Stoves and furnaces – Stove lids and tops
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-08-21
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Stove lids and tops
C126S212000, C219S452120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276357
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention lies in the field of cooktop appliances. The present invention relates to a cooktop, or cooking hob, with a cooktop or hob frame having at least one decorative frame strip that surrounds a cooktop panel all the way round, and with a decorative separating strip that separates an operating area of the cooktop panel from the cooking region of the cooktop panel.
A cooktop is disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,862 to Doner, wherein the cooktop panel includes two secondary cooktop panels. The two secondary cooktop panels respectively form the operating area of the cooktop and the cooking area of the cooktop, and are separated from one another by a decorative separating strip that, in addition, secures the two secondary cooktop panels together with a cooktop frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a cooktop with a cooktop frame that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that simplifies the construction of the cooktop.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cooktop, including a one-piece cooktop panel having a top side, an operating area and a cooking area; and a cooktop frame having at least one frame strip entirely surrounding the cooktop panel, and a separating strip disposed on the top side of the cooktop panel and separating the operating area from the cooking area.
The object is achieved according to the invention by the cooktop panel being configured in one piece, and by the decorative separating strip being disposed on the top side of the cooktop panel. The fact that the cooktop panel is in a single piece ensures straightforward production and installation of the cooktop without losing the advantages of an operating area separated from the cooking area. Also, the area beneath the cooktop panel is easily provided with better protection against the penetration of liquid than compared to two-piece cooktop panels according to the prior art.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the at least one decorative frame strip is advantageously formed integrally with the decorative separating strip. The configuration also simplifies the production and installation of the cooktop and, furthermore, provides a cooktop frame without separating edges or gaps.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the at least one frame strip and the separating strip are high-grade steel.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the separating strip has a given length and at least one bead-like elevation at least over a part of the given length. The bead-like elevation considerably increases the inherent stability of the decorative separating strip, which is important, in particular, when the bases of pots or pans strike against it and during cleaning in the border region between the decorative separating strip and the top side of the cooktop panel.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the at least one bead-like elevation has an underside and defines a cavity between the underside and the top side of the cooktop panel, and the cavity is substantially filled with an adhesive. The cavity, receiving, for example, a silicone adhesive, is suitably dimensioned with sufficient thickness such that the adhesive can absorb stresses that occur as the cooktop is heated (resulting from the vastly differing coefficients of thermal expansion between high-grade steel and other suitable decorative-strip materials and glass ceramic or, for example, glass). The invention ensures that the decorative strip is placed in position essentially without gaps and cannot be raised off from the top side of the cooktop panel in operation.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a cooktop frame for a cooktop having a one-piece cooktop panel with a top side, an operating area and a cooking area, the cooktop frame including at least one frame strip entirely surrounding the cooktop panel; and a separating strip disposed on the top side of the cooktop panel and separating the operating area from the cooking area.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the at least one frame strip and the separating strip each have a decorative feature.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cooktop with a cooktop frame, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3561020 (1971-02-01), Fritzsche
patent: 3567906 (1971-03-01), Hurko
patent: 3586825 (1971-06-01), Hurley
patent: 3674983 (1972-07-01), Hurko et al.
patent: 3679870 (1972-07-01), Opp
patent: 3870862 (1975-03-01), Doner
patent: 5357079 (1994-10-01), Henry et al.
patent: 5422460 (1995-06-01), Bralia et al.
patent: 5571434 (1996-11-01), Cavener et al.
patent: 38 28 799 A1 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 2 125 537 (1984-03-01), None
patent: 2 212 260 (1989-07-01), None
German Utility Model G 92 10 831.8, dated Dec. 10, 1992, ceramic cook top.
Edlmann Manfred
Grutzke Joachim
Stitzl Bernd
BSH Bosch und Siemens Haus-geraete GmbH
Cocks Josiah C.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lazarus Ira S.
Lerner Herbert L.
LandOfFree
Cooktop with a cooktop frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cooktop with a cooktop frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cooktop with a cooktop frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2538954