Abstract:
A microwave oven cabinet is ergonomic designed to provide for both stacking and jigsaw-type back-to-back interlining of multiple units of the microwave ovens. In particular, the cabinet configuration advantageously establishes a reduced footprint, ergonomically designed microwave oven which can be effectively employed in various fields, including fast food chains wherein multiple such ovens may need to be functionally positioned in a limited area, while still being easily accessible.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/179,987 entitled “Ergonomic Commercial Microwave Oven” filed May 20, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to the art of microwave ovens and, more particularly, to a reduced footprint, ergonomically configured microwave oven. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Basically, since its introduction as a commonplace cooking appliance, microwave ovens have taken a mainly box-like configuration, including a door which pivots about a vertical axis to access a cooking cavity which receives microwaves produced by a magnetron. Even commercial microwave ovens are commonly found with generally box-like designs. In general, these designs function extremely well under most circumstances. However, in certain fields such as fast food chains, space and oven cavity access are of particular concern and common microwave ovens fail to adequately address these concerns. 
         [0006]    To this end, it would be beneficial to provide a reduced footprint, ergonomically designed microwave oven which could be effectively employed in various fields, including fast food chains wherein multiple such ovens may need to be functionally positioned in a limited area, while still being easily accessible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides an ergonomic design of a microwave oven cabinet which provides for stacking and jigsaw-type back-to-back interfitting of multiple ones of the microwave ovens. In particular, the invention provides a reduced footprint, ergonomically designed microwave oven which can be effectively employed in various fields, including fast food chains wherein multiple such ovens may need to be functionally positioned in a limited area, while still being easily accessible. Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a microwave oven of the invention, with a door shown in an opened position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the microwave, with the door shown in a closed position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of two intermeshed microwave ovens constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the intermeshed microwave ovens of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an interior portion of a commercial fast food chain employing multiple back-to-back and even stacked microwave ovens constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a microwave oven constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at  5 . As shown, microwave oven  5  includes an outer cabinet  15  within which is formed a lower oven or process cavity  10  defined, at least in part, by a rear wall  20  arranged behind a door  25  having a handle  27 . Door  25  is vertically, slidably movable between a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  wherein venting louvers  30  in an upper component housing portion  32  are exposed and an open position exposing cavity  10 , while extending across and covering venting louvers  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment shown, arranged below cavity  10  on a front portion of microwave oven  5  is a control panel  35  including a multi-segment display  40 , a numeric keypad section  50 , an entry button  55 , a power level button  57 , a start button  59  and a stop button  60 . In the embodiment shown, cavity  10  is in the order of 13 inches (approx. 33 cm) wide, 8 inches (approx. 20 cm) deep and 6 inches (approx. 15 cm) in height. However, at this point, it should be noted that the particular construction, size and control panel configuration shown in these figures are only presented for exemplary purposes and can vary greatly in accordance with the overall invention. Although not shown, microwave oven  5  includes one or more magnetrons for generating microwaves which are directed into oven cavity  10  during a cooking operation. With this basic arrangement in mind, the present invention is particularly directed to the advantageous, ergonomic design of cabinet  15  which provides for stacking and jigsaw-type back-to-back interfitting arrangement for multiple microwave ovens  5 . 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a pair of microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′ constructed in accordance with the invention are shown arranged back-to-back. As shown, cabinet  15  of each microwave oven  5 ,  5 ′ includes a top panel  75  having a raised peripheral edge  78 . Each cabinet  15  is defined by a first or left lateral side portion  80  and a second or right lateral side portion  81 . As clearly illustrated, first lateral side portion  80  has a greater depth or fore-to-aft dimension as compared to second lateral side portion  81  such that first lateral side portion  80  defines an extension indicated at  85 , with the rear of extension  85  including a first section  86  and an angled section  87  leading to a side wall  88  of cabinet  15 . In a back wall  89  of cabinet  15 , specifically along angled section  87 , is provided vents  90 ,  92 . When microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′ are arranged back-to-back, the extension  85  of microwave oven  5  is arranged adjacent second lateral side portion  81 ′ of microwave oven  5 ′, and the extension  85 ′ of microwave oven  5 ′ is arranged adjacent second lateral side portion  81  of microwave oven  5  in order to provide a compact, interfitting or intermeshed arrangement. With the inclusion of angled sections  87 , there is ample spacing at this location between angled section  87  and back wall  89 ′ to provide for suitable ventilation. 
         [0015]    In addition to meshing back-to-back, microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′ can be conveniently stacked. Although the stacking arrangement can be carried out in various fashions without departing from the invention, each of microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′ is shown to be supported by one or more, preferably vertically adjustable, spaced feet, one of which is indicated at  99 . When microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′ are stacked, as further discussed and shown in connection with  FIG. 5 , the various feet  99  are arranged adjacent respective portions of the raised peripheral edge  78 , thereby relatively locating the stacked ovens  5 ,  5 ′ in relation to each other. 
         [0016]    Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the invention establishes an ergonomic design for cabinet  15  which provides for both stacking and jigsaw-type back-to-back interfitting of multiple microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′. This arrangement is seen to be particularly advantageous in connection with utilizing various sets of ovens  5 ,  5 ′ in commercial fast food chains where space is limited and extremely convenient access to the ovens  5 ,  5 ′ is needed for efficiency reasons. To this end,  FIG. 5  shows an interior portion of a commercial fast food chain employing multiple back-to-back and even stacked microwave ovens  5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  5 ′″ and  5 ″″ constructed in accordance with the invention arranged on a work platform  100  behind a counter  105 . As clearly shown, the compact nature of the ovens and the manner in which they can be intermeshed and stacked provides for an extremely efficient and effective overall ergonomic arrangement, with a minimum of occupied space yet providing for convenient access and still accommodating ventilation needs. 
         [0017]    Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.