Patent Publication Number: US-2022221158-A1

Title: Cooking appliance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0003629, filed on Jan. 11, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0013615, filed on Jan. 29, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance, and specifically, a cooking appliance provided with a cooktop part and an oven part together. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cooking appliances are installed in the kitchen and used to cook food as a user wants. Such cooking appliances can fall into different categories, based on a heat source or a type, and the sort of fuel. 
     Additionally, cooking appliances can be categorized into an open cooking appliance in which food is placed in an open space, and a sealed cooking appliance in which food is placed in a closed space, based on a way of cooking food. The sealed cooking appliance includes an oven, a microwave oven and the like, and the open cooking appliance includes a cooktop, a hob, a gridle and the like. 
     In the sealed cooking appliance, a space, in which food is placed, is shielded, and the shielded space is heated to cook food. The sealed cooking appliance is provided with a cooking space in which food is placed and which is shielded when the food is cooked. The cooking space is a space in which food is substantially cooked. 
     Sealed cooking appliances are classified into gas ovens and electric ovens based on the type of a heat source. Gas ovens use gas as a fuel and cook food using flames that is generated as a result of the ignition of a plurality of burners which burns gas supplied to them. Unlike gas ovens, electric ovens use electricity as a heat source and cook food using heat that is emitted from a plurality of heaters as the plurality of heaters operates. 
     A sealed cooking appliance is provided with door that selectively opens and closes a cooking space in a swivable manner. The door is disposed at a main body in a swivable manner through a door hinge disposed between the main body having the cooking space therein and the door, and swivels around a portion in which the door is coupled to the main body to selectively open and close the cooking space. 
     A heat source is disposed in an inner space of the cooking space opened and closed by the door, to heat the cooking space. The heat source includes a gas burner or an electric heater and the like. 
     The sealed cooking appliance is provided with an exhaust duct. The exhaust duct is provided to discharge exhaust gas, which is generated in the cooking space during the process of cooking food, out of the cooking appliance. 
     The exhaust duct&#39;s lower end portion connects to the upper portion of the cooking space, and the exhaust duct&#39;s upper end is disposed at the upper side of the rear surface of the cooking appliance. Exhaust gas generated in the cooking space is suctioned into the exhaust duct connected to the upper portion of the cooking space and flows upward, and is discharged upward from the rear surface of the cooking appliance through a vent grille disposed aabove the exhaust duct. 
     The vent grille is provided with at least one exhaust hole through the exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust duct passes, and the exhaust hole is formed in a way that passes through the vent grille vertically. 
     In recent years, a combination cooking appliance has been suggested. In the combination cooking appliance, a sealed cooking appliance and an open cooking appliance are installed together, and a plurality of heat sources are combined, such that various types of food items are cooked and a plurality of food items is cooked at the same time. A cooking appliance provided with a plurality of heat sources has a path of cool air used for cooling the plurality of heat sources and electronic components. 
     In the combination cooking appliance, an open cooking appliance is disposed on a sealed cooking appliance. The open cooking appliance is provided with a plurality of heaters or burners such that a plurality of food items can be cooked at the same time. 
     That is, when a user barbecues a food item or bakes bread and the like, or roasts fish, the user uses the sealed cooking appliance. Additionally, when the user puts a food item in a container to heat the food item, the user uses the open cooking appliance to cook the food item. 
     One of the commonly-used open cooking appliances is a gas range-type open cooking appliance, and the gas range-type open cooking appliance uses flame, which is generated as gas is burned by a burner, to cook a food item. 
     The burner disposed in the open cooking appliance ordinarily includes a burner body, a burner head, and a burner head cap. 
     The burner body having a flaw path for supplying gas is fixed to a cooktop case forming the exterior of the open cooking appliance, the burner head for discharging gas supplied through the path is disposed in the upper portion of/on the burner body, and the burner head cap is disposed on the burner head. 
     The burner body can be provided with a gas supply pipe for supplying gas, and a nozzle for spraying gas and the like. The burner head can be disposed on the upper surface of a member that defines the upper surface of the open cooking appliance, i.e., a top plate, and the burner head cap can be mounted onto the upper side of the burner head. 
     In the combination cooking appliance, the vent grille is ordinarily disposed at the upper side of the rear surface of the open cooking appliance. For example, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct can be disposed on the rear surface of the open cooking appliance while passing through the top plate, and the vent grille can be disposed in the upper portion of the top plate, i.e., in the upper portion of the rear surface of the top plate. 
     A rear cover is provided to cover the rear surface of the sealed cooking appliance and the rear surface of the open cooking appliance. The rear cover protects electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and forms the rear exterior of the combination cooking appliance. 
     The rear cover can be coupled to the open cooking appliance behind the top plate, and a space for installing the electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance is formed between the main body of the sealed cooking appliance and the rear cover of the sealed cooking appliance, and between the main body of the sealed cooking appliance and the cooktop case of the open cooking appliance. The space formed between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance is open upward. 
     The vent grille is disposed to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate, including the area in which the exhaust duct is installed, from above. The vent grille can also cover a portion being open upward in the space between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance, i.e., a gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover, from above. Accordingly, a space surrounded by the vent grille, the top plate and the rear cover is formed in the vent grille. 
     In the structure, water or foreign substances can enter the space in the vent grille through an exhaust hole of the vent grille. The water or foreign substances having entered the space in the vent grille can enter the space formed between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance through the gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover. 
     The water or the foreign substances having entered through the gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover can cause failure of the electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance or an accident. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     KR Patent Publication No. 10-1999-0031387 (titled Door Packing for Gas Oven Range) 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problems 
     The present disclosure is directed to a cooking appliance that effectively prevents water or foreign substances from entering electronic components disposed in a space formed between a rear surface of the cooking appliance and a rear cover thereof. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that blocks water or foreign substances from coming through a gap formed between a top plate and the rear cover. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that helps to cool a display disposed on a control panel effectively. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that prevents hot air discharged from a door from affecting the display and helps to cool the display effectively. 
     Technical Solutions 
     To achieve the above aims, a cooking appliance of one embodiment includes a cavity having a cooking space therein, a top plate covering an upper portion of the cavity to form an upper space between the top plate and the cavity, and a rear cover covering a rear of the cavity to form a rear space between the rear cover and the cavity, where an upper end opening is formed between the cavity and the rear cover and opens the rear space upward behind the upper space, and the top plate connects to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above. 
     A cooking appliance according to one aspect may include an oven part including a cavity having a cooking space therein; a cooktop part including a top plate covering an upper portion of the cavity to form an upper space between the top plate and the cavity, and at least one cooktop heating part at least partially disposed in the upper space; a rear cover covering rears of the oven part and the cooktop part to form a rear space between the rear cover and the oven part; an exhaust opening disposed between the cooktop heating part and the rear cover and formed in a way that passes through the top plate vertically; a vent grille covering the exhaust opening in an upper portion of the top plate, and an upper end opening may be formed between the cavity and the rear cover and open the rear space upward behind the upper space, and the top plate may connect to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above. 
     The top plate may include a main plate disposed in an upper portion of the upper space and covering the upper space from above; and an extension plate extended rearward from the main plate and covering the upper end opening from above, for example. 
     The main plate and the extension plate may connect as the same surface and cover the upper space and the upper end opening from above, for example. 
     The extension plate may be coupled to the rear cover behind a cooktop case, and the vent grille may have a vent hole that is formed in a way that passes through the vent grille vertically, for example. 
     At least a portion of the main plate may be exposed to an upper portion of the vent grille through the vent hole, for example. 
     At least a portion of the main plate, exposed to the upper portion of the vent grille through the vent hole, and the extension plate may connect to cover the upper space and a gap from above, for example. 
     According to the present disclosure, the top plate further may further include a coupling part extended from the extension plate and coupled to the rear cover, for example. 
     The coupling part may extend from the extension plate in a direction parallel with the rear cover, and the coupling part may be coupled to the rear cover while contacting the rear cover in a front-rear direction, for example. 
     The main plate and the extension plate may connect as the same surface while the main plate, the extension plate, and the coupling part are integrated, and the coupling part may extend downward from an end portion of a rear of the extension plate, for example. 
     According to the present disclosure, the cooking appliance may further include a door disposed at a front of the cavity and configured to open and close the cooking space; and a control panel provided with a display disposed on the door, for example. 
     Additionally, a path for a flow of air may be formed in the door, a discharge hole for opening the path to an upper portion of the door may be formed on the upper surface of the door, facing the control panel, and the control panel may further include a control panel cover that accommodates the display while closing between the discharge hole and the display, for example. 
     The cooking appliance may further include a cooling fan that generates an air flow passing through the upper space, and a space in which the display is accommodated and the upper space may connect to each other, for example. 
     An upper end opening may be formed between the cavity and the rear cover and open a rear space upward behind the upper space, for example. 
     The top plate may connect to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above, for example. 
     The cooling fan may be surrounded by the top plate, the rear cover and the cavity and disposed in a sealed space, for example. 
     According to the present disclosure, the cooking appliance further may include a front panel disposed between the cavity and the door, at least a portion of the front panel blocking a front of the upper space, the front panel may have an intake opening, and the cooling fan may suction air into the upper space through the intake opening and discharge the air having passed through the upper space through the exhaust opening, for example. 
     The cooling fan may be disposed in the upper space, behind the cooktop heating part, for example. 
     At least one of an electronic component for supplying power, an electronic component for a lighting device, an electronic component for a convection part, and an electronic component for supplying gas may be disposed in the rear space, and the top plate may cover the electronic component disposed in the rear space from above, for example. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In a cooking appliance according to the present disclosure, water or foreign substances having fallen onto the upper portion of the cooking appliance through a vent grille may be blocked from entering electronic components disposed in a space formed between the rear surface of the cooking appliance and a rear cover thereof, thereby preventing failure of the electronic components, caused by the water or foreign substances, effectively. 
     In the cooking appliance, a top plate may directly connect to the rear cover while covering an upper end opening from above, thereby effectively preventing water from entering the upper end opening formed between the top plate and the rear cover. 
     In the cooking appliance, as a result of the coupling between the top plate and the rear cover, the upper end opening near a cooling fan may be sealed, thereby efficiently increasing the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan and effectively cooling a display disposed on a control panel. 
     In the cooking appliance, the intensity of air current for cooling may increase such that the display cools effectively although a cooling hole is not formed in the lower portion of the control panel, thereby blocking hot air discharged from a door from affecting the display and effectively cooling the display. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments in the disclosure, and together with the specification, explain the disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing a cooking appliance of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral cross-sectional view showing an inner configuration of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear perspective view showing a portion of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a vent grille in  FIG. 5  is separated; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view showing a portion of a rear of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the rear of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2  without a rear cover; 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing a flow of water in a cooking appliance of the related art; 
         FIG. 11  is a view showing a flow of water in the cooking appliance of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cooktop part and a control panel are separated from the cooking appliance of one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of cool air in the cooking appliance of one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the technical spirit of the disclosure. In the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known technologies in relation to the disclosure are omitted if they are deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components. 
     The terms “first”, “second” and the like are used herein only to distinguish one component from another component. Thus, the components should not be limited by the terms. Certainly, a first component can be a second component unless stated to the contrary. 
     Embodiments are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein, and can be modified and changed in various different forms. The embodiments in the disclosure are provided such that the disclosure can be through and complete and the scope of the disclosure can be fully conveyed to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, all modifications, equivalents or replacements and a replacement of one embodiment&#39;s configuration with another embodiment&#39;s configuration or an addition of one embodiment&#39;s configuration to another embodiment&#39;s configuration, within the technical spirit and scope of the disclosure, should be construed as being included in the scope of the disclosure. 
     Accompanying drawings are provided for a better understanding of the embodiments set forth herein and are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the disclosure. It is to be understood that all the modifications, equivalents or replacements within the spirit and technical scope of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure. Sizes or thicknesses of the components in the drawings are exaggerated or reduced to ensure ease of understanding. However, the protection scope of the subject matter of the disclosure should not be interpreted in a limited way. 
     The terms in the disclosure are used only to describe specific examples or embodiments but not intended to limit the subject matter of the disclosure. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. It is to be understood that the terms “comprise”, “constitute” and the like, set forth herein, are used to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, and do not imply the exclusion of one or more additional features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof. 
     The terms “first”, “second” and the like are used herein only to distinguish one component from another component. Thus, the components should not be limited by the terms. 
     When one component is described as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, one component can be directly connected or connected to another component. However, it is also to be understood that an additional component can be “interposed” between the two components. When one component is described as being “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another component, it is to be understood that no additional component is interposed between the two components. 
     When one component is described as being “on” or “under” another component, one component can be directly on or under another component, and an additional component can be interposed between the two components. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all the terms (technical or science words) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, terms such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and unless explicitly defined herein, should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly sense. 
     In a state in which a cooking appliance stands on the floor, with respect to the center of the cooking appliance, a direction in which a door is installed is defined as a forward direction, and a direction toward the inside of the cooking appliance is defined as a rearward direction, with the door open. For convenience, a direction facing the front and the rear can be referred to as a first direction. Then the front can be referred to as one direction of the first direction, and the rear can be referred to as the other direction of the first direction. 
     Additionally, a gravitational direction can be defined as a downward direction, and a direction opposite to the gravitational direction can be defined as an upward direction. 
     Additionally, a horizontal direction across a front-rear direction of the cooking appliance, i.e., a widthwise direction of the cooking appliance, can be referred to as a left-right direction when the cooking appliance is seen in front of the door of the cooking appliance. For convenience, the left-right direction can be referred to as a second direction. Then the right side can be referred to as one direction of the second direction, and the left side can be referred to as the other direction of the second direction. 
     Further, the widthwise direction of the cooking appliance can be referred to as a lateral direction. Then the right side can be referred to as one side of the lateral direction, and the left side can be referred to as the other side of the lateral direction. 
     An up-down direction can be referred to as a third direction. Then the upward direction can be referred to as one direction of the third direction, and the downward direction can be referred to as the other direction of the third direction. 
     Furthermore, the up-down direction can be referred to as a vertical direction. Then the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, i.e., the first direction and the second direction, can be referred to as the horizontal direction. 
     Throughout the disclosure, the terms “A and/or B” as used herein can denote A, B or A and B, and the terms “C to D” can denote C or greater and D or less, unless stated to the contrary. 
     [Entire Structure of Cooking Appliance] 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing a cooking appliance of one embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a lateral cross-sectional view showing an inner configuration of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the cooking appliance of one embodiment may include a cooktop part  20  and an oven part  30 . 
     The exterior of the cooking appliance  1  may be formed by a main body  10 . The main body  10  may be formed into a shape including an approximately rectangular cuboid. The main body may be made of a material having predetermined strength to protect a plurality of components installed in the inner space thereof. 
     The main body  10  may include a cavity  11  forming the skeleton of the main body  10 , and a front panel  13  disposed at the front of the cavity  11  and forming the front surface of the main body  10 . A cooking space  31  may be formed in the cavity  11 , and an open part that opens the cooking space  31  in the forward direction may be formed in the front panel  13 . 
     The cooktop part  20  may be disposed in the upper portion of the main body  10 . The cooktop part  20  may be an open space, i.e., a space in which a food item or a container containing a food item, placed at the upper side of the cooktop part, is heated and cooked. The cooktop part  20  may be provided with a top plate  21  that forms the exterior of the upper surface of the cooktop part  20  and closes the upper end of the main body  10 . 
     One or more cooktop heating parts  22  for heating a food item or a container containing a food item to be cooked may be disposed at the cooktop part  20 . 
     In an example, the cooktop heating part  22  may be implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel. In another example, the cooktop heating part may be implemented as a heater or an induction heating part that uses electricity. As described above, the structure of the cooktop heating part  22  may vary depending on the sort of a heat source. 
     The oven part  30  may be disposed in the lower portion of the cooktop part  20 . The cooking space  31  that provides a space for cooking a food item may be disposed in the inner space of the oven part  30 . 
     The cavity  11  may be formed into a cuboid the front surface of which is open, and the cooking space  31  may be formed in the cavity  11 . That is, the cooking space  31  may be formed into an approximate cuboid-shaped space that is disposed in the cavity  11  and is open forward. 
     With the cooking space  31  closed, the inside of the cooking space  31  is heated to cook a food item. That is, in the oven part  30 , the cooking space  31  is a space in which a food time is substantially heated. 
     The cooking appliance may be provided with a heating part for heating the cooking space  31 . The heating part may be implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel. In another example, the cooktop heating part may be implemented as a heater that uses electricity. As described above, the structure of the heating part may vary depending on the sort of a used heat source. 
     In this embodiment, the heating part is implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, for example. Accordingly, a broil burner  35  that heats the inner space of the cooking space  31  from above may be disposed at the upper side of the cooking space  31 . Also, a baker burner-type burner that heats the inner space of the cooking space  31  from below may be disposed at the lower side of the cooking space  31 . 
     Additionally, a convection part  37  that heats the inner space of the cooking space  31  as a result of the convection of hot air may be further disposed at the rear side of the cooking space  31 . 
     The convection part  37  forces air in the inner space of the cooking space  31  to flow. That is, the convection part  37  suctions and heats air in the inner space of the cooking space  31  and then forces the air to flow while discharging the air to the inner space of the cooking space  31  such that the inner space of the cooking space  31  is heated, and a food item in the inner space of the cooking space  31  is heated evenly. 
     The oven part  30  may be provided with a door  32  that swivably opens and closes the cooking space  31  selectively. In an example, the door  32  may open the cooking space  31  in a pull-down manner such that the upper end swivels up and down with respect to the lower end. 
     The door  32  may be formed into a cuboid having a predetermined thickness entirely. The door  32  may have a handle  33  at the front thereof. The handle  33  is gripped by a user when the user swivels the door  32 . The user may easily swivels the door  32  by using the handle  33 . 
     A control panel  50  may be disposed in the upper portion of the front surface of the cooking appliance, i.e., on the front surface of the upper portion of the cavity  11 . The control panel  50  may form a portion of the exterior of the front surface of the cooking appliance. The control panel  50  may be provided with a knob  51  for adjusting the operation of the cooking appliance, a display  52  displaying an operation state of the cooking appliance and the like. 
     For example, the control panel  50  may be provided in a way that an input part  51  and the display  52  are disposed on a control panel cover  50   a  disposed in the upper portion of the door  32  and at the front of the cooktop part  20 . 
     The input part  52  has a plurality of manipulation switches, and through the manipulations switches, the user may input a manipulation signal directly. In this case, the manipulation switches may be implemented as a knob enabling rotation-based manipulation, or a button or a panel enabling push or touch-based manipulation. 
     The control panel  50  may further include the display  52  that provides information on the operation of the cooking appliance, or information on the cooking of a food item and the like. The user may ascertain various types of information on the cooking appliance through the display  52 . 
     In another example, the display  52  may be implemented as a touch panel enabling touch-based manipulation. Accordingly, the input part  51  and the display  52  may be disposed together on a single touch panel. 
     Further, the cooking space  31  may include a rear space  34  behind itself. The rear space  34  is a space partitioned off from the cooking space  31  by a partition surface  30   a  that is disposed behind the cavity  11  and partitions the cooking space  31  from the rear space  34  in the front-rear direction. The forward boundary surface of the rear space  34  is defined by the partition surface  30   a , and the rear boundary surface of the rear space  34  may be defined by a rear cover  15  disposed behind the cavity  11 . 
     The cavity  11  may include an upper space  40 , outside the cavity  11 . The upper space  40  may be disposed in the upper portion of the cavity  11  and behind the control panel  50 . A space for installing components or electronic components for constituting the cooktop heating part  22  may be formed in the upper space  40 . 
     The front surface of the upper space  40  may be blocked by the front panel  13 . The front panel  13  may be disposed between the cavity  11  and the door  13 . The front panel  13  may be disposed in a way that at least a portion of the front panel blocks the front of the upper space  40 . For example, the upper area of the front panel  13  disposed in the upper portion of the cooking space  31  may block the front surface of the upper space  40 . 
     The front panel  13  may include an intake opening  14 . The intake opening  14  may pass through the front panel  13  in the front-rear direction. The intake opening  14  may form a passage that allows air outside the upper space  40  to flow into the upper space  40 , on the front panel  13 . 
     [Structure of Cooktop Part] 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear perspective view showing a portion of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a vent grille in  FIG. 5  is separated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the cooktop part  20  may be disposed on the oven part  30  and include the top plate  21  and the cooktop heating part  22 , as described above. 
     The top plate  21  may be disposed over the cavity  11 , and the upper space  40  may be disposed between the top plate  21  and the cavity  11 . That is, the top plate  21  may cover the upper portion of the cavity  11  such that the upper space  40  is formed between the top plate  21  and the cavity  11 . 
     The upper space  40  may be formed outside the cavity  11 . The upper space  40  may be disposed behind the control panel  50  while being disposed between the cavity  11  and the top plate  21 . A space for installing components or electronic components for constituting the cooktop heating part  22  may be formed in the upper space  40 . 
     In an example, in the case of a cooktop heating part  22  is implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, a burner that burns gas, a supply pipe for supplying gas to the burner, a valve for adjusting the supply of gas to the burner and the like may be installed in the upper space  40 . 
     In another example, in the case of a cooktop heating part  22  implemented as a heating device that uses electricity, a heater or an induction heating part, and various types of electronic components for driving the heater or the induction heating part may be disposed in the upper space  40 . 
     The main body  10  may further include a side panel  17 . The side panel  17  may be disposed respectively in both lateral portions of the cavity  11 . Each of the side panels  17  may form the sidewise exterior of the main body  10  while covering the lateral portions of the cavity  11 , outside the cavity  11 . 
     Each of the side panels  17  may extend to the upper portion of the cavity  11  while covering the lateral portions of the cavity  11 . Accordingly, the sidewise boundaries of the upper space  40  may be defined by the pair of side panels  17  that extends upward from both sides of the cavity  11 . 
     The rear cover  15  may be disposed behind the cavity  11 . The rear cover  15  may form the rear exterior of the main body  10  while covering the rear of the cavity  11 . The rear cover  15  may define the rear boundary surface of the rear space  34  disposed behind the cavity  11 . 
     A ventilation opening  16  may be formed on the rear cover  15 . The ventilation opening  16  may be formed in a way that passes through the rear cover  15  in the front-rear direction, and form an air passage on the rear cover  15 . Air passes through the air passage to cool electronic components disposed in the rear space  34 . 
     The rear cover  15  may extend to the upper portion of the cavity  11  while covering the rear of the cavity  11 . Accordingly, the rear boundary of the upper space  40  may be defined by the rear cover  15  that extends upward at the rear of the cavity  11 . 
     That is, the upper space  40 &#39;s front, rear, and both sides are surrounded by the front panel  13 , the rear cover  15  and the pair of side panels  17 , and the top plate  21  covers the upper portion of the upper space  40 . 
     The top plate  21  may be disposed in the upper portions of the front panel  13 , the rear cover  15 , and the pair of side panels  17 , and coupled respectively to the front panel  13 , the rear cover  15 , and the pair of side panels  17 . That is, the top plate  21  may be fixed to the upper portion of the upper space  40  while being coupled respectively to the front panel  13 , the rear cover  15 , and the pair of side panels  17 . 
     The cooktop part  20  may be provided with a first exhaust opening  23 . The first exhaust opening  23  may be disposed eccentrically to the rear of the cooktop part  20  on the cooktop part  20 . For example, the first exhaust opening  23  may be disposed between the cooktop heating part  22  and the rear cover  15 . 
     The first exhaust opening  23  may be formed in a way that passes through the top plate  21  vertically. The first exhaust opening  23  may form an outlet on the top plate  21 , and exhaust gas generated in the cooking space  31  is discharged out of the cooking appliance  1  through the outlet. 
     The first exhaust opening  23  may connect to an exhaust duct  41 . The exhaust duct  41  may be provided to discharge exhaust gas, which is generated in the cooking space  31  while a food item is cooked, out of the cooking appliance. 
     The exhaust duct  41  may be provided in a way that the lower end portion thereof connects to the upper portion of the cooking space  31  while the upper end portion thereof is disposed toward the upper portion of the rear surface of the cooking appliance  1 . For example, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct  41  may be disposed at the rear of the cooktop part  20 . In this embodiment, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct  41  connects to the first exhaust opening  23 , for example. 
     Accordingly, exhaust gas generated in the cooking space  31  may flow into the exhaust duct  41  connected to the upper portion of the cooking space  31  and move upward, and be discharged upward on the rear surface of the cooking appliance  1  through the first exhaust opening  23  connected to the upper end portion of the exhaust duct  41 . 
     A vent grille  60  may be disposed above the first exhaust opening  23 . The vent grille  60  may be provided to cover the first exhaust opening  23 , on the top plate  21 . 
     The vent grille  60  is provided in a way that covers a partial area of the rear of the top plate  21 , including the area in which the first exhaust opening  23  is disposed, from above. The vent grille  60  may also cover a portion being open upward in the rear space  34  that is a space between the rear surface of the cavity  31  and the rear cover  15 , i.e., an upper end opening formed between the partition surface  30   a  and the rear cover  15 , from above. Thus, a space surrounded by the vent grille  60 , the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15  may be formed in the vent grille  60 . 
     In this embodiment, the vent grille  60  is formed into a cuboid the lower portion of which is open downward, for example. The vent grille  60  may be provided with at least one vent hole  61  through which exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust duct  41  passes. The vent hole  61  may be formed in a way that passes through the upper surface of the vent grille  60  vertically. 
     [Connection Structure Between Top Plate and Rear Panel] 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view showing a portion of a rear of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the rear of the cooking appliance in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the rear space  34  may be formed between the cavity  31  and the rear cover  15 . An upper end opening  49  may be formed at the upper end of the rear space  34 . The upper end opening  49  may form a passage for opening the rear space  34  upward, behind the upper space  40 . 
     The top plate  21  may connect to the rear cover  15  while covering the upper end opening  49  and the upper space  40  from above. The top plate  21  may include a main plate  210  and an extension plate  215 . 
     The main plate  210  takes up most of the area of the top plate  21  and is disposed on the upper space  40 . For example, the main plate  210  may be formed into a shape including a rectangle corresponding to the shape of the upper surface of the cavity  31 . 
     The main plate  210  may include a concave surface  211  on which the cooktop heating part  22  is disposed, and an edge  212  which surrounds the concave surface  211 . 
     The concave surface  211  may be disposed approximately at the center of the main plate  210  and takes up most of the area of the main plate  210 . The cooktop heating part  22  may be disposed on the concave surface  211 . In the case of a cooktop heating part  22  implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, at least a portion of a burner that burns gas may be exposed to the upper portion of the concave surface  211 . To this end, a hole for exposing the burner to the upper portion of the concave surface  211  may be formed on the concave surface  211  in a way that passes through the concave surface  211  vertically. 
     The edge  212  may be provided at the front-rear edge and the left-right edge of the concave surface  211 . The edge  212  may be concave further upward than the concave surface  211 . For example, the central portion of the main plate  210 , in which the concave surface  211  is disposed, may be depressed downward in the form of a rectangle. 
     The edge  212  of the main plate  210  may connect to the control panel  50 , the side panel  17  and the like. For example, a portion of the edge  212 , at the front of the main plate  210 , may be coupled to the control panel  50 , and portions of the edge  212 , at both sides of the main plate  210  may be respectively coupled to the side panel  17 . 
     As a result of the coupling among the edge  212 , the control panel  50  and the side panel  17 , the top plate  21  may be fixed to the upper portion of the upper space  40 . 
     The extension plate  215  may extend from the main plate  210  rearward. The extension plate  215  may be provided to cover the upper end opening  49 , on the upper space  40 . 
     The extension plate  215  may correspond to the rear area of the top plate  21 , and extend from the main plate  210  to the rear cover  15 . Accordingly, the main plate  210  may be provided to approximately cover the upper area of the cavity  31 , and the extension plate  215  may be provided to cover the rear area of the cavity, i.e., an area between the cavity  31  and the rear cover  15 , from above. 
     In this embodiment, the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215  connect as the same surface while connecting in the front-rear direction, for example. A connecting structure of the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215  that connect as the same surface may cover the upper end opening  49  and the upper space  40  from above. 
     The extension plate  215  may be coupled to the rear cover  15  behind the cooktop part  20 , specifically, behind the upper space  40  and at the rear of the rear space  34 . To this end, the top plate  21  may further include a coupling part  217 . The coupling part  217  may extend from the extension plate  215  and be coupled to the rear cover  15 . 
     In this embodiment, the coupling part  217  is integrated with the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215 , for example. The coupling part  217  may be formed in a way that extends from the extension plate  215  in a direction parallel with the rear cover  15 . 
     For example, the coupling part  217  may extend from the end of the rear of the extension plate  215  downward. The coupling part  217 , formed as described above, may be coupled to the rear cover  15  while contacting the rear cover  15  in the front-rear direction. 
     That is, the main plate  210 , the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217  may integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215  and between the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217 , and while contacting the rear cover  15  in the front-rear direction, the coupling part  217  may be coupled to the rear cover  15 . 
     Accordingly, the top plate  21  may be coupled to the control panel  50 , the side panel  17  and the rear cover  15  while covering the rear space  34  and the upper space  40  from above. Accordingly, the top plate  21  may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1  while covering the upper space  40  and the upper end opening  49  from above. 
     [Operation of Cooking Appliance and Effect Thereof] 
     As described above, the top plate  21  may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance while covering the upper end opening  49  and the upper space  40  from above. 
     The top plate  21  may be provided with the first exhaust opening  23 , and the vent grille  60  may be disposed on the first exhaust opening  23 . The vent grille  60  may be provided to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate  21 , including the area in which the first exhaust opening  23  is disposed, from above. 
     The vent grille  60  may further include a link member  63 . The link member  63  may be provided for a coupling between the vent grille  60  and the main body  10 . For example, the link member  63  may protrude from the end of the rear of the vent grille downward. The link member  63  may be coupled to the main body  10 , under the vent grille  60 . 
     In an example, the link member  63  may be coupled to the rear cover  15 . In another example, the link member  63  may be coupled to the end of the rear of the side panel  17  or the coupling part  217  of the top plate  21 . 
       FIG. 9  is a rear view showing the cooking appliance in  FIG. 2  without a rear cover,  FIG. 10  is a view showing a flow of water in a cooking appliance of the related art, and  FIG. 11  is a view showing a flow of water in the cooking appliance of one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 9 , the rear space  34  may be disposed behind the cavity  11 . Various types of electronic components associated with the function of the oven part  30  may be disposed in the rear space  34 . For example, a circuit board  70  associated with the supply of power to the cooking appliance  1 , a portion of a lighting device  75  installed in the oven part  30 , and a convection motor  38  for rotating a convection fan disposed in the convection part  37  may be disposed in the rear space  34 . Additionally, devices such as a valve  80  or a regulator  85  and the like associated with the supply of gas to the cooking appliance may be disposed in the rear space  34 . 
     When water or foreign substances enter the rear space  34  in which the electronic components are disposed, the water or foreign substances may cause failure of the electronic components or accidents. 
     In a cooking appliance of the related art, a rear cover  15  is disposed behind a top plate  21   a , and the rear cover  15  is disposed behind a cavity  11 , and a rear space  34  may be formed between the cavity  11  and the rear cover  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     Further, a gap  49   a  is formed at the upper end of the rear cover  15 , and the gap  49   a  is formed between the top plate  21   a  and the rear cover  15  to open the rear space  34  upward. 
     The rear cover  15  is coupled to the cavity  11  without being coupled to the top plate  21   a . The gap  49   a  may be exposed to the upper portion of a cooktop part  20 , behind the top plate  21   a.    
     A vent grille  60   a  may be disposed over the gap  49   a . The vent grille  60   a  is disposed to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate  21   a , including the area in which an exhaust duct and an exhaust opening are disposed, from above. The gap  49   a  is also covered by the vent grille  60   a.    
     A vent hole  61   a  passes through the vent grille  60   a  vertically, and exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust opening is discharged out of the upper portion of the vent grille  60   a  through the vent hole  61   a.    
     Through the vent hole  61   a , water or foreign substances may enter the space in the vent grille  60   a . The water or the foreign substances having entered the space in the vent grille  60   a  may enter the rear space  34  through the gap  49   a  formed between the top plate  21   a  and the rear cover  15 . 
     That is, in the cooking appliance of the related art, water or foreign substances are highly likely to enter the rear space  34  through the gap  49   a  exposed to the inside the vent grille  60   a.    
     Unlike the cooking appliance of the related art, the cooking appliance of this embodiment has a top plate  21  that covers the upper end opening  49  and the upper space  40 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 . 
     For example, the main plate  210 , the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217  integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215  and between the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217 , and the coupling part  217  may be coupled to the rear cover  15  while contacting the rear cover  15  in the front-rear direction. 
     Accordingly, the top plate  21  is coupled to the control panel  50 , the side panel  17  and the rear cover  15  while covering the upper space  40  and the rear space  34  from above. Thus, the top plate  21  may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1 , while covering the upper space  40  and the upper end opening  49  from above. 
     That is, a passage, through which water or foreign substances enter the rear space  34  from the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1 , is blocked by the top plate  21 , thereby effectively preventing the water and foreign substances from entering the rear space  34 . 
     Further, in this embodiment, a connecting portion between the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15  is disposed at the rear of the cooking appliance  1  instead of being disposed toward the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1 , and the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15  are coupled in the front-rear direction. Thus, it is less likely that water or foreign substances enter the cooking appliance through the coupling portion between the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15 , and the invasion of water or foreign substances into the rear space  34  is effectively prevented. 
     Since water or foreign substances having fallen to the upper portion of the cooking appliance through the vent grille  60  are prevented from entering the electronic components disposed in a space formed between the rear surface of the cooking appliance  1  and the rear cover  15  through the vent grille  60  as described above, the failure of the electronic components, caused by the water or foreign substances, may be effectively prevented. 
     [Control Panel and Peripheral Structure Thereof] 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cooktop part and a control panel are separated from the cooking appliance of one embodiment, and  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of cool air in the cooking appliance of one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the control panel  50  may be disposed at the front of the upper space  40 , and disposed on the door  32 . The control panel  50  may include a control panel cover  55 . The control panel cover  55  may form the exterior of the control panel  50  and accommodate various types of components constituting the control panel  50 . 
     The control panel cover  55  may form the exteriors of the front surface, lateral surfaces and lower surface of the control panel cover  55 , and accommodate the display  52 . The lower surface of the control panel cover  55  may close between the door  32  and the display  52 . 
     The door  32  disposed under the control panel  50  may have a path for the flow of air, therein. Additionally, an air flow hole may be disposed in the lower portion of the door  32 . Further, a discharge hole  32   a  may be disposed on the upper surface of the door  32 , which faces the control panel  50 . The air flow hole, the path and the discharge hole  32   a  may be formed in a way that they pass through the door  32 . 
     The air flow hole may form a passage through which external air flows into the path in the door  32 , and the discharge hole  32   a  may form a passage through which the air having passed through the path in the door  32  is discharged out of the door  32 . The discharge hole  32   a  may be formed in a way that passes through the upper surface of the door  32  vertically, and the air having passed through the path in the door  32  may be discharged upward through the discharge hole  32   a.    
     Further, a cooling fan  45  may be disposed behind the control panel  50  and the door  32 . The cooling fan  45  may be disposed near the rear cover  15  while being disposed in the upper space  40 . 
     In an example, the cooling fan  45  may include a turbo fan disposed on the upper surface of the cavity  11 . The cooling fan  45  may suction air in front of the upper space  40  and discharge the air toward the vent grille  60 . The air discharged by the cooling fan  45  may pass through the second exhaust opening  24  formed in a way that passes through the top plate  21  and through the vent grille  60 , and be discharged out of the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1 . 
     [Relationship Between Structure of Control Panel and Structure of Top Plate] 
     Ordinarily, when the cooking appliance, specifically, the oven part  30  performs a cooking operation, the heating part operates. While the heating part operates, the cooling fan  45  may also operate. 
     When the cooling fan  45  operates, external air in front of the cooking appliance  1  may flow into the upper space  40  through the intake opening  14  that is formed in a way that passes through the front panel  13 . The air having flown into the upper space  40  may pass through the upper space  40  while cooling components such as the display  52  disposed on the control panel  50  or the circuit board and the like, and then pass through the second exhaust opening  24  and the vent grille  60  and be discharged out of the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1 . 
     Along the way, external air in front of the main body  10  and under the main body  10  is suctioned through the air flow hole disposed in the lower portion of the door  32 , and then discharged through the discharge hole  32   a  disposed in the upper portion of the door  32  while cooling the door  32 . The air discharged out of the upper portion of the door  32  through the discharge hole  32   a  may flow into the upper space  40  through the intake opening  14  that is formed in a way that passes through the front panel  13 . 
     In this embodiment, the lower surface of the control panel cover  55  closes between the door  32  and the display  52 , and a passage for connecting between the discharge hole  32   a  of the door  32  and the display  52  is not formed on the lower surface of the control panel cover  55 . 
     Accordingly, the air discharged out of the upper portion of the door  32  through the discharge hole  32   a  of the door  32  may flow into the upper space  40  immediately through the intake opening  14  without contacting the display  52 . That is, air heated during the process of cooling the door  32  may be discharged through the discharge hole  32   a  and then flow into the upper space  40  immediately without affecting the display  52 . 
     The hot air discharged from the door  32  hardly affects the display  52  disposed on the door  32 . Thus, damage to the display  52  or operational errors of the display  52 , caused by the hot air discharged from the door  32 , may be effectively prevented. 
     The display  52  is a heat-generating component that generates a large amount of heat. Accordingly, if the display  52  does not cool properly, the performance of the display  52  may deteriorate or the failure of the display  52  may occur. 
     One of the effective ways to cool the display  52  is to provide a cooling hole for cooling the display  52  at the control panel cover  55  that surrounds the display  52 . 
     If the cooling hole is disposed on the front surface or the upper surface of the control panel cover  55 , the cooling hole is exposed plainly, deteriorating aesthetic qualities. Additionally, water or foreign substances are highly likely to enter the control panel  50  through the cooling hole. 
     If the cooling hole is disposed on the lateral surface of the control pane cover  55 , a distance between the cooling hole and the display  52  increases, and the surface area of the cooling hole may not be ensured sufficiently. That is, if the cooling hole is disposed on the lateral surface of the control panel cover  55 , the display  52  may not cool properly. 
     To solve the above problems, the cooling hole may be provided on the lower surface of the control panel cover  55 , preferably. However, the discharge hole  32   a  of the door  32  and the cooling hole of the control panel  50  face each other. In this case, hot air discharged from the door  32  may flow into the control panel  50  through the cooling hole, adversely affecting the display  52 . 
     To prevent this from happening, in this embodiment, a passage for connecting between the discharge hole  32   a  of the door  32  and the display  52  is formed on no surface including the lower surface of the control panel cover  55 . Thus, the hot air discharged from the door  32  hardly affects the display  52  disposed on the door  32 . 
     However, if no cooling hole is disposed at the control panel cover  55 , there is little possibility that the display  52  cools properly. The occurrence of the problem may be suppressed based on the effect of the above-described coupling between the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15 . 
     In this embodiment, the main plate  210 , the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217  may integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate  210  and the extension plate  215  and between the extension plate  215  and the coupling part  217 , and the coupling part  217  may be coupled to the rear cover  15  while contacting the rear cover  15  in the front-rear direction. 
     Accordingly, the top plate  21  may be coupled to the control panel  50 , the side panel  17  and the rear cover  15  while covering the upper space  40  and the rear space  34  from above, such that the top plate  21  is fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance  1  while covering the upper space  40  and the upper end opening  49  from above. 
     The top plate  21  may be coupled to the rear cover  15  as a result of the coupling between the coupling part  217  and the rear cover  15 , and seal the upper portion of the cooktop part  20 . That is, the upper end opening  49  may be sealed by the top plate  21 , and a space around the cooling fan  45  disposed near the upper end opening  49  may be surrounded and sealed by the top plate  21 , the rear cover  15  and the cavity  31 . 
     When the perimeter of the cooling fan  45  is sealed as described above, the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan  45  may increase efficiently. As the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan  45  increases, the efficiency of cooling components such as the display  52  or the circuit disposed on the control panel  50  and the like may improve. 
     That is, in the cooking appliance of this embodiment, since the upper end opening  49  near the cooling fan is sealed as a result of the coupling between the top plate  21  and the rear cover  15 , the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan  45  may efficiently increase, thereby effectively cooling the display  52  disposed on the control panel  50 . 
     The cooking appliance  1  of this embodiment may increase the intensity of air current for cooling such that the display  52  cools effectively although the cooling hole is not formed in the lower portion of the control panel  50 . Thus, the cooking appliance  1  of this embodiment may help to cool the display  52  effectively, while preventing hot air discharged from the door  32  from affecting the display  52 . 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure is described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, but the embodiments are merely illustrative. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains can understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are drawn from the above embodiments. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the appended claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10 : Main body 
               11 : Cavity 
               13 : Front panel 
               14 : Intake opening 
               15 : Rear cover 
               16 : Ventilation opening 
               17 : Side panel 
               20 : Cooktop part 
               21 : Top plate 
               21   a : Top plate 
               210 : Main plate 
               211 : Concave surface 
               212 : Edge 
               215 : Extension plate 
               217 : Coupling part 
               22 : Cooktop heating part 
               23 : First exhaust opening 
               24 : Second exhaust opening 
               25 : Exhaust duct 
               30 : Oven part 
               30   a : Partition surface 
               31 : Cooking space 
               32 : Door 
               32   a : Discharge hole 
               33 : Handle 
               34 : Rear space 
               35 : Broil burner 
               37 : Convection part 
               38 : Convection motor 
               40 : Upper space 
               41 : Exhaust duct 
               45 : Cooling fan 
               49 : Upper end opening 
               49   a : Gap 
               50 : Control panel 
               51 : Input part 
               52 : Display 
               55 : Control panel cover 
               60 : Vent grille 
               61 : Vent hole 
               63 : Link member 
               70 : Circuit board 
               75 : Lighting device 
               80 : Valve 
               85 : Regulator