Connecting element, household appliance having such a connecting element, and insert module

Abstract

A connecting element for providing an electrical connection in a processing space of a household appliance, includes a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin configured for displacement between a rest position protruding farther and an operating position protruding less far, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position. The connecting element is disposed on a side wall of the processing space, particularly a cooking space. An insert module can be inserted in the processing space of the household appliance and can be operated electrically. The insert module has a mating electrical connection element for contacting the connecting element.

Claims

1. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; and a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

2. The household appliance of claim 1, constructed in the form of a cooking appliance.

3. The household appliance of claim 1, wherein the connecting element has a first electrically insulating sleeve carrying the contact pin.

4. The household appliance of claim 1, wherein the first side wall includes an opening, and wherein the connecting element is at least partially disposed in the opening of the first side wall.

5. The household appliance of claim 4, further comprising: a securing disc configured to secure the connecting element in the opening of the first side wall.

6. The household appliance of claim 1, wherein the protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall.

7. The household appliance of claim 1, further comprising a door for closing a loading opening of the processing space.

8. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; and a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive, wherein the connecting element has an inwardly protruding projection which forms a stop for the contact pin in the rest position, and wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

9. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; a door for accessing and closing a loading opening of the processing space; and a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive, wherein the processing space is an interior space of a housing of the household appliance configured to receive an insert module that is inserted into the processing space through the loading opening of the processing space.

10. The household appliance of claim 9, further comprising: a second side wall opposed to the first side wall, and a further connecting element on the second side wall symmetrical to the connecting element on an insertion level of the household appliance, wherein the further connecting element includes a further protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the further contact pin protrudes farther from the second side wall and an operating position in which the further contact pin protrudes less far from the second side wall, wherein the further contact pin pushes into the rest position, the further contact pin being electrically conductive.

11. The household appliance of claim 10, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

12. The household appliance of claim 8, further comprising the insert module for insertion into the processing space, and an insertion detection device that detects when the insert module is fully inserted in the processing space.

13. The household appliance of claim 12, further comprising a door for closing the processing space, and a door closure detecting device that detects a closed state of the door, said household appliance only applying an electrical signal to the connecting element when the insertion detection device detects the presence of the insert module and the door closure detection device detects that the door has closed the processing space.

14. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the insert module is at least one of a heating system, a heatable cooking space divider, a heatable oven shelf, or a heatable steam cooker.

15. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the insertion detection device is at least one of a microswitch, a Reed contact, or an optical sensor.

16. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

17. The household appliance of claim 8, further comprising: the insert module for positioning in the processing space of the household appliance, said insert module being configured for electrical operation and comprising a mating electrical connector that is electrically conductive and that contacts the contact pin of the connecting element to provide an electrical connection in the processing space of the household appliance.

18. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the mating electrical connector has a sliding contact surface, wherein an insertion slope adjoins the sliding contact surface.

19. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein the insertion slope has an abrasive contact element.

20. The household appliance of claim 19, wherein the abrasive contact element comprises a metal inlay.

21. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the insert module is at least one of a heating system, a heatable cooking space divider, a heatable oven shelf, or a heatable steam cooker.

22. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

23. The household appliance of claim 9, wherein the contact pin is electrically grounded to the first side wall when the contact pin is in the rest position.

24. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; and a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive, wherein the contact pin is electrically grounded to the first side wall when the contact pin is in the rest position.

25. The household appliance of claim 24, wherein the connecting element has a housing including an inwardly protruding projection which forms a stop for the contact pin, and wherein the contact pin contacts the inwardly protruding projection of the housing in the rest position such that the contact pin is electrically grounded to the first side wall by the housing when the contact pin is in the rest position.

26. The household appliance of claim 25, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

27. The household appliance of claim 24, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

28. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive; and a securing disc at least partially disposed in the processing space and securing the connecting element in an opening of the first side wall, wherein the connecting element includes a housing and the securing disc is coupled to the housing of the connecting element.

29. The household appliance of claim 28, wherein a portion of the contact pin extends through an opening in the securing disc.

30. The household appliance of claim 28, wherein the housing has a flange on a front edge facing the first side wall, the flange extending laterally outward to provide support for and contact with the first side wall and forming a microwave-tight connection with the first side wall.

31. The household appliance of claim 28, wherein the connecting element includes: a first electrically insulating sleeve carrying a first portion of the contact pin, and a second electrically insulating sleeve surrounding a second portion of the contact pin and at least partially disposed in the opening of the first side wall.

32. The household appliance of claim 31, wherein at least a first portion of the securing disc is disposed on a side of the first side wall of the processing space, and at least a second portion of the securing disc is disposed in an annular gap between the housing and the second electrically insulating sleeve.

33. The household appliance of claim 31, wherein a portion of the second electrically insulating sleeve is exposed to the processing space and includes a depression or groove around an outside surface of the second electrically insulating sleeve that is substantially immediately adjacent to the securing disc for guiding fluid flowing down the first side wall.

34. The household appliance of claim 28, wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

35. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; and a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive; wherein the connecting element has a housing having a lateral opening in a lower side of the housing for allowing fluid penetrating into the connecting element to flow out; and wherein the housing forms a microwave-tight connection with the first side wall.

36. A household appliance, comprising: a first side wall defining a processing space; a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive; and a securing disc configured to secure the connecting element in an opening of the first side wall, wherein at least a portion of the securing disc is disposed on a side of the first side wall of the processing space, and wherein the securing disc is coupled to a housing of the connecting element; wherein the housing of the connecting element has a lateral opening in a lower side of the housing for allowing fluid penetrating into the connecting element to flow out; and wherein at least a portion of the housing is disposed on an opposite side of the first side wall from the processing space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following figures, the invention is described in more detail by means of schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment. For reasons of clarity, elements that are the same or have the same effect are provided with identical reference signs.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a side view of a connecting element according to the invention for a household appliance;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross section from below of a household appliance with an insert module partially introduced into a processing space of the household appliance; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section from below of a household appliance with an insert module fully inserted into a processing space of the household appliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a side view of a connecting element 1 for a household appliance H. The connecting element 1 comprises, on a front side V, a protruding, longitudinally displaceable, electrically conductive contact pin 2 that can be displaced between a rest position protruding as shown and an operating position protruding less far (pushed in). The contact pin 2 is spring mounted and is pushed into the rest position by means of at least one spring element (not shown). The operating position can be variable and, for example, be dependent on a position of a mating contact element contacting the contact pin 2.

(6) The rear section of the contact pin 2 is surrounded by a first electrically insulating insulation sleeve 3, in which the contact pin 2 can be carried along its longitudinal axis L. To this end, the contact pin 2 has an annular circumferential projection 5 on a sleeve or side wall 4 of its rear section, which is carried by an inner wall 6 of the first insulation sleeve 3. The first insulation sleeve 3 forms a stop for the contact pin 2 when it is moving in a rearward direction, said stop defining a farthest rearward position of the contact pin 2. At its rear end, the first insulation sleeve 3 has an opening 7 through which a rear end of the contact pin 2 can be passed. The rear end of the contact pin 2 comprises a connection possibilityhere socket 8 with or without a thread, for connecting a power supply cable or similar (not shown).

(7) An electrically conductive housing 9 delimits the first insulation sleeve 3 at its front end, said housing 9 also surrounding the sides of the first insulation sleeve 3. The housing 9 also has a sleeve or tube-shaped basic shape, as well as at least one inwardly protruding projection 10, said projection 10 also delimiting the first insulation sleeve 3 at the front and forming a forward stop for the contact pin 2 with its circumferential projection 5. The contact pin 2 is in the rest position when in contact with the projection 10.

(8) The connecting element 1 also has a second electrically insulating insulation sleeve 11, which surrounds the contact pin 2 toward the front side V or toward the front in front of the projection 10, thus being arranged in front of the first insulation sleeve 3 in a longitudinal extension. The second insulation sleeve 11 is the component of the connecting element 1 from which the contact pin 2 protrudes forward into the open.

(9) In order to assemble the connecting element 1, the first insulation sleeve 3, with the contact pin 2 inserted in it, may first be inserted into an open rear end of the housing 9 until the first insulation sleeve 3 comes into contact with the inwardly protruding projection 10 of the housing 9. Either before or after this, the second insulation sleeve can be inserted into an open front end of the housing 9 until the second insulation sleeve 11 comes into contact with an opposite side of the inwardly protruding projection 10 of the housing 9. The first insulation sleeve 3 can be secured with a suitable cover 12, e.g. a screw cap.

(10) In order to mount the connecting element 1 on the household appliance H the by then assembled connecting element 1 is positioned at a rear side of the housing wall G in relation to a processing space B and, in the process, introduced into the processing space B with a part of the second insulation sleeve 11 and a front section of the contact pin 2, through a suitable cutout A in the housing wall G. The housing 9 is then located with a front edge, embodied as a flange 13, against the rear side of the housing wall G that faces away from the processing space B. The connecting element 1 is secured to the housing wall G by a securing disc 14 being inserted, from the side of the processing space B outward, into a wide annular gap between the housing 9 and the second insulation sleeve 11, thereby being bolted to the housing 9. The securing disc 14 thus pulls the housing 9 toward the housing wall G. At the same time, part of the second insulation sleeve 11 protrudes into processing space B via the securing disc 14.

(11) Once the connecting element 1 is mounted, there is a depression or groove 15 around the outside of the second insulation sleeve 11 that is exposed to the processing space B in such a way that, in a longitudinal direction L, it is substantially immediately adjacent to the securing disc 14. This produces the advantage that fluid (e.g. water) that runs down the processing space side or inner housing wall G does not penetrate into the connecting element 1, or only does so to a slight degree. If, however, fluid does penetrate into the connecting element 1 it can flow out through two lateral openings 16 arranged on a lower side of the housing 9.

(12) Also, once the connecting element 1 is mounted, the contact pin 2 when in its rest position is connected electrically to the normally grounded housing wall G via the housing 9 and is thus itself grounded.

(13) In addition, the flange 13 of the housing 9 and the housing wall G, particularly a side wall, form a microwave-tight connection. As the diameter of the cutout A in the housing wall G does not measure more than 8 mm, it also cannot be penetrated by microwave radiation.

(14) It is also possible for the contact pin 2 to be pushed all the way into the second insulation sleeve 11, for example during cleaning.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a cross section from below of the household appliance H in the form of an oven, possibly with a microwave function, with an insert module 17 partially introduced into a cooking space or oven space serving as a processing space B through a loading opening O that can be closed by means of a door T. The insert module 17 here is embodied as an electrically heatable cooking space divider or shelf.

(16) At one level, particularly an insertion level, the household appliance H comprises, by way of example, a connecting element 1 on each side wall S serving as a housing wall G, in a symmetrical arrangement. The household appliance H also comprises an insertion detection device E for detecting that an insert module 17 is fully inserted, said insert module not making contact in the partially inserted state shown. The household appliance H also comprises a door closure detection device C for detecting a closed state of the door T that closes the processing space B, which also cannot be seen here. The household appliance H is configured, e.g. through the appropriate programming of a control device (not shown) only to apply an electrical signal to the connecting element 1 if the insertion detection device E detects an insert and the door closure detection device C detects a closed state of the door T. For this reason the connecting elements 1 here cannot be activated when the insert module 17 is only partially inserted.

(17) As a result of the connecting elements 1 being in a fully inserted state the insert module 17 has contactable mating connection elements 18 on both sides. The mating connection elements 18 are embodied as exposed contact surfaces extending longitudinally in the insertion direction R. The mating connection elements 18 are electrical connections of a consumer of the insert module 17, in this case a heating system 19. In order to facilitate insertion, an insertion slope 20 onto which the contact pin 2 of the associated connecting element 1 is able to slide up is located in front of each of the mating connection elements 18 in the insertion direction R. The mating connection element 18 is arranged on the insert module 17 so as to be flush with it, which allows particular ease of cleaning and ease of handling and creates a high-quality appearance. For more thorough cleaning of a contact surface of the contact pin 2 the insertion slope 20 comprises a metal strip. For improved ease of cleaning of the insert module, particularly in a sink or a dishwasher, it is advantageous for the metal strip and/or or the mating connection element 18 each to be embodied as an inlay set tightly in plastic.

(18) FIG. 3 shows the household appliance H viewed from below with an insert module 17 fully inserted into the processing space B and the door T closed. With the insertion of the insert module 17 the metallic contact pins 2 of the particular connecting element 1 have slid along the insertion slope 20 of the associated mating connection element 18 and been partially pushed out of the processing space B in the process. At the same time, the surfaces of the contact pins 2 have been rubbed clean against the metal strip of the insertion slope 20 (dynamic metal-metal friction). If pushed in still further, the contact pins also slide and rub against the exposed (laterally flush-mounted and sealed) contact surfaces of the mating connection elements 18, thus enabling clean and safe end contact.

(19) The pressure force of the contact pins 2 is adjusted in such a way that both simple insertion of the insert module 17 and an optimal cleaning effect are achieved by the two connections 2, 18 sliding against one another.

(20) When the insert module 17 is fully inserted and the door T is closed, both the insertion detection device E and the door closure detection device C make contact, with the result that the connecting elements can be activated, allowing current, for example, to be fed to the associated contact pins 2, which can operate the heating system 19 between them.

(21) The present invention is, of course, not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown.

(22) The power supply cable can therefore also be welded or bolted on, for example.