Patent Description:
Cooking appliances are installed in the kitchen and used to cook food as a user wants. Such cooking appliances can fall into different categories, based on a heat source or a type, and the sort of fuel.

Additionally, cooking appliances can be categorized into an open cooking appliance in which food is placed in an open space, and a sealed cooking appliance in which food is placed in a closed space, based on a way of cooking food. The sealed cooking appliance includes an oven, a microwave oven and the like, and the open cooking appliance includes a cooktop, a hob, a gridle and the like.

In the sealed cooking appliance, a space, in which food is placed, is shielded, and the shielded space is heated to cook food. The sealed cooking appliance is provided with a cooking space in which food is placed and which is shielded when the food is cooked. The cooking space is a space in which food is substantially cooked.

Sealed cooking appliances are classified into gas ovens and electric ovens based on the type of a heat source. Gas ovens use gas as a fuel and cook food using flames that is generated as a result of the ignition of a plurality of burners which burns gas supplied to them. Unlike gas ovens, electric ovens use electricity as a heat source and cook food using heat that is emitted from a plurality of heaters as the plurality of heaters operates.

A sealed cooking appliance is provided with door that selectively opens and closes a cooking space in a swivable manner. The door is disposed at a main body in a swivable manner through a door hinge disposed between the main body having the cooking space therein and the door, and swivels around a portion in which the door is coupled to the main body to selectively open and close the cooking space.

A heat source is disposed in an inner space of the cooking space opened and closed by the door, to heat the cooking space. The heat source includes a gas burner or an electric heater and the like.

The sealed cooking appliance is provided with an exhaust duct. The exhaust duct is provided to discharge exhaust gas, which is generated in the cooking space during the process of cooking food, out of the cooking appliance.

The exhaust duct's lower end portion connects to the upper portion of the cooking space, and the exhaust duct's upper end is disposed at the upper side of the rear surface of the cooking appliance. Exhaust gas generated in the cooking space is suctioned into the exhaust duct connected to the upper portion of the cooking space and flows upward, and is discharged upward from the rear surface of the cooking appliance through a vent grille disposed above the exhaust duct.

The vent grille is provided with at least one exhaust hole through the exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust duct passes, and the exhaust hole is formed in a way that passes through the vent grille vertically.

In recent years, a combination cooking appliance has been suggested. In the combination cooking appliance, a sealed cooking appliance and an open cooking appliance are installed together, and a plurality of heat sources are combined, such that various types of food items are cooked and a plurality of food items is cooked at the same time. A cooking appliance provided with a plurality of heat sources has a path of cool air used for cooling the plurality of heat sources and electronic components.

In the combination cooking appliance, an open cooking appliance is disposed on a sealed cooking appliance. The open cooking appliance is provided with a plurality of heaters or burners such that a plurality of food items can be cooked at the same time.

That is, when a user barbecues a food item or bakes bread and the like, or roasts fish, the user uses the sealed cooking appliance. Additionally, when the user puts a food item in a container to heat the food item, the user uses the open cooking appliance to cook the food item.

One of the commonly-used open cooking appliances is a gas range-type open cooking appliance, and the gas range-type open cooking appliance uses flame, which is generated as gas is burned by a burner, to cook a food item.

The burner disposed in the open cooking appliance ordinarily includes a burner body, a burner head, and a burner head cap.

The burner body having a flaw path for supplying gas is fixed to a cooktop case forming the exterior of the open cooking appliance, the burner head for discharging gas supplied through the path is disposed in the upper portion of/on the burner body, and the burner head cap is disposed on the burner head.

The burner body can be provided with a gas supply pipe for supplying gas, and a nozzle for spraying gas and the like. The burner head can be disposed on the upper surface of a member that defines the upper surface of the open cooking appliance, i.e., a top plate, and the burner head cap can be mounted onto the upper side of the burner head.

In the combination cooking appliance, the vent grille is ordinarily disposed at the upper side of the rear surface of the open cooking appliance. For example, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct can be disposed on the rear surface of the open cooking appliance while passing through the top plate, and the vent grille can be disposed in the upper portion of the top plate, i.e., in the upper portion of the rear surface of the top plate.

A rear cover is provided to cover the rear surface of the sealed cooking appliance and the rear surface of the open cooking appliance. The rear cover protects electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and forms the rear exterior of the combination cooking appliance.

The rear cover can be coupled to the open cooking appliance behind the top plate, and a space for installing the electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance is formed between the main body of the sealed cooking appliance and the rear cover of the sealed cooking appliance, and between the main body of the sealed cooking appliance and the cooktop case of the open cooking appliance. The space formed between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance is open upward.

The vent grille is disposed to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate, including the area in which the exhaust duct is installed, from above. The vent grille can also cover a portion being open upward in the space between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance, i.e., a gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover, from above. Accordingly, a space surrounded by the vent grille, the top plate and the rear cover is formed in the vent grille.

In the structure, water or foreign substances can enter the space in the vent grille through an exhaust hole of the vent grille. The water or foreign substances having entered the space in the vent grille can enter the space formed between the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance and the rear cover of the combination cooking appliance through the gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover.

The water or the foreign substances having entered through the gap formed between the top plate and the rear cover can cause failure of the electronic components disposed on the rear surface of the combination cooking appliance or an accident.

<CIT>) relates to cooking ovens in which provision is made for heat cleaning.

<CIT>) relates to a cooking appliance having one or more assemblies for cooling of the cooking appliance.

<CIT>) relates to a cooking appliance such as an oven range, and more particularly to a cooking appliance having a cooling system.

<CIT> (titled Door Packing for Gas Oven Range).

The present disclosure is directed to a cooking appliance that effectively prevents water or foreign substances from entering electronic components disposed in a space formed between a rear surface of the cooking appliance and a rear cover thereof.

The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that blocks water or foreign substances from coming through a gap formed between a top plate and the rear cover.

The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that helps to cool a display disposed on a control panel effectively.

The present disclosure is also directed to a cooking appliance that prevents hot air discharged from a door from affecting the display and helps to cool the display effectively.

The present invention is specified by the independent claim. To achieve the above aims, a cooking appliance of one embodiment includes a cavity having a cooking space therein, a top plate covering an upper portion of the cavity to form an upper space between the top plate and the cavity, and a rear cover covering a rear of the cavity to form a rear space between the rear cover and the cavity, where an upper end opening is formed between the cavity and the rear cover and opens the rear space upward behind the upper space, and the top plate connects to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above.

A cooking appliance according to the present invention includes an oven part including a cavity having a cooking space therein; a cooktop part including a top plate covering an upper portion of the cavity to form an upper space between the top plate and the cavity, and at least one cooktop heating part at least partially disposed in the upper space; a rear cover covering rears of the oven part and the cooktop part to form a rear space between the rear cover and the oven part; an exhaust opening disposed between the cooktop heating part and the rear cover and formed in a way that passes through the top plate vertically; a vent grille covering the exhaust opening in an upper portion of the top plate, and an upper end opening is formed between the cavity and the rear cover and opens the rear space upward behind the upper space, and the top plate connects to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above.

The top plate includes a main plate disposed in an upper portion of the upper space and covering the upper space from above; and an extension plate extended rearward from the main plate and covering the upper end opening from above.

The main plate and the extension plate connect as the same surface and cover the upper space and the upper end opening from above.

The extension plate may be coupled to the rear cover behind the upper space and the upper end opening, and the vent grille may have a vent hole that is formed in a way that passes through the vent grille vertically, for example.

At least a portion of the main plate may be exposed to an upper portion of the vent grille through the vent hole, for example.

At least a portion of the main plate, exposed to the upper portion of the vent grille through the vent hole, and the extension plate may connect to cover the upper space and the upper end opening from above, for example.

According to the present disclosure, the top plate further includes a coupling part extended from the extension plate and coupled to the rear cover.

The coupling part may extend from the extension plate in a direction parallel with the rear cover, and the coupling part may be coupled to the rear cover while contacting the rear cover in a front-rear direction, for example.

The main plate and the extension plate connect as the same surface while the main plate, the extension plate, and the coupling part are integrated, and the coupling part extends downward from an end portion of a rear of the extension plate.

According to the present disclosure, the cooking appliance may further include a door disposed at a front of the cavity and configured to open and close the cooking space; and a control panel provided with a display disposed above the door, for example.

Additionally, a path for a flow of air may be formed in the door, a discharge hole for opening the path to an upper portion of the door may be formed on the upper surface of the door, facing the control panel, and the control panel may further include a control panel cover that accommodates the display while closing between the discharge hole and the display, for example.

The cooking appliance may further include a cooling fan that generates an air flow passing through the upper space, and a space in which the display is accommodated and the upper space may connect to each other, for example.

According to the invention, an upper end opening is formed between the cavity and the rear cover and opens the rear space upward behind the upper space.

The top plate connects to the rear cover while covering the upper space and the upper end opening from above.

The cooling fan may be surrounded by the top plate, the rear cover and the cavity, for example.

According to the present disclosure, the cooking appliance further may include a front panel disposed between the cavity and the door, at least a portion of the front panel blocking a front of the upper space, the front panel may have an intake opening, and the cooling fan may suction air into the upper space through the intake opening and discharge the air having passed through the upper space through the exhaust opening, for example.

The cooling fan may be disposed in the upper space, behind the cooktop heating part in a front-rear direction, for example.

At least one of an electronic component for supplying power, an electronic component for a lighting device, an electronic component for a convention part, and an electronic component for supplying gas may be disposed in the rear space, and the top plate may cover the electronic component disposed in the rear space from above, for example.

In a cooking appliance according to the present disclosure, water or foreign substances having fallen onto the upper portion of the cooking appliance through a vent grille may be blocked from entering electronic components disposed in a space formed between the rear surface of the cooking appliance and a rear cover thereof, thereby preventing failure of the electronic components, caused by the water or foreign substances, effectively.

In the cooking appliance, a top plate may directly connect to the rear cover while covering an upper end opening from above, thereby effectively preventing water from entering the upper end opening formed between the top plate and the rear cover.

In the cooking appliance, as a result of the coupling between the top plate and the rear cover, the upper end opening near a cooling fan may be sealed, thereby efficiently increasing the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan and effectively cooling a display disposed on a control panel.

In the cooking appliance, the intensity of air current for cooling may increase such that the display cools effectively although a cooling hole is not formed in the lower portion of the control panel, thereby blocking hot air discharged from a door from affecting the display and effectively cooling the display.

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the technical scope of the disclosure. In the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known technologies in relation to the disclosure are omitted if they are deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components.

Accompanying drawings are provided for a better understanding of the embodiments set forth herein and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure. It is to be understood that all the modifications or replacements within the technical scope of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure. Sizes or thicknesses of the components in the drawings are exaggerated or reduced to ensure ease of understanding. However, the protection scope of the subject matter of the disclosure should not be interpreted in a limited way.

The terms in the disclosure are used only to describe specific examples or embodiments but not intended to limit the subject matter of the disclosure. The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. It is to be understood that the terms "comprise", "constitute" and the like, set forth herein, are used to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, and do not imply the exclusion of one or more additional features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

When one component is described as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, one component can be directly connected or connected to another component. However, it is also to be understood that an additional component can be "interposed" between the two components. When one component is described as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it is to be understood that no additional component is interposed between the two components.

When one component is described as being "on" or "under" another component, one component can be directly on or under another component, and an additional component can be interposed between the two components.

Unless otherwise defined, all the terms (technical or science words) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, terms such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and unless explicitly defined herein, should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly sense.

In a state in which a cooking appliance stands on the floor, with respect to the center of the cooking appliance, a direction in which a door is installed is defined as a forward direction, and a direction toward the inside of the cooking appliance is defined as a rearward direction, with the door open. For convenience, a direction facing the front and the rear can be referred to as a first direction. Then the front can be referred to as one direction of the first direction, and the rear can be referred to as the other direction of the first direction.

Additionally, a gravitational direction can be defined as a downward direction, and a direction opposite to the gravitational direction can be defined as an upward direction.

Additionally, a horizontal direction across a front-rear direction of the cooking appliance, i.e., a widthwise direction of the cooking appliance, can be referred to as a left-right direction when the cooking appliance is seen in front of the door of the cooking appliance. For convenience, the left-right direction can be referred to as a second direction. Then the right side can be referred to as one direction of the second direction, and the left side can be referred to as the other direction of the second direction.

Further, the widthwise direction of the cooking appliance can be referred to as a lateral direction. Then the right side can be referred to as one side of the lateral direction, and the left side can be referred to as the other side of the lateral direction.

An up-down direction can be referred to as a third direction. Then the upward direction can be referred to as one direction of the third direction, and the downward direction can be referred to as the other direction of the third direction.

Furthermore, the up-down direction can be referred to as a vertical direction. Then the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, i.e., the first direction and the second direction, can be referred to as the horizontal direction.

<FIG> is a front view showing a cooking appliance of one embodiment, and <FIG> is a perspective view showing the cooking appliance in <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view showing the cooking appliance in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a lateral cross-sectional view showing an inner configuration of the cooking appliance in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooking appliance of one embodiment may include a cooktop part <NUM> and an oven part <NUM>.

The exterior of the cooking appliance <NUM> may be formed by a main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may be formed into a shape including an approximately rectangular cuboid. The main body may be made of a material having predetermined strength to protect a plurality of components installed in the inner space thereof.

The main body <NUM> includes a cavity <NUM> forming the skeleton of the main body <NUM>, and a front panel <NUM> disposed at the front of the cavity <NUM> and forming the front surface of the main body <NUM>. A cooking space <NUM> is formed in the cavity <NUM>, and an open part that opens the cooking space <NUM> in the forward direction may be formed in the front panel <NUM>.

The cooktop part <NUM> is disposed in the upper portion of the main body <NUM>. The cooktop part <NUM> may be an open space, i.e., a space in which a food item or a container containing a food item, placed at the upper side of the cooktop part, is heated and cooked. The cooktop part <NUM> is provided with a top plate <NUM> that forms the exterior of the upper surface of the cooktop part <NUM> and closes the upper end of the main body <NUM>.

One or more cooktop heating parts <NUM> for heating a food item or a container containing a food item to be cooked are disposed at the cooktop part <NUM>.

In an example, the cooktop heating part <NUM> may be implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel. In another example, the cooktop heating part may be implemented as a heater or an induction heating part that uses electricity. As described above, the structure of the cooktop heating part <NUM> may vary depending on the sort of a heat source.

The oven part <NUM> may be disposed in the lower portion of the cooktop part <NUM>. The cooking space <NUM> that provides a space for cooking a food item may be disposed in the inner space of the oven part <NUM>.

The cavity <NUM> may be formed into a cuboid the front surface of which is open, and the cooking space <NUM> may be formed in the cavity <NUM>. That is, the cooking space <NUM> may be formed into an approximate cuboid-shaped space that is disposed in the cavity <NUM> and is open forward.

With the cooking space <NUM> closed, the inside of the cooking space <NUM> is heated to cook a food item. That is, in the oven part <NUM>, the cooking space <NUM> is a space in which a food time is substantially heated.

The cooking appliance may be provided with a heating part for heating the cooking space <NUM>. The heating part may be implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel. In another example, the cooktop heating part may be implemented as a heater that uses electricity. As described above, the structure of the heating part may vary depending on the sort of a used heat source.

In this embodiment, the heating part is implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, for example. Accordingly, a broil burner <NUM> that heats the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> from above may be disposed at the upper side of the cooking space <NUM>. Also, a baker burner-type burner that heats the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> from below may be disposed at the lower side of the cooking space <NUM>.

Additionally, a convection part <NUM> that heats the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> as a result of the convention of hot air may be further disposed at the rear side of the cooking space <NUM>.

The convection part <NUM> forces air in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> to flow. That is, the convection part <NUM> suctions and heats air in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> and then forces the air to flow while discharging the air to the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> such that the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> is heated, and a food item in the inner space of the cooking space <NUM> is heated evenly.

The oven part <NUM> may be provided with a door <NUM> that swivably opens and closes the cooking space <NUM> selectively. In an example, the door <NUM> may open the cooking space <NUM> in a pull-down manner such that the upper end swivels up and down with respect to the lower end.

The door <NUM> may be formed into a cuboid having a predetermined thickness entirely. The door <NUM> may have a handle <NUM> at the front thereof. The handle <NUM> is gripped by a user when the user swivels the door <NUM>. The user may easily swivel the door <NUM> by using the handle <NUM>.

A control panel <NUM> may be disposed in the upper portion of the front surface of the cooking appliance, i.e., on the front surface of the upper portion of the cavity <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> may form a portion of the exterior of the front surface of the cooking appliance. The control panel <NUM> may be provided with a knob <NUM> for adjusting the operation of the cooking appliance, a display <NUM> displaying an operation state of the cooking appliance and the like.

For example, the control panel <NUM> may be provided in a way that an input part <NUM> and the display <NUM> are disposed on a control panel cover 50a disposed in the upper portion of the door <NUM> and at the front of the cooktop part <NUM>.

The input part <NUM> has a plurality of manipulation switches, and through the manipulation switches, the user may input a manipulation signal directly. In this case, the manipulation switches may be implemented as a knob enabling rotation-based manipulation, or a button or a panel enabling push or touch-based manipulation.

The control panel <NUM> may further include the display <NUM> that provides information on the operation of the cooking appliance, or information on the cooking of a food item and the like. The user may ascertain various types of information on the cooking appliance through the display <NUM>.

In another example, the display <NUM> may be implemented as a touch panel enabling touch-based manipulation. Accordingly, the input part <NUM> and the display <NUM> may be disposed together on a single touch panel.

Further, the cooking space <NUM> includes a rear space <NUM> behind itself. The rear space <NUM> is a space partitioned off from the cooking space <NUM> by a partition surface 30a that is disposed behind the cavity <NUM> and partitions the cooking space <NUM> from the rear space <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The forward boundary surface of the rear space <NUM> is defined by the partition surface 30a, and the rear boundary surface of the rear space <NUM> may be defined by a rear cover <NUM> disposed behind the cavity <NUM>.

The cavity <NUM> includes an upper space <NUM>, outside the cavity <NUM>. The upper space <NUM> may be disposed in the upper portion of the cavity <NUM> and behind the control panel <NUM>. A space for installing components or electronic components for constituting the cooktop heating part <NUM> may be formed in the upper space <NUM>.

The front surface of the upper space <NUM> may be blocked by the front panel <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> may be disposed between the cavity <NUM> and the door <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> may be disposed in a way that at least a portion of the front panel blocks the front of the upper space <NUM>. For example, the upper area of the front panel <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the cooking space <NUM> may block the front surface of the upper space <NUM>.

The front panel <NUM> may include an intake opening <NUM>. The intake opening <NUM> may pass through the front panel <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The intake opening <NUM> may form a passage that allows air outside the upper space <NUM> to flow into the upper space <NUM>, on the front panel <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged rear perspective view showing a portion of the cooking appliance in <FIG>, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a vent grille in <FIG> is separated.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooktop part <NUM> is disposed on the oven part <NUM> and includes the top plate <NUM> and the cooktop heating part <NUM>, as described above.

The top plate <NUM> is disposed over the cavity <NUM>, and the upper space <NUM> is disposed between the top plate <NUM> and the cavity <NUM>. That is, the top plate <NUM> covers the upper portion of the cavity <NUM> such that the upper space <NUM> is formed between the top plate <NUM> and the cavity <NUM>.

The upper space <NUM> may be formed outside the cavity <NUM>. The upper space <NUM> may be disposed behind the control panel <NUM> while being disposed between the cavity <NUM> and the top plate <NUM>. A space for installing components or electronic components for constituting the cooktop heating part <NUM> may be formed in the upper space <NUM>.

In an example, in the case of a cooktop heating part <NUM> is implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, a burner that burns gas, a supply pipe for supplying gas to the burner, a valve for adjusting the supply of gas to the burner and the like may be installed in the upper space <NUM>.

In another example, in the case of a cooktop heating part <NUM> implemented as a heating device that uses electricity, a heater or an induction heating part, and various types of electronic components for driving the heater or the induction heating part may be disposed in the upper space <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may further include a side panel <NUM>. The side panel <NUM> may be disposed respectively in both lateral portions of the cavity <NUM>. Each of the side panels <NUM> may form the sidewise exterior of the main body <NUM> while covering the lateral portions of the cavity <NUM>, outside the cavity <NUM>.

Each of the side panels <NUM> may extend to the upper portion of the cavity <NUM> while covering the lateral portions of the cavity <NUM>. Accordingly, the sidewise boundaries of the upper space <NUM> may be defined by the pair of side panels <NUM> that extends upward from both sides of the cavity <NUM>.

The rear cover <NUM> is disposed behind the cavity <NUM>. The rear cover <NUM> forms the rear exterior of the main body <NUM> while covering the rear of the cavity <NUM>. The rear cover <NUM> may define the rear boundary surface of the rear space <NUM> disposed behind the cavity <NUM>.

A ventilation opening <NUM> may be formed on the rear cover <NUM>. The ventilation opening <NUM> may be formed in a way that passes through the rear cover <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and form an air passage on the rear cover <NUM>. Air passes through the air passage to cool electronic components disposed in the rear space <NUM>.

The rear cover <NUM> may extend to the upper portion of the cavity <NUM> while covering the rear of the cavity <NUM>. Accordingly, the rear boundary of the upper space <NUM> may be defined by the rear cover <NUM> that extends upward at the rear of the cavity <NUM>.

That is, the upper space <NUM>'s front, rear, and both sides are surrounded by the front panel <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM> and the pair of side panels <NUM>, and the top plate <NUM> covers the upper portion of the upper space <NUM>.

The top plate <NUM> may be disposed in the upper portions of the front panel <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM>, and the pair of side panels <NUM>, and coupled respectively to the front panel <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM>, and the pair of side panels <NUM>. That is, the top plate <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the upper space <NUM> while being coupled respectively to the front panel <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM>, and the pair of side panels <NUM>.

The cooktop part <NUM> is provided with a first exhaust opening <NUM>. The first exhaust opening <NUM> may be disposed eccentrically to the rear of the cooktop part <NUM> on the cooktop part <NUM>. For example, the first exhaust opening <NUM> may be disposed between the cooktop heating part <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>.

The first exhaust opening <NUM> is formed in a way that passes through the top plate <NUM>, preferably vertically. The first exhaust opening <NUM> may form an outlet on the top plate <NUM>, and exhaust gas generated in the cooking space <NUM> is discharged out of the cooking appliance <NUM> through the outlet.

The first exhaust opening <NUM> may connect to an exhaust duct <NUM>. The exhaust duct <NUM> may be provided to discharge exhaust gas, which is generated in the cooking space <NUM> while a food item is cooked, out of the cooking appliance.

The exhaust duct <NUM> may be provided in a way that the lower end portion thereof connects to the upper portion of the cooking space <NUM> while the upper end portion thereof is disposed toward the upper portion of the rear surface of the cooking appliance <NUM>. For example, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct <NUM> may be disposed at the rear of the cooktop part <NUM>. In this embodiment, the upper end portion of the exhaust duct <NUM> connects to the first exhaust opening <NUM>, for example.

Accordingly, exhaust gas generated in the cooking space <NUM> may flow into the exhaust duct <NUM> connected to the upper portion of the cooking space <NUM> and move upward, and be discharged upward on the rear surface of the cooking appliance <NUM> through the first exhaust opening <NUM> connected to the upper end portion of the exhaust duct <NUM>.

A vent grille <NUM> may be disposed above the first exhaust opening <NUM>. The vent grille <NUM> may be provided to cover the first exhaust opening <NUM>, on the top plate <NUM>.

The vent grille <NUM> is provided in a way that covers a partial area of the rear of the top plate <NUM>, including the area in which the first exhaust opening <NUM> is disposed, from above. The vent grille <NUM> may also cover a portion being open upward in the rear space <NUM> that is a space between the rear surface of the cavity <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, i.e., an upper end opening formed between the partition surface 30a and the rear cover <NUM>, from above. Thus, a space surrounded by the vent grille <NUM>, the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> may be formed in the vent grille <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the vent grille <NUM> is formed into a cuboid the lower portion of which is open downward, for example. The vent grille <NUM> may be provided with at least one vent hole <NUM> through which exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust duct <NUM> passes. The vent hole <NUM> may be formed in a way that passes through the upper surface of the vent grille <NUM> vertically.

<FIG> is an enlarged side view showing a portion of a rear of the cooking appliance in <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the rear of the cooking appliance in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the rear space <NUM> is formed between the cavity <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>. An upper end opening <NUM> is formed at the upper end of the rear space <NUM>. The upper end opening <NUM> may form a passage for opening the rear space <NUM> upward, behind the upper space <NUM>.

The top plate <NUM> may connect to the rear cover <NUM> while covering the upper end opening <NUM> and the upper space <NUM> from above. The top plate <NUM> may include a main plate <NUM> and an extension plate <NUM>.

The main plate <NUM> takes up most of the area of the top plate <NUM> and is disposed on the upper space <NUM>. For example, the main plate <NUM> may be formed into a shape including a rectangle corresponding to the shape of the upper surface of the cavity <NUM>.

The main plate <NUM> may include a concave surface <NUM> on which the cooktop heating part <NUM> is disposed, and an edge <NUM> which surrounds the concave surface <NUM>.

The concave surface <NUM> may be disposed approximately at the center of the main plate <NUM> and takes up most of the area of the main plate <NUM>. The cooktop heating part <NUM> may be disposed on the concave surface <NUM>. In the case of a cooktop heating part <NUM> implemented as a heating device that uses gas as a fuel, at least a portion of a burner that burns gas may be exposed to the upper portion of the concave surface <NUM>. To this end, a hole for exposing the burner to the upper portion of the concave surface <NUM> may be formed on the concave surface <NUM> in a way that passes through the concave surface <NUM> vertically.

The edge <NUM> may be provided at the front-rear edge and the left-right edge of the concave surface <NUM>. The edge <NUM> may be concave further upward than the concave surface <NUM>. For example, the central portion of the main plate <NUM>, in which the concave surface <NUM> is disposed, may be depressed downward in the form of a rectangle.

The edge <NUM> of the main plate <NUM> may connect to the control panel <NUM>, the side panel <NUM> and the like. For example, a portion of the edge <NUM>, at the front of the main plate <NUM>, may be coupled to the control panel <NUM>, and portions of the edge <NUM>, at both sides of the main plate <NUM> may be respectively coupled to the side panel <NUM>.

As a result of the coupling among the edge <NUM>, the control panel <NUM> and the side panel <NUM>, the top plate <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the upper space <NUM>.

The extension plate <NUM> extends from the main plate <NUM> rearward. The extension plate <NUM> is provided to cover the upper end opening <NUM>, on the upper space <NUM>.

The extension plate <NUM> may correspond to the rear area of the top plate <NUM>, and extend from the main plate <NUM> to the rear cover <NUM>. Accordingly, the main plate <NUM> may be provided to approximately cover the upper area of the cavity <NUM>, and the extension plate <NUM> may be provided to cover the rear area of the cavity, i.e., an area between the cavity <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, from above.

According to the invention, the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM> connect as the same surface. A connecting structure of the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM> that connect as the same surface may cover the upper end opening <NUM> and the upper space <NUM> from above.

The extension plate <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM> behind the cooktop part <NUM>, specifically, behind the upper space <NUM> and at the rear of the rear space <NUM>. To this end, the top plate <NUM> may further include a coupling part <NUM>. The coupling part <NUM> extends from the extension plate <NUM> and coupled to the rear cover <NUM>.

The coupling part <NUM> is integrated with the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM>. The coupling part <NUM> may be formed in a way that extends from the extension plate <NUM> in a direction parallel with the rear cover <NUM>.

The coupling part <NUM> extends from the end of the rear of the extension plate <NUM> downward. The coupling part <NUM>, formed as described above, may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM> while contacting the rear cover <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

That is, the main plate <NUM>, the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM> may integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM> and between the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM>, and while contacting the rear cover <NUM> in the front-rear direction, the coupling part <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM>.

Accordingly, the top plate <NUM> may be coupled to the control panel <NUM>, the side panel <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> while covering the rear space <NUM> and the upper space <NUM> from above. Accordingly, the top plate <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM> while covering the upper space <NUM> and the upper end opening <NUM> from above.

As described above, the top plate <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance while covering the upper end opening <NUM> and the upper space <NUM> from above.

The top plate <NUM> may be provided with the first exhaust opening <NUM>, and the vent grille <NUM> may be disposed on the first exhaust opening <NUM>. The vent grille <NUM> may be provided to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate <NUM>, including the area in which the first exhaust opening <NUM> is disposed, from above.

The vent grille <NUM> may further include a link member <NUM>. The link member <NUM> may be provided for a coupling between the vent grille <NUM> and the main body <NUM>. For example, the link member <NUM> may protrude from the end of the rear of the vent grille downward. The link member <NUM> may be coupled to the main body <NUM>, under the vent grille <NUM>.

In an example, the link member <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM>. In another example, the link member <NUM> may be coupled to the end of the rear of the side panel <NUM> or the coupling part <NUM> of the top plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear view showing the cooking appliance in <FIG> without a rear cover, <FIG> is a view showing a flow of water in a cooking appliance of the related art, and <FIG> is a view showing a flow of water in the cooking appliance of one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rear space <NUM> is disposed behind the cavity <NUM>. Various types of electronic components associated with the function of the oven part <NUM> may be disposed in the rear space <NUM>. For example, a circuit board <NUM> associated with the supply of power to the cooking appliance <NUM>, a portion of a lighting device <NUM> installed in the oven part <NUM>, and a convection motor <NUM> for rotating a convection fan disposed in the convention part <NUM> may be disposed in the rear space <NUM>. Additionally, devices such as a valve <NUM> or a regulator <NUM> and the like associated with the supply of gas to the cooking appliance may be disposed in the rear space <NUM>.

When water or foreign substances enter the rear space <NUM> in which the electronic components are disposed, the water or foreign substances may cause failure of the electronic components or accidents.

In a cooking appliance of the related art, a rear cover <NUM> is disposed behind a top plate 21a, and the rear cover <NUM> is disposed behind a cavity <NUM>, and a rear space <NUM> may be formed between the cavity <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Further, a gap 49a is formed at the upper end of the rear cover <NUM>, and the gap 49a is formed between the top plate 21a and the rear cover <NUM> to open the rear space <NUM> upward.

The rear cover <NUM> is coupled to the cavity <NUM> without being coupled to the top plate 21a. The gap 49a may be exposed to the upper portion of a cooktop part <NUM>, behind the top plate 21a.

A vent grille 60a may be disposed over the gap 49a. The vent grille 60a is disposed to cover a partial area of the rear of the top plate 21a, including the area in which an exhaust duct and an exhaust opening are disposed, from above. The gap 49a is also covered by the vent grille 60a.

A vent hole 61a passes through the vent grille 60a vertically, and exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust opening is discharged out of the upper portion of the vent grille 60a through the vent hole 61a.

Through the vent hole 61a, water or foreign substances may enter the space in the vent grille 60a. The water or the foreign substances having entered the space in the vent grille 60a may enter the rear space <NUM> through the gap 49a formed between the top plate 21a and the rear cover <NUM>.

That is, in the cooking appliance of the related art, water or foreign substances are highly likely to enter the rear space <NUM> through the gap 49a exposed to the inside the vent grille 60a.

Unlike the cooking appliance of the related art, the cooking appliance of this embodiment has a top plate <NUM> that covers the upper end opening <NUM> and the upper space <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

For example, the main plate <NUM>, the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM> integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM> and between the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM>, and the coupling part <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM> while contacting the rear cover <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

Accordingly, the top plate <NUM> is coupled to the control panel <NUM>, the side panel <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> while covering the upper space <NUM> and the rear space <NUM> from above. Thus, the top plate <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM>, while covering the upper space <NUM> and the upper end opening <NUM> from above.

That is, a passage, through which water or foreign substances enter the rear space <NUM> from the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM>, is blocked by the top plate <NUM>, thereby effectively preventing the water and foreign substances from entering the rear space <NUM>.

Further, in this embodiment, a connecting portion between the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> is disposed at the rear of the cooking appliance <NUM> instead of being disposed toward the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM>, and the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> are coupled in the front-rear direction. Thus, it is less likely that water or foreign substances enter the cooking appliance through the coupling portion between the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, and the invasion of water or foreign substances into the rear space <NUM> is effectively prevented.

Since water or foreign substances having fallen to the upper portion of the cooking appliance through the vent grille <NUM> are prevented from entering the electronic components disposed in a space formed between the rear surface of the cooking appliance <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> through the vent grille <NUM> as described above, the failure of the electronic components, caused by the water or foreign substances, may be effectively prevented.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a cooktop part and a control panel are separated from the cooking appliance of one embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of cool air in the cooking appliance of one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> may be disposed at the front of the upper space <NUM>, and disposed on the door <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> may include a control panel cover <NUM>. The control panel cover <NUM> may form the exterior of the control panel <NUM> and accommodate various types of components constituting the control panel <NUM>.

The control panel cover <NUM> may form the exteriors of the front surface, lateral surfaces and lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM>, and accommodate the display <NUM>. The lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM> may close between the door <NUM> and the display <NUM>.

The door <NUM> disposed under the control panel <NUM> may have a path for the flow of air, therein. Additionally, an air flow hole may be disposed in the lower portion of the door <NUM>. Further, a discharge hole 32a may be disposed on the upper surface of the door <NUM>, which faces the control panel <NUM>. The air flow hole, the path and the discharge hole 32a may be formed in a way that they pass through the door <NUM>.

The air flow hole may form a passage through which external air flows into the path in the door <NUM>, and the discharge hole 32a may form a passage through which the air having passed through the path in the door <NUM> is discharged out of the door <NUM>. The discharge hole 32a may be formed in a way that passes through the upper surface of the door <NUM> vertically, and the air having passed through the path in the door <NUM> may be discharged upward through the discharge hole 32a.

Further, a cooling fan <NUM> may be disposed behind the control panel <NUM> and the door <NUM>. The cooling fan <NUM> may be disposed near the rear cover <NUM> while being disposed in the upper space <NUM>.

In an example, the cooling fan <NUM> may include a turbo fan disposed on the upper surface of the cavity <NUM>. The cooling fan <NUM> may suction air in front of the upper space <NUM> and discharge the air toward the vent grille <NUM>. The air discharged by the cooling fan <NUM> may pass through the second exhaust opening <NUM> formed in a way that passes through the top plate <NUM> and through the vent grille <NUM>, and be discharged out of the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM>.

Ordinarily, when the cooking appliance, specifically, the oven part <NUM> performs a cooking operation, the heating part operates. While the heating part operates, the cooling fan <NUM> may also operate.

When the cooling fan <NUM> operates, external air in front of the cooking appliance <NUM> may flow into the upper space <NUM> through the intake opening <NUM> that is formed in a way that passes through the front panel <NUM>. The air having flown into the upper space <NUM> may pass through the upper space <NUM> while cooling components such as the display <NUM> disposed on the control panel <NUM> or the circuit board and the like, and then pass through the second exhaust opening <NUM> and the vent grille <NUM> and be discharged out of the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM>.

Along the way, external air in front of the main body <NUM> and under the main body <NUM> is suctioned through the air flow hole disposed in the lower portion of the door <NUM>, and then discharged through the discharge hole 32a disposed in the upper portion of the door <NUM> while cooling the door <NUM>. The air discharged out of the upper portion of the door <NUM> through the discharge hole 32a may flow into the upper space <NUM> through the intake opening <NUM> that is formed in a way that passes through the front panel <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM> closes between the door <NUM> and the display <NUM>, and a passage for connecting between the discharge hole 32a of the door <NUM> and the display <NUM> is not formed on the lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM>.

Accordingly, the air discharged out of the upper portion of the door <NUM> through the discharge hole 32a of the door <NUM> may flow into the upper space <NUM> immediately through the intake opening <NUM> without contacting the display <NUM>. That is, air heated during the process of cooling the door <NUM> may be discharged through the discharge hole 32a and then flow into the upper space <NUM> immediately without affecting the display <NUM>.

The hot air discharged from the door <NUM> hardly affects the display <NUM> disposed on the door <NUM>. Thus, damage to the display <NUM> or operational errors of the display <NUM>, caused by the hot air discharged from the door <NUM>, may be effectively prevented.

The display <NUM> is a heat-generating component that generates a large amount of heat. Accordingly, if the display <NUM> does not cool properly, the performance of the display <NUM> may deteriorate or the failure of the display <NUM> may occur.

One of the effective ways to cool the display <NUM> is to provide a cooling hole for cooling the display <NUM> at the control panel cover <NUM> that surrounds the display <NUM>.

If the cooling hole is disposed on the front surface or the upper surface of the control panel cover <NUM>, the cooling hole is exposed plainly, deteriorating aesthetic qualities. Additionally, water or foreign substances are highly likely to enter the control panel <NUM> through the cooling hole.

If the cooling hole is disposed on the lateral surface of the control pane cover <NUM>, a distance between the cooling hole and the display <NUM> increases, and the surface area of the cooling hole may not be ensured sufficiently. That is, if the cooling hole is disposed on the lateral surface of the control panel cover <NUM>, the display <NUM> may not cool properly.

To solve the above problems, the cooling hole may be provided on the lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM>, preferably. However, the discharge hole 32a of the door <NUM> and the cooling hole of the control panel <NUM> face each other. In this case, hot air discharged from the door <NUM> may flow into the control panel <NUM> through the cooling hole, adversely affecting the display <NUM>.

To prevent this from happening, in this embodiment, a passage for connecting between the discharge hole 32a of the door <NUM> and the display <NUM> is formed on no surface including the lower surface of the control panel cover <NUM>. Thus, the hot air discharged from the door <NUM> hardly affects the display <NUM> disposed on the door <NUM>.

However, if no cooling hole is disposed at the control panel cover <NUM>, there is little possibility that the display <NUM> cools properly. The occurrence of the problem may be suppressed based on the effect of the above-described coupling between the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the main plate <NUM>, the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM> may integrally connect such that a gap is not formed between the main plate <NUM> and the extension plate <NUM> and between the extension plate <NUM> and the coupling part <NUM>, and the coupling part <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM> while contacting the rear cover <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

Accordingly, the top plate <NUM> may be coupled to the control panel <NUM>, the side panel <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM> while covering the upper space <NUM> and the rear space <NUM> from above, such that the top plate <NUM> is fixed to the upper portion of the cooking appliance <NUM> while covering the upper space <NUM> and the upper end opening <NUM> from above.

The top plate <NUM> may be coupled to the rear cover <NUM> as a result of the coupling between the coupling part <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, and seal the upper portion of the cooktop part <NUM>. That is, the upper end opening <NUM> may be sealed by the top plate <NUM>, and a space around the cooling fan <NUM> disposed near the upper end opening <NUM> may be surrounded and sealed by the top plate <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM> and the cavity <NUM>.

When the perimeter of the cooling fan <NUM> is sealed as described above, the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan <NUM> may increase efficiently. As the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan <NUM> increases, the efficiency of cooling components such as the display <NUM> or the circuit disposed on the control panel <NUM> and the like may improve.

That is, in the cooking appliance of this embodiment, since the upper end opening <NUM> near the cooling fan is sealed as a result of the coupling between the top plate <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, the intensity of air current generated by the cooling fan <NUM> may efficiently increase, thereby effectively cooling the display <NUM> disposed on the control panel <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A cooking appliance, comprising:
an oven part (<NUM>) comprising a cavity (<NUM>) having a cooking space (<NUM>) therein;
a cooktop part (<NUM>) comprising a top plate (<NUM>) covering an upper portion of the cavity (<NUM>) to form an upper space (<NUM>) between the top plate (<NUM>) and the cavity (<NUM>), and at least one cooktop heating part (<NUM>) at least partially disposed in the upper space (<NUM>);
a rear cover (<NUM>) covering rears of the oven part (<NUM>) and the cooktop part (<NUM>) to form a rear space (<NUM>) between the rear cover (<NUM>) and the oven part (<NUM>);
an exhaust opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed between the cooktop heating part (<NUM>) and the rear cover (<NUM>), and formed in a way that passes through the top plate (<NUM>); and
a vent grille (<NUM>) covering the exhaust opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) in an upper portion of the top plate (<NUM>),
wherein an upper end opening (<NUM>) is formed between the cavity (<NUM>) and the rear cover (<NUM>) and opens the rear space (<NUM>) upward behind the upper space (<NUM>),
the top plate (<NUM>) connects to the rear cover (<NUM>) while covering the upper space (<NUM>) and the upper end opening (<NUM>) from above,
wherein the top plate (<NUM>), comprising:
a main plate (<NUM>) disposed in an upper portion of the upper space (<NUM>) and covering the upper space (<NUM>) from above; and
an extension plate (<NUM>) extended rearward from the main plate (<NUM>) and covering the upper end opening (<NUM>) from above,
wherein the top plate (<NUM>) further comprises a coupling part (<NUM>) extended from the extension plate (<NUM>) and coupled to the rear cover (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the main plate (<NUM>) and the extension plate (<NUM>) connect as the same surface while the main plate (<NUM>), the extension plate (<NUM>), and the coupling part (<NUM>) are integrated, and the coupling part (<NUM>) extends downward from an end portion of a rear of the extension plate (<NUM>).