Abstract
A cooking apparatus with a cooktop composed of a glass or glass-ceramic material is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a heating element and a lighting element that are disposed in the region below the underside of the cooktop. The heating element is applied to the underside of the cooktop indirectly by a pressing device or directly by pre-stressing one or a plurality of spring elements. The lighting element and the heating element are disposed on a common support section of the pressing device in such a way that they are adjustable with an oscillation of the cooktop.
Claims
1. A cooking apparatus comprising: a cooktop of a glass or a glass-ceramic material, the cooktop having an underside; a plurality of heating elements; alighting element; a spring-action support; and a light-scattering element connected to the underside of the cooktop, either adhesively or via pressing forces, wherein the light-scattering element causes a widening of an observation angle and a reduction in a parallax shift for a user, wherein the heating elements and the lighting element are each mounted on top of the spring-action support so that the heating elements and the lighting element are on the same plane, wherein the heating elements contact the underside of the cook-top, either directly or indirectly, and there is a gap of between 0.2 mm to 10 mm between the lighting element and the underside of the cook-top, and wherein the lighting element and the heating elements are adjusted by a deflection or oscillation of the cooktop.
2. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the cooktop deflects or oscillates, the spring-action support deflects or oscillates accordingly, so that the gap between the lighting element and the underside of the cooktop does not change.
3. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring-action support comprises a spring that is deflected with the adjustment of the lighting element and the heating elements.
4. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring-action support is elastic.
5. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting element is connected to the spring-action support by a spring.
6. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements are in a row on the spring-action support.
7. The cooking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring-action support is a plurality of supports, which extend underneath the cooktop.
8. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing that receives the heating elements and the lighting element.
9. The cooking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spring-action support is a disk, and comprises at least one uptake formed laterally for the lighting element.
10. The cooking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heating elements and the lighting element are electrified at a common electrical connection on the spring-action support.
11. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are two heating elements, and wherein the lighting element is between the two heating elements.
12. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting, element comprises a lighting source and a light guide having a light guide segment, into which the lighting source couples light, and the light guide segment has an emission region, over which the light of the lighting source can be emitted onto the underside of the cooktop.
13. The cooking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the light guide segment comprises two light guide segments that transition into one another via a bend.
14. The cooking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the emission region is formed a convex surface or a planar surface of the light guide segment.
15. The cooking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the light guide segment is a flat surface element.
16. The cooking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the underside of the cooktop has a knobbed structure, and the apparatus further comprises a filler layer of transparent material on the underside at least in portions of the emission region.
17. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooktop has a portion with an average transmission that is >0.1% for at least one of the spectral regions from 420 to 500 nm, 500 to 550 nm, and 550 to 640 nm.
18. The cooking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the portion has a coating.
19. The cooking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the average transmission is >0.1%, in each case, for each of the spectral regions.
20. The cooking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the average transmission is >0.4%.
21. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooktop has a portion with a maximum transmission that is <50% in the spectral region from 400 to 750 nm and <8% in the spectral region from 450 to 600 nm.
22. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical compensation filter between an upper side of the cooktop and the lighting element.
23. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light-scattering element between the lighting element and an upper side of the cooktop.
24. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooktop comprises a coating on at least one of an upper side and the underside.
25. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements or the lighting element is in heat-conducting contact with a heat sink, and wherein the heat sink is on the common support section.
26. A cooking apparatus comprising: a cooktop of a glass or a glass-ceramic material, the cooktop having an underside; a plurality of heating elements; a lighting element; a spring-action support; and a light-scattering element connected to the underside of the cooktop, either adhesively or via pressing forces, wherein the light-scattering element causes a widening of an observation angle and a reduction in a parallax shift for a user, wherein the plurality of heating elements and the lighting element are each mounted on the spring-action support so that the heating elements and the lighting element are on the same plane, wherein the heating elements contact the underside of the cooktop, and there is a gap between the lighting element and the underside of the cook-top, wherein the lighting element and the heating elements move with a deflection or oscillation of the cooktop, wherein the heating elements are in a row on the spring-action support, and wherein the spring-action support is a plurality of supports, which extend underneath the cooktop.
27. A cooking apparatus comprising: a cooktop of a glass or a glass-ceramic material, wherein the cooktop has an underside; a heating element; a lighting element; and a spring-action support, wherein the heating element and the lighting element are each mounted to the spring-action support so that the heating element and the lighting element are on the same plane, wherein the heating element contacts the underside of the cooktop, either directly or indirectly, and there is a gap of between 0.2 mm to 10 mm between the lighting element and the underside of the cooktop, and wherein the lighting element and the heating element are adjusted by a deflection or oscillation of the cooktop.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be explained in more detail below based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Herein:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a cooking apparatus in lateral view and in partial section in a symbolized representation;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a detail of a cooking apparatus having a support section and a lighting element mounted thereon in lateral view and in section;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a section detail labeled by III-III in FIG. 2;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a partial representation of a cooking apparatus in symbolized representation and lateral view;
(6) FIGS. 5-8 show different representations of lighting elements;
(7) FIGS. 9a-10e show different variations of embodiment of the association of lighting elements with heating elements;
(8) FIG. 11 shows a support section for a cooking apparatus with a plurality of heating elements in top view;
(9) FIG. 12 shows a detail taken from FIG. 11 in schematic lateral view and in section;
(10) FIG. 13 shows a support section having a plurality of heating elements;
(11) FIGS. 14-14b show a support for a heating element in different views;
(12) FIG. 15 shows a grid-like arrangement of supports with heating elements and lighting elements;
(13) FIG. 16 shows a cooking apparatus with a masking for limiting the observation angle of a lighting effect; and
(14) FIG. 17 shows the cooking apparatus according to FIG. 16 with a scattering element for widening the observation angle by introducing a light-scattering plane onto the underside of the cooktop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(15) FIG. 1 shows a cooktop 10, which is preferably designed as colored glass ceramics. It has an upper side 11 and an underside 12. A coating 13, which prevents a viewing onto the components disposed in the region below the underside 12 of the cooktop, is introduced in the region of the underside 12. The coating 13 in part has discontinuities 14, which serve as light passages. Therefore, the coating 13 forms a masking. The cooktop 10 is formed of a transparent glass material or glass ceramics. It can be colored in order to achieve appropriate esthetic optics. In this case, the coloring can also be selected such that a view through the glass ceramics is substantially prevented. In this case, coating 13 on the back side can be omitted. Heating elements 20 are disposed in the region below the underside 12 of the cooktop 10. A heating element 20 having an induction coil 21 is shown as an example in FIG. 1. The heating element 20 is mounted on a support section 42 of a pressing device 40. The support section 42 is supported on a housing 50 via spring elements 41. The support section 42 in the present case is supported by means of the spring elements 41 against a housing base 51 of the housing 50.
(16) In addition, lighting elements 30 are mounted on the support section 42. The lighting elements 30 are disposed so that a spacing is formed between the underside 12 of the cooktop 10 and the lighting element 30. Preferably, the spacing is selected here in the range between 0.2 and 10 mm, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm, particularly in the range between 0.5 and 2 mm. The lighting elements 30 are positioned so that their emission region 36 is disposed in the region of the discontinuity 14 of the coating 13. While the left lighting element 30 inputs its lighting effect directly into the cooktop 10 via the emission region 36, in the case of the right lighting element 30, an optical compensation filter and/or an immersion layer 31 is disposed between the underside 12 of the cooktop 10 and the lighting element 30. The lighting effect of the lighting element 30 can be changed with the optical compensation filter or the immersion layer 31.
(17) The cooktop 10 is elastically bonded on the edge into a frame or is adhered with mounting brackets, which are joined to the housing 50 by screws, locks, or the like. In this case, the arrangement is such that the cooktop 10 is supported spring-elastically relative to the housing 50. Now, if an impact load acts on the upper side 11 of the cooktop 10, then the cooktop is flexed and can oscillate relative to the housing. With this oscillating process, the heating element 20, which is pressed against the underside 12 of the cooktop 10 is also deflected. Since the lighting elements 30 are positioned in fixed arrangement relative to the heating element 20 on the support section 42, they oscillate back along with the heating element 20 against the pre-stressing of the springs 41. In this way, the support section 42 is adjusted against the spring elements 41 in the direction of the housing depth. As a consequence of the distancing of the lighting elements 30 relative to the underside 12 of the cooktop 10 and with the deflectable support section 42, an impacting of the underside 12 on the lighting elements 30 is reliably prevented. Therefore, a damaging of the lighting element(s) 30 can be excluded in practical terms. According to the invention, the support section 42 itself may have a spring effect. In this case, the use of additional springs can be omitted.
(18) An exemplary embodiment for attaching the lighting element 30 to the support section 42 is shown in FIG. 2. Here, a holder 60 is used, which has a fastening piece 61, which can be designed, for example, in the form of a printed circuit board. A retaining piece 62 is attached to the fastening piece 61. In addition, the fastening piece 61 bears a lighting means 33 of the lighting element 30. The fastening piece 61 is equipped with a contact region that maintains an electrical contacting relative to the voltage supply of the lighting element 30 in the region of the underside of the support section 42. For this purpose, the support section 42 is provided with a discontinuity 43, through which the fastening piece 61 projects. A connection 63 is provided for attaching the holder 60 to the support section 42. For example, the support section 42 can be composed of a sheet metal. The connection 63, by which the retaining piece 62 is joined to the surface of the support section 42 can be made, for example, by welding, a screw connection, or bonding. The retaining piece 62 forms an uptake into which a light guide of the lighting element 30 can be inserted. For this purpose, the light guide has a coupling piece 32, which is introduced into the retaining piece 62. A light guide segment 34 connects to the coupling piece 32. As can be recognized in FIG. 2, the light guide segment 34 of the lighting element 30 is formed by a rod-shaped material with circular cross section. For example, the lighting element 30 can be a glass rod. On the front side, the lighting means 33 couples its light into the coupling piece 32, and from there the light reaches into the region of the light guide segment 34. In the region facing the underside 12 of the cooktop 10, the lighting element 30 has its emission region 36. Here, the light of the lighting means 33 is decoupled from the light guide segment 34. In this case, the decoupling can be carried out, for example, via suitable measures, e.g., an etching of the surface of the light guide segment 34. It is also conceivable to provide light scattering structures on the upper side of the light guide segment 34. It is also provided that the light decoupling can be conducted via a scattering reflectance layer on the side of the light guide 30 facing away from the underside of the cooktop. The scattering reflectance layer here can be produced by a scattering foil or film or roughening the surface of the light guide or printing in the desired portion of the light guide.
(19) FIG. 3 shows two different variations of a holder 60 for attaching a lighting element 30. While the fastening piece 61 of the holder 60 on the left clearly projects beyond the retaining piece 62, in the case of the holder 60 on the right, a flattening 64 is provided on the fastening piece 61, so that the retaining piece 62 preferably ends flush with the upper side of the fastening piece 61 or is only a short distance from the upper side of the fastening piece 61. The distance between the underside 12 of the cooktop 10 and the lighting element 30 can be reduced in order to provide an improved light output using the variation of a holder 60 shown at the right in FIG. 3.
(20) FIG. 4 shows another variation of a holder 60. Here, the basic construction of the holder is again selected similar to that in FIGS. 2 and 3. The holder 60 again has a fastening piece 61 with an attached retaining piece 62. The support section 42 possesses a bend in the region where the connection 63 can be made to the retaining piece 62. A light guide of the lighting element 30, in the shape of a bent glass rod, a plastic rod, or a rod composed of another transparent material, is inserted into the retaining piece 62 of the holder 60. The light guide has two light guide segments 34, 35, which are disposed at an angle to one another and which are connected as one piece via an arcuate bend 37. Whereas in the embodiment variation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the central longitudinal axis of the coupling piece 32 was aligned horizontally, in the case of FIG. 4, the longitudinal axis of the coupling piece 32 is aligned vertically to the cooktop plane. With this configuration, the lighting means 33, in particular, can be held underneath the support section 42, whereby an additional distance to the heating element and a thermal insulation are achieved. The service life of the lighting means 33 can be increased thereby.
(21) In principle, a construction similar to that in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5. Unlike FIG. 4, a rod-shaped light guide is not employed here, but rather a light guide in the shape of a bent plate, for example, composed of glass or plastic. Again, in this case, two light guide segments 34, 35 transition into one another via a bend 37. On its upper side, the light guide segment 35 forms an emission region 36 in the shape of a rectangular or square surface, whereby the latter can also be structured, depending on the scattering or reflectance regions that are provided.
(22) FIG. 6 shows a light guide of a lighting element 30 in the shape of a planar plate, which is set up by its coupling piece 32 in the holder 60. On its upper side, the plate forms an emission region 36 by means of which the light coupled from the lighting means is emitted. Corresponding to the plate-shaped geometry of the light guide according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the holder is also equipped with a corresponding long, extended retaining piece 62. Here, the retaining piece is formed of 2 flat surface elements running parallel at a distance from one another, between which, the coupling piece 32 is enclosed. Preferably, a plurality of lighting means is disposed next to one another in the direction of the lengthwise extension of the retaining piece 62. In this case, the lighting means 33 are preferably disposed at equal distances from one another in order to be able to achieve a uniform illumination. The equalization of the illumination can be still further improved by introducing a scattering surface at the surface of the light guide facing the lighting means. The scattering surface can be produced by roughening or printing, or in a particularly advantageous way, by using a special adhesive tape, which is sold by the 3M Company as Uniformity Tape.
(23) FIGS. 7a to 7i show different embodiments of rod-shaped or bar-shaped light guides of a lighting element 30, wherein two light guide segments 34, 35 standing at an angle to one another are used in each case, the segments being joined together as one part via a bend.
(24) In the embodiment variation according to FIG. 7a, a circular cross section is selected, which makes possible the decoupling of light onto the side of the light guide facing away from the cooktop via a scattering or reflectance region. In the example of embodiment according to FIG. 7b, a light guide with a rectangular or square cross section is selected for this purpose. FIG. 7c shows a similar cross-sectional configuration of the light guide. The bend 37 is selected in this case such that the light guide segments 34, 35 stand at a small angle to one another. However, they can also be arranged parallel to one another. In the example of embodiment according to FIG. 7d, a rectangular cross section is selected for the light guide, wherein the height of the light guide is clearly greater than the width of the light guide. FIG. 7e shows an embodiment of a light guide corresponding to FIG. 4. FIG. 7f shows an embodiment of a light guide similar to that of FIG. 7c, but with a round rod-shaped cross section. FIG. 7g shows an embodiment variation of a cylindrical light guide. FIG. 7h shows a light guide which is configured similar to that of FIG. 7d, but has a lower height. 7i shows a light guide with an arcuate course.
(25) According to FIGS. 7j and 7k, light guides are also conceivable that are configured according to FIG. 6. In this way, the dimension in the longitudinal direction can vary in order to be able to create emission regions 36 of different length.
(26) FIGS. 7l and 7m show light guides of a lighting element 30 similar to the example of embodiment according to FIG. 5. These representations illustrate that the dimension of the light guide in the directions of both width and depth may vary for variation in the geometry of the emission surface.
(27) In FIGS. 7n to 7p, light guides of a lighting element 30 are disclosed, in which a plurality of light guide segments 34, 35, 38 and 39 are joined in one piece with one another. In this case, FIG. 7n shows an arcuate geometry of the light guide that is formed by a round rod. FIG. 7o shows an arcuate geometry that has a rectangular cross section. 7p shows a light guide configuration in which an additional light guide segment 39 terminates in the center region between the two light guide segments 34 and 38. In the embodiment examples according to FIGS. 7n to 7p, lighting means 33 can be provided on the free end regions of the light guide segments 34, 38 and 39 in order to couple their light into the light guide.
(28) Similarly to FIG. 5, FIG. 7q again shows a plate-shaped light guide, wherein the light guide segment 35 has a concave geometry 30.1 on its free end in order to be able to visualize an arcuate geometry, for example the termination region of a heating element 20.
(29) FIG. 7r shows a light guide which is formed by a plate-shaped blank and two leg-like light guide segments 34 and 38 that transition via bends 37 into the light guide segment 35. The light guide segment 35 in this case forms a large-area emission surface 36.
(30) FIG. 7s discloses a light guide that has two plate-like light guide segments 34, 35, which transition into one another via a bend 37. In this case, the light guide segments 34, 35 are set at a small angle to one another or preferably are disposed parallel to one another. FIG. 7t discloses a variant that is similar to FIG. 7r, but in which a lesser width of the light guide segment 35 is selected, so that a correspondingly narrower emission surface 36 results FIG. 7u shows an example of embodiment of a light guide that has plate-like light guide segments 34, 35 and 38 that transition into one another via the bends 37. Preferably, the light guide segments 34, 38 are aligned parallel to one another. The light guide segment 35 is provided with a discontinuity or passage 30.2, which has a circular configuration, preferably corresponding to the geometry of the heating element 20. The passage 30.2 is bounded by the geometric edge 30.1.
(31) In the case of the embodiment examples of light guides shown in FIGS. 4-7u, the emission regions 36 are preferably disposed parallel to the underside 12 of the cooktop 10. Of course, the emission surfaces 36 can also be at an angle to the underside 12 of the cooktop 10.
(32) FIG. 8 discloses an example of embodiment of a lighting element 30 having a two-part shape of the light guide. In this case, first a light guide element in angular geometry is formed in one piece by the two light guide segments 34 and 35, and the bend 37. The light guide segment 34 is fastened to a holder 60, for example, corresponding to FIG. 2. The light guide segment 35 is now inserted in a holder 70. The holder 70 supports a light guide segment 38 designed as a rod profile. The light guide segments 35 and 38 are positioned in the holder 70 so that the light of the lighting element 33 coming from the light guide segment 35 can be coupled into the light guide segment 38.
(33) Different variations of embodiment of the invention are shown in FIGS. 9a to 9e. Thus, in these illustrations, a circular heating element 20 is symbolized, to which the emission regions 36 from lighting elements 30 are assigned. FIG. 9a shows four arcuate emission regions 36, which enclose the heating element 20, with the use of the light guide according to FIG. 7i. FIG. 9b likewise shows two arcuate emission regions 36 that enclose the heating element 20, with the use of the light guide according to FIG. 7i. FIG. 9c shows four linear emission regions 36, which enclose the heating element 20, wherein the light guide is used according to FIG. 7k. FIG. 9d shows four punctiform emission regions 36 from lighting means 33 that are configured with the use of the light guide according to FIG. 7g. An emission region 36 that can be configured with the use of the light guide according to FIG. 7u is shown in FIG. 9e.
(34) FIGS. 10a to 10c illustrate that a plurality of heating elements 20 can be installed on a support section 42. Here, different emission regions 36 can be assigned to the support section 42, in order to be able to optically label either the boundary of the support section 42 and/or to be able to optically define individual heating elements 20. As FIG. 10a shows, not only circular heating elements 20 in top view are usable, but also any other geometries of heating elements 20, for example, oval heating elements 20. FIG. 10c shows that several rows of heating elements 20 can be installed on a support section 42. FIG. 10d shows the rectangular configuration of a heating element 20 mounted on a support section 42. In FIG. 10a, light guides are used according to FIG. 7h or 7e; in FIG. 10b, according to FIG. 7k or FIG. 2; in FIG. 10c, according to FIG. 7k or FIG. 2; and in FIG. 10c, according to FIG. 7m. In expanding the structure of a light guide according to FIG. 7u, FIG. 10e shows a light guide, in which several passages 30.2 can also be introduced into the light guide segment 35.
(35) FIG. 11 shows a cooking apparatus for an induction surface application, in which a plurality of induction coils 21 of heating elements 20 are mounted on a support section 42. As FIG. 12 shows, lighting elements with light guides according to FIG. 7g can be disposed between the induction coils 21. Alternatively, according to FIG. 13, a linear labeling of the induction coils 21 can also be used with lighting means having light guides, for example, according to FIGS. 7j and 7k.
(36) FIG. 14 shows a disk-like support 22. As FIGS. 14a and 14b show, this support takes up an induction coil 21. Projections that form uptakes 23 are formed on the support 22. Lighting means 33, which have an emission surface 36 directly for the formation of a lighting element 30 and, for example, can be designed as LEDs, are inserted into the uptakes 23 (see FIG. 14b). Alternatively, the lighting elements 30 according to FIG. 14a can also have a light guide, for example, according to FIG. 7g, whereby a lighting means 33, for example, an LED, is then installed in the uptake 23. The support 22 can form the support section 42, on which the spring elements 41 are supported. However, it is also conceivable that several supports 22 with their heating elements 20 are installed jointly on a support section 42, which is then supported in turn via spring elements 41. In this case, the supports 22 are preferably disposed in rows for a construction that is optimized for oscillations, in which it is particularly preferred that the supports 22 of one row are each mounted on a common support section 42, for example, in the form of a crossbar.
(37) FIG. 15 symbolizes such a row-shaped arrangement of the supports 22 and thus of the heating elements 20. Correspondingly, three (or more) support sections 42 that are disposed next to one another and that are then each joined with the housing 50 of the cooking apparatus could find use. As FIGS. 15 and 14 depict, the uptakes 23 or the lighting elements 30 are arranged distributed at the same angular distance a to one another over the periphery of the support 22. Preferably, three uptakes 23 are provided, which are each disposed offset by 120 to one another. In this way, as FIG. 15 shows, a compact assignment of the individual heating elements 20 to one another can be achieved, and a uniform illumination of the intermediate regions between the supports 22 is made possible. Depending on the arrangement of the coils, it may also be useful to not always equip all three uptakes with lighting elements for all of the coils. It is also possible to clip the uptakes 23 onto the support and not to fix them in place, whereby a still greater flexibility arises in the arrangement of the lighting elements.
(38) FIGS. 16 and 17 show the cooking apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a modified embodiment, whereby, in order to improve the lighting effect on the underside 12 of the cooktop 10, a light-scattering element 70, in particular a light-scattering plane in the form of a roughening, organic or ceramic coating, a scattering foil, a scattering glass or ceramic plate, or a scattering plastic film can be introduced. The indirect support for the light-scattering layer can be joined to the underside either with an adhesive layer or self-adhesively, or loosely via pressing forces. In particular, in combination with locally limited lighting effects, which are limited, for example, via a masking on the underside 12 of the cooktop (for example, coating 13 with discontinuities 14; see above), the light-scattering plane brings about a widening of the observation angle 1 to provide 2 and a reduction in the parallax shift, whereby the recognition of this lighting effect is essentially improved for the user B.
