Countertop oven

A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a countertop oven for heating foodstuff and, more particularly, to a counter top oven having a 4-bar linkage mechanism attaching the oven door and the oven housing.

Countertop ovens are used to toast, bake, broil, or reheat foodstuff. Conventional countertop ovens typically include a housing defining a cooking cavity within, with an opening to access the cooking cavity. A door is generally hingedly affixed to open forwardly of the housing to selectively enable access (when the door is in an open position) or block access (when the door is in a closed position) to the cooking cavity. The door is typically either hinged at the top edge such that the door opens upwardly and away from the cooking cavity or at the bottom edge such that the door opens downwardly and away from the cooking cavity.

Countertop ovens are manufactured in different sizes to accommodate a variety of different user requirements. Large countertop ovens, for example, may be approximately 12 inches high, 21 inches wide, and 17 inches deep and define a cooking cavity approximately 9.5 inches high, 13 inches wide, and 13.5 inches deep. Pursuant to their name, countertop ovens are generally placed atop a countertop, such as a kitchen countertop. Generally, standard kitchen cabinets are installed between 16 inches to 18 inches above the countertop according to code. Consequently, one challenge associated with manufacturing and selling, specifically, the larger size countertop ovens, where the door opens away from the cooking cavity is ensuring sufficient countertop or cabinet clearance. Overhanging cabinetry in a conventional home kitchen generally prevents the door to move upwardly, unimpeded, between the open and closed positions thereof.

Therefore, for countertop ovens where the door opens upwardly, it would be advantageous to invent a mechanism between the housing and the door that would enable the door to move between the open and closed positions thereof in close proximity to the oven housing, in order to clear low cabinetry.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a countertop oven including a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a countertop oven including a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity. The door includes a glass panel pivotably attached to the door at one end thereof and selectively, removably latched to the door at an opposing end thereof. Unlatching of the opposing end of the glass panel from the door permits pivoting of the glass panel relative to the door.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a countertop oven including a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity. The door includes a glass panel removably attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “upwardly” and “downwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the countertop oven, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown inFIGS. 1-7a countertop oven, generally designated10, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The countertop oven10comprises a body/housing12having a real panel14, an upper panel16, a bottom panel18, and opposing side panels20a,20btogether defining a cooking cavity22. In the illustrated embodiment, the panels14,16,18,20a,20bof the housing12are generally planar, but the disclosure is not so limited. An open front end24is defined in the housing to enable access to the cooking cavity22. The countertop oven10further comprises a door26movably attached to the housing12via at least one linkage mechanism and selectively movable between a closed position (seeFIG. 3A), wherein the open front end24of the housing12is covered by the door26, and an open position (seeFIG. 3B), wherein the door26is positioned generally atop the upper panel16of the housing12, thereby uncovering the open front end24of the housing12for access to the cooking cavity22, as will be explained in further detail below.

Advantageously, a portion of the front edge of at least one of the side panels20a,20bof the housing12is recessed back from a front panel34cof the door26when the door is in the closed position. As described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246418, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, this cutaway portion of the side panel provides greater access to the cooking cavity22when the door26is open, thereby enabling a user to more easily reach foodstuff placed toward the back of the cooking cavity22.

The countertop oven10further comprises at least one conventional heating element28(shown schematically inFIG. 2), well known by those of ordinary skill in the art, to selectively heat the cooking cavity22and the foodstuff therein, e.g., to toast, bake, broil, reheat or the like. Typically, at least one upper heating element (not illustrated) is positioned at or near the top of the cooking cavity22and at least one lower heating element is positioned at or near the bottom of the cooking cavity22, although placement and quantity of the elements may vary. To specify and control the operation of the oven10, the housing12also includes a user interface30, having a variety of user selection inputs and outputs, such as, for example, a function, a temperature control, a timer, foodstuff selection, and the like.

Turning to the linkage mechanism (shown best inFIGS. 3A, 3B), a first side panel34aof the door26is connected to the first side panel20aof the housing12via a 4-bar linkage mechanism, e.g., a quadrilateral 4-bar linkage. As should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a 4-bar linkage mechanism is comprised of four links and four joints. As shown, the first side panel20aof the housing12defines a first link, the first side panel34aof the door26defines a second link, a first rocker bar36a, pivotably attached at one end thereof to the door26and pivotably attached at an opposing end thereof to the side panel20a, defines a third link, and a second rocker bar36b, pivotably attached at one end thereof to the door26and pivotably attached at an opposing end thereof to the side panel20a, defines the fourth link.

The pivotable joint between first rocker bar36aand the side panel20aof the housing12defines the first joint38a, the pivotable joint between the second rocker bar36band the side panel20aof the housing12defines the second joint38b, the pivotable joint between the first rocker bar36aand the door26defines the third joint38cand the pivotable joint between the second rocker bar36band the door26defines the fourth joint38d. Accordingly, the side panel20aof the housing12functions as the ground link of the 4-bar linkage mechanism and the door26functions as the coupler link of the 4-bar linkage mechanism.

An opposing second side panel34bof the door26may also be connected to the second side panel20bof the housing12via the same, or similar, 4-bar linkage mechanism (not shown), but the disclosure is not so limited. The opposing side panels34a,34bof the door26may be mirror images of each other, or may each have a different appearance.

As shown best inFIG. 3B, the pivotable joint/attachment38cbetween the first rocker bar36aand the door26is positioned proximate a first (non-limiting e.g., lower) edge32aof the door26, and the pivotable joint/attachment38dbetween the second rocker bar36band the door26is positioned proximate an opposing second (non-limiting e.g., upper) edge32bof the door26. The pivotable joints38a,38bare positioned generally centrally relative to the side panel20aof the housing12. Advantageously, the door26does not pivot about one pivot axis, generally positioned proximate a corner of the housing12, wherein the height of the door determines the radius of rotation thereof, as in traditional ovens. Rather, the 4-bar linkage mechanism (four links and four joints as described above), in combination with the positioning of the pivotable joints/attachments38a-d, permits the door26to move between the open and closed positions thereof about a radius of rotation defining a close proximity to the housing12. The door26rotates about generally central axes defined by the pivotable joints38a,38b, in combination with the first edge32aof the door26pivoting about the pivot joint38c, and the second edge32bof the door26pivoting about the pivot joint38d. Preferably, the door26is spaced upwardly from the upper panel16of the housing12by between approximately 15 mm to approximately 40 mm, in the open position of the door26.

Turning to the features of the door26, the front panel34cextends between the side panels34a,34b. As shown, a portion of the front panel34ccomprises a glass (or otherwise transparent) panel40extending across at least a portion of the open front end24of the housing12, to enable a user to view the cooking cavity22. A handle27is affixed to the door26to enable a user to easily move the door26between the open and closed positions thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle27is affixed to the glass panel40, but the disclosure is not so limited.

Due to the 4-bar linkage mechanism between the housing12and the door26, the interior side of the glass panel40remains in facing orientation with the housing12in both the open and closed positions of the door26. Also due to the 4-bar linkage mechanism, the front panel34c, including the glass panel40, of the door26is in close proximity to the upper panel16of the housing12in the open position of the door12. As shown best inFIGS. 4-5B, however, the glass panel40is pivotably attached to the front panel34cof the door26, and pivotable between open (FIGS. 5A, 5B) and closed (FIG. 3A, 3B) positions thereof.

As shown best inFIG. 4, the front panel34cincludes a window frame42, seating the pivotably attached glass panel40therein, in the closed position of the panel40. The frame42comprises a pair of laterally opposed apertures44therein (only one of the apertures44shown), proximate a first (non-limiting e.g., upper) end thereof. The window frame42further comprises at least one slot46therein, proximate an opposing second (non-limiting e.g., lower) end thereof. Correspondingly, the glass panel40includes two opposing pins48laterally extending from opposing sides (non-limiting e.g., left and right) of the panel40, proximate a first (non-limiting e.g., upper) end thereof. The pins48are engaged, respectively, with the apertures44, creating a pivot axis extending therethrough, about which the glass panel40is pivotable (seeFIGS. 5A, 5B). As should be understood, a rod48extending laterally across the glass panel40, rather than the pins48, may alternatively be employed, wherein opposing sides of the rod48are engaged with the apertures44.

Proximate a second (non-limiting e.g., lower) end of the glass panel40is a locking latch50. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking latch50is positioned in the handle27, but the disclosure is not so limited. The locking latch50comprises a latch member52biased into engagement with the slot46by a biasing member (not shown). As should be understood, the biasing member may be any member capable of storing and releasing energy. Non-limiting examples of the biasing member include a leaf spring, a coil spring and the like. Thus, the locking latch50is biased into locking engagement with the slot46to secure the glass panel40in the closed position thereof.

To disengage the locking latch50, a button54, connected to the latch member52, is selectively depressed, to counter and overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and retract the latch member52from the slot46. The glass panel40is pivotable relative to the door26(about the pivot axis extending through the pins48) into the open position thereof with the locking latch50disengaged from the slot46. In one embodiment, the glass panel40may be pivoted approximately 145° relative to the front panel34cof the door26. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the glass panel40is movable into the open position thereof, in either of the open (FIG. 5A) or closed (FIG. 5B) positions of the door26. In the open position of the glass panel40, a user may access and clean the interior side of the panel40. In the open position of the glass panel40, with the door26in the closed position thereof, as shown inFIG. 5B, the cooking cavity22is also accessible. When the glass panel40is selectively pivoted back to the closed position thereof (by pivoting the panel40in the opposite direction), the locking latch50re-engages with the slot46under the biasing force of the biasing member, to secure the glass panel40in the closed position.

In an alternative configuration of the door26, as shown inFIGS. 6A-7, the glass panel40′ is selectively detachable from the door26′. As shown inFIGS. 6A, 6B, the glass panel40′ includes a locking latch50′ proximate a second end of the panel40′, operable as described with respect to the locking latch50of the previous configuration of the door26, to selectively detach the second end of the panel40′ from the door26′. In contrast to the glass panel40, the opposing first end of the glass panel40′ is also selectively detachable from the door26′.

As shown best inFIG. 7, the window frame42′ defines an open first (non-limiting e.g., upper) end42a′, such that the glass panel40′ is slidable past the first end42a′ of the window frame42′ to underlie a portion of the front panel34c′ of the door26′. Thus, in the closed position of the glass panel40′, the first end thereof is secured between the window frame42′ and the front panel34c′. The door26′ (the front panel34c′ in the illustrated embodiment) includes a stopper bracket56′ spaced from the first end of42a′ of the window frame42′ and affixed to an underside of the door26′. The stopper bracket56′ is positioned to permit a portion of the glass panel40′ to slide past the window frame42′ and underneath the front panel34c′ of the door26′, while also providing a boundary for the extension of the glass panel40′ underneath the panel34c′. As should be understood, however, the frame42′ may alternatively be constructed to extend underneath the front panel34c′ and have a closed first end to function as the stopper bracket56′.

To detach the glass panel40′, as shown inFIGS. 6A, 6B, the locking latch50′ is disengaged from the slot46(as shown inFIG. 4) as described with respect to the locking latch50. The glass panel40′ is then pulled away from the door26′ and slid out of the window frame42′. Upon removal, the glass panel40′ may, for example, be washed or otherwise cleaned. To re-attach the glass panel40′, the glass panel40′ is slid back into seated engagement with the window frame42′. Thus, the first end of the panel40′ is re-secured between the window frame42′ and the front panel34c′ and the locking latch50′ re-engages with the slot46under the biasing force of the biasing member, to secure the glass panel40′ in the closed position.

FIG. 8illustrates a second embodiment of the countertop oven110. The reference numerals of the present embodiment are distinguishable from those of the above-described first embodiment (FIGS. 1-7) by a factor of one-hundred (100), but otherwise indicate the same elements as indicated above, except as otherwise specified. The countertop oven110of the present embodiment is substantially similar to that of the earlier embodiment. Therefore, the description of certain similarities and modes of operation between the embodiments may be omitted herein for the sake of brevity and convenience, and, therefore, is not limiting.

One difference over the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-7, as shown best inFIG. 8, is that the pivotable attachment138dbetween the second rocker bar136band the door126is selectively releasable to disengage the door126from the second rocker bar136band pivot the door126outwardly about the pivotable attachment138cbetween the first rocker bar136aand the door126. As shown inFIG. 8, outward pivoting of the door126provides access to the interior side of the glass panel140, enabling, for example, cleaning thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotable attachment138dbetween the second rocker bar136band the door126comprises a detent. Namely, the second rocker bar136bincludes a pin158abiased by a biasing member (not shown) into a corresponding aperture158bin the door126. As should be understood, the biasing member may be any member capable of storing and releasing energy. Non-limiting examples of the biasing member include a spring and the like. The pin158ais selectively depressible to eject from the aperture158band release the door126from the second rocker bar136b, thereby enabling pivoting thereof about the pivotable attachment138c. To re-engage the second rocker bar136bwith the door126, the door126is pivoted back such that the pin158acontacts and slides along the door126under the force of the biasing member, which pushes the pin158aback into the aperture158bwhen aligned therewith. Thereafter, the door126is pivotable about the 4-bar linkage mechanism as described with respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-7. As should be understood, the releasable attachment between the door126and the rocker bar136bis not limited to a detent, and may take the form of any other releasable attachment capable of selective engagement and detachment as described herein.