U.S. patent application number 17/101690 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-17 for oven rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to Middleby Marshall Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Middleby Marshall Inc.. Invention is credited to Christian Matthew YUNGBLUTH.
Application Number | 20210180798 17/101690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005275717 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210180798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YUNGBLUTH; Christian
Matthew |
June 17, 2021 |
OVEN RACK
Abstract
An oven rack frame may include a front portion, a first side
portion, a second side portion, and a rear portion. The first side
portion may have a first corner shape that extends from an edge of
the front portion. The second side portion may have the first
corner shape that extends from an opposite edge of the front
portion. The first and second side portions may have the same
corner shape that extends from each edge of the front portion. The
first side portion may have a second corner shape that extends from
an edge of the rear portion, with the second side portion having
the same second corner shape, extending from an opposite edge of
the rear portion. The first and second side portions may have the
same or different corner shapes that extend from each edge of the
rear portion.
Inventors: |
YUNGBLUTH; Christian Matthew;
(Fuquay-Varina, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Middleby Marshall Inc. |
Elgin |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Middleby Marshall Inc.
Elgin
IL
|
Family ID: |
1000005275717 |
Appl. No.: |
17/101690 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62946758 |
Dec 11, 2019 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/162
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/16 20060101
F24C015/16 |
Claims
1. A rack for an oven comprising: a frame including a front
portion, a rear portion, a first side portion having a first corner
shape that extends from a first edge of the front portion, and a
second side portion having the first corner shape that extends from
a second edge of the front portion, the first side portion having a
second corner shape that extends from a first edge of the rear
portion and the second side portion having the second corner shape
that extends from a second edge of the rear portion; a plurality of
first rods extending between the first side portion and the second
side portion; and a plurality of second rods extending between the
front portion and the rear portion, the plurality of second rods
attached perpendicularly to the plurality of first rods, wherein
the first corner shape is different shape from the second corner
shape.
2. The rack of claim 1, wherein the first corner shape is an
arcuate shape and the second corner shape is a corner shape.
3. The rack of claim 2, wherein the arcuate shape has a radius that
is larger than a radius of the corner shape.
4. The rack of claim 3, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape is
between 1.0 inches and 3.0 inches.
5. The rack of claim 4, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape is
between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches.
6. The rack of claim 5, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape is
2.25 inches.
7. The rack of claim 1, further comprising a support member that is
attached to the rear portion, wherein at least one part of the
support member is inverted triangle shaped.
8. The rack of claim 1, wherein at least one part of the first side
portion is inverted triangle shaped, and at least one part of the
second side portion is inverted triangle shaped.
9. The rack of claim 1, wherein the rack is coated with a
temperature resistant material.
10. An oven comprising: a cooking chamber comprising a bottom
surface; and an oven rack configured to rest within the cooking
chamber and to slide partially out of the cooking chamber when an
oven door is opened and slide completely within the cooking
chamber, the oven rack comprising a frame including a front
portion, a rear portion, a first side portion having a first corner
shape that extends from a first edge of the front portion, and a
second side portion having the first corner shape that extends from
a second edge of the front portion, the first side portion having a
second corner shape that extends from a first edge of the rear
portion and the second side portion having the second corner shape
that extends from a second edge of the rear portion, wherein the
first corner shape is different shape from the second corner
shape.
11. The oven of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of first
rods that extend between the first side portion and the second side
portion and a plurality of second rods that extend between the
front portion and the rear portion, the plurality of second rods
attached perpendicularly to the plurality of first rods.
12. The oven of claim 10, wherein the first corner shape is an
arcuate shape and the second corner shape is a corner shape.
13. The oven of claim 12, wherein the arcuate shape has a radius
that is larger than a radius of the corner shape.
14. The oven of claim 13, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape
is between 1.0 inches and 3.0 inches.
15. The oven of claim 14, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape
is between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches.
16. The oven of claim 15, wherein the radius of the arcuate shape
is 2.25 inches.
17. The oven of claim 10, wherein the oven door is hingedly
attached to a surface of the oven and is pivotable to selectively
open and close to access the cooking chamber, wherein pivoting to
oven door in a closing direction causes contact between the oven
door and the first side portion of the oven rack when the oven rack
is disposed partially outside of the cooking chamber, wherein the
oven door applies a force to the first side portion of the oven
rack to urge the oven rack to slide into the cooking chamber.
18. The oven of claim 17, wherein the force to the first side
portion includes a vector component that is directed toward a rear
wall of the cooking chamber and a second vector component that is
directed to a sidewall of the cooking chamber that is opposite a
side that supports the oven door.
19. The oven of claim 10, further comprising a support member that
is attached to the rear portion, wherein at least one part of the
support member is inverted triangle shaped.
20. The oven of claim 10, wherein at least one part of the first
side portion is inverted triangle shaped, and at least one part of
the second side portion is inverted triangle shaped.
21. The oven of claim 10, wherein the rack is coated with a
temperature resistant material.
22. The oven of claim 10, wherein the first corner shape and the
second corner shape each is a straight-line shape.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application which
claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
62/946,758; filed Dec. 11, 2019, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A conventional oven comprises a cooking chamber that is
accessible by an oven door. One or more racks can be positioned
within the cooking chamber and removable from the cooking chamber.
The oven racks comprise a frame of rod-shaped material having a
plurality of smaller rod-shaped elements supported by the frame.
Typical oven racks comprise stainless steel or other suitable
material that is able to withstand high temperatures and often high
humidity environment within the oven.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One general aspect of the present disclosure includes a rack
for an oven comprising: a frame including a front portion, a rear
portion, a first side portion having a first corner shape that
extends from a first edge of the front portion, and a second side
portion having the first corner shape that extends from a second
edge of the front portion, the first side portion having a second
corner shape that extends from a first edge of the rear portion and
the second side portion having the second corner shape that extends
from a second edge of the rear portion; a plurality of first rods
extending between the first side portion and the second side
portion; and a plurality of second rods extending between the front
portion and the rear portion, the plurality of second rods attached
perpendicularly to the plurality of first rods, wherein the first
corner shape is different shape from the second corner shape.
[0004] Another general aspect of the present disclosure includes an
oven comprising: a cooking chamber comprising a bottom surface; and
an oven rack configured to rest within the cooking chamber and to
slide partially out of the cooking chamber when an oven door is
opened and slide completely within the cooking chamber, the oven
rack comprising a frame including a front portion, a rear portion,
a first side portion having a first corner shape that extends from
a first edge of the front portion, and a second side portion having
the first corner shape that extends from a second edge of the front
portion, the first side portion having a second corner shape that
extends from a first edge of the rear portion and the second side
portion having the second corner shape that extends from a second
edge of the rear portion, wherein the first corner shape is
different shape from the second corner shape.
[0005] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the
invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in
the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed
description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features, and advantages be within the scope of the
invention, and be encompassed by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings and description. The components
in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the present
disclosure.
[0007] Moreover, in the figures, like-referenced numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the different views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a perspective view of an
oven rack in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIGS. 2a-2c are illustrations showing various arcuate corner
shapes in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3a is an illustration showing a view of an oven rack's
portion having an arcuate corner shape in accordance with certain
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3b is an illustration showing a view of an oven rack's
portion having an arcuate corner shape in accordance with certain
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIGS. 4a-4d are illustrations showing various flat angle
shapes in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5a is an illustration showing a perspective view of an
oven in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 5b is an illustration showing a view of a cooking
chamber in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0015] FIGS. 6a-6c are illustrations showing the oven rack of FIG.
1 that slides into within the cooking chamber by an oven door
toward a closed position in accordance with certain aspects of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Various aspects are described below with reference to the
drawings in which like elements generally are identified by like
numerals. The relationship and functioning of the various elements
of the aspects may better be understood by reference to the
following detailed description. However, aspects are not limited to
those illustrated in the drawings or explicitly described below. It
also should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to
scale, and in certain instances details may have been omitted that
are not necessary for an understanding of aspects disclosed herein,
such as conventional material, construction, and assembly.
[0017] FIGS. 1-6c illustrate an oven rack 100 or an oven 200 in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. One skilled in the art
will appreciate that the oven 200 may be built into a kitchen
cabinet or the like, and the oven 200 may include gas or electric
heating elements (not shown) and other accessory equipment (not
shown). Such additional structures are not necessary for
understanding the description herein, which is related to the
structure of the oven rack 100 and the structure of the oven 200.
Although the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are generally
described herein with respect to a cooking appliance, in alternate
embodiments any device having a heating chamber that includes a
rack or similar supporting surface on which items can be placed for
heating or drying, can be contemplated.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the oven rack 100 including a frame, a
support member 50, a plurality of first rods 60, and a plurality of
second rods 70 is shown. In some embodiments, the frame may include
a front portion 10, a first side portion 20, a second side portion
30, and a rear portion 40. The first side portion 20 may have a
first corner shape 22 that extends from an edge of the front
portion 10. The second side portion 30 may have the first corner
shape 32 that extends from an opposite edge of the front portion
10. The first side portion 20 and the second side portion 30 may
have the same arcuate corner shape 22, 32 that extends from each
edge of the front portion 10, while in other embodiments the corner
shape 32 with the second side portion 30 may be different from the
corner shape 22 from the first side portion 20.
[0019] The first side portion 20 may have a second corner shape 24
that extends from an edge of the rear portion 40. The second side
portion 30 may have the second corner shape 34 that extends from an
opposite edge of the rear portion 40. The first side portion 20 and
the second side portion 30 may have the same corner shape 24, 34
that extends from each edge of the rear portion 40, while in other
embodiments the corner shape 34 with the second side portion 30 may
be different from the corner shape 24 from the first side portion
20. The first side portion 20 and the second side portion 30 may
have various corner shapes, such as an arcuate shape, a rounded
shape, a corner shape, or rectangle shape. In some embodiments, the
first corner shape 22, 32 may be different shape from the second
corner shape 24, 34. For example, the first corner shape 22, 32 may
be an arcuate shape and the second corner shape 24, 34 may be a
corner shape. The arcuate shape 22, 32 may have a radius that is
larger than a radius of the corner shape 24, 34.
[0020] In some embodiments, the plurality of first rods 60 extend
between the first side portion 20 and the second side portion 30.
The plurality of second rods 70 extend between the front portion 10
and the rear portion 40. The plurality of second rods 70 may be
perpendicularly cross to the plurality of first rods 60 or in other
embodiments the plurality of second rods 70 may cross the plurality
of first rods 60 at non-perpendicular oblique angles, such as at
angles between about 45 and just below 90 degrees (such as about
45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, and 85 degrees), inclusive of all
angles within this range. The term about is specifically defined
herein to include the reference value plus or minus 5% of the
reference value. In some embodiments the crossing first and second
rods 60, 70 may be fixed to each other (such as welded or bonded or
with adhesive) while in other embodiments, none of the crossing
first and second rods 60, 70 are fixed to each other, while in
still other embodiments, some of the crossing rods 60, 70 may be
fixed to each other, such as every other, every third, or every
fifth. One of ordinary skill in the art with a thorough review of
this specification will understand construction of the rack with
respect to this design feature and based upon the strength and the
amount of permitted relative motion between the crossing rods is
desired. The support member 50 is attached to the rear portion 40.
In some embodiments, at least one part of the support member 50 may
be inverted triangle shaped.
[0021] FIGS. 2a-2c are illustrations showing various arcuate corner
shapes in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure. The first side portion 20 and the second side portion
30 may have various corner shapes, such as an arcuate shape, a
rounded shape, a corner shape, a squircle shape, or a superillipse
shape. In some embodiments, the arcuate corner shape 22, 32 may be
a shape intermediate between a square and a circle. The arcuate
corner shape 22, 32 may be generated by separating four quarters of
a circle and connecting their loose ends continuously with straight
lines, or by separating the four sides of a square and connecting
them with quarter-circles. In some embodiments, the first corner
shape 22, 32 may have a radius. The radius of the first corner
shape 22, 32 may be between 1.0 inches and 3.0 inches, or between
2.0 inches and 2.5 inches. The radius of the first corner shape may
be 2.25 inches. In some embodiments, the radius of the first and/or
second corner shapes may not be constant along the length of the
corner shapes, which may change continuously.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3a, a radius of first corner shape 22 that
extends from the edge of the front portion 10 is shown. The first
side portion 20 may have a first corner shape 22 that extends from
an edge of the front portion 10. The radius of the first corner
shape 22 may be between 1.0 inches and 3.0 inches, or between 2.0
inches and 2.5 inches. The radius of the first corner shape 22 may
be 2.25 inches.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 3b, a radius of first corner shape 32 that
extends from the opposite edge of the front portion 10 is shown.
The second side portion 30 may have the first corner shape 32 that
extends from the opposite edge of the front portion 10. The radius
of the first corner shape 32 may be between 1.0 inches and 3.0
inches, or between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches. The radius of the
first corner shape 32 may be 2.25 inches. The radius of the first
corner shape 32 that extends from the edge of the front portion 10
and the radius of first corner shape 32 that extends from the
opposite edge of the front portion 10 may have the same shape.
[0024] FIGS. 4a-4d are illustrations showing various flat angle
shapes in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure. The first side portion 20 and the second side portion
30 may have one or more straight-line shapes. In some embodiments,
a first internal angle .alpha. at a vertex of the oven rack 100 and
a second internal angle .beta. at another vertex of the oven rack
100 may be the same angle. For example, the oven rack 100 in an
octagon shape may be a closed figure with sides of the same length
and internal angles of the same size. In some embodiments, the
first internal angle .alpha. and the second internal angle .beta.
may be between about 95 and 145 degrees (such as about 95, 100,
110, 120, 130, 135, 140 and 145 degrees), inclusive of all angles
within this range. In other embodiments, the first internal angle
.alpha. at a vertex of the oven rack 100 and the second internal
angle .beta. at another vertex of the oven rack 100 may be
different angle. In some embodiments, the first corner shape 22, 32
may be different shape from the second corner shape 24, 34. The
first corner shape 22, 32 may have a radius. The radius of the
first corner shape 22, 32 may be between 1.0 inches and 3.0 inches,
or between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches. The radius of the first
corner shape may be 2.25 inches. In some embodiments, the radius of
the first and/or second corner shapes may not be constant along the
length of the corner shapes, which may change continuously.
[0025] FIG. 5a is an illustration showing a perspective view of the
oven 200 in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure. In some embodiments, the oven 200 may include a handle
210, a window 220, an oven door 230, a command interface 240, and
an oven housing 250. The oven rack 100 may be configured to rest
within a cooking chamber 260 of the oven 200. The handle 210 may be
used to open the oven door 230. The oven door 230 may include the
window 220 to permit a user to visually inspect a cooking chamber
260 of the oven 200. The oven door 230 may include a hinge guide
connected between the oven door 230 and a surface of the oven 200
to permit the oven door 230 to selectively open and close and to
guide repeated motion of the oven door 230 with respect to the oven
housing 250.
[0026] For example, the oven door 230 may be hingedly attached to a
side surface of the oven 200 and may be pivotable to selectively
open and close to access the cooking chamber 260. The command
interface 240 may be used to control the general operations of the
oven 200. For example, the command interface 240 may include one or
more controls or switches that can be used to provide control
inputs and commands for various functions, such as cook time, cook
speed, a fan speed, and temperature adjustment function of the oven
200. In some embodiments, the command interface 240 may be in the
form of push buttons or electronic switches. The handle 210, window
220, oven door 230, command interface 240, and oven housing 250 may
be coated with a temperature resistant material.
[0027] FIG. 5b is an illustration showing a view of a cooking
chamber 260 in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure. The cooking chamber 260 may include a bottom surface
268, a top surface 269 connected to the bottom surface 268 with a
pair of side walls 262, 264 and a back wall 266 extending between
the pair of side walls 262, 264 and between the top surface 269 and
bottom surface 268. The pre-formed shelving slots 270 may be
positioned on the each pair of side walls 262, 264 of the cooking
chamber 260. Each pre-formed shelving slot 270 may be mirror images
of each other. The oven rack 100 may be configured to rest
horizontally on each slot 270 of the cooking chamber 260. The width
of oven rack 100 is dimensioned to fit within the cooking chamber
260 and is therefore less than a width of cooking chamber 260. The
oven rack 100 positioned on the pre-formed shelving slots 270 may
slide into and out of the cooking chamber 260. In some embodiments,
the oven rack 100 may move on wheels mounted to each slot 270 so
that the oven rack 100 may be easily moved between the forward and
rear limits. When the oven rack 100 is positioned in the cooking
chamber 260, the oven rack 100 may be moved inward until wheels
rotating on ball bearings engage the rearmost ends of the cooking
chamber 260. The oven rack 100 may be moved outward until the
wheels engage the forward most ends of the cooking chamber 260.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 6a-6b, a contact between an inner surface
of the oven door 230, and specifically in this embodiment the
window 220 with the first side portion 20 of the oven rack 100 is
shown. In embodiments where the oven door 230 does not include a
window 220 the inner surface of the oven door 230 may still contact
the oven rack 100, and in embodiments where the oven door 230
includes the window 220, but the oven rack 100 is positioned at a
location where it contacts the inner surface of the oven door 230
not including the window 220. In embodiments where the oven rack
100 that extends partially out of the cooking chamber 260 includes
the first corner portion 22, rotating the oven door 230 toward the
closed position may apply a force to corner portion 22 of the oven
rack 100 to urge the oven rack 100 to slide into the cooking
chamber 260. Specifically, the force F applied to the corner
portion 22 may include a vector component Fx that is directed
toward the rear wall 266 of the oven 200 and a second vector
component Fy that is directed to the inner wall 266 of the oven
housing 250 that is opposite the side of the oven housing 250 that
supports the oven door 230. The force component Fx causes the rack
100 to move into the oven 200 toward the normal position, while the
rack 100 does not move (either at all or significantly) toward the
opposite side wall due to force component Fy due to the presence of
the side wall 264 and the carrying components on the side wall
264.
[0029] Pivoting to oven door 230 in a closing direction may cause
contact between the window 220 of the oven door 230 and the first
side portion 20 when the oven rack 100 is disposed partially
outside of the cooking chamber 260. This contact may cause the oven
rack 100 to be urged into the cooking chamber 260 without damaging
the window 220. For example, in an embodiment where the curved
portion has a radius of 2.25 inches, the oven rack 100 may be
pulled out up to about 9 inches and when the rack is contacted by
the inner surface of the oven door 230 when being rotated in the
closing direction, and the oven rack 100 slide back on the cooking
chamber 260 without the potential damage for the window 220 (which
might occur if the force applied to the oven rack 100 did not
provide a sufficient Fx component to urge the oven rack 100 to move
in the direction to return into the cooking chamber 260.) In other
embodiments, where the oven door 230 is arranged at a different
relative position the oven housing 250 and when the first corner
portion 22 has a different radius, the distance that the oven rack
100 can extend from the oven housing 250 may vary. One of ordinary
skill in the art with a thorough review and understanding of this
specification will appreciate how to determine an appropriate curve
or radius for the front corner 22, 32 for a desired possible rack
extension with only routine optimization. Referring to FIG. 6c, the
oven rack 100 may be configured to rest within a cooking chamber
260 of the oven 200 when the oven door 230 is closed.
[0030] In some embodiments, when the oven rack 100 is fully
inserted into the cooking chamber 260, the oven rack 100 functions
as cooking platforms to allow the heat generated by the heating
elements to flow between the open portions of the oven rack 100 to
fully surround the cooking chamber 260.
[0031] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described, the present disclosure is not to be restricted
except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. One
skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations
and modifications may be made to the embodiments described above
without departing from the scope of the present invention, as
defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the advantages described
herein are not necessarily the only advantages of the present
disclosure and it is not necessarily expected that every embodiment
of the present disclosure will achieve all of the advantages
described.
* * * * *