Bottom electric heating element system for ovens

• US 6,949,720 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dacor Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Distintive Applicances Incorporated
• Inventors: Muńoz, Antonio, Kitabayashi, Joey J., Rios, Jesus Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US10/817,258
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 219/402, 219/409, 219/410, 219/390, 219/391, 219/395, 219/407, 219/411, 219/419
• US Class Current: 219/402
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/06 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating elements

Abstract

A bottom electric heating element for an oven wherein the electric heating element is positioned in a recessed portion in the oven bottom and has at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material partially embedded in an insulating base. A glass panel is positioned over the recessed portion and on a compressible heat resistant gasket. The glass panel is transparent or semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant. A frame extends around the glass panel and fastens it to the oven bottom while partially and resiliently compressing the gasket to support the glass panel.

Claims

1. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven having a bottom wall, comprising:

an electric heating element positioned on the bottom wall, said electric heating element comprising at least one loop of conductive material;

a wall surrounding said electric heating element with an upwardly facing ledge;

a compressible heat resistant gasket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over said electric heating element and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around and over the top of an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel, said frame also having an outer portion extending outwardly over an adjacent portion of said bottom wall; and

removable mechanical fasteners mounting said outer portion of said frame to the bottom wall, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially compress said gasket to resiliently support said glass panel.

2. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 1, wherein said electric heating element is comprised of at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material positioned on edge and partially embedded in an insulating base.

3. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 2, wherein two separate loops of corrugated ribbon are provided with one loop formed in a serpentine pattern in a central area and the other loop in a pattern around the perimeter of the serpentine pattern.

4. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 1, wherein said gasket is comprised of a braided fiberglass sleeve encircling a knitted wire spring.

5. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 2, wherein said gasket is comprised of a braided fiberglass sleeve encircling a knitted wire spring.

6. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven having a bottom wall, comprising:

an electric heating element positioned on the bottom wall, said electric heating element comprising at least one loop of conductive material;

a wall surrounding said electric heating element with an upwardly facing ledge;

a compressible heat resistant gasket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over said electric heating element and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel;

removable fasteners mounting said frame to the bottom wall, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially compress said gasket to resiliently support said glass panel; and

wherein the oven bottom wall includes a central recessed portion having said wall surrounding said electric heating element and said ledge is formed in said bottom wall.

7. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven having a bottom wall, comprising:

an electric heating element positioned on the bottom wall, said electric heating element comprising at least one loop of conductive material;

a wall surrounding said electric heating element with an upwardly facing ledge;

a compressible heat resistant gasket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over said electric heating element and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel;

removable fasteners mounting said frame to the bottom wall, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially compress said casket to resiliently support said glass panel; and

wherein said electric heating element is comprised of at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material positioned on edge and partially embedded in an insulating base; and

wherein the oven bottom wall includes a central recessed portion having said wall surrounding said electric heating element and said ledge is formed in said bottom wall.

8. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven having a bottom wall, comprising:

an electric heating element positioned on the bottom wall, said electric heating element comprising at least one loop of conductive material;

a wall surrounding said electric heating element with an upwardly facing ledge;

a compressible heat resistant casket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over said electric heating element and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel;

removable fasteners mounting said frame to the bottom wall, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially compress said gasket to resiliently support said glass panel;

wherein said gasket is comprised of a braided fiberglass sleeve encircling a knitted wire spring; and

wherein the oven bottom wall includes a central recessed portion having said wall surrounding said electric heating element and said ledge is formed in said bottom wall.

9. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven, comprising:

a bottom pan of the oven, said bottom pan having an upper surface, a recessed portion below the upper surface and an upwardly facing ledge surrounding the recessed portion below said upper surface;

an electric heating element positioned in said recessed portion and below the level of the ledge, said electric heating element comprising at least one loop of conductive material;

a compressible heat resistant gasket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over the recessed portion and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel and over an adjacent perimeter portion of the upper surface of said bottom pan surrounding said recessed portion and ledge; and

removable fasteners mounting said frame to said adjacent perimeter portion of said bottom pan, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially and resiliently compress said gasket.

10. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 9, wherein said electric heating element is comprised of at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material positioned on edge and partially embedded in an insulating base.

11. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 10, wherein two separate loops of corrugated ribbon are provided with one loop formed in a serpentine pattern in a central area and the other loop in a pattern around the perimeter of the serpentine pattern.

12. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 9, wherein said gasket is comprised of a braided fiberglass sleeve encircling a knitted wire spring.

13. A bottom electric heating element system for an oven, comprising:

a bottom pan of the oven, said pan having an upper surface, a recessed portion below the upper surface and an upwardly facing ledge surrounding the recessed portion below said upper surface;

an electric heating element positioned in said recessed portion and below the level of the ledge, said electric heating element comprising at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material positioned on edge and partially embedded in an insulating base in a pattern extending substantially throughout the recessed portion;

insulation surrounding the perimeter of said electric heating element in the recessed portion of said bottom pan;

a compressible heat resistant gasket positioned on said upwardly facing ledge;

a glass panel positioned over the recessed portion and on said gasket, said glass panel being at least semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant;

a frame extending around an upper perimeter surface of said glass panel and over an adjacent perimeter portion of the upper surface of said bottom pan surrounding said recessed portion and ledge; and

removable fasteners mounting said frame to said adjacent perimeter portion of said bottom pan, said fasteners causing said frame and glass panel to partially and resiliently compress said gasket and position an upper surface of said glass panel at substantially the level of said upper surface of said bottom pan.

14. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 13, wherein two separate loops of corrugated ribbon are provided with one loop formed in a serpentine pattern and the other loop in a pattern around the perimeter of the serpentine pattern.

15. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 13, wherein said gasket is comprised of a braided fiberglass sleeve encircling a knitted wire spring.

16. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 13, wherein said insulating includes an upwardly extending perimeter wall extending above the height of said corrugated ribbon of conductive material.

17. The bottom electric heating element system of claim 16, wherein said upwardly extending perimeter wall is engaged by said glass panel.