GLASS-CERAMIC COOKTOP AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

• US 20110150439A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: MORROW, RICHARD K., FRITSCHIE, PHILLIP K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/418
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/102 electrically heated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0076 for cooking, e.g. in ovens lamps specially adapted for non-metallic cooking plates H05B3/742, H05B3/744
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44744 with position locking-means for engaging faces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49844 Through resilient media
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a glass cooktop panel and a cooktop frame. A radiant heating element is positioned between the cooktop frame and the glass cooktop panel. The heating element has an upper surface biased toward a lower surface of the glass cooktop panel. A screwless spring clip is coupled to both the heating element and the cooktop frame so as to secure the heating element to the cooktop frame.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising:

a glass cooktop panel,

a cooktop frame,

a radiant heating element positioned between the cooktop frame and the glass cooktop panel, the heating element having an upper surface biased toward a lower surface of the glass cooktop panel, and

a screwless spring clip coupled to both the heating element and the cooktop frame so as to secure the heating element to the cooktop frame.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring clip comprises a locking tab positioned in a slot formed in a lower surface of the heating element.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring clip comprises a biasing tab biased against an upwardly extending sidewall of the heating element.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring clip comprises a locking flange positioned in a slot formed in the cooktop frame.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring clip urges the heating element upwardly so as bias the upper surface of the heating element into contact with the lower surface of the glass cooktop panel.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring clip comprises:

a support flange positioned under a lower surface of the heating element so as to support the heating element, and

a locking tab extending upwardly form the support flange and positioned in a slot formed in the lower surface of the heating element.

7. A screwless spring clip for securing a radiant heating element between a glass cooktop surface and a cooktop frame of a cooking appliance, the spring clip comprising:

a support flange configured to contact a lower surface of the heating element so as to support the heating element when the spring clip is secured to the heating element,

a locking tab extending upwardly form the support flange and configured to be received into a slot formed in the lower surface of the heating element when the spring clip is secured to the heating element, and

a locking flange configured to be received into a slot formed in the cooktop frame when the spring clip is secured to the cooktop frame.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein the spring clip further comprises a biasing tab biased against an upwardly extending sidewall of the heating element when the spring clip is secured to the heating element.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein the spring clip further comprises a biasing flange configured to exert an upward bias so as to urge the support flange upwardly against the lower surface of the heating element when the spring clip is secured to both the heating element and the cooktop frame.

10. A method of assembling a cooking appliance, comprising:

squeezing a spring clip so as to move a biasing tab of the spring clip from an engaged position to a disengaged position,

inserting a locking tab of the spring clip into a slot formed in a lower surface of a heating element while the biasing tab of the spring clip is positioned in the disengaged position, and

releasing the spring clip such that the biasing tab of the spring clip is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position and into contact with a sidewall of the heating element so as to secure the spring clip to the heating element.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting a locking flange of the spring clip into a slot formed in a cooktop frame, with the spring clip secured to the heating element, so as to secure the heating element to the cooktop frame.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising advancing a glass cooktop panel downwardly onto the heating element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein advancing the glass cooktop panel downwardly comprises urging a lower surface of the glass cooktop panel into contact with an upper surface of heating element.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein advancing the glass cooktop panel downwardly comprises urging a lower surface of the glass cooktop panel into contact with an upper surface of heating element so as to compress the spring clip.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein advancing the glass cooktop panel downwardly comprises exerting an upward bias on the heating element with the spring clip so as to urge upper surface of the heating element into contact with the lower surface of the glass cooktop.