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(11) | EP 0 747 640 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Oven for cooking foods |
| (57) An oven for cooking foods comprising two lateral internal walls (5), each fitted
with at least one runner (6) for supporting a shelf (7), said one at least runner
(6) being defined by a first edge (11) and by a second edge (9), substantially parallel,
of two respective superimposed portions of wall (8) jutting from the side wall (5),
characterised in that said first edge (11) is shaped so as to form, substantially
at one of its front ends, a projection (12) which extends towards said second edge
(9) and with which a retainer (31), provided on said shelf (7), co-operates by striking,
said projection (12) acting as a stop during a movement of extraction of said shelf
(7) from the oven in order to avoid accidental withdrawal of the shelf (7) from the
runner (6). |
[0002] It is known that, when cooking foods in an oven, a periodical check, addition of ingredients and remixing of the foods being cooked are required. These operations involve the extraction of the shelves or grids which hold the recipients containing the foods. This is particularly true for ovens of the new generations which, thanks to systems of distribution of the temperature inside the oven, allow several different foods to be cooked simultaneously on superimposed shelves.
[0003] It is therefore necessary for the shelves and the couplings of the same to the lateral walls of the oven to be designed so as to facilitate sliding of the shelves even when the latter are weighed down by the recipients with the foods.
[0004] In known ovens the two lateral internal walls of the oven are metal sheets shaped by drawing so as to form parallel horizontal runners. These runners, due to the actual way in which they are formed, cannot be too close to each other nor too deep. For this reason the shelves or grids which slide and rest on these runners are in loose conditions, with the result that, during extraction of the shelf, the latter may tilt in relation to a horizontal plane. This is hazardous for the stability of the recipients resting on the shelf itself, and may give rise to overflows of liquids at a high temperature with the risk of burns for the user.
[0005] Moreover, if means of stopping extraction of the shelf are not provided, the shelf may withdraw completely, dropping the recipient with the food being cooked onto the floor.
[0006] Solutions to this second problem are known which provide for the use of shaped rod irons inserted in the oven to act as barriers or supports. In some cases said rod irons are coupled to the internal walls of the oven by screwing.
[0007] These solutions make the operation of cleaning the oven more difficult, whereas it would be desirable for the food residues on the internal walls of the oven to be removed simply.
[0008] In view of the state of the art described, the object of the present invention is that of providing an oven for cooking foods which avoids the aforementioned problems.
[0009] In accordance with the present invention this object is achieved thanks to an oven for cooking foods comprising two lateral internal walls, each fitted with at least one runner for supporting a shelf, said at least one runner being defined by a first edge and by a second edge, substantially parallel, of two respective portions of wall jutting from the lateral wall, characterised in that said first edge is shaped so as to form, substantially at one of its front ends, a projection which extends towards said second edge and suitable for co-operating by striking a retainer provided on said shelf, said projection acting as a stop during a movement of extraction of said shelf from the oven in order to avoid accidental withdrawal of the shelf from the runner.
[0010] Thanks to the present invention, the operations of extraction of a shelf from the oven may be carried out in complete safety, without the risk of the shelf being inadvertently withdrawn completely from the runner. Due to the fact that this is achieved through a special shaping of the lateral walls, instead of by elements attached to the walls of the oven, the operations of cleaning the oven are greatly simplified.
[0011] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made clearer from the following detailed description of one of its embodiments, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a view sectioned along a vertical plane of an oven according to the present invention, showing one of its internal lateral walls;
Figure 2 is a front view of the oven of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Figure 1.
[0012] Figure 1 shows an oven 1 sectioned along a transverse vertical plane. A rear wall 2, an upper wall 3 and a lower wall 4 can be seen in section, while a view of one of the two lateral walls 5 can also be seen (as shown in Figure 2, the other lateral wall 5 is identical).
[0013] Runners 6 are formed in the lateral wall 5, suitable for holding shelves 7 (typically consisting of metal rod irons arranged to form a grid), or shaped recipients known under the name of "oven dripping pans". Figure 1 shows three shelves 7 in three different positions. The shelves 7 are shaped so as to have, at one of their rear ends, a pair of protrusions 31 (one for each side). The protrusions 31 are placed at a distance F from the rear end of the shelves 7.
[0014] The walls of the oven normally consist of metal sheets, and the runners 6 are defined by jutting wall portions 8 obtained by drawing the metal sheets which form the lateral walls 5 (Figs. 3 and 4).
[0015] In the present example it is assumed that the runners 6 are four, although the invention is not limited by the specific number of runners.
[0016] The three intermediate jutting wall portions 8 have an upper edge 9, substantially flat for the most part, which acts as a support surface for the shelves 7. In the upper edge 9, near the front end (opposite the rear wall 2 of the oven), a recess 10 is formed which extends as far as a distance A from a front vertical edge 30 of the jutting wall portions 8. As indicated, the recess margins 10 are oblique and are slanted through an angle Y in relation to a horizontal plane. In the front, the recess 12 does not extend as far as the vertical front edge 30, a short section of edge 16 being provided, coplanar to the substantially flat edge section 9.
[0017] The three intermediate bands 8 also have a lower edge 11, substantially flat for the most part, with a projection 12 near their front end, in a position above the recess 10. The distance between the projection 12 and the recess 10 is denoted by E in Figure 1.
[0018] In the front the projection 12 is joined to the front vertical edge 30 of the band 8 by a lower edge section 15 slanted through the angle Y in relation to the horizontal plane. The runners 6 comprise therefore an inlet section slanting upwards through the angle Y. This inlet section must have a dimension D at least equal to the overall vertical dimensions of the shelf 7 at the protrusions 31.
[0019] In the substantially flat sections of the edges 9 and 11 defining a runner 6, the same runner 6 has a height C which, apart from a certain clearance, is subtantially equal to the overall vertical dimension of the shelves 7.
[0020] The distance B between the projection 12 and the section 16 of the edge 9 determines the admissible vertical clearance of the shelves 7 during extraction from and insertion in the oven 1.
[0021] The higher jutting wall portion 8 has a lower edge 11 identical to that of the three intermediate jutting portions 8. The lower jutting wall portion 8 has an upper edge 9 identical to that of the three intermediate bands.
[0022] In the working position, the shelves 7 are completely inserted in the oven 1 (highest shelf in Figure 1).
[0023] During extraction from the oven 1, the shelves 7 slide along the respective runner 6. During this operation, due to the fact that the height C of the runners 6 is substantially equal to the overall vertical dimension of the shelves, the protrusions 31, engaging with the edge 11, maintain the shelf 7 in a substantially horizontal position.
[0024] When the protrusion 31 of the shelf strikes against the projection 12 of the edge 11 (central shelf in Figure 1), further extraction of the shelf 7 is prevented. This prevents the shelf from being inadvertently withdrawn from the runner 6, the weight of any cooking recipients supported by the shelf also contributing thereto. Also in this position moreover, the shelf cannot be tilted, since it rests on the section 16 of the edge 9 and the protrusions 31 engaged with the edge 11. The protrusions 31 are preferably rounded, to avoid damage to the internal walls of the oven even if, when they are striking against the projections 12, a tractive force is exerted on the shelf.
[0025] In order to remove a shelf 7 from the runners 6, the shelf 7 has to be tilted upwards through the angle Y in relation to the horizontal plane, so that the protrusions 31 may pass through the space between the projection 12 and the recess 10, and then pass through the tilted inlet section of the runners 6.
[0026] The dimensions A and E and the angle Y must be chosen carefully, in that they determine the possibility of removal of the shelf 7 from the runners 6. More specifically, it is important that, when the protrusions 31 hit against the projections 12, the rear end of the shelf 7 is at the margin of the recess 10, that is to say at the distance A from the vertical edge 30. Moreover the passage span between the projection 12 and the recess 10 (denoted by E in Figure 1) must be equal at least to the overall vertical dimension of the shelf 7.
[0027] Practical tests have shown that a group of indicative values for the dimensions indicated in Figure 1 is the following: dimension A: 77 mm; dimension B: 7 mm; dimension C: 15 mm; dimension D: 15 mm; dimension E: 15 mm; dimension F: 39 mm; angle Y: 30.
1. Oven for cooking foods comprising two lateral internal walls (5) each fitted with
at least one runner (6) for supporting a shelf (7), said at least one runner (6) being
defined by a first edge (11) and by a second edge (9), substantially parallel, of
two respective superimposed wall portions (8) jutting from the lateral wall (5), characterised
in that said first edge (11) is shaped so as to form, substantially at one of its
front ends, a projection (12) which extends towards said second edge (9) and with
which a retainer (31), provided on said shelf (7), co-operates by striking, said projection
(12) acting as a stop during a movement of extraction of said shelf (7) from the oven
in order to avoid accidental withdrawal of the shelf (7) from the runner (6).
2. Oven according to claim 1, characterised in that said second edge (9) is shaped so
as to form, in a position substantially corresponding to that of said projection (12)
of the first edge (11), a recess (10) such as to allow, by tilting said shelf (7)
in the direction of said first edge (11), disengaging of said retainer (31) provided
on the shelf (7) by said projection (12) of the first edge (11), to enable withdrawal
of said shelf (7) from the runner (6).
3. Oven according to claim 2, characterised in that said first edge (11) is a lower edge
(11) of an upper jutting wall portion (8), and said second edge (9) is an upper edge
(9) of a lower jutting wall portion (8).
4. Oven according to claim 3, characterised in that said retainer (31) provided on the
shelf (7) consists of a pair of protrusions (31) formed at one end of the shelf (7)
and extending in a direction orthogonal to the shelf (7).
5. Oven according to claim 4, characterised in that said runner (6) comprises a substantially
rectilinear section of height (C) substantially corresponding to the overall vertical
dimension of the shelf (7) at said protrusions (31), so that engagement of said protrusions
(31) with said lower edge (11) of the upper jutting wall portion (8) which defines
the runner (6) prevents the shelf (7), in any position along said runner (6), from
tilting in relation to a horizontal plane.
6. Oven according to claim 5, characterised in that said runner (6), in the position
wherein said projection (12) of the lower edge (11) of the upper jutting wall portion
(8) extends towards the underlying recess (10) of the upper edge (9) of the lower
jutting wall portion (8), has a height (E) equal at least to the overall vertical
dimension of the shelf (7) at said protrusions (31).
7. Oven according to claim 6, characterised in that said projection (12) of the lower
edge (11) is joined to a front vertical edge (30) of the respective upper jutting
wall portion (8) by a section of edge slanting through a predetermined angle (Y).
8. Oven according to claim 7, characterised in that an edge section (16), coplanar to
said upper edge (9), is provided between said recess (10) of the upper edge (9) and
a front vertical edge (30) of the respective lower jutting wall portion (8).
9. Oven according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said internal
lateral walls (5) each comprise a plurality of said runners (6), defined by a plurality
of wall portions (8) jutting from said lateral walls (5).