Power operated adjustable oven rack

• US 5,429,043 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 07/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ruby Becker
• Original Assignee: Ruby Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Ruby
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US08/328,155
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 99/393, 99/443 R, 99/443 C, 99/448, 99/449, 99/450, 99/427, 126/41 R, 126/41 E, 126/41 A-41 C, 126/25 A, 126/337 R, 126/338, 126/215, 126/337 A, 248/500, 312/306
• US Class Current: 99/448
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/16 Shelves, racks or trays inside ovens; Supports therefor

Abstract

A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack but without opening the oven door is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of conventional rectangular wire oven shelves in a spaced apart relationship. Each shelf is supported on a protuberance that has a threaded portion that rides up and down a threaded support bar. The support bar is turned by a continuous loop chain gear that derives it'"'"'s direction from an electric motor. The electric motor is controlled by a remote located switch on the face of the oven. The support bars form a right-angle frame within the oven cavity and are oriented above a lowermost section of the oven which houses the electric motor and the journal bearings they are in.

Claims

1. A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack without opening a door on the oven comprising in combination;

a plurality of oven racks, each rack being rectangular in shape and comprising a plurality of spaced apart wires, each wire attached to the other at an end for forming a rectangular rack;

a right angle frame having a plurality of continuously threaded support bars, each support bar being disposed vertically within a cavity in the oven for urging the oven rack racks to travel in a vertical direction, either up or down;

electric motor means disposed in a lowermost section of the oven below the oven cavity, and further being in chain gear communication with each continuously threaded support bar for urging clockwise or counterclockwise rotation for each support bar;

a plurality of journal bearings disposed in the lowermost section of the oven below the oven cavity, each journal bearing further being in support communication with one of the continuously threaded support bars;

a plurality of oven rack support nuts, each support nut being in threadable communication with one of the continuously threaded support bars, and each support nut further being in removable communication with an oven rack for urging the oven rack to move in a vertical direction, either up or down; and

electric control means for activating the electric motor in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction.

2. A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the electric motor means further includes a shaft and a right angle gear box and a plurality of driven sprockets, the right angle gear box for translating horizontal rotation of the shaft into vertical rotation for each driven sprocket.

3. A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack as recited in claim 2 and further including a continuous link chain gear being horizontally disposed in the lowermost section of the oven below the oven cavity, and further being in continuous chain gear communication with each driven sprocket and the electric motor for urging synchronized rotation of each continuously threaded support bar within each support nut.

4. A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack as recited in claim 1 wherein each support nut further includes a plurality of pintles for urging vertical movement of the support nut on the continuously threaded support bar prior to placing the oven rack in the oven cavity.

5. A power operated system for raising and lowering an oven rack for use in an oven without opening a door on the oven comprising in combination;

a plurality of oven racks, each oven rack being rectangular in shape and comprising a plurality of wires having an end attached to the other at each end for forming a rectangular rack;

a plurality of gears disposed in a rack and pinion relationship and further having a plurality of follower arms for urging the oven rack to move in a vertical direction within the oven;

a plurality of tracks disposed in a lower section of the oven in a horizontal spaced apart relationship, and further, each track being in slidable contact with a first end of each of the follower arms for translating rotational motion of the follower arm into vertical linear motion of the tracks;

electric motor means for rotating the plurality of pinion gears in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction;

a shaft having a mid-section coupled to the electric motor and disposed transversely in the lower section of the oven, and further having each end coupled to one of the pinion gears;

a right angle support frame having a plurality of support bars, each support bar being disposed vertically for urging the oven racks to move in a vertical direction, either up or down;

a plurality of support pintles, each pintle being slidably coupled to each support bar for holding the oven racks while the oven racks are moving in a vertical direction, either up or down; and

electric control means for activating the electric motor in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction.