HOUSEHOLD COOKING APPLIANCE INCLUDING A NON-WELDED OVEN CAVITY HAVING A SEAL ALLOWING PYROLYTIC CLEANING

Abstract

A household cooking appliance having a high temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycle includes a non-welded oven cavity accessible through an opening. The non-welded oven cavity includes a plurality of panels mechanically coupled together without welding and at least one seal disposed between the mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels for allowing pyrolytic cleaning of the non-welded oven cavity.

Claims

1. A household cooking appliance comprising: a non-welded oven cavity accessible through an opening, wherein the non-welded oven cavity includes: a plurality of panels mechanically coupled together without welding; and a seal disposed between mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels.

2. The household cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the seal forms an airtight seal between the mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels.

3. The household cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the seal forms a pyrolytic seal between the mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels.

4. The household cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein a first panel of the mechanically coupled panels includes a first flange and a second panel of the mechanically coupled panels includes a second flange adjacent to the first flange of the first panel, wherein the seal is disposed between the first flange and the second flange, and wherein the first flange is mechanically coupled to the second flange with the seal therebetween.

5. The household cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the first flange is mechanically coupled to the second flange by at least one fixation element, and wherein the at least one fixation element is centrally located along a longitudinal centerline of at least one of the first flange, the second flange, and the seal.

6. The household cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the at least one fixation element is centrally located along the longitudinal centerline of each of the first flange and the second flange.

7. The household cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the seal is a flat seal.

8. The household cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the first flange and the second flange are disposed respectively on the first panel and the second panel on an opposite side of the first panel and the second panel from an interior of the non-welded oven cavity formed by the plurality of panels.

9. The household cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein a first panel of the mechanically coupled panels includes a first flange and a second panel of the mechanically coupled panels includes a second flange adjacent to the first flange of the first panel, wherein at least one of the first flange and the second flange includes an emboss extending along a longitudinal centerline of the at least one of the first flange and the second flange, wherein the seal is disposed in the emboss between the first flange and the second flange, and wherein the first flange is mechanically coupled to the second flange with the seal therebetween.

10. The household cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the first flange and the second flange include matching embosses extending along a longitudinal centerline of each of the first flange and the second flange, and wherein the seal is disposed between the first flange and the second flange and at least partially within the matching embosses.

11. The household cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the seal is disposed between the first flange and the second flange and entirely within the matching embosses.

12. The household cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the first flange is mechanically coupled to the second flange by a plurality of fixation elements, and wherein each of the plurality of fixation elements is alternately located on opposite sides of the emboss.

13. The household cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the seal has one of an oval cross-section and a circular cross-section corresponding to at least a portion of a cross-section of the emboss.

14. The household cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein a first panel of the mechanically coupled panels includes a flange adjacent to a surface of a second panel of the mechanically coupled panels, wherein the seal is disposed between the flange of the first panel and the surface of the second panel, and wherein the flange of the first panel is mechanically coupled to the surface of the second panel with the seal therebetween.

15. The household cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the flange of the first panel is mechanically coupled to the surface of the second panel by at least one fixation element, and wherein the at least one fixation element is centrally located along a longitudinal centerline of the flange of the first panel.

16. The household cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the at least one fixation element is centrally located along the longitudinal centerline of the flange and a longitudinal centerline of the seal.

17. The household cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the seal is a flat seal.

18. The household cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein at least one of the flange of the first panel and the surface of the second panel includes an emboss extending along a longitudinal centerline of the flange, wherein the seal is disposed in the emboss between the flange of the first panel and the surface of the second panel, and wherein the flange of the first panel is mechanically coupled to the surface of the second panel with the seal therebetween.

19. The household cooking appliance of claim 18, wherein the flange of the first panel and the surface of the second panel include matching embosses extending along the longitudinal centerline of the flange, and wherein the seal is disposed in the matching embosses between the flange of the first panel and the surface of the second panel.

20. The household cooking appliance of claim 18, wherein the flange of the first panel is mechanically coupled to the surface of the second panel by a plurality of fixation elements, and wherein each of the plurality of fixation elements is alternately located on opposite sides of the flange of the first panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other aspects and features of embodiments of the present invention will be better understood after a reading of the following detailed description, together with the attached drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic, partial cutaway view of a household cooking appliance, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a household cooking appliance, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a non-welded oven cavity of a household cooking appliance, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0020] FIG. 4A is a schematic partial, cross-sectional view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view of FIG. 4A;

[0021] FIG. 5A is another schematic partial, cross-sectional view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5B is a schematic plan view of FIG. 5A;

[0022] FIG. 6 is another schematic partial, cross-sectional view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0023] FIG. 7 is another schematic partial, cross-sectional view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 8 is another schematic partial, cross-sectional view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0025] FIG. 9 is schematic perspective view of panels of a non-welded oven cavity mechanically coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-9 illustrate exemplary embodiments of a household cooking appliance having a non-welded oven cavity with a seal disposed between mechanically coupled panels. Like reference numerals are used to identify similar features of the example embodiments in FIGS. 1-9.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a household cooking appliance 100 configured to perform a self-cleaning operation, such as a high temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycle, will now be described. The household cooking appliance 100 can include a standalone appliance, wall mounted appliance, such as a stand-alone oven, wall mounted oven, double oven, combination oven, countertop oven, or a freestanding range having one or more ovens. For example, the household cooking appliance 100 can include a gas or electric wall oven (as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-3), or a gas cooking range having one or more cooking or warming devices, such as a cooktop, gas oven, electric oven, steam oven, convection oven, and/or warming drawer. In other embodiments, the household cooking appliance can include a plurality of oven cooking cavities. The exemplary household cooking appliance can include one or more doors, such as a baking oven door, a steam oven door, and/or a warming drawer door for providing access to one or more cavities within the housing.

[0029] An example of a household cooking appliance 100 can include a housing 102, a non-welded oven cavity 104 defining an interior oven cavity space 105 accessible through an opening in the non-welded oven cavity 104, and an oven door 106 covering the opening and moveable about a hinge between an open position and a closed position. The household cooking appliance 100 can include a control panel 108 having a user input device 110 for controlling operation of one or more heating elements and/or circulating fans in the oven cavity 104 for performing various operations, such as a preheat operation, cooking operation, self-cleaning operation, such as a high temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycle, etc. The user input device 110 can include one or more control knobs, touch sensitive input devices, etc. for controlling the various operations of the appliance, including, for example, a self-cleaning mode, such as a high temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycle. The control panel 108 can include various electronic components for operating the appliance, such as one or more controllers, processors, memory devices, etc. The housing 102 can include a gasket 112 surrounding the opening of the oven cavity 104 and sealing the oven door 106 to the opening when the oven door 106 is in the closed position. The oven door 106 can be configured to be lockable in a closed position, for example, during a self-cleaning operation. One or more removable oven racks or other support devices can be provided within the oven cavity 104. One of ordinary skill will recognize that other configurations are possible.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 3-9, exemplary embodiments of a non-welded oven cavity 104 according to the present invention will now be described.

[0031] In exemplary embodiments of the household cooking appliance, a non-welded oven cavity 104 can include a plurality of panels mechanically coupled together without welding and a seal disposed between the mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels. The seal can be configured to form an airtight seal between the mechanically coupled panels of the plurality of panels during exposure to the extreme temperatures within the interior of the oven cavity associated with a self-cleaning mode, such as a high temperature pyrolytic cleaning cycle, thereby preventing hot air or gases from escaping through mechanical seams or joints of the non-welded oven cavity. The seal can include, for example, any thermal seal, pyrolytic seal, fire retardant seal, etc. capable of withstanding extreme temperatures associated with a self-cleaning operation (e.g., 400° C. or greater, 450° C. or greater, etc.). The arrangement of the seal is not limited to any particular shape and can include, for example, a flat seal having a rectangular cross-section, a round seal having a circular or oval cross-section, etc. The arrangement of the seal is not limited to any particular type, construction, or material and can include, for example, a solid core, a liquid core, a hallow core, a rope-style seal, a woven blend of materials (e.g., a fiberglass and cotton blend treated with fire retardant chemicals), a rubberized ceramic, etc. The seal can be formed from an extrudable material, a woven material such as fabric, a blended material, a laminated material, a pressed material, etc. The seal can be formed from food grade (e.g., FDA approved materials) to comply with any applicable government regulations or standardized testing requirements in the industry. The seal can be continuous along all or a portion of a length of the seam or joint between the respective panels of the non-welded oven cavity 104. In other examples, a plurality of seals can be provided at different locations along all or a portion of a length of the seam or joint between the respective panels of the non-welded oven cavity 104. One or more different types, shapes, sizes, materials, configurations, etc. of seals can be provided along the same seam or joint between the respective panels of the non-welded oven cavity 104 or along different seams or joints between other combinations of panels of the non-welded oven cavity 104.

[0032] With reference to the example illustrated in FIG. 3, a non-welded oven cavity 104 can include a plurality of panels (e.g., 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) mechanically coupled together without welding. In the illustrated example, the non-welded oven cavity 104 can include a front panel 200 having an opening 201 for accessing the interior space defined by the oven cavity 104, a side panel 202, a side panel 204, a rear panel 206, a top panel 208, and a bottom panel 210. The arrangement of the non-welded oven cavity 104 is not limited to the illustrated example, and other configurations of a non-welded oven cavity 104 are possible. For example, the non-welded oven cavity 104 can include various configurations and arrangements, including a different number of panels, sub-panels, corner components, etc. The non-welded oven cavity 104 can include a variety of assemblies, including a plurality of substantially flat panels, L-shaped panels, U-shaped panels, etc., or various combinations thereof. The various panels can be mechanically coupled together at one or more seams or joints with or without fixation elements. For example, the panels can be mechanically coupled to each other with one or more fasteners, such as with bolts, rivets, etc., and/or without fasteners, such as by clinching. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the plurality of panels can be mechanically coupled together at seams or joints by other mechanical fixation, assembly, or coupling devices or structures suitable for coupling or joining metal sheets.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment having a plurality of panels (e.g., 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) mechanically coupled together at one or more seams or joints with fixation elements, such as fasteners 308. In this example, the edges of the panels (e.g., 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) can include corresponding flanges 302, 304 having matching embosses 320 and one or more seals 306 disposed within the matching embosses 320 and between the corresponding flanges 302, 304. The exemplary features of FIG. 3, as well as other exemplary embodiments of mechanically coupled panels of a non-welded oven cavity 104, according to the present invention, will be described in greater detail below with reference to the examples illustrated in FIGS. 4A-9.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an exemplary embodiment of mechanically coupled panels of a non-welded oven cavity 104 can include two or more panels coupled together to form a seam or joint of the non-welded oven cavity 104. For illustrative purposes, FIGS. 4A and 4B reference the side panel 204 being coupled to the bottom panel 210. However, the illustrated example is not limited to any particular combination of panels being coupled together. In this example, the panel 204 can include a first flange 302 and the panel 210 can include a corresponding second flange 304 that is adjacent to the first flange 302 when the panels 204, 210 are assembled. A seal 306 (e.g., a flat seal) is disposed between the flanges 302, 304. In this example, the seal 306 is disposed entirely between the flanges 302, 304. However, in other examples, a portion of the seal 306 can extend or protrude outside of the flanges 302, 304. The flanges 302, 304 can be mechanically coupled to each other with the seal 306 therebetween by at least one fixation element 308, which is illustrated in this example as a fastener such as a rivet or bolt. As shown in the example of FIG. 4B, the fixation elements 308 can be centrally located and aligned along a longitudinal centerline C1 of either or both of the flanges 302, 304. In some examples, the longitudinal centerline C1 also can correspond to a centerline of the seal 306.

[0035] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the flanges 302, 304 are disposed respectively on the panel 204 and the panel 210 on an opposite side of the panels 204, 210 from an interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104. However, in other examples, the flanges 302, 304 can be disposed on a side of the panels 204, 210 facing or extending into the interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104.

[0036] With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in another example, the panel 204 can include a flange 302 that is adjacent to a surface 310 of the panel 210 when the panels are assembled. In this example, a seal 306 (e.g., a flat seal) is disposed between the flange 302 and the surface 310 of the panel 210. The flange 302 of the panel 204 and the surface 310 of the panel 210 can be mechanically coupled to each other with the seal 306 therebetween by at least one fixation element 308. As shown in the example of FIG. 5B, the fixation elements 308 can be centrally located and aligned along a longitudinal centerline C1 of the flange 302 and/or a centerline of the seal 306. In this example, a portion of the seal 306 can extend or protrude beyond the flange 302. However, in other examples, the seal 306 can be disposed entirely between the flange 302 and the surface 310. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the flange 302 is disposed on an opposite side of the panel 204 from the interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104. However, in other examples, the flange 302 can be disposed on a side of the panel 204 facing or extending into the interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104.

[0037] In other examples, one or more flanges can include an emboss extending along a longitudinal centerline of the flange. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a flange 302 can include an emboss extending along a longitudinal centerline of the flange 302. In this example, all or a portion of a seal 306 (e.g., a round or oval seal) can be disposed between the emboss 320 of the flange 302 and the surface 310 of the panel 210. The flange 302 of the panel 204 and the surface 310 of the panel 210 can be mechanically coupled to each other with the seal 306 therebetween by a plurality of fixation elements 308.

[0038] In another example, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of adjacent flanges 302, 304 can include matching embosses 320 extending along a longitudinal centerline of each of the flanges 302, 304. In this example, a seal 306 (e.g., a round or oval seal) is disposed between the matching embosses 320. The flanges 302, 304 can be mechanically coupled to each other with the seal 306 therebetween by a plurality of fixation elements 308. In these examples, all or a portion of the seal 306 (e.g., a round or oval seal) can be disposed within the matching embosses 320.

[0039] With reference again to FIG. 3 and also to FIG. 8, a plurality of panels (e.g., 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) can be coupled together along a plurality of seams or joints to define the non-welded oven cavity 104. Each of the panels (e.g., 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) can include a flange or plurality of flanges 302 configured to be adjacent to a respective flange 304 of another adjacent panel when the panels are in an assembled state. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, each of the flanges 302, 304 can include matching embosses 320 extending along a longitudinal centerline of each of the flanges 302, 304. In this example, a plurality of seals 306 (e.g., round or oval seals) can be disposed respectively between the matching embosses 320 of the respective flanges 302, 304. The respective flanges 302, 304 can be mechanically coupled to each other with the seals 306 therebetween by a plurality of fixation elements 308.

[0040] As shown in each of FIGS. 3 and 6-8, the fixation elements 308 can be alternately located on opposite sides of the matching embosses 320 extending along the longitudinal centerline of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320. In these examples, every other fixation element 308 extending in a direction of the longitudinal centerline of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320 can be disposed on an opposite side of the longitudinal centerline of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320. In other examples, two or more successive fixation elements 308 can be disposed on a same side of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320, for example, depending on the particular arrangement of the joint or seam. The fixation elements 308 can be spaced along the longitudinal centerline of the flanges or embosses. The spacing between two successive fixation elements 308 extending in a direction of the longitudinal centerline of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320 can be the same or uniform along the length of the longitudinal centerline of the flanges 302, 304 or embosses 320, or in other examples, the spacing between two successive fixation elements 308 at one or more locations can be different from another location, for example, depending on the particular arrangement of the joint or seam.

[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates another example having a plurality of panels (e.g., 204, 206, 210) coupled together along a plurality of seams or joints to define a lower portion of the non-welded oven cavity 104. As shown in FIG. 9, a lower end of each of the panels (e.g., 204, 206) can include one or more flanges 302 configured to be adjacent to a surface of the bottom panel 210 when the panels are in an assembled state, similar to the example illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In this example, a seal 306 (e.g., a flat seal or the like) can be disposed between the flanges 302 of each respective panel 204, 206 and the surface of the panel 210, with each flange 302 being mechanically coupled to the surface of the panel 210 with the respective seal 306 therebetween. The fixation elements 308 can be centrally located along a longitudinal centerline of each flange 302. In this example, each of the flanges 302 can be disposed on a side of the respective panel 204, 206 facing or extending into the interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104. However, in other examples, one or more, or all, of the flanges 302 can be disposed on an opposite side of the respective panel 204, 206 from the interior space 105 of the non-welded oven cavity 104.

[0042] The present invention has been described herein in terms of several preferred embodiments. However, modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It is intended that all such modifications and additions comprise a part of the present invention to the extent that they fall within the scope of the several claims appended hereto.