A hob having a pan support facilitating to align of a cooking pan

Abstract

 The invention is a hob (1) having a top plate (10); a burner (30) provided on the top plate (10) and; a pan-support (20) comprising arms (22) extending towards the burner (30) and supporting a cooking pan (4). The pan-support (20) of the hob (1) comprises at least one indicator element (23) provided on the arm (22) defining boundaries of a predefined centering zone (I) providing to center the cooking pan (4) on the arms (22) of the pan-support (20) corresponding to the burner (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention concerns hobs formed as a part of a freestanding range or as a built-in range or as a cooktop. The invention particularly concerns a pan support supported on a top plate of the hob, which facilitates the alignment of a cooking pan.

Prior Art

[0002] In the current state of the art, hobs are formed is various types as being referred to as "cooktop" because they will be positioned on a worktop such as a counter, an upper panel of an appliance, or as integrated to an upper panel of a range, or referred to as "built-in" as can be built into a counter of a kitchen unit, or integrated into an upper panel of a range.

[0003] Manufacturing and installation of the hob is carried out with consideration to the necessary safety requirements. The cooking energy of the hob is provided by a burner. For safety reasons, a certain distance in height is provided between the burner and the cooking pan. A heat energy output from the burner is also provided at this distance. For this purpose, a pan support is used on the top plate of the hob. The pan supports provide a space for the energy output and also provide support for the cooking pan at this distance. The pan support is a support for the cooking pan. Therefore, the pan support is manufactured from high strength materials to resist a specific weight considering a weight of the cooking pan and the foodstuff within the cooking pan.

[0004] The burners and the cooking pans are generally in a circular shape. This form helps the energy coming from the burner, to reach the cooking pan in an efficient manner. However, when the burner and the cooking pan could not be arranged in a coaxial manner, the heat energy is lost around the cooking pan. Consequently, care must be taken in positioning cooking pans when placing them on a pan support. The cooking pan and the burner should be provided in a coaxial manner.

[0005] In the current state of the art, there are a number of embodiments providing to adjust the position of a cooking pan on a pan support.

[0006] One of these embodiments may be seen in the patent application with publication number EP1693621. In this embodiment, safety is provided by a positioning element (support element) which has a diameter greater than a base of the cooking pan, by limiting the horizontal movements of the cooking pan.

[0007] Another embodiment may be seen in the patent application with publication number US2003079739. In this embodiment, a wing of a pan support is suitable for use in two ways. When the wing is reversed, the pan support offers a different use. On one face of the pan support, the pan support comprises obstacles preventing movements laterally of the cooking pans which have a flat and circular base (for example a wok) because of their increasing height away from the center.

Brief Description of the Invention

[0008] An object of the invention is to provide correct positioning on a pan support of a cooking pan having different base diameters, or any foodstuff cooking element as a cooking pan within which provides to cook the foodstuff, with ensuring free movement of the cooking pan. The object is also to provide to get correct positioning of a cooking pan on a pan support by people having visual impairment.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a free movement of a cooking pan without encountering any obstacle besides providing correctly positioning.

[0010] In order to achieve the objects, the invention is a hob having top plate, a burner provided on the top plate and, a pan support comprising arms supporting a cooking pan and extending towards the burner. The pan support of the hob comprises at least one indicator element provided on the arm defining boundaries of a predefined centering zone providing to center the cooking pan on the arms of the pan support corresponding to the burner. Thus the cooking pan is centered on the pan support in a manner that the cooking pan coincides with the burner. The centering of the cooking pan refers to alignment coaxially of a vertical axis of the burner and a vertical axis of the cooking pan.

[0011] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the arms of the pan support extend towards the burner radially. Thus the cooking pan is disposed on the cooking pan corresponding to the burner.

[0012] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the pan-support comprises at least one opposite indicator element on an opposite arm corresponding to the arm, providing to center the cooking pan in the centering zone. Thus the cooking pan is more reliably centered on the pan support. The opposite indicator element has same form and characteristics as the indicator element.

[0013] In another possible embodiment of the invention, an indicator element and an opposite indicator element provided at equal distances from a center of the burner, are at a same color. Thus the centering zone is distinguished.

[0014] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the pan support comprises an indicator element group occurred by at least one indicator element and at least one opposite indicator element provided at equal distances from the center of the burner on the arms. Thus the centering zone is distinguished on each arm. All of the indicator elements in the indicator element group have the same distinctive characteristics.

[0015] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the indicator element group has a different color providing a visual difference between the arms of the pan support. Thus the indicator element group provides visual distinction because it is in a different color from the arms.

[0016] In another possible embodiment of the invention, each indicator element group has a different color to provide visual difference in between. Thus the centering zone corresponding to the base of the cooking pan can be chosen while disposing the cooking pan on the pan support.

[0017] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the indicator elements are in a cavity form formed on the arms of the pan support. This ensures the centering of the cooking pan on the pan support without encountering any obstacle.

[0018] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the indicator elements are arranged on the arms of the pan support in a retractable manner in a housing formed on the arm. Thus the centering within the centering zone of the cooking pan is realized on the pan support without catching on any obstacle.

[0019] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the hob comprises a resilient member disposed in the housing and providing retracting of the indicator elements in the housing. This facilitates reciprocating movements of the indicator elements in the housing.

[0020] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the resilient member is a spring. Thus, the retracting distance of the indicator elements in the housing is arranged by spring's flexibility and the distance is fixed.

[0021] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the indicator element is in a form of a cylindrical cap. Thus an indicator element which fits the shape of the housing can reciprocate in the housing. A diameter of the housing is large enough to take in the indicator element.

[0022] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the pan support comprises a connection member connected to the housing and providing to support the indicator element and the resilient member in the housing. Thus, the resilient member and the indicator element is being supported in the housing.

[0023] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the housing of the arm of the pan support comprises a retaining tab providing to fix the connection member to the housing. Thus the connection element is easily fixed to the housing. The retaining tab may comprise a threaded surface to provide mounting of the connection member to the housing. Also the retaining tab may be formed as two protrusions corresponding to each other or a retaining tab as a peripheral protrusion of the housing.

Explanation of Diagrams

[0024] 

Figure 1

is a perspective view from above of a pan support which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 1a

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 1, is a perspective view from above of an arm of a pan support with three indicator elements.

Figure 1b

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 1, is a perspective view from above of an arm of a pan support with one indicator element.

Figure 1c

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 1, is a cross-section view from the side of an arm of a pan support with one indicator element.

Figure 1d

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 1, is a cross-section view from the side of an arm of a pan support with more than one indicator element.

Figure 2

is a two-dimensional view from the front of a cooking pan.

Figure 3

is a perspective view from above of an alternative pan support which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 3a

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 3, is a cross-section view from a side of an arm of a pan support with one indicator element's housing.

Figure 3b

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 3, is a cross-section view from one side of an arm of a pan support without any indicator element.

Figure 3c

in an embodiment of the invention as in Figure 3, is a cross-section view from one side of an arm of a pan support with more than one indicator elements.

Figure 4

is a perspective view from the front of a hob which is the subject matter of the invention.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

[0025] The invention is a hob (1) having at least one indicator element (23) formed on an arm (22) of a pan support, providing correct positioning on a pan support (20) of a cooking pan (4) having different base diameters, with ensuring free movement of the cooking pan (Figure 4).

[0026] The hobs (1) comprise a top plate (10), a pan support (20) disposed on the top plate (10) and, at least one burner (30) where the cooking heat is produced (Figure 4), as main and external elements. There may be more than one burner (30) of the hob (1). Number of sections (200) of the pan support (20) corresponding to the number of burners (30) may be increased accordingly.

[0027] The pan support (20) is usually in one-piece (Figure 1). The pan support (20) has a support (21) seated onto the pan support (20) and arms (22) formed uniform with the support (21). The cooking pan (4) is supported by the arms (22). The arms (22) are formed to be positioned higher than the support (21) with a certain distance between the arms (22) and the burner (30). Each pair of arms (22) are preferably disposed opposite to each other and aligned having a gap section in the form of a "+" in the middle. Each arm of each pair of arms (22) comprises a free end (220) (Figure 1, Figure 3). The free ends (220) extend parallel to an upper part of the burner (30) (Figure 4).

[0028] In figure 2, a two-dimensional view from the front of a kind of a cooking pan (4) is given. The cooking pan (4) is particularly circular and has a circular base (40).

[0029] In an embodiment of the pan support (20), an arm (22) of the pan support (20) has at least one indicator element (23) (Figure 1a, 1b). The indicator elements (23) on the arms (22) assist the correct and desired positioning of the cooking pan (4) on the pan support (20). Each of the four arms (22) have at least one indicator element (23). In this embodiment, the indicator (23) is in the form of a groove or a notch. The groove-shaped indicator element or indicator elements (23) can be seen in a cross-section view of the arm (22) in figures 1c and 1d. The indicator element (23) is colored. Alternatively, the color of the arm (22) is in a different color from the indicator element (23).

[0030] Another embodiment of the pan support (20) is given in Figure 3. In this embodiment, at least one housing (221) for at least one indicator element (23) is formed on an arm (22) of the pan support (20) (Figure 3a). Within the housing (221), opposing retaining tabs (222) are formed close to a base section of the housing (221). A connection member (24) is attached to the retaining tabs (222). The connection member (24) may be threaded, and may be mounted to the retaining tabs (222) (Figure 3b). A resilient member (25) is fit over the connection member (24). The resilient member (25) is preferably a spring. An indicator element (23) in the form of a cylindrical button is disposed over the resilient member (25). The indicator element (23) corresponds to the resilient member (25). When any load is pressed on the indicator element (23), the indicator element (23) is retracted into the housing (221) by the resilient member (25).

[0031] There follows a detailed explanation of the operation of the invention. The indicator element (23) assists to see the position of the cooking pan (4) on the pan support (20) or feel via a tactile sensing. The indicator elements (23) also define the boundaries of a centering zone (I) for the cooking pan (4). The indicator elements (23) facilitate to define a centering zone (I) according to the area covered by the base (40) of the cooking pan (4). At the same time, the indicator elements (23) pose no obstacle while the cooking pan (4) for aligning or moving on the arm (22) of the pan support (20) due to not forming as protrusions and can be retracted into the housing (221) of the pan support (20). The cooking pan (4) can be easily slid or moved from a secondary centering zone (II) trough the required centering zone (I). The cooking pan (4) is aligned between or on an indicator element (23) on the arm (22) and an opposite indicator element (231) on the opposite arm (22). Thus the indicator elements (23) are colored or in different color with the arms (22), the centering zone (I) can be easily distinguished. In addition to this, the cooking pan (4) can be disposed on the pan support (20) via tactile sensing, due to the indicator elements (23) can easily be retracted into the housings (221) on the arms (22). The indicator elements (23) remaining within the boundary of the secondary centering zone (II), are defining to the boundaries of the cooking pan (4).

[0032] The indicator elements (23) are grouped outwardly on the pan support (20) from the center of the pan support (20) and each group can be arranged in a different color. In this case, an innermost group of indicator elements (23) in a centering zone (I) of the pan support (20) has same color.

[0033] In alternative embodiments, the geometric shapes of the pan support (20) may be different. In other alternative embodiments, the geometric shapes of three-dimensional indicator elements (23) may be different. The indicator elements (23) are grouped outwardly on the pan support (20) from the centre of the pan support (20) and each group can be arranged in a different color. In this case, the innermost group of three dimensional indicator elements (23) in a centering zone (I) of the pan support (20) has the same color. The second group of indicator elements (23) is in a different color.

[0034] Each of the cooking pan (4) having different size of base (40) is disposed on a centering zone (I) having a size about an area of the base (40) of the cooking pan (4), defined/denoted by a group comprising indicator element (23) and opposite indicator element (231). The centering zone (I) is pre-defined according to the size of the bases (40) of cooking pans (4). Indeed, the sizes of the bases (40) of cooking pans (4) are standard.

[0035] Thus, the cooking pan (4) is correctly positioned on the pan support (20) of the hob (1). The purpose of correct positioning concerns the fact that the position of the cooking pan (4) on the pan support (20) of the hob (1) provides completely benefitting from cooking efficiency and reduction of energy losses during cooking. For this purpose, the position of the cooking pan (4) on the pan support (20) of the hob (1), is arranged exactly corresponding onto a burner (30) of the hob (1). Thus, the cooking pan (4) is disposed at a zone axis (y) by overlapping the axis the cooking pan (4) with the axis of the burner (30). For this purpose, a vertical axis of the cooking pan (4) is aligned with a vertical axis of the pan support (20) (Figures 1, 2).

[0036] Also, during the cooking of food by a cook, it may be necessary to move the cooking pan (4). Some foodstuffs, for example foodstuffs which are being fried, are cooked more easily when the cooking pan (4) is moved on the pan support (20) of the hob (1). Cooking by moving the cooking pan (4) helps to ensure an equal cooking of all surfaces of the foodstuff which is to be fried. Hereunder, the object of the invention is to provide free movement of the cooking pan (4) without encountering any obstacle besides correctly positioning of the cooking pan (4). Since the indicator elements (23, 231) are in the form of a groove or in the form of a reciprocating design in a housing (221) of the pan support (20), there is no structure on the surface of the pan support (20) which would obstruct to the base (40) of the cooking pan (4) while the cooking pan (4) is moving. This is particularly applicable to the indicator elements (23, 231) within the centering zone (I).

Reference Numbers

[0037] 

1.

Hob

10.

Top plate

20.

Pan support

200.

Section

21.

Support

22.

Arm

220.

Free end

221.

Housing

222.

Retaining tab

23.

Indicator element

231.

Opposite indicator element

24.

Connection member

25.

Resilient member

30.

Burner

4.

Cooking pan

40.

Base

y.

Zone axis

I.

Centering zone

II.

Secondary centering zone

Claims

1. A hob (1) having a top plate (10); a burner (30) provided on the top plate (10) and; a pan support (20) comprising arms (22) supporting a cooking pan (4) and extending towards the burner (30) characterized in that, the pan support (20) of the hob (1) comprises at least one indicator element (23) provided on the arm (22) defining boundaries of a predefined centering zone (I) providing to center the cooking pan (4) on the arms (22) of the pan support (20) corresponding to the burner (30).

2. The hob (1) according to claim 1, wherein the arms (22) of the pan support (20) extend towards the burner (30) radially.

3. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the pan support (20) comprises at least one opposite indicator element (231) on an opposite arm (22) corresponding to the arm (22), providing to center the cooking pan (4) in the centering zone (I).

4. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein an indicator element (23) and an opposite indicator element (231) provided at equal distances from a center of the burner (30), are at a same color.

5. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the pan support (20) comprises an indicator element group occurred by at least one indicator element (23) and at least one opposite indicator element (231) provided at equal distances from the center of the burner (30) on the arms (22).

6. The hob (1) according to claim 5, wherein the indicator element group has a different color providing a visual difference between the arms (22) of the pan support (20).

7. The hob (1) according to claim 5, wherein each indicator element group has a different color to provide a visual difference in between.

8. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator elements (23, 231) are in a cavity form formed on the arms (22) of the pan support (20).

9. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator elements (23, 231) are arranged on the arms (22) of the pan-support (20) in a retractable manner in a housing (221) formed on the arm (22).

10. The hob (1) according to claim 9, wherein the hob (1) comprises a resilient member (25) disposed in the housing (221) and providing reciprocating of the indicator elements (23, 231) in the housing (221).

11. The hob (1) according to claim 10, wherein the resilient member (25) is a spring.

12. The hob (1) according to claim 9, wherein the indicator element (23, 231) is in a form of a cylindrical cap.

13. The hob (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the pan support (20) comprises a connection member (24) connected to the housing (221) and providing to support the indicator element (23, 231) and the resilient member (25) in the housing (221).

14. The hob (1) according to claim 13, wherein the housing (221) of the arm (22) of the pan support (20) comprises a retaining tab (222) providing to fix the connection member (24) to the housing (221).

Drawing