Abstract:
A microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting capacity of a cooking chamber of a microwave oven, including a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber and a second cavity; and an adjustable section for selectively adjusting the capacity of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first and second cavities by being selectively coupled in the body.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application MICROWAVE OVEN filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jan. 21, 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1810/1999. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly to a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting a capacity of a cooking chamber which is defined within an integrally formed case of the microwave oven. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Generally, a microwave oven is a device for cooking food by using microwaves. The microwaves are generated by a magnetron, and are radiated into the food to collide the molecules in the food so that frictional heat is generated to cook the food. There are various types of microwave ovens, and one example is shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the microwave oven includes a body  10  having a box-shaped case  11 , and front and rear panels  12  and  13  which are arranged in front and back of the case  11 , respectively. In the case  11 , a cooking chamber  30  is formed to receive the food to be cooked, and the cooking chamber  30  is opened/closed by a door  20  which is pivotally mounted on one side of the front panel  12 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2A, the cooking chamber  30  formed within the case  11  has a rather sufficient capacity due to the existence of a first cavity  31  which is concaved from an upper side of the case  11 , and a second cavity  32  which is communicated with the first cavity  31 . 
     Then, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the cooking chamber of a reduced capacity, the case  11  is integrally formed in a manner that the space defined by the first cavity  31  is removed, while the space defined by the second cavity  32  remains. Such is shown in FIG.  2 B. 
     Further, the microwave oven includes a device chamber  40  which is defined at an inner side of the microwave oven. In the device chamber  40 , electric components such as a magnetron (not shown) for generating high frequency microwaves, a high voltage transformer  41  for transmitting high voltage to the magnetron, and a high voltage capacitor  42 , etc., and other components such as a fan motor  43  for cooling the heat generated from the respective electric components, etc., are installed. The device chamber  40  is enclosed by an outer panel  50 . 
     Further, in front of the device chamber  40 , a control panel  60  is formed on the front panel  12 , having a plurality of function buttons for inputting user&#39;s commands about cooking functions and operation execution, etc. 
     In the microwave oven constructed as above, the cooking operation begins as the user places the receptacle holding the food to be cooked on a tray in the cooking chamber  30 , and manipulates the function buttons on the control panel  60 . As the cooking operation begins, the microwaves are generated from the magnetron (not shown) in the device chamber  40 , and are radiated into the food through certain processes, to heat/cook the food. 
     The conventional microwave oven, however, has a shortcoming particularly when manufacturing the case for defining the cooking chamber as follows: 
     As shown in FIG. 2A, when manufacturing the cooking chamber  30  with sufficiently large capacity, the second cavity  32  is communicated with the first cavity  31  which is concaved from the upper side of the case  11 . Meanwhile, when manufacturing the cooking chamber  30  with a reduced capacity, the second cavity  31  is removed, and the case  11  is integrally formed as shown in FIG.  2 B. 
     Accordingly, an additional cost is required for molding the case, and the manufacturing cost increases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven capable of selectively adjusting capacities thereof by an adjustable member without having to manufacture cases for the respective capacities. 
     The above object is accomplished by a microwave oven including: a case; a body formed by front and rear panels which are arranged in front/back of the case, the body having a cooking chamber having a first cavity concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber and a second cavity; and adjustable section for selectively adjusting capacities of the cooking chamber by selectively blocking the first and second cavities by being selectively coupled in the body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention, and may of the attendant advantages, thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional microwave oven; 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views of the conventional microwave oven having cooking chambers of different capacities, respectively; 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a microwave oven showing the inner structure of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an adjustable plate employed to adjust the capacities of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the microwave oven having a reduced capacity by the adjustable plate shown in FIG. 4 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a microwave oven showing the inner structure of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an adjustable plate employed to adjust the capacities of the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention. 
     The microwave oven according to the present invention includes a box-shaped case  11 . A cooking chamber  30  is formed within the case  11 . The cooking chamber is defined by a first cavity  31  concaved from an upper side of the cooking chamber  30 , and a second cavity  32 . 
     Further, the cooking chamber  30  has an adjustable section  70  for adjusting the capacities of the cooking chamber  30  by blocking the first cavity  31  from the second cavity  32 . 
     Here, the adjustable section  70  is made of a rectangular adjustable plate  75  of a certain thickness which has substantially the same width as the second cavity  32 . The adjustable plate  75  includes a pair of coupling protrusions  73  protruded from a rear side, and a pair of locking protrusions  74  protruded from the upper surface of the adjustable plate  75  at the front side portion of the adjustable plate  75 . 
     Meanwhile, the second cavity  32  has a pair of coupling holes  71  formed on a rear wall  33  thereof, to receive the pair of coupling protrusions formed on the rear side of the adjustable plate  75 . Further, the second cavity  32  includes a pair of locking holes  72  formed on an upper wall  34  thereof, to receive the pair of locking protrusions  74  protruded from the upper surface of the adjustable plate  75  at the front side portion thereof. 
     Here, the pair of coupling protrusions  73  are supported just by being inserted in the coupling holes  71 . The pair of locking protrusions  74 , however, are forcibly inserted in the pair of locking holes  72 , and accordingly, it is preferable that the pair of locking protrusions  74  are made of wedge-shaped hook members which have a certain elasticity. 
     Although it is depicted as the coupling and locking protrusions  73  and  74  are formed in pairs on the adjustable plate  75 , and the coupling and locking holes  71  and  72  are formed in pairs on the second cavity  32 , the number of coupling and locking protrusions and holes  73 ,  74  and  71 ,  72  can be increased for a greater degree of coupling with the adjustable plate  75 . 
     Also, it is more preferable that the adjustable plate  75  is made of a permeable synthetic resin such as a polypropylene and mica sheet, etc., for permitting an efficient permeation of the microwaves from the magnetron therethrough. At the same time, however, it is also possible that the adjustable plate  75  is made of the same metallic plate as the upper wall  34  of the cooking chamber  30 . 
     Since the operation of the subject microwave oven constructed as above is the same as the operation of the conventional microwave oven, a repetitious description thereof will be omitted, but attention is invited to the unique features of the present invention. 
     First, when manufacturing the case  11  of the subject microwave oven, the second cavity  32  and the first cavity  31  concaved from the second cavity  32  and communicated with the second cavity  32  are made in a manner that the first and second cavities  31  and  32  integrally form the case  11 . 
     A pair of coupling holes  71  are formed on the upper side of the rear wall  33  of the second cavity  32 , and a pair of locking holes  72  are formed on the front side of the upper wall  34 . 
     Next, the rectangular adjustable plate  75  of a certain thickness having substantially the same width as the second cavity  32  is made. Here, a pair of coupling protrusions  73  are protruded from the rear side of the adjustable plate  75  to correspond with the pair of coupling holes  71  formed on the second cavity  32 . Further, on the front side of the adjustable plate  75 , a pair of locking protrusions  74  are protruded to correspond with the pair of locking holes  72  of the second cavity  32 . 
     Accordingly, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the case  11  with a sufficiently large capacity, the microwave oven is forwarded for shipment without employing the adjustable plate  75  therein, in an initial state in which the first and second cavities  31  and  32  integrally form the case  11  by being communicated with each other. 
     Then, when manufacturing the microwave oven having the case  11  with reduced capacity, the adjustable plate  75  is employed in the cooking chamber  30  as the coupling protrusions  73  of the adjustable plate  75  are coupled with the coupling holes  71  of the second cavity  32 , and the locking protrusions  74  are locked in the locking holes  72  of the second cavity  32 . Accordingly, the first cavity  31  is sealed from the second cavity  32 . 
     As a result of employing the adjustable plate  75  in the microwave oven, the capacity of the cooking chamber  30  is decreased, so that the microwave oven having available space within the second cavity  32  only is mass-produced. 
     Accordingly, by integrally forming the case  11  with the first and second cavities  31  and  32 , and by selectively attaching or detaching the adjustable plate  75  in or from the case  11 , the capacity of the cooking chamber  30  is easily adjusted. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the case  11  defining the cooking chamber  30  of the microwave oven is integrally formed, while the capacity thereof is selectively adjustable. Accordingly, an additional cost for molding the case is reduced, and the total manufacturing cost is decreased. 
     Although it is depicted that the capacity of the case  11  of the microwave oven is adjusted by the adjustable plate  75 , which is selectively attached or detached in or from the case during the manufacturing process in the present invention, such is not limited thereto only, but can have modifications such as enabling a user to adjust the capacity of the cooking chamber  30  by himself/herself with the adjustable plate  75  which can be distributed along with the microwave oven, or the like. 
     Further, although it is depicted that the first cavity  31  is formed on the upper wall of the cooling chamber  30 , such is also not limited thereto, but can have modifications such as the first cavity  31  is formed on the rear wall of the cooking chamber  30 , or the like. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.