A COOKING DEVICE COMPRISING A HANDLE AND THE ASSEMBLY METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) which is provided at the front side of the body (2); at least one intermediary member (4) which is disposed on the door (3) and which is manufactured from plastic; a handle profile (5) which is disposed on the intermediary member (4) and which is manufactured from metal; and at least one connection member (6) which provides the grouping of the handle profile (5) and the intermediary member (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device wherein the assembly of the handle is improved.

[0002] The production of cooking devices includes various mounting processes. Especially, the mounting of the handle, which enables the door of the oven, one of the cooking devices, to be opened by the user, is one of the most important mounting processes. Basically, the handle group, which is placed on the glass on the door, is composed of the part held by the user, known as the handle profile, and a decorative intermediary part which preferably provides the connection of the handle profile to the glass on the door. The door glass, the intermediary part and the handle profile need to form a monolithic structure, thus achieving a compact design. Therefore, a special fixing member is needed to fix these components which cannot be connected to each other, and if said components are mounted separately or not fixed, they may cause great damage during transportation. The assembly time of the components which are fixed by the operator is prolonged during the production, and operator-induced errors may occur. Since preferably the handle profile is metal and the decorative intermediary part is plastic in order to increase perception of quality, problems may arise during the mounting due to the hard-to-mold nature of metal. In the state of the art handle assemblies made with flow drill screws, problems of eccentricity may occur since the connection is made on a single axis, and the cost effectiveness is reduced since this is a very costly method. In solutions where no flow drill screw is used, the ungrouped handle profile and decorative intermediary part cause problems with centering and significantly increase labor costs. As a result, production times increase and labor productivity significantly decreases.

[0003] In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE102006042176A,it is disclosed that the decorative intermediary part with grooves and the handle profile are fixed to each other with flow drill screws.

[0004] In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP3136002B1, it is disclosed that the decorative intermediary part and the handle profile are fixed to each other with flow drill screws and an antenna or USB port is provided on the handle.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device wherein eccentricity in the assembly of the handle group is prevented and cost effectiveness is improved.

[0006] The cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims comprises a body; a door which is provided at the front side of the body; at least one intermediary member which is disposed on the door and which is manufactured from plastic; a handle profile which is disposed on the intermediary member and which is manufactured from metal; and at least one connection member which provides the grouping of the handle profile and the intermediary member. The intermediary member is configured as a decorative component. In the handle profile, a material which is mostly aluminum is preferred. The connection member is generally considered as a screw or similar mounting member. The door preferably manufactured from glass, a plastic intermediary member and a metal handle profile constitute a monolithic structure. The cooking device comprises at least one housing which is provided on the surface of the handle profile facing the intermediary member, and at least one claw which is provided on the surface of the intermediary member facing the handle profile and which engages with the housing. The housing and the claw engage with each other. The cooking device further comprises the connection member which passes through the door and the intermediary member so as to be connected to the handle profile and which provides the connection of the door, the intermediary member and the handle profile on the same axis. Thus, without requiring any additional component, the handle profile and the intermediary member are grouped and can be transported in a safer manner. Consequently, cost advantage and labor effectiveness are improved, and a handle connection which can be easily manufactured is obtained. By preventing the eccentricity caused by the assembly, a more secure connection is provided.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device comprises the connection member and the housing which are positioned such that the axes passing through the connection member and the housing are parallel to each other. By means of the parallel double axes, the placement of the handle on the body during the assembly is made more secure, and any eccentricity which may be caused by the user pulling the handle is prevented.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device comprises a first hole which is provided on the intermediary member and a second hole which is provided on the handle profile, wherein the connection member passes through both holes. Thus, by means of the connection member passing through said two holes, the connection of the handle profile to the door is securely performed.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device comprises the intermediary member having a channel which surrounds the connection member all around and which enables the same to be fixed in the intermediary member. The rigidity of the connection member moving in the channel is increased, thus preventing any eccentricity.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device comprises the handle profile which is manufactured with a hollow structure so as to receive the connection member and the claw. By means of a non-solid handle profile for engaging with the claw and the connection member, a better snap-fitting or engagement is provided.

[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention is an assembly method suitable to be used with the above-described cooking device. In the first step, by pushing the intermediary member, the claw is fitted into the housing on the handle profile. Then, in a similar manner, the connection member is passed through the door towards the handle profile. The connection member is fitted into the first hole and the second hole, respectively, and the door, the intermediary member and the handle profile are fixed. By tightening the connection member which is preferably a screw, the fixing is performed. Thus, labor effectiveness is improved by means of a more efficient assembly method without requiring any additional components.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device is an oven.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device is a microwave oven.

[0014] A cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the front schematic view of the cooking device.

Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a part of the cooking device.

Figure 3 - is the sideways schematic view of the body and the handle.

Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the handle profile and the intermediary member.

Figure 5 - is the cross-sectional view of the handle profile and the intermediary member.

[0015] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooking device

2. Body

3. Door

4. Intermediary member

5. Handle profile

6. Connection member

7. Housing

8. Claw

9. First hole

10. Second hole

11. Channel

[0016] The cooking device (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) which is provided at the front side of the body (2); at least one intermediary member (4) which is disposed on the door (3) and which is manufactured from plastic; a handle profile (5) which is disposed on the intermediary member (4) and which is manufactured from metal; and at least one connection member (6) which provides the grouping of the handle profile (5) and the intermediary member (4). The door (4) preferably manufactured from glass, a plastic intermediary member (4) and a metal handle profile (5) constitute a monolithic structure. The cooking device (1) comprises at least one housing (7) which is provided on the surface of the handle profile (5) facing the intermediary member(4), and at least one claw (8) which is provided on the surface of the intermediary member (4) facing the handle profile (5) and which engages with the housing (7). The housing (7) and the claw (8) engage with each other. Moreover, a more secure engagement can be obtained by using a plurality of claws (8) and housings (7). The cooking device (1) further comprises the connection member (6) which passes through the door (3) and the intermediary member (4) so as to be connected to the handle profile (5) and which provides the connection of the door (3), the intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5) on the same axis. While the housing-claw (7, 8) structure eliminates the problem of centering, the handle is rigidly mounted to the body (2) of the cooking device (1) by means of the connection member (6) which is preferably a screw. Thus, without requiring any additional component, the handle profile (5) and the intermediary member (4) are grouped and can be transported on the production line in a safer manner. Consequently, cost advantage and labor effectiveness are improved, and a handle connection which can be easily manufactured is obtained. By preventing the eccentricity caused by the assembly, a more secure connection is provided. Moreover, problems arising from the mounting of metal and plastic components are eliminated by means of a cut-out (housing) on the metal handle profile (5) and a protrusion (claw) on the plastic intermediary member (4).

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises the connection member (6) and the housing (7) which are positioned such that the axes passing through the connection member (6) and the housing (7) are parallel to each other. By positioning the centers of the housing (7) and the connection member (6) parallel to each other in the vertical axis, conservation of momentum is made possible by means of the most efficient force distribution and labor problems arising from the curved structure during the assembly are eliminated. By creating a more balanced force distribution by comparison to a connection with a single axis considering the handle profile (5) parts on which the user exerts force, deformations arising from the pulling movement carried out by the user with high force are decreased.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises a first hole (9) which is provided on the intermediary member (4) and a second hole (10) which is provided on the handle profile (5), wherein the connection member (6) passes through both holes (9, 10). The first hole (9) and the second hole (10) are bored in order to fix by screwing or fitting the connection member (6) in. Thus, the connection is realized by means of only a connection member (6).

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises the intermediary member (4) having a channel (11) which surrounds the connection member (6) all around and which enables the same to be fixed in the intermediary member (4). The channel (11) is preferably cylindrical and is formed as a cut-out in the intermediary member (4). Thus, the eccentricity is partially eliminated and the possibility of linear mounting is improved.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) comprises the handle profile (5) which is manufactured with a hollow structure so as to receive the connection member (6) and the claw (8). By means of the handle profile (5) molded as hollow or grooved, the ends of the claw (8) and the connection member (6) which are designed relatively thick engage with and securely grip the handle profile (5).

[0021] Another embodiment of the present invention is an assembly method suitable to be used with the above-described cooking device (1). In the first step, by pushing the intermediary member (4), the claw (8) is fitted into the housing (7) on the handle profile (5). Then, in a similar manner, the connection member (6) is passed through the door (3) towards the handle profile (5). The connection member (6) is fitted into the first hole (9) and the second hole (10), respectively, and the door (3), the intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5) are fixed together. The intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5) generally placed at two different regions of the door (3), which are the right and left sides, are first grouped with the claw (8), and then rigidly secured by means of the connection member (6) fixing the door (3), the intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5). In case the connection member (6) is preferably a screw, the same is tightened by means of a tightening member (screwdriver, etc.) as the last step, thus improving the compactness. Consequently, malfunctions caused by deformation which may require technical service are prevented and labor effectiveness is improved.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) is an oven. Since the handle is frequently used by the user in ovens, the security is improved by means of the present invention.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking device (1) is a microwave oven. Since the handle is frequently used by the user in microwave ovens, the security is improved by means of the present invention.

[0024] In the cooking device (1) of the present invention, the grouping of the metal handle profile (5) is facilitated by means of the claw (8) and the housing (7) structure, and any eccentricity is prevented by means of a connection on two axes.

Claims

1. A cooking device (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) which is provided at the front side of the body (2); at least one intermediary member (4) which is disposed on the door (3) and which is manufactured from plastic; a handle profile (5) which is disposed on the intermediary member (4) and which is manufactured from metal; and at least one connection member (6) which provides the grouping of the handle profile (5) and the intermediary member (4), characterized by

- at least one housing (7) which is provided on the surface of the handle profile (5) facing the intermediary member(4),

- at least one claw (8) which is provided on the surface of the intermediary member (4) facing the handle profile (5) and which engages with the housing (7), and

- the connection member (6) which passes through the door (3) and the intermediary member (4) so as to be connected to the handle profile (5) and which provides the connection of the door (3), the intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5) on the same axis.

2. A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the connection member (6) and the housing (7) which are positioned such that the axes passing through the connection member (6) and the housing (7) are parallel to each other.

3. A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a first hole (9) which is provided on the intermediary member (4) and a second hole (10) which is provided on the handle profile (5), wherein the connection member (6) passes through both holes (9, 10).

4. A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the intermediary member (4) having a channel (11) which surrounds the connection member (6) all around and which enables the same to be fixed in the intermediary member (4).

5. A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the handle profile (5) which is manufactured with a hollow structure so as to receive the connection member (6) and the claw (8).

6. An assembly method suitable to be used in the above-disclosed cooking device (1) and characterized by the steps of

- Fitting the claw (8) into the housing (7) on the handle profile (5) by pushing the intermediary member (4),

- Passing the connection member (6) through the door (3) towards the handle profile (5),

- Fitting the connection member (6) into the first and second holes (9, 10), and

- Fixing the door (3), the intermediary member (4) and the handle profile (5).

7. A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is an oven.

8. A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a microwave oven.

Drawing