COMBINATION APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A COMBINATION APPLIANCE

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a combination appliance (10) comprising a cooking hob (12) and an extraction device (14) for an extraction of kitchen exhaust air. The extraction device (14) comprises an extraction device housing (28), which is arrangeable at a bottom side of the cooking hob (12), preferably at a bottom wall (60) of a cooking hob housing (62). The extraction device housing (28) comprises
a. a basic structure or carrying structure and/or at least one housing wall, and
b. attachment points and/or fastening means for an arrangement and/or attachment
- of a module or a component, particularly of at least a majority of modules or components, more particularly of all modules or components, of the extraction device (14), and/or
- of at least one module or component, in particular a power board module (54), of the cooking hob (12)
in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing (28) .
Further disclosed is a method for assembling a combination appliance (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device according to claim 1. The present invention further relates to a method for assembling a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device according to claim 12.

[0002] During the performance of cooking activities under use of a cooking hob, cooking vapours are generated, which are distributed over the cooking area. In order to avoid these cooking vapours to be spread throughout the entire kitchen space, an arrangement of an extraction device, particularly an extractor hood, is common. Said extraction device is operated in parallel to the cooking hob, thereby sucking in these cooking vapours in order to filter out particles and tiny droplets from the vapours and/or to blow the vapours to the outside of the building. While it has been common use to arrange such an extractor hood above the cooking area, in recent years downdraft extraction devices have been finding a growing market. Such kind of extraction device is usually arranged below a cooktop of the related cooking hob, which configuration forms a so-called combination appliance, and it comprises at least one fan for sucking air from the cooking area through an opening or recess arranged in the cooktop. In such systems, the exhaust air is either directly blown out on the reverse side of the combination appliance and distributed over the space behind a kitchen cabinet, in which the combination appliance is installed, or the exhaust air is moved through a ventilation channel from the cooking zone to the bottom of the kitchen cabinet, where it is blown out, particularly through an opening in a plinth panel, and returned to the ambient air. The general setup of this kind of a combination appliance including the design of its extraction device is usually depending on the design of the related cooking hob, e. g. it differs with the size of cooking hob, which results in bulky solutions particularly for cooking hobs of at least 80 cm width. As a consequence, the installation of such appliances might be a cumbersome venture or customizations for built-in kitchens have to be taken into account, which may limit the selection of kitchen designs to very few specified solutions.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination appliance, which provides a basis for a unified setup for combination appliances, which allows an installation of an arbitrarily selected combination appliance in a variety of kitchen furniture designs, so that a large number of customer requests can be fulfilled. According to a further object, a method for a standardized assembling of a combination appliance, particularly allowing an automated process, shall be provided.

[0004] The object is achieved for a combination appliance by the combination of the features of claim 1.

[0005] A combination appliance comprises a cooking hob and an extraction device for an extraction of kitchen exhaust air. The extraction device comprises an extraction device housing, which is arrangeable at a bottom side of the cooking hob. In particular, a fixed arrangement is provided. Preferably, the extraction device housing is arranged at a bottom wall of a cooking hob housing. The extraction device housing comprises a basic structure or carrying structure and/or at least one housing wall. The extraction device housing further comprises attachment points and/or fastening means for an arrangement and/or attachment of a module or a component of the extraction device and/or of at least one module or component, in particular an electronic module, more particularly a power board module, of the cooking hob in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing. In particular, at least a majority of modules or components, more particularly all modules or components, of the extraction device is or are arranged or arrangeable and/or attached or attachable in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing.

[0006] More specifically, the extraction device housing includes a bottom wall and side walls, in particular four side walls. The side walls and the bottom wall may represent all housing walls of the extraction device housing. The assembly of the bottom and the side walls with the bottom wall of the cooking hob housing forms a sealed housing. Said sealing, which is specifically in place, when the extraction device housing with its bottom and side walls is arranged at the bottom wall of the cooking hob, may be an airtight seal. In order to enable a proper functionality of the extraction device, the sealing property may exclude inlet and outlet openings of the extraction device housing for air conveyance.

[0007] According to embodiments, an air transportation means is attachable or attached at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or at the at least one housing wall. Said air transportation means particularly is or includes a fan unit. The attachment of the air transportation means is particularly performed or performable at an inner side of the housing wall, more specifically on a bottom wall portion, of the extraction device housing. Preferably, the air transportation means is attached or attachable by acquiring a vertical orientation.

[0008] In some implementations, the air transportation means, in particular the fan unit, comprises a first suction opening and a second suction opening, which first and second suction openings are arranged on opposing sides of a fan housing of the air transportation means. Moreover, the air transportation means is preferably arranged in the extraction device housing in a central position. With such positioning, at least approximately equal suction areas are provided, specifically for an even and/or symmetrical suctioning from an interior space of the extraction device housing. According to another, additional or alternative, specific solution, the air transportation means, more specifically the fan unit, is characterized by a horizontal alignment of a rotation axis of a fan wheel.

[0009] Moreover, a service opening for maintenance activities may be arranged in a bottom wall of the extraction device housing. With such a service opening a simplified access to the interior of the extraction device housing may be enabled, so that no elaborate disassembling of the extraction device is necessary when servicing is required. The service opening may be positioned in an access area of the air transportation means. That way, the air transportation means, which might be one of the most sensitive components of the extraction device, is easily accessible and, if necessary, replaceable.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the cooking hob is designed as a modular system, which comprises, on the one hand, at least a first module or component, which is configured to be arranged or to fit in a cut-out space of a worktop of a kitchen cabinet or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette. Said worktop is particularly a standard worktop. The at least a first module or component is preferably arranged in a cooking hob housing. On the other hand, the modular system of the cooking hob comprises at least a second module or component, which is configured to be physically assigned to or attached to the extraction device housing.

[0011] One specific solution for the combination appliance according to the present invention provides that at least one electronic board of the cooking hob and/or of the extraction device is attachable or attached at the extraction device housing, preferably at an outer surface or outer wall portion of the extraction device housing. The electronic board is in particular a control unit and/or a power supply unit, which power supply unit may be a power board, specifically for the cooking hob. Particularly, the attachment of the at least one electronic board is performed by means of a casing of the at least one electronic board. More specifically, the attachment is performed by an assembly of a casing, in which the at least one electronic board is arranged.

[0012] One specific embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the housing wall for the attachment of the at least one electronic board is vertically arranged or is inclined from the vertical axis. Preferably at least a first electronic board and a second electronic board are provided and the first electronic board is allocated to a first housing wall and the second electronic board is allocated to a second housing wall, which first and second housing walls may be different housing walls, more specifically opposing housing walls.

[0013] According to a particularly specific embodiment, the combination appliance includes a third electronic board, which may be a control unit for the extraction device. This third electronic unit is preferably attached or configured to be attached to a third housing wall of the extraction device housing, which is particularly different to the first and second housing walls. Moreover, a fourth housing wall of the extraction device housing may be provided, which may be a rear wall in an installation position of the combination appliance. Said fourth housing wall may accommodate an opening for an exhaust air outlet of the extraction device. The extraction device housing may further comprise a fifth housing wall, which is a bottom wall of the housing, preferably having a horizontal alignment in the installation position of the combination appliance.

[0014] More specifically, the extraction device housing and/or the at least one electronic board comprises or comprise first fastening means configured to enter into a hook assembly, and preferably second fastening means configured to establish a final fixation of the at least one electronic board, more specifically an undetachable fixation. Said final fixation is in particular established by screws or snapping means or other kind of latching means. Moreover, in the specific case of the electronic board being housed in a casing, the casing of the at least one electronic board, may be subject to the first and particularly the second fastening means.

[0015] At least one of the first, second or third electronic boards and/or another module or section of the cooking hob may comprise a guiding channel and/or guiding elements and/or guiding or mounting hooks configured to place at least one cable or a wiring in a definite position and/or to separate power and communication wiring, which in particular supports the mounting process of the electronic board to the allocated housing wall, which mounting process may include a swivelling of the electronic board prior to its final attachment and/or fixation. That way, the mounting process is not impeded by loose cables, which may be wedged between the electronic board, particularly a casing part thereof, and the housing wall.

[0016] According to embodiments, the extraction device housing comprises at least an area or a portion, which is made of an electrically non-conductive material, which non-conductive material may be a plastic material. This kind of non-conductive material is specifically provided in an area or on a portion, particularly a wall portion, where an electrical component is arranged. More specifically, the entire extraction device housing is made of a plastic material.

[0017] In some implementations, the extraction device housing is shaped like a truncated pyramid or cuboid-shaped or prism-shaped, particularly including at least one trapezoid side wall. In case of an extraction device housing, which is tapered towards its bottom wall, a simplified installation of the entire combination appliance in the cut-out of the kitchen worktop can be provided.

[0018] The object is further achieved for a method for assembling a combination appliance according to the combination of features of claim 12.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for assembling a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device is provided. The combination appliance is in particular designed according to anyone of the herein disclosed embodiments. The extraction device is configured to extract kitchen exhaust air, particularly from a cooking area above the cooking hob, through a suction opening, which is preferably arranged in a cooktop of the cooking hob. The method includes an assembling step A of mounting a module or a component of the cooking hob on a basic structure or carrying structure of the extraction device. Said module or component of the cooking hob is particularly an electronic module of the cooking hob.

[0020] More specifically, the electronic module is a power board module of the cooking hob. The basic structure or carrying structure of the extraction device preferably comprises a housing wall, in particular an outer surface of the housing wall, of the extraction device, on which the electronic module is mounted.

[0021] The method may be further characterized in that two modules or components, in particular two electronic modules, are provided. A first electronic module is mounted on a first housing wall and a second electronic module is mounted on a second housing wall. Preferably, the first and second housing walls are opposing walls.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment of the method, the cooking hob is designed as a modular system comprising a hob assembly, which includes a heating system for at least one cooking zone, and said first and second electronic modules. Prior to the previously described assembling step A, the first and second electronic modules are pre-positioned during an assembling step B on a left side and on a right side of the hob assembly.

[0023] Moreover, prior to assembling step A, in particular at about the same time or prior to assembling step B, a pre-assembling of the extraction device may be performed during an assembling step C, in which at least one component or module is installed on or in an interior of the basic structure or carrying structure. In particular, the installation during assembling step C takes place by introducing the at least one component or module into the interior of an extraction device housing.

[0024] In some implementations, an assembling step D of connecting the extraction device, more specifically the extraction device housing, to the hob assembly or cooking hob, more specifically to the bottom wall of the hob assembly or cooking hob housing, is provided prior to or after assembling step A, in order to finally form the combination appliance. For example, assembling step D includes a slide-in movement, during which the extraction device, specifically the housing thereof, is mechanically connected to the bottom wall of the cooking hob housing or hob assembly. Said slide-in movement may include a step of an engagement of fastening means, in particular including at least one latch or flap, of the extraction device housing in an allocated locking element arranged at the cooking hob structure, more specifically at the bottom wall or a frame part assigned to the bottom wall of the cooking hob housing or hob assembly housing.

[0025] A particularly preferred solution of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of

a. providing a hob assembly, which comprises a heating system for at least one cooking zone,

b. providing at least one electronic module, in particular a power board,

c.positioning the hob assembly and the at least one electronic module in a side-by-side arrangement,

d. electrically connecting the at least one electronic module to the hob assembly,

e.pre-mounting an assembly of the extraction device comprising an extraction device housing, which receives or includes at least one extraction device module and/or component,

f. supplying the pre-mounted extraction device assembly to the hob assembly,

g. connecting, in particular mechanically connecting, the pre-mounted extraction device assembly, in particular the extraction device housing, to the hob assembly,

h. mechanically connecting the at least one electronic module to a surface, in particular to an outer surface of an at least first side wall, of the extraction device housing, preferably thereby performing a swivel movement,

i. preferably connecting, in particular mechanically and electrically connecting, a control unit of the extraction device to a surface, in particular to an outer surface of a third side wall, of the extraction device housing.

[0026] It may be provided that steps a. to d. are executed in consecutive order. The same may apply to steps e. and f.. Step e. may follow step d., or it may be executed nearly at the same time as anyone of the steps a. to d.. Steps g. to i. may be executed in any order.

[0027] According to embodiments, prior to or after step d. the power and/or communication wiring for the electrical connection between the at least one electronic module and the hob assembly is threaded into or pulled in a guiding channel and/or into guiding or mounting hooks. In particular, a sequence of guiding or mounting hooks arranged in a row are provided for a safe accommodation of the wiring. The power wiring and the communication wiring is preferably allocated to separate guiding channels and/or guiding or mounting hooks in order to enable a target-oriented arrangement, what is favourable in case the power wiring has to be connected at a different location than the communication wiring.

[0028] The object may also be achieved for a combination appliance according to any of the two embodiments as outlined what follows. It is to be noted that the embodiments described in the following either may be independent solutions of the present invention or may be specific embodiments of anyone of the herein described, in particular previously described, embodiments of a combination appliance. On the other hand, the combination appliance embodiments described in the following may also be developed further by any of the herein described, in particular previously described, individual features, if suitable.

[0029] According to another further aspect of the present invention, the object may be achieved by a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device for a downdraft extraction of kitchen exhaust air, the extraction device comprising an extraction device housing, which is arrangeable or attachable at a bottom side of the cooking hob, preferably at a bottom wall of a housing of the cooking hob, wherein the housing of the cooking hob is configured to be entirely arranged in a space including

• a cut-out of a worktop, in particular a standard worktop, of a kitchen cabinet or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette,
  or
• the cut-out of the worktop of the built-in kitchen or the kitchenette and an intermediate space between the worktop and a top plate of the kitchen cabinet, which is arranged beneath the worktop,

wherein the extraction device housing is configured to be entirely arranged or to entirely fit in at least an upper part of the interior space of the kitchen cabinet, in particular a standard kitchen cabinet, more specifically a kitchen cabinet of a width of 60 cm, such that the horizontal dimensions of the extraction device housing are adjusted to the dimensions of a horizontal cross-sectional area of the kitchen cabinet by leaving a particularly narrow, and preferably circumferential, gap between the inner surfaces the of vertical walls of the kitchen cabinet and the outer surfaces of the extraction device housing.

[0030] According to yet another further aspect of the present invention, the object may be achieved by a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device for a downdraft extraction of kitchen exhaust air, the extraction device comprising an extraction device housing, which is arrangeable or attachable at a bottom side of the cooking hob, preferably at a bottom wall of a housing part of the cooking hob, wherein the cooking hob is designed as a modular system comprising

• at least a first module and/or component, which is or are configured to be arranged or to fit in a cut-out space of a worktop, in particular a standard worktop, of a kitchen cabinet or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette, the at least a first module and/or component preferably being housed in a housing of the cooking hob,
  and
• at least a second module and/or component, which is or are configured to be physically assigned to and/or to be attached to the housing of the extraction device.

[0031] The object may also be achieved for a method for assembling a combination appliance according to the combination of features as outlined what follows. It is to be noted that the method elaboration described in the following either may be an independent solution of the present invention or may be a specific method of anyone of the herein described, in particular previously described, methods for assembling a combination appliance. On the other hand, the method elaboration described in the following may also be developed further by any of the herein described, in particular previously described, individual method features, if suitable.

[0032] According to yet another further aspect of the present invention, the object may be achieved by a method for assembling a combination appliance, which comprises a cooking hob and an extraction device, the extraction device being configured to extract kitchen exhaust air, particularly from a cooking area above the cooking hob, through a suction opening arranged in a cooktop of the cooking hob, the combination appliance in particular being designed according to anyone of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of

• providing an all-purpose extraction device, which is configured to be universally combined with one member of a plurality of different models of cooking hobs, wherein particularly at least a first member differentiates from at least a second member in at least one dimension, more particularly the first and second members differ in at least their widths,
• providing a hob unit of a specific one of the plurality of different models of cooking hobs, depending on the combination appliance model to be assembled,
• establishing a mechanical connection between the hob unit and the extraction device,
• preferably establishing an electrical connection between the hob unit and the extraction device.

[0033] Finally, according to yet another further aspect of the present invention, the object may be achieved by a method for installing a combination appliance in a kitchen cabinet or in a built-in kitchen or kitchenette comprising a kitchen cabinet, the combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device for a downdraft extraction of kitchen exhaust air, in particular a combination appliance according to anyone of the herein described embodiments, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• establishing a cut-out in a worktop of the kitchen cabinet or the built-in kitchen or the kitchenette, the cut-out being configured to receive and/or integrate, preferably to entirely receive and/or integrate, a housing of the cooking hob,
• providing a receiving and/or integration space for the extraction device, in particular for a housing of the extraction device, in at least an upper part of an interior space of the kitchen cabinet, in particular a standard kitchen cabinet, more specifically a kitchen cabinet of a width of 60 cm,
• mounting the combination appliance such that the extraction device housing is entirely arranged in or entirely fits in at least the upper part of the interior space of the kitchen cabinet, wherein the horizontal dimensions of the extraction device housing are adjusted to the dimensions of a horizontal cross-sectional area of the kitchen cabinet by leaving a particularly narrow, and preferably circumferential, gap between the inner surfaces the of vertical walls of the kitchen cabinet and the outer surfaces of the extraction device housing.

[0034] Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0035] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of a general setup of a combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and a downdraft extraction device installed in a kitchen cabinet, which setup also reflects a prior art solution;

Fig. 2

is a cross-sectional perspective view of the disassembled combination appliance of Fig. 1 with a frontal surface cut away;

Fig. 3

is a top perspective view of a combination appliance according to the present invention;

Fig. 4

is a bottom perspective view of the combination appliance according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

is a front view of the combination appliance according to Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6

is a top perspective view of the isolated extraction device of the combination appliance according to Figs. 3 to 5;

Fig. 7

is a cross-sectional view of the combination appliance according to Fig. 5 along the line VII - VII;

Fig. 8

is a cross-sectional view of the combination appliance according to Fig. 3 along the line VIII - VIII;

Figs. 9a to 9d

illustrate an assembly sequence presenting schematically the assembling of the combination appliance according to Figs. 3 to 8; and

Fig. 10

is a perspective top view of an isolated power board module implemented in the combination appliance according to Figs. 3 to 8.

[0036] In all figures the same or equivalent part are marked with the same reference numbers.

[0037] Fig. 1 illustrates a general setup of a combination appliance 10 comprising a cooking hob 12 and a downdraft extraction device 14 installed in a kitchen cabinet 16. The cooking hob 12 is implemented in a cut-out of a kitchen countertop 18 forming a top cover plate of the kitchen cabinet 16. The downdraft extraction device 14 is configured to take away cooking vapours occurring during cooking processes, in particular when cooking with uncovered cookware. The cooking hob 12 comprises cooking regions 20a, 20b arranged on a left half and a right half of a cooktop 22 of the cooking hob 12, which left and right halves are separated from each other by a suction opening 24 for an intake of the cooking vapours, the suction opening 24 being arranged alongside a cooktop centreline. The suction opening 24 is covered by a cover grid 26 for preventing items, e. g. cookware, to fall into the suction opening 24. Instead of the cover grid 26 a lid may be used for entirely covering the suction opening when the extraction device 14 is out of use, but for the operation of the extraction device 14 the lid is pivotable into an upright open position.

[0038] A housing 28 of the extraction device 14 is shown in Fig. 1 in transparent illustration. Said housing 28 provides a closed outer shell or channel segment for a flow of the sucked-in cooking vapours on their way from the suction opening 24 to an exhaust opening 30 in a base area 32 of the kitchen cabinet 16. Said exhaust opening 30 is also covered, namely by an outlet grille 34.

[0039] The flow of the sucked-in cooking vapours through the extraction device 14 is driven by the operation of an extraction fan 36 arranged inside of the housing 28. Said extraction fan 36 comprises a bottom-sided intake opening 38 for sucking the cooking vapours from the interior space of the housing 28.

[0040] A rear-sided fan outlet is arranged for a horizontal exit of the air blown out backwards from the extraction fan housing 42. The fan outlet is connected to a first end of an air duct 44 designed as a rectangular tube and forms a second channel arranged downstream the above-mentioned first channel. Directly at the passage from the fan outlet to the air duct 44, an air duct bending by 90 degrees is implemented, which redirects the air flow from horizontal to vertical downwards. The air duct 44 may be guided alongside a rear side of the kitchen cabinet 16 and may be bent again by 90 degrees close to a rear lower edge of the kitchen cabinet 16 in order to direct the airflow towards exhaust opening 30 in the base area 32 of the kitchen cabinet 16. Accordingly, the second end of the air duct 44 is connected to the exhaust opening 30. The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 shows a solution of the air duct 44 with an inclined section of its downwardly directed portion, directed slightly to the right. Naturally, a solution with said portion arranged in an exact vertical direction is considerable as well.

[0041] The course of the cooking vapours from the cooking area through the extraction device 14 to a re-entry into ambient air is illustrated in Fig. 1 by dotted arrows 46¹ to 46⁵. On their way through the extraction device 14, the cooking vapours pass through a filter assembly 48, which is arranged downstream directly behind the suction opening 24 for providing a purification of the conveyed air. Said filter assembly 48 includes a filter carrier 50 supporting a filter element (not shown) that is usually configured for filtering out grease particles and droplets.

[0042] The cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 further shows two power boards 54, one for the left cooking region 20a and one for the right cooking region 20b, the power boards 54 providing cooking zones in the left and right cooking regions 20a, 20b with electrical power. In the present embodiment, the cooking hob 12 is an induction cooking hob and the cooking zones are defined by induction coils (not shown) that are arranged below the cooktop 22 of the cooking hob 12. Attached to the bottom side of the power board 54 assigned to the right cooking region 20b, a further circuit board is arranged forming a control electronics 56 for the combination appliance 10.

[0043] As will be understood from the illustration according to Fig. 2, when the combination appliance 10 is installed in the kitchen cabinet 16, not only a cut-out in the kitchen countertop 18 having the size of nearly the entire cooking hob size, which in the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 has a width of about 80 or 90 cm, is required, but also an interference in at least an upper zone of at least one kitchen cabinet 16 of the same width is necessary. In an unfavourable situation, a lot of cabinet space, e. g. a usage of a number of standard drawers, is lost after the installation. The embodiment illustrated more in detail in Figs. 3 to 10 overcomes this drawback by providing a general downdraft extraction device 14, which can be combined with different models of cooking hobs 12 in order to form a specific combination appliance 10. In this respect, the cooking hob 12 of the combination appliance 10 according to Figs. 3 to 10 having a width of about 60 cm in order to be installable above a standard kitchen cabinet of 60 cm, is only one representative of a number of different cooking hobs 12, in particular with different widths, which can be combined with the general extraction device 14. Insofar, the general extraction device 14 as particularly illustrated in Fig. 6 in an isolated view may be connected for example to a cooking hob 12 having a width of 80 or 90 cm. The general extraction device 14 according to Fig. 6 is configured to be placed in a top section of a standard kitchen cabinet 16 having a width of 60 cm, namely such that the cabinet space in the horizontal plane is utilised in best way, i. e. only a minimized gap between the housing 28 of the extraction device 14 and internal surfaces of the sidewalls of the kitchen cabinet 16 may be left.

[0044] The combination appliance embodiment according to Figs. 3 to 10 generally differs from the setup of the combination appliance 10 according to Figs. 1 and 2 in that all parts or modules of the cooking hob 12, except the two power board modules 54, are aggregated in a hob assembly part 12', which is dimensioned such that this hob assembly 12' will entirely find place in a cut-out area provided by a kitchen installer in a standard kitchen countertop 18, whereas said non-accommodated power board modules 54 are attached to an outer surface of the housing 28 of the extraction device 14, as will be described more in detail further down below.

[0045] Figs. 3 to 5 show the combination appliance 10, which represents one embodiment of the inventive concept, from various angles. As can be specifically seen in Fig. 6, which is an illustration from a similar view as that one of Fig. 3, but which is a presentation of the isolated extraction device 14, i. e. without the hob assembly 12' on the top side of the extraction device 14, core part of the extraction device 14 is the housing 28 having a standardized dimensioning. This housing part 28 is configured to receive nearly all the extraction device components except, on the one hand, the components accommodated in the cooking hob 12, which are the suction opening 24 including its cover grid 26 and an initial section of the suction duct, and, on the other hand, a fan control module 58, which is also attached to an outer surface of the housing 28 of the extraction device 14, as will be described more in detail further down below, as well.

[0046] As illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, the housing 28 of the general extraction device 14 is formed as a plastic box or plastic container of prism-shaped nature. Two opposing side walls of the housing 28, which are first 28a and second 28b side walls, are inclined from the vertical axis. The other two opposing and essentially trapezoid third 28c and fourth 28d side walls are vertically oriented in installation alignment. With this configuration, the four side walls 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d form a box, more precisely a container, which is tapered towards its bottom wall 28e. Said box or container is open at the top, but sealed by a bottom wall 60 of the housing 62 of the cooking hob 12 after completed assembling of the combination appliance 10.

[0047] The perspective bottom view according to Fig. 4 shows a bottom side of a fluid collector 64 arranged in a section of the bottom wall 28e, which may be formed like a shell open to the top, i. e. to the interior of the extraction device housing 28, and which may be configured to be pulled down from the bottom wall 28e of the housing 28 for emptying it. Preferably, said pulling down is only possible after a lateral movement of the fluid collector 64 and/or by unlocking a locking mechanism. Other embodiments, not shown in the figures, may include another opening in the bottom wall 28e of the extraction device housing 28 arranged in another section of the bottom wall 28e, which another opening may serve as a service opening for providing service activities. Said another opening allows access to the interior of the extraction device housing 28 and is closable by a closing lid, preferably by a sealed closing lid, in this respect preventing passage of fluid not collected in the fluid collector 64 and/or passage of conveyed air.

[0048] Fig. 6 grants an inside from the top into the arrangement of components inside of the extraction device housing 28. As is visible, the construction of the assembled extraction device 14 is nearly axially symmetrical. An air transportation system including a fan 36 for air conveyance is positioned along a central axis of the extraction device housing 28. The fan 36 is arranged in a vertical orientation, i. e. a rotation axis of a fan wheel (not shown) is horizontally aligned. The fan 36 comprises two intake openings 38, 38' arranged at opposing sides of a fan housing 42, which construction enables a symmetric intake of air from both halves of the interior of the extraction device housing 28. As can be also seen in Fig. 6, but even better in Figs. 9c and 9d, in which the transparently illustrated housing 28 allows a look from below into the interior of the extraction device housing 28, a filter assembly 48, which is axially symmetrical similarly to the fan 36 and accommodated in a filter housing 50, with two flat filter elements positioned at opposing sides of the filter carrier 50, is included for a filtration of the conveyed air and for a separation of particles and/or droplets, e. g. grease, odour and/or vapour particles and/or droplets. Said filter assembly 48 and filter carrier 50 are arranged side-by side with the fan 36. The cooking vapours aspirated through the suction opening 24 enter the filter assembly 48 from the top side, and are deflected by about 90 degrees from vertical to horizontal direction fairly equally to both sides and through the filter elements. After passing the filter elements another deflection by about 90 degrees, but in approximately horizontal direction, takes place, so that the conveyed air is forwarded to the two intake openings 38, 38' for its transportation via the fan housing 42 to exhaust opening 30 positioned at the fourth side wall 28d, which is a rear wall in installation orientation of the combination appliance 10. Although the filter assembly 48 only takes up space of a smaller extension in depth direction of the cooking hob 12, the suction opening 24 extends nearly over the entire cooking hob depth, which means that a portion of the suction opening 24 is arranged above the fan housing 42, however, the cooking vapours aspirated through that portion are immediately guided towards the filter assembly 48, i. e. initially nearly in parallel to the surface of the cooktop 22. Moreover, the filter assembly 48 may be positioned above the previously described fluid collector 64, so that condensed droplets may directly drop down into the fluid collector 64. As indicated by in Figs. 9c and 9d, the fan housing 42 is particularly fixed to the bottom wall 28e, which may be performed by screws, specifically by penetrating the bottom wall 28e. This type of fixation, however, is only one among a number of different mounting options, even independently from involving the bottom wall 28e in the mounting performance.

[0049] As already indicated above, but which is only a preferred solution, due to its construction, the extraction device housing 28 forms an airtight box or container with only an opening to the top, which is a connection opening that is connected to the suction opening 24, and an exhaust opening 30 at rear wall; i. e. the conveyed air only takes the way from the suction opening 24 to the exhaust opening 30, without any possibility to escape from this way in between.

[0050] As already indicated above, too, and as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7, both the power board modules 54 and the fan control module 58 are attached to the outer surfaces of housing walls, quasi in a backpack manner. According to the present embodiment, the two power board modules, i. e. first and second power board modules 54, are attached to the first and second side walls 28a, 28b, which are lateral walls of the extraction device housing 28 in installation orientation of the combination appliance 10, and which are said side walls inclined from the vertical. Further, the fan control module 58 is attached to the third side wall 28c, which is a front wall of the extraction device housing 28 in installation orientation. It goes without saying that a different arrangement of the individual electronic modules 54, 58, i. e. a different allocation of each electronic modules 54, 58 to any of the side walls 28a, 28b, 28c may also be selectable. Due to the present arrangement, the fan control module 58 is positioned at an opposing side in relation to the exhaust outlet 30, which is arranged in the fourth side wall 28d, which is the rear wall in the present embodiment.

[0051] The cross-sectional view of a section of the combination appliance 10 according to Fig. 8 illustrates more in detail the way of fixation of both power board modules 54. Next to the left and right corners of the upper edge of the casing 66 of the power board module 54 a support surface 68 engages behind a tongue 70 protruding downwardly from a circumferential top edge of the housing 28, thereby preventing a lifting from the contact surface of first wall 28a, or second wall 28b, respectively. At the opposite edge, which in the present configuration is a bottom edge of the power board casing 66, screw holes 72 are moulded for a final fixation with screws (not shown) after the previously described hook-in connection on the upper edge has been executed.

[0052] By the series of illustrations according to Figs. 9a to 9d an assembling sequence as executed in an assembly line is schematically presented. It is to be noted that in some illustrations not all involved components, but only the most relevant ones, so to say forming some representatives, are shown. According to Fig. 9a, the hob assembly 12' is provided, which includes an assembling of the heating system, i. e. four induction coils 74, and a user interface including a UI carrier 76 and a UI circuit board 78. Other components, including a wiring for all electric and electronic components, may be mounted as well. After such equipping of the hob housing 62, the cooktop 22, e. g. a glass ceramic plate, including the suction opening 24 is fixed on the top side of the hob housing 62. After turning the hob assembly 12' upside down according to Fig. 9b the power board modules 54 are positioned on the assembly line to the left side and to the right side of the hob housing 12'. As indicated by cables 80, 80' in Fig. 9b, an electrical connection between power board modules 54 and the hob assembly 12' follows. Cable 80 may represent a communication wiring and cable 80' may represent a power wiring. As a next step in the assembling of the combination appliance 10, the pre-assembled extraction device 14, which is shown as a final assembly in Fig. 6 whereas the pre-assembling process is not presented in detail, is positioned, also in an upside-down orientation, on the bottom wall 60 of the hob assembly 12' and is fixed to the hob assembly 12' by means of four flaps 82 arranged next to the four corners of the circumferential top edge of the housing 28, which flaps 82 engage behind associated support surfaces (not shown) arranged in the bottom wall 60 of the hob assembly 12' during a lateral hook-in movement. A securing pin, e. g. a screw, may prevent this assembly from disengagement. The following assembling step, which is an establishing of the hook assemblies by engaging the two support surfaces 68 behind the associated tongues 70, a subsequent swivelling and further subsequent fixation of the power board modules 54 at first and second side walls 28a, 28b by establishing the previously described screw connections at the bottom edge of the power board casings 66, is recognizable by a joint looking at Figs. 9c and 9d. After assembling the power board modules 54, the fan control unit 58 is also fixed to the extraction device housing 28, namely by a fixation at the third side wall 28c. This fixation of the fan control unit 58 may be performed in a similar way as the attachment of the power boards 54, or it may be attached and fixed in any other way and with any other type of fixation means. For example, the fan control unit 58 may be simply fixed by screws only, as indicated in Fig. 9d by screw tabs 84. In Fig. 9d is also shown the following establishing of electrical connections, again indicated by cables 80, 80', of the fan control module 58 with both the power boards 54 and the hob assembly 12'.

[0053] Finally, in Fig. 10 an isolated power board module 54 is presented. A circuit board 86 for generation of induction power is housed in casing 66. One of the power board modules 54 may also comprise a mains terminal block or board, as indicated by placeholder 88 for the power supply of the entire combination appliance 10. The casing 66 specifically comprises guiding hooks 90 for an accommodation of the appliance wiring 80, 80'. Preferably, guiding hooks 90 arranged in two parallel lines for receiving, on the one hand, power wiring 80' and, on the other hand, communication wiring 80, which are favourably separated from each other, especially if their connection targets spatially fall apart.

[0054] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0055] Moreover, features which are described in the context of separate aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used together and/or be interchangeable. Similarly, features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

List of reference numerals

[0056] 

10

combination appliance

12

cooking hob

12'

hob assembly

14

downdraft extraction device

16

kitchen cabinet

18

kitchen countertop

20a,20b

cooking regions

22

cooktop

24

suction opening

26

cover grid

28

extraction device housing

28a

first side wall

28b

second side wall

28c

third side wall

28d

fourth side wall

28e

bottom wall

30

exhaust opening

32

base area

34

outlet grille

36

extraction fan

38, 38'

intake openings

42

fan housing

44

air duct

46^{1 to 5}

arrows indicating air flow

48

filter assembly

50

filter carrier

54

power boards

56

control electronics

58

fan control module

60

hob bottom wall

62

hob housing

64

fluid collector

66

casing

68

support surface

70

tongue

72

screw holes

74

induction coils

76

UI carrier

78

UI circuit board

80

cable

82

flaps

84

screw tabs

86

induction circuit board

88

placeholder for mains terminal block

90

guiding hooks

Claims

1. A combination appliance (10) comprising a cooking hob (12) and an extraction device (14) for an extraction of kitchen exhaust air, the extraction device (14) comprising an extraction device housing (28), which is arrangeable, in particular fixedly arrangeable, at a bottom side of the cooking hob (12), preferably at a bottom wall (60) of a cooking hob housing (62), wherein the extraction device housing (28) comprises

a. a basic structure or carrying structure and/or at least one housing wall, and

b. attachment points and/or fastening means for an arrangement and/or attachment

- of a module or a component, particularly of at least a majority of modules or components, more particularly of all modules or components, of the extraction device (14),
and/or

- of at least one module or component, in particular a power board module (54), of the cooking hob (12)

in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing (28).

2. The combination appliance (10) according to claim 1, wherein the extraction device housing (28) includes a bottom wall (28e) and side walls, in particular four side walls (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d), wherein the assembly of the bottom (28e) and the side walls (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d) with the bottom wall (60) of the cooking hob housing (62) form a sealed housing.

3. The combination appliance (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an air transportation means, in particular a fan unit (36), is attachable or attached at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or at the at least one housing wall, particularly at an inner side of the housing wall, more particularly on a bottom wall portion, of the extraction device housing (28).

4. The combination appliance (10) according to claim 3, wherein the air transportation means, in particular the fan unit (36),

- comprises a first suction opening (38) and a second suction opening (38') arranged on opposing sides of a fan housing (42),

- is preferably arranged in the extraction device housing (28) in a central position, thereby providing at least approximately equal suction areas, and/or is preferably arranged in a horizontal alignment of a rotation axis of a fan wheel.

5. The combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a service opening for maintenance activities is arranged in a bottom wall (28e) of the extraction device housing (28), the service opening particularly being positioned in an access area of the air transportation means (36).

6. The combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the cooking hob (12) is designed as a modular system comprising

- at least a first module or component, which is configured to be arranged in or to fit in a cut-out space of a worktop (18), in particular a standard worktop, of a kitchen cabinet (16) or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette, the at least a first module or component preferably being arranged in a cooking hob housing (62),
and

- at least a second module or component (54), which is configured to be physically assigned to or to be attached to the extraction device housing (28).

7. The combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electronic board (54, 58) of the cooking hob (12) and/or of the extraction device (14), in particular a control unit (58) and/or a power supply unit (54), particularly a power board, is attachable or attached at the extraction device housing (28), preferably at an outer surface of the extraction device housing (28), more preferably by means of a casing (66) of the at least one electronic board (54, 58).

8. The combination appliance (10) according to claim 7, wherein the housing wall for the attachment of the at least one electronic board (54, 58) is vertically arranged or is inclined from the vertical axis, wherein preferably at least a first electronic board (54) and a second electronic board (54, 58) are provided and the first electronic board (54) is allocated to a first housing wall (28a) and the second electronic board (54, 58) is allocated to a second housing wall (28b, 28c).

9. The combination appliance (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the extraction device housing (28) and/or the at least one electronic board (54), in particular the casing (66) of the at least one electronic board (54, 58), comprise

- first fastening means (68, 70) configured to enter into a hook assembly, and

- preferably second fastening means (72) configured to establish a final fixation, in particular by means of screws or snapping means.

10. The combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the extraction device housing (28) comprises at least an area or a portion, which is made of an electrically non-conductive material, preferably a plastic material.

11. The combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the extraction device housing (28) is shaped like a truncated pyramid or is cuboid-shaped or prism-shaped, particularly including at least one trapezoid side wall.

12. A method for assembling a combination appliance (10) comprising a cooking hob (12) and an extraction device (14), in particular a combination appliance (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, the extraction device (14) being configured to extract kitchen exhaust air, particularly from a cooking area above the cooking hob (12), through a suction opening (24), which is preferably arranged in a cooktop (22) of the cooking hob (12), wherein the method includes an assembling step A of mounting a module or a component of the cooking hob (12), in particular an electronic module (54) of the cooking hob (12), on a basic structure or carrying structure of the extraction device (14), preferably on a housing wall, in particular on an outer surface of the housing wall, of the extraction device (14).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein two modules or components, in particular two electronic modules (54), are provided, wherein a first electronic module (54) is mounted on a first housing wall (28a) and a second electronic module (54, 58) is mounted on a second housing wall (28b, 28c), wherein preferably the first and second housing walls (18a, 28b) are opposing walls.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cooking hob (12) is designed as a modular system comprising a hob assembly (12'), which includes a heating system (74) for at least one cooking zone (20a, 20b), and the first and second electronic modules (54), wherein prior to the assembling step A the first and second electronic modules (54) are pre-positioned during an assembling step B on a left side and on a right side of the hob assembly (12').

15. The method according to anyone of the claims 12 to 14,
wherein prior to assembling step A a pre-assembling of the extraction device (14) is performed during an assembling step C by an installation of at least one component (36) or module on or in an interior of the basic structure or carrying structure, in particular in the interior of an extraction device housing (28).

16. The method according to anyone of the claims 12 to 15,
wherein an assembling step D of connecting the extraction device housing (28) to the bottom wall (60) of the cooking hob housing (62) or the hob assembly housing (62), in particular by a slide-in movement of the extraction device (14) relatively to the hob assembly (12'), is provided prior to or after assembling step A.

17. The method according to anyone of the claims 12 to 16, the method comprising the steps of

- providing a hob assembly (12'), which comprises a heating system (74) for at least one cooking zone (20a, 20b),

- providing at least one electronic module (54), in particular a power board,

- positioning the hob assembly (12') and the at least one electronic module (54) in a side-by-side arrangement,

- electrically connecting the at least one electronic module (54) to the hob assembly (12'),

- pre-mounting an assembly of the extraction device (14) comprising an extraction device housing (28), which receives or includes at least one extraction device module and/or component (36),

- supplying the pre-mounted extraction device assembly to the hob assembly (12'),

- connecting, in particular mechanically connecting, the pre-mounted extraction device assembly, in particular the extraction device housing (28), to the hob assembly (12'),

- mechanically connecting the at least one electronic module (54) to a surface, in particular to an outer surface of an at least first side wall, of the extraction device housing (28), preferably thereby performing a swivel movement,

- preferably connecting, in particular mechanically and electrically connecting, a control unit (58) of the extraction device (14) to a surface, in particular to an outer surface of a third side wall (28c), of the extraction device housing (28).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein prior to or after the step of electrically connecting the at least one electronic module (54) to the hob assembly (12') the power and/or communication wiring (80, 80') for the electrical connection between the at least one electronic module (54) and the hob assembly (12') is threaded into or pulled in a guiding channel and/or into guiding or mounting hooks (90), in particular a sequence of guiding or mounting hooks (82) arranged in a row, the power wiring (80') and the communication wiring (80) preferably being allocated to separate guiding channels and/or guiding or mounting hooks (82).

Drawing