Hinged cooktop grate assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903593-B2
Application number	US-201313862903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2013
Priority date	Apr 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a cooktop, at least one cooking element mounted to the cooktop, and a grate including a surface portion for supporting a cooking vessel and at least one cup member. The grate is mounted to the cooktop with the at least one cup member being interengaged with locating structure on the cooktop such that the grate can be selectively lifted vertically from the cooktop or pivoted relative to the cooktop. Upon pivoting through a predetermined angle, the grate is prevented from being lifted vertically based on the at least one cup member becoming interlocked with the locating structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking appliance comprising: a cooktop; at least one cooking element mounted to the cooktop; and a grate including a surface portion for supporting a cooking vessel and at least one cup member, wherein the grate is mounted to the cooktop through the at least one cup member, is configured to be separated from the cooktop by vertical lifting when pivoted to any of at least two angles within a range of angles without having to pivot beyond a 30 degree angle from horizontal and is configured to be pivoted relative to the at least one cooking element, such that the grate can be selectively lifted vertically and separated from the cooktop or pivoted relative to the at least one cooking element.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising: a hinge mount fixed to a portion of the cooktop and including locating structure received in the at least one cup member provided on the grate when the grate is positioned over the at least one cooking element.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the hinge mount includes a main body portion from which extends the locating structure, said locating structure defining a pivot axis for the grate.

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 3 , wherein the cooktop includes a rim, said hinge mount being attached to the rim with a plurality of fasteners.

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 3 , wherein the locating structure comprises a pair of projections extending in opposing directions from the main body portion of the hinge mount.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5 , wherein the grate includes a front body portion, a rear body portion and a perimeter body portion, said at least one cup member including a pair of cup members provided in the rear body portion.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 6 , wherein each of said pair of cup members is defined by a lower rear wall portion, an arcuate wall portion, a top wall portion and an open bottom portion for receiving a respective one of said pair of projections.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the grate is configured to be vertically lifted from the cooktop with the pair of projections sliding through the open bottom portions of the pair of cup members.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 8 wherein, upon pivoting of the grate through a predetermined angle, the lower rear wall portion extends below a portion of a respective said one of said pair of projections, thereby preventing the grate from being vertically lifted from the cooktop.

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 6 , wherein the perimeter body portion is adapted to rest upon the cooktop when the surface portion extends in a substantially horizontal plane.

11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10 , further comprising:
positioning members provided on the perimeter body portion, with the positioning members aligning with recesses provided on a rim of the cooktop.

12. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising: a lift assist unit provided on the cooktop for aiding a user in pivoting the grate relative to the cooktop.

13. The cooking appliance according to claim 12 , wherein the lift assist unit constitutes a telescoping pneumatic lift unit.

14. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooking element consists of four, spaced gas burners and wherein the cooking appliance includes another grate which is a mirror image of said grate, with each of said grate and said another grate extending over a respective pair of said four, spaced gas burners on opposing side portions of the cooktop.

15. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one cup member is defined by a lower rear wall portion, an arcuate wall portion, a top wall portion and an open bottom portion.

16. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the grate is configured to be separated from the cooktop by vertical lifting when pivoted 30 degrees or less from horizontal.

17. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the grate is configured to be separated from the cooktop by vertical lifting when pivoted to any angle within the range of angles.

18. A method of supporting a grate over at least one cooking element mounted to a cooking appliance including a cooktop, a grate including a surface portion for supporting a cooking vessel and at least one cup member, wherein the grate is mounted to the cooktop through the at least one cup member, is configured to be separated from the cooktop by vertical lifting when pivoted to any of at least two angles within a range of angles without having to pivot beyond a 30 degree angle from horizontal and is configured to be pivoted relative to the at least one cooking element, such that the grate can be selectively lifted vertically and separated from the cooktop or pivoted relative to the at least one cooking element, said method comprising: positioning the grate over the at least one cooking element with locating structure being received within the at least one cup member of the grate whereby the grate can be selectively lifted vertically from the cooktop or pivoted relative to the at least one cooking element.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein, upon pivoting through a predetermined angle, the grate is prevented from being lifted vertically based on the at least one cup member becoming interlocked with the locating structure.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein, upon positioning the grate, the at least one cup member extends about a pair of projections of the locating structure which extend in opposing directions from a main body portion of a hinge mount.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the at least one cup member includes a pair of cup members provided in a rear body portion of the grate, with each of said pair of cup members being defined by a lower rear wall portion, an arcuate wall portion, a top wall portion and an open bottom portion for receiving a respective one of said pair of projections, and wherein, after the grate is positioned over the at least one heating element, the grate can be vertically lifted from the cooktop with the pair of projections sliding through the open bottom portions of the pair of cup members.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein, upon pivoting the grate through a predetermined angle, a lower rear wall portion of the grate extends below a portion of a respective said one of said pair of projections, thereby preventing the grate from being vertically lifted from the cooktop.

23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: assisting in pivoting the grate relative to the at least one cooking element with a lift assist unit provided on the cooktop.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Breneman Samuel B
• Kahwaji Michael A
• Kubasiak Andrew C
• Lind Jason Scott

Classifications

• F24C15/107 Primary

  Pan supports or grates therefor · CPC title