Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cooking oven door including at least one door frame and at least one door panel. The door frame includes a U-shaped part with a center portion and two legs. The U-shaped part is formed as a one-piece plastic part. The door panel is inserted within the U-shaped part. The U-shaped part encloses three circumferential sides of the door panel. The U-shaped part comprises support elements on its inner side in order to hold the door panel in a predetermined position. At least one fixing element is attached or attachable on at least one free end portion of the leg in order to secure the door panel within the U-shaped part.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cooking oven door according to claim  1 . Further, the present invention relates to a fixing element for securing at least one door panel in a door frame according to claim  18 . Additionally, the present invention relates to a U-shaped part for inserting a door panel according to claim  19 . 
     2. Background and Relevant Art 
     A cooking oven requires a window in the oven door, so that the user is able to look inside the oven chamber without opening the cooking oven door. The cooking oven door should be made of temperature-resistant materials. Further, the cooking oven door should provide a sufficient thermal insulation. 
     Known cooking oven doors consist usually of several parts. For example, a door frame includes a profile part for each side. A typical cooking oven door comprises one or more transparent door panels, which are made of glass or transparent plastics. The door panel is usually integrated in a door frame. Additionally, a further door panel may be arranged on the inner side and/or outer side of the frame. 
     Typically the door frame consists of several frame parts and each frame part is provided for one circumferential side of the door panel. The production of such an oven door is very complex and generates high costs. The frame parts have to be put together to the door frame. This requires several working steps. 
     Additionally, the door panel must be inserted into the door frame before or after putting together the door frame. 
     US 2005/0076900 A1 discloses an oven door with a U-shaped door frame including several profile parts and fixing elements. The profile parts are plugged together in order to obtain said U-shaped frame. Several door panels are inserted within the U-shaped frame. At the free end portions of the two legs of the U-shaped frame a lever mechanism is attached. The assembling of that oven door requires a lot of working steps. 
     DE 197 34 959 C2 discloses an oven door with a U-shaped door frame. The U-shaped door frame is a one-piece part. One door panel is inserted within said U-shaped door frame, so that three sides enclose the door panel. A further part for the fourth side of the door frame is required in order to secure the door panel within the door frame. Additionally, fixing elements are required to connect said further part to the U-shaped door frame. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking oven door, which is simply and cheaply producible. 
     This object is achieved by the oven door according to claim  1 . 
     According to the present invention the cooking oven door includes at least one door frame and at least one door panel, wherein
         the door frame includes a U-shaped part with a centre portion and two legs,   the U-shaped part is formed as a one-piece plastic part,   the door panel is inserted within the U-shaped part,   the U-shaped part encloses three circumferential sides of the door panel,   the U-shaped part comprises support elements on its inner side in order to hold the door panel in a predetermined position, and   at least one fixing element is attached or attachable on at least one free end portion of the leg in order to secure the door panel within the U-shaped part.       

     According to the present invention an U-shaped part is provided with the at least one inserted door panel, wherein the door panel is secured by the at least one fixing element at the free end portion of the leg of the U-shaped part. The assembly of the inventive cooking oven door requires only a few steps. At first the door panel or the door panels have to be inserted within the U-shaped door frame. Then the at least one fixing element is attached to the free end of one leg of the U-shaped frame. For example, the U-shaped part may be made as a one-piece injection molded part. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fixing element is formed as a one-piece plastic part. This simplifies the production process of the fixing element as well as of the whole cooking oven door. 
     Further, the fixing element may be detachably arranged on the free end portion of the leg. This allows a disassembling of the cooking oven door and an exchanging of single parts of said cooking oven door. 
     In addition, the fixing element may be directly attached or attachable at the free end portion of the leg. No further means are necessary in order to connect the fixing element to the U-shaped frame. 
     Preferably, at least one pin element is arranged on the free end portion of the leg and the fixing element is attached or attachable on said pin element. Further, the fixing element is attached or attachable on the pin element. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the fixing element comprises a blind hole. Further, the blind hole and the pin element may form a rotary union between the fixing element and the free end portion of the leg. This is a simple and cheap way to form a rotary union. Additionally, the fixing element comprises a handle bar. The handle bar allows that the fixing element is manual pivoting with said handle bar. 
     Further, the fixing element may comprise a lock element. This allows a stable state of the fixing element at the U-shaped part. 
     Preferably, the lock element and the pin element form a snap-on connection between the fixing element and the free end portion of the leg. This is an easy and cheap construction, which allows that the fixing element is detach-able from the U-shaped part. 
     The fixing element may further comprise at least one gripping element. The door panel may be gripped between the U-shaped part and the gripping element. 
     In a usual embodiment of the present invention the door panel is formed as a substantially rectangular sheet. 
     Additionally, a further door panel may be arranged on at least one large-area side of the U-shaped part. Normally, the cooking oven door requires several door panels. A few door panels may be inserted within the U-shaped part. One or two door panels may be attached at the large-area sides of the U-shaped part. 
     In order to guarantee a high stability of the door frame, the fixing element may be attached or attachable on each of the both legs of the U-shaped part. 
     For example, the door panel is made of glass. Alternatively, the door panel is made of transparent plastics. 
     Further, the U-shaped part is made of a polymer material, preferably of one single polymer material. 
     Also the fixing element may be made of a polymer material, preferably of one single polymer material. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the U-shaped part comprises at its inner side support elements and/or spacing elements provided for holding the door panel. The spacing elements may be provided for keeping a predetermined distance between at least two neighboring door panels. The support elements and/or the spacing elements are formed as inward-looking appendices. The U-shaped part with the support elements and/or the spacing elements may be made as a one-piece injection molded part. 
     In a special embodiment of the present invention at least one door panel may comprise at least one shied grid in order to screen electromagnetic waves. In this case the oven door may be provided for a microwave oven. 
     Additionally, the inventive cooking oven door is provided for a cooking oven for domestic use. 
     The object of the invention is further achieved by a fixing element for securing a door panel within a U-shaped part of a door frame, wherein the fixing element is provided for a cooking oven door as described above. 
     The object of the invention is further achieved by a U-shaped part for inserting a door panel, wherein the U-shaped part is provided for a cooking oven door as described above. 
     The novel and inventive features believed to be the characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing, in which 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a U-shaped part of a door frame for a cooking oven door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part of the door frame with an integrated door panel according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a fixing element for the door frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a further fixing element for the door frame according to the preferred embodiment of the pre-sent invention, 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part with the integrated door panel and two fixing elements in an un-mounted state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part with the integrated door panel and two fixing elements in a plugged state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part with the integrated door panel and two fixing elements in a mounted state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of the fixing element in the mounted state and the free end portion of the U-shaped part according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a U-shaped part  12  of a door frame for a cooking oven door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The U-shaped part  12  comprises a centre portion  14  and two legs  16 . The legs  16  are ordered perpendicular to the centre portion  14 . The centre portion  14  and the two legs  16  are further arranged within the same plane. 
     On the inside of the U-shaped part  12  are support elements  18  and spacing elements  20 . The support elements  18  are provided to hold a door panel  10 . The spacing elements  20  are also provided to hold the door panel  10  on the one hand. On the other hand the spacing elements  20  are provided to keep a distance between two neighboring door panels  10 , if the cooking oven door comprises two or more door panels  10  with the U-shaped part  12 . 
     In this example three door panels  10  may be inserted into the U-shaped part  12 . A further door panel may be fixed on an outer side of the U-shaped part  12  by gluing. The area of said further door panel is marginally bigger than that area, which is spanned by the U-shaped part  12  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the free end portion of the leg  16  there are a first pin element  24  and a second pin element  26 . The first pin element  24  and the second pin element  26  are arranged parallel to the inner side of the U-shaped part  12 . Further, the first pin element  24  and the second pin element  26  are substantially cylindrical. The first pin element  24  and the second pin element  26  are provided for mounting a fixing element  22 . The fixing element  22  holds the door panels within the U-shaped part  12 . The fixing element  22  is provided for the free end portion of each leg  16 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part  12  of the door frame with an integrated door panel  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The door panel  10  has a rectangular design. The inner dimensions of the U-shaped part  12  are marginally bigger than the outer dimension of the door panel  10 . Three circumferential sides of the door panel  10  are enclosed by the inner sides of the U-shaped part  12 . Some outer portions of the large area side of the door panel  10  rest upon the support elements  18  and upon those space elements  20  neighboring to said support elements  18 . 
     The form of the U-shaped part  12  allows that the door panel  10  may be inserted into the U-shaped part  12  by only one single step. A further step is required in order to mount the fixing elements  22  onto the free end portion of the leg  16 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a fixing element  22  for the door frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fixing element  22  is substantially L-shaped. The fixing element  22  comprises a blind hole  28 . The blind hole  28  is provided for receipt the first pin element  24 , so that the fixing element  22  is pivoting at the leg  16 . The fixing element  22  comprises a lock element  30 . The lock element  30  is provided to snap in onto the second pin element  26 , so that the fixing element  22  is fastened on the free end portion of the leg  16 . 
     Further, the fixing element  22  comprises a handle bar  32  for a manual pivoting of said fixing element  22 . The handle bar  32  forms the first leg of the L-shaped fixing element  22 . Additionally, the fixing element  22  comprises gripping elements  34 . The gripping elements  34  are arranged at the second leg of the L-shaped fixing element  22 . In this example the gripping elements  34  are provided to grip one or up to three door panels  10 . 
     If the fixing element  22  is in the fastened position the door panel  10  is clamped between the U-shaped part  12  and said fixing element  22 . Thus the door panel  10  can be secured in an easy way by plugging on and pivoting the fixing element  22 . The fixing element  22  is provided for the free end portion of the leg  16  on the left hand side in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a further fixing element  23  for the door frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The further fixing element  23  is symmetrical to the fixing element  22 . In other aspects the further fixing element  23  has the same properties as the fixing element  22 . The further fixing element  23  is provided for the free end portion of the leg  16  on the right hand side in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part  12  with the integrated door panel  10  and one fixing elements  22  in an un-mounted state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows how the fixing element  22  has to be plugged onto the first pin element  24 . The blind hole  28  of the fixing element  22  receipts the first pin element  24 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part  12  with the integrated door panel  10  and two fixing elements  22  in a plugged state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this state the fixing element  22  is pivoting on the U-shaped part  12  within a range of about 90°. With the handle bar  32  the fixing element  22  is pivoting, so that the second pin element  26  snaps into the lock element  30 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the U-shaped part with the integrated door panel  10  and the fixing element  22  in a mounted state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this position the gripping elements  34  of the fixing element  22  grips the door panel  10 , so that the door panel  10  is clamped between the U-shaped part  12  and said fixing element  22 . 
     Only three steps are necessary in order to mount the door panel  10  into the U-shaped frame  12 . At first the door panel  10  has to be inserted into the U-shaped frame  12 . Then the fixing element  22  and the further fixing element  23  have to be fastened the free end portions of the legs  16  on the left hand side and right hand side, respectively. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of the fixing element  22  in the mounted state and the free end portion of the U-shaped part  12  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  shows that the fixing element  22  is fastened at the first pin element  24  and second pin element  26  of the free end portion of the U-shaped part  12 . The first pin element  24  is receipt by the blind hole  28  of the fixing element  22 . The second pin element  26  is receipt by the lock element  30  of the fixing element  22 . The lock element  30  includes two springy blades. In the mounted state the second pin element  26  is between said two springy blades. 
     The oven door according to the present invention may include one or more door panels  10  within the U-shaped part  12 . On both large-area sides of the U-shaped part  12  an additional door panel may be fixed. The additional door panel may be fixed by gluing, for example. The area of said additional door panel is marginally bigger than that area, which is spanned by the U-shaped part  12 . The door panel is made of glass or transparent plastics. 
     Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those 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. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10  door panel 
               12  U-shaped frame 
               14  centre portion 
               16  legs 
               18  support elements 
               20  spacing elements 
               22  fixing element 
               24  first pin element 
               26  second pin element 
               28  blind hole 
               30  lock element 
               32  handle bar 
               34  gripping elements