US3828763A - Oven door construction with front glass panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A windowed door construction for use as an insulated oven door for an electric or gas domestic oven. The door has a large front glass panel and a metal inner door liner with a small window opening and a multiple glazed window assembly and thermal insulation combined in the door. A sheet metal decorative trim frame encircles the front glass panel along the bottom edge and up the two opposite sides of the glass panel. An inner support strip is attached to the decorative trim frame for engaging the adjacent edges of the front glass panel. An elongated handle assembly joins the free ends of the inner support strip and comprises the top portion of the door construction. All fastening screws are hidden from view when the oven door is in its closed position.

Description

[ 35,28,763 [45] Aug. 13, 1974 OVEN DOOR CONSTRUCTHON WITH-ll FRONT GLASS PANEL Arthur C. Wilson, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

22 Filed: May 14,1973

21 Appl.No.:360,042

[75] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl 126/200, 52/456, 52/616 [51] int. Cl. F24c 15/04 [58] Field of Search 126/200; 52/616, 656, 455, 52/456, 400

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,535,589 12/1950 Mills 126/200 3,208,446 9/1965 Hopkins et al 126/200 3,362,396 1/1968 Hurko 126/200 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Larry T. .Schwartz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard L. Caslin; Francis H. Boos, Jr.

[57] ABS CT A windowed door construction for use as an insulated oven door for an electric or gas domestic oven. The door has a large front glass panel and a metal inner door liner with a small window opening and a multiple glazed window assembly and thermal insulation combined in the door. A sheet metal decorative trim frame encircles the front glass panel along the bottom edge and up the two opposite sides of the glass panel. An inner support strip is attached to the decorative trim frame for engaging the adjacent edges of the front glass panel. An elongated handle assembly joins the free ends of the inner support strip and comprises the topportion of the door construction. All fastening screws are hidden from view when the oven door is in its closed position.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures OVEN DOOR CONSTRUCTION WITH FRONT GLASS PANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION in weight and expensive to manufacture. In recent years range manufacturers have worked toward improved oven door designs using multiple frame members that are attached together to form the whole, with a principal objective to hide all of the fastening screws from view when the oven door is in its closed position. It is considered detracting from the pleasingappearance of the door if any of the fastening screws are exposed at the front of the oven and also alongthe sides and top edge of the door. It is considered acceptable to have fastening screws along the bottom or underside of the door as well as on the inner side of the door, but even here the numbers of such fastening screws should be held to a minimum.

The principle object of the present invention is to provide a windowed oven door construction with a front all-glass panel that is supported by a simple threesided wrap-around decorative trim frame in combination with a top handle assembly that constitutes the top edge of the door.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a windowed oven door of the class described wherein the decorative trim frame is supplied with an inner support strip for engaging and clamping the front glass panel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a windowed oven door of the class described wherein the decorative trim frame is of sheet metal construction having bendable sections adjacent the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into engagement with the side edges of the front glass panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, in accordance with one form thereof, relates to a windowed oven door construction comprising a front all-glass panel and a metal inner door liner having a smaller window opening in cooperation with a multi-glazed window assembly and thermal insulation assembled within the door. Thefront glass panel is confined within a three-sided decorative trim door. The inner doorliner is fastenedtothefront glass.

panel and trim frame assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood from-the'-following description taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings and'its scope will be pointed-out in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a windowed oven door construction embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat exploded front elevational view of the oven door construction of FIG. 1 showing the elongated handle assembly at the top edge of the door slightly removed from the trim frame and the two side portions of the trim frame pivoted outwardly from the front glass panel at the top to illustrate the flexible nature of the trim frame, while the left side portion of the frame shows the inner support strip partially raised therefrom to illustrate the telescopic nature of assembly.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of'the sheet metal decorative trim frame showing only a segment of the bottom portion and one side portion, with the inner support strip supported within the trim frame for engagingthe adjacent edge of the front glass panel. Also shown is the nature of the means for fastening the elongated handle assembly to the combined decorative trim frame and inner support strip. It should be understood thatthis-FIG. 3 is not an exactillustration of the oven door design in its assembled position in that the inner support strips have been shifted slightly in position so as to enable a better understanding of the construction.

FIG. isa cross-sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and showing the door in its fully assembled condition so as to enable the complete understanding' of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to a consideration of the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown anoven door 10 embodying the present invention which has a largefront glass panel 12 that is enclosed by a three-sided, wrap-arounddecorative trim frame 14 and anelongated handle assembly 16 that constitutes the top portion of theoven door 10. As is best seen in FIG. 2, thedecorative trim frame 14 is a one-piece, three-sided, wrap-around design having abottom portion 20 and twoopposite side portions 21 and 22.

The detailed nature of thedecorative trim frame 14 can best be understood with relation to the fragmentary view of FIG. 3 wherein thetrim frame 14 is shown as a single sheet metal member wherein the side edges are rolled on themselves as at 25 at the front of the frame and asat 27 at the rear edge of the frame. The front edge 25is somewhat wider than therear edge 27 so to give more-of a decorative trim width to the frame as at 29in FIG. 1. In other words, the front edge of thetrim frame has afoldedperpendicular flange 29 of narrow width and-its free edge is rolled over as at 25 to form a re-entrant foldor channel. The rear edge has a simple foldedre-entrant channel 27.

Turning back to FIG. 2, it is clear that the two ends of thebottom portion 20 of the decorative trim frame l4-are furnishedwithresilient sections 31 and 32 which act inxthe'manner of asimple bendable'hinge so that the twosideiportions 21 and 22-of the trim frame may be fl'exedupwardly and against the adjacent edges of thefront glasspanel 12.Corner 31 is illustratedinFIG. 3 as-comprising a'portion of the decorative trimframe 14' wherein thefront flange 29 and the re-entra'nt channel ZSaswell as the rear re-entrant channel27are notched out so as to leavethe'trim frame inthat area as just a simple planar section-which may flex or bendwhen an upward force is exerted against theside portions 21 and 22 of thetrim frame 14. Notice in FIG. 2 that thefront flange 29 is provided with a V-notch 34 such that when the side portions are pivoted into a perpendicular or vertical position the V-notch will close in the manner of a mitered joint so as to give a closed joint appearance and substantially eliminate any cracks or crevices in the corners of the frame.

Some means must be provided between thetrim frame 14 and thefront glass panel 12 for supporting the glass panel in the frame against movement. This need is satisfied by an inner support means 36 which is shown as comprising three separate pieces, abottom piece 38 and twoidentical side pieces 40 and 41. It should be understood, however, that this inner support strip 36 'could be formed as one piece rather than being divided into three separate pieces as is illustrated. Thisinner support strip 36 is also of sheet metal construction that is substantially coextensive with thetrim frame 14 and has a transverse configuration of generally L-shape with a wide flat portion 42 and a narrowfront flange 44. Theinner support strip 36 is adapted to telescope into thetrim frame 14 and be held in place by the folded-overedges 25 and 27, as is best seen in H6. 3. Eachpiece 38, 40 and 41 of theinner support strip 36 is provided withlanced tabs 46 which are adapted to be folded into a perpendicular position with respect to the flat portion 42 of the inner support strip and cooperate with the opposing edge of thefoldedover edge 25 of the trim frame for establishing a close fitting channel which is adapted to receive and clamp the adjacent edge of thefront glass panel 12 as is illustrated at the bottom front edge of the door as is seen in the cross-sectional elevational view of FIG. 4.

It should be understood that theinner support strip 40 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is not in its final assembled position since it is raised out of engagement with thelower portion 20 of thetrim frame 14, and this is not a typical situation. This view was made to illustrate the telescopic nature of inserting theinner support strip 40 into thedecorative trim frame 14. Somewhat the same situation is true of theinner support strip 38 is seen in FIG. 3 in that it is moved off to the right from its final assembled position. This is clear because theinner support strip 38 is provided with a screw hole 52 which is adapted to match with asimilar screw hole 54 in thebottom portion 20 of the trim frame. These two screw holes are adapted to be aligned with ascrew hole 56 in a foot orhorizontal flange 58 that is formed at the lower end of theinner support strip 40. It should be understood that a similar arrangement would be found at the opposite corner of the trim frame. A fasteningscrew 60 is illustrated for threading into theopenings 52, 54 and 56 and holding the parts together.

Thus, in order to assemble the front segment of the door the fromglass panel 12 is first moved into the narrow channel formation in the bottom portion of thetrim frame 14 created by thelanced tabs 46 of the bottom mostinner support strip 38 in cooperation with the folded-over edge of thefront flange 29 of the trim frame. Then the twoopposite side portions 21 and 22 of the trim frame are pivotal about the resilient'corners 31 and 32 until theinner support strips 40 and 41 engage the adjacent edges of thefront glass panel 12. Then it is necessary to assemble theelongated handle assembly 16 across the top portion of the door. Notice that theinner support strips 40 and 41 extend up above the top edge of theside portions 21 and 22 of thetrim frame 14, as at 62 and 64. Thetop handle assembly 16 is furnished with diecast end caps 63 and 65 respectively which fit over the ends of an elongated plastic or metalhollow housing 67 which has a transverse elevational cross-section of an overhang as is best seen in FIG. 4 formed by a continuoustop surface 69 and anundercut bottom surface 71 having anelongated slot 73 for receiving a persons fingers to obtain a firm grip on the top portion of theoven door 10 so that it may be pivoted into either an open or a closed position by hinging the door along an imaginary horizontal axis adjacent the bottom edge of the door, as will be well understood by those skilled in this art. Connected between the twoend caps 63 and 65 across the back side of thetop handle assembly 16 is astrong mounting plate 75 which has at the top edge a rear-turneddecorative flange 77 which aligns with the top portion of eachend cap 63 and 65. The inner support strips 40 and 41 have anupper flange 62 and 64 respectively that is provided withscrew openings 79 that are adapted to be aligned with similar openings in the mountingplate 75 for receivingfastening screws 81 thereby joining thetop handle assembly 16 with thetrim frame 14 andfront glass panel 12 through the medium of the inner support strips 40 and 41.

The mountingplate 75 of thetop handle assembly 16 also includes a pair of hat-shapedbrackets 85 at each end thereof that are each provided with a screw opening over which is adapted to be assembled a Tinnerman type sheet metal nut so that the screw opening need not be threaded but will receive afastening screw 110, as will be well understood by those skilled in the appliance art.

The rear side of theoven door 10 is provided with a metal inner door liner of generally rectangular configuration having a generally rectangular raisedembossment 92 which forms a plug-like member that is adapted to fit closely within the front opening of an oven liner (not shown). Theinner door liner 90 has arectangular window opening 94 behind which is mounted a multi-glazedwindow pack assembly 96 which is a sealed sub-assembly comprising at least twoglass panes 97 and 98 which are spaced apart by a spacer frame 100 and sealed in such a way that no water vapor, dust and grease may become lodged on the inner surface of the glass panes and reduce the visibility. Two of the fastening means 102 are present to hold thewindow pack 96 firmly over the inside of thewindow opening 94. It should be appreciated by those skilled in this art that this invention is not limited to a particular arrangement of thewindow pack assembly 96 as to how many glass panes are employed, and as to what means are used to prevent the inner surfaces of the glass pane from becoming soiled. A layer of thermal insulatingmaterial 106 such as fiber glass is installed in theembossment 92 around thewindow pack assembly 96 so that the plug-like embossment is an insulated component for retarding the loss of heat from the oven through the door. Notice that there is a sheet metal insulation guard 112 which is fastened against the inner surface of theinner door liner 90 across the plug-like embossment 90 for supporting thethermal insulation 106 in place. Of course, this insulation guard 112 would be provided with awindow opening 94 so as not to obscure the visibility therethrough.

Theinner door liner 90 is provided with a front turnedperipheral flange 108, as is best seen in FIG. 4, which is adapted to telescope within thedecorative trim frame 14. At the lower edge of the door theinner door liner 90 is fastened to thetrim frame 14 by means of the fastening screws 60 that are threaded up from the bottom through the trim frame throughscrew openings 52, 54 and 56 in the trim frame and the inner support strips and finally into theflange 108 of the inner door liner. At the top of the door, theinner door liner 90 is fastened to thebrackets 85 on the back side of the mountingplate 77 by means of fastening screws 110.

Looking at the front view of the door of H6. 1 only a small rectangular window'opening 1 14 is slightly visible. This is because anopaque mask 116 is applied on the inner surface of thefront glass panel 12, and this mask is continuous except for thewindow opening 114 which aligns with thewindow pack 96 andwindow opening 94 in theinner door liner 90. Preferably, the front glass panel 112 is of tinted glass such that when the oven interior is not lighted theglass panel 12 will appear as a dark reflective or mirror surface and viewing into the oven interior would not be possible. Only when the oven interior is lighted would it be possible to view through thewindow opening 114 and see the condition of food being cooked within the oven.

Notice that there is an air space in FIG. 4 between thefront glass panel 12 and the insulation guard 112. This air space serves as a cooling air channel for reducing the operating temperature of the door.Air slots 114 are provided along the bottom edge of thetrim frame 14, as well assimilar slots 116 in thetop handle assembly 16 preferably extending from one side to the other of the handle assembly so as to obtain a swift upward air movement through the door when the oven is heated.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in this art. Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but that it is intended to cover all modifications which are within the true spirit and scope of this invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A door construction comprising a large front panel of tinted glass fastened in a three-sided wrap-around decorative frame that extends along the bottom and up the two sides of the glass panel, said decorative frame being a single sheet metal member with flexible sections at the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up intoposition, a separate inner support means attached in the frame and provided with means to engage the adjacent edges of the glass panel and hold it in place, a top assembly located above the top edge of the glass panel and spanning the distance across the top of the frame, and rear fastening means at the opposite ends of the top assembly joining the top assembly to at least one of the decorative frame and inner support means, a metal inner door liner including a window opening provided with a multi-glazed window pack within the inner liner assembled across the window opening, and thermal insulation filling at least some of the inner door liner around the window pack, and fastening means attaching the inner liner to the door frame.

2. A windowed door construction comprising a front glass panel and a metal inner door liner, the glass panel being confined within a simple sheet metal decorative trim frame that extends along the bottom and up the opposite sides of the glass panel, the trim frame including an inner support means telescoped into the said trim frame and confined thereby, said inner support means having channel means for receiving and clamping the edges of the front glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly comprising the top edge of the door, and fastening means connecting the handle assembly to the trim frame, the said inner door liner having a window opening, a multiple glass window pack assembled within the inner door liner over the said window opening, and thermal insulation filling at least some of the inner door liner around the window pack, and an insulation guard plate assembled over the insulation to hold it in place, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel assembly.

3. A windowed door construction as recited in claim 2 wherein the decorative trim frame is a single straight piece of material with flexible sections at the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into position.

4. A windowed door construction as recited in claim 3 wherein the said inner support means is formed of at least three separate peices, a piece in the bottom portion of the frame and separate pieces in the opposite side portions of the frame.

5. A windowed oven door construction comprising an overall front glass panel and a metal inner door liner having a window opening and a multi-glazed window pack mounted within the inner door liner over the said window opening, thermal insulation held within the inner door liner around the window pack, and a sheet metal decorative trim frame encircling the front glass panel along the bottom edge and up the two opposite sides of the glass panel, an inner support means telescoped within the trim frame and substantially coextensive therewith for clamping the edge of the glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly comprising the top edge of the door and attached to the free upper ends of the inner support means from the back side of the handle assembly, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel assembly.

6. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 5 wherein the front glass panel is a tinted glass that is provided with an opaque mask on its rear surface having a window opening substantially aligned with the window opening in the inner door liner.

7. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 5 wherein the decorative trim frame is formed of a straight piece of material with flexible sections at the two corners of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into position with the inner support means engaging the edge of the front glass panel.

8. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 7 wherein the decorative trim frame is provided with folded'over edges along the opposite sides thereof except at the two flexible sections at the two corners of the bottom portion of the frame, and the inner support means is of generally flat configuration that is confined by the foldedover edges.

9. A windowed oven door construction comprising a large front glass panel and a metal inner door liner having a relatively small window opening, and a multiglazed window assembly mounted within the door and Sealed over the said window opening, thermal insulain the trim frame for clamping the edge of the front glass panel, the trim frame having folded edges for attaching the inner support strip therein, the inner support strip including tab means for engaging the edge of the front glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly attached to the free upper ends of the inner support strip and comprising the top edge of the door, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel and trim frame assembly.

Claims (9)

1. A door construction comprising a large front panel of tinted glass fastened in a three-sided wrap-around decorative frame that extends along the bottom and up the two sides of the glass panel, said decorative frame being a single sheet metal member with flexible sections at the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into position, a separate inner support means attached in the frame and provided with means to engage the adjacent edges of the glass panel and hold it in place, a top assembly located above the top edge of the glass panel and spanning the distance across the top of the frame, and rear fastening means at the opposite ends of the top assembly joining the top assembly to at least one of the decorative frame and inner support means, a metal inner door liner including a window opening provided with a multi-glazed window pack within the inner liner assembled across the window opening, and thermal insulation filling at least some of the inner door liner around the window pack, and fastening means attaching the inner liner to the door frame.

2. A windowed door construction comprising a front glass panel and a metal inner door liner, the glass panel being confined within a simple sheet metal decorative trim frame that extends along the bottom and up the opposite sides of the glass panel, the trim frame including an inner support means telescoped into the said trim frame and confined thereby, said inner support means having channel means for receiving and clamping the edges of the front glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly comprising the top edge of the door, and fastening means connecting the handle assembly to the trim frame, the said inner door liner having a window opening, a multiple glass window pack assembled within the inner door liner over the said window opening, and thermal insulation filling at least some of the inner door liner around the window pack, and an insulation guard plate assembled over the insulation to hold it in place, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel assembly.

3. A windowed door construction as recited in claim 2 wherein the decorative trim frame is a single straight piece of material with flexible sections at the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into position.

4. A windowed door construction as recited in claim 3 wherein the said inner support means is formed of at least three separate peices, a piece in the bottom portion of the frame and separate pieces in the opposite side portions of the frame.

5. A windowed oven door construction comprising an overall front glass panel and a metal inner door liner having a windOw opening and a multi-glazed window pack mounted within the inner door liner over the said window opening, thermal insulation held within the inner door liner around the window pack, and a sheet metal decorative trim frame encircling the front glass panel along the bottom edge and up the two opposite sides of the glass panel, an inner support means telescoped within the trim frame and substantially coextensive therewith for clamping the edge of the glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly comprising the top edge of the door and attached to the free upper ends of the inner support means from the back side of the handle assembly, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel assembly.

6. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 5 wherein the front glass panel is a tinted glass that is provided with an opaque mask on its rear surface having a window opening substantially aligned with the window opening in the inner door liner.

7. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 5 wherein the decorative trim frame is formed of a straight piece of material with flexible sections at the two corners of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two side portions may be folded up into position with the inner support means engaging the edge of the front glass panel.

8. A windowed oven door construction as recited in claim 7 wherein the decorative trim frame is provided with folded-over edges along the opposite sides thereof except at the two flexible sections at the two corners of the bottom portion of the frame, and the inner support means is of generally flat configuration that is confined by the folded-over edges.

9. A windowed oven door construction comprising a large front glass panel and a metal inner door liner having a relatively small window opening, and a multi-glazed window assembly mounted within the door and sealed over the said window opening, thermal insulation means combined with the door to retard the conduction of heat therethrough, a one-piece decorative trim frame encircling the front glass panel along the bottom edge and the two opposite sides of the glass panel, the said one-piece decorative trim frame being of sheet metal configuration with flexible sections at the two ends of the bottom portion of the frame so that the two opposite side portions may be folded up into position with the inner support strip clamping the edges of the front glass panel, an inner support strip attached in the trim frame for clamping the edge of the front glass panel, the trim frame having folded edges for attaching the inner support strip therein, the inner support strip including tab means for engaging the edge of the front glass panel, and an elongated handle assembly attached to the free upper ends of the inner support strip and comprising the top edge of the door, and fastening means for joining the inner door liner to the front glass panel and trim frame assembly.

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