Abstract:
A burner of a gas cooking appliance is mounted through a turn and lock mechanism established between a support member mounted below a cooktop of the appliance and a holder attached to the burner. More specifically, the holder and support member include interengaging structure, allowing the holder to be initially attached to and then twist secured upon the support member. In addition, locating structure is provided to assure the holder is appropriately positioned for proper alignment of the turn and lock mechanism. Furthermore, upon twisting the holder relative to the support member, locking structure retains the holder in a desired, operational position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to the art of cooking and, more particularly, to a mounting assembly employing a turn and lock feature for securing a gas cooktop burner to support structure. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In the art of cooking, both gas and electric cooktops are commonplace. The cooktop can be provided as part of a range or separately mounted in a countertop. In the case of a gas range, a plurality of burners are mounted at spaced locations about a top of the range. In most cases, the burners are mounted in openings formed in the cooktop. In some designs, the burners can actually be sealed to the cooktop to provide a streamlined appearance to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. In other designs, the burners are generally mounted to structure below the cooktop and project through the openings. For instance, it is known to mount a bracket to a burner box below the cooktop and secure a burner, as well as an end portion of a gas supply line, to the bracket, specifically through the use of a plurality of mechanical fasteners. Although effective and reliable, such a mounting arrangement is quite labor intensive in connection with the overall assembly of the cooking appliance. The invention seeks to address this situation by presenting an alternative burner mounting arrangement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to the mounting of a burner in a gas cooking appliance. More specifically, a turn and lock mechanism is employed for mounting a burner to a support member below a cooktop. The turn and lock mechanism is actually established between the support member and a holder attached to the burner. More specifically, the holder and support member include interengaging structure, allowing the holder to be initially attached to and then twist secured upon the support member. In making this connection, locating structure is provided to assure the holder is appropriately positioned for proper alignment of the overall turn and lock mechanism. Furthermore, upon twisting the holder relative to the support member, locking structure retains the holder in a desired, operational position. 
     In a particular embodiment of the invention, the locating structure is constituted by a locator element which extends into an opening in the support member, with the locator element establishing a rotational axis for the holder. In addition, the turn and lock mechanism includes a pair of spaced, arcuate slots formed in the support member, with each slot having an enlarged diametric portion and a reduced diametric portion. On the other hand, the holder is provided with two spaced projections, such as established by fasteners extending from or molded geometry on the holder. Finally, the locking structure includes a locking member which is received in an opening formed in the support member upon rotation of the holder to the operational position. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a range incorporating the cooktop burner mounting system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bracket forming support structure of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the bracket of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a holder of the mounting system of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view showing an initial mounting position of the holder of  FIG. 4  on the bracket of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top view showing the mounting of the holder in an operational or locked position upon the bracket of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , the present invention is shown incorporated into a cooking appliance generally indicated at  2 . As illustrated, cooking appliance  2  takes the form of a free-standing gas range. Range  2  includes a cabinet  4  having a front panel portion  5 , opposing side panel portions  6 , a bottom portion  7 , a range top  8  and a main back panel  9 . Within the scope of the invention, range top  8  can take on various forms. In the preferred embodiment shown, range top  8  is provided with five gas burner elements  11 - 15 , i.e., four outer quadrant gas burner elements  11 - 14  and a central gas burner element  15 , which are covered by left and right, mirror image burner grates  17  and  18 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, cabinet  4  further includes a front control surface  20  supporting a plurality of control knobs  21 - 25  for controlling the activation/de-activation of gas burners  11 - 15  respectively. Furthermore, cabinet  4  includes an upstanding control panel  30  arranged at an upper rear portion  31  of cabinet  4 . In the embodiment shown, control panel  30  includes a central control and display unit, generally indicated at  35 . Control panel  30  is provided above an exhaust outlet opening  37  extending across upper rear portion  31  and having an associated exhaust deflector  38  for directing an exhaust airflow away from control panel  30  and central control and display  35 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, central control and display  35  is provided for use in controlling an oven  40  of range  2 . Although not fully detailed in this figure, control and display unit  35  includes a first control section  41  for selecting a desired cooking operation for oven  40 . By way of example, control and display unit  35  could enable a user to select between warm, convection bake, bake, convection broil, broil and cleaning operations. In connection with setting desired cooking parameters, control and display unit  35  also includes a second control section  42  which defines a numeric key pad. At this point, it should be realized that the arrangement and features associated with control panel  30  can vary without departing from the invention. For instance, in addition to other standard controls, such as timer and clock setting elements, control panel  30  can provide for other operations known in the art. In any event, control and display unit  35  further includes a central display  44  for conveying information to and verifying input/operational parameters to a user. 
     As depicted, oven  40  includes an oven cavity  45  and has associated therewith a door  50  which can be pivoted by means of a handle  53 . Door  50  preferably includes a plurality of vents  54  arranged behind handle  53  and a window  55  for viewing the contents of oven cavity  45  when door  50  is closed. Arranged below door  50  and extending across cabinet  4  is a lower face panel  58 . 
     In a manner known in the art, range  2  is adapted to be mounted upon a supporting surface, such as a kitchen floor or the like. More specifically, a plurality of leg members, two of which are indicated in  FIG. 1  at  60  and  61 , extend from bottom portion  7  at front and rear portions of cabinet  4 , along side panel  6 . Of course, corresponding leg members  60  and  61  are also provided on the opposing side of range  2 . In any event, the various leg members  60  and  61  are preferably vertically adjustable to also act as levelers for range  2 . Such leg leveler arrangements are widely known in the art of appliances, including ranges, dishwashers and refrigerators. At this point, it should be noted that the above-referenced structure is known in the art and has been shown and described for the sake of completeness. Instead, the invention is actually directed to a mounting system for one or more of burners  11 - 15  for cooktop  8 , particularly a mounting system including a turn and lock mechanism generally indicated at  70  for securing both burner  13  and a gas supply line  72  regulated through control knob  24  as will be more fully discussed below. 
     With reference to an embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the turn and lock mechanism  70  includes a support member in the form of a bracket  80  having base flanges  83  and  84 . Projecting from base flanges  83  and  84  are upstanding legs  86  and  87  respectively. Upstanding legs  86  and  87  are interconnected by an upper cross plate  89 . As shown in these figures, various internal gusset supports, such as that indicated at  92 , can be provided between the base flanges  83  and  84  and upstanding legs  86  and  87 , as well as between upstanding legs  86  and  87  and cross plate  89 . Each of the base flanges  83  and  84  is preferably formed with at least one aperture  95 ,  96  for securing bracket  80  to structure below range top  8 , such as a burner box indicated at  99  in  FIG. 2 . 
     As also shown in these figures, bracket  80  includes a locator opening  102  which is shown to be centrally located in cross plate  89 . Radially spaced from locator opening  102  is a pair of arcuate slots  105  and  106 , with each slot  105 ,  106  including an enlarged diametric portion  109  and a smaller or reduced diametric portion  110 . About reduced diametric portion  110 , cross plate  89  is formed with a concave wall  113  which, as indicated in these figures, extends completely about reduced diametric portion  110  and tapers into enlarged diametric portion  109 . Also arranged along cross plate  89 , at a location spaced from arcuate slots  105  and  106  as well as locator opening  102 , is an arcuate recess  117 . Provided within arcuate recess  117  is a lock opening  119 . 
     As will be detailed more fully below, locator opening  102 , arcuate slots  105  and  106 , arcuate recess  117  and lock opening  119  are used in mounting a respective burner  11 - 15  to range top  8  in conjunction with a holder  126  which will now be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . As illustrated, holder  126  includes a main body portion  129  from which project a pair of side flanges  133  and  134 . Each side flange  133 ,  134  is provided with an associated mounting boss  137  having a bore  138 . Main body portion  129  also includes a central boss  141  which terminates in a locking member  142 . Adjacent locking member  142  is a further mounting boss  143  including a through hole  144 . As will be more detailed more fully below, the mounting bosses  137  in the side flanges  133  and  134 , as well as the mounting boss  143 , are used to attach a respective burner  11 - 15  to holder  126 . Depending upon the size of the burner  11 - 15 , mechanical fasteners (not shown) are provided to extend through at least the bore  138  of each mounting boss  137  and, typically for larger size burners such as burner  12 , an additional mechanical fastener (not shown) also extends within through hole  144  of mounting boss  143  such that the respective burner  11 - 15  is fixedly secured to holder  126 . 
     Extending from main body portion  129  of holder  126  is a cantilevered extension  145 . As shown, extension  145  is split or bifricated so as to define arms  147  and  148 . Between arms  147  and  148  are established mounting ports  149  and  150 . Although not shown in this figure, ports  149  and  150  are utilized to secure one or more igniters for the respective gas burner  11 - 15  secured to holder  126 . 
     As also shown in this figure, holder  126  is formed with central port  153  extending into main body portion  129  between side flanges  133  and  134 . Central port  153  is configured to receive gas supply line  72 . In addition, holder  126  includes a wing  160  extending from main body portion  129 . Wing  160  has extending therefrom a locating element  163  and, spaced from locating element  163 , is provided a pair of projections  168  and  169 . In the embodiment illustrated, projections  168  and  169  are established by mechanical fasteners secured to wing  160 . However, as holder  126  is preferably molded of plastic, it is equally possible to integrally form projections  168  and  169  as molded geometry of holder  126 . 
     As indicated above, bracket  80  and holder  126  combine to establish turn and lock mechanism  70  and are used in combination to mount a respective one of burners  11 - 15  to range top  8 . This overall mounting arrangement is designed to minimize the labor associated with mounting burners  11 - 15  and to establish a mounting system which will not only enable technicians to readily remove a given burner  11 - 15  from range top  8  for servicing purposes but also ease in overall assembly process during the manufacture of cooking appliance  2 . With this in mind, reference will be made to  FIGS. 5 and 6  in describing the interaction between bracket  80  and holder  126  when mounting a given burner  11 - 15 . With initial reference to  FIG. 5 , holder  126  is initially positioned upon bracket  80  such that locating element  163  is received within locator opening  102 , while projections  168  and  169  are received within a respective enlarged diametric portion  109  of a respective arcuate slot  105 ,  106 . At this point, it should initially be recognized that one of burners  11 - 15  would first be mounted to holder  126  in the manner described above prior to mounting holder  126  on bracket  80 . The particular burner  11 - 15  has not been shown in these figures for clarity purposes and to enable better characterization of the turn and lock mechanism of the invention. In any case, along with locating element  163  being received within locator opening  102 , locking member  142  also becomes positioned within arcuate recess  117 . 
     Once in the configuration described above, holder  126  can be rotated relative to bracket  80 , with locating element  163  establishing a rotational axis for holder  126 . Therefore, with locating element  163  rotating within locator opening  102 , projections  168  and  169  will be led from the enlarged diametric portion  109  to the reduced diametric portion  110  of a respective arcuate slot  105 ,  106 . As projections  168  and  169  move toward a respective reduced diametric portion  110 , an engagement is made between each projection  168  and  169  and a respective concave wall  113  which causes holder  126  to actually be drawn against bracket  80 . At the same time, locking member  142  will shift within arcuate recess  117  toward lock opening  119 . Continued rotation of holder  126  causes projections  168  and  169  to be fully positioned and retained within a respective reduced diametric portion  110 , at which point lock element  142  reaches and extends into lock opening  119  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the cooktop burner mounting system of the invention enables a gas burner, as well as its associated gas supply line, to be mounted to a cooktop with a minimal amount of labor, yet establishes a reliable connection while enabling the burner to be conveniently removed for replacement or other purposes. Although described with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily apparent that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, it should be noted that, although the invention has been described in connection with mounting burners to a range top, the invention is equally applicable for use in mounting burners to support structure fixed below any type of cooktop. In addition, it should be recognized that some or all of the interengaging elements between the support structure and the holder could be reversed. For example, the locking member and locating element could be provided on the support structure and be received in openings provided in the holder while still performing the desired turn and lock functions. Furthermore, although a separate bracket mounted to a burner box has been illustrated for purposes describing the invention, the support structure could take other forms. In particular, the bracket need not be formed as a separate element but could be integrated into the burner box itself such that the burner box actually establishes the bracket and the holder is mounted directly onto the burner box. Alternatively, other support structure, such as cross rails, could be utilized, particularly if a hard tool burner box is not employed. Therefore, it is simply important to note that the mounting system of the invention includes support structure fixed below a cooktop. In any event, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.