Cooktop stamping having means for attaching heating elements and an integral trim ring
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRichard O. Cavener, Dennis L. Queary
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metal stamping for holding a glass ceramic cooktop, a control unit and a plurality of burner elements of an appliance having means for holding the glass ceramic cooktop, an element portion having a plurality of element holes wherein the burner elements are disposed and further having attachment means for securing the burner elements to the stamping, a control unit portion having means for attaching the control unit to the stamping, and a trim ring means for attaching the stamping to the appliance.
Claims20
A single piece integral metal stamping for holding a glass ceramic cooktop sheet, a control unit and a plurality of burner elements of an appliance comprising:
- a means for holding said glass ceramic cooktop sheet;
- an element portion of the single piece integral metal stamping having a plurality of element holes wherein said burner elements are disposed and further having an attachment means for securing said burner elements to said integral metal stamping;
- a control unit portion of the single piece integral metal stamping having a means for attaching said control unit to said integral metal stamping;
- and
- a trim ring means for attaching said single piece integral metal stamping to said appliance.
A single piece integral metal stamping for a glass ceramic cooktop, comprising:
- a first recessed ridge for holding a glass ceramic cooktop sheet such that the edges of said sheet are surrounded by said ridge;
- a heating element portion constructed of the single piece integral stamping and arranged to carry and attach heating elements thereto under said cooktop sheet;
- a second recessed ridge for holding a control panel;
- and
- an integral trim ring about the periphery of said single piece integral stamping for supporting the sheet, control panel and said single piece integral stamping on a surrounding surface.
A cooking appliance, comprising:
- a glass ceramic cooking surface sheet;
- a plurality of heating elements disposed under said sheet;
- a control panel for selecting heating levels of said heating elements;
- and
- a single piece integral metal stamping having a heating element portion for supporting said sheet and said heating elements and a control panel portion for supporting said control panel, said single piece integral stamping further comprising a peripheral, recessed ridge such that edges of said sheet are surrounded by said single piece integral stamping.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.