Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a safety bracket that prevents access to the electronic components of the control panel from the front part of the cooking device, so as to improve safety of a user.

Background of the Invention

An oven-type cooking device capable of cooking and heating with gas and/or electricity (e.g. a full-size oven with a stovetop) generally comprises at least one body with at least two side panels located opposite each other; at least one heating element provided on the body and/or in the body; at least one inner compartment which is provided in the body for placing the items to be cooked, and which is heated by the heating element; at least one control element (e.g. a temperature and/or gas adjustment knob) provided on a front part of the body in order for a user to access easily; at least one control panel comprising at least one electronic component for controlling the heating element; and at least one door for accessing to said inner compartment. After the control panel is installed, a gap remains between the underside of the control panel, the body and the side panel. Thanks to the gap, the control panel is mounted on the front of the body so as not to prevent the door from closing.

Electronic components on the control panel can be accessed through the gap between the underside of the control panel, body and side panel. This may cause safety problems that may cause injuries such as the user's finger getting stuck, the user's finger touching electronic components, and electric shock during the use of the cooking device by the end user. Children, especially those around the cooking device, may pinch their finger, with the possibility of serious injuries. After using the cooking device for a long period of time, connection parts of the electronic components (such as the connection cable) may hang from said gap. This may cause very risky situations when the user uses and/or cleans the cooking device. This puts the user's safety at risk. Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oven-type cooking device with gas and/or electric cooking and heating capabilities, comprising at least one body with at least two side panels located opposite each other; at least one inner compartment in the body for placing the items to be cooked; at least one door for accessing into the inner compartment; at least one control panel provided on the front part of the body, creating at least one gap between its lower part and the body and side panel when positioned on the body, and comprising at least one electronic component. The cooking device further comprises at least a first mounting aperture provided at a front part of the body where the control panel is mounted; at least a second mounting aperture provided on the front part of the body, coplanar with the first mounting aperture, so as to have a first distance between an edge thereof close to said side panel and an edge of the first mounting aperture close to the other one of the side panels; and at least one safety bracket comprising: at least a first wall having a width to cover said gap, at least a second wall extending outward from one side of the first wall at an angle other than 0 degrees to the first wall, at least two third walls inserted through the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture so as to be inside the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture, the third walls extending in an opposite direction from the first wall, from both sides of the second wall at an angle other than 0 degrees to the second wall, at least two fourth walls provided at the third walls to extend from one side of the third walls in a same direction as the second wall, each at an angle other than 0 degrees to third wall, wherein at least one portion of one side of the fourth walls protrudes outwards so as not to be aligned with outer edges of the third wall and the first wall, wherein the fourth walls are fully inserted through the first mounting aperture and second mounting aperture, together with the third walls, so as to remain behind the front part of the body, wherein a second distance lower than the first distance is provided between the edges of the protruding sides of the fourth walls that are farthest from each other, wherein the safety bracket is mounted such that a side of the first wall that is not connected with the second wall moves away from the body when the third walls and fourth walls are inserted through the first mounting aperture and second mounting aperture, wherein the safety bracket covers said gap with the first wall.

Thanks to the cooking device according to the present invention, access to the electronic components of the control panel is prevented through the gap formed between the control panel, body and side panels. Thanks to said cooking device, a safety bracket is provided that can be mounted easily and practically without the need for an additional fastener. Users are ensured to be safe while using and/or cleaning the cooking device.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device comprising a safety bracket that prevents access to the electronic components of the control panel from the front part of the cooking device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device comprising a safety bracket that can be mounted on the cooking device without the need for an additional fastener.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device comprising a safety bracket that is safe to use.

Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the cooking device according to the present invention and the safety bracket thereof are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an upper part of the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the safety bracket of the cooking device according to the invention, in an assembled state.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the safety bracket of the cooking device according to the invention, in an assembled state. Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the safety bracket of the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the safety bracket of the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a top cross-sectional view of the cooking device according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a top cross-sectional view of the cooking device according to the invention.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Cooking device (P)

Body (G)

Panel (G1)

Side panels (Y)

Control panel (K)

Gap (B)

First distance (M1)

Second distance (M2)

First mounting aperture (1)

Second mounting aperture (2)

Safety bracket (3)

First wall (3a)

Second wall (3b)

Third wall (3c)

Fourth wall (3d)

Hole (3e) of the Invention

An oven-type cooking device capable of cooking and heating with gas and/or electricity generally comprises at least one body with at least two side panels located opposite each other; at least one inner compartment; at least one control panel comprising at least one electronic component and provided at the front part of the body in order for a user to access easily; and at least one door for accessing to said inner compartment. After the control panel is installed, a gap remains between the underside of the control panel, the body and the side panel. Electronic components on the control panel can be accessed through the gap. This may cause safety problems, causing injuries such as the user's finger getting stuck, the user's finger touching the electronic components and electric shock during the use and/or cleaning of the cooking device by the end user. Therefore, in order to solve said problems, the present invention provides a cooking device comprising a safety bracket.

The cooking device (P) according to the present invention, as illustrated in figures 1-7, is an oven-type cooking device with gas and/or electric cooking and heating capabilities, and comprises at least one body (G) with at least two side panels (Y) located opposite each other; at least one inner compartment in the body (G) for placing the items to be cooked; at least one door for accessing into the inner compartment; at least one control panel (K) provided on the front part of the body (G), creating at least one gap (B) between its lower part and the body (G) and side panel (Y) when positioned on the body (G), and comprising at least one electronic component. The cooking device (P) further comprises at least a first mounting aperture (1) provided at a front part of the body (G) where the control panel is mounted; at least a second mounting aperture (2) provided on the front part of the body (G), coplanar with the first mounting aperture (1), so as to have a first distance (M1) between an edge thereof close to said side panel (Y) and an edge of the first mounting aperture (1) close to the other one of the side panels (Y); and at least one safety bracket (3) comprising: at least a first wall (3a) having a width to cover said gap (B), at least a second wall (3b) extending outward from one side of the first wall (3a) at an angle other than 0 degrees (preferably, a right angle) to the first wall (3a), at least two third walls (3c) inserted through the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2) so as to be inside the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2), the third walls (3c) extending in an opposite direction from the first wall (3a), preferably parallel thereto, from both sides of the second wall (3b) at an angle other than 0 degrees (preferably, a right angle) to the second wall (3b) (here a "Z" form is obtained by the third walls (3c), first wall (3a) and second wall (3b)), at least two fourth walls (3d) provided at the third walls (3c) to extend from one side of the third walls (3c) in a same direction as the second wall (3b) and preferably parallel to the second wall (3b), each at an angle other than 0 degrees (preferably, a right angle) to third wall (3c), wherein at least one portion of one side of the fourth walls (3d) protrudes outwards so as not to be aligned with outer edges of the third wall (3c) and the first wall (3a) (i.e. having form), wherein the fourth walls (3d) are fully inserted through the first mounting aperture (1) and second mounting aperture (2), together with the third walls (3c), so as to remain behind the front part of the body (G) (i.e. invisible from the outer part of the cooking device (P)), wherein a second distance (M2) lower than the first distance (M1) is provided between the edges of the protruding sides of the fourth walls (3d) that are farthest from each other, wherein the safety bracket (3) is mounted such that a side of the first wall (3a) that is not connected with the second wall (3b) moves away from the body (G) when the third walls (3c) and fourth walls (3d) are inserted through the first mounting aperture (1) and second mounting aperture (2), wherein the safety bracket (3) covers said gap (B) with the first wall (3a). Said safety bracket (3) is preferably made of a metal or plastic material.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, while producing a cooking device (P), i.e. an oven cooking and heating with gas and electricity, the control panel (K) is mounted on the front part of the body (G), above the door. Before mounting the control panel (K), the safety bracket (3) is mounted to cover the gap (B) between the control panel (K) and the body (G) and side panel (Y). The safety bracket (3) is mounted on the front part of the body (G) via third walls (3c) and fourth walls (3d), and when the control panel (K) is mounted on the front, first wall (3a) of the safety bracket (3) covers the gap (B). Here, the third walls (3c) and the fourth walls (3d) are inserted through the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2), so that the fourth walls (3d) protrude from a rear surface of the front part of the body (G) and the third walls (3c) remain inside the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2). Then, the safety bracket (3) is shifted to one side and the protruding sides of the fourth walls (3d) contact with the rear surface of the front part of the body (G), so that the fourth walls (3d) are prevented from moving back from the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2), thus preventing the safety bracket (3) from being separated from the front part of the body (G). Thanks to the third walls (3c) remaining inside the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2), vertical movement of the safety bracket (3) is restricted. Thanks to said assembly, the safety bracket (3) is prevented from moving vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the safety bracket (3) and the body (G) are mounted together without the need for any fasteners, such as screws or pins.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooking device (P) comprises at least one hole (3e) provided on the second wall (3b) for mounting the safety bracket (3) on the front part of the body (G) by means of an additional fastener such as a screw or pin, as well. Said hole (3e) allows the second wall (3b) to be mounted on the front part of the body (G), and the assembly of the safety bracket (3) through the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2) of the fourth walls (3d) is improved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooking device (P) comprises at least one panel (G1) provided at an upper side, preferably at the front part, of the body (G), wherein the first mounting aperture (1) and the second mounting aperture (2) are provided on the panel (G1). In this case, the safety bracket (3) is mounted on the panel (G1).

Thanks to the cooking device (P) according to the present invention, access to the electronic components of the control panel is prevented through the gap (B) formed between the control panel (K), body and side panels (Y). Thanks to said cooking device (P), a safety bracket (3) is provided that can be mounted easily and practically without the need for an additional fastener. Users are ensured to be safe while using and/or cleaning the cooking device (P).