Air-inlet assembly for a gas cooking appliance

• US 7,640,930 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Graven, Erick Paul, Little, Derrick Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister; Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUERETH, SARAH ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US10/811,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 126/39.E, 126/39.N, 126/39.BA, 126/211, 126/214.R, 126/215
• US Class Current: 126/214.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/10 Tops, e.g. hot plates; Rings cover lids or splash guards F24C15/12; spillage trays or grooves F24C15/14
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/085 on ranges

Abstract

In one aspect, an air inlet system for a gas cooking apparatus is provided having at least one gas burner and a burner box around the gas burner. The air inlet system has a sealed cooktop configured to cover the burner box. The cooktop has at least one peripheral vent cut configured to vent outside air into the burner box to provide air for the gas burner. The system further includes a vent trim attached to the cooktop and covering the vent cut. The vent trim has a surface with openings above a top surface of the cooktop. The openings are configured to allow outside air to enter the vent cut through the vent trim.

Claims

1. An air inlet system for a gas cooking apparatus comprising at least one gas burner and a burner box around the at least one gas burner, said air inlet system comprising:

a cooktop configured to cover the burner box and having at least one peripheral vent cut configured to vent outside air into the burner box to provide air for the at least one gas burner, said at least one peripheral vent cut defining a first opening through said cooktop; and

a vent trim attached to said cooktop and covering said at least one peripheral vent cut, said vent trim comprising a top surface offset a distance above a top surface of said cooktop, said vent trim top surface comprising a plurality of second openings defined therein, said second openings aligned above said at least one peripheral vent cut, said vent trim facilitating isolating said plurality of second openings from spills on said cooktop, an attachment portion overlapping said top surface of said cooktop, said attachment portion extending along substantially a full length of said at least one peripheral vent cut, and at least one clip overlapping a bottom surface of said cooktop, said vent trim surface defining an underlying cavity, wherein said at least one clip is partially positioned within said cavity under said vent trim and said cooktop, said at least one clip attached at a first end to a mounting portion inside a recessed region of said vent trim and at a second end to a clip retainer fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said cooktop, wherein said second openings are configured to allow outside air to enter the burner box through said vent trim.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attachment portion is sealed to said cooktop in water-tight engagement.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said seal comprises adhesive tape.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first opening is defined at a rear corner of said cooktop.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cooktop has a plurality of vent cuts each disposed at one rear corner.

6. An air inlet system for a gas cooking apparatus having at least one gas burner and a burner box around the at least one gas burner, said air inlet system comprising:

a cooktop configured to cover the burner box and having at least one peripheral vent cut configured to vent outside air into the burner box to provide air for the at least one gas burner; and

an elongated cover member attached to a top face and a bottom face of said cooktop and covering said at least one peripheral vent cut, said cover member having a top surface with openings configured to allow outside air to enter said at least one peripheral vent cut through said cover member, said top surface offset a distance above said top face of said cooktop and said at least one peripheral vent cut, said cover member facilitating isolating said openings from spills on said cooktop, said top surface defining an underlying cavity, said cover member comprising at least one tab engaging said top face, and at least one clip overlapping said bottom face of said cooktop, wherein said at least one clip is partially positioned within said cavity under said cover member and said cooktop, said at least one clip attached at a first end to a mounting portion inside a recessed region of said cover member and at a second end to a clip retainer fixedly attached to said bottom face of said cooktop.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cover member extends along an entire side of said top face of said cooktop.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one peripheral vent cut is along an edge of said cooktop exclusive of a corner of said cooktop.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said cooktop has a plurality of vent cuts along said edge exclusive of said corner.

10. A system in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a seal for sealing said elongated cover member in water tight engagement along a side of said top face of said cooktop.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said seal is an adhesive seal.

12. A gas cooking apparatus comprising:

at least one gas burner;

a burner box for said at least one gas burner;

a cooktop configured to cover said burner box and having at least one peripheral vent cut configured to vent outside air into said burner box to provide air for said at least one gas burner, said at least one peripheral vent cut defining a first opening through said cooktop; and

a vent trim attached to said cooktop and covering said at least one peripheral vent cut, said vent trim comprising a top surface offset a distance above a top surface of said cooktop, and comprising a plurality of second openings defined therein, said plurality of second openings aligned above said at least one peripheral vent cut, said vent trim facilitating isolating said second openings from spills on said cooktop, an attachment portion overlapping said top surface of said cooktop, said attachment portion extending along a full length of said at least one peripheral vent cut, and at least one clip overlapping a bottom surface of said cooktop, said vent trim surface defining an underlying cavity, wherein said at least one clip is partially positioned within said cavity under said vent trim and said cooktop, said at least one clip attached at a first end to a mounting portion inside a recessed region of said vent trim and at a second end to a clip retainer fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said cooktop, wherein said second openings are configured to allow outside air to enter said burner box through said vent trim.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said attachment portion is sealed to said cooktop in water-tight engagement.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said seal comprises adhesive tape.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first opening is defined at a rear corner of said cooktop.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein a plurality of said peripheral vent cuts are each disposed at more than one rear corner of said cooktop.

17. A gas cooking apparatus comprising:

at least one gas burner;

a burner box for said at least one gas burner;

a sealed cooktop configured to cover said burner box and having at least one peripheral vent cut configured to vent outside air into said burner box to provide air for said gas burner; and

an elongated cover member attached to a top face and a bottom face of said cooktop and covering said at least one peripheral vent cut, said cover member having a top surface with openings configured to allow outside air to enter said at least one peripheral vent cut through said cover member, said top surface offset a distance above said top face of said cooktop and said at least one peripheral vent cut, said cover member facilitating isolating said openings from spills on said cooktop, said surface defining an underlying cavity, said cover member comprising at least one tab engaging said top face, and at least one clip overlapping said bottom face of said cooktop, wherein said at least one clip is partially positioned within said cavity under said cover member and said cooktop, said at least one clip attached at a first end to a mounting portion inside a recessed region of said cover member and at a second end to a clip retainer fixedly attached to said bottom face of said cooktop.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said cover member extends along an entire side of said top face of said cooktop.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one peripheral vent cut is along an edge of said cooktop exclusive of a corner of said cooktop.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said cooktop has a plurality of vent cuts along said edge exclusive of said corner.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 further comprising an attachment for attaching said elongated cover member in water tight engagement along a side of said top face of said cooktop.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said attachment comprises adhesive tape.