Connecting element, household appliance having such a connecting element, and insert module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10756470-B2
Application number	US-201113990159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2011
Priority date	Dec 17, 2010
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A connecting element for providing an electrical connection in a processing space of a household appliance, includes a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin configured for displacement between a rest position protruding farther and an operating position protruding less far, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position. The connecting element is disposed on a side wall of the processing space, particularly a cooking space. An insert module can be inserted in the processing space of the household appliance and can be operated electrically. The insert module has a mating electrical connection element for contacting the connecting element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A household appliance, comprising:
a first side wall defining a processing space; and
a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive,
wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

2. The household appliance of claim 1 , constructed in the form of a cooking appliance.

3. The household appliance of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element has a first electrically insulating sleeve carrying the contact pin.

4. The household appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall includes an opening, and
wherein the connecting element is at least partially disposed in the opening of the first side wall.

5. The household appliance of claim 4 , further comprising:
a securing disc configured to secure the connecting element in the opening of the first side wall.

6. The household appliance of claim 1 , wherein the protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall.

7. The household appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a door for closing a loading opening of the processing space.

8. A household appliance, comprising:
a first side wall defining a processing space; and
a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive,
wherein the connecting element has an inwardly protruding projection which forms a stop for the contact pin in the rest position, and
wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

9. A household appliance, comprising:
a first side wall defining a processing space;
a door for accessing and closing a loading opening of the processing space; and
a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall into the processing space and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall into the processing space, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive,
wherein the processing space is an interior space of a housing of the household appliance configured to receive an insert module that is inserted into the processing space through the loading opening of the processing space.

10. The household appliance of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second side wall opposed to the first side wall, and
a further connecting element on the second side wall symmetrical to the connecting element on an insertion level of the household appliance,
wherein the further connecting element includes a further protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the further contact pin protrudes farther from the second side wall and an operating position in which the further contact pin protrudes less far from the second side wall, wherein the further contact pin pushes into the rest position, the further contact pin being electrically conductive.

11. The household appliance of claim 10 , wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

12. The household appliance of claim 8 , further comprising the insert module for insertion into the processing space, and an insertion detection device that detects when the insert module is fully inserted in the processing space.

13. The household appliance of claim 12 , further comprising a door for closing the processing space, and a door closure detecting device that detects a closed state of the door, said household appliance only applying an electrical signal to the connecting element when the insertion detection device detects the presence of the insert module and the door closure detection device detects that the door has closed the processing space.

14. The household appliance of claim 12 , wherein the insert module is at least one of a heating system, a heatable cooking space divider, a heatable oven shelf, or a heatable steam cooker.

15. The household appliance of claim 12 , wherein the insertion detection device is at least one of a microswitch, a Reed contact, or an optical sensor.

16. The household appliance of claim 12 , wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

17. The household appliance of claim 8 , further comprising:
the insert module for positioning in the processing space of the household appliance, said insert module being configured for electrical operation and comprising a mating electrical connector that is electrically conductive and that contacts the contact pin of the connecting element to provide an electrical connection in the processing space of the household appliance.

18. The household appliance of claim 17 , wherein the mating electrical connector has a sliding contact surface, wherein an insertion slope adjoins the sliding contact surface.

19. The household appliance of claim 18 , wherein the insertion slope has an abrasive contact element.

20. The household appliance of claim 19 , wherein the abrasive contact element comprises a metal inlay.

21. The household appliance of claim 17 , wherein the insert module is at least one of a heating system, a heatable cooking space divider, a heatable oven shelf, or a heatable steam cooker.

22. The household appliance of claim 17 , wherein the processing space is a cooking space.

23. The household appliance of claim 9 , wherein the contact pin is electrically grounded to the first side wall when the contact pin is in the rest position.

24. A household appliance, comprising:
a first side wall defining a processing space; and
a connecting element for providing an electrical connection in the processing space, said connecting element arranged on the first side wall and comprising a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin that is displaceable between a rest position in which the contact pin protrudes farther from the first side wall and an operating position in which the contact pin protrudes less far from the first side wall, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position, the contact pin being electrically conductive,
wherein the contact pin is electrically grounded to the first side wall when the contact pin is in the rest position.

25. The household appliance of claim 24 ,
wherein the connecting element has a housing including an inwardly protruding proje

Assignees

• Bally Ingo
• Blumenthal Peter
• Dinkel Alexander
• Roch Klemens
• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Bally Ingo
• Blumenthal Peter
• Dinkel Alexander
• Roch Klemens

Classifications

• F24C15/166 Primary

  with integrated heating means · CPC title

• H01R33/18

  having only abutting contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/17 Primary

  with spring member on the pin · CPC title