COOKING APPLIANCE

• US 20190316778A1
• Filed: 04/16/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sangkyun, Kim, Jihu
• Granted Patent: US 11,060,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 3/02 Doors; Flap gates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/08 Foundations or supports plates; Legs or pillars; Casings; Wheels tops, e.g. hot plates F24C15/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/085 on baking ovens

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a body having a cooking chamber, a door connected to the body by a hinge mechanism to open or close the cooking chamber, and a sensor module inserted into or withdrawn from the body through a wall of the body and configured to come into contact with or be spaced apart from the hinge mechanism according to opening and closing of the door.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising:

a body that defines a cooking chamber;

a door connected to the body and configured to open and close the cooking chamber;

a hinge mechanism that connects the door to the body; and

a sensor module that is configured to be inserted into the body through a wall of the body and that is configured to, based on closing and opening of the door, come into contact with or be spaced apart from, respectively, the hinge mechanism.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the wall of the body is a lateral wall of the body.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the wall of the body defines a module opening that is configured to receive the sensor module, and

wherein the sensor module comprises a first portion that is inserted into the body through the module opening, and a second portion that contacts the wall of the body at an outside portion of the body.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the sensor module comprises a sensor and a sensor bracket, the sensor bracket comprising:

an insertion portion at which the sensor is installed, the insertion portion being configured to be inserted into the body through the module opening; and

at least one connection portion configured to connect to the wall of the body, and

wherein the at least one connection portion is configured to, based on the insertion portion of the sensor bracket being inserted into the body through the module opening, contact the wall of the body at the outside portion of the body.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the sensor bracket comprises:

a first bracket that extends in a first direction, that defines an installation opening configured to receive the sensor, and that is configured to be inserted into the body through the module opening; and

a second bracket that extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction and that covers the module opening at the outside portion of the body.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the at least one connection portion is disposed at the second bracket.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 6, wherein the at least one connection portion comprises a first connection portion, and a second connection that is spaced apart from the first connection portion in the second direction.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the sensor bracket further comprises a third bracket that extends from the second bracket in a direction intersecting the second bracket, the third bracket being disposed rearward of the first bracket.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the third bracket comprises a plurality of third brackets that are spaced apart from each other, and

wherein the sensor is disposed between the plurality of third brackets.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the at least one connection portion defines a bracket fastening hole configured to receive a screw, and

wherein the wall of the body defines a wall fastening hole that is configured to, based on the sensor module being installed at the wall, face the bracket fastening hole and receive the screw through the bracket fastening hole.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the sensor bracket further comprises a reinforcing rib that is configured to contact an outside of the wall based on the insertion portion being inserted into the body through the module opening.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises:

a sensor body; and

an operation bar that is disposed in the sensor body, that is configured to move relative to the sensor body, and that protrudes outward of the sensor body, and

wherein the operation bar is configured to, based on the door being closed, receive a pressing force from the hinge mechanism.

13. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising:

a cover that is made of silicone or rubber, that is connected to the operation bar, and that blocks direct contact between the hinge mechanism and the operation bar.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the body comprises a base at which the hinge mechanism is installed, and

wherein the module opening is defined at the base of the body.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the wall of the body defines a module opening that is configured to receive the sensor module and that allows the sensor module to be inserted into the body or withdrawn from the body.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the sensor module is disposed outside of the wall of the body.

17. A sensor module for a cooking appliance that includes a body that defines a cooking chamber and a door that is connected to the body through a hinge mechanism and that is configured to open and close the cooking chamber, the sensor module comprising:

a sensor that is configured to be provided within the body through a wall of the body and that is configured to, based on closing and opening of the door, come into contact with or be spaced apart from the hinge mechanism, respectively; and

a sensor bracket that seats the sensor and configured to be inserted through the wall of the cooking appliance,

wherein at least a portion of the sensor bracket is configured to be disposed outside of the wall of the body in a state in which the sensor is disposed within the body.

18. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein the sensor bracket is configured to be inserted into the body or withdrawn from the body through a module opening that is defined at the wall of the body.

19. The sensor module of claim 18, wherein the sensor bracket comprises:

a first bracket that extends toward the cooking chamber, that defines an installation opening configured to receive the sensor, and that is configured to be inserted into the body through the module opening; and

a second bracket that extends rearward or forward from the first bracket and that is configured to cover the module opening from an outside portion of the body.

20. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises:

a sensor body coupled to the sensor bracket; and

an operation bar that is disposed in the sensor body, that protrudes outward of the sensor body, and that is configured to move relative to the sensor body, and

wherein the operation bar is configured to, based on the door being closed, receive a pressing force from the hinge mechanism and be inserted toward the sensor body.