Pedestal for a burner of a household appliance

Abstract

A gas burner of a household cooking appliance is provided. The gas burner includes a burner portion, and a pedestal portion under the burner portion for elevating the burner portion above a cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance. The pedestal portion includes a base portion for mounting with the cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance, and an upper portion that interposes the base portion and the burner portion, and interfaces with the burner portion. A perimeter of the base portion has no mathematical correlation to one of a perimeter of the burner portion and a perimeter of the upper portion.

Claims

1. A sealed gas burner for a household cooking appliance, the gas burner comprising: a burner portion having a plurality of burner ports; and a pedestal portion under the burner portion for elevating the burner portion above a cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance, wherein the pedestal portion includes: a base portion having a lower mounting; and an upper portion having an upper end that supports the burner, wherein the lower mounting surface is on an opposite side of the pedestal portion from the upper portion, wherein the base portion elevates the upper portion in a vertical direction above the cooktop surface, wherein an area of a footprint of the lower mounting surface is less than an area of a footprint of the upper end of the pedestal portion, wherein a periphery of the base portion increases continuously in a vertical direction from the lower mounting surface up to the upper portion and a periphery of the upper portion increases in a vertical direction from the base portion up to the upper portion in order to promote airflow of secondary air in the vertical direction along an outer surface of the periphery of the base portion and an outer surface of the periphery of the upper portion up to the plurality of burner ports of the burner portion, wherein the periphery of the base portion is less than the periphery of the upper portion, and wherein the base portion includes a first cavity extending upward through the base portion, and the first cavity facilitates a flow of an air-gas mixture through the base portion.

2. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein a length of a perimeter of the lower mounting surface of the base portion is less than a length of a perimeter of the upper end of the upper portion.

3. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein the lower mounting surface is in a first horizontal plane, wherein a vertical axis of the pedestal portion is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal plane, wherein the first cavity extends through the base portion along the vertical axis of the pedestal portion, wherein the first cavity facilitates the flow of the air-gas mixture through the pedestal portion to the burner portion.

4. The gas burner according to claim 3, further comprising: a venturi tube, wherein the venturi tube is one of in fluid communication with the first cavity and disposed in the first cavity.

5. The gas burner according to claim 3, wherein the pedestal portion includes: a second cavity that facilitates a flow of air through the base portion.

6. The gas burner according to claim 5, wherein the second cavity includes: a first flow passage; and a second flow passage in fluid communication with the first flow passage, wherein the first flow passage extends through the pedestal portion in a direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the pedestal portion, and wherein the second flow passage extends through the upper portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first horizontal plane and toward a perimeter of the burner portion.

7. The gas burner according to claim 5, wherein an interior surface of the second cavity is one of tapered and curved with respect to the first horizontal plane.

8. The gas burner according to claim 5, wherein an interior surface of the second cavity is one of parallel to and perpendicular to the first horizontal plane.

9. The gas burner according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion of the pedestal has one of an opening and a slot that fluidly connects the second cavity to an exterior of the pedestal.

10. The gas burner according to claim 9, wherein the one of the opening and the slot of the upper portion is adjacent to a burner port of the plurality of burner ports of the burner portion.

11. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the pedestal portion has one of a curved surface and a tapered surface that promotes a flow of air in a direction extending toward a burner port of the burner portion.

12. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein the pedestal portion is integrally formed with the burner portion.

13. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein the burner portion has a plurality of finger portions, and wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of finger portions corresponding to the plurality of finger portions of the burner portion.

14. The gas burner according to claim 13, wherein the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor, and wherein the ignitor mounting surface extends radially from the base portion and between two adjacent fingers of the plurality of finger portions of the upper portion.

15. The gas burner according to claim 1, wherein the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor.

16. A pedestal for supporting a gas burner of a household cooking appliance in an elevated position above a surface of a cooktop of the household appliance, the pedestal comprising: a base portion, the base portion for vertically elevating an upper portion of the pedestal above the surface of the cooktop and having both a lower mounting surface configured to mount to the cooktop and a maximum perimeter of the footprint of the base portion that is smaller than a maximum perimeter of the footprint of the upper portion; a burner body support surface at an upper-most end of the pedestal configured to support a burner body of the gas burner and to vertically elevate the burner body above the surface of the cooktop; and a first cavity extending entirely through the base portion and the upper portion from the lower mounting surface of the base portion to the upper-most end of the upper portion, wherein the first cavity facilitates a flow of an air-gas mixture through the base portion and the upper portion to the burner body of the gas burner.

17. The pedestal according to claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface is in a first horizontal plane, and wherein a vertical axis of the base portion extends substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal plane.

18. The pedestal according to claim 17, wherein the first cavity is integrally formed with a venturi tube for facilitating the flow of the air-gas mixture from a mixing zone below the surface of the cooktop through the base portion and into the burner body of the gas burner.

19. The pedestal according to claim 17, further comprising: a venturi tube for facilitating the flow of the air-gas mixture from a mixing zone below the surface of the cooktop through the base portion and the upper portion and into the gas burner, wherein the venturi tube is one of in fluid communication with the first cavity and disposed in the first cavity.

20. The pedestal according to claim 17, further comprising a second cavity extending through at least the base portion, the second cavity facilitating a flow of air through the base portion.

21. The pedestal according to claim 20, wherein the second cavity includes: a first flow passage extending through the base portion in a direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the base portion; and a second flow passage in fluid communication with the first flow passage and extending through the upper portion in a direction toward the maximum perimeter of the upper portion.

22. The pedestal according to claim 20, wherein an interior surface of the second cavity is one of tapered and curved.

23. The pedestal according to claim 20, wherein an interior surface of the second cavity is one of parallel to and perpendicular to the first horizontal plane.

24. The pedestal according to claim 21, wherein the upper portion has one of an opening and a slot that fluidly connects the second cavity to an exterior of the pedestal.

25. The pedestal according to claim 24, wherein the one of the opening and the slot of the upper portion is arranged to be adjacent to a burner port of the burner body of the gas burner.

26. The pedestal according to claim 16, wherein an exterior surface of at least one of the base portion and the upper portion has one of a curved surface and a tapered surface that promotes a flow of air in a direction extending toward a burner port of the gas burner.

27. The pedestal according to claim 16, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of finger portions configured to correspond to a plurality of finger portions of the burner body of the gas burner.

28. The pedestal according to claim 27, wherein the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor, and wherein the ignitor mounting surface extends radially from the base portion and between two adjacent fingers of the plurality of finger portions of the upper portion.

29. The pedestal according to claim 16, wherein the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor.

30. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface is configured to be mounted on a flat surface of a cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance.

31. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper portion extends radially outward from the base portion, and wherein an exterior surface of the upper portion has one of a curved surface and a tapered surface configured to direct a flow of air over the exterior surface in a direction away from the base portion and toward the maximum perimeter of the upper portion.

32. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of sections that extend radially outward from the base portion, and wherein an exterior surface of the upper portion has one of a curved surface and a tapered surface configured to direct a flow of air over the exterior surface in a direction away from the base portion and toward a perimeter of each of the plurality of sections of the upper portion.

33. The pedestal of claim 31, further comprising: a second cavity configured to facilitate a separate flow of air through the base portion and the upper portion and to direct the separate flow of air in a direction toward the maximum perimeter of the upper portion, wherein the upper portion has one of an opening and a slot configured to fluidly connect the second cavity to an exterior of the upper portion.

34. The pedestal of claim 32, further comprising: a second cavity configured to facilitate a separate flow of air through the base portion and the upper portion to direct the separate flow of air in a direction toward the perimeter of each of the plurality of sections of the upper portion, and wherein each of the plurality of parts of the upper portion has one of an opening and a slot configured to fluidly connect the second cavity to an exterior of the upper portion.

35. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper-most end has a planar surface and the lower mounting surface has a planar surface, and wherein the planar surface of the upper-most end is parallel to the planar surface of the lower mounting surface.

36. The pedestal according to claim 16, wherein an exterior surface of the base portion has one of a curved surface and a tapered surface that promotes a flow of air in a direction extending from a perimeter of the lower mounting surface toward the upper portion.

37. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein a shape of the maximum perimeter of the upper-most end is a star configuration.

38. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is configured to be coupled directly to the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

39. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is configured to be coupled indirectly to the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

40. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is configured to be coupled to another part on the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

41. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is integrally formed with another part on the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

42. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is configured to be sealed to the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

43. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting surface of the base portion is configured to be sealed to another part on the surface of the cooktop of the household appliance.

44. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper portion is integrally formed with the burner body of the gas burner.

45. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper portion has a continuous outer surface being continuously tapered to promote an airflow of secondary air to the maximum perimeter of the upper portion.

46. The pedestal of claim 16, further comprising: a second cavity extending through the base portion and at least a portion of the upper portion, the second cavity configured to facilitate a separate flow of air through the base portion and into the upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes one of an opening and a slot that fluidly connects the second cavity to an exterior of the upper portion such that the separateflow of air can exit the second cavity to an exterior of the upper portion.

47. The pedestal of claim 46, wherein the second cavity includes an interior surface having one of a curved surface and a tapered surface configured to direct the separate flow of air in a direction toward the one of the opening and the slot of the upper portion.

48. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the upper portion includes an exterior sidewall surface, an exterior underside surface, and the burner body support surface extending around a perimeter of an upper end of the exterior sidewall surface, the burner body support surface configured to support an exterior sidewall surface of the burner body above the exterior sidewall surface of the upper portion.

49. The pedestal of claim 48, wherein the base portion includes an exterior sidewall surface interposing the exterior underside surface of the upper portion and the lower mounting surface of the base portion to provide a vertical clearance between the exterior underside surface of the upper portion and the lower mounting surface of the base portion.

50. The pedestal of claim 16, further comprising a second cavity independent of the first cavity, the second cavity extending entirely through the base portion and the upper portion from the lower mounting surface of the base portion to the upper-most end of the upper portion.

51. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein a perimeter of an exterior sidewall surface of the base portion increases continuously in a vertical direction from the lower mounting surface up to an intersection of the base portion with the upper portion.

52. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein a perimeter of an exterior sidewall surface of the upper portion increases continuously in a vertical direction from an intersection of the base portion with the upper portion to the upper-most end of the upper portion.

53. The pedestal of claim 48, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of slots formed in the burner body support surface of the upper-most end of the upper portion and partially in the exterior sidewall surface of the upper-most end of the upper portion.

54. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the maximum perimeter of the upper portion is a length of a perimeter of the upper-most end of the pedestal.

55. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the maximum perimeter of the base portion is a length of a perimeter of the base portion at a location where the base portion intersects with the upper portion.

56. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the maximum perimeter of the footprint of the base portion is smaller than a maximum perimeter of the footprint of the upper-most end of the pedestal.

57. The pedestal of claim 16, wherein the maximum perimeter of the footprint of the base portion is smaller than a maximum perimeter of the burner body support surface.

58. A pedestal for supporting a gas burner of a household cooking appliance in an elevated position above a surface of a cooktop of the household appliance, the pedestal comprising: a base portion, the base portion for vertically elevating an upper portion of the pedestal above the surface of the cooktop and having a lower mounting surface configured to mount to the cooktop; and a burner body support surface at an upper-most end of the pedestal configured to support a burner body of the gas burner and to vertically elevate the burner body above the surface of the cooktop, wherein a part of the upper portion extends beyond a footprint of the base portion and a part of the base portion extends beyond a footprint of the upper portion.

59. The pedestal of claim 58, wherein the part of the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor.

60. The pedestal of claim 58, wherein the part of the upper portion that includes a plurality of finger portions corresponds to a plurality of finger portions of the burner body of the gas burner.

61. The pedestal of claim 60, wherein the part of the base portion includes an ignitor mounting surface for receiving a burner ignitor, the part of the base portion extending between two adjacent finger portions of the plurality of finger portions of the upper portion.

62. The pedestal of claim 58, wherein the part of the upper portion includes an exterior sidewall surface, an exterior underside surface, and the burner body support surface configured to support an exterior sidewall surface of the burner body above the exterior sidewall surface of the part of the upper portion, and wherein the part of the base portion includes an exterior sidewall surface, an exterior upper surface, and at least a portion of the lower mounting surface extending beyond the footprint of the upper portion.

63. A household cooking appliance comprising: a cooktop surface having an opening; a sealed gas burner over the opening of the cooktop surface; and a pedestal interposing the cooktop surface and the sealed gas burner for elevating the gas burner above the cooktop surface; wherein the pedestal includes: a base portion having a lower mounting surface; and an upper portion having an upper end-supporting the sealed gas burner, wherein the base portion elevates the upper portion in a vertical direction above the cooktop surface, wherein the lower mounting surface is on an opposite side of the base portion from the upper portion, wherein an area of a footprint of the lower mounting surface is less than an area of a footprint of the upper end of the pedestal, wherein a periphery of the base portion increases continuously in a vertical direction from the lower mounting surface up to the upper portion and a periphery of the upper portion increases in a vertical direction from the base portion up to the upper portion in order to promote airflow of secondary air in the vertical direction along an outer surface of the periphery of the base portion and an outer surface of the periphery of the upper portion up to ports of the sealed gas burner, wherein the periphery of the base portion is less than the periphery of the upper portion, and wherein the base portion includes a first cavity extending upward through the base portion, and the first cavity facilitates a flow of an air-gas mixture through the base portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the description of aspects of the invention and are provided solely for illustration of the aspects and not limitation thereof.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of a conventional cooking appliance.

(3) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a conventional burner assembly.

(4) FIG. 2B is a top view of the conventional burner assembly of FIG. 2A.

(5) FIG. 2C is a top view of another conventional burner assembly.

(6) FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of the conventional sealed burner assemblies of FIGS. 2B and 2C.

(7) FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional household cooking appliance having a sealed burner.

(8) FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional household cooking appliance having a non-sealed burner.

(9) FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(10) FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(11) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality-fingered burner assembly for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(12) FIG. 8 is a side view of a plurality-fingered burner assembly for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(13) FIG. 9A is a first side view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(14) FIG. 9B is a second side view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(15) FIG. 9C is a third side view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(16) FIG. 9D is a top view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(17) FIG. 9E is a bottom view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(18) FIG. 9F is a perspective view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(19) FIG. 9G is a perspective view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(20) FIG. 10 is a top view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

(21) FIG. 11 is a top view of a pedestal for a household cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(22) 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.

(23) Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

(24) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

(25) As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as between X and Y and between about X and Y should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as between about X and Y mean between about X and about Y. As used herein, phrases such as from about X to Y mean from about X to about Y.

(26) It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on, attached to, connected to, coupled with, contacting, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, directly on, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled with or directly contacting another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed adjacent another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

(27) Spatially relative terms, such as under, below, lower, over, upper, lateral, left, right and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as under or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented over the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors of relative spatial relationships used herein interpreted accordingly.

(28) With reference to FIGS. 5-11, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described.

(29) Referring to FIG. 5, a cooking appliance 100 is shown having a housing 112 and a cooktop surface 114. The cooktop surface 114 includes a plurality of burners 120. The housing 112 supports a grate 128 to support a cooking utensil, such as a pot, pan or kettle over the burner 120. The cooktop surface 114 has a plurality of openings (e.g., see FIG. 6) defining the positions for each of the burners 120. In an aspect, the cooktop surface 114 forms a sealed burner arrangement which is discussed in greater detail below.

(30) Each burner 120 includes a burner body 122 and a burner head 126 that covers the burner body 122 to prevent leakage or overspills from cooking utensils from entering the burner 120. The burner body 122 in this aspect has a plurality of fingers that form a star configuration and the burner head 126 has a corresponding star configuration. However, the burner body 122 and burner head 126 may have other configurations and shapes, such as a circular or oval shape, or another number of fingers. Each burner 120 is elevated above the cooktop surface 114 by a pedestal 200, which will be described in greater detail below. The burner body 122 has a plurality of burner ports 124. An ignitor 140 is provided for igniting the air-gas mixture flowing from the burner ports 124. In this aspect, the ignitor 140 is mounted on an ignitor surface 206 of the pedestal 200.

(31) A plurality of control knobs 118 are carried on valve stems (not shown) protruding through openings in the control panel 116, as shown in FIG. 5, or alternatively, in the cooktop surface 114. The control knobs 118 are used to control a valve for flow of gas and the ignition of each of the burners 120 in a well known manner. The openings may contribute to the availability of secondary air within the appliance since the openings are not positioned where leakage or overspills from cooking utensils will expose the burner 120 or the ignitor to clogs or blockages that may interfere with operation of the burners 120. In another embodiment, the cooking appliance 100 may have an electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical control valve in place of the control knobs 118.

(32) Referring to FIG. 6, the housing 112 has an interior box or a rough-in box 402 that encloses the cooktop controls and gas nozzle 410 inside a cooking appliance 100, such as a range, or under a cooktop for installation in a rough-in opening in a cabinet or countertop. The rough-in box 402 may include a bottom wall to prevent spillage through the cooktop openings from soiling the interior of the range or cabinet. In addition, the rough-in box 402 may provide support for a jet holder 406. An additional bracket also may be provided to support the jet holder 406.

(33) As shown in FIG. 6, a venturi tube 408 includes an elongated body having a venturi passage 418. The body of the venturi tube 408 may include an exterior, threaded portion adapted to receive a nut to lock the venturi tube 408 into position in the opening of the cooktop surface 114, under the cooktop surface 114, or inside or on the pedestal 200. The lower end of the venturi tube 408 is received in a jet holder 406 and the upper end of the venturi tube 408 is received in an opening 224 of the pedestal 200, which will be described in greater detail below. The jet holder 406 may be supported by the rough-in box 402 or another support. The jet holder 406 may be mounted in the opening of the cooktop surface 414 or under the cooktop surface 114. The jet holder 406 positions a gas nozzle 410 for introducing gas for mixture with air and entry into the venturi passage 418 as is known conventionally. The nozzle 410 is coupled to a supply of gas 412 and discharges the fuel to a mixing zone 414 adjacent the entry to the venturi passage 418.

(34) In operation, the supply of gas 412 is delivered through the nozzle 410 and mixed with air at the mixing zone 414. The air-gas mixture enters the venturi passage 418 for delivery to the burner 120. The air-gas mixture then passes through the burner ports 124 such that, upon ignition by an appropriate ignitor 140, a flame 50 may be initiated and sustained at the exterior of the burner head 126 of the burner 120.

(35) As shown in FIG. 6, aspects of the pedestal 200 can improve the flow of secondary air 70 to the flame 50. The pedestal 200 also can include a plurality of slots 240 formed in the pedestal 200, which will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The slots 240 may further improve flame production by providing access to an additional volume of secondary air 80 from within the pedestal 200 or under the pedestal 200 and the cooktop 114. It is noted that other arrangements of the burner 120, pedestal 200, venturi tube 408, and gas nozzle 410 may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in another aspect, the venturi tube 408 may be integrally formed with the pedestal 200.

(36) Referring again to FIG. 5, each burner 120 is elevated above the cooktop surface 114 by a pedestal 200. In this illustrative aspect, an ignitor 140 for igniting the air-gas mixture flowing from the burner ports 124 is mounted on an ignitor surface 206 of the pedestal 200.

(37) Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the burner 120 includes a burner body 122 having a plurality of fingers. In this aspect, the burner 120 has five fingers that form a star configuration. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other numbers of fingers and configurations can be provided, such as round or oval burners. A burner head 126 having a plurality of fingers covers the burner body 122 to prevent leakage or overspills from cooking utensils from entering the burner 120. The burner body 122 and burner head 126 define an interior chamber. The burner body 122 includes a plurality of recesses forming burner ports 124. The burner ports 124 are in fluid communication with the chamber and the exterior of the burner 120 for permitting flow of the air-gas mixture from the burner 120.

(38) Referring again to FIGS. 6-8, the burner 120 is supported by or mounted on a pedestal 200. The burner 120 and pedestal 200 also may be integrally formed. Similarly, the burner body 122 and the pedestal 200 may be integrally formed. The pedestal 200 elevates the burner 120, thereby increasing a vertical distance y (e.g., a predetermined vertical distance) between the flames of the burner 120 and the cooktop surface 114, thereby reducing or preventing the flame from the burner from heating or baking a spill (e.g., a liquid or solid) onto the surface of the cooktop, and improving the ease with which the cooktop can be cleaned.

(39) The pedestal 200 includes a pedestal body (i.e., base portion) 202 having a lower surface 230 that is mounted on the cooktop surface 114. In another aspect, the pedestal body 202 can include a recessed portion 280 that is received in an opening of the cooktop surface 114 to secure the pedestal to the cooktop surface 114.

(40) FIG. 8 shows the intersection or interface 300 of the lower surface 230 of the pedestal body 202 with the cooktop surface 114. The footprint (e.g., the size, area, length, size and shape (or outline), length and shape (or outline), or area and shape (or outline), etc.) of the lower surface 230 of the pedestal body 200 has no correlation (e.g., no mathematical correlation) with the bottom, or footprint, of the burner 120. For example, in an aspect, the size and shape of the footprint of the pedestal body 202 is independent from the size and shape of the footprint of the burner 120. In another aspect, the area and/or the length of the perimeter of the footprint of the pedestal body 202 is less than the area or the length of the perimeter of the burner 120. The pedestal body decouples the footprint of the burner 120 from the cooktop surface 114.

(41) The pedestal 200 includes an upper portion 204, which may have a plurality of fingers (e.g., 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E). In this aspect, the upper portion 204 has five fingers that form a star configuration corresponding to the star configuration of the burner 120. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other numbers of fingers and configurations can be provided. Other pedestal configurations also are possible. For example, the upper portion 204 of the pedestal 200 may have a circular or oval shaped configuration.

(42) As shown in FIG. 8, the upper portion 204 of the pedestal 200 increases a horizontal distance x (e.g., a predetermined horizontal distance) between the flames of the burner 120 and the interface 300 between the pedestal 200 and the cooktop surface 114, thereby reducing or preventing the flame from the burner 120 from heating or baking a spill (e.g., a liquid or solid) onto the surface of the cooktop, and more particularly at the interface 300 which is more difficult to clean, and improving the ease with which the cooktop surface 114 may be cleaned.

(43) Referring to FIGS. 9A-9G, exemplary embodiments of a pedestal 200 will now be described in greater detail. As explained above, the pedestal 200 includes a pedestal body 202 having a lower surface 230 for mounting on the cooktop surface 114. In another aspect, the pedestal body 202 can include a recessed portion 280 for being received in an opening of the cooktop surface 114 to secure the pedestal to the cooktop surface 114.

(44) The pedestal 200 also includes an upper portion 204 formed on the pedestal body 202. The upper portion 204 can be integrally formed with the body portion 202 or coupled to the body portion 202. The upper portion 204 has a plurality of fingers (e.g., 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E). Each of the plurality of fingers of the upper portion 204 has a lower surface 232, an end surface 234, a pair of side surfaces 236, and an upper surface 208. The upper surface 208 receives or supports the burner body 122. In an aspect, one or more of the lower surface 232, the end surface 234, or the side surfaces 236 can be tapered or curved to improve flow of secondary air along the surface of the pedestal 200.

(45) Referring to FIGS. 9D-9G, the pedestal 200 includes an upper cavity 214 formed in the upper portion 204 and a lower cavity 216 formed in the base portion 202. The upper cavity 214 is formed by a recessed surface 210 and an upper wall surface 212. In this aspect, the recessed surface 210 is angled with respect to a plane of the upper surface 208, or tapered downward toward the lower cavity 216, for example, to minimize or reduce the resistance to the flow of the additional volume of secondary air 80 in the pedestal 200. The upper wall surface 212 also may be angled or tapered with respect to the upper surface 208 and the recessed surface 210.

(46) Alternatively, the recessed surface 210 can be parallel to a plane of the upper surface 208 of the pedestal 200, as shown in the aspect illustrated in FIG. 10. In another aspect, the upper wall surface 212 can be perpendicular to the upper surface 208 and/or the recessed surface 210. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various combinations of perpendicular, parallel, angled, tapered, and/or curved upper wall surfaces and recessed surfaces may be provided.

(47) Referring again to FIGS. 9A-9G, the recessed surface 210 has an opening 222 such that the upper cavity 214 is in fluid communication with the lower cavity 216. The lower cavity 216 is defined by a lower wall surface 218 and an inside bottom surface 220. The inside bottom surface 220 includes a first opening 224 and a second opening 226 that extend through the lower surface 230 of the pedestal 200 such that the lower cavity 216 is in fluid communication with the exterior of the pedestal 200. As shown in FIG. 6, the first opening 224 receives the venturi tube 408 for facilitating flow of the air-gas mixture from the mixing zone 414 through the pedestal 200 and into the burner 120, where the air-gas mixture then exits the burner through the burner ports 124. The second opening 226 facilitates flow of an additional volume of secondary air 80 from under the cooktop surface 114 through lower cavity 216 and upper cavity 214 of the pedestal 200 and out of the slots 240 of the pedestal to the flame 50.

(48) In another aspect, the lower cavity 216 can be formed by the first opening 224 and the second opening 226, as shown in FIG. 10. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various cavity configurations are possible for promoting the flow of the air-gas mixture through the pedestal 200 to the burner 120, and for promoting the flow of an additional volume of secondary air 80 from under the cooktop surface 114 to the flame 50.

(49) Referring again to FIGS. 9A-9G, the pedestal 200 can include an integral ignitor support 206 that extends radially from a center of the star configuration and between two fingers of the star configuration of the pedestal. An ignitor 140 can be mounted on or in the ignitor support 206 for igniting the air-gas mixture of the burner 120. In other aspects, the ignitor support 206 may not be integrally formed with the pedestal 200. In these aspects, the ignitor and/or ignitor support can be separate from the pedestal and disposed adjacent to the pedestal at a height and/or distance that is sufficient for igniting the air-gas mixture from the burner 120.

(50) Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the pedestal 200 can include a plurality of slots 240 formed in the upper portion 204 of the pedestal 200. The slots 240 provide fluid communication between the upper cavity 214 of the pedestal 200 and the exterior of the pedestal 200, which may improve flame production by providing access to an additional volume of secondary air 80 from within the pedestal 200 or under the pedestal 200 and cooktop 114. The slots 240 may be formed in one or more of the surfaces of the pedestal 200, such as the end surface 234 or the side surfaces 236. In other aspects, the slots 240 may be formed in the upper wall surface 212 of the pedestal 200. The slots 240 also may be configured to correspond to the locations of the burner ports 124 of the burner 120, which may further improve flame production.

(51) In other aspects, the slots 240 can be formed in the lower surface 232 (e.g., through the recessed surface 210) and/or the base 202 (e.g., through the lower wall surface 118) of the pedestal 200 to provide access to an additional volume of secondary air 80 from within the pedestal 200 or under the pedestal 200 and cooktop 114. The slots 240 are illustrated as rectangular openings for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill will recognize that the slots 240 formed in the pedestal 200 may have various cross sectional shapes, depths, widths, spacings, and orientations with respect to each other and/or the direction of the fingers 204A-E of the pedestal 200. For example, the slots 240 can be square, curved, oval, circular, or V-groove shaped openings, or other shaped openings. Also, a plurality of holes in the surface or surfaces of the pedestal 200 can be provided in place of the slots 240. The holes can be circular, rectangular, square, or diamond shaped, as well as other suitable shapes.

(52) 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.