Patent ID: 12226040

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to an oven. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented inFIG.1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring toFIGS.1-9, reference numeral10generally designates an oven that includes a cooking chamber12, a cabinet14at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber, a water reservoir40having a reservoir inlet42and a reservoir outlet43. The oven10is configured to extract water from the water reservoir40via the reservoir outlet43to supply steam to the cooking chamber12. A water fill assembly44includes an opening48, a water-receiving cavity50and a fill outlet46from the water-receiving cavity50. The water fill assembly44defines a fluid flow path52in from the opening48and out through the fill outlet46. A conduit54connects with the water reservoir inlet42downstream of the fill outlet46, and a gravity-closing check valve56is in fluid communication between the fill outlet46and the conduit54. The check valve56allows a flow of fluid along the flow path52out of the fill outlet46and through the check valve56and prevents a backflow of steam (i.e., against flow path52) from the conduit54and into the water fill assembly44.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the oven10is configured to cook one or more food items16that are disposed within the cooking chamber12, such as with a heating element that increases a temperature of the one or more food items16disposed within the cooking chamber12via electrical resistance, microwave emissions, or the combustion of a gas (e.g., natural gas, propane, butane, and so on). The oven10may be considered to be a “wall oven,” as illustrated inFIG.1, where the cabinet14of the oven10is mostly hidden behind paneling18or other structural features of a kitchen20or another room where the oven10is disposed. The oven10may be elevated in such instances from a floor22of the kitchen20or another room where the oven10is disposed. In other embodiments, the oven10is part of a “range” unit and further includes a cooktop (not illustrated) disposed above the cooking chamber12. In such embodiments, the oven10(i) may be of the “slide-in” variety where cabinetry24, paneling18, or other structural features within the kitchen20(or other room) generally hides the cabinet14of the oven10, or (ii) may be of the “freestanding” variety where cabinetry24, paneling18, or other structural features of the kitchen20(or other room) do not hide the cabinet14of the oven10but, rather, a covering (not illustrated) covers the cabinet14of the oven10.

The oven10further includes a door26to selectively deny or allow access to the cooking chamber12from an external environment28. The door26includes a closed position30(FIG.1) where the door26denies access to the cooking chamber12from the external environment28. In addition, the door26includes an open position32(see, e.g.,FIG.2) where the door26allows access to the cooking chamber12from the external environment28. The door26is able to move to, from, and between the closed position30and the open position32. The door26may be in the closed position30while the oven10is cooking the one or more food items16, so that the cooking chamber12retains the heat better that the oven10generates. A user of the oven10may transition the door26from the closed position30to the open position32to place the one or more food items16into the cooking chamber12or to remove the one or more food items16from the cooking chamber12, such as after the oven10has cooked the one or more food items16.

In certain implementations, the oven10further includes a human-machine interface34. The human-machine interface34may include buttons36, a touch screen display38, among other items that allow the user to control operation of the oven10. The human-machine interface34is usable from the external environment28, and, in one configuration, is disposed above the door26.

Referring now additionally toFIGS.3-9, the oven10further includes the water reservoir40. In at least one aspect, the water reservoir40is for use with a steam cooking function of the oven10. The water reservoir40includes the inlet42that receives water from the fill assembly44via the conduit54and the outlet46. The inlet42is configured to accept water W for storage in the reservoir40from the fill assembly44. For example, the fill assembly44is disposed elevationally above the reservoir40so that gravity forces the water W to flow through the conduit54into the reservoir40. The user deposits water W through the opening48of the water fill assembly44and the water W enters the cavity50before flowing out through the outlet46and the check valve56to enter the conduit54. The reservoir40stores the water W until the oven10extracts the water W from the reservoir40to generate steam therefrom for a steam cooking function. The oven10draws water W from the reservoir40through the reservoir outlet43.

In the illustrated example, the fill outlet46is disposed through one of the side walls58that define the fill cavity50. In other implementations, the outlet46may be disposed through a bottom surface60that defines the fill cavity50. The outlet46is configured to allow the fluid flow path52to exit the fill cavity50to flow into the conduit54for storage in the reservoir40until needed by the steam generation system of the oven10, which is configured to transform the water W into steam for using during a steam cooking function. Steam generation systems for ovens are known in the art, and include any system that heats the water W into steam, which is then introduced into the cooking chamber12during cooking of the one or more food items16. An example of the steam generation system is set forth in United States Patent Application Publication US20190309956A1 (published 10 Oct. 2019, assigned to Whirlpool Corporation), and said publication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some aspects, it may be possible for steam generated within the oven10to flow from the boiler associated with steam generation back into the reservoir40. In the above-described arrangement, wherein gravity is used to promote the flow of water W from the fill assembly44, along fluid flow path52, through the conduit54and into the reservoir40, the fill assembly44is positioned vertically above the reservoir40to facilitate such downstream flow. This arrangement, however, may facilitate the upward escape of steam in a backflow (i.e., upstream) direction against the intended flow path52such that steam S may tend to flow upward through the conduit54and toward the fill assembly44. In this manner, the above-described gravity-based check valve56is present and configured to allow the above-described movement of water W along the flow path52, while preventing the backflow of steam S from conduit54from moving through the fill outlet46and into the fill cavity50, where such steam S may otherwise collect until a sufficient pressure is built up that may cause the steam S to escape the fill assembly44and enter the external environment28. More particularly, as shown in one implementation inFIGS.5-7, the check valve56is in fluid communication with the fill outlet46downstream of the fluid flow path52defined by the water fill assembly44. The check valve56is gravity-based in that it is configured in a closed state S1(FIG.7) under the force of gravity G on at least a portion thereof, depending on the particular implementation of such valve according to the present example of the valve56, valve156as well as other implementations. The valve56moves to an open state S2(FIG.6) by a force of water flowing along the flow path52, including out of the fill outlet46and through the check valve56. The water then flows into conduit54that connects the check valve56with the water reservoir inlet42downstream of the fill outlet46to fill the reservoir40, as discussed above.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the combination of the water fill assembly44and reservoir40discussed herein can be a component of a water storage assembly62useable in connection with the oven10described herein and configured for to supply steam S to the cooking chamber12thereof. In general, the assembly44includes the check valve56described herein in fluid communication with the fill outlet46downstream of the fluid flow path52defined by the water fill assembly44. The check valve56closes under the force of gravity G on at least a portion thereof to prevent a backflow against the fluid path52and into the water fill assembly44and opening to allow an infill of water from the water-receiving cavity50through the check valve56and the conduit54connecting the check valve56with the water reservoir inlet42downstream of the fill outlet46. It will be appreciated that such a water fill assembly44may be adapted for use with other appliances that store water for the use in generating and supplying steam. In some aspects, the water storage assembly62is described according to specific adaptations for use with the oven10described herein. In one such aspect, the oven10may further include a front face64, and the water fill assembly44may include a drawer body66having an outer surface68and defining the opening48, the water-receiving cavity50, and the fill outlet46. The drawer body66is movably mounted in a holder70so as to be slidable with respect to the holder70and the rest of the oven10. The fill outlet46is defined on the drawer body66, as shown. The drawer body66, in particular, is slideable with respect to the holder70between a fill position P1(FIG.1), wherein the opening48to the cavity50is exposed to the environment28surrounding the oven10, and a closed position P2(FIG.4), wherein the drawer body66is retracted into the holder70and the outer surface68of the drawer body66is generally coplanar with the front face64of the oven10. In this arrangement, the drawer body66is pulled outward into the fill position P1for the user to pour water through the opening48and into the cavity50, wherein the water moves along the flow path52to fill the reservoir40(at least partially), as discussed above. The drawer66is then pushed back into the closed position P2for use of the oven10.

In the specific implementation shown inFIGS.5-7, the check valve56includes a valve body72that defines a portion of the fluid flow path52between the fill outlet46and the conduit54through an interior74of the valve body72. In this manner, the majority of the valve body72can be of a tubular structure that extends horizontally outward from the outlet46. The valve56further includes a flap76rotatably mounted within the interior74of the body72. In this arrangement, the flap76defines the above-described portion of the check valve56that configures the valve56between the closed state S1and the open state S2. As further described herein, the flap76defines the portion of the check valve56that closes under the force of gravity G and opens to allow water W from the water-receiving cavity50to flow through the check valve56. In this respect, the flap76is rotatably mounted within the interior74of the valve body72about a hinge78disposed along an upper portion80of the flap76such that the flap76rotates vertically upward and in a direction away from the fill outlet46by the flow force of fluid (i.e., water W) out of the fill outlet46and through the check valve56to allow the infill of water W through the check valve56and into the conduit54to fill the reservoir40. As shown, the flap76can, in particular, be mounted on a cap82that is coupleable over an access opening84to the interior74of the valve body72and disposed vertically above the fluid flow path52such that the flap76depends downwardly from the cap82into the fluid flow path52when in the closed state S1under the force of gravity G. In one aspect, the access opening84can define a secondary cavity86that intersects the interior74that defines the fluid flow path52to provide an enlarged area to receive the flap76when moved under the movement of water W along the flow path52into the open state S2, as shown inFIG.7. In a further aspect, the cap82may affix to the access opening84by a mutually-threaded engagement therebetween for easy assembly of the valve56, although other arrangements are possible (including press fit, adhesives, or additional mechanical fasteners). The hinge78associated with the flap76may connect the flap76with the cap82and may be assembled in a press- or snap-fit arrangement, or may include a hinge pin therebetween.

As further shown inFIGS.6and7, the valve body72can define a shoulder88having a face90disposed away from the fill outlet46. The shoulder88may be defined as a step between a narrow, upstream portion of the interior74and a wider, downstream portion or may be defined as a flange surrounding a portion of the interior upstream of the flap76in the closed state S1. In the illustrated arrangement, the flap76moves into contact with the face90of the shoulder88to define the closed state S1of the valve56. In this arrangement, the flap76is urged against the face90of the shoulder88under an upstream fluid force from steam S flowing against the intended fluid flow path52from the conduit54toward the fill outlet46. This arrangement helps maintain the valve56in the closed state S1and can further increase the sealing effect of the flap76against the shoulder88to decrease the likelihood of steam S moving upstream of the valve56and into the cavity50. In the absence of such steam S, including when the oven is off or not using a steam cooking function, water W may generally freely flow downstream by moving the flap76to the open state S2away from the shoulder88.

Turning now toFIGS.8and9in an alternative implementation, check valve156can be used in the same or similar water storage assembly62, including in connection with the drawer-based implementation for the above-described oven10. In this implementation, the valve156can include a valve body172defining a portion of the fluid flow path52between the fill outlet46and the conduit54through an interior174of the valve body172in a manner generally similar to that which is discussed above. The present check valve156can include a ball192movably captured within a portion194of the interior174of the valve body172. The ball192, thus, defines the portion of the check valve156that is configurable between the closed state S1and the open state S2with the ball192closing the valve156under the force of gravity G and opening to allow water W from the water-receiving cavity50to flow through the check valve156. In particular, the ball192has a density that is less than the density of water (such as by being formed of hollow plastic or the like) such that the ball192floats into the open state S2by the presence of water W within the portion194of the interior174within which the ball192is captured, including under the flow of water through the check valve156along the fluid flow path52. As shown, the ball-receiving portion194of the interior174includes a concave portion196extending upwardly in the downstream direction of the fluid flow path52from a seat188such that the ball rests within the concave portion196and against a face190of the seat188under the force of gravity G in the closed state of the check valve156. The seat188generally surrounds and is generally perpendicular to the direction of the flow path52from the fill outlet46such that the upstream fluid force of steam S from the conduit54toward the fill outlet46urges the ball192into further engagement with the seat188in a similar manner to the flap76discussed above, to further seal the valve156and maintain any steam S outside of the cavity50(FIG.9).

The ball-receiving portion194of the interior174of the valve body172can further define an upper cavity186extending vertically above the concave portion196of the interior174. In this manner, the ball192is permitted space to float upward and out of the flow path52by being positioned within the upper cavity186in the presence of water W to configure the valve156in the open state S2(FIG.8). The upper cavity186can include an access opening184enclosed by a cover182by fasteners198or the like to allow the ball192to be assembled within the interior174and for maintenance access or the like.

The invention disclosed herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs and is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an oven includes a cooking chamber, a cabinet at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber, and a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the oven being configured to extract water from the water reservoir via the reservoir outlet to supply steam to the cooking chamber. The oven further includes a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet, a check valve in fluid communication with the fill outlet downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve configured in a closed state under a force of gravity on at least a portion thereof and opening by a flow force of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve, and a conduit connecting the check valve with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet.

The oven may further include a front face, and the water fill assembly may include a drawer body having an outer surface and defining the opening, the water-receiving cavity, and the fill outlet and a holder slidably receiving the drawer body, the outlet being defined on the holder and fluidly connected with the drawer body being slideable with respect to the holder between a fill position, wherein the opening to the cavity is exposed to an environment surrounding the oven and the outer surface of the drawer is generally coplanar with the front face of the oven, and a closed position, wherein the drawer body is retracted into the holder.

The check valve can include a valve body defining a portion of the fluid flow path between the fill outlet and the conduit through an interior thereof and a flap rotatably mounted within the interior of the body, the flap defining the portion of the check valve configurable between the closed state and the open state.

The flap can be rotatably mounted within the interior of the valve body about a hinge disposed along an upper portion of the flap such that the flap rotates vertically upward away from the fill outlet by the flow force of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve.

The valve body can define a shoulder having a face disposed away from the fill outlet, the flap being urged against the shoulder under an upstream fluid force from the conduit toward the fluid outlet.

The flap can be mounted on a cap that is coupleable over an access opening to the interior of the check valve body disposed vertically above the fluid flow path such that the flap depends downwardly from the cap into the fluid flow path when in the closed state.

The check valve can include a valve body defining a portion of the fluid flow path between the fill outlet and the conduit through an interior thereof and a ball movably captured within a portion of the interior of the body, the ball defining the portion of the check valve configurable between the closed state and the open state.

The valve body interior can define a seat surrounding and generally perpendicular to a direction of the flow path from the fill outlet and a concave portion extending upwardly in a downstream direction from the seat such that the ball rests within the concave portion and against the seat under the force of gravity in the closed state of the check valve.

An upstream fluid force from the conduit toward the fill outlet may urge the ball into further engagement with the seat.

The valve body interior can further define a receiving cavity extending vertically above the concave portion of the valve body interior, the ball being positioned within the receiving cavity when the valve is in the open state.

The ball can have a density less than a density of water such that the ball floats into the open state under the flow of fluid through the check valve.

According to yet another aspect, a water storage assembly for an oven configured for to supply steam to a cooking chamber thereof includes a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the oven extracting water from the water reservoir via the reservoir outlet and a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet. The assembly further includes a check valve in fluid communication with the fill outlet downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve closing under a force of gravity on at least a portion thereof to prevent a backflow against the fluid path and into the water fill assembly and opening to allow an infill of water from the water-receiving cavity through the check valve and a conduit connecting the check valve with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet.

The check valve can include a valve body defining a portion of the fluid flow path between the fill outlet and the conduit through an interior thereof and a flap rotatably mounted within the interior of the body, the flap defining the portion of the check valve closing under the force of gravity and opening to allow water from the water-receiving cavity through the check valve.

The flap can be rotatably mounted within the interior of the valve body about a hinge disposed along an upper portion of the flap such that the flap rotates vertically upward away from the fill outlet to allow the infill of water through the check valve.

The valve body can define a shoulder having a face disposed away from the fill outlet, the flap being urged against the shoulder under the backflow against the fluid path through the check valve.

The flap can be mounted on a cap that is coupleable over an access opening to the interior of the check valve body disposed vertically above the fluid flow path such that the flap depends downwardly from the cap into the fluid flow path when closing under the force of gravity.

The check valve can include a valve body defining a portion of the fluid flow path between the fill outlet and the conduit through an interior thereof and a ball movably captured within a portion of the interior of the body, the ball defining the portion of the check valve closing under the force of gravity and opening to allow water from the water-receiving cavity through the check valve, wherein the ball has a density less than a density of water such that the ball floats into the open state under the flow of fluid through the check valve.

The valve body interior can define a seat surrounding and generally perpendicular to a direction of the flow path from the fill outlet, a concave portion extending upwardly in a downstream direction from the seat such that the ball rests within the concave portion and against the seat under the force of gravity in the closed state of the check valve, and a receiving cavity extending vertically above the concave portion of the valve body interior, the ball being positioned within the receiving cavity when the valve is in the open state.

The backflow against the fluid path through the check valve may urge the ball into further engagement with the seat.

According to yet another aspect, an oven includes a cooking chamber, a cabinet at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber, a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the oven being configured to extract water from the water reservoir via the reservoir outlet to supply steam to the cooking chamber, and a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity. The water fill assembly defines a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet. A conduit connects with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet, and a gravity-closing check valve is in fluid communication between the fill outlet and the conduit. The check valve allows a flow of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve and preventing a backflow of steam from the conduit and into the water fill assembly.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.