U.S. patent application number 14/591029 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for oven appliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Christopher James Adelmann, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Christopher Nils Naber.
Application Number | 20160195279 14/591029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56286287 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160195279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Naber; Christopher Nils ; et
al. |
July 7, 2016 |
OVEN APPLIANCE
Abstract
An oven appliance includes a slide assembly that couples a door
to a cabinet such that the door is movable along a transverse
direction relative to the cabinet. A support assembly includes a
block mounted to the cabinet and a leveling leg threaded to the
block. The block extends from the cabinet along the transverse
direction.
Inventors: |
Naber; Christopher Nils;
(Louisville, KY) ; Adelmann; Christopher James;
(Louisville, KY) ; Froelicher; Stephen Bernard;
(Shepherdsville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56286287 |
Appl. No.: |
14/591029 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/086 20130101;
F24C 15/162 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/16 20060101
F24C015/16 |
Claims
1. An oven appliance defining a lateral direction and a transverse
direction, the lateral direction and the transverse direction being
perpendicular, the oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a
cooking chamber and an opening for accessing the cooking chamber of
the cabinet; a heating element positioned at the cooking chamber of
the cabinet; a slide assembly mounted to the cabinet; a door
positioned adjacent the opening of the cabinet, the slide assembly
coupling the door to the cabinet such that the door is movable
along the transverse direction relative to the cabinet; and a
support assembly positioned at a bottom portion of the cabinet, the
support assembly comprising a block mounted to the cabinet; and a
leveling leg threaded to the block, at least a portion of the
leveling leg positioned directly below the door when the door is
positioned at the opening of the cabinet.
2. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises a
bottom panel positioned at the bottom portion of the cabinet, the
block mounted to the bottom panel of the cabinet such that the
block extends past a front edge of the bottom panel along the
transverse direction.
3. The oven appliance of claim 2, wherein the block extends past
the front edge of the bottom panel by at least half an inch along
the transverse direction.
4. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the block is partially
disposed within a pocket defined by the cabinet.
5. The oven appliance of claim 1, further comprising a fastener
that extends through the cabinet into the block in order to mount
the block to the cabinet.
6. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the block is adhered,
welded or fastened to the cabinet at the bottom portion of the
cabinet in order to mount the block to the cabinet.
7. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the door is a top door,
the oven appliance further comprising a bottom door rotatably
mounted to the cabinet adjacent the bottom portion of the cabinet,
the bottom door positioned below the top door.
8. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the
leveling leg is positioned directly below of the bottom door when
the bottom door is closed.
9. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the leveling leg includes
a foot positioned at a distal end of the leveling leg, a distance
between the cabinet and the foot of the leveling leg being
selectively adjustable by rotating the leveling leg relative to the
block.
10. The oven appliance of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of a
foot of the leveling leg is not positioned directly below the
cabinet.
11. An oven appliance defining a lateral direction and a transverse
direction, the lateral direction and the transverse direction being
perpendicular, the oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a
cooking chamber and an opening for accessing the cooking chamber of
the cabinet; a heating element positioned at the cooking chamber of
the cabinet; a pair of slide assemblies mounted to the cabinet; a
door positioned adjacent the opening of the cabinet, the slide
assemblies of the pair of slide assemblies coupling the door to the
cabinet such that the door is movable along the transverse
direction relative to the cabinet; and a support assembly
positioned at a bottom portion of the cabinet, the support assembly
comprising a block mounted to the cabinet and extending from the
cabinet along the transverse direction; and a leveling leg threaded
to the block.
12. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cabinet comprises a
bottom panel positioned at the bottom portion of the cabinet, the
block mounted to the bottom panel of the cabinet such that the
block extends past a front edge of the bottom panel along the
transverse direction.
13. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the block extends past
the front edge of the bottom panel by at least half an inch along
the transverse direction.
14. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the block is partially
disposed within a pocket defined by the cabinet.
15. The oven appliance of claim 11, further comprising a fastener
that extends through the cabinet into the block in order to mount
the block to the cabinet.
16. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the block is adhered,
welded or fastened to the cabinet at the bottom portion of the
cabinet in order to mount the block to the cabinet.
17. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the block extends past
the cabinet such that at least a portion of the leveling leg is
positioned directly below of the door when the door is positioned
at the opening of the cabinet.
18. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the leveling leg
includes a foot positioned at a distal end of the leveling leg, a
distance between the cabinet and the foot of the leveling leg being
selectively adjustable by rotating the leveling leg relative to the
block.
19. The oven appliance of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of a
foot of the leveling leg is not positioned directly below the
cabinet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to oven
appliances, such as double oven range appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Double oven range appliances generally include upper and
lower cooking chambers. A user of the double oven range appliances
may conveniently utilize either or both of the upper and lower
cooking chambers to cook food items. In certain double oven range
appliance, the upper cooking chamber is smaller than the lower
cooking chamber. Thus, the user may utilize the upper cooking
chamber to cook smaller food items and the lower cooking chamber to
cook larger food items.
[0003] Double oven range appliances also generally include two
doors, one for the upper cooking chamber and another for the lower
cooking chamber. The doors are generally rotatably mounted to a
cabinet of the appliance with hinges. Thus, the user of the double
oven range appliance may rotate the doors open on the hinges in
order to access the upper and lower cooking chambers.
[0004] Hinges have certain drawbacks that may be inconvenient or
undesirable to users. For example, removing food items from the
upper cooking chamber can be difficult or awkward. In particular,
the upper cooking chamber may be relatively small compared to the
lower cooking chamber, and reaching into the upper cooking chamber
to grasp and handle cookware therein can be difficult or awkward.
In addition, monitoring the cooking of food items within the upper
cooking chamber can be difficult due to poor visibility of the food
items within the upper cooking chamber even when the door to the
upper cooking chamber is open.
[0005] Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for
facilitating access to food items within a cooking chamber of the
oven appliance would be useful. In addition, an oven appliance with
features for facilitating monitoring of food items within a cooking
chamber of the oven appliance would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present subject matter provides an oven appliance. The
oven appliance includes a slide assembly that couples a door to a
cabinet such that the door is movable along a transverse direction
relative to the cabinet. A support assembly includes a block
mounted to the cabinet and a leveling leg threaded to the block.
The block extends from the cabinet along the transverse direction.
Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from
the description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0007] In a first exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is
provided. The oven appliance defines a lateral direction and a
transverse direction. The lateral direction and the transverse
direction are perpendicular to each other. The oven appliance
includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber and an opening
for accessing the cooking chamber of the cabinet. A heating element
is positioned at the cooking chamber of the cabinet. A slide
assembly is mounted to the cabinet. A door is positioned adjacent
the opening of the cabinet. The slide assembly couples the door to
the cabinet such that the door is movable along the transverse
direction relative to the cabinet. A support assembly is positioned
at a bottom portion of the cabinet. The support assembly includes a
block mounted to the cabinet. A leveling leg is threaded to the
block. At least a portion of the leveling leg is positioned
directly below the door when the door is positioned at the opening
of the cabinet.
[0008] In a second exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is
provided. The oven appliance defines a lateral direction and a
transverse direction. The lateral direction and the transverse
direction are perpendicular to each other. The oven appliance
includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber and an opening
for accessing the cooking chamber of the cabinet. A heating element
is positioned at the cooking chamber of the cabinet. A pair of
slide assemblies is mounted to the cabinet. A door is positioned
adjacent the opening of the cabinet. The slide assemblies of the
pair of slide assemblies couple the door to the cabinet such that
the door is movable along the transverse direction relative to the
cabinet. A support assembly is positioned at a bottom portion of
the cabinet. The support assembly includes a block mounted to the
cabinet and extending from the cabinet along the transverse
direction. A leveling leg threaded to the block.
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures.
[0011] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 provide perspective views of an oven range
appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter with a door of the exemplary oven range appliance
shown in various positions and orientations.
[0012] FIG. 4 provides a partial, perspective view of the exemplary
oven range appliance of FIG. 1 and a support assembly of the
exemplary oven range appliance.
[0013] FIG. 5 provides a partial, bottom plan view of the exemplary
oven range appliance of FIG. 1 and the support assembly of the
exemplary oven range appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0015] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 provide perspective views of an oven range
appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an upper door 121 of range
appliance 100 is shown various positions and orientations, as
discussed in greater detail below. As may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and
3, range appliance 100 defines a vertical direction V, a lateral
direction L and a transverse direction T. The vertical, lateral and
transverse directions are mutually perpendicular and form an
orthogonal direction system.
[0016] Range appliance 100 includes an insulated cabinet 110.
Cabinet 110 extends between a top portion 111 and a bottom portion
112, e.g., along the vertical direction V. Thus, top and bottom
portions 111, 112 of cabinet 110 are spaced apart from each other,
e.g., along the vertical direction V. Cabinet 110 also extends
between a first side portion 113 and a second side portion 114,
e.g., along the lateral direction L. Thus, first and second side
portions 113, 114 of cabinet 110 are spaced apart from each other,
e.g., along the lateral direction L. Cabinet 110 further extends
between a front portion 115 and a back portion 116, e.g., along the
transverse direction T. Thus, front and back portions 115, 116 of
cabinet 110 are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the
transverse direction T.
[0017] Range appliance 100 includes a cooktop 130 positioned at or
adjacent top portion 111 of cabinet 110. Cooktop 130 includes
various heating elements 132, such as gas burners, electric
resistance elements, induction elements, etc., that are configured
for heating cookware positioned thereon. As may be seen in FIG. 1,
cabinet 110 also defines an upper cooking chamber 120 and a lower
cooking chamber 124. Thus, range appliance 100 is generally
referred to as a double oven range appliance. As will be understood
by those skilled in the art, range appliance 100 is provided by way
of example only, and the present subject matter may be used in any
suitable oven appliance, e.g., a single oven range appliance,
etc.
[0018] Upper cooking chamber 120 is positioned at or adjacent top
portion 111 of cabinet 110. Conversely, lower cooking chamber 124
is positioned at or adjacent bottom portion 112 of cabinet 110.
Thus, upper and lower cooking chambers 120, 124 are spaced apart
from each other along the vertical direction V. Upper and lower
cooking chambers 120, 124 can have any suitable size relative to
each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, upper cooking chamber
120 may be smaller than lower cooking chamber 124.
[0019] Upper and lower cooking chambers 120, 124 are configured for
receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. Range appliance 100
includes an upper door 121 and a lower door 125 that are attached
or coupled to cabinet 110, e.g., with slide assemblies and hinges
as discussed in greater detail below, in order to permit selective
access to upper cooking chamber 120 and lower cooking chamber 124,
respectively. Handles 123, 127 are mounted to upper and lower doors
121, 125 to assist a user with opening and closing doors 121, 125
in order to access cooking chambers 120, 124. As an example, a user
can pull on handle 123 mounted to upper door 121 to open or close
upper door 121 and access upper cooking chamber 120. Glass window
panes 122, 126 provide for viewing the contents of upper and lower
cooking chambers 120, 124 when doors 121, 125 are closed and also
assist with insulating upper and lower cooking chambers 120, 124.
Heating elements, such as electric resistance heating elements, gas
burners, microwave elements, etc., are positioned within upper and
lower cooking chambers 120, 124 of cabinet 110 for heating upper
and lower cooking chambers 120, 124.
[0020] A control panel 140 of range appliance 100 is positioned at
top portion 111 and back portion 116 of cabinet 110. Control panel
140 includes user inputs 142. Control panel 140 provides selections
for user manipulation of the operation of range appliance 100. For
example, a user can touch control panel 140 to trigger one of user
inputs 142. In response to user manipulation of user inputs 142,
various components of the range appliance 100, such as the heating
elements, can be operated.
[0021] As may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, upper door 121 may be
positioned and oriented in a variety of configurations and
positions. For example, door 121 is shown in a closed position and
a vertical configuration in FIG. 1. As another example, upper door
121 is shown in the closed position and a peak configuration in
FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, upper door 121 is shown in an open position and
the peak configuration. A user of range appliance 100 may adjust
upper door 121 between the various positions and configurations
shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. For example, the user may grasp handle
123 of upper door 121 and move upper door 121, e.g., along the
transverse direction T, between the closed and open positions
and/or pivot upper door 121, e.g., on an axis that is parallel to
the lateral direction L, between the vertical and peak
configurations.
[0022] To permit movement of upper door 121, e.g., along the
transverse direction T, range appliance 100 includes a pair of
slide assemblies or slide rails 172 that slidably couple upper door
121 to cabinet 110. Slide assemblies 172 are mounted to cabinet 110
at or adjacent upper cooking chamber 120. Each slide assembly of
slide assemblies 172 are positioned at a respective one of the
first and second side portions 113, 114 of cabinet 110. Slide
assemblies 172 may be mounted to any suitable component of cabinet
110 and positioned at any suitable location on cabinet 110. For
example, slide assemblies 172 may be mounted to cabinet 110 within
upper cooking chamber 120. Thus, slide assemblies 172 may be
positioned within upper cooking chamber 120, e.g., when upper door
121 is in the closed position. As another example, slide assemblies
172 may be mounted to cabinet 110 outside of upper cooking chamber
120. Thus, slide elements 172 may be positioned such that slide
elements 172 are shielded from upper cooking chamber 120 and, e.g.,
not exposed to heated air within or from upper cooking chamber 120
when upper door 121 is in the closed position.
[0023] As may be seen in FIG. 2, cabinet 110 defines an opening 118
for accessing upper cooking chamber 120 of cabinet 110. Upper door
121 is positioned at or adjacent opening 118 of cabinet 110 when
upper door 121 is in the closed position. Conversely, upper door
121 is spaced apart from cabinet 110, e.g., opening 118 of cabinet
110, along the transverse direction T when upper door 121 is in the
open position. For example, upper door 121 may move along the
transverse direction T on slide assemblies 172 such that upper door
121 is spaced apart from opening 118 of cabinet 110 by at least one
foot along the transverse direction T when upper door 121 is in the
open position.
[0024] As discussed above, upper door 121 is pivotable, e.g., about
an axis that is parallel to the lateral direction L, on hinges 182
that extend between upper door 121 and slide elements 172 between
the vertical and peak configurations. For example, upper door 121
may be pivotable by at least thirty degrees, e.g., about an axis
that is parallel to the lateral direction L, between the vertical
and peak positions. As another example, upper door 121 may be
pivotable by at least sixty degrees, e.g., about an axis that is
parallel to the lateral direction L, between the vertical and peak
positions. As yet another example, upper door 121 may be pivotable
by about ninety degrees, e.g., about an axis that is parallel to
the lateral direction L, between the vertical and peak
positions.
[0025] When upper door 121 is in the closed position and the
vertical configuration as shown in FIG. 1, upper door 121 seals or
closes upper cooking chamber 120. Thus, such position and
orientation of upper door 121 may be used when cooking food items
within upper cooking chamber 120. If a user wants to check on the
food items, the user may pivot upper door 121 to the peak position
in order to allow the user to view and observe the food items
within upper cooking chamber 120. Thus, when upper door 121 is in
the closed position and the peak configuration as shown in FIG. 2,
upper door 121 may be positioned and oriented to allow the user to
view food items within upper cooking chamber 120 without removing
the food items from upper cooking chamber 120. Upper door 121 is
also pivotable between the vertical and peak configurations when
upper door 121 is in the open position.
[0026] Range appliance 100 also includes a rack assembly 180 that
includes features for supporting food items thereon. Rack assembly
180 is slidably coupled to cabinet 110, e.g., with slide assemblies
172, such that rack assembly 180 moves with upper door 121 along
the transverse direction T. Thus, food items on rack assembly 180
may be, e.g., at least partially, removed from upper cooking
chamber 120 by shifting door from the closed position to the open
position. In particular, with food items cooking within upper
cooking chamber 120, a user of range appliance 100 may avoid having
to reach into upper cooking chamber 120 in order to grasp or handle
the food items located therein by grasping handle 123 of upper door
121 and shifting upper door 121 to the open position such that rack
assembly 180 slides out of upper cooking chamber 120. Similarly, if
the user wants to check on the food items, the user may move upper
door 121 to the open position in order to remove the food items
from upper cooking chamber 120 and allow the user to view and
observe the food items outside of upper cooking chamber 120.
[0027] Turning back to FIG. 1, range appliance 100 also includes a
support assembly 200. Support assembly 200 is positioned at or
adjacent bottom portion 112 and front portion 115 of cabinet 110.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, an additional support assembly 200
may also be provided at second side portion 114 of cabinet 110.
Support assembly 200 includes features that extend between cabinet
110 and a floor beneath range appliance 100 in order to support
range appliance 100 on the floor. Support assembly 200 also
includes features for leveling range appliance 100, as discussed in
greater detail below.
[0028] FIG. 4 provides a partial, perspective view of range
appliance 100 and support assembly 200. FIG. 5 provides a partial,
bottom plan view of range appliance 100 and support assembly 200.
As may be seen in FIG. 4, support assembly 200 includes a block 210
and a leveling leg 220. Block 210 is mounted to cabinet 110. In
particular, block 210 is mounted to cabinet 110 such that block 210
extends from cabinet 110 along the transverse direction T and a
distal end portion 212 of block 210 is cantilevered from cabinet
110.
[0029] As may be seen in FIG. 4, cabinet 110 includes a bottom
panel 190, e.g., that faces the floor below range appliance 100.
Bottom panel 190 is positioned at bottom portion 112 of cabinet
110. Bottom panel 190 also includes a front edge 192. Front edge
192 of bottom panel 190 is positioned at or adjacent front portion
115 of cabinet 110 and extend between first and second side
portions 113, 114 of cabinet 110 at front portion 115 of cabinet
110. Block 210 is positioned at and/or mounted to bottom panel 190
such that block 210 extends past front edge 192 of bottom panel
190, e.g., along the transverse direction T. Block 210 may extend
past front edge 192 of bottom panel 190 by any suitable amount or
distance. For example, block 210 may extend from cabinet 110 past
front edge 192 of bottom panel 190 by at least half an inch along
the transverse direction T. Thus, a tip of block 210 may be spaced
apart from front edge 192 of bottom panel 190 by at least half an
inch along the transverse direction T.
[0030] As may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, block 210 is partially
disposed within a pocket 194 defined by cabinet 110, e.g., bottom
panel 190 of cabinet 110. A fastener 196, such as a screw, rivet,
bolt or nail, may extend through cabinet 110 into block 210, e.g.,
at pocket 194 of cabinet 110, in order to mount block 210 to
cabinet 110. In alternative exemplary embodiments, block 210 may be
adhered, welded or otherwise suitable fastened to cabinet 110 at
bottom portion 112 of cabinet 110 in order to mount block 210 to
cabinet 110.
[0031] Leveling leg 220 is threaded to block 210, e.g., at or
adjacent distal end portion 212 of block 210. In particular,
leveling leg 220 includes a threaded post 222 received within a
threaded opening 214 defined by block 210. Leveling leg 220 also
includes a foot 224 positioned at a distal end of threaded post
222. Foot 224 is configured for resting of the floor beneath range
appliance 100. A distance between cabinet 110 and foot 224 of
leveling leg 220 is selectively adjustable by rotating threaded
post 222 relative to block 210, e.g., such that a thread of
threaded post 222 rotates relative to a thread of block 210. Range
appliance 100 may be leveled by rotating threaded post 222 and
suitably positioning foot 224 relative to cabinet 110, as will be
understood by those skilled in the art.
[0032] As may be seen in FIG. 5, at least a portion of leveling leg
220, such as the threaded post 222 and/or the foot 224, is
positioned directly below a door, such as upper door 121 and/or
lower door 125, of range appliance 100 when the door is closed. For
example, at least a portion of leveling leg 220 may be positioned
directly below upper door 121, e.g., along the vertical direction
V, when upper door 121 is positioned at opening 118 of cabinet 110
and in the vertical position. As another example, at least a
portion of leveling leg 220 may be positioned directly below lower
door 125, e.g., along the vertical direction V, when lower door 125
is closed. Thus, as may be seen in FIG. 5, at least a portion of
the foot 224 of leveling leg 220 is not positioned directly below
cabinet 110, e.g., along the vertical direction V.
[0033] By extending block 210 past cabinet 112 and positioning at
least a portion of leveling leg 220 below a door of range appliance
100, a balance of range appliance 100 may be improved. In
particular, such positioning of support assembly 200 may require
more force to tip range appliance 100 compared to leveling legs
that are positioned fully under bottom panel 192 of cabinet 110. In
such a manner, range appliance 100 may be more difficult and/or
require more force to tip over when upper door 121 is in the open
position (FIG. 3).
[0034] Block 210 and leveling leg 220 of support assembly 200 may
be made of any suitable material. For example, block 210 and
leveling leg 220 of support assembly 200 may each be made from or
with a separate piece of molded plastic or cast metal.
[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *