DOMESTIC OVEN WITH TEMPERATURE PROBE

Abstract

 A domestic oven comprises a cavity closed by a door and a temperature probe having a sensing portion for inserting into food and a plug portion configured to be coupled with a corresponding receptacle plug of the oven; this receptacle plug comprises a polymeric housing containing an electronic circuit connected to a central processing unit of the oven.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic oven comprising a cavity closed by a door and a temperature probe having a sensing portion for inserting into food and a connection portion to be coupled with a corresponding receptacle of the oven.

[0002] The use of temperature probes, also known as "meat probes" is well known in the art of domestic and professional oven. Generally speaking, a temperature probe is a device that allows user to detect the exact temperature of the food into the oven. The sensing portion of the probe is put into the core of the food, and the temperature is measured and shown on the oven display. Data from the probe may be also used for controlling the cooking program in an automatic way.

[0003] In current temperature probes the receptacle of the probe is connected by wires to a control process unit of the oven. In other words the electronic circuit of the temperature probe is integrated with the control unit of the oven.

[0004] Such known solutions increase the assembly complexity (currently the meat probe board is mounted on the ventilation channel of the oven and a cable goes from it to the meat probe insertion point) as well as the harness path, so that the overall cost of the product is high. Moreover, in case of failure of the temperature probe, it is necessary to replace the entire electronic circuit of the oven.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a domestic oven which can be assembled and repaired in an easy way.

[0006] Such object is reached thanks to the features listed in the appended claims.

[0007] Known solutions of temperature probes show the position of the receptacle internal to the cavity, on lateral wall. This means a quite difficult assembly process for manufacturing and so high costs.

[0008] Therefore a further object of the present invention is to have the receptacle of the temperature in a position which is easy to be reached by the user and which is not affected by grease and smoke which can develop inside the cavity.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the temperature probe receptacle location is out of cavity, preferably in a front rim thereof and more preferably below a front user interface of the oven. This solution simplifies the assembly process which would save time and cost. According to such location, the path for harness is reduced (to lower the cost).

[0010] Further advantages and features according to the present invention will be clear from the detailed description provided as a non limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

• figure 1 is a perspective view of an oven according to the invention, in which the door is removed for sake of clarity;
• figure 2 is a perspective view of a component of the oven of figure 1;
• figure 3 is a top view of the component of figure 3; and
• figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of figure 3.

[0011] With reference to the drawings, a domestic oven 10 presents a cavity 10a and a front rim 12, the latter, in the configuration of the closed door, being not visible by the user. The oven 10 further comprises a control panel 14 (user interface) with knobs 14a and a display 14b, such interface being placed above the cavity 10a. The oven 10 is provided with a temperature probe 16 having a sensing portion 16a and a connection plug 16b which are connected together by a flexible cable 16c. On the upper part of the rim 12 it is placed a receptacle 18 for the connection plug 16b shaped as a jack.

[0012] The receptacle 18 comprises a housing 20 of polymeric material and it is obtained for instance by injection molding. The housing 20 comprises a flange portion 20a which is fastened in a corresponding aperture of the front rim 12, and a body portion 20b (not visible in the installed portion of the receptacle 18) which houses electrical contacts for the connection plug 16b and a printed circuit board 22 for processing signals coming from the temperature probe 16 and for delivering processed signal, through a connector 22a, to a central process unit (not shown) of the oven 10. The body portion 20b of the housing 20 comprises a lid 21 (removed in figure 2) for closing the hollow space containing the printed circuit board 22. The plastic material of the housing 20 allows a certain degree of deformation of the flange portion 20a so that the fastening thereof to an aperture of the oven front rim can be performed without the use of fastening means, by simply inserting the edge of the aperture within an annular groove G of the flange portion 20a.

[0013] The lid 21 may be fastened to the housing 20 by means of a screw 23 cooperating with a seat 25 in the housing 20.

[0014] The solution according to the invention has have several advantages, for instance a highest aesthetical appearance (meat probe insertion plastic housing 20 hidden under control panel 14) and a reduced assembly complexity versus the current solutions, mainly due to an easier way for harness (plastic housing 20 is placed very close to the electronic board or central process unit located in the ventilation channel).

[0015] Other advantages derive from the fact that no big modifications are necessary in current top wrapper and ventilation designs.

[0016] The plastic component used for the probe attachment on the cavity front rim integrates the probe with its board (instead of having it on the control board of the oven). The integrated board solution according to the invention has a high cost benefit as it reduces the assembly complexity as well as the harness path, so that the overall cost of the product is lower.

[0017] It is clear that the position of the plastic housing 20 can be different from what is shown in figure 1; also it is possible to have in the housing 20 an axis X for the insertion of the connection plug 16b of the temperature probe 16 which is not horizontal (as shown in figure 1), rather inclined towards the user in order to facilitate the insertion of the probe. The fact that the plastic housing 20 is placed outside the oven cavity 10a makes possible the use of cheap polymeric material like polypropylene; of course other more expensive polymeric materials having a higher resistance to temperature (as PPO) can be used, particularly in case of a pyrolitic oven.

Claims

1. Domestic oven (10) comprising a cavity (10a) closed by a door and a temperature probe (16) having a sensing portion (16a) for inserting into food and a connection portion (16b) configured to be coupled with a corresponding receptacle (18) of the oven (10), characterized in that said receptacle (18) comprises a polymeric housing (20) containing an electronic circuit (22) connected to a central processing unit of the oven (10).

2. Domestic oven according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit (22) is a printed circuit board.

3. Domestic oven according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymeric housing (22) is obtained by injection molding.

4. Domestic oven according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is removably installed on the oven.

5. Domestic oven according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle (18) is placed on a front rim (12) of the oven cavity (10a).

6. Domestic oven according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle (18, 20) presents a flange portion (20a) with an annular groove (G) in which the edge of an aperture of the front rim (12) is inserted.

7. Domestic oven according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the receptacle (18) is placed below a front user interface (14) of the oven (10).

8. Domestic oven according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle (18) has an inclined axis (X) for the introduction of the connection portion (16b) of the temperature probe (16).

Drawing