking chamber (22) connected thereto to the body bottom surface (21.2) is ensured. While there is a first portion (11) on both sides of the upper portion (12) in the preferred configuration of the invention, the load-bearing and fixing process is performed by using one or multiple first portions (11) in alternative configurations. The embossment (13), configured as a protrusion continuing on the support element (1) starting from the bend (10) point up to the upper portion (12), increases the resistance (rigidity) of the support element (1) against bending thanks to the deformation hardening occurring during its formation and by imparting an additional depth to the support element (1) in a second direction (B), in addition to ensuring the tight fit of the support element (1) into the slot (24.1) during assembly. More specifically, the embossment (13) continues in a first direction (A) along the support element (1) starting from the bend (10) point and is configured as a protrusion having a certain width in a second direction (B) to prevent the support element (1) from bending during assembly and use.

[0062] While four support elements (1), positioned at a point close to the corners of the body bottom surface (21.2) which has a quadrangular structure when viewed from the oven door (25) and having mirror symmetry with respect to the first axis (C), are being used in the preferred configuration of the invention, the function of the invention is realized by using fewer or more support elements (1) in alternative configurations as well. While the auxiliary element (1.1) is a form of the support element (1) having a lower width and performs the same function as the support element (1) by passing through an auxiliary slot (24.11) found at the edge of the heater carrier (24) distant from the oven door (25) and resting under the heater carrier (24), in alternative configurations of the invention, support element (1) and slot (24.1) elements are used instead of the auxiliary element (1.1) and auxiliary slot (24.11).The oven (20) refers to the element configured to cook food. The body (21) is the outermost layer forming the outer chassis of the oven (20) and surrounding the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24). The body (21) is in a rectangular prism geometry and its front part remaining behind the oven door (25) is open. The body (21) has a front wall (21.1) in the form of a frame forming the front part of the body (21). The body (21) has a front wall (21.1) forming the front part of the body (21), at least one body bottom surface (21.2) forming the base (bottom) of the body (21), a body (21) top surface forming the ceiling (top) of the body (21), body (21) lateral surfaces forming the right and lateral surface of the body (21) when viewed from the oven door (25), and a body (21) rear surface forming the back of the body (21). The body bottom surface (21.2) is the surface forming the bottom surface of the body (21) to which the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) are fixed.

[0063] The cooking chamber (22) is in a rectangular prism geometry and its front part remaining behind the oven door (25) is open. The cooking chamber (22) has cooking chamber (22) side surfaces forming the right and left lateral edge of the cooking chamber (22), a cooking chamber (22) top surface forming the ceiling (top) of the cooking chamber (22), a cooking chamber (22) bottom surface forming the base (bottom) of the cooking chamber (22), and at least one rear surface (22.1) forming the back of the cooking chamber (22). The body (21) surrounds the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) such that there is a certain gap layer (23) between it and the cooking chamber (22). The cooking chamber (22) is generally made of materials such as enamel coating, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. The cooking chamber (22) has a bottom element (22.11) with an extended structure at the part of the cooking chamber (22) distant from the oven door (25). The bottom element (22.11) is connected to a region close to the rear end of the cooking chamber (22) bottom surface or to a region close to the bottom part of the rear surface (22.1). The bottom element (22.11) extends from the cooking chamber (22) bottom surface forming the base of the cooking chamber (22) or from a rear surface (22.1) forming the back of the cooking chamber (22). The bottom element (22.11) has at least one first hole (22.12) positioned mutually at the same alignment on its two sides at a part distant from its center with respect to the first axis (C). The first hole (22.12) is aligned so as to be mutual with at least one second hole (24.21) found on the heater carrier (24) carrier edge (24.2), and the connection of the cooking chamber (22) to the heater carrier (24) with the use of a connection element, and thereby the transfer of the load of the cooking chamber (22) to the heater carrier (24) and the fixing of the cooking chamber (22) are ensured. In the preferred configuration of the invention, there are two first holes (22.12) each positioned at a point close to the two ends of the bottom element (22.11) with respect to the first axis (C).

[0064] The heater carrier (24) is positioned in the gap layer (23) found between the cooking chamber (22) and the body bottom surface (21.2) and is preferably configured as a rectangular sheet having acertain wall thickness. A slot (24.1), configured as a rectangular cutout having a certain width and length into which the upper portion (12) passes tightly at a point close to the corners of the heater carrier (24), provides the connection of the support element (1) with the heater carrier (24); the upper portion (12) of the support element (1) passes through the slot (24.1), and the first portion (11), which has a greater width than the upper portion (12), rests under the heater carrier (24) and performs the load-bearing process. In the preferred configuration of the invention, there are four slots (24.1) so as to be equal in number to the support element (1). The auxiliary slot (24.11) is in a configuration in the preferred configuration of the invention where the auxiliary element (1.1) passes through and rests under it, and is preferably positioned on the first axis (C), in other words, in the middle of the heater carrier (24) and in a region close to its edge distant from the oven door (25). In another configuration of the invention, the support element (1) and slot (24.1) elements are also used to serve the same purpose instead of the auxiliary element (1.1) and the auxiliary slot (24.11) through which it passes. More specifically, the auxiliary element (1.1) is positioned at a point on the body bottom surface (21.2) distant from the oven door (25), configured symmetrically with the support element (1) and narrower than the support element (1), and passes into an auxiliary slot (24.11) positioned aligned with itself in the heater carrier (24), in order to provide additional support in fulfilling the functions of load-bearing and providing stability to the heater carrier (24). The heater carrier (24) has at least one slot (24.1) having a width and length suitable for the passage of the support element (1) upper portion (12) and at least one auxiliary slot (24.11) having a width and length suitable for the passage of the auxiliary element (1.1), in order to ensure the first portion (11) rests under the heater carrier (24).

[0065] The carrier edge (24.2), in the preferred configuration of the invention, is configured as a protrusion extending to the cooking chamber (22) in a first direction (A) at the corners of the heater carrier (24) distant from the oven door (25) and continuing for a certain distance. At least one second hole (24.21) found on the carrier edge (24.2) and positioned in the same alignment with the first hole (22.12) ensures the connection of the cooking chamber (22) to the heater carrier (24) with the use of a connection element, and in this way, the transfer of the load of the cooking chamber (22) to the heater carrier (24) and the fixing of the cooking chamber (22). In the preferred configuration of the invention, there are two carrier edges (24.2) on two sides of the first axis (C) so as to be mirror symmetries of each other, and four second holes (24.21) in each carrier edge (24.2) so as to be equal to the first hole (22.12). At least one resistance (24.3) positioned on the heater carrier (24), in other words between the heater carrier (24) and the cooking chamber (22), heats the cooking chamber (22) by heating up due to the high electrical resistance it possesses when the oven (20) is operated, and the cooking process is performed in this manner. At least one holder (24.4) element configured as a protrusion in a first direction (A) from the heater carrier (24) towards the cooking chamber (22) prevents the axial movement of the resistance (24.3).Said at least one oven door (25) is connected to the front wall (21.1) so as to correspond to the front wall (21.1) and provides access to the cooking chamber upon being opened / closed by the user.

[0066] During assembly, the first process is seating the bottom part of the heater carrier (24), in other words the part without the resistance (24.3), onto the support elements (1) facing downwards by using the slots (24.1) and the auxiliary slot (24.11). During this process, the support element upper portions (12) pass through the slot (24.1), and the heater carrier (24) approaches the body bottom surface (21.2) until its bottom part rests on the first portion (11) having a greater width than the slot (24.1). When the first portions (11) rest on the bottom surface of the heater carrier (24), the fixing process of the heater carrier (24) is performed. Following this process, the cooking chamber (22) bottom element (22.11) is aligned with the carrier edge (24.2) of the heater carrier (24) and seated on each other; meanwhile, the connection holes (22.12, 24.21) are aligned. Following the alignment process, the cooking chamber (22) is connected to the heater carrier (24) by using a connection element and connection holes (22.12, 24.21); thanks to this, with the use of the support assembly (K), the transfer of the load of the cooking chamber (22) to the body bottom surface (21.2) and its fixing are ensured. More specifically, the carrier edge (24.2) comprises a second hole (24.21) positioned at the outer edges of the heater carrier (24) to connect the heater carrier (24) to the cooking chamber (22) by means of a connection element, with the use of a first hole (22.12) found in a bottom element (22.11) at the bottom part of the rear surface (22.1) of the cooking chamber (22).

[0067] The present invention is a support assembly (K) for fixing the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) to the body (21) in an oven (20) configured to cook food, and ensures the fixing of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) to the body (21) and the bearing of the load of these structures (the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24)) by means of elements of: at least one slot (24.1) configured as an opening in the heater carrier (24) and configured for the passage of an upper portion (12), and at least one support element (1) having at least one first portion (11), configured as an extension in a first direction (A) from the body bottom surface (21.2) towards the heater carrier (24) starting from at least one bend (10) point, wherein the upper portion (12) passes through the slot (24.1) found in the heater carrier (24) to transfer the load of the heater carrier (24) and the cooking chamber (22) to the body bottom surface (21.2) and wherein the first portion (11) rests under the heater carrier (24), in order to ensure the fixing and load-bearing of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) by passing into the slots (24.1) found in the heater carrier (24).

[0068] The present invention meets the need for innovative apparatuses in domestic type ovens (20) that carry the load of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24), limit axial movements, and atthe same time facilitate assembly. The support assembly (K) provides a more efficient assembly by facilitating production processes in addition to increasing the general durability of the oven (20) and supports the long-lasting use of the oven (20).

[0069] The orientation or positional relationship described with the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "inner", "outer" in this specification is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the figures and is only for the clarity of the technical solution and ease of description. Furthermore, while explanations regarding the support assembly (K) are being made, references have been made to the directions found in the figures for the sake of ease of explanation and a better understanding of the invention. The orientation or positional relationship does not imply or indicate that the specified support assembly (K) or its elements require a specific orientation, are constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A support assembly (K) for fixing the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) to the body (21) in an oven (20) configured to cook food, having elements of a cooking chamber (22) into which foods to be cooked are placed, a heater carrier (24) connected to the cooking chamber (22) from its bottom part, a body (21) surrounding the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) such that there is a certain gap layer (23) between it and the heater carrier (24), a front wall (21.1) in the form of a frame forming the front part of the body (21), and an oven door (25) connected to the front wall (21.1) and providing access to the cooking chamber (22), characterized in that it comprises:• at least one slot (24.1) configured as an opening in the heater carrier (24) and configured for the passage of an upper portion (12); and• at least one support element (1) having at least one first portion (11) which rests under the heater carrier (24), configured as an extension in a first direction (A) from the body bottom surface (21.2) towards the heater carrier (24) starting from at least one bend (10) point, wherein the upper portion (12) passes through the slot (24.1) found in the heater carrier (24) to transfer the load of the heater carrier (24) and the cooking chamber (22) to the body bottom surface (21.2), in order to ensure the fixing and loadbearing of the cooking chamber (22) and the heater carrier (24) by passing into the slots (24.1) found in the heater carrier (24).

2. The support assembly (K) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one embossment (13) configured as a protrusion continuing in a first direction (A) along the support element (1) starting from the bend (10) point and having a certain width in a second direction (B), to prevent the support element (1) from bending during assembly and use.

3. The support assembly (K) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one auxiliary element (1.1) positioned at a point on the body bottom surface (21.2) distant from the oven door (25), configured symmetrically with the support element (1) and narrower than the support element (1), and passing into an auxiliary slot (24.11) positioned aligned with itself in the heater carrier (24), in order to provide additional support in fulfilling the functions of load-bearing and providing stability to the heater carrier (24).

4. The support assembly (K) according to Claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the heater carrier (24) comprises at least one slot (24.1) having a width and length suitable for the passage ofthe support element (1) upper portion (12) and at least one auxiliary slot (24.11) having a width and length suitable for the passage of the auxiliary element (1.1), in order to ensure the first portion (11) rests under the heater carrier (24).

5. The support assembly (K) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one carrier edge (24.2) positioned at the outer edges of the heater carrier (24) and containing at least one second hole (24.21), to connect the heater carrier (24) to the cooking chamber (22) by means of a connection element, with the use of a first hole (22.12) found in a bottom element (22.11) at the bottom part of the rear surface (22.1) of the cooking chamber (22).

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