# US 2019/0170367 A1 · Economical and versatile system for fixing a hob in a worktop > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170367 A1 - Document ID: US20190170367A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/273,426 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Elio Cabrelle; Luca Miraglia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170367A1 ## CPC - F24C 15/108: {Mounting of hot plate on worktop} - B25B 27/00: Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) - F16B 2/241: {of sheet metal} - F16B 2/243: {internal, i.e. with spreading action} - Y10T 29/53909: Means comprising hand manipulatable tool - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A cooking hob retention system includes a support element having a major surface and a pocket disposed therealong and defining a strip having a first opening and a second opening on vertically opposite sides thereof. The system also includes a fastening element including an engagement end and a free end resiliently compressible toward the engagement end about a central fold disposed therebetween. The engagement end is coupled with the support element by a deformable portion opposite the central fold received within the first opening and a protruding element extending toward the deformable portion and received within the second opening. The free end includes a body defining an acute angle with respect to the engagement end. A tab extends from the body generally parallel to the engagement end, and a first countering element extends from the body beyond the tab to an end thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing a cooking hob from an opening in a carrier element, comprising: inserting a planar element between a sheet of the cooking hob extending over the opening and an adjacent surface of the carrier element to bring a leading edge of the planar element into contact with a tab of a fastening element having a free end bearing the tab and an engagement end coupled with a housing of the cooking hob extending from the sheet and at least partially within the opening, the free end of the fastening element having a portion thereof engaged with an interior surface of the opening; and forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening to compress the fastening element, at least within a central fold connecting the free end with the engagement end by movement of the tab with the planar element, until the portion of the fastening element disengages from the interior surface of the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including forcing an end of the planar element opposite the tab away from the adjacent surface of carrier element to lift the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further including, after lifting the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening, removing the fastening element from the cooking hob by pulling on the free end in a direction opposite a direction of the compression. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the fastening element is one of a plurality of fastening elements disposed along a side of the housing, the tab thereof being a first of a plurality of tabs respectively associated with each of the ones of the plurality of fastening elements; and the planar element defines a width such that, when the planar element is inserted between the sheet and the adjacent surface of the carrier element in a direction normal to the width, the leading edge of the planar element simultaneously contacts each of the plurality of tabs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cooking hob is first installed in the opening in the carrier element by aligning the outer periphery of the housing with the opening from above the surface and lowering the cooking hob into the opening until the sheet contacts the surface of the carrier element, such lowering initially compressing the fastening element against the interior surface of the opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein: the initial compression of the fastening element causes a force to be applied by the portion of the free end in contact with the interior surface of the opening to engage therewith so as to counter a force attempting to raise the hob out of the opening; and the initial compression is less than the compression of the fastening element achieved by forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the free end is resiliently compressible toward the engagement end about a central fold disposed between the engagement end and the free end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further including, prior to the cooking hob being first installed in the opening in the carrier element, assembling the fastening element with the cooking hob by engaging a protruding element of the fastening element within a first opening in the cooking hob and engaging a deformable element of the fastening element with a second opening in the cooking hob. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein: the cooking hob includes support element including a major surface and a pocket disposed along the major surface and defining a strip, the first opening and a second opening being defined on vertically opposite sides of the strip; and assembling the fastening element with the cooking hob covers the strip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein: lowering the cooking hob into the opening brings a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab into contact with the interior surface of the opening; and the engagement of the first countering element with the interior surface of the opening is maintained by the initial compression of the fastening element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the fastening element that disengages from the interior surface of the opening when the planar element is forced inwardly with respect to the opening to compress the fastening element is a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab into contact with the interior surface of the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the tab is disposed away from the interior surface when the countering element is engaged with the interior surface of the opening; and inserting the planar element between the sheet of the cooking hob extending over the opening and the adjacent surface of the carrier element to bring the leading edge of the carrier element into contact with the tab of a fastening element includes the free end of the planar element passing the first countering element. ### Claim 13 A method for associating a cooking hob with an opening in a carrier element, comprising: installing the cooking hob in the opening in the carrier element by aligning the outer periphery of a of the cooking hob housing with the opening from above a surface of the cooking hob and lowering the cooking hob into the opening until a sheet of the cooking hob extending over the opening contacts the surface of the carrier element, such lowering initially engaging a portion of a fastening element having a free end bearing a tab coupled with the housing of the cooking hob extending from the sheet with an interior surface of the opening under an initial compression of the fastening element; inserting a planar element between the sheet of the cooking hob the adjacent surface of the carrier element to bring a leading edge of the planar element into contact with a tab of a fastening element; and forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening to compress the fastening element until the portion of the fastening element disengages from the interior surface of the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening compresses the fastening element at least within a central fold connecting the free end with an engagement end of the fastening element coupled with the cooking hob by movement of the tab with the planar element, ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further including forcing an end of the planar element opposite the tab away from the adjacent surface of carrier element to lift the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including, after lifting the cooking hob at least partially out from the opening, removing the fastening element from the cooking hob by pulling on the free end in a direction opposite a direction of the compression. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the fastening element is one of a plurality of fastening elements disposed along a side of the housing, the tab thereof being a first of a plurality of tabs respectively associated with each of the ones of the plurality of fastening elements; and the planar element defines a width such that, when the planar element is inserted between the sheet and the adjacent surface of the carrier element in a direction normal to the width, the leading edge of the planar element simultaneously contacts each of the plurality of tabs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: the initial compression of the fastening element causes a force to be applied by the portion of the free end in contact with the interior surface of the opening to engage therewith so as to counter a force attempting to raise the hob out of the opening; and the initial compression is less than the compression of the fastening element achieved by forcing the planar element inwardly with respect to the opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: lowering the cooking hob into the opening brings a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab into contact with the interior surface of the opening; and the engagement of the first countering element with the interior surface of the opening is maintained by the initial compression of the fastening element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the fastening element that disengages from the interior surface of the opening when the planar element is forced inwardly with respect to the opening to compress the fastening element is a first countering element extending from the body beyond the tab into contact with the interior surface of the opening.