Cooking Device and Method for Installation

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2024 115 457.8, filed Jun. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to a cooking device having at least one mount receptacle for receiving a food carrier mount having a holding element that, in the installed state, extends at least partially through the through-opening in the cooking chamber wall.

Cooking appliances having a cooking chamber generally have systems for arranging food carriers such as baking sheets or the like. Such systems generally also offer a user the option of arranging one or more food carriers at different heights in the cooking chamber.

Such systems generally comprise a food carrier mount which, depending on the design, comprises e.g. a pull-out or just provides a slide-in shelf for a food carrier. Generally, a food carrier mount is provided on each side of the cooking chamber so that, e.g., a baking sheet or a rack can be inserted into the two food carrier mounts or held by the latter.

One type of food carrier mount is a so-called support frame. Such a support frame is simply inserted into or hung in openings in the cooking chamber wall with rods projecting approximately at right angles to the insertion direction, as shown in the document EP 2 703 731 B1. In order to re-seal the opening and also to prevent rattling, silicone parts are inserted between the rod and the opening, as known, for example, from the documents DE 10 2018 128 475 A1 and EP 2 966 935 B1.

However, heavy food and accessories in the cooking chamber lead to a high load and therefore to a high load on the food carrier, which is then transferred to the food carrier mounts. This high load can lead to the food carrier mounts on both sides tilting away from the cooking chamber wall towards the cooking chamber or even slipping out of place, so that the food carrier mounts can no longer be accommodated in a secure manner, in particular in the case of support frames that are inserted into the cooking chamber wall. We have found that this results, in particular, from the fact that the rods guided through the cooking chamber wall do not sit securely in the silicone part arranged in the opening, since the material gives way and is squeezed or displaced when the load is too great. However, the silicone part is necessary for sealing.

In addition, if the load is too high, we have discovered the movement of the support frame or the fastening rod of the support frame can cause the cooking chamber wall to deform or warp, at least in the region of the opening, which can be very disadvantageous in terms of functionality and is also visually unappealing.

The present disclosure provides a cooking appliance in which more reliable fastening of a food carrier mount can be ensured.

Further advantages and features of the disclosure emerge from the embodiments.

The inventive cooking device preferably comprises at least one main device body, wherein the main device body comprises at least one cooking chamber having at least one cooking chamber opening for loading the cooking chamber. Furthermore, at least one mount receptacle is provided in the cooking chamber for receiving at least one food carrier mount, wherein the mount receptacle comprises at least one through-opening in at least one cooking chamber wall. In the installed state, at least one holding element of the food carrier mount extends, at least in sections, through the through-opening in the cooking chamber wall. At least one shaped gasket, having at least one receiving element for the holding element, is inserted into the through-opening. At least one support device having at least one passage for the holding element is arranged in the receiving element of the shaped gasket.

In particular, the mount receptacle preferably comprises the through-opening, the shaped gasket and the support device.

The support device is designed as a component separate from the shaped gasket and, when the food carrier mount is installed, can be inserted into the shaped gasket and is accommodated in the shaped gasket. Stated another way, the support device is preferably formed separately from the gasket and as an individual component. In particular, the support device provides the receiving element for the holding element of the food carrier mount.

The support device may be designed, in particular, as a support ring and/or as a support sleeve.

Preferably, at least two mount receptacles are provided per food carrier mount.

The inventive cooking device offers many advantages. A significant advantage is that the use of a support device in the receiving element of the shaped gasket allows the food carrier mount to be accommodated in the cooking chamber or on the cooking chamber wall in a particularly secure and precise manner. This results from the fact that the support device provides better support for the holding element of the food carrier mount and enables a more stable fit, so that the food carrier mount is better fixed in a predetermined position, in particular when, for example, a food carrier is inserted or a higher load acts on the food carrier mount.

The support device preferably has greater dimensional stability than the shaped gasket. This ensures that the shaped gasket, which generally is designed to be deformable, cannot be directly deformed by the holding element. Since the holding element is not arranged directly in the receiving element of the shaped gasket, but in the support device, the holding element is better accommodated in the mount receptacle and with greater dimensional stability.

Particularly preferably, the support device consists, at least in sections, of metal and/or plastic. In particular, when using plastic, it is provided that a temperature-resistant plastic is used.

The corresponding support device may preferably be produced as a turned part, regardless of the material properties.

In useful embodiments, the shaped gasket consists, at least in sections, of silicone. The shaped gasket makes it possible to achieve, in particular, a sealing of the cooking chamber and preferably a sealing of the through-opening in the cooking chamber wall. This is, in particular, the case if the cooking device is designed, e.g., as a steamer, for example, or if at least a steam function is provided by the cooking device.

Preferably, at least an outer diameter of the support device is adapted to at least an inner diameter of the receiving element in the shaped gasket. It is, in particular, preferred that the diameters are adapted to one another such that the support device is accommodated in the shaped gasket in a captive manner.

In advantageous refinements, the outer diameter is at least slightly oversized compared to the inner diameter. In this way, it can, in particular, be achieved that the support device is inserted into the receiving element with a certain pressure and thus slightly displaces material of the shaped gasket, so that the support device is securely accommodated in the shaped gasket.

In preferred refinements, the receiving element in the shaped gasket has at least one undercut. In this way, it can preferably be achieved that, once the support device has been inserted into the receptacle, it can no longer fall out or be removed very easily and is held in position.

The support device preferably comprises at least one step. The step may be provided in the region of the undercut, in particular when installed, and can support said undercut and positioning.

Particularly preferably, the passage in the support device is adapted in size and/or contour to the holding element. In particular, the passage or an opening in the support device is selected so that, for example, it is only slightly oversized compared to the holding element, so that preferably stable positioning is achieved.

In advantageous refinements, the support device comprises at least one spring element. By providing at least one spring element on or in the support device, the holding element can be accommodated in the passage or in the support device in a particularly reliable manner. Thus, in particular an additional spring element may be provided.

Alternatively or additionally, the support device may also be provided slotted at least in sections, for example, so that it springs back slightly when the holding element is inserted, for example, and thus also holds the holding element in the passage in a stable manner. The design analogous to the feed mechanism of a mechanical pencil can also be used or adapted to advantage, for example.

Preferably, the support device has at least one bevel at at least one end. Such a bevel or rounding is provided, in particular, on the insertion side and can serve, in particular, as an insertion aid. This allows the support device to be inserted particularly well and easily into the receiving element in the shaped gasket.

In useful refinements, the shaped gasket and the support device are produced as a common assembly. Then it is particularly advantageous that the support device is integrated into the shaped gasket or is cast into it, at least in sections.

The inventive method is suitable for installing a food carrier mount in the cooking chamber of a cooking device as described above. A shaped gasket is guided through a through-opening of a cooking chamber wall and at least one support device is arranged in a receiving element in the shaped gasket. A holding element of the food carrier mount is guided into a passage in the support device so that the holding element extends at least partially through the through-opening in the cooking chamber wall.

The inventive method also offers the advantages that have already been described for the inventive cooking device.

Providing a support device ensures that the holding element of a food carrier mount is held in position in a particularly reliable and stable manner.

The cooking devicecomprises a device main bodyin which a cooking chamberwith a cooking chamber openingis formed. The cooking chamber openingcan be closed by means of a door, which is shown here in an open state in order to allow a view into the cooking chamber.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, food carrier mountsare provided on the left and right cooking chamber wallsand are designed here as so-called support frames. Food carriers such as baking sheets can be arranged at different levels in these food carrier mountsor support framesfor cooking food. A food carrier is not shown in the figures.

Using the holding elements, the food carrier mountsare inserted in through-openingsin the cooking chamber wallshere, which is shown in detail in the following figures.

is a purely schematic perspective view of a main device bodyof an inventive cooking device, wherein a food carrier mountis shown on the left cooking chamber wall. Here too, it can be seen that, using a holding element, the food carrier mountor the support frameis inserted into a mount receptaclein the cooking chamber wallor into a through-openingin the cooking chamber wall.

Since the cooking deviceor the ovenis also equipped with a steam function here, and also in general, it is necessary to seal the through-openingin the cooking chamber wall into which the holding elementis inserted. For this purpose, a shaped gasketmade of siliconeis provided and includes a receiving elementfor the holding element. The shaped gaskethere is part of the mount receptacle.

is a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a main device bodyof an inventive cooking device, wherein here the cooking chamberis shown without an installed food carrier mount.

In this case, a through-openingfor the holding elementsis visible on each of the left and right cooking chamber walls. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the through-openings are part of the mount receptacle.

is a purely schematic sectional side view of the region of the through-openingor the mount receptaclein a cooking chamber wall.

Here it can be seen that a shaped gasketmade of siliconeis inserted into the through-opening, which shaped gasket has a receiving elementfor a holding elementof the food carrier mount. With such a shaped gasket, suitable and sufficient sealing of the cooking chamberin the region of the through-openingcan be achieved and rattling is avoided.

In order to accommodate the holding elementand thus the food carrier mountor the support framein the through-openingas stationary and as true to position as possible, in the exemplary embodiment shown here a support deviceis inventively inserted into the receiving elementof the shaped gasket, the support devicehaving a passagefor the holding element. This support devicehere is also part of the mount receptacle.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the support devicehas greater dimensional stability than the shaped gasket, wherein here the support deviceis made of metal. Alternatively, the support devicecan also consist of plasticor comprise plastic. The support devicehere is produced as a turned part.

As will be described in detail for the following figures, the support deviceis adapted to the receiving elementin a somewhat oversized manner. This ensures that the support deviceis very stable in the receiving elementof the shaped gasketand, in addition, a force acting on the holding elementis not transferred to the shaped gasket.

shows a view of a cooking chamber wallin the region of the through-openingor the mount receptacle, wherein the shaped gasket, the support deviceaccommodated therein and the through-openingin the support deviceare also visible.

shows a detailed enlarged view of a through-openingin a cooking chamber wallof a cooking chamberof an inventive cooking device.

Here it can be seen that an outer diameterof the support deviceis adapted to the inner diameterof the receiving elementof the shaped gasket. It is shown here that the outer diameterof the support deviceis provided slightly oversized compared to the inner diameter, so that fixation of the support devicein the shaped gasketis particularly good.

Furthermore, it is shown that the shaped gaskethas an undercutthat holds the support devicesecurely in position after insertion into the receiving element. To this end, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, a stepthat interacts with the undercutof the shaped gasketis provided at the end of the support devicefacing the cooking chamber.

In addition, it is shown that a beveldesigned as a roundingis provided on the side of the support devicefacing away from the cooking chamberto provide an insertion aid.

shows a view of a further exemplary embodiment of a shaped gasketwith a support deviceof an inventive cooking device accommodated thereon.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, it is shown or indicated that the support devicemay comprise a spring element. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is provided that the spring elementis provided in that the support deviceis designed to be slotted, at least in sections, so that when the holding elementis inserted into the passagein the support device, the support devicecan expand somewhat, so that the holding elementcan be held in the passage, for example, in a form-fitting manner.