U.S. patent application number 16/050789 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for cooking hob with window, cooking appliance, and process for manufacturing the hob.
This patent application is currently assigned to EUROKERA S.N.C.. The applicant listed for this patent is Franck Demol, Gerard Huchet, Claire Mallet, Beatrice Mottelet, Adele Verrat-Debailleul. Invention is credited to Franck Demol, Gerard Huchet, Claire Mallet, Beatrice Mottelet, Adele Verrat-Debailleul.
Application Number | 20180363919 16/050789 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47022973 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180363919 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mallet; Claire ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
COOKING HOB WITH WINDOW, COOKING APPLIANCE, AND PROCESS FOR
MANUFACTURING THE HOB
Abstract
A cooking hob, or a ceramic hob, for a fixed or mobile cooking
appliance, the hob including at least one cooking area and at least
one control and/or information area, the control and/or information
area being formed by a window separated from the cooking area by at
least one joint made of synthetic material. The joint includes a
mechanism for fixing a control and/or display screen under the
window.
Inventors: |
Mallet; Claire; (Outremont,
CA) ; Verrat-Debailleul; Adele; (Villers-Sur-Coudun,
FR) ; Mottelet; Beatrice; (Compiegne, FR) ;
Demol; Franck; (Chateau-Thierry, FR) ; Huchet;
Gerard; (Autreches, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mallet; Claire
Verrat-Debailleul; Adele
Mottelet; Beatrice
Demol; Franck
Huchet; Gerard |
Outremont
Villers-Sur-Coudun
Compiegne
Chateau-Thierry
Autreches |
|
CA
FR
FR
FR
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
EUROKERA S.N.C.
Chateau-Thierry
FR
|
Family ID: |
47022973 |
Appl. No.: |
16/050789 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14346200 |
Mar 20, 2014 |
10060633 |
|
|
PCT/FR12/52061 |
Sep 14, 2012 |
|
|
|
16050789 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/10 20130101;
F24C 7/083 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/10 20060101
F24C015/10; F24C 7/08 20060101 F24C007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2011 |
FR |
11 58537 |
Claims
1. A cooking hob for a fixed or mobile cooking appliance
comprising: a base hob, or a ceramic base hob, including at least
one cooking area and including at least one control and/or
information area, the control and/or information area being formed
by a window separated from the base hob by a joint made in a single
piece of synthetic material, the joint extending between the window
and the base hob, wherein the joint further extends under an inner
surface of the base hob and/or under an inner surface of the window
to fix a control and/or display screen under the window, the
control and/or display screen being inserted into a groove in the
joint.
2. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is
attached along an edge to the base hob by only the joint.
3. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 2, wherein the joint extends
around an entire periphery of the window.
4. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint extends
around an entire periphery of the window.
5. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint
includes a joint inner part that includes the groove to fix the
control and/or display screen under the window.
6. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 5, wherein the joint inner
part includes a base and wings extending from ends of a base to
form the shape of a C in a vertical section and the groove is
located between wings of the C.
7. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wings of the
C of the joint inner part contact a top surface and a bottom
surface of the control and/or display screen.
8. The cooking hob as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a stop
present in each groove positioned between an outer edge of the
control and/or display screen and a base of the C to prevent the
control and/or display screen from moving laterally.
9. A process for manufacturing a cooking hob as claimed in claim 1,
comprising: arranging the base hob and the window in a mold which
is then closed; and injecting a synthetic material into a mold
cavity to form the joint; and assembling the cooking hob such that
the joint further extends under the inner surface of the base hob
and/or under an inner surface of the window to fix the control
and/or display screen under the window, the control and/or display
screen being inserted into a groove in the joint.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/346,200, filed Mar. 20, 2014, which claims
priority from International Application No. PCT/FR12/052061, filed
Sep. 14, 2012, which is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from French Patent Application No. 1158537, filed Sep. 26,
2011, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance with a
cooking hob and notably to a fixed cooking appliance intended to be
incorporated into a rack placed in a work surface or in a cooker or
a mobile cooking appliance which is able to be moved manually and
easily.
[0003] A cooking appliance with a cooking hob includes a cooking
hob, for example a ceramic hob, on which it is possible to place a
saucepan, a frying pan or any other utensil likely to contain
foodstuffs to be re-heated or cooked, even on which foodstuffs to
be re-heated or cooked can be placed directly.
[0004] Furthermore, said cooking appliance generally has a casing
including a bottom and side walls forming a base inside of which is
(or are) positioned one (or several) heating element(s), such as,
for example, radiant or halogen hob plates, as well as means of
control so as to vary the power thereof, even to program when they
start and when they stop. The cooking hob closes the top of the
casing.
[0005] The present invention relates more particularly to a cooking
hob for a fixed or mobile cooking appliance including, on the one
hand, a base hob, notably a ceramic base hob, having at least one
cooking area and including, on the other hand, at least one control
and/or information area, said control and/or information area being
formed by a window separated from said base hob by at least one
joint made of synthetic material.
[0006] Realizing a joint between a window, under which is
positioned a screen, and the base hob is known notably from French
patent application No FR 2 746 904. The invention which is the
object of said document is based on the selection of the material
of the joint in order to enable tightness between the window and
the base hob.
[0007] In FIG. 3 said document shows a screen which "floats in
space"; there is no description of any means for fixing the screen.
It is supposed that the screen is fixed to the casing, but there is
no information in this regard.
[0008] A first disadvantage of said configuration is that it is
difficult to realize precise positioning and precise fixing of the
screen, in the three spatial dimensions, in relation to the window
which is situated below it; now this positioning is very important
in order to ensure a perception of quality of the display of the
screen through the window.
[0009] Said disadvantage is reinforced by the fact that the
connection between the window and the base hob is a connection with
permanent elasticity as claimed in the document. Said connection,
however, is not rigid and the window can thus move with use. Said
movement is harmful to the perception of the screen display through
the window.
[0010] Said problem of good perception of the screen display
through the window is all the more important as it is now possible
to realize small-sized screens with very high levels of resolution;
however, if the last element inserted between the screen and the
observer is not well designed, then the final resolution will be
seriously affected.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0011] The object of the invention is to alleviate the
disadvantages of the prior art and to supply a solution that is
simple to implement and is not expensive in order to ensure
reliable, precise positioning and reliable, precise fixing of a
display screen in relation to a window placed in a cooking hob and
through which what is on said screen is displayed.
[0012] The present invention thus relates in its widest sense to a
cooking hob for a fixed or mobile cooking appliance including a
base hob, notably a ceramic base hob, having at least one cooking
area and including at least one control and/or information area,
said control and/or information area being formed by a window
separated from said base hob by at least one joint made of
synthetic material, notable in that said joint includes means for
fixing a control and/or display screen under said window.
[0013] The present invention thus proposes to use the joint, which
is provided at least in part around the window, between the window
and the base hob, in a direct manner in order to position and fix
the control and/or display screen in relation to said window in an
ideal manner.
[0014] The window which is thus situated above the control and/or
display screen is transparent so as to make it possible to see what
is displayed on the screen; it is made of a material that is
different to that of the base hob; the screen is of LCD, LED or
OLED type and is perhaps a touch screen.
[0015] The fixing of the screen to the joint is preferably
mechanical fixing and is thus not chemical fixing (notably
bonding).
[0016] The joint thus has, preferably, a central part which is
situated both opposite at least part of the edge of the window and
opposite part of the perimeter of the hole which is placed in the
base hob and which accommodates the window.
[0017] As claimed in an important characteristic of the invention,
said joint preferably has a joint inner part extending under an
inner surface of said base hob and/or under an inner surface of
said window. Said inner part thus allows the mechanical hold of the
connection between the joint and respectively said base hob and/or
said window to be increased.
[0018] Under the inner surface of the window, said joint inner
part, in vertical section, can be in the shape, for example, of a C
or an L.
[0019] As claimed in the variants of the invention, the cooking hob
can include: [0020] at least one insert which is completely
incorporated into said joint, [0021] on the one hand, a base which
is incorporated at least in part, even completely, in a portion of
the material of said joint and, on the other hand, at least one
protruding element which protrudes at least in part, even
completely, outside of said joint, for fixing said control and/or
display screen; [0022] at least one screw and/or one support and/or
one clip and/or one rail, for fixing the control and/or display
screen to said joint.
[0023] It is possible, moreover, that part at least of an outer
surface of said window (where the window is inclined in relation to
the base hob), that even an entire outer surface of said window
(where the window protrudes or is below in relation to the base
hob) is not in the plane of an outer surface of said base hob.
[0024] Preferably, said joint has a joint outer part extending
above a joint central part and possibly extending over an outer
surface of said base hob and/or over an outer surface of said
window.
[0025] The present invention also relates to a fixed or mobile
cooking appliance provided with a cooking hob as claimed in the
invention.
[0026] The present invention also relates to several methods of
manufacturing the cooking hob as claimed in the invention.
[0027] In a first process of manufacturing the cooking hob as
claimed in the invention, said base hob and said window are
arranged in a mold which is then closed and a synthetic material is
then injected into a mold cavity so as to form said joint including
means for fixing the control and/or display screen.
[0028] In a second process of manufacturing the cooking hob as
claimed in the invention, a joint that has been preformed and
includes means for fixing the control and/or display screen is
bonded to said base hob and/or to said window.
[0029] In a third process of manufacturing the cooking hob as
claimed in the invention, said joint including means for fixing the
control and/or display screen is molded against said base hob or
against said window, said window or respectively said base hob then
being introduced into a groove of a frame formed by the joint when
said joint is hot.
[0030] In an advantageous manner, the present invention allows, in
a simple, efficient manner, a control and/or display screen to be
positioned with precision in the three spatial dimensions in a
cooking hob in relation to a window situated above said screen and
to be fixed with precision in the three spatial dimensions. The
positioning precision and the fixing precision can be achieved for
example to a tenth of a millimeter.
[0031] Equally in an advantageous manner, the joint as claimed in
the invention allows the edge of the window to be protected, even
if said window does not follow the continuity of the surface of the
hob (protruding in relation to the outer surface of the hob but
parallel to the hob) or if said window is inclined in relation to
the hob.
[0032] Equally advantageously, the joint as claimed in the
invention allows the fluid-tightness to be ensured between the edge
of the window and the perimeter of the hole realized in the hob,
even if said window does not follow the continuity of the surface
of the hob (protruding in relation to the outer surface of the hob
but parallel to the hob) or if said window is inclined in relation
to the hob.
[0033] Equally advantageously, the solution of the invention is
applicable even when the control and/or information area is
situated on the edge of the cooking hob.
[0034] Advantageously furthermore, the fact that the control and/or
display screen is fixed to the joint allows the screen to be
changed easily if necessary (if the screen is faulty): all that is
necessary is to access under the cooking hob and to undo the means
for fixing the screen; furthermore, it is easy and not expensive to
proceed with changing the faulty screen for a screen that operates
correctly and which will, in turn, be positioned with precision and
fixed with precision in relation to the window; it is not necessary
to change the base hob, nor the window, nor to remake the joint
between the base hob and the window.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The present invention will be better understood by reading
the detailed description below of non-restricting exemplary
embodiments and the accompanying figures:
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a cooking hob as
claimed in the invention with a base hob including a full hole and
a window in said hole;
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a partial vertical cutaway view according to
AA' in FIG. 1;
[0038] FIGS. 3 to 6 show respectively a section equivalent to that
of FIG. 1 for other variants of embodiments of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of another base hob as claimed
in the invention with a notch for accommodating a window;
[0040] FIG. 8 shows a cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a
mold for realizing the joint as claimed in one embodiment of the
joint according to FIG. 3; and
[0041] FIGS. 9 to 11 show respectively a top view of part of a mold
of FIG. 8 and a partial vertical cutaway view according to B-B' and
according to C-C' of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] It is made clear that the proportions between the various
elements shown are not strictly respected in said figures and the
elements in the rear plane are not all shown so as to simplify the
reading of the same.
[0043] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance
as claimed in the invention. The appliance shown here thus has a
general straight, parallelepipedic shape.
[0044] The appliance shown here is a fixed cooking appliance, also
called an "integrated appliance", which is intended to be installed
in a rack placed in a work surface or in a cooker and which, once
it has been installed and fixed, can no longer be moved; however,
the present invention is also applicable to a mobile cooking
appliance, being in the form of a casing and which can be
positioned, for example, on a work surface or on a dining table and
which can be moved manually.
[0045] The cooking appliance includes a cooking hob 1 which is flat
and which has a general straight, parallelepipedic shape (that is
to say rectangular or square when seen from above).
[0046] Said cooking hob 1 includes a base hob 2 which, in
particular, can be a ceramic hob.
[0047] Even if, when seen from above, the most popular shape for
the base hob is a rectangle, the base hob, when seen from above,
can also have a circular shape, or a kidney shape or even a
trapezoidal shape; the only constraint to the shape is that
connected with the method of manufacturing the base hob.
[0048] The base hob 2 includes a flat outer surface 21 intended to
be positioned horizontally and on which the cooking utensils
(saucepans or others) sit to be heated. In the remaining
description, the cooking hob 1 as claimed in the invention is
considered as being positioned horizontally and the positionings:
under/underneath and on/above are realized in relation to the
vertical.
[0049] Even if a base hob is flat in general, it is possible for a
base hob to be curved inward, notably toward the inside of the
cooking appliance.
[0050] The base hob 2 here has four cooking areas 3, 3', 3'', 3''',
shown here by circles with different diameters, but which can be in
any shape.
[0051] Furthermore, the cooking hob 1 includes a control and/or
information area 4.
[0052] A heating element (not shown) such as a radiant or halogen
element and/or at least one gas burner and/or at least one
induction heating coil is positioned under each cooking area of the
base hob 2. Moreover, equally for simplification, the supply of the
heating element has not been shown.
[0053] The control and/or information area 4 is the place from
where it is possible to control the operation of each cooking area
3, 3', 3'', 3''' and/or where it is possible to display information
relating to the operation of each cooking area 3, 3', 3'',
3'''.
[0054] In this case, the sole control and/or information area 4 is
the place from where it is possible to control the operation of all
the cooking areas 3, 3', 3'', 3''' independently and where it is
possible to display information relating to the operation of all
the cooking areas 3, 3', 3'', 3''' independently; however, there
could be, for example, two control and/or information areas, with
for each control and/or information area the possibility of
controlling the operation of two of the four cooking areas
independently and the possibility of displaying information
relating to the operation of said two cooking areas
independently.
[0055] It is possible, furthermore, for the (or each) control
and/or information area to allow another appliance or other
appliances to be controlled and/or information relating to another
appliance or other appliances to be displayed, or even to display
any type of information.
[0056] The control and/or information area 4 is formed by a window
5 which is in a material that is different to that of the base hob
2.
[0057] In particular, when the base hob 2 is ceramic, its
constituent material prevents a clear, precise transmission of
information through it.
[0058] By way of example, the base hob made of Kerablack black
ceramic marketed by Eurokera has a luminous transmission in the
visible in the region of 1.5% (integrated value, measured according
to illuminant D65) and blurriness in the visible in excess of
95%.
[0059] Furthermore, there are black ceramic base hobs that are more
transparent and more expensive, the integrated luminous
transmission of which is higher but remains weak (less than 5%),
and the polychromatic transmission (for white) remains
unsatisfactory.
[0060] The window 5 is preferably made of glass, possibly
dip-coated thermally or chemically or possibly hardened. It is
transparent, with an integrated luminous transmission in the
visible in excess of 70% (measured for example according to
illuminant D65); it is clear and has less than 50% blurriness.
[0061] It is possible to provide a transparent polymer film under a
sheet of glass in order to form a window 5 that is particularly
tough.
[0062] The window 5 is separated, with no direct physical contact,
from the base hob 2 by a joint 6 made of non-mineral, synthetic
material.
[0063] In this case, the window 5, when seen from above, is in the
shape of a rectangle and is positioned in a hole that is of a
similar shape but is a little bit wider and a little bit longer
than the window and which has been placed beforehand in the base
hob 2. Said hole is a throughhole in the sense that it opens into
the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2, as well as into an opposite
surface: the inner surface 22 of the base hob 2 (not visible in
FIG. 1); said parallelepipedic hole is a full hole in the sense
that its entire outer periphery is realized on the outer surface 21
and its entire inner periphery is realized on the inner surface
22.
[0064] Even if the most popular shape for the window is the shape
of a rectangle when seen from above, the window, when seen from
above, can also have a circular shape, or a kidney shape or even a
trapezoidal shape; the only constraint to the shape is that
connected with the method of manufacturing the window.
[0065] As claimed in the invention, said joint 6 includes means for
fixing, directly or indirectly, a control and/or display screen 7
under the window 5 to the joint 6 in the three spatial dimensions
x, y, z, in such a manner that the orientation of said screen in
relation to the window 5 is unchanged as soon as the screen is
fixed rigidly to said window and it is therefore possible to
display what is on the screen 7 through the window 5.
[0066] The screen 7 is thus correctly parallel to the window 5 and
the display of what is on the screen is ideal. There is no
distortion whatsoever of the image through the window 5.
[0067] The window is preferably attached along its edge to the base
hob 2 only by the joint 6.
[0068] The joint 6 is thus present over the entire periphery of the
window 5, or in any event along the periphery of the window 5 which
is opposite the base hob 2.
[0069] The joint 6 thus has a central part 60 which is situated
both opposite at least part of the edge 50 of the window 5 and
opposite part of the perimeter 20 of the hole which is placed in
the base hob 2 and which accommodates the window 5.
[0070] As explained below, said central part 60 can be situated
opposite at least part of the edge of the window 5 over the length
and/or the height of said edge 50 and said joint central part 60
can be situated opposite at least part of the perimeter 20 of the
hole over the length and/or the height of said hole.
[0071] As claimed in an important characteristic of the invention,
said joint 6 preferably has a joint inner part 62 extending under
the inner surface 22 of the hob 2 and/or under the inner surface 52
of the window 5.
[0072] The joint 6 has a joint inner part 62 which preferably
extends both under the inner surface 22 of the hob 2 and under the
inner surface 52 of the window 5, as shown by way of FIGS. 2 to 6,
so as to improve the mechanical hold between the window 5 and the
base hob 2 by means of the joint 6.
[0073] In a first embodiment variant of the invention, it is the
joint 6 itself which enables the screen 7 to be attached directly;
to do this, the joint inner part 62, under the inner surface 52 of
the window 5, in vertical section is: [0074] either in the shape of
a C, so as to be able to accommodate part of the control and/or
display screen 7 in a groove 63 created between the wings of the C,
as shown in FIG. 2, [0075] or in the shape of an L, so as to be
able to rest the screen 7 on the base of the L, between said base
and the inner surface 52 of the window 5.
[0076] In said two configurations, it is possible for the joint
inner part 62 to extend under the inner surface 22 of the hob
2.
[0077] In said two configurations, the C or L shape is sufficiently
lengthened in order to enable a rail to be formed to accommodate
two sides of the screen 7.
[0078] With said configurations, it is thus possible to make the
screen 7 slide in the x direction in order to position it correctly
under the window 5. Blocking in the y direction is ensured by at
least one stop 64 which is present in each groove 63. Blocking in
the z direction is ensured by the fact that the height of the
groove 63 is appreciably the same as the thickness of the screen 7,
or at least the same as the thickness of the part of the screen 7
that has to slide toward the inside.
[0079] With reference to FIG. 1, the screen can thus be slid under
the window 5 in the groove 63 from the right or from the left; it
is also possible to provide that a left or right edge of the joint
6 is also provided with the joint inner part 62 in the shape of an
L or a C so that the screen is held on three sides once it has been
correctly positioned under the window 5.
[0080] In order to increase the mechanical hold of the joint 6, it
is possible to provide that it includes an insert which is
completely incorporated into the material of the joint. Said insert
is preferably metallic, with a coefficient of expansion which is
preferably relatively weak and which is adjusted to the thermal
constraints of the manufacture of the joint 6 and to the thermal
constraints of the operation of the cooking appliance.
[0081] The insert can be perforated so that the material of the
joint penetrates the perforations and thus increases the mechanical
cohesion between the insert and the joint.
[0082] The insert can be positioned at least in part in the joint
central part 60 and/or in the joint outer part 61 and/or in the
joint inner part 62.
[0083] As an alternative to the first variant of the embodiment of
the invention, it is not the joint 6 itself which enables the
screen 7 to be directly attached, but an accessory attached to the
joint 6 which enables the screen 7 to be indirectly attached to the
joint 6.
[0084] Said accessory can be an insert as indicated previously, for
example, but including, on the one hand, a base 80 which is
incorporated at least partially, even completely, in a portion of
the material of the joint 6 and, on the other hand, at least one
protruding element 81 which protrudes at least in part, even
completely, outside of said joint 6, for fixing said control and/or
display screen 7. The protruding element 81 extends approximately
perpendicularly with respect to the general plane of the base
80.
[0085] The base 80 can be provided along the two left and right
edges of the window 5 (with reference to the positioning of FIG.
1). It allows its mechanical connection between the joint 6 and the
screen 7 to be strengthened.
[0086] The protruding element 81 can have different shapes: [0087]
in FIG. 3, the protruding element is a screw 82, soldered to the
base 8 at its high end and provided with a thread in its low part
in order to enable a nut to be screwed on; two screws are
preferably provided at least along each of the two left and right
edges of the window 5 so as to enable a support 85 to be retained,
fitted on the screws 82 and on which the screen 7 is fixed and thus
to enable the screen to be fixed indirectly to the joint 6 in the
three spatial dimensions; [0088] in FIG. 4, the protruding element
is a support 83 (or clip) curved in the shape of an L; two supports
83 are preferably provided along each of the two left and right
edges of the window 5 so as to enable the screen 7 to be positioned
and fixed correctly under the window 5; for a better hold, it is
possible to provide that the screen is sandwiched by each left and
right side, between the support 83 and the joint inner part 62;
said support 83 can be manufactured for example by bending; [0089]
in FIG. 5, the insert is a rail 84 in the shape of an H; a rail 84
is preferably provided along each of the two left and right edges
of the window 5 so as to allow the screen 7 to slide on the rails
in order to position it correctly under the window 5; for a better
hold, it is possible to provide that the screen is sandwiched by
each left and right side, between the protruding part of the rail
84 and the joint inner part 62; said rail can be produced for
example by extrusion.
[0090] As a variant, the protruding element could be a clip in the
manner of clips known for fixing windscreens in the frame of a
vehicle body.
[0091] It is possible, moreover, to provide that a nut is attached
(for example soldered) to a protruding part of an insert.
[0092] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to provide
that the window 5 has the same thickness as the base hob 2 and that
the outer surface 51 of the window 5 follows precisely the
continuity of the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2.
[0093] However, it is also possible for the window 5 to be less
thick than the hob 2 and for the joint 6 thus to enable said
difference in thickness to be compensated in order to ensure that
the outer surface 51 of the window 5 follows exactly the continuity
of the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2; in this case, the inner
surface 52 of the window 5 does not come up to the inner surface 22
of the base hob 2, upwardly.
[0094] In said two FIGS. 2 and 3, the joint central part 60 enables
a surface continuity to be realized between the outer surface 51 of
the window 5 and the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2 by very
precisely filling in the space available between said two surfaces
in a fluid-tight manner.
[0095] In FIG. 4, the window 5 has the same thickness as the base
hob 2, but a joint outer part 61 extends above the joint central
part 60. In said figure, the joint outer part 61 extends over the
outer surface 21 of the base hob 2 and over the outer surface 51 of
the window 5; however, it is possible to provide that the joint
outer part 61 extends very precisely just above the joint central
part 60, following the vertical continuity of the joint central
part 60 without overflowing onto the outer surface 21 of the base
hob 2 and/or onto the outer surface 51 of the window 5.
[0096] The ends jutting out toward the outside of the joint outer
part 61 are preferably not at a right angle, that is to say at a
cut angle or at a rounded angle.
[0097] In FIG. 5, the outer surface 51 of the window 5 juts out
from the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2 upwardly; the outer
surface 51 of the window 5 is thus raised in relation to the outer
surface 21 of the base hob 2.
[0098] This can be obtained for example by providing: [0099] that
the inner surface 52 of the window 5 follows precisely the
continuity of the inner surface 22 of the base hob 2 but that the
window 5 is thicker than the base hob 2; or [0100] that the window
5 has appreciably the same thickness as the base hob 2 and that the
inner surface 52 of the window 5 also does not come up to the inner
surface 22 of the base hob 2, upwardly.
[0101] Said FIG. 5 shows the fact that the joint central part 60
provides its join along the entire periphery of the window 5
between the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2 and the outer
surface 51 jutting out from the window 5, so as to protect the edge
50 of the window 5.
[0102] As a variant, it is possible to provide that certain
peripheral edges, even all the peripheral edges, of the outer
surface 51 of the window 5 are beveled (not a right angle).
[0103] It is possible to provide that the window 5 enables a
magnifying effect in relation to the screen 7 for any observer
looking at the screen 7 from above the window 5, either by means of
a sheet of glass having a particular focal distance, or by means of
a transparent polymer film bonded against the inner surface 52.
[0104] In FIG. 6, unlike all the previous variants, the window 5 is
not positioned parallel to the base hob 2, but is inclined in
relation to said hob, by an angle .alpha. of between 2.degree. and
45.degree. inclusive, even of between 5.degree. and 25.degree.
inclusive.
[0105] Said FIG. 6 also shows the fact that the joint central part
60 provides the tight join over the entire periphery of the window
5 between the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2 and the outer
surface 51 jutting out from the window 5, so as to protect the edge
50 of the window 5.
[0106] FIG. 7 shows another base hob 2: unlike the base hob of FIG.
1, only two cooking areas 3, 3' are provided.
[0107] Furthermore, unlike the base hob of FIG. 1, the hole which
accommodates the control and/or information area 4 is not a full
hole, but a partial hole, along one of the edges of the base hob 2
(in this case the right-hand edge).
[0108] Thus, said hole is a throughhole in the sense that it opens
out onto the outer surface 21 of the base hob 2, as well as onto
its inner surface 22, but said hole is not a full hole in the sense
that its periphery, as much for the outer surface as for the inner
surface, is not closed.
[0109] In this case, the joint 6 is only present along three edges
of the periphery of the window 5, or in any case along the
periphery of the window 5 which is opposite the base hob 2.
[0110] It is possible to provide that the window 5 extends beyond
the edge (in this case the right-hand edge) of the base hob 2 in
which the notch which forms the hole is placed.
[0111] For said variant of FIG. 7, it is possible to use one of the
solutions for the joint 6 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.
[0112] Whatever the shape of the hole (FIG. 1 or FIG. 7) in which
the window 5 is positioned, said hole is preferably formed by
cutting the base hob 2 before the stage of ceramicization in the
case of a ceramic base hob.
[0113] It is possible to provide that the window 5 is compatible
with a touch screen 7 by providing a conductive transparent film
against the inner surface 52.
[0114] The solutions shown above for fixing the control and/or
display screen 7 under said window 5 have the important advantage
of being able to change the screen 7, if necessary, without having
to change the window 5 and above all, without having to change the
joint 6, whilst always guaranteeing that the new screen 7 is
positioned and fixed correctly in relation to the window 5.
[0115] Furthermore, although this has not been mentioned it is
possible that the base hob is not flat; in this case, at least in
part along the periphery of the hole in the base hob, the outer
surface of the window has a retaining wall, toward the inside or
the outside.
[0116] In order to realize the joint 6 as claimed in the invention,
several solutions can be implemented as alternatives:
[0117] In a first solution, so-called "encapsulation", shown by way
of FIGS. 8 to 11, the base hob 2, the window 5 as well as means for
fixing the control and/or display screen are all arranged in a mold
part 90, then another mold part 91 is closed on the former; a mold
cavity 92 is arranged between said two mold parts, said cavity
having the desired shape of the joint 6 in the hollow (in this case
the shape of the joint in FIG. 3).
[0118] The mold cavity 92 includes the recesses 93 for the
positioning of the screws 82 before molding so that the base 80 of
each screw is positioned in the mold cavity but the threaded part
of each screw is protected so that the material of the joint does
not come into contact with the pitch of the screw during the
molding of the joint.
[0119] A synthetic material is then injected into the mold cavity
so as to form the joint 6 including means for fixing the control
and/or display screen 7.
[0120] Said solution is particularly practical to implement when
the joint includes an insert as it allows the correct positioning
of the insert to be ensured in relation to the elements introduced
into the mold: the base hob 2 and the window 5.
[0121] FIGS. 9 to 11 show a manner of positioning the base hob 2
correctly in relation to the mold part 90 and the window 5 in
relation to said mold part 90.
[0122] The mold part 90 thus includes retractable centering
elements 95 for centering the base hob 2 in relation to the mold
part 90, as well as fixed centering elements 96 for centering the
window 5 in relation to the mold part 90.
[0123] Once the base hob 2 has been centered in relation to the
mold part 90 thanks to the retractable centering elements 95, as
shown in FIG. 10, said elements are retracted into the mold part
90, then the window 5 is introduced into the mold part and is
centered by means of the fixed centering elements 96, as shown in
FIG. 11.
[0124] It must be noted that for the encapsulation solution, it is
not necessary for the mold to accommodate the entire base hob 2; it
can be provided that the molding is only effected over one part of
the base hob 2, the part which includes the hole in which the
window 5 is fixed thanks to the joint 6.
[0125] In a second solution, so-called "bonding", the joint 6 is
preformed (manufactured beforehand into the desired shape) and it
thus already includes the means for fixing the control and/or
display screen 7; then said joint 6 is bonded to the base hob 2
and/or to the window 5.
[0126] In a third solution, so-called "by withdrawal", the joint 6
including means for rigidly fixing the control and/or display
screen 7 is molded against the base hob 2 or against the window 5;
subsequently, the window 5 or respectively the hob 2 is then
introduced into a groove of the frame formed by the joint 6 when
this latter is hot and the window 5 is then fixed to the base hob 2
by withdrawing the material constituting the joint 6, with no
chemical adhesion between the joint and the window or respectively
the base hob.
[0127] If the joint is molded against the base hob 2, the groove of
the frame which accommodates the window 5 is formed by the joint
central part 60, the joint outer part 61 extending over the window
5 and the joint inner part 62 extending under the window 5.
[0128] If the joint is molded against the window 5, the groove of
the frame which accommodates the base hob 2 is formed by the joint
central part 60, the joint outer part 61 extending over the base
hob 2 and the joint inner part 62 extending under the base hob
2.
[0129] The present invention is described in what precedes by way
of example. It is understood that the expert is in a position to
realize different variants of the invention without necessarily
departing from the framework of the patent such as defined by the
claims.
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