Modular range system and method and space saver burner system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A range unit, comprising:
- a base assembly comprised of multiple modular base units having respective widths that provide a base width of WB;
a cooktop assembly mounted atop the base assembly, the cooktop assembly comprising at least one modular cooktop unit and a cooktop width of WT, where WT=WB;
wherein the base assembly includes a first modular base unit of width WB1, a second modular base unit of width WB2 and a third modular base unit of width WB3, where WB1<
WB2<
WB3 and WB1+WB2+WB3=WB;
wherein the cooktop assembly includes a first modular cooktop unit of width WT1 and a second modular cooktop unit of width WT2, where WT1+WT2=WT.
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Abstract
A modular range system and method utilizes a plurality of base units and a plurality of top units that may be assembled in numerous configurations to achieve a variety of range unit configurations. The top units may be preassembled with specific cooking system types prior to mounting onto the base units. Preassembled top units may each include a laterally extending gas manifold that can be coupled together upon range assembly to form a common, laterally extending gas manifold for the overall range unit. Range unit configurations are also described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A range unit, comprising:
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a base assembly comprised of multiple modular base units having respective widths that provide a base width of WB; a cooktop assembly mounted atop the base assembly, the cooktop assembly comprising at least one modular cooktop unit and a cooktop width of WT, where WT=WB; wherein the base assembly includes a first modular base unit of width WB1, a second modular base unit of width WB2 and a third modular base unit of width WB3, where WB1<
WB2<
WB3 and WB1+WB2+WB3=WB;wherein the cooktop assembly includes a first modular cooktop unit of width WT1 and a second modular cooktop unit of width WT2, where WT1+WT2=WT. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A range unit, comprising:
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a base assembly comprised of multiple modular base units having respective widths that provide a base width of WB; a cooktop assembly mounted atop the base assembly, the cooktop assembly comprised of multiple modular cooktop units that provide a cooktop width of WT, where WT=WB; wherein the base assembly includes a first modular base unit of width WB 1 and a second modular base unit of width WB2, where WBl<
WB2 and WB1+WB2=WB;wherein the cooktop assembly includes a first modular cooktop unit of width WT1 and a second modular cooktop unit of width WT2, where WT1+WT2=WT; wherein WT1 is not equal to WB1 or WB2, and WT2 is not equal to WB1 or WB2; wherein the first and second modular base units are connected directly to each other.
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8. A method of manufacturing range units of a variety of configurations and sizes, where each range unit includes a cooktop assembly supported atop a base assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a modular base system including first, second and third base units of different widths respectively; providing a modular cooktop system including first, second and third cooktop units of different widths respectively; (1) when manufacturing a first range unit having a first specified width and a first cooktop configuration; utilizing the first and third base units and the third cooktop unit to assemble the first range unit; (2) when manufacturing a second range unit having the first specified width and a second cooktop configuration that is different than the first cooktop configuration; utilizing the first and third base units and the first and second cooktop units to assemble the second range unit; (3) when manufacturing a third range unit having a second specified width that is greater than the first specified width; utilizing two third base units and the second and third cooktop units to assemble the third range unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing range units of a variety of configurations and sizes, where each range unit includes a cooktop assembly supported atop a base assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a modular base system including first, second and third base units of different widths WB1, WB2 and WB3 respectively, where WB1<
WB2<
WB3;providing a modular cooktop system including first, second and third cooktop units of different widths WT1, WT2 and WT3 respectively, where WT1<
WT2<
WT3;(1) when manufacturing a first range unit having a specified width WU1 and cooktop configuration C1; utilizing the first and third base units and the third cooktop unit to assemble the first range unit, where WT3=(WB1+WB3)=WU1; (2) when manufacturing a second range unit having a specified width WU1 and cooktop configuration C2; utilizing the first and third base units and the first and second cooktop units to assemble the second range unit, where (WT1+WT2)=(WB1+WB3)=WU1; (3) when manufacturing a third range unit having a specified width WU2 and cooktop configuration C3, where WU2>
WU1;utilizing the first, second and third base units and two second cooktop units to assemble the third range unit, where (WT2+WT2)=(WB1+WB2+WB3)=WU2; (4) when manufacturing a fourth range unit having specified width WU2 and cooktop configuration C4; utilizing the first, second and third base units and the first and third cooktop units to assemble the fourth range unit, where (WT1+WT3)=(WB1+WB2+WB3)=WU2. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification