Oven Rack Latching Structure for Leak-Free Pull-Out Stops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household ovens with rib-like sliding elements face challenges in providing a reliable latching mechanism without using bulky or costly space-projecting stops, especially when space is limited near the cooking chamber floor.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of convex or concave latching formations aligned vertically or horizontally with the rib-like sliding elements, which are integrated into the sliding elements or food supports, ensuring a leak-free and space-efficient latching mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spatially projecting stops or latching means are used to prevent food supports from tilting or detaching, then latching reliability is improved, but device complexity and space consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatching reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latching formation is merged with the sliding element itself, integrating the latching function into the existing rib-like structure. The formation protrudes from the sliding element and engages with a corresponding recess in the food support, eliminating the need for separate stopping mechanisms while maintaining latching reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using bulky stops throughout the cooking chamber, the invention applies localized formations only at specific positions on the sliding elements where latching is needed. These formations are precisely positioned to engage with corresponding features on the food support, providing targeted latching without unnecessary space consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If vertically projecting formations are used on sliding elements near the cooking chamber floor, then latching function is achieved, but available space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatching functionVSAvoidavailable space near floor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from vertical projections to horizontal projections of the latching formation. Instead of extending vertically downward from the sliding element, the formation protrudes horizontally from the end face of the rib-like sliding element, engaging with a corresponding horizontal recess in the food support. This dimensional change preserves space near the cooking chamber floor while maintaining the latching function.

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If closed formations are used in sliding elements, then cooking chamber seal is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking chamber leaksVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The latching formation is created as an integrated part of the sliding element through embossing or molding during manufacturing. This merging of the latching feature with the base sliding element structure allows the formation to be produced in one step with the main component, avoiding additional manufacturing operations while ensuring the closed design maintains the cooking chamber seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2520866B1Oven
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2520866B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The baking oven according to the invention has a cooking chamber (2) that can be closed by an oven door and into which at least one food support (11) can be inserted on sliding elements (9, 10) arranged on both sides of the cooking chamber (2), with at least one sliding element having a shaped portion (12, 14 ) is provided, in which the food support (11) provided with a corresponding reciprocal formation (13) can be latched to form a detent stop limiting the pushing-out movement of the food support (11).