# US 11,029,037 B2 · Rubber foot for a heatable metal device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,037 B2 - Document ID: US11029037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/553,234 - Filed: 2016-02-04 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25 - Assignees: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Applicants: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Inventors: Stefano Tonietto; Emanuele Sorrentino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029037B2 ## CPC - F24C 15/107: {Pan supports or grates therefor} - A47B 91/06: Gliders or the like - F16L 59/02: Shape or form of insulating materials, with or without coverings integral with the insulating materials - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract Provided is a rubber foot for a heatable or heated metal device, such as a cast iron grid of a cooking hob. The rubber foot includes a shaft forming an upper part of said rubber foot and having a symmetry axis. The shaft has a cylindrical body for inserting into a hole in the bottom of the metal device along the symmetry axis. The rubber foot includes a head forming a lower part of said rubber foot and being provided for a position below the hole in the bottom of the metal device. The rubber foot includes at least one wing enclosing at least partially the cylindrical body and formed by at least one ring enclosing the cylindrical body which can be subdivided by at least one recess. The rubber foot with the shaft, head and at least one wing is formed as a single-piece part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rubber foot for a heatable or heated metal device, the rubber foot comprising: a shaft forming an upper part of said rubber foot, the shaft including a cylindrical body and being provided for inserting into a hole in a bottom of the metal device along a symmetry axis of said cylindrical body, a head forming a lower part of said rubber foot, the head being provided for a position below the hole in the bottom of the metal device when the shaft is inserted in said hole, the head having a diameter bigger than a diameter of the shaft, and at least one wing enclosing at least partially the cylindrical body of the shaft, the at least one wing formed by at least one ring enclosing the cylindrical body of the shaft or the at least one wing formed by at least one ring enclosing the cylindrical body of the shaft and subdivided by at least one recess, wherein the rubber foot, with the shaft, the head and the at least one wing, is formed as a single-piece part, wherein an upper side of the head from which the shaft extends is concave and includes an inner curvature and an outer curvature, and wherein the inner curvature has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer curvature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein the recess forms a lateral evacuation channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wing has a triangular cross-section, wherein an upper surface of the at least one wing is inclined more strongly than a lower surface thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rubber foot according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the at least one wing is inclined between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rubber foot according to claim 4, said upper surface being inclined 45 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The rubber foot according to claim 3, wherein the lower surface of the at least one wing is horizontal or inclined up to 20 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1 wherein the rubber foot includes at least two pairs of wings arranged on top of each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rubber foot according to claim 7, wherein the recesses of the rings are arranged along common axes parallel to the symmetry axis of the cylindrical body of the shaft, so neighboured recesses of the rings form a lateral evacuation channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein the rubber foot is made of silicone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cast iron grid for a cooking hob, wherein said cast iron grid comprises at least one hole in its bottom side, wherein the cast iron grid comprises at least one rubber foot according to claim 1 inserted or insertable into the at least one hole in the bottom side of said cast iron grid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, said metal device being a cast iron grid of a cooking hob. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer curvatures intersect at a discrete annular vertex of the concave upper side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein the inner curvature and the outer curvature each are constant curvatures intersecting at an annular depression therebetween, the depression being non-rounded along a radial direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The rubber foot according to claim 1, wherein each of the inner curvature and the outer curvature are concave. ### Claim 15 A heatable metal device with at least one hole in its bottom side, wherein the metal device comprises at least one rubber foot inserted or insertable into the at least one hole in the bottom side of said metal device, wherein an upper side of the rubber foot facing toward the bottom side of said metal device is concave and includes an inner curvature and an outer curvature, wherein the inner curvature has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer curvature, and wherein each of the inner curvature and the outer curvature are concave. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The heatable metal device according to claim 15, wherein the inner and outer curvatures intersect at a discrete annular vertex of the concave upper side. ### Claim 17 A rubber foot for supporting a heatable metal device, said rubber foot comprising: a head having a concave upper side, a cylindrical shaft extending upward from said upper side of the head, and a first ring extending circumferentially about said shaft and being interrupted by at least one recess arranged in said first ring, said at least one recess defining an evacuation channel that permits air to pass as the rubber foot is inserted into a hole in an underside surface of said heatable metal device in order to ease insertion therein, wherein the concave upper side includes an inner curvature and an outer curvature, and wherein the inner curvature has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer curvature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The rubber foot according to claim 17, said at least one recess comprising a first plurality of recesses in said first ring, said first ring thereby defining a corresponding plurality of first wings extending laterally from said shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The rubber foot according to claim 18, further comprising a second ring extending circumferentially about said shaft and spaced longitudinally from said first ring, said second ring comprising a second plurality of recesses therein, equal in number to and aligned with said first plurality of recesses in said first ring to thereby define a corresponding plurality of second wings of said second ring, wherein said pluralities of first and second wings have triangular cross-sections with respective upper surfaces thereof angled at between 20 and 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A cooking hob comprising a cast iron grid having a hole in a bottom surface thereof, and the rubber foot according to claim 19 inserted therein. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The rubber foot according to claim 17, wherein the inner curvature and the outer curvature each are constant curvatures intersecting at an annular depression therebetween, the depression being non-rounded along a radial direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The rubber foot according to claim 17, wherein each of the inner curvature and the outer curvature are concave.