# US 11,906,173 B2 · Connecting element for connecting an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction cooking hob > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,173 B2 - Document ID: US11906173B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/988,929 - Filed: 2022-11-17 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-09 - Assignees: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Applicants: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Inventors: Valerio Verdoliva; Alwin Neukamm; Claudio Paolini; Filippo Milanesi; Laurent Jeanneteau; Massimo Banzato; Agostino Rossato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906173B2 ## CPC - F24C 7/067: {on ranges} - F16B 5/0621: {in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02)} - F16B 21/082: {the stud, pin or spigot having two resilient parts on its opposite ends in order to connect two elements} - H05B 6/1209: {induction cooking plates or the like and devices to be used in combination with them} - H05B 6/1245: {with special coil arrangements} - H05B 2206/022: Special supports for the induction coils - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A connecting element is provided for connecting an induction coil to a coil carrier of an induction cooking hob. The connecting element is made of an elastic material and formed as a single-piece part. The connecting element includes a first snap-fit portion connectable to a cut-out of the induction coil, and a spring portion arrangeable between the induction coil and the coil carrier, so that the spring portion provides a distance therebetween. The connecting element includes a second snap-fit portion extending opposite to the first snap-fit portion. The second snap-fit portion is connectable to a cut-out of the coil carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An induction cooking hob, comprising: an induction cooking panel configured to support a cooking utensil thereon, an induction coil disposed beneath the induction cooking panel, a coil carrier, and a connecting element that connects the induction coil to the coil carrier; the connecting element being a single-piece part made of elastic material and formed as a profile section having a constant cross-section along an entire length of the connecting element along a profile axis thereof, the connecting element comprising: a first snap-fit portion, a spring portion configured to maintain a separation between the induction coil and the coil carrier against a compressive counter-force, said spring portion having a width in cross-section that continuously tapers narrower toward the first snap-fit portion, a pair of opposing and substantially coplanar grooves extending parallel to the profile axis at either lateral side of the connecting element and being located between the first snap-fit portion and the spring portion, said first snap-fit portion having a lateral dimension that at least partially decreases with increased distance from said grooves, said spring portion comprising a pair of opposing wings respectively extending downward from said grooves and away from one another at either lateral side of the connecting element, and a second snap-fit portion extending opposite the first snap-fit portion between said opposing wings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The induction cooking hob according to claim 1, said first snap-fit portion comprising a triangular shape in cross-section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The induction cooking hob according to claim 2, said first snap-fit portion comprising a clearance hole therein that extends parallel to said profile axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The induction cooking hob according to claim 1, said first snap-fit portion extending upward above said induction coil through a first cut-out therein, said spring portion extending downward below said induction coil, and said induction coil being received and engaged in said grooves, said spring portion resting on said coil carrier to thereby support the induction coil thereon, said spring portion being resilient thereby pushing the induction coil upward toward and against said induction cooking panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The induction cooking hob according to claim 4, said connecting element acting as a spacer that prohibits direct physical contact between said coil carrier and said induction coil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The induction cooking hob according to claim 4, said second snap-fit portion extending downward through a second cut-out in said coil carrier to thereby fix a lateral position of said connecting element on said coil carrier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The induction cooking hob according to claim 6, said first snap-fit portion and said second snap-fit portion being aligned along a common single axis so that said induction coil can be connected to said coil carrier via said connecting element robotically via single-axis compression therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The induction cooking hob according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said connecting elements, wherein the induction coil includes a plurality of first cut-outs configured to receive the first snap-fit portions of respective ones of said plurally of connecting elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The induction cooking hob according to claim 8, wherein the coil carrier includes a plurality of second cut-outs configured to receive the second snap-fit portions of respective ones of said plurality of connecting elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The induction cooking hob according to claim 9, said plurality of first cut-outs of the induction coil and/or said plurality of second cut-outs of the coil carrier having rectangular shapes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The induction cooking hob according to claim 1, said second snap-fit portion being a single-columnar element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The induction cooking hob according to claim 11, said second snap-fit portion having a width that increases towards a distal end thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The induction cooking hob according to claim 12, wherein the second snap-fit portion is received within a cut-out formed in said coil carrier, and wherein a maximum width of said second snap-fit portion is greater than a width of said cut-out. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for assembling the induction coil to the coil carrier for the induction cooking hob according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing the induction coil including a plurality of first cut-outs formed therein; providing the coil carrier including a plurality of second cut-outs formed therein; providing a plurality of the connecting elements; inserting a predetermined number of the connecting elements into corresponding selected ones of said first cut-outs of the induction coil, so that the first snap-fit portion of each said connecting element penetrates the corresponding first cut-out of the induction coil and the grooves of the respective connecting elements engage with the corresponding first cut-outs of the induction coil, and setting the induction coil with the connecting elements onto the coil carrier, so that the second snap-fit portion of each said connecting element penetrates a corresponding one of said second cut-outs of the coil carrier.