COOKING CHAMBER INSERT WITH A SPECIFIC BASIC STRUCTURE, AND COOKING DEVICE

Abstract

A cooking compartment insert for detachable installation in a cooking compartment of a cooking appliance is formed to be plate-shaped and includes a base unit designed as a frame that is open upward and downward and configured to delimit a free space, and a heating element arranged on the base unit on a side that is remote from an underside of the base unit such that, at least in one region, the heating element is exposed downward. The heating element is arranged in the free space surrounded by the frame, and arranged to be upwardly and downwardly exposed in relation to the frame.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A cooking compartment insert for detachable installation in a cooking compartment of a cooking appliance, the cooking compartment insert formed to be plate-shaped and comprising: a base unit designed as a frame that is open upward and downward and configured to delimit a free space; and a heating element arranged on the base unit on a side that is remote from an underside of the base unit such that, at least in one region, the heating element is exposed downward, said heating element being arranged in the free space surrounded by the frame, and arranged to be upwardly and downwardly exposed in relation to the frame.

17. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame is peripherally closed.

18. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame is made in one piece from metal.

19. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame is formed from at least two separate profile parts that are connected to one another.

20. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the heating element is connected to the frame by a detachable connection.

21. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame includes at an integrated handle zone.

22. The cooking compartment insert of claim 21, wherein the handle zone is a recessed handle.

23. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a front frame bar formed with an upwardly open notch on a front side which is remote from the free space.

24. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a receptacle, and further comprising an additional part accommodated in the receptacle and being separate from the frame and the heating element.

25. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a lateral frame bar including a receptacle, and further comprising an additional part accommodated in the receptacle and being separate from the frame and the heating element.

26. The cooking compartment insert of claim 24, wherein the additional part is mountable in a detachable manner on the receptacle, allowing the cooking compartment insert to be configured in a modular manner.

27. The cooking compartment insert of claim 24, wherein the additional part is a guide rail for an additional module.

28. The cooking compartment insert of claim 27, wherein the guide rail is U-shaped in cross section.

29. The cooking compartment insert of claim 16, further comprising a plate-shaped additional module, which is a separate component from the frame and the heating element, and which, when arranged on the frame, covers the free space from above.

30. The cooking compartment insert of claim 30, wherein the plate-shaped additional module is configured to cover the free space entirely.

31. The cooking compartment insert of claim 29, wherein the additional module is arranged in a detachable manner on the frame.

32. The cooking compartment insert of claim 29, wherein the additional module is an insulation plate, or a plate having at least one region made from ceramic, or an energy-emitting unit.

33. The cooking compartment insert of claim 29, wherein the additional module includes a bottom plate and a top plate, at least one of the bottom plate and top plate of the additional module including stamped elements and/or a medium drainage and/or a collection channel and/or an elevated delimitation.

34. A cooking appliance, comprising: a cooking compartment; and a cooking compartment insert reversibly insertable into and removable from the cooking compartment, said cooking compartment insert formed to be plate-shaped and comprising a base unit designed as a frame that is open upward and downward and configured to delimit a free space, and a heating element arranged on the base unit on a side that is remote from an underside of the base unit such that, at least in one region, the heating element is exposed downward, said heating element being arranged in the free space surrounded by the frame, and arranged to be upwardly and downwardly exposed in relation to the frame.

Description

[0064] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings, in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking compartment insert according to the invention;

[0067] FIG. 3 shows the cooking compartment insert from FIG. 2 in a perspective different from FIG. 2;

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the cooking compartment insert from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the cooking compartment insert from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an additional module for a cooking compartment insert;

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a perspective of the additional module that is different from FIG. 6;

[0072] FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration of a cooking compartment insert that has the components from FIG. 2 to FIG. 7;

[0073] FIG. 9 shows the cooking compartment divider from FIG. 8 in a perspective different from FIG. 8;

[0074] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of an additional module for a cooking compartment insert;

[0075] FIG. 11 shows a perspective illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of an additional module for a cooking compartment insert;

[0076] FIG. 12 shows a front view of a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance; and

[0077] FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of the cooking appliance from FIG. 12.

[0078] In the figures, elements which are identical or functionally identical are provided with the same reference characters.

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a cooking appliance 1. The cooking appliance 1 may be an oven or a microwave oven or a steam oven. It may also be a cooking appliance that combines these.

[0080] The cooking appliance 1 has a housing 2. Arranged in the housing 2 is in particular a muffle 3. The walls of this delimit a cooking compartment 4. The cooking compartment 4 is delimited at the front by a door 5 (merely indicated here by dashed lines) of the cooking appliance 1, the door 5 being schematically shown in the open state here.

[0081] Moreover, FIG. 1 shows a cooking compartment insert 6. The cooking compartment insert 6 is in itself a separate component. It is specifically configured for insertion in the cooking compartment 4. In this regard, the cooking compartment insert 6 is a cooking compartment divider. In particular, this also means that, in the direction of the width (x direction) of the cooking appliance 1, it has a width that substantially corresponds to the clearance between two opposing vertical side walls 3a and 3b of the muffle 3. As a result, the cooking compartment insert 6 may be inserted horizontally into the cooking compartment 4 and arranged in particular directly against the opposing side walls 3a and 3b. The cooking compartment insert 6 is in particular formed to be plate-shaped. This means that in this context it takes the form of a flat body with corners.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooking compartment insert 6. The cooking compartment insert 6 has a base unit 7. The base unit 7 takes the form of a frame 8. This frame 8 has a front frame bar 9, a rear frame bar 10, and lateral frame bars 11 and 12. In the exemplary embodiment, these form a frame 8 that is peripherally closed. In this case, the frame 8 takes the form of a quadrilateral frame. The frame 8 surrounds or delimits a free space 13. Arranged in this free space 13 is a heating element 14 of the cooking compartment insert 6. The heating element 14 is in this case a rod with multiple bends, or a tube. As can be seen, the frame 8 is open upward and downward, as seen in the direction of height (y direction). As a result, the heating element 14 is also exposed upward and downward, as seen in this direction of height, because the free space 13 is entirely open upward and downward. The heating element 14 has electrical contacts 15 and 16. These are formed by ends of the multiple-bend rod-shaped heating element 14. As can be seen, in the exemplary embodiment these ends are guided outward horizontally out of the free space 13, in particular through the rear frame bar 10. In this context, they may be guided through the rear frame bar 10 or be guided through below the frame bar 10.

[0083] This exemplary embodiment with only the frame 8 and the heating element 14 is a basic configuration of the cooking compartment insert 6.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating element 14 is arranged in the free space 13 such that, as seen in the direction of height, it does not project upward or downward beyond the height of the frame 8. This means in particular that the frame 8 extends further up and/or further down than the heating element 14.

[0085] This also means that this cooking compartment insert 6 with the frame 8 and the heating element 14 can be utilized as a finished basic configuration. The cooking compartment insert 6 can thus be correctly used in this basic configuration as a cooking compartment divider. In this exemplary embodiment, heat from the heating element 14 can then be emitted unhindered downward and at the same time upward.

[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, it may be provided for the cooking compartment insert 6 to have at least one additional part 17. It is also possible for a plurality of additional parts 17 and 18 to be provided. The additional part 17 and/or the additional part 18 are separate components from the frame 8 and the heating element 14. In particular, the additional part 17 and/or the additional part 18 may be a guide rail. These may each be U-shaped in cross section. In an exemplary embodiment, the elongate rails that are shown here are arranged on receptacles 19 and/or 20 that are specifically provided for this purpose. In particular, these receptacles 19 and 20 are formed on an upper side 8a and/or on edge sides 21 and 22 of the frame 8. An additional part 17 and/or 18 may in that case be secured in particular to lateral frame bars 11 and/or 12 such that it projects upward, as seen in the direction of height, in relation to the upper side 8a. As can be seen, these additional parts 17 and/or 18 are in this case oriented with their longitudinal axes in the direction of depth. This means that they are arranged in particular parallel to the longitudinal axes of the lateral frame bars 11 and 12. The additional parts 17 and 18, which here take the form of guide rails, can thus be mounted such that they can be detached in a non-destructive manner and can be removed again. As a result, the modular nature and individual configurability of the cooking compartment insert 6 are significantly more flexible.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment, these additional parts 17 and/or 18 may be provided specifically in order to receive a further additional module of the cooking compartment insert 6. In an exemplary embodiment, an additional module of this kind is once again a separate component from the additional parts 17 and/or 18, the frame 8 and the heating element 14. An additional module of this kind, which may preferably take a plate-like form, is guided by the exemplary embodiments of the additional parts 17 and 18 that are shown in FIG. 2. For example, this additional module may be slid into the guide rails from the front, above the frame 8, and be pushed linearly, guided toward the rear as seen in the direction of depth (z direction). In an exemplary embodiment, at least one additional part may have a rear abutment part 23. This provides an end position for the slid-in additional module.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of the cooking compartment insert 6 in a perspective different from FIG. 2, namely from below. These additional parts 17 and 18 form an expanded configuration of the cooking compartment insert 6.

[0089] In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 8 has at least one handle zone. In an advantageous exemplary embodiment, handle zones 24 and 25 are formed in this regard on undersides of the lateral frame bars 11 and 12. As a result, a user can directly take hold of the entire cooking compartment insert 6 in the region of the frame 8 and carry it easily. This may be performed safely with touching the heating element 14. In an advantageous exemplary embodiment, in this regard a respective handle zone 24, 25 is formed as a recessed handle.

[0090] A handle zone 24, 25 may be delimited on the inside by a delimitation wall, as shown in FIG. 3. This has the effect of forming a delimitation wall relative to the heating element 14. In particular, this also forms a protection against touching when a user reaches a hand into the handle zones 24 and/or 25. In particular, a delimitation web 26 is formed. Preferably, this delimitation wall is formed by the delimitation web 26. This delimitation web is in particular made in one piece with the frame 8. It may be made for example by deep drawing. Thus, it may be a deep-drawn delimitation web. On the outside, this handle zone 24 and/or 25 may be delimited by an additional bead 27 that is formed on the peripheral edge or the outer edge of the frame 8. As a result, a downwardly open recessed handle is also formed in a shape-specific improvement.

[0091] As can be seen, this delimitation web 26 may be formed to run peripherally all the way around. In particular, in an exemplary embodiment it may be interrupted only at the location 26a at which the ends 15 and 16 are guided out of the frame 8. The delimitation web 26 has, as seen in the direction of height, a greater height than the heating element 14. In particular, in an exemplary embodiment this delimitation web 26 may also take the form of a standing element. This is specifically provided in order that the cooking compartment insert 6 can be placed directly on a surface, for example a worktop, by means of this delimitation web 26. This may take place such that the heating element 14 is arranged such that it does not touch this worktop.

[0092] In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 8, in particular the front frame bar 9, has a notch 28. In the exemplary embodiment, this is a forwardly and/or upwardly and/or downwardly open cutout. This makes it possible to reach in from the front and/or from below and to reach through upward. This is advantageous if an additional module is arranged on the frame 8 and in particular covers the front frame bar 9 from above. It is then possible to reach into this notch 28 from below and access the underside of this additional module in the front region, so that this additional module can be taken hold of directly at the front underside.

[0093] Preferably, only a single heating element 14 is arranged in the free space 13. In particular, this is the heating element 14 by means of which the cooking compartment insert 6 can be externally coupled directly to the energy supply. This takes place by way of the ends 15 and 16.

[0094] FIG. 4 illustrates the cooking compartment insert 6 as shown in the examples of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, from the side.

[0095] FIG. 5 illustrates the cooking compartment insert 6 as shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, from the front. The fact that the additional parts 17 and 18 are U-shaped in cross section can be seen here.

[0096] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an additional module 29 in a perspective illustration. The additional module 29 is provided specifically for use with the frame 8. It is thus in particular a constituent part of a further expanded configuration of a cooking compartment insert 6. In this case, the additional module 29 is formed to be plate-shaped. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be an insulation plate.

[0097] Generally speaking, the additional module 29 is provided for installation in the configuration as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. In particular here, the additional parts 17 and 18 are provided in order to receive the additional module 29, which is separate therefrom. The additional module 29 is also a component separate from the frame 8 and the heating element 14. If, in an exemplary embodiment, this additional module 29 is an insulation plate and is arranged pushed up to the end position in the expanded configuration in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, then the free space 13 is entirely covered from above by this additional module 29. In particular, a spacing is formed between the heating element 14 and the additional module 29 when the latter is in its end position. In particular in this case, an air gap is formed between the heating element and the additional module 29. As a result of the exemplary embodiment as an insulation plate, the entire cooking compartment insert 6 may then be configured such that the thermal energy generated by the heating element 14 is only radiated downward or substantially downward. Thus, with use as a cooking compartment divider as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, an upper cooking compartment region 4a that is produced in this way may be thermally insulated. It is then in particular cooler than a lower cooking compartment region 4b that is likewise produced.

[0098] In another exemplary embodiment, however, an additional module 30 may also be an energy-emitting unit, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this regard, this may in that case be for example a grill plate or similar. In this context, the additional module 30 may then be specifically provided in order to emit thermal energy, which it receives from the heating element 14, upward in a targeted manner, in order to warm food placed thereon. In particular, heat may then also be emitted to the upper cooking compartment region 4a in a targeted manner.

[0099] In an exemplary embodiment, where an additional module 29 is formed as an insulation plate, it may be made in one piece. However, it may also be formed in multiple parts. In this context, it may have a top plate 31 and a bottom plate 32. These may be connected to one another directly. For example, this may take place by an adhesive connection. It is also possible for a welded connection or a screw connection to be provided here. In another exemplary embodiment, the additional module 29 may have an additional edge border 33. This may surround the top plate 31 and the bottom plate 32 peripherally. For example, this edge border 33 may be made from metal, in particular stainless steel.

[0100] It may be provided for an upper side 31a of the top plate 31 and/or an underside 32a of the bottom plate 32 to be given a structure. Stamped elements may be provided. Likewise, depressions and/or elevations or similar may be formed.

[0101] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7, it can be seen that the underside 32a of the bottom plate 32 has a handle zone 34 in the front region. This handle zone 34 may be a recessed handle. The handle zone 34 is open downward, in particular only downward. The same may be provided in the case of an additional module 30.

[0102] FIG. 8 shows, in a perspective illustration, an exemplary embodiment of a cooking compartment insert 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the expanded configuration that was mentioned above is shown. It has the components of the basic configuration with, in addition, the additional parts 17 and 18, and in this case has in addition an additional module, in particular the additional module 29. This is shown in the end position provided. In this arrangement, it is laterally embraced by the additional parts 17 and 18. It is arranged above the frame 8. In size it extends substantially over the dimensions of the surface of the frame 8. The free space 13 is entirely covered from above by this additional module 29.

[0103] FIG. 9 shows this expanded configuration of the cooking compartment insert 6 from FIG. 8 in a perspective different therefrom, namely from below. As can be seen, the handle zone 34 and the notch 28 are arranged flush with one another. The additional module 29 is dimensioned and arranged in the end position provided such that the notch 28 is covered from above. Reaching into the notch 28 from the front and/or from below then makes the handle zone 34 upwardly accessible as well.

[0104] FIG. 10 shows the above-mentioned further exemplary embodiment of an additional module, which in this case is the additional module 30. In this exemplary embodiment, the plate-shaped additional module 30 is formed on an upper side 30a with medium drainage and/or collection channels 35. In this case, these are cohesive and take the form of one medium drainage and/or collection channel 35 that runs peripherally in particular all the way around.

[0105] FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an additional module 30. This too is specifically formed as an energy-emitting unit, in particular in this case too as an energy-emitting unit for thermal energy. The additional module 30 is in this case a grill plate. Thus, the upper side 30a here may have for example ribs and/or grooves. In an exemplary embodiment, it is provided for an edge-side elevation 36 to be formed, which can border this upper side 30a. As a result of this too, it is advantageously possible to prevent media from running off the upper side 30a when food placed on the upper side 30a is being grilled.

[0106] FIG. 12 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance 1. In this case, a specific position of a cooking compartment insert 6 is illustrated. The cooking appliance 1 has for example, in this case too, a hot-air system 37. In this case a baffle plate 38 is mounted on the rear side. This has ventilation openings through which air is circulated into the cooking compartment region 4a. As seen in the direction of height, it is provided here for the slide-in level of the cooking compartment insert 6, which is provided in a defined manner, to be arranged entirely below these outlet openings in the baffle plate 38. This enables the upper cooking compartment region 4a to be operated by hot air and/or heat from above. On the other side, the lower cooking compartment region 4b can be operated by the heating element 14, as a heating body for heating from above.

[0107] The cooking compartment insert 6 can be configured in the most diverse formations, in particular as set forth by the diverse exemplary embodiments explained above. This produces the most diverse possible uses for a cooking compartment insert 6 that can be configured in different ways. This in turn makes possible different functionalities and preparation procedures in the cooking compartment 4, in particular in a cooking compartment region 4a and/or 4b. In this context, it is also possible for different preparation procedures using different heating scenarios to be performed in these cooking compartment regions 4a and 4b at the same time.

[0108] FIG. 13 shows the exemplary embodiment of the cooking appliance 1 in perspective. In particular, it is shown here that there is a cooking compartment insert 6 that is formed in an expanded configuration, in particular being configured with an additional module 30 which may be a grill plate.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0109] 1 Cooking appliance [0110] 2 Housing [0111] 3 Muffle [0112] 3a Vertical side wall [0113] 3b Vertical side wall [0114] 4 Cooking compartment [0115] 4a Upper cooking compartment region [0116] 4b Lower cooking compartment region [0117] 5 Door [0118] 6 Cooking compartment insert [0119] 7 Base unit [0120] 8 Frame [0121] 9 Front frame bar [0122] 10 Rear frame bar [0123] 11 Lateral frame bar [0124] 12 Lateral frame bar [0125] 13 Free space [0126] 14 Heating element [0127] 15 Contact [0128] 16 Contact [0129] 17 Additional part [0130] 18 Additional part [0131] 19 Receptacle [0132] 20 Receptacle [0133] 21 Edge side [0134] 22 Edge side [0135] 22 Edge side [0136] 23 Rear abutment part [0137] 24 Handle zone [0138] 25 Handle zone [0139] 26 Delimitation wall [0140] 26a Location [0141] 27 Bead [0142] 28 Notch [0143] 29 Additional module [0144] 30 Additional module [0145] 30a Upper side [0146] 31 Top plate [0147] 31a Upper side [0148] 32 Bottom plate [0149] 32a Underside [0150] 33 Edge border [0151] 34 Handle zone [0152] 35 Medium drainage and/or collection channel [0153] 36 Elevation [0154] 37 Hot-air system [0155] 38 Baffle wall English translation of PCT/EP2021/081998 based on DE 102020214630.6 filed Nov. 20, 2020 [0156] x Direction of width [0157] y Direction of height [0158] z Direction of depth