Glass package and framework for an oven door of a cooking oven

Abstract

The present invention relates to glass package (10) for an oven door of a cooking oven. The glass package (10) includes an inner glass pane (12) and at least one further glass pane (14, 16), wherein the inner glass pane (12) is provided for an arrangement towards to an oven cavity (46) in an assembled and a closed state of the oven door, while the at least one further glass pane (14, 16) is provided for an arrangement opposite to the oven cavity (46) in the assembled and closed state of the said door. The glass package (10) includes connecting means (18, 20, 28) for a permanent connection between the inner glass pane (12) and the at least one further glass pane (14, 16). The inner glass pane (12) and the at least one further glass pane (14, 16) are arranged plane-parallel to each other. An intermediate space is formed between two adjacent glass panes (12, 14, 16). At least one slot (19) and/or channel (30) enclose or encloses at least partially the circumferential sides of the glass package (10) along a circumferential direction. The width and height of the inner glass pane (12) are bigger than the width and height, respectively, of the at least one further glass pane (14, 16) and of any further component of the glass package (10), wherein the widths and heights of the glass panes (12, 14, 16) relate to the large-area sides of said glass panes (12, 14, 16). Further, the present invention relates to a corresponding framework (32) 25 for an oven door of a cooking oven. Moreover, the present invention relates to an oven door including the glass package (10) and the framework (32). Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for assembling an oven door for a cooking oven.

Claims

1. An oven door for a cooking oven comprising a framework and a glass package; the glass package comprising a first, inner glass pane and a second glass pane disposed plane-parallel and permanently connected to the first glass pane so as to define an intermediate space between said first and second glass panes that is hermetically sealed such that no air flow passes therethrough, and a slot extending along a circumferential side of the glass package, said first glass pane having width and height dimensions greater than any other element of the glass package; the framework comprising a door frame configured to receive the glass package, the door frame having a fastener disposed at and extending along an inner circumferential side thereof such that in an assembled state of said door said fastener circumferentially encloses and cooperates with said second glass pane of said glass package to secure the glass package to the door frame; said glass package being preassembled independently of said framework and then fastened to said door frame of said framework such that in the assembled state of said door no fasteners for securing the glass package to the framework are visible from outside of the door.

2. The oven door of claim 1, said first and second glass panes being permanently connected to one another via an elongate gasket or spacer that extends circumferentially about and defines an outer portion of the intermediate space between said first and second panes, said gasket or spacer being spaced apart from edges of said first and second panes to thereby define said slot between opposing surfaces of said first and second panes and a surface of said gasket or spacer facing away from said intermediate space, said fastener being a lug element that together with the edge of said second glass pane forms a snap-in mechanism that secures the glass package to the framework as the glass package is pressed into the door frame along a direction perpendicular to planes of the first and second glass panes to yield the assembled condition of the door.

3. The oven door of claim 1, said first and second glass panes being permanently connected to one another via a frame that at least partially circumferentially encloses the second glass pane and which extends circumferentially about and defines an outer portion of the intermediate space between said first and second panes, said slot being a channel that is formed in and extends along an outer circumferential side of said frame facing away from said intermediate space, said fastener being a lug element that together with said channel forms a snap-in mechanism that secures the glass package to the framework as the glass package is pressed into the door frame along a direction perpendicular to planes of the first and second glass panes to yield the assembled condition of the door.

4. A glass package for an oven door of a cooking oven, wherein: the glass package includes an inner glass pane and at least one further glass pane, the inner glass pane is provided for an arrangement towards an oven cavity in an assembled and a closed state of the oven door, while the at least one further glass pane is provided for an arrangement opposite to the oven cavity in the assembled and closed state of the said door, the glass package includes connecting means for a permanent connection between the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane, the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane are arranged plane-parallel to each other, an intermediate space is formed between two adjacent glass panes, at least one slot and/or channel enclose or encloses at least partially the circumferential sides of the glass package along a circumferential direction, the width and height of the inner glass pane are bigger than the width and height, respectively, of the at least one further glass pane and of any further component of the glass package, the widths and heights of the glass panes relate to the large-area sides of said glass panes, the connecting means include at least one spacer enclosing at least partially the intermediate space between two adjacent glass panes, wherein the at least one slot encloses an outer circumferential side of said spacer and extends along the circumferential direction of the glass package, and wherein the spacer is spaced apart from edges of said inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane, and the spacer includes at least one channel extending at least partially along an outer circumferential side of said spacer along a circumferential direction of the glass package.

5. The glass package according to claim 4, wherein the at least one slot and/or channel are/is arranged at two or more opposite circumferential sides of the glass package.

6. The glass package according to claim 4, wherein the spacer is glued at the glass panes.

7. The glass package according to claim 6, wherein the spacer is made of at least one plastic material and/or at least one metal material.

8. An oven door for a cooking oven, said oven door comprising a glass package and a framework, wherein: the glass package includes an inner glass pane and at least one further glass pane, the inner glass pane is provided for an arrangement towards an oven cavity in an assembled and a closed state of the oven door, while the at least one further glass pane is provided for an arrangement opposite to the oven cavity in the assembled and closed state of the said door, the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane are arranged plane-parallel to each other, an intermediate space is formed between two adjacent glass panes, at least one slot and/or channel enclose or encloses at least partially circumferential sides of the glass package along a circumferential direction, a width and a height of the inner glass pane are bigger than a width and a height, respectively, of the at least one further glass pane and of any further component of the glass package, wherein said widths and heights of the glass panes relate to large-area sides of said glass panes, the framework includes a front panel and a door frame, the door frame is permanently attached at an inner side of the front panel, wherein said inner side is provided for an arrangement towards the oven cavity in the assembled and a closed state of the oven door, the door frame encloses at least partially an inner portion of the framework, the door frame is provided for receiving the glass package, the door frame includes fastening means at its inner circumferential sides, wherein the fastening means are provided for interacting with one or more of the at least one further glass pane, the inner glass pane of the glass package is provided to be aligned at an inner side of the door frame, wherein said inner side of the door frame is provided for an arrangement towards said oven cavity in the assembled and closed state of the oven door, the fastening means include at least one lug element, wherein said lug element and an edge of one of the at least one further glass pane are provided to form a snap-in mechanism, and/or wherein said lug element and the at least one slot and/or channel of the glass package are provided to form a snap-in mechanism, and the fastening means include at least one frame channel provided to enclose circumferentially one of the at least one further glass pane.

9. A method for assembling the oven door for a cooking oven according to claim 8, said method comprises the following steps: providing the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane, providing connecting means for the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane, permanent assembling of the inner glass pane and the at least one further glass pane to the glass package by the connecting means, providing the framework including the front panel and the door frame attached permanently at the inner side of said front panel, inserting the glass package into the door frame of the framework, connecting the glass package with the framework, wherein one or more of the at least one further glass pane interacts with the fastening means, so that the inner glass pane is aligned at the inner side of said door frame.

Description

(1) The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing, in which

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of a glass package for an oven door according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the glass package for the oven door according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the glass package for the oven door according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of the oven door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein said oven door is in a state before being assembled,

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of the oven door, an oven cavity and a front frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the oven door is in an assembled and a closed state,

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the oven door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of the oven door, the oven cavity and the front frame according to a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the glass package is in a mounted state at said oven door.

(9) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of a glass package 10 for an oven door according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The glass package 10 includes three glass panes 12, 14 and 16 arranged plane-parallel to each other. In general, the glass package 10 includes at least two glass panes.

(10) The glass package 10 includes an inner glass pane 12, an intermediate glass pane 14 and an outer glass pane 16. In an assembled state of the glass package 10 at the oven door and in a closed state of said oven door, the inner glass pane 12 is arranged closer to an oven cavity than the intermediate glass pane 14 and again the intermediate glass pane 14 is arranged closer to the oven cavity than the outer glass pane 16. The inner glass pane 12 is marginally bigger than the intermediate glass pane 14. In turn, the intermediate glass pane 14 is marginally bigger than the outer glass pane 16.

(11) In this example, the thicknesses of the outer glass pane 12, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the inner glass pane 16 are substantially equal. Further, the distance between the inner glass pane 12 and the intermediate glass pane 14 is bigger than the distance between the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In this example, the distance between the outer glass pane 12 and the intermediate glass pane 14 is substantially the same as the thicknesses of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16.

(12) The adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16 are fixed together by gaskets 18. The inner glass pane 12 and intermediate glass pane 14 are fixed together by at least one gasket 18. In a similar way, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16 are fixed together by at least one further gasket 18. The gaskets 18 extend along an outer portion of the intermediate space between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The gaskets 18 enclose an inner intermediate space between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. Further, the gaskets 18 are spaced apart from the edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The distances between the gaskets 18 and the adjacent edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16 are about the same as the distances between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. For example, the gasket 18 may be a glue silicone strip.

(13) For example, the inner intermediate space enclosed by at least one gasket 18 is hermetic closed, so that no air flow occurs in said inner intermediate space. Alternatively, the inner intermediate space may be formed as an open space. The hermetic closed inner intermediate space between two adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16, in particular between the inner glass pane 12 and intermediate glass pane 14, is advantageous in view of energy consumption. In contrast, the open inner intermediate space between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16, in particular between the intermediate glass pane 14 and outer glass pane 16, allows a lower temperature at a front side of the oven door. Further, the hermetic closed inner intermediate space may be vacuum-sealed or filled with inert gas.

(14) The glass package 10 is circumferentially enclosed by two slots 19. The slots 19 are formed in an outer intermediate space between two adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. Since the gaskets 18 are spaced apart from the edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16, the slots 19 are formed by the outer portions of two opposite surfaces of the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16 and by the outer circumferential sides of the gaskets 18. The side walls of each slot 19 are formed by the outer portions of two opposite surfaces of the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The bottom wall of each slot 19 is formed by the outer circumferential side of the gasket 18. In other words, the intermediate space between two adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16 is separated into the inner and outer intermediate space by the at least one gasket 18, wherein the at least one gasket 18 encloses at least partially the inner intermediate space, while the outer intermediate space forms the slot 19.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the glass package 10 for an oven door according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The glass package 10 of the second embodiment includes also the inner glass pane 12, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16. The inner glass pane 12, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16 of the second embodiment have the same geometric relationships as those of the first embodiment. The distances between the glass panes 12, 14 and 16 of the first and second embodiments are substantially the same.

(16) Instead of the gaskets 18 of the first embodiment, the glass package 10 according to the second embodiment includes spacers 20 between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The spacers 20 allow also a hermetic closed inner intermediate space as well as an open inner intermediate space between two of the adjacent panes 12, 14 and 16. The hermetic closed inner intermediate space may be vacuum-sealed or filled with inert gas. Further, the spacers 20 are spaced apart from the edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The distance between the spacers 20 and the adjacent edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16 are about the same as the distances between the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. The spacers 20 may be glued onto the glass panes 12, 14 and 16.

(17) The glass package 10 of the second embodiment is also circumferentially enclosed by two slots 19 formed in the outer intermediate space between two adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16. Since the spacers 20 are spaced apart from the edges of the glass panes 12, 14 and 16, the slots 19 are formed by the outer portions of two opposite surfaces of the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16 and by the outer circumferential sides of the spacers 20. The side walls of each slot 19 are formed by the outer portions of two opposite surfaces of the adjacent glass panes 12, 14 and 16, while the bottom wall of each slot 19 is formed by the outer circumferential side of the spacer 20. Additionally, the spacer 20 may include a channel at its outer circumferential side, so that the cross-section of the slot 19 is extended by the cross-section of said channel.

(18) An inner side distance 22 is defined between an outer circumferential edge of the inner glass pane 12 and the spacer 20 between said inner glass pane 12 and the intermediate glass pane 14. In a similar way, an intermediate side distance 24 is defined between an outer circumferential edge of the intermediate glass pane 14 and the spacer 20 between the inner glass pane 12 and the intermediate glass pane 14. Further, an outer side distance 26 is defined between an outer circumferential edge of the outer glass pane 16 and the spacer 20 between said outer glass pane 16 and the intermediate glass pane 14. Said side distances 22, 24 and 26 correspond with the depths of one of the side walls of the slots 19. Preferably, the inner side distance 22, the intermediate side distance 24 and the outer side distance 26 are between 2 mm and 20 mm.

(19) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the glass package 10 for an oven door according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The glass package 10 of the third embodiment includes also the inner glass pane 12, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16. The inner glass pane 12, the intermediate glass pane 14 and the outer glass pane 16 of the third embodiment have the same geometric relationships as those of the first and second embodiments. The distances between the glass panes 12, 14 and 16 of the first, second and third embodiments are substantially the same.

(20) Instead of the gaskets 18 and spacers 20 of the first and second embodiments, respectively, the glass package 10 according to the third embodiment includes a frame 28 aligned at an outer side of the inner glass pane 12 and enclosing the intermediate glass pane 14 and outer glass pane 16. The outer side of the inner glass pane 12 is defined as the side opposite to the oven cavity in the mounted state. The frame 28 may be formed as a single-piece part or may include several frame parts. The circumferential side or sides of the further glass panes 14 and 16 may be overmoulded by the frame 28. Alternatively, the frame 28 may be disassembled from the glass panes 12, 14 and 16.

(21) The frame 28 allows also a hermetic closed inner intermediate space as well as an open inner intermediate space between adjacent panes 12, 14 and 16. Moreover, the hermetic closed inner intermediate space may be vacuum-sealed or filled with inert gas.

(22) The glass package 10 of the third embodiment is circumferentially enclosed by two channels 30. The channels 30 are formed in an outer circumferential side of the frame 28. The channels 30 enclose at least partially the frame 28 along its circumferential sides.

(23) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of an oven door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein said oven door is in a state before being assembled. The oven door comprises a framework 32 and the glass package 10. In this example, the oven door comprises the glass package 10 according to the second embodiment. Further, the oven door is also suitable for the glass packages 10 according to the first and third embodiments.

(24) The framework 32 includes a front panel 34, a door frame 36, a door handle 40, fasting elements 42 for said door handle 40 and at least one front cover 44. The door frame 36 is permanently attached at an inner side of the front panel 34. The inner side of the front panel 34 is defined as the side towards to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. The door handle 40 is attached at an outer side of the front panel 34 by the fasting elements 42. The outer side of the front panel 34 is defined as the side opposite to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. In this example, the door handle 40 is attached at the outer side of the front panel 34 by two fasting elements 42, wherein said fasting elements 42 are arranged at the end portion of the elongated door handle 40. The front cover 44 is also attached at the outer side of the front panel 34 and covers partially the outer side of said front panel 34.

(25) The door frame 36 is provided for receiving the glass package 10, so that the door frame 36 encloses at least partially said glass package 10. The glass package 10 is partially inserted into the door frame 36 by a movement perpendicular to the plane of the glass package 10 and the front panel 34 of the framework 32. The direction of movement of the glass package 10 relative to the framework 32 is represented by an arrow 50.

(26) The door frame 36 includes one or more lug elements 38 arranged at an inner circumferential side of said door frame 36. The lug element 38 interacts with an inner edge of the intermediate pane 14. The inner edge of the intermediate pane 14 is defined as the edge towards to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. The lug element 38 and the inner edge of the intermediate pane 14 form a snap-in mechanism. In this example, the door frame 36 is similar as an L-shaped or a G-shaped profile part.

(27) The width and height of the inner glass pane 12 are at least as big as the width and height, respectively, of the door frame 36 of the framework 32. Thus, the inner glass pane 12 covers completely the door frame 36 of the framework 32.

(28) FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of the oven door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the oven door is in an assembled and a closed state.

(29) In the assembled state of the oven door, the glass package 10 is received by the door frame 36 of the framework 34. The lug element 38 interacts with the inner edge of the intermediate pane 14. The lug element 38 is aligned at an inner side of the intermediate pane 14. The inner side of the intermediate pane 14 is defined as the side towards to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. Further, an inner side of the door frame 36 is aligned at an outer side of the inner glass pane 12. The inner side of the door frame 36 is defined as the side towards to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. The outer side of the inner glass pane 12 is defined as the side opposite to the oven cavity in the mounted and closed states of the oven door. Thus, a part of the door frame 36 is stably received by the slot 19 between the inner glass pane 12 and intermediate glass pane 14, wherein said part of the door frame 36 includes the lug element 38.

(30) In FIG. 5 the oven door is in an assembled and a closed state. The oven door is arranged at a cooking oven including the oven cavity 46 and a front frame 48. The front frame 48 of the cooking oven encloses the oven cavity 46. A door gasket 52 is provided for filling a gap between the oven cavity 46 and the front frame 48. Further, the door gasket 52 is provided for filling a gap between the oven door at the one side and the oven cavity 46 and the front frame 48 on the other side.

(31) FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the oven door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(32) The oven door is assembled, i.e. the glass package 10 is received by the door frame 36 of the framework 34. The door frame 36 is attached at an inner side of the front panel 34. The door handle 40 is attached at the outer side of the front panel 34 by the two fasting elements 42. In this example, the fasting elements 42 are arranged at the end portions of the elongated door handle 40. The at least one front cover 44 is also attached at the outer side of the front panel 34 and covers partially the outer side of said front panel 34. In this example, two front covers 44 are attached at the outer side of the front panel 34, wherein each front cover 44 covers a lateral portion of the outer side of the front panel 34.

(33) The width and height of the inner glass pane 12 are at least as big as the width and height, respectively, of the door frame 36 of the framework 32, so that the inner glass pane 12 covers completely the door frame 36 of the framework 32.

(34) FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic partial sectional top view of the oven door according to a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the oven door is in an assembled and a closed state. The further embodiment in FIG. 7 is similar to the preferred embodiment in FIG. 5.

(35) While the door frame 36 in FIG. 5 is similar as an L-shaped or a G-shaped profile part, the door frame 36 in FIG. 7 is formed as at least one solid part. Said door frame 36 is permanently attached at an inner side of the front panel 34. Instead of the lug element 38, the door frame 36 includes a frame channel 54. The frame channel 54 receives the outer circumferential portion of the intermediate glass pane 14. The oven door may be assembled by moving the glass package 10 plane-parallel to the front panel 34 of the framework 32, wherein the glass package 10 is moved along the longitudinal axes of the frame channel 54 and of the corresponding edge of the glass pane 14.

(36) The width and height of the inner glass pane 12 are at least as big as the width and height, respectively, of the door frame 36 of the framework 32. Thus, also the inner glass pane 12 of the further embodiment covers completely the door frame 36 of the framework 32.

(37) The present invention provides the glass package 10 and the framework 32 for the oven door, which allows simple manufacturing of the oven door by low costs. The glass package 10 can be at first preassembled and then inserted into the framework of the oven door. The structure of the glass package 10 allows an automatic preassembling of said glass package 10. Further, the structures of the glass package 10 and the framework 32 allow automatic assembling of the oven door by inserting the glass package 10 into the framework 32. Moreover, the present invention allows an easy disassembling of the oven door.

(38) The present invention allows different kinds of glass packages 10. Said kinds of glass packages 10 may include different numbers of glass panes 12, 14 and 16. For example, two, three or four glass panes are possible. Further, glass packages 10 with different intermediate spaces are also possible. Moreover, different positions of the spacers 20 related to the oven cavity 46 are possible. Therefore, the gaskets 18, the spacers 20 and/or the gluing strip may be arranged in the area of the glass package 10. Additionally, the present invention avoids visible holding elements for the glass package 10. At last, the inventive oven door is easy to clean.

(39) Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(40) 10 glass package 12 inner glass pane 14 intermediate glass pane 16 outer glass pane 18 gasket 19 slot 20 spacer 22 inner side distance 24 intermediate side distance 26 outer side distance 28 frame 30 channel 32 framework 34 front panel 36 door frame 38 lug element 40 door handle 42 fastening element 44 front cover 46 oven cavity 48 front frame 50 assembling direction 52 oven gasket 54 frame channel