Microwave oven

Details Microwave oven Microwave oven

1999-12-30

2001-06-05

Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)

Electric heating

Microwave heating

Enclosed cavity structure

C219S763000, C219S752000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06242724

ABSTRACT:

CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application MICROWAVE OVEN filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jan. 21, 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1810/1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly to a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting a capacity of a cooking chamber which is defined within an integrally formed case of the microwave oven.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a microwave oven is a device for cooking food by using microwaves. The microwaves are generated by a magnetron, and are radiated into the food to collide the molecules in the food so that frictional heat is generated to cook the food. There are various types of microwave ovens, and one example is shown in FIG.
1
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the microwave oven includes a body
10
having a box-shaped case
11
, and front and rear panels
12
and
13
which are arranged in front and back of the case
11
, respectively. In the case
11
, a cooking chamber
30
is formed to receive the food to be cooked, and the cooking chamber
30
is opened/closed by a door
20
which is pivotally mounted on one side of the front panel
12
.
Meanwhile, as shown in
FIG. 2A
, the cooking chamber
30
formed within the case
11
has a rather sufficient capacity due to the existence of a first cavity
31
which is concaved from an upper side of the case
11
, and a second cavity
32
which is communicated with the first cavity
31
.
Then, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the cooking chamber of a reduced capacity, the case
11
is integrally formed in a manner that the space defined by the first cavity
31
is removed, while the space defined by the second cavity
32
remains. Such is shown in FIG.
2
B.
Further, the microwave oven includes a device chamber
40
which is defined at an inner side of the microwave oven. In the device chamber
40
, electric components such as a magnetron (not shown) for generating high frequency microwaves, a high voltage transformer
41
for transmitting high voltage to the magnetron, and a high voltage capacitor
42
, etc., and other components such as a fan motor
43
for cooling the heat generated from the respective electric components, etc., are installed. The device chamber
40
is enclosed by an outer panel
50
.
Further, in front of the device chamber
40
, a control panel
60
is formed on the front panel
12
, having a plurality of function buttons for inputting user's commands about cooking functions and operation execution, etc.
In the microwave oven constructed as above, the cooking operation begins as the user places the receptacle holding the food to be cooked on a tray in the cooking chamber
30
, and manipulates the function buttons on the control panel
60
. As the cooking operation begins, the microwaves are generated from the magnetron (not shown) in the device chamber
40
, and are radiated into the food through certain processes, to heat/cook the food.
The conventional microwave oven, however, has a shortcoming particularly when manufacturing the case for defining the cooking chamber as follows:
As shown in
FIG. 2A
, when manufacturing the cooking chamber
30
with sufficiently large capacity, the second cavity
32
is communicated with the first cavity
31
which is concaved from the upper side of the case
11
. Meanwhile, when manufacturing the cooking chamber
30
with a reduced capacity, the second cavity
31
is removed, and the case
11
is integrally formed as shown in FIG.
2
B.
Accordingly, an additional cost is required for molding the case, and the manufacturing cost increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting capacities thereof by an adjustable member without having to manufacture cases for the respective capacities.
The above object is accomplished by a microwave oven including: a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber and a second cavity; and adjustable section for selectively adjusting capacities of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first and second cavities by being selectively coupled in the body.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4880952 (1989-11-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5338922 (1994-08-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5550356 (1996-08-01), Tripp et al.
patent: 5726428 (1998-03-01), Christensen
patent: 5796082 (1998-08-01), Kim
patent: 5818017 (1998-10-01), Ye et al.
patent: 6040564 (2000-03-01), Ueda et al.

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