AU2010230594B2

AU2010230594B2 - Support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids

Info

Publication number: AU2010230594B2
Application number: AU2010230594A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tobias Boeheim; Dietmar Hildner; Harald Poerner; Tobias Weber
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2009-03-28
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2015-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-15
Also published as: AU2010230594A1; CA2756841A1; US20120006315A1; WO2010112133A1; CN102362123A; EP2236941A1

Abstract

Support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids to be arranged in an oven cavity of a baking oven, comprising pairs of opposed longish guiding means, which are disposed one above the other and extend along side walls of the oven cavity, and slide elements comprising receiving means for receiving a baking tray and/or a baking grid and being slidingly arranged at the guiding means, wherein stopper means are provided in such a manner, that the extraction sliding movement of the slide elements along the guiding means is stopped before the slide elements project beyond the oven cavity.

Description

H:\gwv\lnteroven\NRPortbl\DCC\GW\7515325_1.docx-3/03/2015 Support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids The present invention relates to a support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids to be arranged in an oven cavity of a baking oven. Moreover, the present invention relates to a baking 5 oven comprising such a support. Supports of the above mentioned kind are already know in prior art. DE 103 30 348 84 for example discloses a baking oven having a support for extractable baking trays, which comprises a supporting structure made of a plurality of metal rods and being 10 fixed to the side walls of an oven cavity. Attached to the supporting structure are pairs of opposed longish rail-shaped guiding means, which are disposed one above the other and extend along side walls of the oven cavity. At each of these guiding means one longish rail-shaped slide element is slidingly received 15 such that the slide element is sliding along the guiding means. As receiving means for receiving a baking tray, the slide elements comprise upwardly projecting pins, which are insertable in corresponding openings of a baking tray to be received. Accordingly, the baking tray can be affixed on top of one pair of 20 opposed slide elements and can subsequently be pushed in or drawn out of the baking oven by moving the slide elements along the associated guiding means. A further baking oven having a support of the above mentioned kind for receiving extractable baking grids is described in EP-A 25 0 091 666. This support comprises pairs of opposed longish guiding means, which are disposed one above the other and extend along side walls of the oven cavity. Each guiding means is formed by two parallel metal rods of a metal rod supporting structure arranged within the oven cavity. Moreover, the support comprises 30 slide elements, each in the form of a L-shaped metal sheet profile, which are slidingly arranged at the guiding means and are provided with receiving means for receiving a baking grid. The receiving means are made integral with the guiding means and 1 H:\gv\itcrovn\NRPortb\DCC\GW\75 153251.docx-IO/O3/2015 are provided in the form of lugs, which encompass a metal rod of the baking grid to be received. Accordingly, a baking grid can be affixed to the slide elements of the support and can be pushed in or drawn out of the oven cavity by moving the opposed slide 5 elements along the associated guiding means. When extracting a baking tray or a baking grid, which is received by one of the above mentioned known supports, out of the oven cavity, the slide elements are at least partially pulled out along with the baking tray or baking grid, for which 10 reason there is a danger of getting burned when touching the slide elements, in particular after a baking tray or a baking grid has been removed from the slide elements. Moreover, it is difficult to position a baking tray or baking grid on the slide elements, because the slide elements can freely move along the 15 guiding means and thus slip away. This is in particular cumbersome when handling trays or grids, which are loaded with heavy objects, such as a roasting tin. Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids of 20 the above mentioned kind as well as a baking oven comprising such a support, which are safe and easy to handle. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support for an extractable baking tray and/or baking grid configured to be arranged in an oven cavity of a 25 baking oven, comprising first and second opposed guides arranged inside the oven cavity, wherein the first guide extends along a first inner side wall of the oven cavity and the second guide extends along a second inner side wall of the oven cavity, first and second opposed elements movably engaged 30 with the first and second guides respectively and a connecting element connecting the first element and the second element, wherein the first and second elements comprise receiving members configured to receive the baking tray and/or baking 2 H:\gw\lirwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\GW\75S[,325_ .doc-I(0)I3/2015 grid, and wherein either or each of the first and second guides comprises a stopper configured to stop an extraction movement therealong of the slide elements engaged therewith, the stopper(s) being arranged to preclude the first and second 5 elements and the connecting element from extending outside the oven cavity when either or each of the baking tray and the baking grid is at least partially outside the oven cavity. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a baking oven comprising a support in accordance with 10 the first aspect of the present invention. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, except for the baking trays and/or the baking grids received by the support, there are no components which can project from the inside of the oven cavity. Therefore, there is no danger of 15 getting burned by projecting components of the support, what renders the support safe and easy to handle. Preferably, biasing means are provided, in particular in the form of at least one spring, for biasing the slide elements to wards the opening of the oven cavity. Thus, the biasing means 20 automatically move the slide elements towards the opening of the oven cavity when the oven door is opened, such that a baking tray or a baking grid received by the slide elements is automatically extracted. The biasing means are tensioned again when pushing in a baking tray or grid by closing the oven door. 25 According to one embodiment of the present invention at least two opposed slide elements are interconnected by means of at least one connecting element in order to achieve a synchronic movement of these slide elements. Moreover, when biasing means are provided, the interconnection of the slide elements is 30 advantageous in that only one biasing means needs to be provided for each pair of slide elements. According to another embodiment, all slide elements are 3 H:\gw n\NRPortbl\DCC\GW\7515325_1.dox-3/03/20l5 interconnected by at least one connecting element, preferably a connecting plate, in order to achieve a synchronic movement of all slide elements. If biasing means are provided, the interconnection of all slide elements is advantageous in that 5 only one biasing means is necessary for biasing all the slide elements towards the opening of the oven cavity. According to an embodiment of the present invention the receiving means are at least partially punched and subsequently bent sections of the slide elements, i.e. the receiving means are at 10 least partially made integral with the slide elements. The receiving means can comprise hook elements for encompassing an upper side of a baking tray and/or a baking grid in order to prevent a tilting of the tray or grid. Moreover, the receiving means can comprise upwardly projecting 15 receiving elements, in particular welding studs, to be inserted into corresponding openings provided in the baking trays and/or baking grids to be received. The guiding elements and/or the slide elements are preferably made of plastics and/or aluminum and/or stainless steel. 20 Moreover, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a baking oven having an oven cavity and an oven door for closing the opening of the oven cavity and comprising a support of the above defined kind. According to one embodiment, at least one protector, in 25 particular a protector bar or rail, can be provided at the inner side of the oven door for preventing a contact between a baking tray and/or a baking grid and the oven door, wherein the at least one protector is preferably releasably provided. 4 H:\gw \un oven\NRPonbI\DCC\GW\7515325_ I.doc.-3/03/2015 The present invention will now be described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an oven cavity comprising a 5 support for extractable baking trays and/or baking grids according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein an oven door for closing the opening of the oven cavity is opened by an opening angle of about 250; 4A WO 2010/112133 PCT/EP2010/001614 Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the oven cavity shown in figure 1, wherein the oven door is opened by an opening angle of about 550; and 5 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the oven cavity shown in figure 1, wherein the oven door is opened by an opening angle of 90*. 10 The baking oven 10, which is illustrated throughout the figures without its outer housing to simplify matters, comprises an oven cavity 12 for receiving food stuff to be cooked. The oven cavity 12 is defined by two side walls 12a, a back wall 12b, a top wall 12c and a bottom wall 12d. In the front of the oven cavity 12 an 15 opening 14 is provided, which can be opened and closed by means of an oven door 16. For receiving extractable baking trays 17 or baking grids (not shown), a support 18 is arranged within the oven cavity 12. 20 The support 18 comprises a supporting structure 20, which is made of a plurality of metal rods and is fixed to the side walls 12a of the oven cavity 12. Moreover, the support 18 comprises pairs of opposed longish rail-shaped guiding means 24, which are disposed one above the other, extend along the side walls 12a of 25 the oven cavity 12 and are fixed to the supporting structure 20. At each of the guiding means 24 a rail-shaped slide element 26 is slidingly arranged such that it can be moved along the asso ciated guiding means 24. A contacting surface of each guiding means 24 and/or of each slide element 26 may be provided with a 30 slide coating in order to achieve an easy relative motion be tween these components. Alternatively, rolling elements, such as balls, may be arranged between each slide element 26 and the as sociated guiding means 14. 35 In order to limit the movement of the slide elements 26 along the associated guiding means 24 stoppers 27a, b are formed at 5 WO 2010/112133 PCT/EP2010/001614 both end portions of each guiding means 24. The stoppers 27a, b are provided as projections which project from the guiding means 24 towards the slide elements 26 and stop their movement at a predetermined position. The stoppers 27a, which are arranged at 5 the front end of each guiding means 24 close to the opening 14 of the oven cavity 12, are positioned in such a manner that the movement of the slide elements 26 along the guiding means 24 is stopped before the slide elements project beyond the oven cavity 12. Accordingly, except for the baking trays 17 and the baking 10 grids received by the support 18, there are no components which can project from the inside of the oven cavity 12. Therefore, there is no danger of getting burned by projecting components of the support 18. 15 Each slide element 26 comprises two receiving means for receiv ing a baking tray 17 or a baking grid, namely a hook element 28 for encompassing an upper side portion of a baking tray 17 or a baking grid, which is formed as a punched and subsequently bent section of the slide element 26, and an upwardly projecting re 20 ceiving element 30 in the form of a welding stud, which is to be inserted in known fashion into a corresponding opening (not shown) provided in the baking trays 17 and the baking grids to be received. 25 All slide elements 26 are interconnected by means of connecting plate 32, which is arranged at the end face of the slide ele ments 26 facing towards the back wall 12b of the oven cavity 12. Accordingly, the movement of the slide elements 26 along the guiding means 24 is synchronized by means of the connecting 30 plate 32. Moreover, the support 18 comprises biasing means in the form of a spring 36, which is arranged at and guided by the bottom guid ing means 24. The spring 36 biases the connecting plate 32 and 35 thus the slide elements 26 towards the opening 14 of the oven cavity 12. Accordingly, the slide elements 26 are automatically 6 H:\gw\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\GW\7515325 .docs-3/03/20 IS pushed towards the opening 14 of the oven cavity 12 when opening the oven door 16, as it is shown in the sequence of figures 1 to 3, such that the baking trays 17 held by the slide elements 26 are automatically extracted from the oven cavity 12. 5 In order to prevent a contact between the baking trays 17 and the oven door 16 when opening and closing the oven door 16, the latter is provided with a protector rail 38 at its inner side. Thus, a damage of the inner side of the oven door 16, which is often formed by a glass plate, can be avoided. The protector 10 rail 38 is releasably fixed to the oven door 16 by means of screws (not shown). The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or 15 any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. While various embodiments of the present invention have been 20 described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the 25 present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be 30 understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 7

Claims

1. A support for an extractable baking tray and/or baking grid configured to be arranged in an oven cavity of a baking oven, comprising: 5 first and second opposed guides arranged inside the oven cavity, wherein the first guide extends along a first inner side wall of the oven cavity and the second guide extends along a second inner side wall of the oven cavity; first and second opposed elements movably engaged with 10 the first and second guides respectively; and a connecting element connecting the first element and the second element, wherein the first and second elements comprise receiving members configured to receive the baking tray 15 and/or baking grid, and wherein either or each of the first and second guides comprises a stopper configured to stop an extraction movement therealong of the slide elements engaged therewith, the stopper(s) being arranged to preclude the first and second elements and the connecting element from 20 extending outside the oven cavity when either or each of the baking tray and the baking grid is at least partially outside the oven cavity.

2. A support according to claim 1, wherein a biasing member is provided for biasing the first and second elements and 25 the connecting element towards an opening of the oven cavity.

3. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting element extends across the oven cavity from the first element to the second element. 30

4. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element is configured to move with first and 8 H:gwv\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\GW\7515325_ Ldocl0/03/2015 second elements along the guides between a back of the oven cavity and a front of the oven cavity.

5. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means comprise at least one of: 5 partially punched and subsequently bent sections of the first and second elements; hook elements for encompassing an upper side portion of the baking tray and/or the baking grid; and upwardly projecting receiving elements configured to be 10 inserted into corresponding openings provided in the baking tray and/or the baking grid.

6. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving members are configured to receive the baking tray and/or the baking grid such that a portion 15 of the baking tray and/or the baking grid extends across the oven cavity from the first element to the second element.

7. A support according to claim 6, wherein the portion of the baking tray and/or the baking grid that extends across the oven cavity from the first element to the second 20 element remains inside the oven cavity during the extraction movement of the first and second elements along the guides.

8. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guides and/or the first and second elements comprise plastic. 25

9. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a protector is provided at an inner side of a door of the baking oven for preventing a contact between the baking tray and/or the baking grid and the door.

10. A support according to claim 9, wherein the protector is 30 releasably provided at the inner side of the door. 9 H:\gw\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\GW\7515325_ .docx-10/03/2015

11. A support according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 10 as appended thereto, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

12. A support according to claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 11 5 as appended thereto, wherein the upwardly projecting receiving elements comprise welding studs.

13. A support according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the protector comprises a protector bar or rail.

14. A support according to any of the preceding claims, further 10 comprising: third and fourth opposed guides arranged inside the oven cavity, wherein the third guide extends along the first inner side wall of the oven cavity and the fourth guide extends along the second inner side wall of the oven cavity, 15 wherein the third and fourth guides are arranged above or below the first and second guides, and third and fourth opposed elements moveably engaged with the third and fourth guides respectively, and wherein the third and fourth elements comprise receiving members 20 configured to receive the baking tray and/or a baking grid.

15. A support according to claim 14, wherein the first, second, third and fourth elements are interconnected by the connecting element.

16. A support according to claim 15, wherein the connecting 25 element comprises a connecting plate.

17. A support according to claim 16, wherein the connecting plate extends across the oven cavity from at least one of the first element and the third element to at least one of the second element and the fourth element. 10 H:\gw\hIenvoven\NRPorbl\DCC\GW\7515325 ldo-10/03/2015

18. A support according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the connecting plate is configured to move with the first, second, third and fourth elements along the guides between a back of the oven cavity and a front of the oven cavity. 5

19. A support according to any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the first, second, third and fourth elements and the connecting plate towards an opening of the oven cavity.

20. A support according to claim 19, wherein the biasing member 10 synchronously biases the first and second elements and the connecting plate towards the opening of the oven cavity.

21. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guides comprise guide rails.

22. A baking oven comprising a support according to any one of 15 the preceding claims. 11