Patent Publication Number: US-8985093-B2

Title: Domestic cooking appliance having side wall trim mounting

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a domestic cooking appliance having side walls. 
     An example of an application for the invention is a domestic cooking appliance having side wall trim panels and the mounting system of the side wall trim panels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some conventional domestic cooking ranges can include a side wall trim. The side wall trim is positioned toward the front of the range along both the left and right sides. The side wall trim extends substantially the entire vertical height of the range, but only extends a few inches backward from the front of the range. A purpose of the side wall trim is to present a clean appearance to any portion that may extend forward beyond any cabinetry that is positioned on either side of the range. Thus, there is no need for the side wall trim to extend all the way to the rear of the range. 
     Some side wall trim arrangements involve screws or other mounting fasteners that extend through the side wall trim and into holes in an area of the chassis of the range that is adjacent to the cooking space inside the range (hereinafter referred to as the “zone adjacent to the cooking space”). Such fastening systems can be unsightly. 
     As a result of the above, there is a need for a way to mount side wall trim that is esthetically pleasing, is compact in size, and that attaches to a domestic cooking appliance without using fasteners that pierce the side wall of the zone adjacent to the cooking space of the domestic cooking appliance. A further benefit of reduced manufacturing and inventory costs can be achieved by making the parts of the side wall trim system universal so that the same part can be used on both sides of the appliance. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention achieves the benefit of providing a side wall trim system that is esthetically pleasing, is compact in size, and that attaches to a domestic cooking appliance without using fasteners that pierce the side wall of the zone adjacent to the cooking space of the domestic cooking appliance. The invention also recognizes the benefit of reduced manufacturing and inventory costs by making the parts of the side wall trim system universal so that the same part can be used on both sides of the appliance. 
     Embodiments of the invention attach the side wall trim to a first bracket that is fastened to the appliance near the front of the appliance by fasteners that are outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. The rearmost part of the side wall trim can be attached to the appliance by way of a second bracket or directly to the appliance. In either case, the fasteners that attach the rearmost part of the side wall trim to the appliance are outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. The side wall trim is preferably attached to the appliance at both the top and bottom of the rearmost part so that the side wall trim is securely attached to the appliance. If the top of the rearmost part is not secured to the appliance, it can become scratched, bent, or otherwise damaged when the appliance is installed next to cabinetry. 
     Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic cooking appliance. The domestic cooking appliance includes a cooking space for cooking a food item; a left side, a right side, a front and a back, the left and right sides of the domestic cooking appliance having a zone adjacent to the cooking space which is horizontally next to the cooking space; a heating device for heating the cooking space; a door for closing off the cooking space; a left side first mounting bracket attached to the left side of the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space; a left side trim panel attached to the left side first mounting bracket and the left side of the domestic cooking appliance, the left side trim panel attaching to the left side first mounting bracket by a friction fit; a right side first mounting bracket attached to the right side of the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space; and a right side trim panel attached to the right side first mounting bracket and the right side of the domestic cooking appliance, the right side trim panel attaching to the right side first mounting bracket by a friction fit. Where the left side trim panel attaches directly to the domestic cooking appliance, it only attaches to the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. Where the right side trim panel attaches directly to the domestic cooking appliance, it only attaches to the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. The left side first mounting bracket and the right side first mounting bracket are identical, and the left side trim panel and the right side trim panel are identical. 
     Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a side trim panel system for a domestic cooking appliance having a cooking space, a left side, a right side, a front and a back, the left and right sides of the domestic cooking appliance having a zone adjacent to the cooking space which is horizontally next to the cooking space. The system includes a first mounting bracket configured to attach to the domestic cooking appliance, the first mounting bracket being of a universal configuration such that it can be attached to either the left side of the domestic cooking appliance or the right side of the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space; and a side trim panel that attaches to the first mounting bracket and the domestic cooking appliance, the side trim panel being of a universal configuration such that it can be attached to the first mounting bracket and the domestic cooking appliance when the first mounting bracket is attached to either the left side of the domestic cooking appliance or the right side of the domestic cooking appliance. The side trim panel attaches to the first mounting bracket by a friction fit, and where the side trim panel attaches directly to the domestic cooking appliance, it only attaches to the domestic cooking appliance outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a domestic cooking appliance in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the domestic cooking appliance shown in  FIG. 1 , with the side trim panel removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary side trim panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary side trim panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an inside view an exemplary side trim panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view an exemplary side trim panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of an exemplary side trim panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exemplary first mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary first mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of an exemplary first mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of an exemplary first mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an exemplary second mounting bracket in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. 
     As stated above, some conventional domestic cooking ranges can include a side wall trim. The side wall trim is positioned toward the front of the range along both the left and right sides. The side wall trim extends substantially the entire vertical height of the range, but only extends a few inches backward from the front of the range. A purpose of the side wall trim is to present a clean appearance to any portion that may extend forward beyond any cabinetry that is positioned on either side of the range. Thus, there is no need for the side wall trim to extend all the way to the rear of the range. 
     The screws or other mounting fasteners that some side wall trim arrangements use extend through the side wall trim and into holes in the chassis of the range and can be unsightly. 
     Embodiments of the invention provide a side wall trim system that is esthetically pleasing, is compact in size, and that attaches to a domestic cooking appliance without using fasteners that pierce the side wall of the zone adjacent to the cooking space of the domestic cooking appliance. The added benefits of reduced manufacturing and inventory costs are realized by making the parts of the side wall trim system universal so that the same part can be used on both sides of the appliance. 
       FIG. 1  shows a partial view of an example of an appliance  100  in accordance with particular embodiments of the invention. Appliance  100  has a body  110  and a door  120 . A side of appliance  100  is indicated by reference number  130 . Shown partially covering side  130  is a side wall trim  200 . This example of side wall trim  200  is a piece of bent sheet metal having a substantially flat surface  210 . Side wall trim  200  covers only a portion of side  130  near the front of appliance  100 . A purpose of side wall trim  200  is to present a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the side of appliance  100  near the front of appliance  100  in cases where this portion of appliance  100  may protrude from cabinetry adjacent to appliance  100 . 
       FIG. 2  shows side  130  of appliance  100  with side wall trim  200  removed so that, in this example, two mounting brackets used to mount side wall trim  200  to appliance  100  can be seen. A large mounting bracket  300  is, in this example, attached to side  130  with, for example, screws, rivets or other fasteners outside and in front of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. A small mounting bracket  400  is located, in this example, near the bottom of appliance  100  and is attached to appliance  100  with, for example, screws, rivets, or other fasteners outside of the zone adjacent to the cooking space. Preferably, large mounting bracket  300  and small mounting bracket  400  would be attached at the factory when appliance  100  is manufactured. As a result, the use of screws, rivets or other fasteners is more acceptable because conditions at the factory are controlled, unlike the point of installation where an installer may incorrectly install the mounting brackets. In any event, the fasteners used to attach large mounting bracket  300  and small mounting bracket  400  to the appliance are outside the zone adjacent to the cooking space. This arrangement avoids the necessity for an installer to install any screws or other fasteners into side  130  of appliance  100  in the zone adjacent to the cooking space. 
       FIG. 3  shows side wall trim  200  in a transparent view so that its interaction with large mounting bracket  300  and small mounting bracket  400  can be seen. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in this example, large mounting bracket  300  has a generally Z-shaped cross-section. Large mounting bracket  300  has a flat section  340 , a flat section  330  at a right angle to section  340 , a flat section  320  at a right angle to section  330 , and an angled section  310 . Large mounting bracket  300  also has, in this example, three slots  350 , one or more of which receive a tab  260  that is a part of side wall trim  200 . Small mounting bracket  400  has a flat section  410 , a flat section  420  at a right angle to section  410 , and a flat section  430  at a right angle to section  420 . At the top of side wall trim  200  in  FIG. 3 , an attachment member  280  can be seen. Similarly, at the corresponding point at the bottom of side wall trim  200  in  FIG. 3 , there is another attachment member  280 . Although this example provides tabs on side wall trim  200  and slots in large mounting bracket  300 , it is noted that side wall trim  200  can include slots and large mounting bracket  300  can include tabs. 
     Large mounting bracket  300  is attached to appliance  100  by, for example, screws, rivets, or other fasteners, through holes  345  and/or slots  360  (shown in  FIG. 11 ). Side wall trim  200  is attached in this example to large mounting bracket  300  by sliding side wall trim  200  from the front of appliance  100  towards the rear of appliance  100  so that tabs  260  engage slots  350 . In particular embodiments, the relationship of the distance between section  260  and section  230  relative to the distance between section  340  and section  320  is set so that a friction fit exists between section  260  and section  340  and a friction fit exists between section  230  and section  320 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . This friction fit creates a compression fit that maintains the horizontal position of side wall trim  200  so that there is no movement of side wall trim  200  in the horizontal direction. 
     After side wall trim  200  is slid into the position shown in  FIG. 4 , side wall trim  200  is attached at its lower rear end to small mounting bracket  400  by way of one or more screws or other fasteners through hole  290  in attachment member  280  and hole  450  in small mounting bracket  400 . Side wall trim  200  is attached at its upper rear end by a screw or other fastener into the appliance outside the zone adjacent to the cooking space. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , section  410  of small mounting bracket  400  fits behind attachment member  280  and below, and aligned with, section  270  of side wall trim  200 . Small mounting bracket  400  is attached to appliance  100  by way of screws or other fasteners through holes  440  in section  430 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , side wall trim  200 , large mounting bracket  300 , and small mounting bracket  400  are symmetrical in their design so that they can be used on either side of appliance  100 . This universal fit reduces the number of different parts that need to be manufactured and inventoried. 
       FIGS. 5-8  show an example of side wall trim  200 . These Figures show more clearly attachment members  280  and tabs  260 .  FIGS. 9-12  show an example of large mounting bracket  300 . These Figures show more clearly holes  345 , slots  350 , and slots  360 .  FIG. 13  shows an example of small mounting bracket  400 ,  FIG. 13  shows more clearly holes  440  and holes  450 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , side wall trim  200  provides a clean and attractive appearance to the side of appliance  100  near the front of appliance  100  with no visible fasteners, while maintaining a secure fit that portrays a high quality product. 
     In an alternate embodiment, small mounting bracket  400  can be incorporated into side wall trim  200 . This embodiment reduces the number of parts associated with the side wall trim system, but, if installed by an installer, would require the installer to attach side wall trim  200  to appliance  100  by use of screws, rivets, or other fasteners. To maintain the universal-fit feature of side wall trim  200 , a small mounting bracket  400  would be incorporated at both the top and the bottom of side wall trim  200 . In this embodiment, side wall trim  200  is still symmetrical so that it can be used on either side of the appliance. 
     It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention.