Hob Vent Protective Grille Positioning for Flush Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combination devices with extractor hoods and hobs suffer from visual appearance impairment and obstruction of cooking vessels due to protruding protective grids, which also allow liquid ingress and misalignment issues.

Innovation Solution

A positioning frame attached to the underside of the cover plate around the recess allows flexible and precise positioning of the protective grid, ensuring it is flush with the top plate, preventing obstruction and liquid ingress while maintaining correct alignment and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective grille is placed directly over the recess to prevent objects from falling, then protection is improved, but the visual appearance deteriorates and cooking vessel movement is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprotectionVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The protective grille is moved from a horizontal placement on the cover plate to a vertical positioning within the recess. The positioning frame extends in the vertical direction, allowing the grille to be held below the cover plate surface rather than protruding above it, thus improving appearance while maintaining protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A positioning frame is introduced as an intermediary component between the protective grille and the recess. This frame holds the grille in the correct position within the recess, ensuring proper alignment and protection while allowing the grille to be flush with or below the cover plate surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a protective grille protrudes upwards above the cover plate to ensure coverage, then protection is improved, but cooking vessel movement is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprotectionVSAvoidcooking vessel movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective grille is repositioned from a protruding horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement within the recess. By extending the positioning frame vertically and holding the grille below the cover plate surface, the grille no longer obstructs cooking vessel movement while maintaining protective coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If the protective grille is positioned flexibly to improve alignment, then manufacturing tolerance is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovealignmentVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning frame serves as an intermediary that simplifies alignment by providing a standardized interface between the protective grille and the recess. The frame can be attached to the cover plate using conventional methods, and the grille attaches to the frame, breaking down the alignment problem into two simpler sub-problems that are easier to manufacture and assemble

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3789679B1Combination device with vapour extraction device and hob
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3789679B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3789679B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3789679B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a combination appliance comprising a cooktop (2) with a cover plate (20) and a ventilation system. The combination appliance is characterized in that the combination appliance (1) has a protective grille (31) and a positioning frame (5) for positioning the protective grille (31) in a recess (200) of the cover plate (20), which is attached to the cover plate (20) and is in contact with the protective grille (31).