Patent ID: 12193132

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1through7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible when filing the present application.

Also, like reference numerals or symbols denoted in the drawings of the present specification represent members or components that perform the substantially same functions.

Also, the terms used in the present specification are used to describe the embodiments of the disclosure, not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It will be understood that when the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

For example, a first component discussed below could be termed a second component, and similarly, a second component may be termed a first component without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In the following description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, and “lower” are defined based on the drawings, and the shapes and positions of the corresponding components are not limited by the terms.

Throughout the disclosure, the expression “at least one of a, b or c” indicates only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, or variations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1illustrates an installation state of a microwave oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2is an exploded perspective view of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1.FIG.3illustrates the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1, from which a top cover is omitted.FIG.4is an exploded perspective view of some components of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1.FIG.5is a side sectional view of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1, showing a state in which a filter is inserted at a first angle in a first support space.

In certain embodiments, a hooded microwave oven1is described as an example of a cooking appliance, however, any cooking appliance with a hood function may be applied.

Referring toFIGS.1to5, the hooded microwave oven1may be installed above another cooking appliance3. The hooded microwave oven1is called a wall-mount type microwave oven or an Over-The-Range (OTR), because it is mounted on a wall. Hereinafter, a microwave oven indicates the hooded microwave oven1.

The microwave oven1may include a cabinet11forming an outer surface of a main body10. The cabinet11may be positioned above the cooking appliance3, and a rear surface of the cabinet11may be mounted on and fixed to a wall, although not limited thereto. However, a side surface or upper surface of the cabinet11may be mounted on the wall and fixed. Also, the microwave oven1may be mounted on the wall to be used as a wall-mounted type microwave oven, or may be placed on an installation surface and used, according to a user's selection.

The cabinet11may include a top cover12forming the upper and side surfaces of the cabinet11, and a hood plate13forming a bottom surface of the cabinet11and including an inlet13afor receiving an exhaust gas that is generated from the cooking appliance3. The cabinet11may include a front frame14forming a front surface of the cabinet11, and a rear plate15forming a rear surface of the cabinet11. The top cover12, the hood plate13, the front frame14, and the rear plate15may be provided separately or integrated with one or more of the components into one body.

The main body10may be partitioned into a cooking room40of which a front side opens to receive food, and a machine room60that is formed inside the main body10separated from the cooking room40. Various electronic parts are installed in the machine room60. More specifically, the top cover12, the hood plate13, the front frame14, and the rear plate15may define the outer surfaces of the main body10, and an entire or partial space between the cooking room40and the cabinet11may correspond to the machine room60.

On a front surface of the cabinet11, a door20hinge-coupled with the front surface of the cabinet11at its one edge may be installed to open and close the cooking room40. The door20may cover the open front side of the cooking room40. A tray (not shown) on which a cooking material is placed may be provided inside the cooking room40, and a motor may be installed below the tray to rotate the cooking material together with the tray.

A control panel30may be coupled with the front surface of the cabinet11to enable a user to select an intensity of microwaves or an operating time according to an amount of a cooking material. The control panel30may be positioned beside the cooking room40. The control panel30may be positioned behind the door20to be covered by the door20being in a closed state, although not limited thereto. However, the control panel30may be positioned beside the door20to be exposed to outside even though the door20is in a closed state.

Inside the cabinet11, a hood flow path80may be formed through which air containing an exhaust gas inhaled through the inlet13aflows. As shown inFIG.2, a partition wall16for partitioning the hood flow path80from the machine room60may be provided in the microwave oven1to prevent air flowing through the hood flow path80from entering the machine room60, although not limited thereto. However, the partition wall16may be omitted. In certain embodiments, the hood flow path80may be not partitioned from the machine room60, and an entire or partial space between the cooking room40and the cabinet11may correspond to the hood flow path80.

One end of the hood flow path80may communicate with the inlet13a, and the other end of the hood flow path80may communicate with an outlet110. Accordingly, when air including an exhaust gas enters the inlet13afrom the outside of the microwave oven1, the air may move along the hood flow path80formed inside the main body10and be discharged to the outside of the microwave oven1through the outlet110.

The microwave oven1may include a blower50for forming air flow inside the hood flow path80to perform a hood function. The blower50may be installed inside the cabinet11. More specifically, the blower50may be installed at a rear, upper space inside the cabinet11, and positioned on the hood flow path80.

The blower50may include a cross-flow fan or a sirocco fan, although not limited thereto. However, the blower50may include another kind of fan. The blower50may have two vents50a, and air may be discharged from the vents50a.

The blower50may draw outside air including an exhaust gas generated from the cooking appliance3into the inside of the main body10, and blow the drawn air to the outlet110, wherein the drawn air moves through the hood flow path80, arrives at the outlet110, and is then discharged to the outside of the microwave oven1.

The microwave oven1may include a blowing duct90forming a part of the hood flow path80, the blowing duct90connecting the blower50to the outlet110. More specifically, the hood flow path80formed inside the blowing duct90may be covered by the top cover12from above, and the hood flow path80formed inside the blowing duct90may be defined by the blowing duct90and the upper surface of the cabinet11. An inner surface of the blowing duct90may correspond to a flow guide112c, and air blown by the blower50may be guided to the outlet110by the flow guide112c.

The blowing duct90may include a first duct91for collecting air discharged from the two vents50aand guiding the air to concentrate the air toward the filter70, and a second duct92in which the filter70is positioned. The blowing duct90may be formed by combining the first duct91and the second duct92provided separately, or the blowing duct90may be formed by the first duct91and the second duct92integrated into one body.

The filter70may be positioned on the hood flow path80to filter air flow supplied from the blower50and guided to the outlet110by the flow guide112c. More specifically, the filter70may be positioned inside the blowing duct90. The filter70may be in a shape of a rectangle having a horizontal length that is smaller than or equal to a width of the blowing duct90. More specifically, the filter70may have a horizontal length that is smaller than or equal to the width of the second duct92of the blowing duct90, although not limited thereto. However, the filter70may have another shape.

The filter70may be supported and fixed at an inclined position inside the blowing duct90. In other words, a vertical position of the filter70may be inclined with respect to an inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90. This will be described in detail, later.

The microwave oven1may include a grille frame100including the outlet110. The grille frame100may be positioned at a front side of the cabinet11, and detachably coupled with the cabinet11. More specifically, a lower end of a guide portion112of the grille frame100may be hook-coupled with the front side of the cabinet11by a hook112b, and an upper end of the grille frame100may be screw-coupled with the upper surface of the cabinet11.

The grille frame100may include a grille portion111in which the outlet110is formed, the guide portion112for guiding air toward the outlet110, an elastic support portion113protruding from the guide portion112, and a fixing support portion114protruding from the guide portion112and positioned above the elastic support portion113.

The grille portion111may extend substantially horizontally from an upper end of the guide portion112, and one end of the grille portion111may be connected to the upper surface of the cabinet11by screw-coupling. The outlet110may open in an upward direction of the cabinet11, and accordingly, the outlet110may discharge air in the upward direction of the cabinet11.

An outer surface of the guide portion112may form a front surface of the grille frame100, and an inner surface of the guide portion112may correspond to the flow guide112c. A plurality of reinforcing ribs112afor preventing the grille frame100from being deformed may be formed between the guide portion112and the grille portion111.

The flow guide112ccorresponding to the inner surface of the guide portion112may guide air blown in a horizontal direction by the blower50to the outlet110that opens in a vertical direction. That is, the flow guide112cmay change horizontal-direction air flow to vertical-direction air flow.

The grille frame100may include the elastic support portion113and the fixing support portion114that protrude from the inner surface of the guide portion112. A plurality of elastic support portions113and a plurality of fixing support portions114may be provided.

The elastic support portion113and the fixing support portion114may be integrated into one body. More specifically, the elastic support portion113may include an elastic support portion protrusion113aand an elastic support portion body113b, and the fixing support portion114may include a fixing support portion protrusion114aand a fixing support portion body114b. The elastic support portion body113bmay protrude from the flow guide112cof the guide portion112, and the elastic support portion protrusion113amay protrude from the elastic support portion body113b. The elastic support portion protrusion113aand the elastic support portion body113bmay be integrated into one body. The fixing support portion body114bmay protrude from the flow guide112cof the guide portion112, and the fixing support portion protrusion114amay protrude from the fixing support portion body114b. The fixing support portion protrusion114aand the fixing support portion body114bmay be integrated into one body.

The elastic support portion body113band the fixing support portion body114bmay be integrated into one body113band114b. In other words, the elastic support portion protrusion113aand the fixing support portion protrusion114amay protrude separately from the body113band114b, although not limited thereto. However, the elastic support portion body113band the fixing support portion body114bmay be separated from each other. In certain embodiments, the elastic support portion113and the fixing support portion114may protrude separately from the flow guide112cof the guide portion112in such a way to be spaced from each other.

The elastic support portion113may be elastically deformable in a vertical direction. Because a second support space116is formed above the elastic support portion protrusion113awithout any member, elastic deformation may occur toward the second support space116.

Both ends of the elastic support portion protrusion113amay be connected to the elastic support portion body113b. The elastic support portion protrusion113amay be in a shape of a band of which a cross section is a rectangle, and because both ends of the elastic support portion protrusion113aare connected to the elastic support portion body113b, the elastic support portion protrusion113amay form a closed curve. Accordingly, the elastic support portion113may include a hollow space113cformed between the elastic support portion body113band the elastic support portion protrusion113a. Due to the hollow space113cthat is elastically deformed to change its shape, the elastic support portion protrusion113amay be elastically deformed more flexibly, although not limited thereto.

However, when the elastic support portion body113bis omitted, both ends of the elastic support portion protrusion113abeing in the shape of a band may be connected directly to the flow guide112cof the guide portion112. Also, the elastic support portion protrusion113amay be in a shape of a band of which a cross section is another shape except for a rectangle, and may have another shape that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, except for a band shape.

The fixing support portion protrusion114amay be spaced from the elastic support portion protrusion113ato form a space between the fixing support portion protrusion114aand the elastic support portion protrusion113a. When the elastic support portion protrusion113ais not elastically deformed, a distance between the fixing support portion protrusion114aand the elastic support portion protrusion113amay be longer at longer distances from the elastic support portion body113band the fixing support portion body114b.

The grille frame100may form at least one support space115and116. The filter70may be inserted into and supported by the support space115and116at its lower end, thereby being fixed inside the blowing duct90.

The support space115and116may include a first support space115formed below the elastic support portion113, and a second support space116formed between the elastic support portion113and the fixing support portion114. More specifically, the first support space115may correspond to a spacing between the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90and the elastic support portion protrusion113a, and the second support space116may correspond to a spacing between the elastic support portion protrusion113aand the fixing support portion protrusion114a.

The filter70may be inclined with respect to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90. That is, a vertical position of the filter70may be inclined with respect to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90. In other words, the filter70may be inclined with respect to the upper surface of the cabinet11. More specifically, the filter70may be inclined such that the lower end of the filter70is toward the front direction of the cabinet11and the upper end of the filter70is toward a rear direction of the cabinet11. The lower end of the filter70may be inserted into and supported by one of the first support space115or the second support space116of the grille frame100provided in the front portion of the cabinet11, thereby being fixed inside the blowing duct90.

The blowing duct90may include a first supporting piece93and a second supporting piece94, which protrude toward the inside of the blowing duct90from an inner side surface of the blowing duct90, to support the filter70being in an inclined state. In other words, the first supporting piece93and the second supporting piece94may protrude from one surface of the flow guide112c.

The first supporting piece93may support the upper end of the filter70. More specifically, the first supporting piece93may have a supporting surface facing an upper surface of the filter70inclined to a preset gradient, and prevent the filter70from being pushed in the rear direction. The second supporting piece94may support a side portion of the filter70. More specifically, the second supporting piece94may have a supporting surface facing a rear surface70bof the filter70inclined to the preset gradient, and prevent the filter70from falling in the rear direction. A plurality of first supporting pieces93and a plurality of second supporting pieces94may be provided.

FIG.5is a side sectional view of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1, showing a state in which the filter is inserted at a first angle in the first support space.FIG.6is a side sectional view of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1, showing a state in which the filter is inserted at a second angle in the first support space.FIG.7is a side sectional view of the microwave oven illustrated inFIG.1, showing a state in which the filter is inserted in the second support space.

Hereinafter, a case in which the lower end of the filter70is inserted in the first support space115and a case in which the lower end of the filter70is inserted in the second support space116will be respectively described in detail.

Referring toFIGS.5to7, the lower end of the filter70may be inserted into and supported by the first support space115. In other words, the lower end of the filter70may be pushed into a space below the elastic support portion113and supported. More specifically, the lower end of the filter70may be pushed into and supported by a space below the elastic support portion protrusion113a.

When the lower end of the filter70is inserted in the first support space115, the lower end of the filter70may press the elastic support portion113upward. In other words, the lower end of the filter70may press the elastic support portion113upward such that the elastic support portion113is elastically deformed in a direction toward the second support space116. More specifically, the lower end of the filter70may press the elastic support portion protrusion113a.

The elastic support portion protrusion113aelastically deformed by the filter70may press the lower end of the filter70downward. More specifically, an outer surface of the elastic support portion protrusion113amay contact a lower end of a front surface70aof the filter70to apply a restoring force to the lower end of the front surface70aof the filter70. Because the elastic support portion protrusion113ahas been elastically deformed upward, the restoring force may be applied in a direction of pressing the lower end of the filter70downward. The elastic support portion113may be positioned in front of the filter70to restrict a forward movement of the filter70, and apply a restoring force to the lower end of the filter70to prevent the filter70from shaking by air flow.

The lower end of the filter70inserted into the first support space115may be firmly fixed on the hood flow path80. Accordingly, the filter70may be prevented from deviating from its installation position by air flow generated by the blower50or from colliding with the blowing duct90to generate noise. Also, because the elastic support portion113fixing the filter70is removable from the filter70by separating the grille frame100from the cabinet11, the filter70may be separable from the inside of the blowing duct90. Therefore, the filter70may be easily installed and replaced with new one.

As described above, the filter70may be inclined with the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90in consideration of flow of air inside the blowing duct90. In other words, the filter70may be inclined with respect to the upper surface of the cabinet11, which is parallel to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90.

In certain embodiments, the lower end of the filter70may be in contact with or adjacent to a bottom surface of the second duct92and the upper end of the filter70may be in contact with or adjacent to the top cover12such that the entire surface of the filter70contacts air flowing inside the second duct92of the blowing duct90. Accordingly, a shape resulting from projecting the filter70onto a rectangular section of the second duct92may be identical or similar to the section of the second duct92.

The blowing duct90may have various shapes according to various factors, such as a specification of the blower50, a size and output of the microwave oven1, and a required air volume of the hood flow path80. Accordingly, a width and height of the blowing duct90may have various values. That is, a horizontal length of a section of the blowing duct90, which corresponds to the width of the blowing duct90, and a vertical length of the section of the blowing duct90, which corresponds to the height of the blowing duct90may have various values. The section of the blowing duct90may correspond to the section of the second duct92.

Because the lower side of the filter70is positioned to correspond to the lower side of the section of the blowing duct90and the upper side of the filter70is positioned to correspond to the upper side of the section of the blowing duct90, a greater height of the blowing duct90may result in a greater angle of the filter70formed with respect to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90. In other words, a greater height of the blowing duct90may result in a greater angle of the filter70formed with respect to the upper surface of the cabinet11.

When the blowing duct90has a first height h1, an angle formed between a straight line11being parallel to a vertical side of the filter70and a straight line12being parallel to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90may correspond to a first angle θ1. When the blowing duct90has a second height h2that is greater than the first height h1, an angle formed between a straight line11being parallel to the vertical side of the filter70and the straight line12being parallel to the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90may correspond to a second angle θ2.

In other words, when the blowing duct90has the first height h1, an angle formed between the straight line11being parallel to the vertical side of the filter70and a straight line13being parallel to the upper surface of the cabinet11may correspond to the first angle θ1. When the blowing duct90has the second height h2that is greater than the first height h1, an angle formed between the straight line11being parallel to the vertical side of the filter70and the straight line13being parallel to the upper surface of the cabinet11may correspond to the second angle θ2.

The second angle θ2may be greater than the first angle θ1. An amount of elastic deformation of the elastic support portion113by the filter70when the second angle θ2is formed may be greater than an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic support portion113by the filter70when the first angle θ1is formed. Accordingly, a distance between an end of the elastic support portion protrusion113aand the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90in the case that the second angle θ2is formed may be longer than a distance between the end of the elastic support portion protrusion113aand the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90in which the first angle θ1is formed. Also, a distance between an end of the fixing support portion protrusion114aand the end of the elastic support portion protrusion113ain the case that the first angle θ1is formed may be longer than a distance between the end of the fixing support portion protrusion114aand the end of the elastic support portion protrusion113ain the case that the second angle θ2is formed, although not limited thereto.

However, the filter70may be inclined to various angles within an allowable range in the state in which the lower end of the filter70is inserted in the first support space115inside the blowing duct90having a preset height.

For example, when the blowing duct90has the first height h1, the filter70may be inclined to the first angle θ1or smaller. According to another example, when the blowing duct90has the second height h2, the filter70may be inclined to the second angle θ2or smaller. Accordingly, when the blowing duct90has the second height h2, the filter70may be inclined to the first angle θ1, as well as to the second angle θ2.

Because the elastic support portion113of the grille frame100is elastically deformed with different amounts of deformation according to gradients of the filter70, the elastic support portion113may be compatible with various models of microwave ovens having different shapes of blowing ducts. Accordingly, the grille frame100according to the current embodiment of the disclosure may be applied to various models of microwave ovens, thereby achieving a cost reduction and simplification of a production process.

The lower end of the filter70may be inserted into and supported by the second support space116. The lower end of the filter70may contact the fixing support portion protrusion114aand the elastic support portion protrusion113aand be supported. The fixing support portion protrusion114aand the elastic support portion protrusion113amay be positioned in front of the filter70to restrict a forward movement of the filter70.

The lower end of the filter70may be pushed in the front direction by air flow from the blower50to press the elastic support portion protrusion113a, or the lower end of the filter70may press the elastic support portion protrusion113aaccording to a vertical length of the filter70. The elastic support portion protrusion113aelastically deformed downward by the filter70may press the lower end of the filter70upward and downward by a restoring force. Accordingly, the filter70may be in close contact with the first supporting piece93supporting the filter70at the upper end of the filter70, and shaking of the filter70may be prevented. Also, although a force of the filter70that presses the elastic support portion protrusion113adoes not reach a degree of causing meaningful elastic deformation, the filter70may continue to be pushed forward by air flow from the blower50, and accordingly, the elastic support portion protrusion113abeing in contact with the lower end of the filter70may apply a normal force to the filter70.

When the lower end of the filter70is inserted into the second support space116, the lower end of the filter70may be spaced from the inner surface90aat the bottom of the blowing duct90, and a part of air blown by the blower50may be discharged to the outside through the outlet110via the first support space115, without passing through the filter70.

When the filter70is installed in the second support space116, a part of air blown by the blower50may flow to the outlet110without any resistance against the filter70. Therefore, air may flow more smoothly than the case in which the filter70is installed in the first support space115. Also, because the grille frame100supports the filter70in a selected one of the first support space115or the second support space116according to a specification of the microwave oven1, the grille frame100may be used to manufacture different models of microwave ovens having various specifications.

The elastic support portion and the fixing support portion may be provided to prevent the filter from deviating from its original position by air flow from the blower or prevent noise from being generated due to shaking of the filter.

The filter may be supported by a selected one of a plurality of support spaces, and the grille frame may support the filter capable of being inclined to different angles according to elastic deformation of the elastic support portion.

Although the present disclosure has been described with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.