Ceramic Cooktop Frame Layout for Easier Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oven range appliances with ceramic cooktops face issues such as debris and dirt collection at the joints between the ceramic panel and the stamped metal frame, which are difficult to clean and require expensive tooling for manufacturing, limiting material selection.

Innovation Solution

The oven range appliance features a ceramic panel mounted to a stainless steel frame with a continuous frame structure that extends across the width of the cabinet, reducing debris collection and eliminating the need for expensive tooling, using adhesive tape or silicon adhesive for mounting, and ensuring the ceramic panel's edges are visible and easy to clean.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a stamped metal frame is used to surround the ceramic panel, then the ceramic panel can be mounted and liquids can be contained, but debris and dirt collect at the joints and are difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidcleanability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the traditional stamped metal frame entirely and replaces it with a mounting bracket system that attaches the ceramic panel directly to the cabinet. This extraction eliminates the joint between frame and ceramic panel where debris accumulated, making the surface easy to clean while maintaining mounting functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If a stamped metal frame is used to surround the ceramic panel, then structural support is provided, but tooling costs are expensive and difficult to modify

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidtooling cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support structure into separate mounting brackets that are attached to the cabinet, rather than using a single integrated stamped metal frame. This segmentation allows the brackets to be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes, eliminating the need for expensive progressive die tooling while maintaining structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a stamped metal frame is used, then material selection is limited due to manufacturing process requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidmaterial selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the stamped metal frame mechanical system with a mounting bracket system that uses screws, adhesives, or other attachment methods. This substitution frees the design from the constraints of stamping processes, allowing the use of various materials including stainless steel, aluminum, or other metals that would be difficult or expensive to stamp into frame shapes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9521708B2Oven range appliance

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

The present subject matter provides an oven range appliance. The oven range appliance includes a cabinet. The cabinet defines a width. A cooktop is positioned at a top portion of the cabinet. The cooktop includes a ceramic panel. The ceramic panel defines a width. The width of the ceramic panel is about equal to the width of the cabinet. Thus, the ceramic panel can extend across the width of the cabinet.