Patent Description:
Cooking appliances, which are a type of home appliance for cooking food, are appliances installed in a kitchen space to cook food according to an intention of a user. Such cooking appliances may be classified in various ways according to the type of heat source used, the shape, the type of fuel, or the like.

When classified according to the type of space where food is placed, cooking appliances may be classified into open-type cooking appliances and closed-type cooking appliances. The closed-type cooking appliances include an oven, a microwave, and the like. Also, the open-type cooking appliances include a cooktop, a hob, a griddle, and the like.

The closed-type cooking appliances are cooking appliances in which a space where food is placed is covered. Such closed-type cooking appliances may heat the covered space to cook food.

A cooking chamber is provided inside a closed-type cooking appliance. The cooking chamber is a space where food is placed and is a space covered when the cooking appliance cooks food. The cooking chamber is a space where food is actually cooked.

A door configured to selectively open or close the cooking chamber is rotatably provided to the closed-type cooking appliance. By a door hinge provided between the door and a main body having the cooking chamber formed therein, the door may be rotatably installed on the main body. The door may rotate about a portion coupled to the main body through the door hinge to selectively open or close the cooking chamber.

A heat source may be provided in an inner space of the cooking chamber opened and closed by the door. The heat source is provided to heat the cooking chamber. A gas burner, an electric burner, or the like may be used as the heat source.

An electric component chamber may be disposed on the cooking chamber. Electric components necessary for operation of the closed-type cooking appliance may be provided in the electric component chamber. The electric component chamber is formed as a space separated from the cooking chamber. A control panel may be disposed above the door and in front of the electric component chamber. There may be a gap/space between the control panel and the door. The gap/space is defined on an upper side by the control panel, on a lower side by the door, on a rear side by the electric component chamber. The gap/space may be open at the front side.

Hot air may be exhausted/leaked from the cooking chamber and/or the electric component chamber towards a front of the cooking appliance - into the gap/space. This exhausted/leaked hot air may flow in undesirable manner for example into the door instead of exiting the cooking appliance may occur. This may heat up the door or interfere with any air flows of the door for cooling the door.

The present technique (as described by the appended claims) may be understood in the context of the above structure.

Related Art Document <NUM> (<CIT>) discloses an oven.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, an oven <NUM> disclosed in Related Art Document <NUM> may include a casing <NUM> having a cooking chamber <NUM> provided therein and a door <NUM> configured to open and close an open front of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The cooking chamber <NUM> is a cooking space formed by an upper plate <NUM>, a bottom plate <NUM>, both side plates <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Various components constituting the oven <NUM> may be embedded in a space between the casing <NUM> and an outer portion of the cooking chamber <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "electric component chamber"). A control panel <NUM> for controlling an operation of the oven <NUM> may be installed at an upper end of the casing <NUM>.

A cooling fan <NUM> may be installed at an outer side of the upper plate <NUM>. The cooling fan <NUM> may introduce outside air into the electric component chamber through at least one opening installed in a rear plate <NUM> or the like of the casing <NUM> and then discharge the air introduced into the electric component chamber back to the outside.

A cooling flow path <NUM> may be provided inside the electric component chamber. The cooling flow path <NUM> forms a passage that allows air suctioned by the cooling fan <NUM> to flow toward a front surface of the oven <NUM>.

A cooling discharge port <NUM> may be provided at a front side of the cooling flow path <NUM>. Air passing through the cooling flow path <NUM> may be discharged to an upper portion of the door <NUM> through the cooling discharge port <NUM>. The cooling discharge port <NUM> may be positioned further toward the rear than the door <NUM>.

A cooling guide <NUM> may be installed at a front-side end of the cooling discharge port <NUM>. The cooling guide <NUM> may be provided in the form of a bracket that is bent to reduce the width of the cooling discharge port <NUM>.

In the cooling discharge port <NUM> whose width is reduced due to the cooling guide <NUM>, a phenomenon in which the flow speed of air passing through the cooling discharge port <NUM> increases may occur. Accordingly, while air passing through the cooling discharge port <NUM> is discharged to the outside of the oven <NUM> at a high speed, a phenomenon may occur in which, as pressure of the cooling discharge port <NUM> is decreased, air around the cooling discharge port <NUM> gathers around the cooling discharge port <NUM>.

In this way, due to a force caused by air around the cooling discharge port <NUM> gathering to a portion above the door <NUM>, air inside the door <NUM> may be guided to be discharged to the portion above the door <NUM>.

By guiding air inside the door <NUM> to be discharged as above, Related Art Document <NUM> has an effect that the introduction of cold air into the door <NUM> is activated and air discharged through the cooling discharge port <NUM> is suppressed from flowing backward into the door <NUM>.

However, Related Art Document <NUM> has the following problems.

According to Related Art Document <NUM>, air passing through the cooling discharge port <NUM> and air discharged from the door <NUM> are discharged to a space positioned in front of the cooling discharge port <NUM> and above the door <NUM>.

That is, as air discharged through the cooling discharge port <NUM> and air discharged from inside the door <NUM> are mixed in one space, a vortex may be generated in the corresponding space. As the vortex is generated in this way, air passing through the cooling discharge port <NUM> and air discharged from the door <NUM> may not be properly discharged to the outside of the oven <NUM>, and a phenomenon in which air in the corresponding space flows backward into the door <NUM> may occur.

In this case, it is challenging to properly cool the inside of the electric component chamber and the inside of the door <NUM>.

Also, in Related Art Document <NUM>, the cooling guide <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction of the cooling discharge port <NUM> along a portion under the cooling discharge port <NUM>, and the cooling guide <NUM> is fixed to the portion under the cooling discharge port <NUM>.

In order to install the cooling guide <NUM>, it is may be necessary/advantageous to additionally perform a task of fixing the cooling guide <NUM> to the portion under the cooling discharge port <NUM>. Here, when tasks of setting the position of the cooling guide <NUM> and fixing the cooling guide <NUM> are not properly performed, it may be difficult for air to be properly discharged through the cooling discharge port <NUM> as intended.

Also, when the cooling discharge port <NUM> is formed to be divided into a plurality of cooling discharge ports <NUM> in the width direction of the oven <NUM>, the cooling guide <NUM> fixed to the portion under the cooling discharge port <NUM> is also provided as a plurality of cooling guides <NUM>.

In this case, there may be a problem that the number of assemblers and the number of components necessary to install the cooling guides <NUM> are further increased, and the level of difficulty of installing the cooling guides <NUM> is further increased.

Also, when the cooling discharge port <NUM> is provided to continuously extend in the width direction of the oven <NUM>, that is, only a single long cooling discharge port <NUM> is formed in the oven <NUM>, the strength of the front surface of the casing <NUM> may be weakened.

<CIT> presents a vent structure for venting an air space around the cavity of a self-cleaning oven in which food is cooked with the vent structure including a movable damper movable between a relatively closed first position for restricting air flow through the air space during the cooking and an open second position to facilitate flow of cooling air through the space during the high temperature self-cleaning burn off of the food soil deposits.

<CIT> presents an exhaust duct cooling system for a built-in gas oven wherein cool air is drawn into the oven enclosure and through an oven controls area to cool that area, and then the cool air is directed into a cool air duct which is positioned between the oven cooking cavity and an oven exhaust duct to thermally isolate the controls area while cooling the oven exhaust. The cool air duct has a first, lower outlet below the oven controls, and a second, upper outlet adjacent to an outlet of the oven exhaust duct where cool air and oven exhaust are mixed in a chamber prior to exiting the oven cabinet. Thus, the oven exhaust is tempered prior to being exhausted from the front of the oven.

An object of the present technique is to provide a cooking appliance with an improved structure to suppress air discharged from an electric component chamber from flowing backward into a door.

Another object of the present technique is to provide a cooking appliance with an improved structure to allow an air guide to be installed at a set position with high accuracy and facilitate the installation of the air guide.

Yet another object of the present technique is to provide a cooking appliance with an improved structure to reduce a risk of contact between a user and a hot component when the user opens the door.

Yet another object of the present technique is to provide a cooking appliance with an improved structure to reduce an influence of high-temperature air discharged from the cooking appliance and enhance aesthetics of the cooking appliance.

One or more objects of the present technique are achieved by the invention set out by the subject-matter of the independent claim.

A cooking appliance, of the present technique, includes an air guide provided/advantageously therein.

A cooking appliance, of the present technique, includes a cover protrusion coupled to an air guide to fix the air guide to a gap between a door and a control panel, and a position at which the air guide is coupled to the cover protrusion is guided by a guide protrusion portion provided at the cover protrusion.

According to the invention, the cooking appliance includes an air guide configured to cover at least a portion of a front panel from a front side and a cover protrusion coupled to the air guide while in contact with the air guide in a vertical direction, and the cover protrusion may include a guide protrusion portion configured to guide the position of the air guide while in contact with the air guide in a horizontal direction.

Also, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, an air guide may be disposed in a gap between a door and a control panel, and the air guide may cover at least a portion of a front panel from a front side.

In this way, according to the present disclosure, by covering a certain portion of the gap between the door and the control panel, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be enhanced.

Also, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, a front space surrounded by a control panel and a door may be formed between the control panel and the door, and an air guide disposed in the front space may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through a gap between the door and the control panel.

Also, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, an air guide may be disposed in a gap between a door and a control panel, and the air guide may cover at least a portion of a structure disposed at the same height as the gap between the door and the control panel from a front side.

Also, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, a cover protrusion provided to fix an air guide to a control panel may be disposed to cover a partition configured to isolate one exhaust port and another exhaust port from each other.

In this way, it is possible to provide advantageous effects that an influence of high-temperature air discharged from the cooking appliance is reduced, and the aesthetics of the cooking appliance are enhanced
One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cooking appliance including: a cavity having a cooking chamber with an open front side formed therein; a door disposed at a front of the cavity to open and close the cooking chamber; a control panel disposed at a portion above the cavity and the door; an air guide configured to cover at least a portion of a front panel from a front side and disposed between the door and the control panel; and a cover protrusion configured to protrude from the door or the control panel toward the air guide.

Also, the air guide may be coupled to the cover protrusion.

Also, the cover protrusion may include a fastening protrusion portion coupled to the air guide while in contact with the air guide in a vertical direction and a guide protrusion portion configured to guide the position of the air guide while in contact with the air guide in a horizontal direction.

In the present disclosure, the fastening protrusion portion may also be referred to as fastening portion, and the guide protrusion portion may be referred to as guiding portion.

Also, the guide protrusion portion may be formed to protrude in the vertical direction from an end of the fastening protrusion portion that faces the air guide.

Also, the guide protrusion portion may be disposed at a rear side of the fastening protrusion portion to support the air guide from a rear side.

Also, the guide protrusion portion may protrude a length that corresponds to a thickness of the air guide.

Also, a fastening hole may be formed in each of the air guide and the fastening protrusion portion to pass therethrough in the vertical direction, and the guide protrusion portion may be disposed at the rear side of the fastening protrusion portion.

Also, when the air guide is in contact with the guide protrusion portion in a front-rear direction, the fastening hole formed in the air guide and the fastening hole formed in the fastening protrusion portion may be disposed in a straight line in a lateral direction.

Also, the guide protrusion portion may support the air guide from a rear side of the air guide so that the air guide is slidable in the lateral direction.

Also, the fastening hole of the fastening protrusion portion may be disposed in a movement path of the fastening hole of the air guide sliding in the lateral direction.

Also, the cover protrusion may be provided as a plurality of cover protrusions disposed in the lateral direction.

Also, an extension cover portion configured to protrude from the guide protrusion portion and support the guide protrusion portion may be provided on at least any one of the plurality of cover protrusions.

Also, the extension cover portion may be disposed at a rear of the guide protrusion portion and may be formed to protrude further in the lateral direction than the fastening protrusion portion and the guide protrusion portion.

Also, the fastening protrusion portion, the guide protrusion portion, and the extension cover portion may be integrally formed.

Also, a plurality of exhaust ports may be disposed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction in the front panel, a partition may be formed between two adjacent exhaust ports, and the cover protrusion may be disposed at a front side of each partition to cover the partition from the front side.

Also, the cover protrusion may be provided at the control panel.

Also, the air guide may be coupled to the cover protrusion and fixed to the control panel.

At least a portion of the control panel may be integrally formed with the fastening protrusion portion and the guide protrusion portion.

According to a cooking appliance of the present disclosure, a door exhaust port may be disposed at a position at which the door exhaust port can deviate as much as possible from a flow area of air discharged through an exhaust port, and an air guide may be disposed on an exhaust flow path and diverge a flow of air flowing through the exhaust flow path.

In this way, according to the present disclosure, not only is it possible to effectively suppress hot air discharged to a front space from flowing backward into a door, but also generation of a vortex can be effectively suppressed.

Also, according to the present disclosure, since an installation position of an air guide coupled to a fastening protrusion portion is guided by a guide protrusion portion that protrudes to a rear side of the fastening protrusion portion, it is possible to provide advantageous effects that the air guide is allowed to be installed at a set position with high accuracy and the installation of the air guide is facilitated.

Also, an air guide of the present disclosure is fixed to a control panel instead of a door and is provided to not move forward together with the door when the door is opened.

The cooking appliance of the present disclosure that includes the air guide reduces the possibility of contact between a user and the air guide that may be in a high-temperature state due to coming in contact with a hot discharge flow, and in this way, a risk that the user may get burned due to coming in contact with a high-temperature component when opening the door can be effectively reduced.

Also, according to the present disclosure, structures exposed through a front gap are partially covered by an air guide providing a structure that crosses the front gap in a lateral direction and covers the front gap, and in this way, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be enhanced.

Also, according to the present disclosure, a line of sight toward the front gap of the cooking appliance is focused on the air guide, thereby providing an optical illusion effect that makes it seem like only the air guide is present in the front gap, and in this way, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be more effectively enhanced.

Also, according to the present disclosure, a front surface of the air guide is disposed at a central position of the front gap so that an upper area of the front gap and a lower area of the front gap are symmetrical to each other, and in this way, it is possible to make the front exterior of the cooking appliance look more stable and further enhance the aesthetics of the cooking appliance.

Also, according to the present disclosure, a second cover protrusion is disposed at a position at which the second cover protrusion covers a partition, configured to isolate one exhaust port and another exhaust port from each other, from a front, and in this way, it is possible to simultaneously provide an advantageous effect that a risk of an occurrence of thermal deformation of the cover protrusion is reduced without interfering with the discharge of air through the exhaust ports and an advantageous effect that the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance are enhanced.

According to the present disclosure, since an air guide formed of a metal material with excellent thermal resistance is provided, the air guide disposed on a path along which high-temperature air is discharged can be prevented from being easily deformed by heat and easily damaged by impact, and the aesthetics of the cooking appliance can be enhanced through metallic luster provided by the air guide.

Although terms such as first and second are used to describe various components, of course, the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component, and of course, a first component may also be a second component unless otherwise stated.

Terms including ordinals such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component.

When a certain component is mentioned as being "connected" or "linked" to another component, although the certain component may be directly connected or linked to the other component, it should be understood that another component may be present therebetween. On the other hand, when a certain component is mentioned as being "directly connected" or "directly linked" to another component, it should be understood that other components are not present therebetween.

When a certain component is mentioned as being "on" or "under" another component, it should be understood that the certain component may be disposed directly on the other component or another component may be present therebetween.

A direction in which a door is installed/disposed with respect to a center of a cooking appliance and/or with respect to a cooking space/chamber or a center of the cooking space defined in the cooking appliance (for example in a state in which the cooking appliance is placed on a floor or surface, e.g. for intended use) is defined or referred to as 'forward'. A direction towards/approaching from the door e.g. door in its closed state) toward an inside of the cooking appliance and/or the center of a cooking appliance and/or the cooking space/chamber and/or the center of the cooking space/chamber defined in the cooking appliance (for example in a state in which the cooking appliance is placed on a floor or surface, e.g. for intended use) is defined or referred to as 'rearward'. For convenience, a forward-rearward direction may be referred to as a first direction or forward-rearward direction (or axis or extension) or an axial (or depth) direction from the door in closed state to an inside of the cooking chamber/space. Then, forward may be referred to as one side of the first direction, and rearward may be referred to as the other/opposite side of the first direction.

Also, a direction of gravity or a direction from the cooking chamber/space (vertically downward) towards a floor or surface on which the cooking appliance is installed for use i.e. in upright manner may be defined or referred to as 'downward', and a direction opposite to the direction of gravity may be defined as 'upward'. For convenience, the upward direction and the downward direction can be referred to as a upward-downward direction (or axis or extension) or an vertical direction or up-down direction or height or height direction.

Also, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the cooking appliance, that is, a width direction of the cooking appliance when the cooking appliance is viewed from in front of the door of the cooking appliance, may be referred to as a left-right direction or lateral direction or width or width direction. For convenience, the left-right direction may be referred to as a second direction. Then, rightward may be referred to as one side of the second direction, and leftward may be referred to as the other/opposite side of the second direction.

Also, the width direction of the cooking appliance may also be referred to as a lateral direction. Then, rightward may be referred to as one side of the lateral direction, and leftward may be referred to as the other/opposite side of the lateral direction.

Also, the above-described up-down direction may be referred to as a third direction. Then, upward may be referred to as one side of the third direction, and downward may be referred to as the other/opposite side of the third direction.

Also, the above-described up-down direction may be referred to as a vertical direction. Then, both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, that is, the first direction and the second direction, may be referred to as a horizontal direction.

The first direction, the second direction and the third direction may be mutually perpendicular i.e. the first direction is perpendicular to each of the second and the third directions, the second direction is perpendicular to each of the first and the third directions, and the third direction is perpendicular to each of the first and the second directions. Similarly, the vertical direction, the lateral direction and the axial direction may be mutually perpendicular.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view showing an open state of a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance illustrated in <FIG>. Also, <FIG> is a perspective view showing an open state of a control panel of the cooking appliance illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a lateral cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of the cooking appliance illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exterior of the cooking appliance may be formed by a main body <NUM>. Optionally, the main body <NUM> may be provided in a form that includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or box shape. The main body <NUM> may be formed of a material having a predetermined strength in order to protect a plurality of components installed in an inner space thereof.

The main body <NUM> may include a cavity <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> may form the frame/core of the main body <NUM>.

Also, the main body <NUM> may further include front panels <NUM> and <NUM>, including a first front panel <NUM>.

The first front panel <NUM> may be disposed between the cavity <NUM> and a door <NUM>. The first front panel <NUM> may be disposed at a front side of the cavity <NUM> and form a front surface of the main body <NUM>. The first front panel <NUM> may define the cavity <NUM> at a front surface or front side or front of the cavity <NUM>.

As another example, the first front panel <NUM> may not be separately provided from the main body/cavity <NUM>, and a front surface of the main body/cavity <NUM> may form the front surface of the main body <NUM>.

For example, the cavity <NUM> and the first front panel <NUM> may be integrally formed with each other and provided in the main body <NUM>. For example the front panel <NUM> may be an integral part of the main body.

A cooking chamber <NUM> may be formed inside the main body/cavity <NUM>. Also, an opening <NUM> configured to open the cooking chamber <NUM> forward may be formed inside the first front panel <NUM> or in front of the cavity. In the present technique, the cooking chamber <NUM> and the cavity <NUM> may mean one and the same thing. In other words, the main body includes a cavity/space formed therein which is the cooking chamber - accessible when the door is in open position and configured to receive items therein.

The cooking chamber <NUM> may be formed in a hexahedral shape with an open front surface. In a state in which the cooking chamber <NUM> is closed, the cooking appliance may heat an inner space of the cooking chamber <NUM> to cook food. That is, in the cooking appliance, the inner space of the cooking chamber <NUM> is a space where food is actually cooked.

A heating portion configured to heat the cooking chamber <NUM> may be provided in the cooking appliance. As an example of the heating portion, a convection portion <NUM> configured to cause convection of hot air to heat the inner space of the cooking chamber <NUM> may be provided as the heating portion at a rear side of the cooking chamber <NUM>. Also, an upper heater <NUM> or an upper burner configured to heat the inner space of the cooking chamber <NUM> from an upper side may be provided as the heating portion at an upper side of the cooking chamber <NUM>. Also, a lower heater or a lower burner configured to heat the inner space of the cooking chamber <NUM> from a lower side may also be provided as the heating portion at a lower side of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The door <NUM> configured to selectively open or close the cooking chamber <NUM> may be rotatably provided at a front side of the main body <NUM>. The door <NUM> may open or close the cooking chamber <NUM> by being operated in a pull-down manner in which an upper end of the door <NUM> vertically rotates about a lower end thereof.

The door <NUM> may be formed in a hexahedral shape having a predetermined thickness as a whole. Also, a handle <NUM> or holding space provided to be gripped by a user when the user wants to rotate the door <NUM> may be installed at a front surface of the door <NUM>.

Also, a see-through window may be provided at the door <NUM>. The see-through window may be implemented using a transparent material such as glass or transparent plastic. According to a cooking appliance to which the see-through window is applied, it may be advantageous to form the see-through window to withstand high temperature and high pressure, and it may also be advantageous to add functions such as waterproofing and heat-proofing to the see-through window.

An electric component space <NUM> may be provided at a portion outside the cavity <NUM>, more specifically, at an upper side of the cavity <NUM>/cooking chamber <NUM>. The electric component space <NUM> may be disposed at an upper side of the cavity <NUM> and the cooking chamber <NUM> formed therein. A space for installing electric components may be formed inside the electric component space <NUM>.

A front surface of the electric component space <NUM> may be covered by the front panels <NUM> and <NUM>. A second front panel <NUM> may be provided as one of the front panels <NUM> and <NUM>.

The second front panel <NUM> may block a front side of the electric component space <NUM> and may be disposed between the electric component space <NUM> and a control panel <NUM>.

As an example, the second front panel <NUM> may be disposed at an upper side of the first front panel <NUM> and may be coupled to the first front panel <NUM>. Optionally at least a part of or entire second front panel <NUM> is arranged to overlap with the first front panel <NUM> at the upper side of the first front panel <NUM>), and coupled to the first front panel <NUM>. Alternatively, the second front panel <NUM> and the first front panel <NUM>, may be flush with each other or may be integrally formed.

The second front panel <NUM> may protrude to a portion above the cavity <NUM> and define a front boundary surface of the electric component space <NUM>. More specifically, most of the front side of the electric component space <NUM> is blocked by the second front panel <NUM>. Also, a portion of the front side of the electric component space <NUM>, that is, a portion of a lower side of the electric component space <NUM>, may be blocked by the first front panel <NUM>.

Meanwhile, an exhaust port <NUM> may be provided in the front panels <NUM> and <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the exhaust port <NUM> is provided in the first front panel <NUM>.

The exhaust port <NUM> may be formed to pass through the first front panel <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The exhaust port <NUM> may form a passage in the first front panel <NUM> to allow air inside the electric component space <NUM> to pass through the first front panel <NUM> and be discharged to the outside of the electric component space <NUM>.

As another example, the first front panel <NUM> may not be separately provided from the cavity <NUM>, and the front surface of the cavity <NUM> may form the front surface of the main body <NUM>. In this case, the exhaust port <NUM> may be provided in the front surface of the cavity <NUM> that is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the first front panel <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM> may be provided at an upper portion of the front surface of the cooking appliance, that is, at a front surface of the portion above the cavity <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> may form a portion of the front exterior of the cooking appliance.

The control panel <NUM> may be disposed at the front side of the electric component space <NUM>. Also, the control panel <NUM> may be disposed at a front side of the second front panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> may be provided to open and close the electric component space <NUM> or the second front panel <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> is provided to rotate between a closing position at which the control panel <NUM> blocks the electric component space <NUM> or the second front panel <NUM> and an opening position at which the control panel <NUM> opens the electric component space <NUM> or the second front panel <NUM> forward.

When the control panel <NUM> rotates from the closing position to the opening position, the control panel <NUM> may rotate about a lower end thereof and be unfolded forward. Here, a back surface of the control panel <NUM> faces upward, and a front surface of the control panel <NUM> faces downward.

When the control panel <NUM> rotates from the opening position to the closing position, the control panel <NUM> may rotate about the lower end thereof and stand upright in the vertical direction. The control panel <NUM> may stand parallel to the second front panel <NUM> and block the second front panel <NUM> from the front side thereof. Here, the front surface of the control panel <NUM> faces forward, and the back surface of the control panel <NUM> faces rearward.

The operation of opening or closing the control panel <NUM> may be automatically performed by a separate opening/closing device or may be manually performed.

A display may be provided on the control panel <NUM>. The display may include an input portion allowing an operation of the cooking appliance to be controlled and a display configured to display an operational state of the cooking appliance.

As an example, the input portion and the display may be configured by a single panel. For example, the input portion and the display may be formed as a touch panel that receives a touch input of a user. The display may display a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) relating to the operation of the cooking appliance.

A plurality of buttons may be displayed on the control panel <NUM> having the display. For example, a button for setting the operation of the heating portion may be displayed on the control panel <NUM>. Also, a button for setting the operation of opening or closing the control panel <NUM> may be displayed on the control panel <NUM>.

As another example, the control panel may be provided in the form of a simple panel that does not include the input portion, the display, or the like. Even the control panel in this form may be disposed at the front side of the electric component space <NUM> to cover the electric component space <NUM>, may rotate downward to move to the opening position, and may be unfolded forward at the opening position, like the control panel <NUM> described above.

As still another example, the control panel may be provided so that only a portion of the control panel can be opened. For example, a structure in which the control panel is divided into a plurality of areas in the lateral direction may be applied. In this case, among the plurality of areas of the control panel, only an area that covers a water tank from a front side may rotate downward and be unfolded forward, and the remaining areas may be fixed and not be opened.

As yet another example, a structure in which the control panel is divided into a plurality of areas in the up-down direction, and among the plurality of areas, only an upper area that covers the water tank from the front side rotates downward and is unfolded forward may be applied.

Referring to <FIG>, the door <NUM> may include a door frame <NUM> and a front glass <NUM>.

The door frame <NUM> may form the frame of the door <NUM> and may form an exterior of an upper surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces of the door <NUM>. The door frame <NUM> may be formed in a hexahedral shape with an open front surface and an open rear surface.

A hinge configured to rotatably couple the door frame <NUM> to the main body <NUM> may be installed at a lower side of the door frame <NUM>. The hinge may be installed at a lower end of the door frame <NUM> and may be installed at both sides of the door frame <NUM> in the lateral direction.

The front glass <NUM> may be disposed at a front side of the door frame <NUM>. The front glass <NUM> may be coupled to the door frame <NUM> at the front side of the door frame <NUM> and may form the front exterior of the door <NUM>.

Also, the door <NUM> may further include a rear glass <NUM>. The rear glass <NUM> may be coupled to the door frame <NUM> at a rear side of the door frame <NUM> and may form the back exterior of the door <NUM>.

Also, the door <NUM> may further include an inner glass <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the door <NUM> includes a plurality of inner glasses <NUM>. The inner glass <NUM> may be disposed at a rear side of the front glass <NUM> and a front side of the rear glass <NUM> and may be coupled to the door frame <NUM> at the rear side of the front glass <NUM> and the front side of the rear glass <NUM>.

The plurality of inner glasses <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction inside the door <NUM>. The plurality of inner glasses <NUM> may be disposed between the front glass <NUM> and the inner glass <NUM> disposed at the rearmost portion.

By the inner glasses <NUM> being disposed in this way, the inside of the door <NUM> may be divided into a plurality of spaces arranged in the front-rear direction. The plurality of inner glasses <NUM> disposed in this way may serve to suppress heat transferred from inside the cooking chamber <NUM> to the door <NUM> from being transferred to the front surface of the door <NUM>.

Outside air may be introduced into the door <NUM> in which the inner glasses <NUM> are disposed as described above. For example, outside air may be introduced into the door <NUM> through the open lower end of the door <NUM>. The air introduced into the door <NUM> in this way may pass through the door <NUM> and cool the door <NUM>.

A door exhaust port <NUM> may be provided in the upper end of the door <NUM> that faces the control panel <NUM>. The door exhaust port <NUM> may form a passage in the upper end of the door <NUM> to open the inside of the door <NUM> to the outside of the door <NUM>. The door exhaust port <NUM> may be formed to pass through an upper end of the door frame <NUM> in the up-down direction.

According to the present embodiment, the upper end of the door frame <NUM> may be divided into a first half portion 150a and a second half portion 150b. The first half portion 150a may form a front side of the upper end of the door frame <NUM>, and the second half portion 150b may form a rear side of the upper end of the door frame <NUM>.

The first half portion 150a may be provided in a form that forms a plane in the horizontal direction orthogonal to an axis in the up-down direction. The second half portion 150b disposed at a rear side of the first half portion 150a may be provided in a form that forms an inclined surface inclined downward toward the rear.

The door exhaust port <NUM> may be provided in the upper end of the door <NUM> and provided on the second half portion 150b. Accordingly, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position biased toward the rear on the door <NUM> and may be disposed at a side that is lower than the uppermost end of the door <NUM> formed by the first half portion 150a.

A lower boundary surface of the electric component space <NUM> may be defined by an upper panel <NUM> disposed at an upper side of the cavity <NUM>. Also, an upper boundary surface of the electric component space <NUM> may be defined by an electric component chamber cover <NUM> configured to cover the electric component space <NUM> from above.

Also, side boundary surfaces and a rear boundary surface of the electric component space <NUM> may be defined by both side surfaces and a back surface of the electric component chamber cover <NUM> or may be defined by both side surfaces of the cavity <NUM> that protrude to an upper side of the cooking chamber <NUM> and a back surface of the electric component chamber cover <NUM>.

Various electric components may be disposed inside the electric component space <NUM> as described above. As an example thereof, a circuit board may be disposed inside the electric component space <NUM>. Various devices, circuits, and the like relating to reception of manipulation signals input through the control panel <NUM>, generation of control signals for controlling the operation of the heating portion, and the like may be provided on the circuit board.

A fan module <NUM> may be disposed inside the electric component space <NUM>. The fan module <NUM> may be disposed at a position biased toward a side adjacent to a rear surface of the cavity <NUM>, that is, a rear side inside the electric component space <NUM>.

The fan module <NUM> may be formed to include a turbofan installed inside the electric component space <NUM>. The fan module <NUM> may suction outside air through the rear side of the electric component space <NUM> and discharge the suctioned air forward.

By the operation of the fan module <NUM>, outside air may be introduced into the electric component space <NUM> from the rear side and both lateral sides of the cooking appliance.

For example, outside air introduced through a lower portion of the main body <NUM> may be introduced into the electric component space <NUM> through an air hole <NUM> formed in the rear side of the electric component space <NUM> after passing through a rear-side space of the cooking appliance. Also, outside air may also be introduced into the electric component space <NUM> through an air hole <NUM> formed in any one lateral side of the electric component space <NUM>.

The air introduced into the electric component space <NUM> in this way may move forward inside the electric component space <NUM> and cool the electric components inside the electric component space <NUM>.

The air introduced into the electric component space <NUM> as described above may be suctioned into a duct portion <NUM> by the fan module <NUM>. The air introduced into the duct portion <NUM> may be discharged to the front of the electric component space <NUM> through the exhaust port <NUM> after moving forward inside the duct portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of a portion of the cooking appliance illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a perspective view separately illustrating a front panel illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a front space S may be formed at a front side of the electric component space <NUM>. The front space S may be disposed at a front side of the first front panel <NUM>. Also, the front space S may be disposed at a lower side of the control panel <NUM>. Also, the front space S may be disposed at an upper side of the door <NUM> in a state in which the door <NUM> closes the cooking chamber <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the front space S is a space surrounded by the door <NUM>, the first front panel <NUM>, and the control panel <NUM>. That is, the front space S may be a space disposed at the front side of the first front panel <NUM> and formed between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM>.

The front space S may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through a gap between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a rear side of the front space S. As described above, the exhaust port <NUM> may be formed in the first front panel <NUM>. Air cooling the electric components and flowing forward inside the electric component space <NUM> may be discharged to the front space S through the exhaust port <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be provided in the first front panel <NUM>. The plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction.

Also, a partition <NUM> may be formed between two exhaust ports <NUM> that are adjacent in the lateral direction. The partition <NUM> may support the first front panel <NUM> between the two adjacent exhaust ports <NUM> to improve the strength of the first front panel <NUM>.

The door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a lower side of the front space S. As described above, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be formed in the upper end of the door <NUM>. Air cooling the door <NUM> and flowing upward inside the door <NUM> may be discharged to the front space S through the door exhaust port <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a front exploded perspective view illustrating an exploded state of a door, a control panel, and an air guide illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a back exploded perspective view illustrating the exploded state of the door, the control panel, and the air guide illustrated in <FIG>. Also, <FIG> is a front perspective view separately illustrating an air guide according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a bottom perspective view of the air guide illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cooking appliance according to the present invention may further include an air guide <NUM>.

The air guide <NUM> is disposed between the door <NUM> and the control panel <NUM>. More specifically, the air guide <NUM> covers at least a portion of the first front panel <NUM> and be disposed between the door <NUM> and the control panel <NUM>.

The air guide <NUM> may divide a space between the door <NUM> and the control panel <NUM> into upper and lower spaces.

Also, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed in a space surrounded by the door <NUM>, the first front panel <NUM>, and the control panel <NUM>, that is, the front space S.

In the present embodiment, the air guide <NUM> is formed in the shape of a frame whose length in the lateral direction is extremely longer than the length in the front-rear direction and the length in the up-down direction. The air guide <NUM> may be formed in a shape in which the length in the front-rear direction is longer than the length in the up-down direction.

Hereinafter, the length/measure/extension distance of the air guide <NUM> in the front-rear direction will be referred to as "length/depth", the length/measure/extension distance of the air guide <NUM> in the lateral direction will be referred to as "width," and the length/measure/extension distance of the air guide <NUM> in the up-down direction will be referred to as "thickness.

According to the present embodiment, the air guide <NUM> may be formed in the shape of a frame in which the width is longer than the length/depth and the thickness, and the thickness is smaller than the length/depth and the width.

The length/measure/extension distance of the air guide <NUM> in the up-down direction, that is, the thickness, may be less than or equal to the length of the front space S in the up-down direction. The air guide <NUM> is accommodated inside the front space S. Also, air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> or the door exhaust port <NUM> may flow forward inside the front space S, pass through the air guide <NUM>, and be discharged to the outside of the cooking appliance through the air guide <NUM>.

The air guide <NUM> disposed in the front space S as described above may divide at least a portion of the front space S into a first space S1 and a second space S2.

The length/measure/extension distance of the air guide <NUM> in the lateral direction, that is, the width, may be a length that corresponds to the length/measure/extension distance of the front space S in the lateral direction. For example, the width of the air guide <NUM> may correspond to at least any one of or both of the length/measure/extension distance of the control panel <NUM> in the lateral direction and the length of the door <NUM> in the lateral direction.

In the present embodiment, the first space S1 may be defined as a space between the control panel <NUM> and the air guide <NUM>, and the second space S2 may be defined as a space between the air guide <NUM> and the door <NUM>.

More specifically, the first space S1 may be defined as a space between a first guide portion <NUM> (described below) and the control panel <NUM>, and the second space S2 may be defined as a space between the first guide portion <NUM> (described below) and the door <NUM>. The first space S1 and the second space S2 may be spaces obtained by the first guide portion <NUM> dividing the space between the door <NUM> and the control panel <NUM> into upper and lower spaces.

The air guide <NUM> may be disposed in the front space S and may be disposed in an area of the front space S that is biased toward the front. The air guide <NUM> may divide a front area of the front space S into the first space S1 and the second space S2.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the air guide <NUM> may include the first guide portion <NUM>. The first guide portion <NUM> is a portion that occupies most of the area of the air guide <NUM> and may form a majority of the exterior of the air guide <NUM>.

The first guide portion <NUM> may be disposed between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> and divide the space between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> into upper and lower spaces. The first guide portion <NUM> may divide the space between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> into the first space S1 disposed at an upper side and the second space S2 disposed at a lower side.

As an example, the first guide portion <NUM> may be formed in the shape of a plane that is parallel to a bottom surface of the control panel <NUM> and/or an upper end surface of the door <NUM>. For example, the first guide portion <NUM> may be formed in a shape that includes a plane orthogonal to the axis in the up-down direction.

Further, the air guide <NUM> may further include a second guide portion <NUM>. The second guide portion <NUM> may be disposed at both sides of the first guide portion <NUM> in the lateral direction. The second guide portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude in the lateral direction from both ends of the first guide portion <NUM> in the lateral direction.

The second guide portion <NUM> is not a portion coupled to a first cover protrusion <NUM>. Therefore, the length of the second guide portion <NUM> (the length thereof in the front-rear direction) may be set to be shorter than the overall length of the air guide <NUM>.

Since the second guide portion <NUM> is formed so that the length of the second guide portion <NUM> is shorter than the overall length of the air guide <NUM>, the overall size and weight of the air guide <NUM> may not be unnecessarily increased.

The second guide portion <NUM> may be disposed to be biased toward the front side on the air guide <NUM>. Preferably, the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> may be connected in the lateral direction so that a front-side end of the second guide portion <NUM> and a front-side end of the first guide portion <NUM> are disposed to be collinear.

In the present embodiment, the second guide portion <NUM> protrudes from the first guide portion <NUM> while having the same thickness as the first guide portion <NUM>.

Accordingly, when viewed from the front, the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> may seem smoothly connected. That is, the air guide <NUM> including the above-described second guide portion <NUM> may be formed so that an exterior of the air guide <NUM> viewed from the front is smoothly connected.

<FIG> is a bottom perspective view showing an installation structure of an air guide according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> and <FIG> are bottom views showing the process of aligning the position of the air guide.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cooking appliance according to the present embodiment may further include the first cover protrusion <NUM>.

The first cover protrusion <NUM> is provided for coupling between the air guide <NUM> and the control panel <NUM> or coupling between the air guide <NUM> and the door <NUM>. The first cover protrusion <NUM> is formed to protrude from the door <NUM> or the control panel <NUM> toward the air guide <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the air guide <NUM> is disposed at a lower side of the control panel <NUM> and coupled to the control panel <NUM>. According thereto, the first cover protrusion <NUM> may be disposed between the control panel <NUM> and the air guide <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the first cover protrusion <NUM> is provided on the control panel <NUM>. As another example, the first cover protrusion <NUM> may be provided on the door <NUM>. In this way, various modifications of the first cover protrusion may be possible.

The first cover protrusion <NUM> provided on the control panel <NUM> may be formed to protrude downward from a lower end of the control panel <NUM>. The air guide <NUM> may be coupled to the first cover protrusion <NUM> at a position spaced apart from the lower end of the control panel <NUM>.

In this way, the air guide <NUM> coupled to the first cover protrusion <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the control panel <NUM> at a lower side of the control panel <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of first cover protrusions <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction. Also, by being coupled to each of the plurality of first cover protrusions <NUM>, the air guide <NUM> may be stably fixed at the lower side of the control panel <NUM>.

Each of the first cover protrusions <NUM> includes a fastening protrusion portion <NUM>. The fastening protrusion portion <NUM> is provided to be coupled to the air guide <NUM> while in contact with the air guide <NUM> in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> is coupled to the air guide <NUM> while in contact with the air guide <NUM> in the up-down direction. The fastening protrusion portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude downward from the lower end of the control panel <NUM>.

As an example, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a fastening hole <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "first fastening hole <NUM>") may be provided in the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>. The first fastening hole <NUM> may be formed to pass through the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> in the vertical direction. In other words, the first fastening hole <NUM> may be formed as a hollow in the up-down direction in the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>.

In order to correspond thereto, a fastening hole <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "second fastening hole <NUM>") may be provided in the air guide <NUM>. The second fastening hole <NUM> may be formed to pass through the air guide <NUM>, more specifically, the first guide portion <NUM>, in the vertical direction or the up-down direction.

The air guide <NUM> is coupled to the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>. For example, in a state in which the air guide <NUM> and the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> are aligned so that the first fastening hole <NUM> and the second fastening hole <NUM> communicate, the air guide <NUM> and the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> may be coupled by a fastening member <NUM> such as a screw. Here, the fastening member <NUM> may pass through the air guide <NUM> and the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and fasten the air guide <NUM> to the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>.

Also, the first cover protrusion <NUM> may further include a guide protrusion portion <NUM>. The guide protrusion portion <NUM> may guide the position of the air guide <NUM> while in contact with the air guide <NUM> in the horizontal direction.

In the present embodiment, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> guides the position of the air guide <NUM> while in contact with the air guide <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude in the vertical direction from an end of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> that faces the air guide <NUM>.

As an example, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude downward from a lower end of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>. Also, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be disposed at a rear side of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>. The guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be disposed to protrude downward from the rear side of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and may support the air guide <NUM> from a rear side.

The guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be disposed at the rear side of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and may be disposed at a position that satisfies the following condition.

That is, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be disposed at a position that allows the first fastening hole <NUM> and the second fastening hole <NUM> to be disposed in a straight line in the lateral/horizontal/forward-rearward direction when the rear end of the air guide <NUM> is in contact with the guide protrusion portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

According thereto, the position of the air guide <NUM> may be aligned relative to the first cover protrusion <NUM> so that the position of the first fastening hole <NUM> in the front-rear direction and the position of the second fastening hole <NUM> in the front-rear direction may coincide with each other when the rear end of the air guide <NUM> and the front end of the guide protrusion portion <NUM> are in contact.

Also, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may support the air guide <NUM> from a rear side of the air guide <NUM> so that the air guide <NUM> is slidable in the lateral direction.

As an example, surfaces of the air guide <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> that face each other, that is, the rear end of the air guide <NUM> and the front end of the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, may form straight lines or planes parallel to each other.

Accordingly, the air guide <NUM> may move by sliding along the straight line or plane formed on the front end of the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may guide a movement path of the air guide <NUM> in the lateral direction.

Also, in a state in which the rear end of the air guide <NUM> and the front end of the guide protrusion portion <NUM> are in contact, since the position of the air guide <NUM> is aligned so that the position of the first fastening hole <NUM> in the front-rear direction and the position of the second fastening hole <NUM> in the front-rear direction coincide with each other, the first fastening hole <NUM> of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> may be disposed in a movement path of the second fastening hole <NUM> of the air guide <NUM> sliding in the lateral direction (see <FIG>).

In the state in which the rear end of the air guide <NUM> and the front end of the guide protrusion portion <NUM> are in contact, when the air guide <NUM> is moved in the lateral direction so that the positions of the first fastening hole <NUM> and the second fastening hole <NUM> in the lateral direction coincide with each other, the position of the air guide <NUM> may be aligned to a position at which the first fastening hole <NUM> and the second fastening hole <NUM> are connected in the up-down direction (hereinafter referred to as "fastening position") (see <FIG>).

That is, cover protrusions <NUM> and 250a of the present embodiment allow the installation position of the air guide <NUM> coupled to the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> to be guided by the guide protrusion portion <NUM> protruding from the rear side of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>.

The cover protrusions <NUM> and 250a can provide advantageous effects that the air guide <NUM> is allowed to be installed at a set position with high accuracy and the installation of the air guide <NUM> is facilitated.

The installation position of the air guide <NUM> is guided by the guide protrusion portion <NUM> protruding from the rear side of the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> coupled to the air guide <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may protrude a length that corresponds to the thickness of the air guide <NUM>. According thereto, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may not protrude to a lower side of the air guide <NUM>. That is, when viewed from the front, only the air guide <NUM> disposed in front of the guide protrusion portion <NUM> is visible, and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> is covered by the air guide <NUM> and hardly visible.

In this case, since the lower end of the air guide <NUM> is able to be smoothly connected in a straight line in the horizontal direction, it is possible to make the front exterior of the air guide <NUM> look more stable and further enhance the aesthetics of the cooking appliance.

Further, the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may further include an extension cover portion <NUM>. The extension cover portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude from the guide protrusion portion <NUM>. The extension cover portion <NUM> may support the guide protrusion portion <NUM>.

The extension cover portion <NUM> may be disposed at a rear of the guide protrusion portion <NUM>. The extension cover portion <NUM> may be formed to protrude further in the lateral direction than the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM>.

The extension cover portion <NUM> formed as described above may serve as a structure that supports the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> and may improve the strength of the first cover protrusion <NUM>.

Also, by covering a wider area than the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, the extension cover portion may serve to more effectively cover the structures disposed at the rear side of the air guide <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the cooking appliance of the present embodiment may further include a second cover protrusion 250a. A difference between the first cover protrusion <NUM> and the second cover protrusion 250a is that the second cover protrusion 250a does not include the extension cover portion <NUM>. That is, the second cover protrusion 250a only includes the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> and does not include the extension cover portion <NUM>.

The first cover protrusion <NUM> and the second cover protrusion 250a may be integrally formed with the control panel <NUM>. More specifically, the first cover protrusion <NUM> and the second cover protrusion 250a may be integrally formed with the lower end of the control panel <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the first cover protrusion <NUM>, the second cover protrusion 250a, and the lower end of the control panel <NUM> are formed of a plastic material.

As an example, on the first cover protrusion <NUM>, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>, the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, and the extension cover portion <NUM> may be integrally formed. Here, on the first cover protrusion <NUM>, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM>, the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, and the extension cover portion <NUM>, which are made of a plastic material, may be integrally formed.

Also, on the second cover protrusion 250a, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM> may be integrally formed. Here, on the second cover protrusion 250a, the fastening protrusion portion <NUM> and the guide protrusion portion <NUM>, which are made of a plastic material, may be integrally formed.

Because the first cover protrusion <NUM> is made of a plastic material and integrally formed with the lower end of the control panel <NUM>, not only is it possible to reduce costs required for adding the first cover protrusion <NUM>, but also the weight of the first cover protrusion <NUM> can be significantly reduced compared to when the first cover protrusion <NUM> is formed of a metal material.

The air guide <NUM> may be formed of a metal material. As an example, the air guide <NUM> may be formed of a metal material having excellent thermal resistance and metallic luster. The air guide <NUM> is not easily deformed by high-temperature heat, is not easily damaged by impact, and can contribute to enhancing the aesthetics of the cooking appliance through its metallic luster.

In the present embodiment, the air guide <NUM> is formed of a metal material in consideration of the fact that the air guide <NUM> is disposed on a path along which high-temperature air is discharged, the fact that the air guide <NUM> is disposed at a visible position on the front surface of the cooking appliance, and the fact that the air guide <NUM> is disposed at a position where contact with a user may frequently occur.

Referring to <FIG>, in a state in which (i.e. if) the air guide is excluded from the cooking appliance, various parts of the cooking appliance may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the gap between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "front gap").

As an example, a portion of the first front panel <NUM> may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap. Specifically, the plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> provided in the control panel <NUM> may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap. Also, the partitions <NUM> disposed in between the exhaust ports <NUM> may also be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap.

Among various electric components disposed in the electric component space <NUM>, some of the electric components disposed at the rear of the exhaust ports <NUM> may be exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap.

When the above-listed components are exposed to the front of the cooking appliance, the components may adversely affect the front exterior of the cooking appliance. That is, the components formed on the first front panel <NUM>, such as the exhaust ports <NUM> and the partitions <NUM>, and the electric components exposed through the exhaust ports <NUM> may be factors that degrade the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance.

In order to reduce the influence of these components on the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance, in the present embodiment, the air guide <NUM> may be provided in the cooking appliance.

The air guide <NUM> may be disposed in the front gap. The air guide <NUM> is disposed between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> and is provided to cover some of the first front panel <NUM>, a latch <NUM>, the electric components, and the like from the front thereof.

The air guide <NUM> covers a portion of the front gap between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM>, and accordingly, some of the first front panel <NUM>, the latch <NUM>, the electric components, and the like exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap may be covered by the air guide <NUM>.

The size of an area covered by the air guide <NUM> may increase with an increase in the thickness of the air guide <NUM>. The increase in the size of the area covered by the air guide <NUM> may enhance the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance, but exhaustion of air to the front of the cooking appliance through the front space S (see <FIG>) becomes difficult corresponding to the increase.

Conversely, the size of an area covered by the air guide <NUM> may decrease with a decrease in the thickness of the air guide <NUM>. The decrease in the size of the area covered by the air guide <NUM> may degrade the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance, but exhaustion of air to the front of the cooking appliance through the front space S is further facilitated corresponding to the decrease.

In consideration of such aspects, the air guide <NUM> may be set to have the thickest possible thickness within a range in which the thickness facilitates exhaustion of air to the front of the cooking appliance through the front space S.

When the thickness of the air guide <NUM> is set to satisfy the above condition, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be effectively enhanced while the efficiency of exhaustion of air through the front gap is maintained at a certain level or higher.

According to the present embodiment, because the area exposed to the front of the cooking appliance through the front gap is partially covered by the air guide <NUM>, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be enhanced.

As an example, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed in the front gap and may be disposed so that the first guide portion <NUM> may be positioned at the center of the front gap in the up-down direction. That is, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> closing the cooking chamber and may be disposed at a position where a distance between the first guide portion <NUM> and the control panel <NUM> in the up-down direction and a distance between the first guide portion <NUM> and the door <NUM> in the up-down direction are set to be equal (hereinafter referred to as "central position").

Accordingly, the air guide <NUM> may form a structure that allows the first guide portion <NUM> to cover the front gap at the center of the front gap in the up-down direction, that is, at the central position.

By allowing an upper area of the front gap and a lower area of the front gap to be symmetrical to each other about the first guide portion <NUM>, the air guide <NUM> can make the front exterior of the cooking appliance look more stable and thus contribute to enhancing the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance.

The air guide <NUM> of the present embodiment can make the front exterior of the cooking appliance look more stable and effectively enhance the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance.

As another example, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed in the front gap and may be disposed at a position biased toward a lower portion from the center of the front gap in the up-down direction.

Considering that the eye level of the user is usually higher than the height at which the air guide <NUM> is disposed between the door <NUM> and the control panel <NUM>, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed at the above-described position to allow the user to more easily identify the air guide <NUM>.

Also, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed at the above-described position, where the air guide <NUM> can be easily seen from the outside of the cooking appliance, to more effectively convey an aesthetic sense provided by the air guide <NUM>.

That is, by the air guide <NUM> being disposed at the position biased toward the lower portion from the center of the front gap in the up-down direction, the aesthetic sense can be effectively formed.

The air guide <NUM> may be coupled to the control panel <NUM> by the first cover protrusion <NUM> and the second cover protrusion 250a.

According to the present embodiment, a pair of first cover protrusions <NUM> may be disposed between the control panel <NUM> and the air guide <NUM>. The pair of first cover protrusions <NUM> may be disposed to be symmetrical about the center of the cooking chamber in the lateral direction, that is, the center of the main body <NUM> in the lateral direction. Alternatively, it can be said that the pair of first cover protrusions <NUM> are disposed to be symmetrical about the center of the control panel <NUM> in the lateral direction.

The pair of first cover protrusions <NUM> may be disposed laterally outward from an area in which the exhaust port <NUM> is formed. At a rear side of the first cover protrusions <NUM> disposed in this way, the exhaust port <NUM> is not disposed, and only a vertical wall surface blocked by the first front panel <NUM> is disposed.

The first cover protrusion <NUM> includes the extension cover portion <NUM>, and accordingly, the first cover protrusion <NUM> may cover a wider area than the second cover protrusion 250a. The area covered by the first cover protrusion <NUM> in this way is an area in which exhaustion of air through the exhaust port <NUM> does not occur.

Therefore, by increasing the size of an area covered by the air guide <NUM> while not degrading the exhaustion performance of the cooking appliance, the first cover protrusion <NUM> disposed in the above-described area may enhance the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance.

Also, the first cover protrusion <NUM> including the extension cover portion <NUM> may have a higher strength than the second cover protrusion 250a and may support the air guide <NUM> while in contact with the air guide <NUM> through a slightly wider area.

By supporting the air guide <NUM> from both sides of the air guide <NUM>, the first cover protrusions <NUM> allow the air guide <NUM> of the present embodiment to be more stably fixed to the control panel <NUM>.

The second cover protrusion 250a may be disposed at a position at which at least a portion of the second cover protrusion 250a can cover at least a portion of the partition <NUM> from a front side. For example, the second cover protrusion 250a may protrude downward from the lower end of the control panel <NUM> and may protrude from an upper side of the partition <NUM> in the vertical direction.

By the second cover protrusion 250a being disposed in this way, at least a portion of the partition <NUM> is covered. Accordingly, when viewed from the front, at least a portion of the partition <NUM> is covered by the second cover protrusion 250a and not visible.

The second cover protrusion 250a disposed as described above may be disposed between the pair of first cover protrusions <NUM>. For example, among the plurality of cover protrusions <NUM> and 250a arranged in the lateral direction, the first cover protrusions <NUM> may be disposed at the outermost sides in the lateral direction, and the second cover protrusion 250a may be disposed therebetween.

By the second cover protrusion 250a and the first cover protrusions <NUM> being provided in this way, the air guide <NUM> may be coupled to the first cover protrusions <NUM> at a plurality of points in the lateral direction and may be stably fixed to the lower portion of the control panel <NUM>.

That is, by increasing the number of coupling points between the control panel <NUM> and the air guide <NUM>, the second cover protrusion 250a may contribute to stably fixing the air guide <NUM>.

Also, the second cover protrusion 250a is disposed at a position at which the second cover protrusion 250a can cover the partition <NUM> from the front, and in this way, the second cover protrusion 250a prevents an increase in the number of vertical structures exposed through the front gap.

That is, the second cover protrusion 250a may be disposed so that the second cover protrusion 250a covers the partition <NUM>, which is a vertical structure exposed through the front gap anyway. As a result, it may seem that the number of vertical structures exposed through the front gap has not been increased.

In this way, it is possible to effectively prevent degradation of the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance due to vertical structures exposed through the front gap.

Also, the second cover protrusion 250a disposed as described above may be disposed at a position avoiding the exhaust port <NUM>. The exhaust port <NUM> forms a passage advantageous for air of the electric component space <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be discharged to the front space S.

Air introduced into the electric component space <NUM> by the fan module <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be heat-exchanged and cool the electric components in the electric component space <NUM>. The air heat-exchanged in the electric component space <NUM> may be, while in a high-temperature state, discharged to the front space S through the exhaust port <NUM>.

Under the assumption that the second cover protrusion 250a is formed of a plastic material, a risk of an occurrence of thermal deformation of the second cover protrusion 250a may increase when the second cover protrusion 250a is always exposed to high-temperature air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM>.

For example, when the second cover protrusion 250a is disposed at the front of the exhaust port <NUM> instead of the front of the partition <NUM>, thermal deformation of the second cover protrusion 250a may occur due to high-temperature air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM>.

In consideration of this aspect, in the present embodiment, the second cover protrusion 250a is disposed at a position avoiding the exhaust port <NUM>, that is, at the front of the partition <NUM> instead of the front of the exhaust port <NUM>.

In this way, an occurrence of thermal deformation of the second cover protrusion 250a can be effectively prevented, and air can be smoothly discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> without being interfered by the second cover protrusion 250a.

That is, by being disposed at a position covering the exhaust port <NUM> from the front, the second cover protrusion 250a of the present embodiment may be disposed at a position at which the risk of an occurrence of thermal deformation of the second cover protrusion 250a is reduced while discharge of air through the exhaust port <NUM> is not interfered by the second cover protrusion 250a and may be disposed at a position at which the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be enhanced by the second cover protrusion 250a.

To sum up, the advantageous effects provided by the air guide <NUM> disposed as described above and the cover protrusions <NUM> and 250a for fixing the air guide <NUM> are as follows.

First, because structures exposed through the front gap are partially covered by the air guide <NUM> providing a structure that crosses the front gap in the lateral direction and covers the front gap, the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance can be enhanced.

By causing a line of sight toward the front gap to be focused on the air guide <NUM> while partially covering other structures at the rear, the air guide <NUM> provides an optical illusion effect that makes it seem like only the air guide <NUM> is present in the front gap.

Also, by forming a structure that covers the front gap at the central position of the front gap, the air guide <NUM> allows the upper area of the front gap and the lower area of the front gap to be symmetrical to each other and makes the front exterior of the cooking appliance look more stable.

In this way, the air guide <NUM> can contribute to effectively enhancing the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance.

Second, by the second cover protrusion 250a being disposed at a position at which the second cover protrusion 250a covers the partition <NUM>, configured to isolate one exhaust port <NUM> and another exhaust port <NUM> from each other, from the front, it is possible to simultaneously provide an advantageous effect that a risk of an occurrence of thermal deformation of the second cover protrusion 250a is reduced without interfering with the discharge of air through the exhaust port <NUM> and an advantageous effect that the aesthetics of the front of the cooking appliance are enhanced.

Referring to <FIG>, by the operation of the fan module <NUM>, outside air may be introduced into the electric component space <NUM> from a rear side of the cooking appliance. Air introduced into the electric component space <NUM> in this way may move forward inside the electric component space <NUM> and cool the electric components inside the electric component space <NUM>.

More specifically, outside air may be introduced into the cooking appliance through a lower portion of the main body <NUM>. Outside air introduced through the lower portion of the main body <NUM> may, while passing through a rear space of the cooking appliance where the convection portion <NUM> or the like is disposed, cool various components disposed in the rear space of the cooking appliance, for example, a motor for driving the convection portion <NUM>.

Air moving upward after passing through the rear space of the cooking appliance as described above may be suctioned by the fan module <NUM> and move toward the electric component space <NUM>. The air introduced into the the electric component space <NUM> may move forward inside the the component space <NUM> and cool the electric components inside the electric component space <NUM>.

Air moving forward inside the electric component space <NUM> as described above may be discharged to the front of the electric component space <NUM>, that is, the front space S, through the exhaust port <NUM>.

Also, air inside the door <NUM> that is heated by heat transferred from the cooking chamber <NUM> during a cooking process may be discharged to the outside of the door <NUM> through the door exhaust port <NUM> provided in the upper end of the door <NUM>.

As hot air inside the door <NUM> is discharged, outside air present at a lower side of the front of the cooking appliance may be introduced into the door <NUM> through an air flow hole provided in the lower portion of the door <NUM> and move upward. In this process, the door <NUM> heated by the heat transferred from the cooking chamber <NUM> to the door <NUM> may be cooled.

Also, air moving upward inside the door <NUM> while cooling the door <NUM> may be discharged to the front space S through the door exhaust port <NUM>. That is, air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> and air discharged through the door exhaust port <NUM> may be mixed in the front space S and discharged to the front of the cooking appliance.

According to the present embodiment, the front space S is a space surrounded by the door <NUM>, the first front panel <NUM>, and the control panel <NUM>, and the air guide <NUM> may be disposed in the front space S.

The exhaust port <NUM> may communicate with the front space S at a rear side of the front space S, and the door exhaust port <NUM> may communicate with the front space S at a lower side of the front space S. Also, the front space S may be open toward the front of the cooking appliance.

The door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed between the air guide <NUM> and the first front panel <NUM>. Specifically, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a front of the exhaust port <NUM>. That is, in the front-rear direction, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed between the air guide <NUM> and the exhaust port <NUM>.

Also, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a lower side of the air guide <NUM> and the exhaust port <NUM>. Further, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be provided in the upper end of the door <NUM> and provided on the second half portion 150b.

Accordingly, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position biased toward the rear on the door <NUM> and may be disposed at a side that is lower than the uppermost end of the door <NUM> formed by the first half portion 150a.

Looking at the arrangement relationship of the exhaust port <NUM>, the door exhaust port <NUM>, and the air guide <NUM>, the door exhaust port <NUM> is disposed at a position at which the door exhaust port <NUM> can be as adjacent as possible to the exhaust port <NUM> in the front-rear direction on the door <NUM>.

When the door exhaust port <NUM> is disposed on the first half portion 150a of the door <NUM> instead of the second half portion 150b of the door <NUM>, the possibility that hot air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> may flow backward into the door <NUM> through the door exhaust port <NUM> is increased.

Air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> gradually diffuses in the front space S and moves from the front space S to the front of the cooking appliance. That is, air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> moves forward while being diffused in the up-down direction as well as the left-right direction in the front space S.

Therefore, the more the door exhaust port <NUM> is disposed towards the front side in the front space S, the higher the possibility that air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> may be introduced into the door exhaust port <NUM>. When hot air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM> flows backward into the door <NUM> through the door exhaust port <NUM> in this way, the door <NUM> cannot be cooled smoothly, and it is difficult for heat introduced into the front space S to be smoothly discharged to the outside of the cooking appliance.

In consideration of such aspects, in the present embodiment, the door exhaust port <NUM> is disposed on the second half portion 150b of the door <NUM>, and thus, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position at which the door exhaust port <NUM> may be as adjacent as possible to the exhaust port <NUM> in the front-rear direction on the door <NUM>.

As a result, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position at which the door exhaust port <NUM> can deviate as much as possible from a flow area of air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM>, among positions in the front-rear direction selectable within the door <NUM>.

Also, according to the present embodiment, by being disposed on the second half portion 150b, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a side that is lower than the uppermost end of the door <NUM> formed by the first half portion 150a. That is, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position further downward from the flow area of air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM>.

As a result, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed at a position at which the door exhaust port <NUM> can deviate as much as possible from the flow area of air discharged through the exhaust port <NUM>. The door exhaust port <NUM> disposed in this way may contribute to effectively suppressing an occurrence of a phenomenon in which hot air discharged to the front space S flows backward into the door <NUM>.

Also, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed more toward the rear than the air guide <NUM> instead of being disposed at a lower side of the air guide <NUM> in the vertical direction. Accordingly, air discharged from the door exhaust port <NUM> can smoothly flow toward the front space S without being interfered by the air guide <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, the door exhaust port <NUM> may be disposed between the air guide <NUM> and the first front panel <NUM>. That is, the air guide <NUM> may be disposed at a front of the exhaust port <NUM> and the door exhaust port <NUM>. The air guide <NUM> may be disposed at a position biased toward the front side in the front space S.

The air guide <NUM> disposed in this way may, at the front side of the front space S, guide a flow of air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> and the door exhaust port <NUM> toward the front space S.

For example, air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> toward the front space S and air discharged from the door exhaust port <NUM> toward the front space S may be mixed in the front space S and discharged to the front of the cooking appliance. The air guide <NUM> may be disposed on a flow path of air discharged from the front space S to the front of the cooking appliance in this way (hereinafter referred to as "exhaust flow path").

The air guide <NUM> disposed in this way may be provided in the shape of a frame in which the width is longer than the length and the thickness, and the thickness is smaller than the length and the width.

The air guide <NUM> of the present embodiment can not only effectively suppress an increase in the temperature of the door <NUM> due to hot air discharged to the front of the cooking chamber but also effectively suppress air discharged from inside the electric component space or the door <NUM> from flowing backward into the door <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second cover protrusion 250a fixing the air guide <NUM> to the control panel <NUM> may be disposed between one exhaust port <NUM> and another exhaust port <NUM>.

The second cover protrusion 250a is disposed at a front of the partition <NUM> to cover the partition <NUM> and make the partition <NUM> not visible and is disposed at a position not overlapping with the exhaust port <NUM> to effectively lower the flow resistance generated due to the first cover protrusion <NUM> or the air guide <NUM>.

Further, a front end <NUM> of the air guide <NUM> that is disposed at a front side of the front space S in the front space S as described above, that is, the front end <NUM> of the first guide portion <NUM>, may be disposed at a position overlapping with at least a portion of the front glass <NUM> of the door <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As an example, the front end <NUM> of the air guide <NUM> may be, in the front-rear direction, disposed at the same position as a rear end of the front glass <NUM> or disposed at a position protruding more toward the front than the rear end of the front glass <NUM>.

By the air guide <NUM> being disposed at a position biased toward the front in the front space S as described above, a flow of air from the front space S toward the front of the cooking appliance can be more effectively guided by the air guide <NUM>.

Also, by the air guide <NUM> being disposed at a position where the air guide <NUM> can be easily seen from the outside of the cooking appliance, an aesthetic sense provided by the air guide <NUM> can be more effectively conveyed.

Meanwhile, during the process in which hot air is discharged from the front space S, some of the discharged air may come in contact with the lower end of the control panel <NUM> and cause condensate to be formed on the lower end of the control panel <NUM>.

When the condensate formed on the lower end of the control panel <NUM> in this way drops to the upper end of the door <NUM>, water colliding with the door <NUM> splashes around the door <NUM> and contaminates the surroundings of the door <NUM>.

When the air guide <NUM> is disposed at the position biased toward the front in the front space S as described above, the air guide <NUM> may block the gap between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM> to prevent the condensate formed on the lower end of the control panel <NUM> from dropping to the door <NUM>.

Because a distance between the control panel <NUM> and the air guide <NUM> is much closer than a distance between the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM>, even when the condensate drops to the air guide <NUM>, the amount of water splashing around the air guide <NUM> is not that large.

That is, the air guide <NUM> disposed as described above can significantly reduce the occurrence of contamination of the surroundings of the cooking appliance due to the condensate.

Further, a rear end of the air guide <NUM>, may be disposed more toward the front than the door exhaust port <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

Accordingly, a passage having a sufficient height that allows air inside the door <NUM> to be discharged to the front space S through the door exhaust port <NUM> can be formed between the door exhaust port <NUM> and the air guide <NUM>.

As a result, air discharged from the door exhaust port <NUM> and air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> may pass through a section where the air guide <NUM> is disposed after being sufficiently mixed with each other in the front space S.

Also, when the rear end of the air guide <NUM> is disposed at the above-described position, the air guide <NUM> is not an obstacle disposed at an upper portion of the door exhaust port <NUM> in the vertical direction. Due to the air guide <NUM>, the flow resistance around the door exhaust port <NUM> can be effectively reduced.

As another example, the front end of the air guide <NUM> may be disposed at a position coinciding with at least any one of a front-side end of the control panel <NUM> and a front-side end of the door <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

For example, when viewed from a side, the front end of the air guide <NUM> and a front-side lower end corner of the control panel <NUM> may be disposed to be collinear. Also, when viewed from the side, the front end <NUM> of the air guide <NUM> and a front-side upper end corner of the door <NUM> may be disposed to be collinear.

By the air guide <NUM> being disposed as described above, the positions of the control panel <NUM>, the air guide <NUM>, and the door <NUM> are aligned, and the exterior of the cooking appliance may seem more balanced, and thus the aesthetics of the cooking appliance can be further enhanced.

In this way, the air guide <NUM> is disposed to be biased toward the front side of the front space S in the front space S in order to enhance the aesthetics of the cooking appliance.

That is, by being disposed to be biased toward the front side of the front space S in the front space S, the air guide <NUM> of the present embodiment can simultaneously provide an effect of suppressing the generation of a vortex in the front space S and an effect of enhancing the aesthetics of the cooking appliance.

Claim 1:
A cooking appliance comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having a cooking chamber (<NUM>) therein, the cooking chamber (<NUM>) having an open front side;
an electric component space (<NUM>) disposed above the cooking chamber (<NUM>) and separated from the cooking chamber (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) disposed at a front of the main body (<NUM>) and configured to open and close the cooking chamber (<NUM>);
a control panel (<NUM>) disposed above the door (<NUM>) and in front of the electric component space (<NUM>); and
a front panel (<NUM>, <NUM>) between the door (<NUM>) and the cooking chamber (<NUM>) and/or between the door (<NUM>) and the electric component space (<NUM>);
wherein the control panel (<NUM>) is spaced apart from the door (<NUM>) defining a front space (S) therein between, wherein the front space (S) is in front of the front panel (<NUM>, <NUM>); and characterized in that
an air guide (<NUM>) disposed in the front space (S) and between the door (<NUM>) and the control panel (<NUM>) and covering at least a portion of the front panel (<NUM>, <NUM>) from a front side of the front space (S); and
at least one cover protrusion (<NUM>, 250a) protruding from the door (<NUM>) into the front space (S), or at least one cover protrusion (<NUM>, 250a) protruding from the control panel (<NUM>) into the front space (S); and
wherein the cover protrusion (<NUM>, 250a) is configured to guide a position of the air guide (<NUM>) by contacting the air guide (<NUM>) in a horizontal direction and/or a front-rear direction; and
wherein the air guide (<NUM>) is coupled to the cover protrusion (<NUM>, 250a); and
wherein the cover protrusion (<NUM>, 250a) includes:
a fastening portion (<NUM>) coupled to the air guide (<NUM>) and in contact with the air guide (<NUM>) in a vertical direction; and
a guiding portion (<NUM>) configured to contact the air guide (<NUM>) or a rear side of the air guide (<NUM>) in the horizontal direction and/or the front-rear direction to guide the position of the air guide (<NUM>) by contacting the air guide (<NUM>) in the horizontal direction and/or the front-rear direction.