Electric heating – Microwave heating – With diverse-type heating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2002-04-16
Leung, Philip H. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Microwave heating
With diverse-type heating
C219S400000, C219S738000, C219S756000, C219S757000, C126S02100R, C174S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06373037
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cooking appliances and, more particularly, to the construction of an oven cavity preferably having an associated microwave energy source.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In a conventional oven arrangement, the oven cavity is typically constituted by an integrated, essentially one-piece unit. With convection cooking appliances, it is necessary to provide both an inlet and an outlet for a developed air flow. In recirculating-type convection systems, the air exiting the oven cavity must be, at least in part, directed back to the inlet through some form of ducting. In order to prevent any undesired loss of recirculating air, it is desired to provide some sealing feature between the ducting and the oven cavity. Typically, the ducting is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the oven cavity for this purpose.
When a convection cooking appliance is constructed in this fashion, the overall assembly of the appliance can be quite time consuming and costly. Typically, robotic mechanisms are utilized to create the desired welds. Precise alignment of the parts to be joined must be established and maintained to assure that the welds are properly made in order to prevent potential air leakage problems. With such an arrangement, certain design and assembly constraints must be taken into account. When a cooking appliance is to incorporate various heat sources to be selectively used in heating an oven cavity of the appliance, additional design constraints must be taken into consideration. For instance, if the cooking appliance incorporates a microwave energy source, a continuous ground path is needed to contain the microwave energy. Therefore, additional emphasis is placed on the need for consistent and generally uniform welds.
Based on at least the above, it would be desirable to enable the interconnection between an oven cavity and ducting of a convection cooking appliance without requiring precision welding, while also minimizing assembly costs and time. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a convection cooking appliance which incorporates various different types of heat sources, including a microwave heat source, wherein the assembly of the various components of the appliance is carried out in a manner which assures a continuous ground path between the components in order to contain the microwave energy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to forming an oven cavity in a quick and convenient manner. In accordance with the invention, a quick-latching connection, such as a bayonet-type connection, is provided between various panels or portions of an air channel assembly and the walls of the oven cavity. The invention is particularly adapted for use in constructing an oven cavity having an associated microwave source, as well as a blower for directing heated air through a duct that opens into the oven cavity. Provisions are also made to contain microwave radio frequency emissions by incorporating multiple grounding gaskets between the various interconnected components.
More specifically, an upper panel portion defines part of an air channel assembly which leads from the microwave generating source, through the blower and ducting and into the oven cavity. One twist-lock connection is provided between the upper panel portion and upstanding portions of the cavity. An additional twist-locking connection is provided between cavity defining members and an air return assembly located at a bottom section of the oven cavity.
With respect to the gaskets, the most preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates upper and lower gaskets between the top panel and the remainder of the oven cavity, as well as between the air return assembly and the oven cavity, for containing the microwave radio frequency emissions. In the most preferred form, each of the gaskets comprises a circular, fine wire mesh, such as stainless steel, that is captured between the respective components with a compression fit. The wire mesh functions to provide a continuous ground path between the components in order to contain the microwave energy.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
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Brown John Scott
Jay William Edward
Diederiks & Whitelaw PLC
Maytag Corporation
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