Household cooking top and liner thereof

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household cooking top according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The present invention typically applies to household cooking tops of the type comprising a plurality of burners, in particular gas burners, for cooking foods placed in cooking containers.

[0003] Cooking tops of this type are known and widespread, in different forms, in every household kitchen.

[0004] In some cases, such cooking tops are separate units; in other cases, such cooking tops are add-on components adapted to be flush-mounted in standard-size apertures or recesses obtained in the worktop of a sectional kitchen; or, in other cases, such cooking tops are the upper portion of a household appliance comprising an oven suitable for cooking foods.

[0005] Household cooking tops are generally equipped with a first surface that houses a plurality of cooking points.

[0006] In particular, with each cooking point at least one heating element is associated, e.g. a gas burner.

[0007] Generally, the heating element is associated with an adjuster element adapted to be operated by a user for turning on and/or off the burner, as well as for adjusting the heat generated by said burner, said adjuster element allowing the user to adjust the gas flow and hence the heat generated by combustion.

[0008] The cooking containers, e.g. pots and pans, containing the foods to be cooked, are placed over said cooking points.

[0009] Said first surface of the cooking top can become dirty. For instance, splashes of oil or other dressings may foul the first surface as foods are being cooked.

[0010] This implies that the cooking top, in particular said first surface thereof, needs to be cleaned; it is also appropriate to do such cleaning quite often, so as to prevent said first surface from getting encrusted with food and/or dressing residues, thus becoming more difficult to clean.

[0011] It is clear that this requires much user's work and time, and that such cleaning involves additional costs for purchasing suitable cleaning products.

[0012] Furthermore, the first surface of the cooking top may be subject to accidental and unpleasant scratches, e.g. due to rubbing with inadequate cleaning products (such as insufficiently soft sponges). Document WO02/05596 A1 discloses a household cooking top comprising a first surface which houses a cooking point, at least one heating element; a liner adapted to protect a first surface, wherein the liner is made of a silicone-baed material and comprises an aperture and a ring.

[0013] Document EP2258990 to the present Applicant relates to a cooking top comprising a first surface which houses a plurality of cooking points and a liner which is adapted to protect at least one portion of said first surface. In particular, said liner comprises a plurality of sheets stacked one on top of the other and reciprocally separable; hence, the user can remove the uppermost sheet when it has become dirty, so as to uncover a clean sheet which previously was at least partly covered by the uppermost sheet just removed. While it appropriately solves the problem of keeping the first surface of the cooking top clean, the cooking top of EP2258990 still has a few drawbacks.

[0014] In particular, a first drawback of the above-described solution is that the plurality of sheets stacked one on top of the other creates an excessively thick layer on the first surface of the cooking top and interferes with the proper operation thereof.

[0015] A further drawback of such a solution is that, in order to hold the sheets of said plurality of sheets stacked one on top of the other, adhesive materials are used which lose their effectiveness when placed near the heat irradiated from each cooking point of the cooking top.

[0016] In this frame, it is the main object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a cooking top designed in a manner such that it can be easily kept clean and the user is not required to lose much time and energy.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cooking top which is designed in a manner such that any additional costs for purchasing cleaning products are avoided. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooking top which is so designed as to avoid any accidental and unpleasant scratches.

[0018] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cooking top which is so designed as to ensure proper operation without being affected by the heat irradiated from each cooking point of the cooking top.

[0019] Said objects are achieved by the present invention through a household cooking top incorporating the features set out in the appended claims, which are intended to be an integral part of the present description.

[0020] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a household cooking top according to the present invention;
• Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the cooking top of Fig. 1.

[0021] Said description and said drawings are to be considered as non-limiting examples. Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 reference numeral 1 designates as a whole a household cooking top according to the present invention:

[0022] Said cooking top 1 comprises a first surface 10, which houses at least one cooking point 20 (said at least one cooking point 20 being visible in particular in Fig. 2).

[0023] It is apparent that said first surface 10 is that surface which is substantially facing upwards once the cooking top 1 has been installed.

[0024] The cooking top 1 comprises at least one heating element 30 associated with said at least one cooking point 20. Preferably, said at least one heating element 30 consists of a gas burner; it is however clear that, in accordance with the present invention, a different type of heating element 30 may also be used, such as, for example, a radiating plate or an inductor. The first surface 10 may be made of metal or glass-ceramic, or a material derived from glass and/or ceramic.

[0025] In addition, the cooking top 1 comprises a liner 40 adapted to protect at least one portion of said first surface 10.

[0026] In accordance with the present invention, said liner 40 is made of a silicone-based material.

[0027] Preferably, said silicone-based material is the material known under the brand name SILOPREN LSR2660.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the silicone-based material of the liner 40 is reinforced with glass fibre.

[0029] In particular, the thickness of the liner 40 according to the present invention is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

[0030] The particular realization of the liner 40 allows to provide adequate protection of the first surface 10 of the cooking top 1 without having to use an excessively thick liner 40 interfering with the proper operation of the cooking top 1.

[0031] Also, the particular realization of the liner 40 according to the present invention allows to avoid the use of adhesive materials, which may lose effectiveness when placed near the heat generated by the heating element 30.

[0032] The particular realization of the liner 40 also allows to obtain an element that can be easily washed (either manually or in a dishwasher) and reused, so that the first surface 10 and the whole cooking top 1 can be kept in optimal hygienic conditions.

[0033] Preferably, the liner 40 comprises at least one first aperture 41 adapted to allow a heating element 30 to pass through; the shape of said first aperture 41 may possibly be such as to also allow the passage of any accessories of the heating elements 30, such as, for example, a thermocouple and/or a spark plug (not shown in the annexed drawings).

[0034] In addition, in a preferred embodiment the liner 40 comprises at least one ring 50 associated with said at least one first aperture 41; said ring 50 allows protecting the surface of the liner 40 which is closest to the heating element 30, i.e. the one which is exposed most to the heat coming from the heating element 30.

[0035] Preferably, said at least one ring 50 is made of a metallic material, in particular steel or aluminium, or in a polymeric material characterized by high heat resistance; moreover, said at least one ring 50 may be associated with the liner 40 in different ways, e.g. by overmoulding or glueing or through mechanical fasteners. As an alternative, said ring 50 may also be simply laid onto the liner 40, which in such a case will be fitted with suitable reference means (not shown) for properly positioning the ring 50.

[0036] Said at least one ring 50 may also be so designed as to have a flat section, or else a dished or bent section, e.g. a U section; in particular, said dished or bent section makes it easier to insert therein a sticky material in order to associate the ring 50 with the liner 40.

[0037] As can be seen in the annexed drawings, the cooking top 1 may further comprise at least one adjuster element 31 adapted to be operated by a user for turning on and/or off and/or for adjusting said at least one heating element 30.

[0038] The annexed drawings show a plurality of cooking points 20 associated with a plurality of heating elements 30, which in turn are associated with a plurality of adjuster elements 31.

[0039] If said at least one adjuster element 31 is positioned on the first surface 10 of the cooking top 1, the liner 40 can be so designed as to:

• include a recess 40R that leaves uncovered that portion of the cooking top 1 where said at least one adjuster element 31 is located (as shown in Fig. 2), or
• include at least one second aperture (not shown in the drawings) adapted to allow said at least one adjuster element 31 to pass through. Alternatively, said second aperture may allow the passage of a control interface (not shown in the drawings) or of an additional component of the cooking top 1.

[0040] The cooking top 1 further comprises at least one grate 60 adapted to support a cooking vessel (not shown in the drawings) above said at least one cooking point 20 and said at least one heating element 30.

[0041] The grate 60 may be unnecessary if the rings 50 have adequate height and shape to be able to support the cooking vessels.

[0042] It is apparent from the above that the liner 40 is installed on the cooking point 1 in the following steps:

a) clearing at least one portion of a first surface 10 of the cooking point 1, said first surface 10 being adapted to house at least one cooking point 20;

b) positioning the liner 40 on said at least one portion of the first surface 10, in particular by inserting at least one heating element 30 into at least one first aperture 41 of the liner 40.

[0043] It is clear that said step b) of positioning the liner 40 on said at least one portion of the first surface 10 may also be carried out by inserting at least one adjuster element 31 into at least one second aperture 42 of the liner 40.

[0044] Furthermore, said step b) of positioning the liner 40 on said at least one portion of the first surface 10 may be followed by a step c) of associating at least one grate 60 with the cooking top 1, in particular by positioning said grate 60 at least partially on said liner 40, said at least one grate 60 being adapted to support a cooking vessel (not shown in the drawings) above said at least one cooking point 20 and said at least one heating element 30.

[0045] In addition, step a) of clearing at least one portion of a first surface 10 of the cooking top 1 may be carried out by removing said at least one grate 60 and possibly also at least one heating element 30 from said at least one cooking point 20, in particular if said heating element 30 cannot pass through said first apertures 41.

[0046] The features and advantages of the cooking top 1 and of the liner 40 thereof according to the present invention are apparent from the above description.

[0047] In particular, this design of the cooking top 1 and of the liner 40 allows to ensure adequate protection of the first surface 10 of said cooking top 1 without having to use an excessively thick liner 40 that interferes with the proper operation of the cooking top 1.

[0048] Also, the particular realization of the cooking top 1 and of the liner 40 according to the present invention allows to avoid the use of adhesive materials, which may lose effectiveness when placed near the heat generated by the heating element 30.

[0049] The particular realization of the cooking top 1 and of the liner 40 also allows to obtain an element that can be easily washed (either manually or in a dishwasher) and reused, so that the first surface 10 and the whole cooking top 1 can be kept in optimal hygienic conditions.

[0050] The presence of a ring 50 associated with said at least one first aperture 41 of the liner 40 allows to protect the surface of said liner 40 which is exposed most to the heat coming from the heating element 30.

[0051] The cooking top and the liner described herein by way of example may be subject to many possible variations, it is also clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the illustrated details may have different shapes or be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0052] It can therefore be easily understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described cooking top and liner, but may be subject to many modifications, improvements or replacements of equivalent parts and elements without departing from the inventive idea, as clearly specified in the following claims.

Claims

1. A household cooking top (1), of the type comprising:

- a first surface (10) which houses at least one cooking point (20);

- at least one heating element (30) associated with said at least one cooking point (20);

- a liner (40) adapted to protect at least one portion of said first surface (10),said liner (40) being made of a silicone-based material and comprising at least one first aperture (41) adapted to allow a heating element (30) to pass through;

wherein the liner (40) comprises at least one ring (50) associated with said at least one first aperture (41), said ring (50) allowing protecting the surface of the liner (40) which is closest to the heating element (30),
characterised in that said at least one ring (50) is made of a metallic material, in particular steel or aluminium, or in a polymeric material characterized by high heat resistance and
in that said at least one ring (50) is associated with the liner (40) by overmoulding or glueing or through mechanical fasteners or in that the liner (40) is fitted with suitable reference means for properly positioning the ring (50) and the ring (50) is simply laid onto the liner (40).

2. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the silicone-based material of the liner (40) is reinforced with glass fibre.

3. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of said liner (40) is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

4. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of said first aperture (41) is such as to allow accessories of the heating element (30) to pass through.

5. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one ring (50) is so designed as to have a flat section.

6. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one ring (50) is so designed as to have a dished or bent section.

7. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one ring (50) has a height and a shape which are adapted to support a cooking vessel.

8. A cooking top (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one adjuster element (31) adapted to be operated by a user for turning on and/or off and/or for adjusting said at least one heating element (30).

9. A cooking top (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one adjuster element (31) is located on the first surface (10) of the cooking top (1), and said liner (40) is so designed as to include a recess (40R) that leaves uncovered that portion of the cooking top (1) where said at least one adjuster element (31) is located.

10. A cooking top (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one adjuster element (31) is located on the first surface (10) of the cooking top (1), and said liner (40) is so designed as to include at least one second aperture adapted to allow said at least one adjuster element (31) and/or a control interface and/or an additional component of the cooking top (1) to pass through.

Ansprüche

1. Haushaltskochfeld (1) des Typs, der umfasst:

- eine erste Fläche (10), die wenigstens eine Kochstelle (20) aufnimmt;

- wenigstens ein Heizelement (30), das der wenigstens einen Kochstelle (20) zugeordnet ist;

- eine Einlage (40), die dazu eingerichtet ist, wenigstens einen Teilbereich von der ersten Fläche (10) zu schützen, wobei die Einlage (40) aus einem Material auf Silikonbasis hergestellt ist und wenigstens eine erste Öffnung (41) umfasst, die dazu eingerichtet ist, einem Heizelement (30) zu erlauben, hindurch zu gehen;

wobei die Einlage (40) wenigstens einen Ring (50) umfasst, der der wenigstens einen ersten Öffnung (41) zugeordnet ist, wobei der Ring (50) es erlaubt, die Fläche der Einlage (40), die am nächsten zu dem Heizelement (30) ist, zu schützen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der wenigstens eine Ring (50) aus einem metallischen Material, insbesondere Stahl oder Aluminium, oder in einem polymeren Material, das durch eine hohe Wärmebeständigkeit gekennzeichnet ist, hergestellt ist und
dass der wenigstens eine Ring (50) mit der Einlage (40) durch Überspritzen oder Verkleben oder durch mechanische Verbindungselemente verbunden ist oder dass die Einlage (40) mit geeigneten Bezugsmitteln für ein korrektes Positionieren des Rings (50) ausgestattet ist und der Ring (50) einfach auf die Einlage (40) gelegt ist.

2. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Material auf Silikonbasis der Einlage (40) mit Glasfaser verstärkt ist.

3. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Dicke der Einlage (40) zwischen 0,2 mm und 2 mm, vorzugsweise zwischen 0,5 mm und 1 mm, ist.

4. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Form der ersten Öffnung (41) so ist, dass es Zubehör des Heizelements (30) erlaubt ist, hindurch zu gehen.

5. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der wenigstens eine Ring (50) so gestaltet ist, dass er einen flachen Abschnitt aufweist.

6. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der wenigstens eine Ring (50) so gestaltet ist, dass er einen einwärts gekrümmten oder gebogenen Abschnitt aufweist.

7. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der wenigstens eine Ring (50) eine Höhe und eine Form aufweist, die dazu eingerichtet sind, ein Kochgefäß zu unterstützen.

8. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es wenigstens ein Stellelement (31) umfasst, das dazu eingerichtet ist, durch einen Benutzer zum Einschalten und/oder Ausschalten und/oder Einstellen von dem wenigstens einen Heizelement (30) betätigt zu werden.

9. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das wenigstens eine Stellelement (31) auf der ersten Fläche (10) des Kochfelds (1) angeordnet ist und die Einlage (40) so gestaltet ist, dass sie eine Ausnehmung (40R) umfasst, die den Teilbereich des Kochfelds (1), wo das wenigstens eine Stellelement (31) angeordnet ist, unbedeckt lässt.

10. Kochfeld (1) nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das wenigstens eine Stellelement (31) auf der ersten Fläche (10) des Kochfelds (1) angeordnet ist und die Einlage (40) so gestaltet ist, dass sie wenigstens eine zweite Öffnung umfasst, die dazu eingerichtet ist, dem wenigstens einen Stellelement (31) und/oder einer Steuerungsschnittstelle/Regelungsschnittstelle und/oder einer zusätzlichen Komponente des Kochfelds (1) zu erlauben, hindurch zu gehen.

Revendications

1. Table de cuisson domestique (1), du type comprenant :

- une première surface (10) qui loge au moins un point de cuisson (20) ;

- au moins un élément chauffant (30) associé audit au moins un point de cuisson (20) ;

- une doublure (40) adaptée pour protéger au moins une portion de ladite première surface (10), ladite doublure (40) étant réalisée en un matériau à base de silicone et comprenant au moins une première ouverture (41) adaptée pour permettre de faire passer un élément chauffant (30) ;

dans laquelle la doublure (40) comprend au moins un anneau (50) associé à ladite au moins une première ouverture (41), ledit anneau (50) permettant de protéger la surface de la doublure (40) qui est le plus près de l'élément chauffant (30),
caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un anneau (50) est réalisé en un matériau métallique, en particulier de l'acier ou de l'aluminium, ou en un matériau polymérique caractérisé par une haute résistance à la chaleur et
en ce que ledit au moins un anneau (50) est associé à la doublure (40) par surmoulage ou collage ou par l'intermédiaire d'attaches mécaniques ou en ce que la doublure (40) est équipée de moyens de référence appropriés permettant de positionner correctement l'anneau (50) et l'anneau (50) est simplement posé sur la doublure (40).

2. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le matériau à base de silicone de la doublure (40) est renforcé de fibre de verre.

3. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que l'épaisseur de ladite doublure (40) est comprise entre 0,2 mm et 2 mm, de préférence entre 0,5 mm et 1 mm.

4. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la forme de ladite première ouverture (41) est de nature à permettre de faire passer des accessoires de l'élément chauffant (30).

5. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un anneau (50) est conçu de façon à avoir une section plate.

6. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un anneau (50) est conçu de façon à avoir une section cintrée ou courbée.

7. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un anneau (50) a une hauteur et une forme qui sont adaptées pour supporter un récipient de cuisson.

8. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend au moins un élément de réglage (31) adapté pour être actionné par un utilisateur pour allumer et/ou éteindre et/ou régler ledit au moins un élément chauffant (30).

9. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un élément de réglage (31) est situé sur la première surface (10) de la table de cuisson (1), et ladite doublure (40) est conçue de façon à comporter un évidement (40R) qui laisse cette portion de la table de cuisson (1) découverte là où ledit au moins un élément de réglage (31) est situé.

10. Table de cuisson (1) selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un élément de réglage (31) est situé sur la première surface (10) de la table de cuisson (1), et ladite doublure (40) est conçue de façon à comporter au moins une seconde ouverture adaptée pour permettre de faire passer ledit au moins un élément de réglage (31) et/ou une interface de commande et/ou un composant supplémentaire de la table de cuisson (1).

Drawing