Cooking appliance with side opening retractable door

An appliance may include an appliance door configured to selectively open and close a cavity of the appliance. The door may be side-opening and retractable into a door storage space situated laterally adjacent to the appliance cavity. The door may be arrested in alignment with a track in the door storage space by an abutment portion of the door, and transitioned into the door storage space on rollers engaged with a track.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to cooking appliances having side-opening doors.

INTRODUCTION

Cooking appliances have developed since antiquity to provide a better experience for their users. These developments have occurred in nearly every aspect of the appliance, from the cooking cavity itself to the heating source used. Modern cooking appliances have developed several key features that provide a safer environment and a more efficient use of space.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods relating to cooking appliances having side-opening doors.

In some embodiments, an appliance may include: an appliance body having a cavity formed therein; a side-opening appliance door configured to selectively cover the cavity by pivoting between an open position and a closed position on a vertically-oriented hinge; a door storage space having an open mouth disposed at a lateral side of the appliance body; a roller assembly coupled to the hinge of the appliance door and having one or more rollers engaged with a track disposed in the door storage space; wherein the appliance door includes an abutment portion configured to pivot with the door and to arrest opening of the door by physically contacting the hinge when the door is aligned with the track of the door storage space, such that the appliance door is transitionable into and out of the door storage space along a path defined by the track.

In some embodiments, an appliance may include: an appliance body; a side-opening appliance door coupled to the appliance body and rotatable on a vertically-oriented hinge; a door storage space having an open mouth disposed on a lateral side of the appliance body; and a roller assembly coupled to the hinge of the appliance door and having one or more rollers engaged with a track disposed in the door storage space; wherein the appliance door is transitionable between a closed configuration, in which a rear face of the appliance door is disposed against a front face of the appliance body, and a fully open configuration, in which the appliance door is oriented in alignment with the track, and further transitionable between the fully open configuration and a stowed configuration, in which the door is inserted into the door storage space along the track; and wherein the appliance door is arrested in the fully open configuration by an abutment portion of the door coming into contact with the vertical hinge.

In some embodiments, a method for operating a door of a cooking appliance may include: opening a side-opening door of a cooking appliance, wherein the door has a vertical hinge, until the door is substantially orthogonal to a front face of the cooking appliance and is arrested by a portion of the door coming into contact with the hinge; and applying a first force aligned with a plane of the door to cause the door to travel in a first direction along a path defined by a track guiding a roller assembly coupled to the door hinge, such that the door is inserted into a door storage space on a lateral side of the cooking appliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This Detailed Description includes the following sections, which follow immediately below: (1) Definitions; (2) Overview; (3) Examples, Components, and Alternatives; (4) Advantages, Features, and Benefits; and (5) Conclusion. The Examples, Components, and Alternatives section is further divided into subsections A through C, each of which is labeled accordingly.

Definitions

“AKA” means “also known as,” and may be used to indicate an alternative or corresponding term for a given element or elements.

“Resilient” describes a material or structure configured to respond to normal operating loads (e.g., when compressed) by deforming elastically and returning to an original shape or position when unloaded.

Directional terms such as “up,” “down,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like should be understood in the context of the particular object in question. For example, an object may be oriented around defined X, Y, and Z axes. In those examples, the X-Y plane will define horizontal, with up being defined as the positive Z direction and down being defined as the negative Z direction.

Overview

In general, a cooking appliance, e.g., an oven, in accordance with the present teachings may include an outer housing and an inner cavity, wherein a door storage space between the inner cavity and the outer housing is configured to receive a door of the appliance when in a retracted configuration. The door is disposed on a front face of the appliance, and is configured to close the inner cavity. The door is transitionable between a first position, external to the cavity and the housing, and a second position, where the door is disposed inside the door storage space, utilizing a hinge-roller assembly and a track. The track is mounted in the door storage space, such that the track is disposed external to the insulation of the inner cavity but inside the outer housing of the appliance. In some examples, the door storage space may be disposed in a wall of a building (e.g., when the oven is a wall oven). The track may be mounted directly to the outer housing.

During normal operation, the door is extended (i.e., unretracted) and pivotable about an axis of rotation defined by a vertical hinge, such that a user may open and close the door as desired. In a storage configuration (i.e., when the door is retracted), the door storage space houses the door inconspicuously and provides the user with unimpeded access to the inner cavity and the space around the cavity opening. The door of an appliance can become an easy point of injury when heated, and unimpeded access to and around the inner cavity provides a safer alternative to leaving the door open and extending into the human-occupied space.

The full operating range of the door is provided by way of the hinge-roller assembly and the track. The hinge-roller assembly includes a body or carriage having rollers that ride in channels of the track. The hinge is coupled to an outermost side of the hinge-roller assembly, such that as the assembly is retracted into the appliance, the hinge is the last piece of the assembly to enter the door storage space (before the door).

The hinge-roller assembly is seated in the tracks such that the entire assembly can retract into the space between the inner cavity and the outer housing. The door is attached to the hinge-roller assembly via the hinge. This allows the door to rotate fully open, and when fully opened, to translate along a linear path defined by the tracks. The retracting motion of the door may be manually effected, or may be automated, semi-automated, or assisted with a biasing mechanism (e.g. springs, pneumatics, etc.). The biasing mechanism may be contained within the track, coupled to the door, coupled to the hinge-roller assembly, or disposed in any suitable place inside or outside the appliance.

Transitioning of the door between positions may be locked or selectively impeded with a locking mechanism, such that the door is restricted to one (or more) positions. The locking mechanism may be engaged through the use of friction locks, user-engaged pins, or any other suitable mechanism. The locking mechanism may be contained within the track, coupled to the housing of the appliance, coupled to the door, or disposed in any suitable place inside or outside the appliance.

Appliances described herein may include a damping system configured to control rotational motion of the door e.g., to prevent damage or injury. This damping system may include a shock absorber or spring configured to dampen motion of the door as it closes or opens, so the door is prevented from slamming and/or placing excess stress on the hinge mechanism. The damping system may be incorporated into the hinge, coupled to the door, or disposed in any other suitable place inside or outside the appliance. In some examples, a second damping system may be provided to control the translational motion of the door as it slides into and/or out of the door storage space. This second damping system may be incorporated in the track, coupled to the door, or disposed in any other suitable place inside or outside the appliance.

The following sections describe selected aspects of a side opening, retracting appliance door as well as related systems and/or methods. The examples in these sections are intended for illustration and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Each section may include one or more distinct embodiments or examples, and/or contextual or related information, function, and/or structure.

A. Illustrative Cooking Appliance with a Side Opening, Retracting Door

As shown inFIGS. 1-6, this section relates to a cooking appliance having a side opening door configured to retract into the appliance.

FIG. 1is a front elevation view of an illustrative one-door, side opening appliance100. A heat insulated inner cavity102(seeFIG. 2) may be configured to be mounted inside an outer housing103, wherein inner cavity102has a front face104with a front opening which allows a user access to inner cavity102. Front face104may include a frame130having a plurality of vents disposed thereon and an opening or slot132formed in a lateral portion of front face104(seeFIG. 2). Frame130may be configured to adjoin outer housing103to form a front face of appliance100.

Appliance100may have a heat insulated door106disposed across the front opening of inner cavity102which closes the inner cavity. Door106comprises a body108, a handle110, and a viewing window112. Inner cavity102may have support grooves114(seeFIG. 2) on the inner side-walls, e.g., to support cooking racks (not shown).

FIG. 2is a front oblique isometric view of appliance100. Door106may be coupled to and pivotable about a hinge116. Hinge116defines an operable range of rotation of door106about a rotational axis, and may be coupled to a hinge-roller assembly120. Hinge-roller assembly120may further comprise a body118and a plurality of rollers134. Body118and rollers134may be referred to as a roller carriage.

Body118of hinge-roller assembly120may include a plate, a bracket, multiple plates, or any other suitable support structure on which hinge116and rollers134may be mounted. Door106may be transitionable between a plurality of unretracted positions about the rotational axis, including a closed position124and an opened position126(seeFIG. 3). Hinge-roller assembly120may be disposed in slot132when door106is in positions124and126(or between the two). Hinge116may include a spring or other biasing mechanism configured to bias door106against unintentionally opening. Alternatively or additionally, hinge116may bias door106against unintentionally closing.

Door body108may include one or more abutment portions128adjacent hinge116and configured to abut one or more portions of hinge116when door106is in the fully opened position, thereby arresting further movement. Abutment portions128are configured to keep door106from rotating beyond a position that is substantially aligned with the path formed by tracks138. Abutment portions128may include any suitable structure configured to arrest motion of door106by contacting hinge116and/or front face104. In this example, abutment portions128are formed by recesses or cutouts in door body108, such that a rear side of the front face or panel of door body108is exposed. The recesses or cutouts in body108are configured to receive the knuckles of hinge116, such that the abutment portions lie substantially flat along (or adjacent to) a tangent line of each hinge knuckle. In the present embodiment, two abutment portions128are formed on the corners of door106, adjacent hinge116. Alternatively, or additionally, more or fewer abutment portions128may be formed at any point along the hinge-side edge of door106. In some examples, the abutment portion includes the entire hinge-side edge of door106, i.e., formed as a single stopping surface.

As door106is transitioned from closed position124to open position126, abutment portions128follow the rotational axis of hinge116and forms a tangent plane with respect to the contour of the hinge knuckle. As door106reaches the open position126, the abutment portions contact the hinge knuckles and mechanically halt the transition of door106, preventing continued rotation of door106. When in opened position126, abutment portions128restrict the door from opening beyond a position substantially perpendicular to front face104.

Slot132is an opening to (or mouth of) a door storage space136disposed between inner cavity102and outer housing103. Two or more tracks138(also referred to as track portions) may be disposed inside door storage space136. A plurality of rails140are disposed on each track138. Tracks138may be mounted to inner cavity102and/or outer housing103. In some embodiments a single track may be used. Hinge-roller assembly120may be seated in tracks138, such that rollers134are seated in rails140; wherein the rollers134and rails140facilitate the translational motion of door106along a linear axis and define the operable range of translation of door106.

FIG. 3is an isometric view of door106in opened position126. In opened position126, door106, hinge-roller assembly120, and tracks138align in a generally coplanar fashion, such that door106is retractable into door storage space136along a path formed by the channels of the track portions. In some embodiments, hinge116may be a friction hinge, spring hinge, or other type of hinge configured such that door106is held in opened position126to allow retraction while inhibiting unwanted motion along the rotational axis. In opened position126, the front opening is unobstructed, providing access to inner cavity102.

FIG. 4is an isometric view of door106in a retracted position144. In retracted position144, the living space in front of appliance100is unobstructed and the user has a lower risk of contacting door106. Hinge-roller assembly120may retract fully into door storage space136, allowing door106to enter door storage space136. When in retracted position144, movement of door106about the hinge may be inhibited.

Door storage space136may be formed such that door106only partially enters door storage space136when in retracted position144, while handle110remains outside of door storage space136. This allows the user easy access to handle110to pull door106out of retracted position144, e.g., when ready to transition door106back to closed position124. In some embodiments, there may be a temporary locking mechanism that locks door106in retracted position144such that unwanted motion of door106along the linear axis may be discouraged. This locking mechanism may include, for example, indentations in rails140that hold rollers134in place while door106is in retracted position144.

FIG. 5is a rear oblique isometric view of appliance100further showing rollers134seated in rails140. Rollers134and rails140may be configured such that the weight of door106is supported across multiple rails.

FIG. 6is an exploded view of hinge-roller assembly120, door106, tracks138, and inner cavity102depicted from a rear oblique perspective. Each member of the plurality of rollers134may have an associated axle bearing142disposed therein to facilitate low-friction rotation of rollers134.

This section describes steps of an illustrative method700for retracting an appliance door into a door storage space; seeFIG. 7. Aspects of the cooking appliance with a side-opening, retracting door described in the previous section may be utilized in the method steps described below. Where appropriate, reference may be made to components and systems that may be used in carrying out each step. These references are for illustration, and are not intended to limit the possible ways of carrying out any particular step of the method.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating steps performed in an illustrative method, and may not recite the complete process or all steps of the method. Although various steps of method700are described below and depicted inFIG. 7, the steps need not necessarily all be performed, and in some cases may be performed simultaneously or in a different order than the order shown.

At step702, the door of a cooking appliance (e.g., an oven) is transitioned from a closed position to an opened position. This transition includes rotating the door about a substantially vertical hinge. The door and hinge are external to the appliance such that the radial path traced by the door as it transitions from the closed position to the opened position is entirely external to the appliance and defines a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the appliance. When in the opened position, the door aligns with a linear path defined by a track, wherein the track is disposed within a door storage space internal to the appliance. The inner cavity of the appliance is accessible to a user. The door may be stopped from opening beyond a position perpendicular to a face of the appliance, e.g., by one or more abutment portions configured to mechanically halt action of the door in the opening direction.

At step704, the door is pushed into the door storage space, guided by the track disposed within the space. The door may only partially enter the door storage space, such that a handle on the door remains outside the door storage space to be available to the user.

At step706, the door is pulled out of the door storage space, guided by the track disposed within the space. The door is pulled out of the appliance until the entire door and hinge are positioned external to the door storage space and the door and hinge are aligned with the path defined by the track.

At step708, the door is transitioned from the opened position to the closed position by pivoting about the hinge. The rotational motion of the door is similar to step702, though applied in reverse. When in the closed position, the inner cavity of the appliance is closed. The steps of method700may then be repeated if desired.

C. Illustrative Combinations and Additional Examples

This section describes additional aspects and features of a side-opening appliance with a retracting door, presented without limitation as a series of paragraphs, some or all of which may be alphanumerically designated for clarity and efficiency. Each of these paragraphs can be combined with one or more other paragraphs, and/or with disclosure from elsewhere in this application, in any suitable manner. Some of the paragraphs below expressly refer to and further limit other paragraphs, providing without limitation examples of some of the suitable combinations.

A1. A cooking appliance comprising:

an outer housing having a front face with an opening;

an inner cavity contained within the housing;

a door storage space separating the inner cavity from the outer housing, wherein the opening of the inner cavity and the opening of the outer housing align such that the inner cavity is accessible through the opening of the outer housing,

a hinge-roller assembly which includes a body having rollers and a hinge which defines an axis of rotation attached thereon,

a track having rails configured to mate with the rollers disposed in the door storage space defining a linear axis;

wherein the hinge-roller assembly mounts to the track and follows the linear axis, and

a door configured to transition from a closed position to an open position;

wherein the door is attached to the hinge-roller assembly via the hinge such that the door, from the opened position, can be retracted into the door storage space along the linear axis defined by the track.

A2. The appliance of paragraph A1, wherein the door is side-opening.

A3. The appliance of paragraph A1, wherein the appliance is wall-mounted with the outer housing mounted inside a wall cavity.

A4. The appliance of paragraph A1, wherein the hinge acts as a biasing mechanism to hold the door in the closed position until sufficient force in applied to overcome the bias.

A5. The appliance of paragraph A1, wherein there is a locking mechanism that locks the door in the door storage space.

A6. The appliance of paragraph A3, wherein the locking mechanism is a potential well embodied as indentations in the rails that seat the rollers.

B0. A method of retracting an appliance door into a door storage space contained within a cooking appliance, the method comprising: transitioning the door from a closed position to an open position along a radial path defined by a hinge; and pushing the door along a linear path into the door storage space.

B2. The method of paragraph B0, wherein the door is side-opening.

B3. The method of paragraph B0, wherein the appliance is wall-mounted.

an appliance body having a cavity formed therein;

a side-opening appliance door configured to selectively cover the cavity by pivoting between an open position and a closed position on a vertically-oriented hinge;

a door storage space having an open mouth disposed at a lateral side of the appliance body;

a roller assembly coupled to the hinge of the appliance door and having one or more rollers engaged with a track disposed in the door storage space;

wherein the appliance door includes an abutment portion configured to pivot with the door and to arrest opening of the door by physically contacting the hinge when the door is aligned with the track of the door storage cavity, such that the appliance door is transitionable into and out of the door storage space along a path defined by the track.

C1. The appliance of C0, wherein the appliance comprises a wall-mounted oven.

C2. The appliance of C0, wherein the abutment portion comprises a front plate of the appliance door.

C3. The appliance of C2, wherein the abutment portion comprises a flat surface formed by a cutout portion of the appliance door exposing the front plate of the appliance door to the hinge.

C4. The appliance of C0, wherein the track comprises two parallel track portions, each track portion having an upper and a lower channel.

C5. The appliance of C4, wherein the plurality of rollers are guided by the upper and lower channels of each track portion.

C6. The appliance of C0, wherein the hinge comprises a pair of hinge knuckles disposed in corresponding cutouts of the appliance door.

C7. The appliance of C0, wherein the door is orthogonal to a front face of the appliance when aligned with the track of the door storage space.

C8. The appliance of C0, wherein the track has a C-shaped cross section.

C9. The appliance of C0, wherein a front plate of the appliance door extends over and hides the vertical hinge when the appliance door is in a closed position.

D0. A method for operating a door of a cooking appliance, the method comprising:

opening a side-opening door of a cooking appliance, wherein the door has a vertical hinge, until the door is substantially orthogonal to a front face of the cooking appliance and is arrested by a portion of the door coming into contact with the hinge; and

applying a first force aligned with a plane of the door to cause the door to travel in a first direction along a path defined by a track guiding a roller assembly coupled to the door hinge, such that the door is inserted into a door storage space on a lateral side of the cooking appliance.

D1. The method of D0, wherein the portion of the door that comes into contact with the hinge comprises a front plate of the door.

D2. The method of D1, wherein the front plate of the door is exposed to the hinge by a cutout in a body of the door.

D3. The method of D0, further comprising applying a second force aligned with the plane of the door to cause the door to travel in a second direction along the path defined by the track guiding the roller assembly coupled to the door hinge, such that the door is removed from the door storage space.

D4. The method of D0, wherein a handle of the door remains outside the door storage space when the door is inserted into the door storage space.

an appliance body;

a side-opening appliance door coupled to the appliance body and rotatable on a vertically-oriented hinge;

a door storage space having an open mouth disposed on a lateral side of the appliance body;

a roller assembly coupled to the hinge of the appliance door and having one or more rollers engaged with a track disposed in the door storage space;

wherein the appliance door is transitionable between a closed configuration, in which a rear face of the appliance door is disposed against a front face of the appliance body, and a fully open configuration, in which the appliance door is oriented in alignment with the track, and further transitionable between the fully open configuration and a stowed configuration, in which the door is inserted into the door storage space along the track;

wherein the appliance door is arrested in the fully open configuration by an abutment portion of the door coming into contact with the vertical hinge.

E1. The appliance of E0, wherein the door is oriented orthogonal to the front face of the appliance body when in the fully open configuration.

E2. The appliance of E0, wherein the track includes a track portion having a C-shaped cross section.

E3. The appliance of E0, wherein the appliance comprises a wall-mounted oven.

E4. The appliance of E0, wherein the abutment portion comprises a front plate of the appliance door.

E5. The appliance of E4, wherein the abutment portion comprises a flat surface formed by a cutout portion of the appliance door exposing the front plate of the appliance door to the hinge.

E6. The appliance of E0, wherein the track comprises two parallel track portions, each track portion having an upper and a lower channel.

E7. The appliance of E6, wherein the plurality of rollers are guided by the upper and lower channels of each track portion.

E8. The appliance of E0, wherein the hinge comprises a pair of hinge knuckles disposed in corresponding cutouts of the appliance door.

E9. The appliance of E0, wherein a front plate of the appliance door extends over and hides the vertical hinge when the appliance door is in a closed position.

Advantages, Features, and Benefits

The different embodiments and examples of the described herein provide several advantages over known solutions for a side-opening appliance door that is configured to retract into an appliance. For example, illustrative embodiments and examples described herein allow the inner cavity of an appliance to be completely unobstructed for a user to access.

Additionally, and among other benefits, illustrative embodiments and examples described herein allow a wall-mounted appliance to be installed in a smaller area considering the door, when retracted, does not obstruct the region directly in front of the appliance.

Additionally, and among other benefits, illustrative embodiments and examples described herein allow the user reduced risk of burns from accidental contact with the door considering the door is housed in the door storage space while the user accesses the inner cavity of the appliance.

No known system or device can perform these functions. However, not all embodiments and examples described herein provide the same advantages or the same degree of advantage.

CONCLUSION