Steam oven with check valve at water inlet for steam backflow prevention

A water storage assembly for an oven configured for to supply steam to a cooking chamber thereof, the water storage assembly comprising:

• a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the oven extracting water from the water reservoir via the reservoir outlet;
• a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet;
• a check valve in fluid communication with the fill outlet downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve closing under a force of gravity on at least a portion thereof to prevent a backflow against the fluid path and into the water fill assembly and opening to allow an infill of water from the water-receiving cavity through the check valve, wherein the check valve includes:
• a valve body defining a portion of the fluid flow path between the fill outlet and the conduit through an interior thereof;
• and
• a ball movably captured within a portion of the interior of the valve body, the ball defining the portion of the check valve closing under the force of gravity and the opening to allow water from the water-receiving cavity through the check valve, wherein the ball has a density less than a density of water such that the ball floats into an open state under the flow of fluid through the check valve;
• and
• a conduit connecting the check valve with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet.

An oven comprising:

• a cooking chamber;
• a cabinet at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber;
• a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the oven being configured to extract water from the water reservoir via the reservoir outlet to supply steam to the cooking chamber;
• a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet;
• a conduit connecting with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet;
• and
• a gravity-closing check valve, including a body extending outwardly from and in fluid communication between the fill outlet and the conduit so as to be portioned downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve allowing a flow of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve and preventing a backflow of steam from the conduit and into the water fill assembly.