Economical and versatile system for fixing a hob in a worktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016123602-A1
Application number	US-201514977796-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cooking hob retention system includes a support element having a major surface and a pocket disposed therealong and defining a strip having a first opening and a second opening on vertically opposite sides thereof. The system also includes a fastening member including an engagement end and a free end resiliently compressible toward the engagement end about a central fold disposed therebetween. The engagement end is coupled with the support element by a deformable portion opposite the central fold received within the first opening and a protruding element extending toward the deformable portion and received within the second opening. The free end includes a body defining an acute angle with respect to the engagement end. A tab extends from the body generally parallel to the engagement end, and a first countering element extends from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cooking hob retention system, comprising:
a support element including a major surface and a pocket disposed along the major surface and defining a strip having a first opening and a second opening on vertically opposite sides thereof; a fastening member including an engagement end and a free end resiliently compressible toward the engagement end about a central fold disposed between the engagement end and the free end, the engagement end coupled with the support element by a deformable portion opposite the central fold received within the first opening and a protruding element extending toward the deformable portion and received within the second opening, the free end including a body defining an acute angle with respect to the engagement end, a tab extending from the body generally parallel to the engagement end, and a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the fastening member further includes a second countering element extending from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof, wherein the first and second countering elements are disposed on opposite sides of the tab.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tab and the engagement end both extend generally in a vertical direction away from the body of the free end; and the tab extends beyond the deformable portion of the engagement end in the vertical direction.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the engagement end has a width; the deformable portion extends through the entire width of the free end; and the protruding element extends through less than the entire width of the free end.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the protruding element extends from a lower edge of a window in a portion of the engagement end.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion defines:
a leading edge spaced apart and positioned along a plane generally normal to a top edge of the engagement end; and a body extending from the leading edge toward the central fold to a bend and then toward the top edge of the engagement end.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the support element includes a plurality of pockets disposed along the major surface, each pocket defining a strip having a first opening and a second opening on vertically opposite sides thereof; and the fastening member is a first fastening member of a plurality of fastening members coupled at engagement ends thereof with respective ones of the plurality of pockets.

8 . A cooking hob comprising:
a housing defining an outer periphery; a sheet coupled with the housing and extending outwardly beyond the outer periphery; a support element disposed along a portion of the outer periphery of the housing and coupled therewith, the support element including a major surface and a pocket disposed therealong; a fastening member including an engagement end and a free end resiliently compressible toward the engagement end about a central fold disposed between the engagement end and the free end, the engagement end coupled with the support element, the free end including a body defining an acute angle with respect to the engagement end, a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof, and a tab extending from the body generally parallel to the engagement end to a position adjacent to a lower surface of the sheet, a distance between the end of the tab and the lower surface being sufficient to permit movement of the tab toward the support element by compression of the fastening member at least within the central fold.

9 . The cooking hob of claim 8 , wherein:
the pocket defines a strip having a first opening and a second opening through the support member on vertically opposite sides thereof; and the engagement end of the fastening member is coupled with the support member by a deformable portion extending from the engagement end opposite the central fold that is received within the first opening and a protruding element extending from the engagement end and toward the deformable portion that is received within the second opening.

10 . The cooking hob of claim 9 , wherein the protruding element extends from a lower edge of a window in a portion of the engagement end.

11 . The cooking hob of claim 9 , wherein the deformable portion defines:
a leading edge spaced apart and positioned along a plane generally normal to a top edge of the engagement end; and a body extending from the leading edge toward the central fold to a bend and then toward the top edge of the engagement end.

12 . The cooking hob of claim 8 , wherein the free end of the fastening member further includes a second countering element extending from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof, wherein the first and second countering elements are disposed on opposite sides of the tab.

13 . The cooking hob of claim 8 , wherein:
the engagement end defines an upper edge along a portion thereof closest to the sheet; and the end of the tab is closer to the sheet than the upper edge of the engagement end.

14 . The cooking hob of claim 8 , wherein:
the support element includes a plurality of pockets disposed along the major surface thereof; and the fastening member is a first fastening member of a plurality of fastening members coupled at engagement ends thereof with respective ones of the plurality of pockets.

15 . A method for removing a cooking hob from an opening in a carrier element, comprising:
inserting a planar element between a sheet of the cooking hob extending over the opening and an adjacent surface of the carrier element such that a leading edge of the carrier element contacts a tab of a fastening member having a free end bearing the tab and an engagement end coupled with a housing of the cooking hob extending from the sheet and at least partially within the opening, the free end of the fastening element having a portion thereof engaged with an interior surface of the opening; and forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening so as to cause compression of the fastening member at least within a central fold connecting the free end with the engaged end by movement of the tab with the planar element such that the portion of the fastening element disengages from the interior surface of the opening.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further including forcing an end of the planar element opposite the tab away from the adjacent surface of carrier element to lift the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further including, after lifting the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening, removing the fastening member from the cooking hob by pulling on the free end in a direction opposite a direction of the compression.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fastening member is one of a plurality of fastening members disposed along a side of the housing, the tab thereof being a first of a plurality of tabs respectively associated with each of the respective ones of the plurality of fastening members; and the planar element defines a width such that, when the planar element is inserted between the sheet and the adjacent surface of the carrier element in a direction normal to the width, the leading edge of the planar element can be simultaneously brought into contact with each of the plurality of tabs.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the cooking hob is first installed in the opening in the carr

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Cabrelle Elio
• Luca Miraglia

Classifications

• F24C15/108 Primary

  Mounting of hot plate on worktop · CPC title

• F16B2/241

  of sheet metal · CPC title

• B25B27/00

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title

• F16B2/243

  internal, i.e. with spreading action · CPC title

• Y10T29/53909

  Means comprising hand manipulatable tool · CPC title