Gas cook-top with glass top

A gas cook-top with a glass top wherein each of a plurality of burners has a neck portion with a flange that seats down on a gasket thereby sealing the burner to the glass top. A collar surrounds the neck portion of each burner. Brackets are positioned below the glass top and support the burners independent of the glass top. A grate covers a pair of burners and has locator rod members that encircle portions of the respective collars, thereby fixedly locating the grate on the glass top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The field of the invention generally relates to gas cook-top appliances, 
and more particularly relates to such appliances that have glass or 
ceramic top panels to which the gas burners are sealed. 
As is well known, electric cook-top appliances having glass or ceramic top 
panels have been used for many years, and they have been popular for a 
variety of reasons. For example, many people like the shiny smooth and 
modern appearance of a glass top surface. Also, a glass or ceramic top is 
generally easy to clean. Further, if the heating elements are sealed to 
the glass top, spills are retained on the top surface so that they are 
relatively easy to clean. 
More recently, glass top panels have been used for gas cook-tops. More 
specifically, a commercially available gas cook-top has a glass top with a 
plurality of relatively large apertures. Each of the gas burners is 
centrally mounted to a downwardly recessed metal pan which has a rim 
suspended by a peripheral portion of a respective one of the apertures in 
the glass top. Thus, the metal pans provide mounting apparatus for the 
burners. The glass is a relatively low temperature glass such as, for 
example, 450.degree. F. glass, so the metal pans also serve to limit the 
temperature to which the glass is subjected. Further, the metal pans 
function to locate burner grates that support cooking utensils above the 
burners. 
The above described arrangement, however, has some drawbacks. More 
specifically, the metal pans add to the cost of the product. Also, spills, 
dirt, and grease may accumulate in the metal pans, and such accumulations 
or spoils are difficult to clean. Further, if a cooking utensil with a 
large bottom is used, the combustion products can be deflected outwardly 
heating the glass top to a temperature above its safe limit. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the invention to provide improved apparatus and 
method for mounting gas burners to a glass or ceramic top panel. 
It is also an object to provide apparatus for fixing the location of grates 
on a gas cook-top without using recessed metal pans. 
It is a further object to provide apparatus for supporting the gas burners 
in the event that the glass top is damaged or broken. 
A gas cook-top comprises a glass top panel having at least first and second 
apertures with first and second gas burners respectively extending up 
therethrough. In accordance with the invention, the gas cook-top further 
comprises a grate adapted for supporting cooking utensils above the 
respective burners wherein the grate is supported on the glass top panel 
and has first and second locator members each surrounding at least a 
portion of a respective one of the first and second burners wherein the 
horizontal alignment of the grate on the glass top panel is fixed by 
abutment with the first and second burners. Glass is intended to be used 
in a broad sense to include a wide variety of glass and glass ceramic type 
materials. It is preferable that the grate comprise a plurality of 
interconnected rods such as metal rods that are welded together and enamel 
coated. It is also preferable that the first and second burners be 
substantially circular and that each of the respective locator members 
comprise a rod which encircles a portion of a respective one of the first 
and second burners. It may also be preferable that the first and second 
burners each comprises a neck having a flange spaced above the glass top 
panel by a gasket, and that the cook-top further comprise first and second 
collars each covering a respective flange and gasket. In such embodiment, 
each of the encircling rod locator members abuts a respective one of the 
first and second collars. 
With such arrangement, the grate is located on the smooth glass top panel 
and is prevented from rotating even though the burners are sealed to the 
glass top panel and no burner pans are used. That is, the grate has rods 
arranged such that they encircle neck portions of two burners thereby 
fixing the location of the grate. 
The invention may also be practiced using a gas cook-top comprising a 
substantially flat glass top panel having at least one aperture, a metal 
box including side walls and a bottom positioned below the glass top 
panel, a gas burner projecting from the box up through the aperture in the 
glass top panel, and means comprising a bracket connected to the metal box 
for supporting the burner independent of the glass top panel. For example, 
the supporting means may comprise a bracket connected to opposing side 
walls of the box. Also, a resilient gasket may preferably be disposed 
between the bracket and the glass panel to prevent damage or breakage 
during shipment. 
With such arrangement, the glass panel can be broken during operation and 
the burner is still independently supported.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like 
parts throughout the several views, gas cook-top 10 here includes a flat 
glass panel 12 which functions as the main top or top surface of the 
appliance. Glass panel 12, which also may be made from other materials 
such as, for example, ceramic is a high temperature material such as Ceran 
as available from Schott Glaswerke of Mainz, West Germany. Such material 
preferably is resistant to damage from temperature of approximately 
1000.degree. F. As shown in FIG. 3, glass panel 12 here has a plurality of 
circular apertures 14 for mounting burners 16, and also has openings (not 
shown) for passing shafts (not shown) that couple control knobs 18 of 
control panel 20 to respective suitable conventional gas controls (not 
shown) which typically include a gas manifold and gas valves that connect 
to respective gas pipes 22 that lead to the respective burners 16. Glass 
panel 12 sits in a metal frame 24 and is here bonded by a suitable 
adhesive 26 such as RTV. Frame 24 has a horizontally extending lip 28 that 
here rests on a peripheral portion 30 of a drop-in opening 32 of a counter 
top 34 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, gas cook-top 10 could be 
fabricated as the main top of a free standing range. 
As shown best in FIG. 3, frame 24 has a downwardly extending flange 36 that 
connects with to metal box 40 using suitable fasteners such as screws. Box 
40 includes four sidewalls 42 that are connected to bottom 44 with screws 
46. Box 40 forms a compartment 48 in which suitable controls (not shown) 
and interconnecting pipes 22 are located. Compartment 48 provides an 
environment which is isolated from rapid pressure changes such as might be 
caused by opening or closing a cabinet door. Thus, the drawing of primary 
combustion air into burners 16 is not significantly effected by such 
actions as opening or closing a cabinet door. 
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of burner 16 mounted within aperture 
14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, burners 16 have different sizes to 
accommodate cooking utensils of different sizes, and in conventional 
manner, there are two large and two small burners with the like sizes 
being located diagonally from each other. FIG. 3 depicts a large burner 
16, but it is understood that a small burner would be mounted in the same 
manner. Burner 16 is a suitable burner such as available from Robert Shaw 
Controls Company of Youngwood, Pa. In conventional manner, gaseous fuel is 
received from gas pipe 22 and issues from orifice plate 50 from where it 
is directed into venturi 52 such that primary combustion air is drawn into 
mixing chamber 54. The fuel/air mixture then moves upwardly in burner head 
56 which is covered by removable cap 58, and then moves outwardly and 
issues from burner ports 60 cut in outer wall 62 of burner head 56. A 
conventional igniter 64 which is conventionally coupled to an electric 
source then ignites the fuel/air mixture. Secondary air is drawn radially 
inward from the sides of burners 16. 
Burner 16 has a neck portion 66 which extends up through aperture 14 and 
also includes an outwardly directed peripheral flange 68 that is larger 
than the respective aperture 14. Flange 68 contacts a high temperature 
annular silicon gasket 70 or a ring. A like gasket 72 is located on the 
underside of glass panel 12 and is positioned between glass panel 12 and 
burner mounting bracket 74. Gasket 70 provides several functions. First, 
gasket 70 provides a seal between burner 16 and glass panel 12 so that 
spills are retained on the top surface of glass panel 12 so that they are 
easy to clean. In other words, liquid spills are prevented from dripping 
from the top surface of glass panel 12 down through apertures 14. Second, 
gasket 70 has a predetermined thickness such as, for example, 
approximately 0.2 inches and thereby raises the burner ports 60 upwardly 
by a like distance. Such raising has been found to improve the flame 
characteristics by permitting more vertical spacing between ports 60 and 
glass panel 12 for secondary combustion air to flow radially inwardly. As 
will be described hereinafter, the raising also provides a collar region 
76 for abutting grate 78. Third, gaskets 70 and 72 are preferably made of 
a resilient material that provides shock absorption to prevent damage or 
breakage of glass panel 12 during shipping. 
Burner mounting bracket 74, which has a flat upper panel 80 and sides 82 to 
provide rigidity, extends across box 40 and has feet 84 as shown in FIG. 1 
that are attached to opposing sidewalls 42 by suitable fasteners such as 
screws 86. Flat panel 80 is spaced below glass panel 12, and has openings 
88 for passing burner neck portion 66, small holes 90 for passing igniter 
64, and screw holes 92 for receiving screws 94 as shown in FIG. 3. More 
specifically, burner 16 has mounting bores 96 for screws 94 which are 
inserted up through screw holes 92 and threaded into bores 96 so that 
burner 16 is supported by burner mounting bracket 74 which is anchored to 
sidewalls 42 of box 40. Thus, even in the event that glass panel 12 is 
cracked or broken during operation of burners 16, burners 16 are still 
held in normal operating alignment because burners 16 are supported 
independent of glass panel 12. 
Neck portion 66 of burner 16 may also preferably include a removable metal 
collar 98 that sits on glass panel 12 and has a vertical section 100 that 
bends inwardly at the top forming horizontal cover section 102 that abuts 
the side of burner 16. Collar 98 may be desirable for decorative reasons 
in that it covers up gasket 70 and also may be painted to the same or 
complimentary color as burner 16. Also, as will be described, vertical 
section 100 provides a vertical surface used to abut and locate grates 78. 
Grate 78 is used in conventional manner to support cooking utensils above 
burners 16. Grate 78 is a unitary part and here includes a plurality of 
interconnected metal rods that are coated or enameled. Grate 78 includes 
an outer peripheral support rod 104 or base rod that rests on glass panel 
12 and is made up of opposing side segments 105 and opposing end segments 
107. A plurality of upstanding segments 106 are connected to peripheral 
support rod 104, and upstanding segments interconnect with horizontal 
segments 108 that are arranged in a predetermined pattern so as to support 
cooking utensils above burners 16. One grate 78 is used for two burners 
16, and each grate includes two lateral locator members 110a and 110b that 
are connected between side segments 105 of base rod 104, and have arcuate 
segments 112a and 112b configured and spaced so as to respectively 
encircle portions of neck portions 66 of two respective burners 16. In 
such manner, grate 78 is located in a fixed position on glass panel 12 
over burners 16 even though glass panel 12 has a flat and smooth top 
surface without any grate locating structures. Rather, burners 16 are used 
to fix the location of grate 78 and also to prevent grate 78 from being 
rotated in its horizontal plane. 
Although locator members 110a and 110b could be configured to locate grate 
78 over two large or two small burners 16, here grate 78 has one arcuate 
segment 112a adapted to conform with a small burner 16 and another arcuate 
segment 112b adapted to conform with a large burner 16. The arcuate 
segments 112a and 112b should be large enough so as to prevent rotation of 
grate 78, and may in an alternate embodiment completely encircle 
respective burners 16. Also, locator members 110a and 110b are here shown 
on the opposite sides of respective burners 16, but they could also be 
positioned on the inside. As shown best in FIG. 3, collars 98 provide a 
vertical section 100 against which arcuate sections 112a and 112b abut. In 
an alternate embodiment, collar 98 could be eliminated, but burner 16 
would preferably provide some corresponding neck portion against which 
arcuate sections 112a and 112b could abut. For example, burner 16 could be 
redesigned to have a downwardly directed outer lip on flange 68 that could 
provide a surface for contacting arcuate sections 112a and 112b. 
In assembly, the sidewalls 42 of box 40 are initially attached together. 
Next, two burner mounting brackets 74 are attached across opposing 
sidewalls 42. In a separate assembly process, RTV is deposited on metal 
frame 24 to provide adhesive 26, and then glass panel 12 is lowered into 
frame 24 on top of the RTV. Next, the frame 24 is attached to the 
assembled sidewalls 42 after gaskets 72 are positioned between glass panel 
12 and burner mounting brackets 74. The gaskets 70 are next positioned 
surrounding apertures 14 on the top of glass panel 12, and the burners 16 
are inserted down through apertures 14 from the top. Screws are then 
driven up through screw holes 92 in burner mounting bracket to attach 
burner 16 to burner mounting bracket 74. After connecting the controls 
(not shown) and the interconnecting gas pipes 22, bottom 44 is attached to 
sidewalls 42 to complete box 40. Then, before installation, collars 98 are 
seated around the respective burners 16, and the grates 78 are seated on 
the glass panel 12 thereby being fixedly located by collars 98. 
This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments. A reading of 
it by those skilled in the art will bring to mind many alterations and 
modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by 
the appended claims.