Cooking hob with once-piece fastening elements and a one-piece fastening element for a cooking hob

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking hob (10) with at least two one-piece fastening elements (20) arranged at outer portions of the cooking hob (10). The fastening element (20) comprises a first portion (22) being permanently connected or connectable to an upper part (12) of the cooking hob (10). The fastening element (20) comprises a second portion (24) being detachably connected or connectable to a lower part (14) of the cooking hob (10), so that the upper part (12) and the lower part (14) form the cooking hob (10). The second portion (24) of the fastening element (20) comprises at least one spring element (26) at a sidewall of the cooking hob (10) in order to clamp the cooking hob (10) within a cutout (34) enclosing circumferentially the cooking hob (10). At least two fastening elements (20) are arranged at opposite sidewalls of the cooking hob (10). Further, the present invention relates to a one-piece fastening element.

Claims

1. A one-piece fastening element for a cooking hob, comprising: a first arm permanently attached to an underside of an upper part of the cooking hob; a second arm detachably connectable to a sidewall of a lower part of the cooking hob, the second arm extending along the sidewall of the lower part of the cooking hob when connected to the upper part of the cooking hob, wherein the second arm comprises: two end portions, each having a spring element biased away from the sidewall of the lower part of the cooking hob in order to clamp the cooking hob within a cutout enclosing circumferentially the cooking hob, and a middle portion separated from and between the two end portions, wherein the first arm of the fastening element and the second arm of the fastening element are formed at about 90 degrees and together form the one-piece fastening element, and when fastened together by the one-piece fastening element, the upper part and the lower part form the cooking hob.

2. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the first arm of the fastening element is glued to the underside of the upper part of the cooking hob.

3. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the first arm of the fastening element comprises a bending for supporting at least a section of a circumferential side of the upper part of the cooking hob.

4. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the second arm comprises an aperture with which a lug element on the sidewall of the lower part of the cooking hob is engageable.

5. The fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements are U-shaped and/or leaf-springs.

6. The fastening element according to claim 4, wherein the middle portion of the second arm further comprises a buckled appendix acting as a grip such that the middle portion is extendable away from the sidewall by pulling on the buckled appendix, thereby disengaging the lug element from the aperture.

7. The fastening element according to claim 4, wherein the upper part of the cooking hob is a glass-ceramic panel.

8. A cooking hob comprising: at least two fastening elements according to claim 1; the upper part of the cooking hob; and the lower part of the cooking hob, wherein, a first fastening element and a second fastening element of the at least two fastening elements are permanently attached to the upper part of the cooking hob such that the second arms of the first and second fastening elements are detachably connectable to opposite sidewalls of the lower part of the cooking hob, and wherein the spring elements of the first and second fastening elements have elastic properties which act in a radial direction away from their respective sidewalls of the lower part of the cooking hob so as to provide an elastic force in opposite directions and clamp the cooking hob within the cutout enclosing circumferentially the cooking hob.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a perspective view of a fastening element arranged at a cooking hob according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view of the fastening element arranged at the cooking hob within a cutout according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a perspective view from a bottom side of an upper part of the cooking hob with a number of fastening elements according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view from the bottom side of the upper part of the cooking hob with one of the fastening elements according to FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view of the upper part of the cooking hob with two of the fastening elements according to FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view of the upper part of the cooking hob with the two fastening elements and a casing according to FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a partial sectional view of the casing arranged at the upper part of the cooking hob according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view in a position of a fore spring element showing the fastening element arranged at the cooking hob within the cutout according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view in a position of a rearmost spring element showing the fastening element arranged at the cooking hob within a cutout according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a perspective view of a fastening element 20 arranged at a cooking hob 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooking hob 10 comprises an upper part 12, a lower part 14 and a design element 16. The fastening element 20 comprises a first portion 22 and a second portion 24.

(12) In FIG. 1 the bigger part of the first portion 22 is hidden between the upper part 12 and the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10. The first portion 22 of the fastening element 20 is formed as a plane sheet extending in a horizontal plane. The first portion 22 is fixed at a bottom side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. Preferably, the first portion 22 is glued at the upper part 12.

(13) In this example the upper part 12 includes two bendings 18. Said bendings 18 are angled about 90 and associated with a section of a circumferential side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The design element 16 encloses the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 along the circumferential side of said upper part 12.

(14) The second portion 24 of the fastening element 20 extends substantially in a vertical plane, so that the bigger part of the fastening element 20 has the form of an L-profile. The second portion 24 of the fastening element 20 includes two spring elements 26 and a latch element 28. The latch element 28 is arranged between said two spring elements 26. The second portion 24 is arranged at an outer sidewall of the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10. The spring elements 26 have a U-shaped form and are elastic. The spring elements 26 are provided to clamp the cooking hob 10 within a cutout. The elastic properties of the spring elements 26 act into a radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the sidewall of the lower part 14. The latch element 28 includes an appendix 30 and a recess 42.

(15) At the sidewall of the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10 there is a lug element 32 engaged with the recess 42 of the latch element 28. The recess 42 is marginally bigger than the lug element 32. When the upper part 12 is set from above onto the lower part 14, then the lug element 32 is latched into the recess 42. The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10 are jointed by at least two lug elements 32 and two associated recesses 42.

(16) The appendix 30 of the latch element 28 is provided to pull the latch element 28 away from the lug element 32 and the sidewall of the lower part 14. Thus, the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 may be easily removed again from the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10.

(17) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view of the fastening element 20 arranged at the cooking hob 10 within a cutout 34 of a worktop 36 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this example the upper part 12 is a glass-ceramic panel.

(18) The upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 is arranged above the lower part 14 of said cooking hob 10. The first portion 22 of the fastening element 20 is glued at the bottom side of the upper part 12. Each of the bendings 18 supports one section, respectively, of the circumferential side of the upper part 12. The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10 are jointed by the engagement of the lug element 32 in the recess 42 of the latch element 28. The cooking hob 10 comprises at least two fastening elements 20. At least two of said fastening elements 20 are arranged at opposite sides of the cooking hob 10.

(19) The cooking hob 10 is clamped by the spring elements 26 within the cutout 34 of the worktop 36. The worktop 36 is a part of a cabinet in a kitchen. The spring elements 26 press against the inner sides of the cutout 34.

(20) In this example the circumference of the cutout 34 is marginally bigger than the circumference of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. Thus, the cutout 34 encloses the upper part 12 along its circumferential side. Alternatively, the circumference of the upper part 12 may be marginally bigger than the circumference of the cutout 34, so that the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 is additionally supported by the worktop 36.

(21) The design element 16 encloses the circumferential side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The design element 16 is directly fixed at the upper part 12. The cooking hob 10 may be equipped with different design elements 16, so that the design of the cooking hob 10 may be easily varied. Preferably, the design element 16 has only optical purposes. Further, the design element 16 may be used to support the cooking hob 10. Additionally, the design element 16 may have a sealing function.

(22) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a perspective view from a bottom side of the upper part 12 with a number of the fastening elements 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The upper part 12 has a rectangular form and comprises eight fastening element 20. Each side of the upper part 12 comprises two fastening element 20.

(23) Further, a sealing strip 38 is applied on the bottom side of the upper part 12. The sealing strip 38 is arranged along a substantially rectangular path. The path of the sealing strip 38 is adapted to the contour of an open casing 40, which is provided to be arranged at the bottom side of the upper part 12. The sealing strip 38 is applied automatically onto the bottom side of the upper part 12. Preferably, the sealing strip 38 is applied as a fluid or viscous paste onto the upper part 12.

(24) The casing 40 may be provided for an electric or electronic circuitry. In this example the casing 40 is made of plastics. The plastic material of the casing 40 and the sealing strip 38 allow a leakproof arrangement of the electric or electronic circuitry. Thus, it is not necessary that the design element 16 has any sealing function.

(25) FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view from the bottom side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 with one of the fastening elements according to FIG. 3. The sealing strip 38 is applied on the bottom side of the upper part 12. The fastening element 20 is glued onto the bottom side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The design sign element 16 encloses the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10.

(26) A further sealing strip 44 is arranged under the design element 16. Said further sealing strip 44 is optional. If the components being sensitive to moisture are arranged within the casing 40 and sealed by the sealing strip 38, then it is not necessary to arrange any further sealing means.

(27) FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 with two of the fastening elements 20 according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The sealing strip 38 is applied on the bottom side of the upper part 12. FIG. 5 shows the path of the complete sealing strip 38. The fastening element 20 is glued onto the bottom side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10.

(28) The design element 16 encloses the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The further sealing strip 44, which is optional, is arranged under the design element 16. However, it is not necessary to arrange the further sealing strip 44, if the electric or electronic circuitry is arranged within the casing 40 and sealed by the sealing strip 38.

(29) FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the perspective view of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 with the two fastening elements 20 according to FIG. 5 and the casing 40. FIG. 6 is the same perspective view of FIG. 5, wherein the casing 40 is added. The casing 40 is formed as a plastic shell. The open side of the casing 40 is covered by the bottom side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The casing 40, the upper part 12 and the sealing strip 38 between them form a leakproof space.

(30) FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a partial sectional view of the casing 40 arranged at the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The casing 40 has one open side. Said open side is arranged form-fit at the bottom side of the upper part 12. Between the bottom side of the upper part 12 and the border of the open side of the casing 40 there is the sealing strip 38. The dimension of the casing 40 is adapted to the electric or electronic circuitry. The path of the sealing strip 38 at the bottom side of the upper part 12 is adapted to the border of the open side of the casing 40.

(31) FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view in a position of a fore spring element 26 showing the fastening element 20 arranged at the cooking hob 10 within the cutout 34 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(32) The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10 are connected by the fastening element 20. The first portion 22 of the fastening element 20 is glued at the bottom side of the upper part 12. The fastening element 20 and the lower part 14 of the cooking hob 10 are jointed by the engagement of the lug element 32 in the recess 42 of the latch element 28.

(33) The cooking hob 10 is clamped by the spring elements 26 within the cutout 34 of the worktop 36. The spring elements 26 press against the inner sides of the cutout 34. The design element 16 encloses the circumferential side of the upper part 12 of the cooking hob 10. The design element 16 is directly fixed at the upper part 12. The cooking hob 10 may be equipped with different design elements 16, so that the design of the cooking hob 10 can easily be varied.

(34) FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sectional side view in a position of a rearmost spring element 26 showing the fastening element 20 arranged at the cooking hob 10 within a cutout 34 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 corresponds with FIG. 8. However, the latch element 28 with the appendix 30 as well as the lug element 32 are not shown, since the sectional line of FIG. 9 penetrates the rearmost spring element 26.

(35) The fastening element 20 according to the present invention allows a simple and fast assembling of the upper part 12 and the lower part 14 on the one hand and a subsequent installation of the resulting cooking hob 10 within the cutout 34 of the worktop 36 on the other hand. The fastening element 20 according to the present invention has two different functions, namely the connection between the upper part 12 and the lower part 14 and the connection between the cooking hob 10 and the cutout 34. Two inventive fastening elements 20 are sufficient for a robust installing the two-part cooking hob 10 in the cutout 34 of the worktop 36.

(36) 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

(37) 10 cooking hob 12 upper part of the cooking hob, glass-ceramic panel 14 lower part of the cooking hob 16 design element 18 bending 20 fastening element 22 first portion of the fastening element 24 second portion of the fastening element 26 spring element 28 latch element 30 appendix 32 lug element 34 cutout 36 worktop 38 sealing strip 40 casing 42 recess 44 further sealing strip