Unitary Bake Element Retainer for Easy Oven Element Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oven designs with electric resistive bake elements face difficulties in installation and removal due to limited space and the use of cumbersome mounting brackets, which also lead to warping or deflection of the bake elements during heating.

Innovation Solution

An improved mounting arrangement featuring a serpentine bake element with tabs projecting from a planar retainer sheet, providing secure engagement and preventing warping, along with a stop member to restrain the bake element and reflect heat, eliminating the need for separate brackets and wireforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional mounting brackets with screws are used to attach bake elements to the retainer, then the bake element can be securely mounted, but installation and removal become difficult due to limited space under the oven door

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mounting of bake elementVSAvoidinstallation and removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket and retainer are merged into a single unitary component. The retainer itself is formed with integrated mounting features (tabs with cutouts) that directly engage the bake element, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets and screws. This integration simplifies the overall structure and enables easier installation and removal through the limited access space under the oven door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer is designed with segmented tabs that have cutouts, allowing the bake element to be engaged and disengaged through a narrow access space. The tabs can be flexed or moved to allow insertion/removal of the bake element, then return to their original position to secure it firmly, providing both ease of operation and secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate mounting brackets are used to secure the bake element, then the bake element can be firmly attached, but the complexity of the mounting arrangement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachment of bake elementVSAvoidmounting arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional mounting methods are used, then the bake element can be mounted, but warping or deflection of the bake element occurs during heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting process simplicityVSAvoidbake element stability during heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer features tabs with cutouts positioned at specific locations along the bake element. These tabs provide localized support at critical points, preventing warping or deflection during heating while maintaining simplicity in the overall mounting process. The cutouts allow the tabs to engage specific portions of the bake element's serpentine structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easier installation and removal of bake elements, enhances stability by preventing warping or deflection during heating, and offers cost savings by simplifying the mounting process.

Implementation Method 1

internal resistive bake elements which are generally curved tubular members that produce heat upon electrical activation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical resistance heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a retainer will be between the bake element and the bottom of the oven for enhanced heating, due to its reflectivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9057525B2Home appliance with unitary bake element retainer

Publication Date: 2015.06.16 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORP

AI summary

A home appliance having an oven with a bake element, the home appliance including an appliance body, an oven cavity defined within the appliance body, a bake element operationally associated within the oven cavity, a bake element retainer supporting the bake element and mounted adjacent the oven cavity, and a mounting arrangement formed integrally with the bake element retainer for mounting the bake element within the oven cavity.