ELECTRIC STOVETOP

Abstract

An electric stovetop includes a vitroceramic top part, an electric heating element built-in below the top part, and a bottom box with the electric heating element mounted through the bottom box. The electrical heating element can include parallel and equidistant tracks defining a rectangular heating area. Each track is divided into three segments, a large central part and two smaller end parts. Each track is positioned corresponding to a sliding button for controlling power to start heating and to control intensity of heat. The sliding button sets each track according to at least three stages of activation: no power, power to the central part, and power to the smaller ends. There can be an intermediate position defined by a midpoint with a tactile stop to indicate the transition from the second stage to the third stage.

Claims

1. An electric stovetop assembly, comprising: a vitroceramic top part having a top surface defining a cooking area; an electric heating element mounted below of the top part; a bottom box below said electric heating element, said bottom box housing a controller, electrical components, and electronic components, said controller being in communication with said electrical heating elements; and a plurality of sliding buttons on the top part, said sliding buttons being placed outside of said cooking area and along an edge of the top part, wherein the top part and said bottom box form a console, wherein said electrical heating elements is comprised of a plurality of heating tracks, each heating track being parallel and equidistant to a respective adjacent heating track, each heating track having a first end part, a central part, and a second end part, said central part being between said first end part and said second end part, said heating tracks forming a heating area aligned with said cooking area of said vitroceramic top part, and wherein each heating track is aligned with a respective sliding button, each heating track being in communication with said respective sliding button so as to control heating of each heating track according to position of said respective sliding button.

2. The electric stovetop assembly, according to claim 1, wherein each track has three stages of activation, wherein a first stage is comprised of no power to any part of the heating track with said sliding button in an off configuration, wherein a second stage is comprised of power to said central part with said sliding button in a first power position, wherein a third stage is comprised of power to said first end part and said second end part with said sliding button in a second power position, and wherein said sliding button has a tactile stop in an intermediate position between said first power position and said second power position.

3. The electric stovetop assembly, according to claim 1, wherein said respective sliding button for each track is comprised of a plurality of sliding indicators, each part of the respective track being in communication with a respective indicator so as to control heating of each part of the respective track according to position of said respective indicator, wherein a first respective indicator is in communication with said first end part of the respective track and position of said first respective indicator corresponds to power to said first end part, wherein a second respective indicator is in communication with said second end part of the respective track and position of said second respective indicator corresponds to power to said second end part, and wherein another respective indicator is in communication with said central part of the respective track and position of said another respective indicator corresponds to power to said central part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] For better understanding of the present invention, follows it is made a detailed description thereof, making reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is an isometric schematic view, showing the stovetop at an anterosuperior angle.

[0029] FIG. 2 is another isometric schematic view, showing the stovetop at a lower angle.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view, schematically displaying the stovetop.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the stovetop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] According to the illustrations and details in the figures, the present invention can be applied to several types of stovetops, also known as “cooktops”, usually formed by a vitroceramic top part (1). The stovetop comprises the cooking area as well as the electric heating element (2) that can be built-in below the top part, usually mounted on a bottom box for protection. The bottom box (3) also contains other electrical and electronic components, such as power controllers, timers and all other components for controlling the electrical heating elements (2). The controllers can be in communication with the heating element to connect power, determine activation of heating, and set intensity of heat.

[0033] The top part and bottom box (3) form a console to be built-in to any fitment or stove body, whose dimensions can be very large and usually defined by taking into account the design and decorative details of the assemblies. The console fits into different stove bodies.

[0034] The present invention is characterized by the fact that the heating elements, such as an electrical heating element (2) is comprised of parallel and equidistant tracks (4) that can reach close to the anterior edge to the superior near edge of the vitroceramic top part (1). The lateral combination of all tracks (4) form a large rectangular heating area (5) extending throughout and aligning with the cooking area of the vitroceramic top part (1), leaving only a few side edges and a large edge on the top part free. A sliding button of power control (6) is distributed and aligned parallel to said anterior edge. There can be a sliding button aligned to and in communication with a corresponding heating track (4). The position of the sliding button controls the heating of the respective track.

[0035] Each heating track (4) is divided into three segments, a large central part (7) and two smaller ends or end parts (8). Associated with each track, a corresponding sliding button of power control (6) is positioned relative to the respective track. The sliding button to control each track has at least three stages of activation. The first stage is “off”, and there is no connection to power of heating for any part of the track. The second stage connects power to heat and intensity of heat for the large central part of segment (7). The sliding button moves to control the start of heat and intensity of heat of the central part or segment. The third stage connects power to heat and intensity of heat for the smaller end parts or segments (8). The sliding button moves to control the start of heat and intensity of heat of the first and second end parts together. There is an intermediate position of the sliding button defined by a midpoint with a tactile feature stop between the second stage and the third stage. The user can feel or perceive when the sliding button starts heating the first and second end parts in the third stage. The user can control by feel of the sliding button, when the heating area is going to expand from the central part to include the smaller end parts.

[0036] It will be understood that certain features and constructive details of combinations are involved in the stovetop manufacturing, mainly in the construction of electrical heating elements and components involved for control of the heating elements or tracks (4), as well as in the dimensioning and quantity of heating tracks (4) which may vary considerably. Therefore, it is noted that the construction herein described is exemplary in details and clearly subject to constructive changes.

[0037] However, within the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed, there is a stovetop that does not have heating burners, but rather a quadrangular total area of a heating area aligned with the cooking area of the top part and formed by parallel heating tracks controlled independently of each other. Thus, many modifications can still be made herein to the detailed configuration in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law. It is understood that the details present should be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting, as described above. The details achieve the objectives the invention, that is, each track (4) has three parts or segments (central part (7) and first and second end part (8)) and can be switched on and controlled independently of each other or in coordination. A large quadrangular heating area (5) formed by several tracks (4) can be activated in sufficient quantities by the respective sliding buttons (6) instead of traditional burners. The quadrangular heating area can be used for any size or shape of container, whether round or quadrangular. It is possible to set how many tracks are connected so as to be used for heating as required, and this choice adds flexibility to increase or decrease orthogonally the heating area in two directions, i.e. towards the left and right lateral edges and towards the anterior and posterior edges. The flexibility is not possible for a circular heating burner; thus, the use and flexibility in the size of heating area are great advantages of the invention over the prior art. The controls in the form of sliding buttons (6) are not “touch” but physicals (potentiometers), which provide more immediate, visual, tactile and precise operation, characterizing a more responsive and free flowing interaction.