Spill containment and management system for glass ceramic cooktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022204396-A1
Application number	US-202017138368-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2020
Priority date	Dec 30, 2020
Publication date	Jun 30, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A panel is disclosed. The panel has an exposed surface and a plurality of liquid-repelling elements disposed directly on the exposed surface in a discontinuous pattern. The liquid-repelling elements include a non-hydrophobic material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A panel comprising:
an exposed surface; and a plurality of liquid-repelling elements disposed directly on the exposed surface in a discontinuous pattern, wherein the liquid-repelling elements comprise a non-hydrophobic material.

2 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a glass ceramic material.

3 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling elements has a different surface energy than the exposed surface.

4 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling elements is visibly transparent.

5 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of liquid-repelling elements exhibits a first water contact angle that is greater than a second water contact angle exhibited by the exposed surface, and the first water contact angle is less than or equal to about 90°.

6 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling elements exhibits a water contact angle greater than or equal to about 30° to less than or equal to about 70°.

7 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the non-hydrophobic material is a film comprising zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), the silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) having a concentration of less than or equal to about 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) and the silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ).

8 . The panel according to claim 7 , wherein the film comprises greater than 0 wt. % to less than or equal to about 50 wt. % silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) and further comprises phosphorus (P), the phosphorus (P) being dispersed either substantially uniformly throughout the film or in a concentration gradient that decreases from a top surface of the film to an opposing bottom surface of the film that is in direct contact with the exposed surface of the panel.

9 . The panel according to claim 7 , wherein:
the film is substantially free of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and the film further comprises phosphorus (P), the phosphorus (P) being dispersed either substantially uniformly throughout the film or in a concentration gradient that decreases from a top surface of the film to an opposing bottom surface of the film that is in direct contact with the exposed surface of the panel.

10 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling elements is configured to guide aqueous liquids to a predetermined location.

11 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous pattern comprises:
discontinuous lines that extend about at least one edge of the panel; a plurality of segmented lines arranged in geometric patterns about at least one edge of the panel; at least one line defining a maze-type pattern that extends about at least one edge of the panel; a plurality of geometric elements disposed about a central region of the panel; a maze-type pattern disposed about a central region of the panel; or a combination thereof.

12 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel defines a cooktop surface.

13 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling elements is substantially free of hydrophobic components.

14 . A panel comprising:
a substrate comprising a glass ceramic material and a top surface; and a plurality of liquid-repelling films disposed directly on the top surface in a discontinuous pattern that does not define a complete enclosure, wherein the plurality of liquid-repelling films:
comprises zirconium (Zr), oxygen (O), and at least one of silicon (Si) or phosphorus (P),
is non-hydrophobic,
exhibits a water contact angle of less than or equal to about 90°, and
directs aqueous liquids to at least one predetermined location.

15 . The panel according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one heating element region.

16 . The panel according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one reservoir configured to receive and hold an aqueous liquid directed to the reservoir by the liquid-repelling films.

17 . A cooking appliance comprising the panel according to claim 14 as a cooktop.

18 . The cooking appliance according to claim 17 , wherein the cooking appliance is a gas cooktop, an electric cooktop, or an induction cooktop.

19 . A method of preparing a panel, the method comprising:
disposing a precursor solution in a discontinuous pattern directly onto a surface of a blank glass ceramic panel, the precursor solution comprising zirconium (Zr), oxygen (O), and optionally silicon (Si); heating the blank glass ceramic panel and the precursor solution; and creating liquid-repelling films on the surface having the discontinuous pattern from the precursor solution and forming the panel, wherein the liquid-repelling films are non-hydrophobic, exhibit a water contact angle of less than or equal to about 90°, and direct aqueous liquids to at least one predetermined location on the panel.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
incorporating the panel into a cooking appliance.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Basso Margherita
• Guidi Cesare Cristiano
• Nortey Christine

Classifications

• F24C15/005

  Coatings for ovens · CPC title

• C03C2218/113

  by sol-gel processes · CPC title

• C03C2217/91

  Coatings containing at least one layer having a composition gradient through its thickness · CPC title

• C03C2217/75

  Hydrophilic and oleophilic coatings · CPC title

• C03C2217/72

  Decorative coatings · CPC title