Gas Hob Pre-Assembly Support for Easier Installation and Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation and removal of gas hobs are complex and costly due to the need for additional support during the assembly and disassembly phases, as the complete substructure must be held from below when loosening the screw connection between the cover plate and the hob housing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of pre-assembly elements that allow the hob housing to be supported independently of the cover plate, enabling easy positioning and removal without additional means, with the pre-assembly elements bridging the worktop cutout and providing secure support for the hob housing during assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hob housing is supported by the cover plate during assembly, then the hob can be securely installed, but additional support means are required during assembly and disassembly phases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure installationVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing pre-assembly elements (retaining webs) that are pre-installed on the worktop before the hob housing is mounted. These retaining webs are positioned to bridge the worktop cutout and provide immediate support for the hob housing during the assembly process, eliminating the need for additional temporary support means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the hob housing is screwed to the cover plate, then the hob is securely fixed, but the disassembly process becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed connectionVSAvoiddisassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the support function from the fixing function. The retaining webs provide support while the cover plate with screw connections provides fixing. This segmentation allows the hob housing to be easily supported during disassembly by the retaining webs while the cover plate and hob housing can be independently removed, simplifying the disassembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Shape

If the hob is installed flush in the worktop, then a seamless transition is achieved, but the hob housing cannot be easily accessed for service

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflush installationVSAvoidservice accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the support function from the cover plate-hob housing connection system and placing it on separate retaining webs. This allows the cover plate to be removed independently for service access, while the hob housing remains supported by the retaining webs bridging the worktop cutout, maintaining flush installation while enabling easy service access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2292978B1Hotplate, in particular gas hotplate and method for assembling the hotplate
Publication Date: 2015.01.28 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2292978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2292978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2292978B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hob, in particular a gas hob, with a hob housing (4) which is covered by a cover plate (13), with the hob housing (4) being in a final assembly state (I) above the cover plate (13) in the area a worktop section (1) is supported. According to the invention, the hob has at least one pre-assembly element (35) on which the hob housing (4) can be supported in a pre-assembly state (II), in particular independently of the cover plate (13).