US 11,536,463 B2Granted

Cooktop with side frame members

AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation

InventorsPatrick J. Duffy, Thomas Walker Faussett, Paul Jordan Neuman, Binesh R. Pillai, Edward Benjamin Standen, Nicholas Edward Righetti, Sarah Katherine Small

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Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a body and a cooktop disposed on the body. A plurality of gas burner assemblies is operably coupled to the cooktop. A first frame member is coupled to a first side of the cooktop and defines at least a portion of a sump defined by the cooktop. A second frame member is coupled to a second side of the cooktop and defines at least a portion of the sump defined by the cooktop. A bracket is coupled to the first and second frame members. The bracket extends along a portion of a perimeter of the cooktop between the first and second frame members. The bracket defines at least a portion of the sump defined by the cooktop.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A cooking appliance, comprising:

a body;
a cooktop disposed on the body and defining a sump;
a grate disposed over the cooktop, wherein the sump is in fluid communication with a surrounding environment through the grate;
a plurality of gas burner assemblies mounted on the cooktop and configured to receive air from a primary airflow path that extends from proximate a lower surface of the cooktop to the plurality of gas burners;
a first frame member coupled to a first side of the cooktop;
a second frame member coupled to a second side of the cooktop, the first frame member and the second frame member each defining a portion of a secondary airflow path for directing air from proximate the lower surface of the cooktop to an upper surface of the cooktop;
wherein the cooktop defines first and second flanges proximate the first and second sides, and wherein the first and second flanges support the first and second frame members, respectively;
wherein the first and second flanges include chamfered bottom edges slidably engaged with the first and second frame members, respectively;
a bracket coupled to the first and second frame members, wherein the bracket extends along a portion of a perimeter of the cooktop between the first and second frame members;
and
wherein the first frame member, the second frame member and the bracket collectively define at least a portion of the sump on an upper portion of the cooktop.

8 more elements

A cooktop assembly, comprising:

a cooktop defining a sump;
a grate disposed over the cooktop, the sump being in fluid communication with a surrounding environment through the grate;
a gas burner assembly operably coupled to the cooktop, the gas burner assembly having an orifice holder disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the cooktop;
a first frame member coupled to a first side of the cooktop, wherein the first frame member defines a first aperture on an inner surface thereof to define at least a portion of at least one airflow path;
a second frame member coupled to an opposing second side of the cooktop, wherein the second frame member defines a second aperture on an inner surface thereof to define at least a portion of the at least one airflow path, the at least one airflow path including a primary airflow path configured to direct air from proximate the lower surface to the orifice holder and a secondary airflow path configured to direct air from proximate the lower surface of the cooktop to an upper surface of the cooktop;
and
wherein the cooktop defines first and second flanges proximate the first and second sides, and wherein the first and second flanges support the first and second frame members, respectively;
wherein the first and second flanges include chamfered bottom edges slidably engaged with the first and second frame members, respectively.

5 more elements

A cooktop assembly, comprising:

a cooktop having sidewalls at least partially defining a sump;
a grate disposed over the cooktop, wherein the sump is in fluid communication with a surrounding environment through the grate;
a first frame member coupled to a first side of the cooktop and defining at least one first aperture, the first frame defining at least a portion of a first branch of a secondary airflow path for directing air to an upper surface of the cooktop;
a second frame member coupled to a second side of the cooktop and defining at least one second aperture, the second frame defining at least a portion of a second branch of a secondary airflow path for directing air to the upper surface of the cooktop, the secondary airflow path extending from proximate a lower surface of the cooktop, along the sidewalls, through the first and second frame members, and to the upper surface of the cooktop below the grate;
wherein the cooktop defines first and second flanges proximate the first and second sides, and wherein the first and second flanges support the first and second frame members, respectively;
wherein the first and second flanges include chamfered bottom edges slidably engaged with the first and second frame members, respectively;
and
a bracket disposed adjacent to an edge of the cooktop, wherein the bracket couples together the first and second frame members.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.