Appliance side panel with air channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006639-B2
Application number	US-201414531166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2014
Priority date	Nov 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

An oven range appliance with features for cooling one or both side panels of the oven range appliance without visible gaps between the oven range appliance and a set of kitchen cabinets is provided. In particular, an oven range appliance with one or both side panels comprising air channels for a flow of air along one or both side panels is provided. A side panel for an oven range appliance, with features such as an air channel for cooling the side panel, also is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oven range appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are perpendicular to each other, the oven range appliance comprising:
a casing defining a cooking chamber for receipt of food items for cooking, the casing extending vertically from a bottom portion to a top portion, the casing having a pair of opposing side panels, wherein at least one side panel of the pair of opposing side panels comprises
a bottom end and a top end, the side panel extending along the vertical direction from the bottom end to the top end, the bottom end positioned at the bottom portion of the casing,
a first portion extending from the bottom end to the top end and including a first surface, and
a second portion extending from the bottom end to the top end such that the first portion and the second portion are co-extensive along the vertical direction, the second portion including a surface that is recessed along the lateral direction with respect to the first surface such that the first portion and second portion define an air channel for a flow of air along the at least one side panel,
wherein the air channel extends from an air channel bottom end to an air channel top end and is open at the air channel bottom end and the air channel top end to create a path for the flow of air from the air channel bottom end to the air channel top end, the air channel bottom end coinciding with the bottom end of the side panel and the air channel top end coinciding with the top end of the side panel, and
wherein the second portion forms the majority of the at least one side panel; and

a plurality of feet for supporting the oven range appliance on a floor such that a space is defined between the casing and the floor,
wherein the bottom end of the air channel is positioned at the space between the casing and the floor.

2. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel further comprises a rib portion, and wherein the first portion, second portion, and rib portion define two air channels for the flow of air along the at least one side panel.

3. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is positioned adjacent a set of kitchen cabinets such that a gap is defined between the set of kitchen cabinets and the second portion when the oven range appliance is received within the set of kitchen cabinets.

4. The oven range appliance of claim 3 , wherein the first portion further comprises a second surface that extends generally parallel to a front portion of the casing and generally perpendicular to the first surface of the first portion such that the gap is not visible when the oven range appliance is received within the set of kitchen cabinets.

5. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel further comprises an aperture adjacent the bottom end for the intake of cooler air into the air channel.

6. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel further comprises an aperture adjacent the top end for the exit of warmer air from the air channel.

7. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , further comprising at least one vent for directing the flow of air exiting the air channel away from the air channel.

8. The oven range appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a cooktop, wherein a space is defined between the cooktop and the cooking chamber, and wherein the flow of air exits the air channel into the space.

9. A side panel for an oven range appliance, comprising:
a bottom end and a top end, the side panel extending along a vertical direction from the bottom end to the top end;
a front side and a back side, the side panel extending along a transverse direction from the front side to the back side;
a first portion extending from the bottom end to the top end and including a first surface, the first portion extending along the front side;
a second portion extending from the bottom end to the top end;
a third portion extending from the bottom end to the top end and including a first surface, the third portion extending along the back side; and
a rib portion extending from the bottom end to the top end and including a first surface, the rib portion positioned equidistant from the first portion and the third portion,
wherein the second portion includes a surface that is recessed along a lateral direction with respect to the first surface of each of the first portion, third portion, and rib portion such that the first portion, rib portion, and second portion define a first air channel for a flow of air along the side panel and the third portion, rib portion, and second portion define a second air channel for a flow of air along the side panel,
wherein each of the first and second air channel extends from an air channel bottom end to an air channel top end and is open at the air channel bottom end and the air channel top end to create a path for the flow of air from the air channel bottom end to the air channel top end, each air channel bottom end coinciding with the bottom end of the side panel and each air channel top end coinciding with the top end of the side panel, and
wherein the second portion forms the majority of the side panel.

10. The side panel of claim 9 , further comprising a rib portion, wherein the first portion, second portion, and rib portion define two air channels for the flow of air along the side panel.

11. The side panel of claim 9 , wherein the first surface is positioned adjacent a set of kitchen cabinets such that a gap is defined between the set of kitchen cabinets and the second portion when the oven range appliance is received within the set of kitchen cabinets.

12. The side panel of claim 11 , wherein the first portion further comprises a second surface that extends generally parallel to a front portion of a casing of the oven range appliance and generally perpendicular to the first surface such that the gap is not visible when the oven range appliance is received within the set of kitchen cabinets.

13. The side panel of claim 9 , wherein the oven range appliance comprises a plurality of feet for supporting the oven range appliance on a floor such that a space is defined between a casing of the oven range appliance and the floor, and wherein the bottom end of the side panel is positioned adjacent the space between the casing and the floor.

14. The side panel of claim 9 , wherein the oven range appliance comprises at least one vent for directing the flow of air exiting the air channel away from the air channel.

15. A side panel for an oven range appliance, comprising:
a bottom end and a top end, the side panel extending along a vertical direction from the bottom end to the top end;
a front side and a back side, the side panel extending along a transverse direction from the front side to the back side;
a first portion including a first surface;
a second portion including a surface that is recessed along a lateral direction with respect to the first surface such that the first portion and second portion define an air channel for a flow of air along the side panel; and
a top portion extending across the top end from the front side to the back side,
wherein the air channel is open at the back side or the bottom end to create a path for the flow of air along the side panel,
wherein the first portion extends from the bottom end to the top end along the front side,
wherein the side panel is positioned below a cooktop of the oven range appliance such that the top portion is positioned within a space defined between the cooktop and a cooking chamber of the oven range

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Eric Scott

Classifications

• A47B77/08

  for incorporating apparatus operated by power, including water power; for incorporating apparatus for cooking, cooling, or laundry purposes · CPC title

• A47B96/20

  Furniture panels or like furniture elements · CPC title

• F24C15/006 Primary

  Arrangements for circulation of cooling air · CPC title