Patent Publication Number: US-9839076-B2

Title: Cooking appliance and fastening system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 109 729.7, filed on Jul. 11, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a cooking appliance and a fastening system having at least one support device for holding food-supporting members in a cooking chamber which can be heated by a microwave heat source. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art, there have been disclosed various support systems which may take the form of, for example, side racks and which are arranged in the cooking chamber of cooking appliances equipped with microwave sources, in particular in the region of the cooking chamber side walls, to receive and support a food-supporting member thereon. 
     When side racks are installed in cooking chambers of cooking appliances having a microwave source, then such a side rack must be fastened in such a way that radiation can be reliably prevented from leaking from the cooking chamber during microwave operation. 
     A wide variety of fastening devices have been disclosed in the prior art for this purpose. For example, side racks have been used which are installed by connection to the cooking chamber wall. Such connections are often very complex to manufacture and install, because appropriate precautions have to be taken to prevent microwave radiation from leaking from the cooking chamber. 
     SUMMARY 
     A cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber with cooking chamber wall, a microwave heat source configured to heat food, and a support device configured to hold a food-supporting member. The cooking chamber wall includes an opening and a lead-through device, and the lead-through device includes a through-hole configured to receive a fastening element of the support device. A tubular guide portion is formed at the through-hole of the lead-through device, and the tubular guide portion includes a safety portion configured to shield against microwave radiation and such that no part of the fastening element is located within the safety portion when the fastening element is in an installed condition in the lead-through device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations in embodiments of the invention. The features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a fastening system for a cooking appliance; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a fastening system for a cooking appliance according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a fastening system for a cooking appliance according to a further embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of another embodiment of a fastening system for a cooking appliance. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The cooking appliance according to the present invention has at least one cooking chamber having at least one cooking chamber wall, as well as at least one microwave heat source for heating food and at least one support device for holding food-supporting members. The cooking chamber wall has at least one opening and at least one lead-through device. The lead-through device has at least one through-hole for receiving at least one fastening element of the support device. At least one tubular guide portion is formed at the through-hole of the lead-through device. The guide portion has at least one safety portion for shielding against microwave radiation, so that when the fastening element is in the installed condition in the lead-through device, no part of the fastening element is located within the safety portion. 
     The cooking appliance of the present invention has many advantages. One significant advantage is that the tubular guide portion has at least one safety portion for shielding against microwave radiation. Thus, the support device is especially suited for use during microwave operation. The safety portion makes it possible to reliably prevent leakage of microwave radiation, because in the installed condition, no fastening element is located within the safety portion. This makes it possible to prevent, for example, a coaxial conductor effect from occurring between the fastening element and the lead-through device, as a result of which microwave radiation could leave the cooking chamber. 
     Another advantage of the cooking appliance according to the present invention is that it provides an inexpensive and reliable way of installing the support device for holding food-supporting members. The support device and/or the fastening element may be embodied, for example, as a side rack. In contrast to flat holders, such a design makes it possible to avoid voltage peaks. In addition, such an assembly may be implemented in an uncomplicated, shapely and visually appealing manner. 
     Another advantage is that, during installation, the fastening element can be easily inserted into the lead-through device, so that a reliable and microwave-shielded connection is created with little effort. In contrast to cooking appliances where the support devices are embossed into the wall, the cooking appliance according to the present invention has the advantage of allowing the use of metallic food-supporting members. 
     The safety portion for shielding against microwave radiation is preferably configured such that when the fastening element is in the installed condition in the lead-through device, no fastening element is located within the safety portion. The safety portion may also be configured such that when the fastening element is in the installed condition in the lead-through device, no fastening element can be placed within the safety portion. This can be achieved, for example, by providing at least one taper and/or radial ridge and/or at least one projection or the like in the lead-through device, whereby the fastening element is prevented from entering the safety portion. 
     It is also possible for the lead-through device or the tubular guide portion to include at least one fastening portion. The fastening portion is preferably located in a region outside the safety portion. It is particularly preferred and advantageous that, when installed, the fastening element ends in the fastening portion. This ensures that the safety portion remains clear. 
     The fastening element and the support device may be formed in one piece. It is also possible for the fastening element to be fixedly and/or non-detachably connected to the support device. The support device may, for example, be bent from a wire and/or a rod, part of the rod being provided as the fastening element which is receivable in the lead-through device. The support device is preferably at least partially composed of at least one metallic material. Particularly preferably, the fastening element is composed of a metallic material. The lead-through device is also composed in particular of a metallic material. However, the support device and/or the lead-through device may also be made from an electrically non-conductive material, and particularly from a plastic material. 
     Preferably, the tubular guide portion is disposed on the side of the through-hole facing away from the cooking chamber. At least part of the guide portion may also be provided in the through-hole. 
     The safety portion has in particular a length of greater than or equal to 0.05 mm. Preferably, the safety portion has a length of between one and several millimeters. The safety portion may also extend over more than one centimeter. However, it is also possible for the safety portion to be larger than the distance between the fastening element and the guide portion in the installed condition. 
     Particularly preferably, the safety portion is formed in that the length of the guide portion of the lead-through device is longer than the portion of the fastening element that is received in the through-hole when in the installed condition. This has the advantage that there will always remain a safety clearance and that no coaxial conductor effect can occur, regardless of the depth to which the installed fastening element has been inserted into the through-hole. 
     In particular, the diameter of the through-hole is smaller than half the wavelength of the microwave radiation used. Particularly, the diameter of the through-hole may be smaller than 6 cm, and preferably also smaller than 3 cm. The through-hole may also be rectangular, square or polygonal in shape. However, it may also be configured to have rounded corners and/or curves or any other shape. The width and/or inside diameter of the through-hole is in particular smaller than half the wavelength of the microwave radiation used, and preferably smaller than a quarter of the wavelength. By such a design, leakage of microwave radiation from the cooking chamber is effectively counteracted. 
     It is possible and preferred that the length of the guide portion of the lead-through device be greater than the thickness of the cooking chamber wall in the region of the opening. In particular, the length of the guide portion is twice or three times or several times the thickness of the cooking chamber wall in the region of the opening, preferably more than ten times the thickness of the cooking chamber wall. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the lead-through device is at least partially configured as at least one hollow rivet, or includes at least one such rivet. Preferably, the guide portion is configured as at least one hollow rivet. Such an embodiment provides an inexpensive and reliable way of installing the lead-through device or the guide portion on the cooking chamber wall. The length of the hollow rivet is preferably selected such that a safety clearance remains when the fastening element has been inserted into the through-hole. However, it is also possible to use a threaded connection which provides a corresponding through-hole, such as a hollow screw, for example. 
     However, the tubular guide portion may also be formed in one piece with the cooking chamber wall using, for example, a secondary shaping process without removal of material. It is also possible for the guide portion to be connected to the cooking chamber wall by a material-to-material bond, for example by welding. Another possible option is an interlocking connection where the tubular guide portion is connected to the cooking chamber wall, for example, by compression joining and/or riveting and/or screwing. 
     In a particularly preferred and advantageous embodiment, at least one isolation device is provided. The isolation device is in particular suitable and adapted for spacing apart and/or electrically isolating the support device from the cooking chamber wall. In particular, the isolation device is suitable and adapted for electrically isolating the fastening element of the support device from the cooking chamber wall, and particularly from the tubular guide portion. A particular advantage of the isolation device is that it counteracts voltage flash-overs or sparking between the support device or the fastening element and the cooking chamber wall or the tubular guide portion during microwave operation. 
     Preferably, when installed, the isolation device is disposed between the support device and the cooking chamber wall. In the installed condition, the isolation device is preferably also disposed between the fastening element of the support device and the lead-through device or the tubular guide portion, thereby preventing direct contact between these components. 
     Preferably, the isolation device, or at least a portion thereof, has a suitable wall thickness which not only provides electrical isolation, but also spaces apart the support device from the lead-through device and/or the cooking chamber wall. The spacing allows voltage flash-overs to be prevented even more reliably. The spacing may be greater than 0.1 mm. Preferably, the spacing is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. 
     In particular, the isolation device is at least partially disposed in the tubular guide portion. In particular, the isolation device has at least one receiving portion in which, in the installed condition, the fastening element may be received. To prevent electrical breakdowns, the wall thickness of the isolation device, in particular in the region of the receiving portion, may be greater than or equal to 0.1 mm, and preferably greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. The receiving portion may have at least one taper and/or a ridge or the like to limit the insertion of the fastening element in such a way that the safety portion remains clear. 
     The isolation device is preferably composed of a material which is electrically insulating and/or electrically non-conductive or substantially non-conductive. The electrical conductivity is preferably &lt;10 −3  S/m. The isolation device is preferably composed of a flexible and/or elastic material, for example, a silicone material. The isolation device may also be composed of another plastic material, for example, of a Teflon material. 
     The isolation device is preferably resistant to the temperatures expected during operation of the cooking appliance and to the steam expected during steam cooking or cooking in moisture plus mode. The isolation device is preferably also resistant to microwave radiation during microwave operation. For example, it is possible to use a hollow silicone plug which is inexpensive and uncomplicated to install in the lead-through device or the tubular guide portion. Moreover, a material composed of silicone exhibits good resistance during microwave operation. 
     The isolation device may have at least one spacing device. The spacing device is in particular suitable and adapted for preventing the fastening element from being inserted into the safety portion. The isolation device may also be adapted and suitable to ensure that, when installed, the fastening element ends in the fastening portion. Moreover, the spacing device has the additional advantage that the support device is spaced apart from the cooking chamber wall, and that voltage flash-overs can thereby be reliably prevented during microwave operation. 
     In particular, the spacing device is disposed toward the cooking chamber so that the support device and/or the fastening element are maintained at a distance from the cooking chamber wall. This makes it possible to prevent voltage flash-overs during microwave operation. The isolation device may, for example, take the form of a plug which is inserted into the guide portion. The bearing face of the plug within the cooking chamber or at the cooking chamber wall may be formed with a suitable thickness so that part of the isolation device acts as a spacing device, preventing the fastening element from being inserted too deeply. The spacing device and the isolation device may be formed in one piece. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the cooking appliance includes at least one steam generator device associated with the cooking chamber. The steam may be provided for heating and/or for moisture control, for example, during what is referred to as “moisture plus” cooking. The isolation device has at least one blind hole for receiving at least a portion of the fastening element. The isolation device is in particular suitable and adapted for sealing the opening in the cooking chamber wall and/or the through-hole. To this end, the isolation device essentially provides sealing against the steam present in a cooking appliance having a steam heat source. 
     This has the advantage of allowing the fastening element to be received in an isolated and space-apart relationship, while enabling the through-hole to be sealed steam-tight in an uncomplicated manner. In this way, leakage of steam from the opening or the lead-through device is reliably counteracted. 
     The depth of the blind hole is preferably less than the length of the portion of the fastening element that is disposed within the opening. Such a blind hole has the advantage of preventing the fastening element from being inserted into the safety portion. However, it is also possible to provide at least one taper and/or a ridge or the like in the blind hole to block the fastening element from being inserted into the safety portion. 
     Preferably, the isolation device has at least one mounting aid. The mounting aid may be provided on the isolation device in the form of a projection and/or an extension. In particular, the mounting aid is formed in one piece with the isolation device. This makes the isolation device easy to install. Thus, for example, the isolation device may be easily inserted and rapidly pulled through the lead-through device. Thereafter, the mounting aid may remain or be removed, for example, by cutting or breaking it off. Furthermore, a predetermined breaking point or the like may be provided for this purpose. 
     At least a portion of the isolation device may overlap at least a portion of the lead-through device and at least a portion of the cooking chamber wall. 
     Preferably, the isolation device projects from the lead-through device or the guide portion into the cooking chamber, thereby overlapping in particular the separation or transition between the cooking chamber wall and the lead-through device. The spacing device, too, may be provided for covering or concealing the transition. This enables the through-hole to be sealed in an inexpensive and uncomplicated manner 
     Moreover, the isolation device may have an oversized diameter with respect to the through-hole. Preferably, the isolation device is configured as a cylindrical or tubular hollow plug whose diameter is correspondingly greater than the diameter of the tubular guide portion. This is provided for, in particular, in an isolation device composed of a flexible and/or elastic material. Thus, a steam-tight engagement of the isolation device can be achieved in an uncomplicated manner. 
     It is also possible and preferred that the isolation device have at least one fastening device for attachment to the lead-through device. The fastening device is preferably provided on the side of the cooking chamber wall facing away from the cooking chamber. It is also possible to provide a fastening device on the side facing the cooking chamber. For example, the spacing device may at least partially be configured as a fastening device. In particular, the isolation device has a latching device, for example, at least one undercut and/or at least one latching hook or the like. Preferably, the isolation device is slightly stretched during and/or after the attachment process, thereby enabling a taut and thus steam-tight engagement. 
     The fastening system according to the present invention is suitable for a cooking appliance which has at least one cooking chamber having at least one cooking chamber wall, and least one microwave heat source. At least one support device for holding food-supporting members is provided. At least one opening and at least one lead-through device are provided for the cooking chamber wall. The lead-through device has at least one through-hole for receiving at least one fastening element of the support device. At least one tubular guide portion is formed at the through-hole of the lead-through device. The guide portion has at least one safety portion for shielding against microwave radiation, so that when the fastening element is in the installed condition in the lead-through device, no part of the fastening element is located within the safety portion. 
     The fastening system of the present invention has many advantages. A significant advantage is provided by the guide portion, in which no fastening element is disposed. Thus, no coaxial conductor effect occurs between the fastening element and the lead-through device. Thus, the fastening system may be used for attachment of a support device for food-supporting members, while reliably shielding the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance. Thus, the fastening system is especially suited for use during microwave operation. 
     Preferably, the fastening system has refinements as described analogously for the cooking appliance hereinbefore. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a cooking appliance  1  according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view. Cooking appliance  1  can be operated by a user via user controls  104  and has a cooking chamber  2  for cooking food, which is closable by a door  105 . Here, cooking appliance  1  has a microwave heat source  102  for warming or heating the food. Other heat sources, such as, for example, an upper heating element and/or a lower heating element, as well as a convection air heat source or the like may be provided. The different heat sources may be operated separately or in any desired combination. Cooking appliance  1  may take the form of both a built-in appliance or a stand-alone cooking appliance  1 . 
     Here, cooking appliance  1  is a combination appliance  100 , which has a steam cooking function as well as a so-called “moisture plus” cooking function for preparing foods. For this purpose, a steam generator device  101  is provided which heats and evaporates water by means of a heating device. The steam may be used, on the one hand, conventionally for steam cooking of foods and, on the other hand, the steam may be used for controlling the moisture in cooking chamber  2  during cooking in moisture plus mode. 
     Cooking chamber door  105  and cooking chamber wall  12  are suitable and adapted for substantially preventing leakage of microwaves and steam. Cooking chamber door  105  can be opened by a door opener. At least one safety device is provided to prevent microwave operation when cooking chamber door  105  is not properly closed. 
     Cooking chamber  2  is enclosed by a cooking chamber wall  12 , which here takes the form of a cooking chamber shell. To position food-supporting members  103 , such as, for example, baking trays or wire racks or also food cooking containers, a support device  3  is provided in cooking chamber  2 . Here, support device  3  is formed of two side racks attached at opposite lateral surfaces of cooking chamber  2 . Here, the side rack is formed of a plurality of wires or rods which are arranged in the longitudinal or in the transverse direction and are connected to one another. Thus, one or more food-supporting members  103  may be inserted into cooking chamber  2  at different vertical positions. 
       FIG. 2  shows a fastening system  200  for a cooking appliance  1  and, for example, for a microwave oven and/or a combination appliance  100 . Here, fastening system  200  includes a support device  3 . Support device  3  can hold one or more food-supporting members  103  so that these may be positioned at corresponding locations in cooking chamber  2 . Fastening system  200  is shown here in a partially cross-sectional side view, the plane of section passing through a lateral surface of a cooking chamber wall  12  of cooking appliance  1 . 
     Support device  3  is shown in highly schematic form and is L-shaped in profile. Support device  3  is shown here merely by way of example and may also be configured to have any other shape. For example, support device  3  may also be U-shaped and/or C-shaped in profile. Other profiles are also possible. 
     Support device  3  may also be configured as a side rack, for example, and may have one or more support rails. In the installed condition, the support rails are preferably disposed horizontally. Thus, for example, a food-supporting member  103  can be placed with its outer edges on the support rails and slid therealong into cooking chamber  2 . It is also possible that a plurality of support rails may be arranged one above another to allow food-supporting member  103  to be positioned at different heights. The support rails may also be connected to one another and/or to other rods for stabilization purposes. However, the side rack may also be formed of one or more rods or wires. 
     Furthermore, telescoping extension rails and/or rollers or other guide means may be provided to facilitate easy insertion and removal of the food-supporting member  103 . However, support device  3  of fastening system  200  may also be configured to be capable of holding an existing support system for food-supporting members  103  or an additional support system. This has the advantage of allowing known or existing support systems to be retrofitted with fastening system  200  in an uncomplicated manner, so that a reliable microwave operation is also possible using these support systems. 
     In order to attach support device  3 , the support device has a fastening element  13  which is received in a lead-through device  4 . Lead-through device  4  is installed on cooking chamber wall  12  and has a through-hole  14  capable of receiving fastening element  13 . To this end, cooking chamber wall  12  has a corresponding opening  22  in the region of through-hole  14 . 
     Lead-through device  4  is configured here as a hollow rivet  54 . Such an embodiment provides an inexpensive and durable way of fastening support device  3  and also greatly increases the ease of installation. For this purpose, opening  22 , into which hollow rivet  54  may later be inserted, is formed in cooking chamber wall  12 , for example, by punching or drilling. 
     Here, in order to receive and guide fastening element  13 , lead-through device  4  has a tubular guide portion  64 , which is here formed by hollow rivet  54 . Length  44  of guide portion  64  is longer than the portion  23  of fastening element  13  that is received in lead-through device  4  or hollow rivet  54  when in the installed condition. Thus, a safety portion  24  remains between the end of fastening element  13  and the end of hollow rivet  54  in order to shield against microwave radiation. 
     Safety portion  24  has the advantage that it prevents the so-called “coaxial conductor effect” from occurring here. Due to safety portion  24 , hollow rivet  54  is unable to act as a kind of an outer conductor, and fastening element  13  is unable to act as a kind of an inner conductor. Thus, safety portion  24  effectively prevents leakage of microwave radiation from cooking chamber  2 . 
     Furthermore, diameter  34  of through-hole  14  is configured to be smaller than half the wavelength of the microwave radiation used. Diameter  34  is preferably smaller than 20 mm, and particularly preferably smaller than 10 mm. Moreover, length  44  of guide portion  64  and/or the length of hollow rivet  54  are/is many times greater than thickness  32  of cooking chamber wall  12 . Preferably, length  44  is greater than 10 mm, and particularly preferably greater than 20 mm. 
     Located between hollow rivet  54  and fastening element  13  is here an isolation device  5 , which here serves, in particular, for electrically isolating support device  3  and/or fastening element  13  from cooking chamber wall  12 . Such an isolation effectively counteracts voltage flash-overs during microwave operation. Isolation device  5  has a spacing device  15  at its end facing the cooking chamber, also for the purpose of preventing voltage flash-overs. Spacing device  15  has here the additional advantage of preventing fastening element  13  from entering safety portion  24 . 
     Isolation device  5  is here composed of a silicone material. Such a material has good electrical insulating properties, good thermal stability and good resistance to microwaves and steam under the conditions expected in a cooking appliance  1  or combination appliance  100 . In addition, such an isolation device  5  is economical to manufacture and easy to install because of its flexibility, and provides a suitable seal against steam without excessive complexity. In order to improve the impermeability to steam, isolation device  5  here has a blind hole  25  in which fastening element  13  is received. 
     During installation, isolation device  5  is inserted through through-hole  14 , a mounting aid  35  being provided to facilitate insertion. After the installation is completed, mounting aid  35  may remain on isolation device  5  or be removed, for example by cutting. After insertion, isolation device  5  is latched in place behind hollow rivet  54  on the outside of the cooking chamber. To this end, a fastening device  55  is provided, here in the form of a latching device  65 . 
     Latching device  65  is here provided by a circumferential ridge. During insertion, isolation device  5  is slightly stretched until latching device  65  can grip around one end of hollow rivet  54 . In this way, it is also ensured that isolation device  5  is in steam-tight engagement on the inside of the cooking chamber. The end of isolation device  5  facing the inside of the cooking chamber is configured to overlap the separation or transition between cooking chamber wall  12  and lead-through device  4 . For example, an enlargement and/or a collar or the like may be provided for this purpose. 
     Isolation device  5  may also be oversized with respect to diameter  34  of through-hole  14  to ensure a particularly taut and correspondingly steam-tight engagement. Preferably, isolation device  5  is formed in one piece with spacing device  15 , mounting aid  35  and fastening device  55 , so that it can be manufactured economically using mold tools. 
       FIG. 3  shows a fastening system  200  and an isolation device  5  from which mounting aid  35  has been removed. Here, fastening element  13  ends in a fastening portion  74  of guide portion  64 . Thus, a safety portion  24  remains within guide portion  64  and within hollow rivet  54 , so that leakage of microwave radiation is reliably counteracted. 
       FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of a fastening system  200 . Here, blind hole  25  of isolation device  5  is made correspondingly shorter, so that fastening element  13  is prevented from being inserted into safety portion  24 . In addition, such an embodiment has the advantage of ensuring that there is sufficient clearance between cooking chamber wall  12  and support device  3 , regardless of spacing device  15 . This makes it possible to prevent voltage flash-overs. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of fastening system  200  without an isolation device  5 . Here, support device  3  and cooking chamber wall  12  may be electrically conductively connected to each other to prevent voltage flash-overs. To reduce resistance, it is also possible to provide a welded and/or brazed connection or the like between fastening element  13  and hollow rivet  54  and/or cooking chamber wall  12 . Length  44  of hollow rivet  54  is selected here to be greater or longer than the portion  23  of fastening element  13  that is received within guide portion  64 . Thus, fastening element  13  ends in fastening portion  74 , ensuring that safety portion  24  remains clear. 
     Here, in order to ensure that safety portion  24  remains clear even when a longer fastening element  13  is used, hollow rivet  54  has a circumferential radial taper  244 . Here, taper  244  is located at the transition between fastening portion  74  and safety portion  24 , so that it is impossible to insert fastening element  13  into safety portion  24 . Preferably, safety portion  24  has a length of between one and several millimeters. However, a larger or smaller safety portion  24  is also possible. 
     Overall, the present invention provides a cooking appliance  1  and a fastening system  200  which are particularly suitable for use during microwave operation. Support devices  3  for food-supporting members  103  can thus be installed in cooking chamber  2  in an inexpensive and uncomplicated manner. Moreover, the occurrence of voltage flash-overs is reliably counteracted by an isolation device  5 . A safety portion  24  provides reliable shielding against microwave radiation during microwave operation. Moreover, when the isolation device  5  is suitably embodied as a silicone plug having a blind hole  25 , cooking chamber  2  can be inexpensively sealed in such a way that it is steam-tight and resistant to microwaves, which is particularly advantageous in the case of combination appliances  100 . Another advantage is that a visually appealing design can be achieved. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments. 
     The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       1  cooking appliance 
       2  cooking chamber 
       3  support device 
       4  lead-through device 
       5  isolation device 
       12  cooking chamber wall 
       13  fastening element 
       14  through-hole 
       15  spacing device 
       22  opening 
       23  portion 
       24  safety portion 
       25  blind hole 
       32  thickness 
       34  diameter 
       35  mounting aid 
       44  length 
       54  hollow rivet 
       55  fastening device 
       64  guide portion 
       74  fastening portion 
       65  latching device 
       100  combination appliance 
       101  steam generator device 
       102  microwave heat source 
       103  food-supporting member 
       104  user controls 
       105  door 
       200  fastening system 
       244  taper