Exhaust baffle for kitchen appliance

An exhaust baffle is provided for a domestic appliance. The exhaust baffle includes a support bracket having two tabs, the tabs being configured to slide into engagement with slots formed in the base of the domestic appliance, two support elements, each of the support elements extending from one of the tabs at an angle and having a bearing surface, and a bridging element that extends from the two support elements at an angle, the bridging element connecting the two support elements; a baffle top having a hot gas directing portion that rests on the bearing surfaces of the support bracket and an opening that receives the bridging element; and a baffle bottom having a substantially flat member, the baffle bottom holding the support bracket in the slots when the baffle bottom is in an operating position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an exhaust baffle for a kitchen appliance.

An example of an application for the invention is an exhaust baffle in a domestic kitchen oven that exhausts hot gases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many domestic appliances, such as built in ovens, have a need to exhaust hot gases from either the oven itself, or from around the outside of the oven. This is particularly true of ovens that are built in to a cabinet.

Such ovens can have an exhaust port, or area, that includes a baffle to direct the exhaust gases in a direction that assists in cooling the oven and is least offensive to the user. These baffles can be positioned at the bottom of the oven and, as a result, may need to support a portion of the weight of the oven.

Some exhaust baffle designs provide strength through a multitude of welds or other expensive connections. Some designs also transfer the weight of the oven through a top plate of the baffle, which can require a costly and elaborate structure to avoid unsightly distortion of the top plate.

SUMMARY

The invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide a strong exhaust baffle that is simple and inexpensive to produce and assemble but also provides an attractive appearance.

Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to an exhaust baffle for exhausting hot gas from around a domestic appliance having a base. The exhaust baffle includes a support bracket having two tabs, the tabs being configured to slide into engagement with slots formed in the base of the domestic appliance, two support elements, each of the support elements extending from one of the tabs at a first angle that is greater than zero degrees and having a bearing surface, and a bridging element that extends from the two support elements at a second angle that is greater than zero degrees, the bridging element connecting the two support elements; a baffle top having two opposite ends, a hot gas directing portion that rests on the bearing surfaces of the support bracket, an opening that receives the bridging element, and an attachment bracket at each of the two ends, the attachment brackets each having at least one attachment member that attaches the baffle top to at least one of the baffle bottom and the base of the domestic appliance; and a baffle bottom having a substantially flat member, the baffle bottom holding the support bracket in the slots when the baffle bottom is in an operating position.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to an exhaust baffle/appliance base combination for exhausting hot gas from around a domestic appliance. The combination includes a base of the domestic appliance, the base having slots formed therein; a support bracket having two tabs, the tabs sliding into engagement with the slots formed in the base of the domestic appliance, two support elements, each of the support elements extending from one of the tabs at a first angle that is greater than zero degrees and having a bearing surface, and a bridging element that extends from the two support elements at a second angle that is greater than zero degrees, the bridging element connecting the two support elements; a baffle top having two opposite ends, a hot gas directing portion that rests on the bearing surfaces of the support bracket, an opening that receives the bridging element, and an attachment bracket at each of the two ends, the attachment brackets each having at least one attachment member that attaches the baffle top to at least one of the baffle bottom and the base of the domestic appliance; and a baffle bottom having a substantially flat member, the baffle bottom holding the support bracket in the slots when the baffle bottom is in an operating position.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic appliance that exhausts hot gas. The domestic appliance includes an appliance body including a heat source; a base having slots formed therein; a support bracket having two tabs, the tabs sliding into engagement with the slots formed in the base, two support elements, each of the support elements extending from one of the tabs at a first angle that is greater than zero degrees and having a bearing surface, and a bridging element that extends from the two support elements at a second angle that is greater than zero degrees, the bridging element connecting the two support elements; a baffle top having two opposite ends, a hot gas directing portion that rests on the bearing surfaces of the support bracket, an opening that receives the bridging element, and an attachment bracket at each of the two ends, the attachment brackets each having at least one attachment member that attaches the baffle top to at least one of the baffle bottom and the base of the domestic appliance; and a baffle bottom having a substantially flat member, the baffle bottom holding the support bracket in the slots when the baffle bottom is in an operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

FIG. 1shows an example of a domestic appliance, in this case an oven50, mounted in a cabinet10having a cabinet face20. In this example, an exhaust baffle100is located below oven50for exhausting hot gases from around the oven.

An example of an exhaust baffle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and in particular the assembly of the exhaust baffle, is shown inFIGS. 2-5.

FIGS. 2 and 3show an oven base plate70that can be an integral part of oven50or a plate on which oven50sits. In this example, base plate70is substantially flat with various strengthening features such as, for example, bulges and creases. Hot gases are directed over base plate70and below a body of oven50by a fan or other gas moving device and then out of exhaust baffle100. Base plate70is shown having a plurality of protrusions75that mate with a bottom plate300(described in more detail below). Base plate70also has a plurality of slots80for receiving tabs of one or more support brackets400(an example of a support bracket400is shown in more detail inFIG. 6). In this example, slots80are cut portions of base plate70that are elevated to receive tab460of support bracket400.FIG. 3shows two support brackets400in position on base plate70.

After support brackets400are in position, a bottom plate300slides into position such that it mates with protrusions75. Bottom plate300slides below sides420of support brackets400and holds support brackets400in place by, in this example, pushing tabs460firmly into slots80. Each side420has, in this example, an angled lower edge440that assists in the insertion of bottom plate300. As shown inFIG. 6, this example includes a notch450behind angled lower edge440. Notch450can capture a lip on the edge of bottom plate300to further lock bottom plate300in position. After bottom plate300is in position, it can be held be one or more screws or other fasteners. In this example, bottom plate300is held by two screws inserted horizontally into base plate70.

After support brackets400and bottom plate300are in position, a top plate200is installed as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Top plate200has an upper plate210that is substantially flat in this example with a slight bend to form a slightly downwardly sloping profile. A tab220is provided on each end for attachment of top plate200to bottom plate300and base plate70by way of, in this example, two holes230.FIG. 5shows top plate200in position and ready to be held in position by screws (not shown) in holes230. Upper plate210directs hot gases ejected from baffle100downwardly (in this example) and away from the oven to assist in cooling the oven.

Top plate200has a plurality of cut outs240that allow a bridging element410of each support bracket400to extend through top plate200.

FIG. 6shows an example of support bracket400. In this example, support bracket400is formed from a piece of sheet metal such as, for example, stainless or galvanized steel. Bridging element410of support bracket400connects two substantially vertical (in this example) sides420. Each side420has a tab460extending from it. As discussed above, tabs460slide into slots80of base plate70to correctly position support bracket400. The interaction between tabs460and slots80also hold support bracket400in position vertically.

As shown inFIG. 6, each side420of support bracket400has a bearing surface430that is, in this example, sloped toward the front of support bracket400. Bearing surfaces430provide support for top plate200so that top plate200does not sag along the horizontal direction. This is advantageous because (in this example) top plate200does not bear on bridging element410and the only support other than at the ends of top plate200is provided by bearing surfaces430. Bridging element410supports a portion of the weight of oven50and transmits this weight down onto base plate70. By providing cut outs240in top plate200, top plate200is not subjected to the weight of oven50. This can avoid bending or other unsightly distortion of top plate200.

FIG. 7is a side view of an example of an embodiment of the invention that shows top plate200protruding from cabinet10below oven50.FIG. 7also shows a lip of bottom plate300(shown inFIGS. 2-5) being flush with other trim associated with oven50.

Although the above example is directed to an exhaust baffle for a domestic built in oven, the invention can also be applied to other domestic appliances that need to exhaust gases.