U.S. patent application number 16/620495 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-11 for connecting element for connecting an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction cooking hob.
The applicant listed for this patent is ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AKTIEBOLAG. Invention is credited to Massimo BANZATO, Laurent JEANNETEAU, Filippo MILANESI, Alwin NEUKAMM, Claudio PAOLINI, Agostino ROSSATO, Valerio VERDOLIVA.
Application Number | 20200187312 16/620495 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59034585 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-11 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200187312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VERDOLIVA; Valerio ; et
al. |
June 11, 2020 |
CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR CONNECTING AN INDUCTION COIL TO A COIL
CARRIER OF AN INDUCTION COOKING HOB
Abstract
The present invention relates to a connecting element (10) for
connecting an induction coil (24) to a coil carrier (26) of an
induction cooking hob. The connecting element (10) is made of an
elastic material and formed as a single-piece part. The connecting
element (10) includes a first snap-fit portion (12) connectable to
a cut-out of the induction coil (24), so that the snap-fit portion
(12) and the cut-out form a snap-in mechanism. The connecting
element (10) includes a spring portion (14) arrangeable between the
induction coil (24) and the coil carrier (26), so that the spring
portion (14) provides a distance between the induction coil (24)
and the coil carrier (26). The connecting element (10) includes at
least one groove (16) enclosing at least partially the connecting
element (10). The groove (16) is engageable with the cut-out of the
induction coil (24). The connecting element (10) includes a second
snap-fit portion (18) extending opposite to the first snap-fit
portion (12). The second snap-fit portion (18) is connectable to a
cut-out (32) of the coil carrier (26), so that the second snap-fit
portion (18) and the cut-out (32) form a snap-in mechanism.
Inventors: |
VERDOLIVA; Valerio; (Forli,
IT) ; NEUKAMM; Alwin; (Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
DE) ; PAOLINI; Claudio; (Forli, IT) ;
MILANESI; Filippo; (Forli, IT) ; JEANNETEAU;
Laurent; (Forli, IT) ; BANZATO; Massimo;
(Forli, IT) ; ROSSATO; Agostino; (Forli,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AKTIEBOLAG |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
59034585 |
Appl. No.: |
16/620495 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
May 28, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/063901 |
371 Date: |
December 7, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 6/1209 20130101;
H05B 6/1245 20130101; F24C 7/067 20130101; H05B 2206/022
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05B 6/12 20060101
H05B006/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2017 |
EP |
17175262.9 |
Jul 17, 2017 |
EP |
17181577.2 |
Claims
1. A connecting element for connecting an induction coil to a coil
carrier of an induction cooking hob, wherein: the connecting
element is made of an elastic material, the connecting element is
formed as a single-piece part, the connecting element includes a
first snap-fit portion connectable to a first cut-out of the
induction coil, so that the first snap-fit portion and the first
cut-out form a first snap-in mechanism, the connecting element
includes a spring portion arrangeable between the induction coil
and the coil carrier, so that the spring portion provides a
distance between the induction coil and the coil carrier, the
connecting element includes at least one groove enclosing at least
partially the connecting element the groove is engageable with the
first cut-out of the induction coil, the connecting element
includes a second snap-fit portion extending opposite to the first
snap-fit portion, and the second snap-fit portion is connectable to
a second cut-out of the coil carrier, so that the second snap-fit
portion and the second cut-out form a second snap-in mechanism.
2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting element is made of silicone or rubber.
3. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one groove is arranged between the first snap-fit portion and
the spring portion.
4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the spring
portion includes at least two wings arranged at opposite sides,
wherein said wings extend outwards and away from the first snap-fit
portion.
5. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the second
snap-fit portion extends between the least two wings of the spring
portion.
6. The connecting element according to claim 1, the at least one
groove comprising two parallel grooves arranged at opposite sides
of the connecting element.
7. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting element is formed as a profile section having a profile
axis extends parallel to the at least one groove.
8. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the first
snap-fit portion includes a clearance hole that extends parallel to
the profile axis.
9. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the first
snap-fit portion is formed as a truncated pyramid.
10. An induction cooking hob comprising an induction coil, a coil
carrier, and a plurality of the connecting elements according to
claim 1.
11. The induction cooking hob according to claim 10, wherein the
induction coil includes a plurality of said first cut-outs adapted
for receiving the first snap-fit portions of respective ones of
said plurality of connecting elements, wherein each said first
cut-out is engaged or engageable with the at least one groove of
the respective connecting element.
12. The induction cooking hob according to claim 11, wherein the
coil carrier includes a plurality of said second cut-outs adapted
for receiving the second snap-fit portions of respective ones of
said plurality of connecting elements.
13. The induction cooking hob according to claim 10, wherein the
first cut-outs of the induction coil and/or the second cut-outs of
the coil carrier have rectangular shapes.
14. A method for assembling at least one induction coil to a coil
carrier for the induction cooking hob according to claim 10,
comprising the steps of: providing the coil carrier including a
plurality of said second cut-outs, providing the induction coil
including a plurality of said first cut-outs, inserting a
predetermined number of the connecting elements into the
corresponding selected ones of said second cut-outs of the coil
carrier by a robot, so that the second snap-fit portion of each
said connecting element penetrates the corresponding second cut-out
of the coil carrier, and setting the induction coil onto the
inserted connecting elements by the robot, so that the first
snap-fit portion of each said connecting element penetrates a
corresponding one of said first cut-outs of the induction coil and
the grooves of the connecting elements engage with the
corresponding first cut-outs of the induction coil.
15. A method for assembling at least one induction coil to a coil
carrier for an induction cooking hob according to claim 10,
comprising the steps of: providing the induction coil including a
plurality of said first cut-outs, providing the coil carrier
including a plurality of said second cut-outs, inserting a
predetermined number of the connecting elements into corresponding
selected ones of said first cut-outs of the induction coil by a
robot, so that the first snap-fit portion of each said connecting
element penetrates the corresponding first cut-out of the induction
coil and the grooves of the respective connecting elements engage
with the corresponding first cut-outs of the induction coil, and
setting the induction coil the connecting elements onto the coil
carrier, so that the second snap-fit portion of each said
connecting element penetrates a corresponding one of said second
cut-outs of the coil carrier.
16. A connecting element for connecting an induction coil to a coil
carrier, the connecting element being a single-piece part made of
elastic material and formed as a profile section of constant
cross-section along a profile axis; the connecting element
comprising a first snap-fit portion, a spring portion, and a pair
of opposing and substantially coplanar grooves extending parallel
to the profile axis at either lateral side of the connecting
element and being located between the first snap-fit portion and
the spring portion; said first snap-fit portion having a lateral
dimension that at least partially decreases with increased distance
from said grooves; said spring portion comprising a pair of
opposing wings respectively extending downward from said groves and
away from one another at either lateral side of the connecting
element; and a second snap-fit portion extending opposite the first
snap-fit portion between said opposing wings.
17. The connecting element according to claim 16, said first
snap-fit portion comprising a pyramid shape and having a clearance
hole therein that extends parallel to said profile axis.
18. An induction cooking hob comprising an induction coil supported
on a coil carrier by the connecting element of claim 16, and
cooking panel arranged at a top side of said cooking hob, said
first snap-fit portion extending upward above a coil plate of said
induction coil through a first cut-out therein, said spring portion
extending downward below said coil plate, and said coil plate being
received and engaged in said grooves, said spring portion resting
on said coil carrier to thereby support the induction coil thereon,
said spring portion being resilient thereby pushing the induction
coil upward toward and against said cooking panel; said snap-fit
portion and said alignment means being adapted to facilitate
interconnection of said induction coil to said coil carrier via
said connecting element via compression thereof along a common
single axis to facilitate efficient robotic assembly thereof, said
connecting element acting as a spacer that prohibits direct
physical contact between said coil carrier and said induction
coil.
19. The induction cooking hob according to claim 18, said second
snap-in portion extending downward through a second cut-out in said
coil carrier to thereby fix a lateral position of said connecting
element on said coil carrier, said first snap-in portion and said
second snap-in portion being aligned along said common single axis
so that said induction coil can be connected to said coil carrier
via said connecting element robotically via single-axis compression
therebetween.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting element for
connecting an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction
cooking hob. Further, the present invention relates to an induction
cooking hob with at least one induction coil and at least one coil
carrier. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for
assembling an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction
cooking hob.
[0002] The fastening of an induction coil on coil carrier of an
induction cooking hob requires several elements. For example, a
metal spring element is arranged between the induction coil and the
coil carrier in order to push said induction coil towards a cooking
panel arranged on the top side of the induction cooking hob.
Further, at least one fastening element is provided for connecting
the induction coil, the coil carrier and/or the spring element.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
connecting element for connecting an induction coil to a coil
carrier of an induction cooking hob, which allows a reliable
connection between the induction coil and the coil carrier by low
complexity.
[0004] The object is achieved by the connecting element according
to claim 1.
[0005] According to the present invention a connecting element for
connecting an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction
cooking hob is provided, wherein: [0006] the connecting element is
made of an elastic material, [0007] the connecting element is
formed as a single-piece part, [0008] the connecting element
includes a first snap-fit portion connectable to a cut-out of the
induction coil, so that the snap-fit portion and the cut-out form a
snap-in mechanism, [0009] the connecting element includes a spring
portion arrangeable between the induction coil and the coil
carrier, so that the spring portion provides a distance between the
induction coil and the coil carrier, [0010] the connecting element
includes at least one groove enclosing at least partially the
connecting element, [0011] the groove is engageable with the
cut-out of the induction coil, [0012] the connecting element
includes a second snap-fit portion extending opposite to the first
snap-fit portion, and [0013] the second snap-fit portion is
connectable to a cut-out of the coil carrier, so that the second
snap-fit portion and the cut-out form a snap-in mechanism.
[0014] The main idea of the present invention is the connecting
element formed as single-piece part, wherein said connecting
element includes the first snap-fit portion, the second snap-fit
portion, the groove and the spring portion. The snap-in mechanism
formed by the first snap-fit portion, the groove and the cut-out of
the induction coil allows a reliable fixation of the connecting
element at the induction coil. In a similar way, the snap-in
mechanism formed by the second snap-fit portion and the cut-out of
the coil carrier allows a reliable fixation of the connecting
element on the coil carrier. The spring portion allows an elastic
support of the induction coil by the coil carrier. On the induction
coil and on the coil carrier only cut-outs, but not any projecting
elements, are required in order to fix the connecting element.
[0015] For example, the connecting element is made of silicone or
rubber.
[0016] In particular, the at least one groove is arranged between
the first snap-fit portion and the spring portion.
[0017] Further, the spring portion may include at least two wings
arranged at opposite sides, wherein said wings extend outwards and
away from the first snap-fit portion.
[0018] Preferably, the second snap-fit portion extends between the
at least two wings of the spring portion.
[0019] Advantageously, the at least two parallel grooves are
arranged at opposite sides of the connecting element.
[0020] In particular, the connecting element is formed as a profile
section, wherein the profile axis extends parallel to the at least
one groove.
[0021] Further, the first snap-fit portion may include a clearance
hole, wherein preferably said clearance hole extends parallel to
the profile axis.
[0022] Alternatively, the first snap-fit portion may be formed as a
truncated pyramid.
[0023] Further, the present invention relates to an induction
cooking hob with at least one induction coil and at least one coil
carrier, wherein the induction cooking hob comprises a plurality of
connecting elements according to any one of the preceding
claims.
[0024] In particular, the induction coil includes a plurality of
cut-outs adapted for receiving the snap-fit portion, wherein said
cut-out is engaged or engageable with the groove.
[0025] Additionally, the coil carrier may include a plurality of
cut-outs adapted for receiving the further snap-fit portion.
[0026] Preferably, the cut-outs of the induction coil and/or the
cut-outs of the coil carrier have rectangular shapes.
[0027] Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for
assembling at least one induction coil to a coil carrier for an
induction cooking hob by using a plurality of connecting elements
mentioned above, wherein the method comprises the steps of: [0028]
providing the coil carrier including a plurality of cut-outs,
[0029] providing the at least one induction coil including a
plurality of cut-outs, [0030] inserting a predetermined number of
the of connecting elements into the corresponding selected cut-outs
of the coil carrier by a robot, so that the second snap-fit portion
of each connecting element penetrates the corresponding cut-out of
the coil carrier, and [0031] setting the induction coil onto the
inserted connecting elements by the robot, so that the first
snap-fit portion of each connecting element penetrates the
corresponding cut-out of the induction coil and the grooves of the
connecting elements engage with the corresponding cut-outs of the
induction coil.
[0032] At last, the present invention relates to an alternative
method for assembling at least one induction coil to the coil
carrier for an induction cooking hob by using a plurality of
connecting elements mentioned above, wherein the method comprises
the steps of: [0033] providing the at least one induction coil
including a plurality of cut-outs, [0034] providing the coil
carrier including a plurality of cut-outs, [0035] inserting a
predetermined number of the connecting elements into the
corresponding selected cut-outs of the induction coil by a robot,
so that the first snap-fit portion of each connecting element
penetrates the corresponding cut-out of the induction coil and the
grooves of the connecting elements engage with the corresponding
cut-outs of the induction coil, and [0036] setting the induction
coil with the connecting elements onto the coil carrier, so that
the second snap-fit portion of each connecting element penetrates
the corresponding cut-out of the coil carrier.
[0037] The fixation of the connecting elements at the induction
coil is very rigid.
[0038] Furthermore, a component supplier may provide induction
coils including the plurality of cut-outs, wherein the connecting
elements are already inserted in the corresponding selected
cut-outs.
[0039] Novel and inventive features of the present invention are
set forth in the appended claims.
[0040] The present invention will be described in further detail
with reference to the drawing, in which
[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a
connecting element according to a first embodiment of the present
invention,
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element according to the first embodiment of the present
invention,
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element according to a second embodiment of the present
invention,
[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element according to a third embodiment of the present
invention,
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the
connecting element interconnected between the induction coil and
the coil carrier according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, and
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective sectional view of
the connecting element interconnected between the induction coil
and the coil carrier according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a
connecting element 10 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. The connecting element 10 is made of an elastic
material. Preferably, the connecting element 10 is made of silicone
or rubber.
[0048] In this example, the connecting element 10 has the shape of
a profile section, so that the cross-section of said connecting
element 10 along a profile axis is constant. The connecting element
10 includes a first snap-fit portion 12, a spring portion 14 and a
second snap-fit portion 18. The first snap-fit portion 12 is
substantially formed as a prism extending along the profile axis.
The width of the first snap-fit portion 12 decreases with the
distance from the spring portion 14. The spring portion 14 includes
two wings arranged at opposite sides. Said wings extend outwards
and away from the first snap-fit portion 12. Two parallel grooves
16 are formed between the first snap-fit portion 12 and the spring
portion 14. Said grooves 16 are arranged at opposite sides. The
grooves 16 extend parallel to the profile axis. Each groove 16 is
arranged between the first snap-fit portion 12 and one wing of the
spring portion 14. The second snap-fit portion 18 is arranged
opposite to the first snap-fit portion 12. Moreover, the first
snap-fit portion 12 includes a clearance hole 22 extending along
the profile axis. Thus, the first snap-fit portion 12 is a flexible
hose with a triangular cross-section.
[0049] The connecting element 10 is provided for connecting an
induction coil 24 to a coil carrier 26 of an induction cooking hob,
wherein the distal ends of the wings of the spring portion 14 are
aligned on the coil carrier 26. The first snap-fit portion 12 is
penetrable into a cut-out of the induction coil 24. Preferably,
said cut-out is rectangular. For example, the cut-out may be formed
in an aluminium sheet of the induction coil 24. The grooves 16 of
the connecting element 10 are engaged or engageable with the
cut-out of the induction coil 24. The second snap-fit portion 18 is
penetrable into a cut-out of the coil carrier 24. Preferably, said
cut-out is also rectangular.
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element 10 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 clarifies the cross-section of the connecting
element 10 of the first embodiment. The first snap-fit portion 12
is hollow and hence easily deformable. Thus, the first snap-fit
portion 12 can be inserted into the cut-out of the induction coil
24 by little effort.
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element 10 according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. Also the connecting element 10 of the second embodiment
has the shape of a profile section.
[0052] The connecting element 10 includes the first snap-fit
portion 12, the spring portion 14 and the second snap-fit portion
18. The first snap-fit portion 12 is substantially formed as a
cuboid extending along the profile axis. The spring portion 14
includes two wings arranged at opposite sides. Said wings extend
outwards and away from the first snap-fit portion 12. Two grooves
16 are formed between the first snap-fit portion 12 and the spring
portion 14. The grooves 16 extend parallel to each other and are
arranged at opposite sides. The grooves 16 extend along the profile
axis. Each groove 16 is arranged between the first snap-fit portion
12 and one wing of the spring portion 14. The second snap-fit
portion 18 is arranged opposite to the first snap-fit portion 12.
The second snap-fit portion 18 is penetrable into the cut-out of
the coil carrier 24.
[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic front view of the connecting
element 10 according to a third embodiment of the present
invention. The connecting element 10 of the third embodiment also
has the shape of a profile section.
[0054] The connecting element 10 includes the first snap-fit
portion 12, the spring portion 14, the grooves 16 and the second
snap-fit portion 18. The first snap-fit portion 12 is substantially
formed as a cuboid with a hollow. Said hollow is arranged opposite
to the second snap-fit portion 18 and extends along the profile
axis. The spring portion 14 includes the two wings arranged at
opposite sides. Said wings extend outwards and away from the first
snap-fit portion 12. Two grooves 16 are formed between the first
snap-fit portion 12 and the spring portion 14. The grooves 16
extend parallel to each other and are arranged at opposite sides.
The grooves 16 extend along the profile axis. Each groove 16 is
arranged between the first snap-fit portion 12 and one wing of the
spring portion 14. The connecting element 10 includes the second
snap-fit portion 18 arranged opposite to the first snap-fit portion
12, wherein said second snap-fit portion 18 is penetrable into the
cut-out of the coil carrier 24.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the
connecting element 10 interconnected between the induction coil 24
and the coil carrier 26 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0056] The induction coil 24 is arranged above the coil carrier 26.
The connecting element 10 is fastened at the induction coil 24 and
at the coil carrier 26. The connecting element 10 is penetrated in
the induction coil 24, wherein the first snap-fit portion 12 of
said connecting element 10 is arranged above the induction coil 24.
The spring portion 14 of the connecting element 10 is arranged
between the induction coil 24 and the coil carrier 26. The grooves
16 of the connecting element 10 engage with the cut-out in the
induction coil 24. For example, the cut-out of the induction coil
24 is formed in an aluminium disk of said induction coil 24. The
distal ends of the wings of the spring portion 14 are supported by
the coil carrier 26. The second snap-fit portion 18 of the
connecting element 10 penetrates the cut-out 32 in the coil carrier
26. The second snap-fit portion 18 of the connecting element 10 and
the cut-out 32 of the coil carrier 26 form a snap-in mechanism.
[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective sectional view of
the connecting element 10 interconnected between the induction coil
24 and the coil carrier 26 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0058] At least one connecting element 10 is provided for
connecting the induction coil 24 to the coil carrier 26. For
example, three connecting elements 10 are provided for connecting
the induction coil 24 to the coil carrier 26.
[0059] The connecting element 10 is fastened at the induction coil
24 and at the coil carrier 26. The first snap-fit portion 12 of
said connecting element 10 is fastened above the induction coil 24,
while the spring portion 14 of the connecting element 10 is
arranged between the induction coil 24 and the coil carrier 26. The
grooves 16 of the connecting element 10 engage with the cut-out in
the induction coil 24. The distal ends of the wings of the spring
portion 14 are supported by the coil carrier 26. The second
snap-fit portion 18 of the connecting element 10 penetrates the
cut-out 32 in the coil carrier 26.
[0060] The connecting element 10 according to the present invention
is fixable on the coil carrier 26 without a bent sheet metal finger
or any other projecting element. The cut-out 32 in the coil carrier
26 is sufficient for fixing the connecting element 10 by the second
snap-fit portion 18. The concept of the cut-outs 32 in the coil
carrier 26 allows a modular coil carrier 26. A plurality of
arrangements of the cut-outs 32 in the coil carrier 26 allows that
one coil carrier 26 is provided for different induction cooking
hobs.
[0061] Moreover, the spring element 14 of the connecting element 10
pushes the induction coil 24 towards against a cooking panel
arranged on the top side of the induction cooking hob. The
connecting element 10 does not require any steel spring elements
because of the spring portion 14. The inventive connecting element
10 does not require any space beneath the coil carrier 26. The
connecting element 10 may be used for already existing induction
coils 24 and coil carriers 26.
[0062] The first snap-fit portion 10 and the second snap-fit
portion 18 of the connecting element 10 allow an automatic
assembling of the induction coil 24 on the coil carrier 26 by an
assembling line. The connecting element 10 with the snap-fit
portion 10 and the second snap-fit portion 18 allows the assembling
of the induction coil 24 on the coil carrier 26 by a robot. The
first snap-fit portion 12 and the cut-out in the induction coil 24
form the snap-in mechanism between the induction coil 24 and the
connecting element 10, while the second snap-fit portion 18 and the
cut-out 32 in the coil carrier 26 form a snap-in mechanism between
the coil carrier 26 and the connecting element 10.
[0063] The connecting element 10 is provided for a method for
assembling the induction coil 24 to the coil carrier 26, wherein
the coil carrier 26 with the plurality of cut-outs 32 and one or
more induction coils 24 with the plurality of cut-outs are
provided.
[0064] For example, the connecting elements 10 are inserted into
the corresponding selected cut-outs 32 of the coil carrier 26 by a
robot, so that the second snap-fit portion 18 of each connecting
element 10 penetrates the corresponding cut-out 32 of the coil
carrier 26, and then the induction coil 24 is set onto the inserted
connecting elements 10 by the robot, so that the first snap-fit
portion 12 of each connecting element 10 penetrates the
corresponding cut-out of the induction coil 24 and the grooves 16
of the connecting elements 10 engage with the corresponding
cut-outs of the induction coil 24.
[0065] Alternatively, the connecting elements 10 are inserted into
the corresponding selected cut-outs of the induction coil 24 by a
robot, so that the first snap-fit portion 12 of each connecting
element 10 penetrates the corresponding cut-out of the induction
coil 24 and the grooves 16 of the connecting elements 10 engage
with the corresponding cut-outs of the induction coil 24, and then
the induction coil 24 with the connecting elements 10 is set onto
the coil carrier 26, so that the second snap-fit portion 18 of each
connecting element 10 penetrates the corresponding cut-out of the
coil carrier 26. The fixation of the connecting elements at the
induction coil is very rigid.
[0066] Furthermore, a component supplier may provide induction
coils including the plurality of cut-outs, wherein the connecting
elements are already inserted in the corresponding selected
cut-outs.
[0067] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention
have been described herein with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to those precise embodiment, and that various other changes
and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art
without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All
such changes and modifications are intended to be included within
the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0068] 10 connecting element [0069] 12 first snap-fit portion
[0070] 14 spring portion [0071] 16 groove [0072] 18 second snap-fit
portion [0073] 22 clearance hole [0074] 24 induction coil [0075] 26
coil carrier [0076] 32 cut-out
* * * * *