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1:ITCHEIV APPLIANCE HAVING
FLOATInc (..LASS 1'f1N>E?',1.
13ACIti(,R()t;Nl) OF TiIE INVw.i4'I'iON
I FFiLfd of the Invot7tion
s 'I'he present invetttion pertains tt) the art uf-kitcl,cn appliances tnd,
r1701'G particularly, to rrx~ttnting a decorative glass pan4l to an appliance
door sucl-r tl-iri.t the glirss pancl appcars to float relative to the
appliancc
door.
?. f)i5cussion cf the Prior Art
M Proviiling, a decorative f:tpdc to kitchcn applianc.4.ti is well known
in thc <.irt. "('Iic decorative I.<tcaclc allows thc c.rpplti';ncc to ' tic-
irr" tu
Ovel;lll 1Cit(:hctl dCct)T. J'l)C decorative lagadc can take on a variety ol'
fOrnis frotn 5ometliing as titmple as a coat of paint to made to ot-tier
woodctr panuls that niatcli .1d.ii:lC4rit Cilblllctry. In niany casCS the
i
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
dccorative pancl takcti the tornl o#' a replaceable plastic ot= metal sltect
thitt
is moun.tGC1 to a doot, ol"thc appllatlcC witll peripheral trim
corrtl'JOrierltS.
In addition t.c> mo-nltii~'T wood, plastic or metal pancls to appliance
doors, it, is now quito cotnmoti to employ glass pant:ls. 'C'ypically, the
s glass pancl is sccttred to the appliance through trim picc;:s in at manner
sisrlil,tr ta that cmployed .vitlt plastic and tnctal panGls. That iti, the
t.riin
piece irlC:IllCle4 a I]r5t scctlon that is sL;cllrCd to tllc appliance door
with, lor
exat-t7ple, a mechanical fastener, ancl a scconcl section th<tt extcnds over
siclc and f.t'ont. sLirfitccs of'tllo glass pancl. 'VVhilc effectivt; at
holcling the
io glass patlcl on tlic door, tlyc trini piece visibly detracts fronl an
ovet=aill
aosthetlc appearance ot t'llc appli<tncc. More spcciltcally, experic;ncc has
sllown that nlany constttncrs like a smooth or seamless appearance to the
appliance. In order to obtain such an appont'.1ncc;, n3.;tiu1actures ftavc
utliploycd various techniques to secure glass p;sn.elti to the appliance.
ts For example, ts described in U.S. 1'atcnt Application I'tEblication
No. 2004/01 h341.3, an external decorating member fornlad from 9lass is
covered osi ono sidc witl7 a fayct- o.f paint and tllcn installed on it door
of
the appliance witll adhcsiv4. '1'he glass pancl is mot.ttltcd in sucll a way
so
that tllc lavcr of paint is in continuous, dircct: c;0171.30 Wlt.ll a#i-ont
stn-fi;cc
20 ol'the door to prcvcnt the layer qf paint from being sc:ratcheci. While
this
method 1'GStilts in a sotncwllat scamlc;tis appearance, once installed, tlzc
glass pa.ni:l cannot be removed Nvit.hcyut. causing soiiic damage either to
the
glass pancl itsclf'or the door. More itnporlantly, -llotultinti aglatis
r;.:nel
in this fashion detrztcts frotn t:hc aisstlzel.ics provided by gl:zsy. =I.hat
is, the
25 paint and -aulhesive generally make the glass pancl at7pcar identical to a
mctal pancl.
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Tit ancthcr cxal7iplc. as dcscril:locl il3 U.S. Patent Nun?.bcr 6,8,54,45$,
an glass front. panel is secured t0 an in er gl<tss ptYnel with ,nigleci
r=ctaitiilig clcmcnts and a peripheral scal. The angled retaining e.lemc=nt.s
,s.rc: secLlrec.i to bcit.h the inncr glass pa3ncl and the glass fi=ont panel
with
adhesive. The peripheral scal is sceLirc:cl to the glass frcrlt li:ynel ,in<f
to a
raiscd pan border portion of the iitrtcr glass panel. Wliilc iliis method also
rescllts in a somcwhat scan-fle:ti5 appGar~2nce, (inc:e insttfllc;cl, the
glass frant
pallcl cat3not be casilv removed. I.f fhe ~Iass pancl is ever cracked or a
diffcrcnt tiiiisli is desired, removing the pancl fTom thc appliance wcLtlct
iq prove diflicLilt. Moreover, in order the ntaintaiil the peripheral seal,
the
inner glass pailel tllLltit T?(; specially tl'1C1ldCd Lt1 inCC)7j)i)r.t.te the
raised pan
barder porti n zand, in a manner similar t'o that ci~~c.ribeit above, the
glass
panel appears t.o be a "part" ot'thc appliance as opposed to "tloaling." in
t'ront of the appliancc.
iti L3itsed ()n the above, tlict=c still exists a liccd in thc art for an
clthttncc:ci decorative Oass pcinr;l arrangement f(7r a 1Cilchc:T7 appliance.
More specifically, there exists a noed for a decorative glass ptlotel that
cart
llc i'TIOUi'ttCCl in sllf:h a w<-y so as to providc a saarnle:ss appearance,
yet
also be readily detachable frcm, ancl appear to float rclative to the
20 appliallcc.
SUMMARY OF TIIF, INVF:N'T'1UN
'1ltc prescnt invt:nt.i<1n is dircc:tc;ci to thc nic1L-11tin~, ~7f ct glass
panol
tr:>utlltd tu a cloor of'a kitchen appliance. The kitchen appliance includes
a support bocly within which is arran~;c~cl a cun~partnient llavittg a
t:rClrtttll
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opening. A cloor, shiftably suppurtcd by thc suppc)rt body, selcctivcly
covc--s the 1runtsl opening tti provide: access to the compartment. The
door includes an ut.ttcr patict port:ion rind an ittncr panel portion. ln
;iccordancc with thc ir)vczctt.icm, a plurality oYmountirii, me:txtbc:rs are
S spacccl abOut the oulG)= pancl portior) o# thc door.
'T'hc door also iricludcs a glass pancl asseITrbly IiIC[tullt)g a gItttis
panel aticl a Iflurality o1'nIounting elements. "I'lic glass panel is
iii:tachably
i1101lt1tCC1 tp lhU ClUI)r tllrOttl6;h thi' 1in14r41Zizi1gc113c11t of lhC:
p1LIT?Sllty of
mounting c:lement.s with the plurttlity of tilout)tit)4 members. Prcferably,
i{.t the lli0utlt3ilg elements are alhosivcEy tiGCUrtcl to thc gl.lss patzcl
ancl Ljrc
rtot visible when viewing the kitcllcll itpplIc117CC Fr()Cll thC lrOrlt..
ACtUllly,
the pI[IrLtlity of tT10LStltillg 111C[71hCt's and moLUititig cleiiicnt.s are
spaced
1'rC)m edge I)oti:iC)ns Oi~ thc doOr at7cL c,lass panel rctillGctivcly so as
to rlot be
visible whc:n viewing thc kitchen appliance fr=orr) the froiat or ansul,u-
side
15 vicwti. Witli this ccrnstruction, the ~lass 17artcl truly appears t<7 float
relative to the door.
Additional objccts, fcatures and advantagcs of tlic prescnt
itiventic)ti will becomc tiiorc readily apparent from the f'ollawing
clct.<iilc;d
ifc;5c,ri1-)tion of prcfcrrcd embodiments when trakcn in cct~jurtctivn with
thr;
ztt drawings whcrcin likc rcl'erencc nitmerals rcfcr to corresponding parts in
tl]C Scvcr3l views.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION oF>f'Hl; DI2AwINCS
Fi~;trrc I is arl front ~:Icvat.iantil view of a rcfi=igcr.jtot= includin~
side-by-side door:; incc>rporatin~ 2t detachable floatinbglass pancl
constructcd in accarclartcc with tlle presCrnt rnvCtltultl;
'1r igurc 2 is an exploded view af onc t>t'the sidc-liy-sidc doors of
.Fig,trrc: 1. illustrating a piurra(ity ofmounting nlcnlbors soct.trtsci to
the door
<uZd a plurality of Lnct.tntittri clCmcnts ::-dlicsivoly tyit,urtted to the
glass
panel;
Figtu=c; 3 is a cross-sec:tional view of a bottom portion o('th' sidc-
by-side cloc7r oà i'il;urc 2 shoWin1'_'c7tit; Ol' llrc pltn-ality Of'
maur1ting
n=te:rnbcr's itltcr-cngac;itrg with ortU of the plttrality af niount.ing
cletltctits to
detachable mnurtt t.{-ir glass panel;
Figure 4 is a crcrss-sectional side view of tttc door ol' I7-igurc 2
sltpwin~ another Otlc of the plu.rclllty Of rnOltnting ti7~:rll~lcrs 1ntCr-
is cngaging with another onc of th4 plurality of nlot-tttirtg clcmcnt:ti;
Figure 5 is a upper right. persPcctivc vicw ctf tt dishwaslior tiaving a
dc>or incorpc-r<ttinga dctacllablc #1oming glass panel constn.tctcd in
accordance witli a seconcf r:mbodinlcnt of tlle prescnt invcntiun;
F'igurc 6 is <in exploded view of'tllc door of l~i~.;trrc 5 illustrating tlic
Plur<tlity 0.I'111Outtting i7tcmbe:rs and the pltErirlily u('tllounting
e14n,ents. as
we:li as attachment nlcnlbors canstructc.d in accordance the sccond
enlbodimcnt of the invontiorr;
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rimirc 7 is a tpp clcv<16onM vic.Vof thc g
lass pancl of F'igitrc 6;
!~igurc K is a perspective view ofonc- aft}tc attachme;l menibcrs
froitz l igtlrc fi;
C'igurc 9 is a perspectivc vicw of one of'thc plurality of mounting
~ clemcnts li-ani Figurc 6;
Fis;urc 10 is nrt Ltppcr riglrt perspective view of a fi=ec-standi g
ovcn having a storage clrawtt- incorporating a detachable floating glass
trincl constntctcd in accordance wlt'll a t'Illyd (:rT1170(lin'ICnt. of the
17resclTt
invcntion;
E'igrFre 1 1 is an exploded view c71';, ti-otit portion t>I'thc; stor:r~c:
drawcr anci glass panel of C'kgures 1(3, ilit.tstratittg, tllo PILIralily Of
ninunting
mcmhcrs nnd thc pl1.1ralit.y of ntounting i;lcment.s cnnstnictcd in
accordance with tlic t.liird crnbodinicnt of the invention; and
Figt,lre 12 is a cross-sectional view illustral.ing the intcrctiglncritcnt
is of Onc of t11,(; plurality ()1'tnOlFn1.117g nltnlllcrs and OYII: of the
plLErality of
mounting clcmcnts in accord'c1ncC with l:lle third (;n117CUdfi71Ct1t ()fl.Ile
prescnt invention.
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DETAILED DES(.'Ril''1'1UN Ul; 'I'H1; PREFERRED
F-,MI3(.)T)I'1VC F; N =:i'S
With initial rcf0r'cnc4 to Figure 1, a kitchen appli<t.ncc, illustrated in
the forn-t of a r=cfrigt;rator, is gcncrally inclic<tt.cd at 2. Refrigerator 2
inchldes a support l~vdy or cabinet 4 within which is arran~;cd a liner= 6
that defines a ft=csh food con'rpartmcnt R. T'rCsli food cOnipLtrtnicnt 8 is
provi(icd with a frt;sh food door 10 faaving;a l)lurtality of vcrtic.,xlly
adjustable 1hCIvG's 1 1-14 and a dairy compartment 16. In the cmbodiment
sktown, refrigerator 2:tlso inc.lttdes a freezer tfacir 19 thzt1. sclcctively
irt closes a ITeCicr compartment 20. Although the ahcve-dcsCt'ibcd structure
constitutcs a side-by-side rcfl'rf;CrltOr 2 tISCd to IllttSt.rate the
lnvcntl0n, it
should be undcrstaod that the larescnt invention is alsca applicable to otliar
refrigerator mocicls, suclz as top mctnri .:tnd bottoni rnotant
t'e.tii~erators.
In .a mannar known in the art, lincr. 6 incltrdcs opposing side walls
22 and 23, a rear wall 26, a top w4i*l! 28 and a buttoni wttlI 29_ In thc
c;inbudinicnt showrt, mountcd to rear wall 26 tarc a pair of sliclf support
rails 32 trnd 33 that position variOus vertically adjustable shclvc5 35-37 in
fresfa food compartment. K. Arranged below s4aelves 35-37 is slaown a
Plurality ol'storugc hins, onv ut'which is indicated ai. 39. In a manner
also known in the au-t, refrigerator 2 inclttdcs a icmpcr,aturc control
hctsint, 43 rnt>trrtted to top wall 28 in ft'csl2 IUUd compartment S.
Temperature control 11ousing 43 includeG at least otic control elenietit 4;,i
fQr sGtllng and rn.ilnt;alnlng i tc171pf:r.ltUrc wlt'lain irGsh food
compartment
8, as well as comrols 46 arid 47 ic7r e4ttrblishingadcsir4tl capcr.iting
C-1
icml)cr.rtiirc Within tirecicr cOMpttrtnictzt 20. "I'em}7crattiri: control
housing 43 also includc:a a liklit (not separately labeled) that illurnin.ites
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fresh food cornpartntcnt 8 atid <i lilt.er 55 lhat liltcrs incoming vvatcr ior
an
ico maker (nc>t. shown).
In <tccordancc wirh this embodirncnt of the prescnt invcntion,
r-cf'ril;crator 2 include4 a first glass panel atisc:mbly 65 mounted to li=esh
Eboci door 10 and a tieconci glttss lannel tisscmblv 66 nzor.rtiti;d to
f"rc.c=r..cr
door 19. l'referahly, first and sccoi7d glass partol axsemblics 65 and 66
arc detachably mc>untcd to doors 10 and 14 in such a manner so as to
appear to float t-clativc tc> refrigrrator 2. More specifically, gl;tss
ptinc:l
assemblies 65 <inel 66 are mounted to and spaced I'roni t-espectivc cloors 10
tn and 18 such that no rrtounting hardtvarc is visihle wlicn vi4wint;
refrit*crator 2 Irom 1:ront or side angled vicws in a rnanner that will he
dctailcd niare 1'ully bclow. At this point, it shuuld bc undcrstood that
cach door 10 ancf 18 artd glass pilncl assembly 65 and 66 are sinZ ilar in
<:orrstruction suclI that a clctailcti description will bc madc with respect
to
is cloor It) rtrtcl glass panel ,assembly 65 witli an undcrstandirtg th<tt
door 18
and glass panel 66 havc corresponding strtrcturc.
Rc;Cerring tc, Figures 2-4, door 10 itlClucics a ntain bcxly por-tion 72
having a t.c?l~ edge section 73, a bottorn edge section 74 and opposing sicie
cdgc sections 75 atid 76 that dcfinc an innet-pancl portiott 83 and an outcr
zu pancl portion 84. Arrt+trged about outcr iz,mcl portioti 84 ,xrc a
Plu111lit:y cif'
rizotrnting mortrbers 90-97. Mounting members 90-97 arc pnsitioncd on
otttvr panel porticn 10 spaced inward from edge sections 73-76 and
secureci wi1h a corresponding plut.tlit.y <>!"nlechrtnical fasteners, one ol'
whicli is irxclic.ttcd Ltt 98. tn addition, cloor 10 is provided with a base
2,S tiiember 100 that is .irrarxs
gcc# ;:tlcanl; bot.totti ecige scctiott 74 aiicfi ticci.tred
throuc;l, nlcclianic,al f;istcncrs onc ()l'Nvhich is whown at 104 in Fi~Eirc
4.
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In further accordance with the embotfiment shown,l:litss panel
asscnibly 65 inoludcs a glass pancl 1 14 Iraving a top cclgc portion I I$, a
boLtom edge portion 1 19 and opposing side edge pt>rtions 120 and 121
t.h;3t collectively detinc an inner surface I 34 and an otttcr, decorative
surflacc 135. At this point, it shc,uld hc undcrstcotl that glass lyancl 114
could be fOrmed from a varicty ofintitCriflls, includin'- srliconc glass.
Pyrex, or- cvon plcxi-glass. It should also hc iinde;rstood tliat outcr
decorative surface 1:35 cotilcl take on various forms, such as colored or
smokccl glass, witlz or= withottt vrtriotts patterns embossed ont:o the
trutc;r
in surl%tt:e 135 of _vlass p,tazel 114. In any cvcnt, arranged on inner
srrrftt4e
134,r.re ;t plurality of mounting clorncnts 140-142 designed to cooperate
with rnot.rnting members 90-97 and a base element 143 that int.crcngftl;cs
with base nzcmbcr 100 to support gl<lss pEtncl 114 Orl door 10. 1'rcfc:rably,
mountin}; clcnicnts 140-142 air-r: spaceti inward lrom edge porticns 1 1$-
Is 121 so as to prtapcrly align with n-ou+,tirtg
members 90-97. As will be
clisctisscd mo.rc iirlty below, niauniirii,
, clomcnt:, l:t(,? anc1 142 are arrangcd
in suc:h a way as to allow glass pane) 114 to slide vcrtically onto door 10.
At this point, it should be understood that cach rnotu-tting n-rcmbcr
90-97 is prcfcrataly idcntically constructcdsuch that,t detailed description
20 will be madc with resqwct. to mounting tZicmbcr 94 i{{tt5tiatcc3 in
1~igErrc 3
wit.h nn ndcrstatZdiny that the remaining niount'rng nlcmhes'S 90-93 and
95-97 are similarly ctmst.ructed. As shown, rlicll111tii1g, mi.ml7cr 94
includt;s a base sect.ion 1 (A which is in cuiWact with outer panel p<~rtion
84 iind cxtcnds i:o a fz'st ctErvcd or tfut-tttrncci section 166 prior to
'?S t4'rtYlir't'iltinlY in a secOnt:f, t)tit-t.uYnt'.<j st"ct1oll 167. Base
stL'CtrOn l64 is
sccurec) to outcr l.rrncl parti[>rt 84 by l;rstcner 95 with out-wrrtt;d
scction
166 and out-turrtcd section 167 bcing cantilcvcrcd such that rnpurtting
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muniber 94 actually detines a sprin~; clil=) that intcrcng~tl;cs wilh
nioutriing
eiement. 141 in a n=tnnncr thftt will be described ntoro fully below.
It should also lac uttdcrstoocl tl,at each nxounting elcment. 140-142
is tiin-fiiarly constructccl such that a detailed dcscription will be macie
witli
rCspCct to mounting clcnlcnt 141 witli an uncÃertitartding that mounting,
ClcnlCt3ts 140 nncà 142 inclttdc sirnilar titructure. As also shown in Figgurc
3. niounting clcmctit 141 includcs a base section 184 thal is innunt:ed or
sccured to itincr surface 134 ot'gl.tss pancl 1 14_ Preferably, base scctk.irt
1$4 is secured to glass panel 1.14 with a dottblc-sidecl adhesivc strip 185
,th to lixedly and pCrnlancntly r'4taln niountttlg Ch4menl=
tq of sufticicnt. slrent,
141. In any t:asc, base scction 184 cxtcnds tc> a first or out-turned
scctiitrt
186 that leads to isn in-turtled section 188 prior to tc:rn=tinttting at an
an-lcd secfion 190. 'T'his carIst.rtte=00n cnsttres l.htlt, whett
intcreng.tged
wit=li mountin&~ chemLnt 141, ntottttling niembor 94 clips onto out-turned
scction 1.67 wlic:n glass p:trtGl 114 is sliiftcd itato position,
()t7cC C'.aCh n7otlnting cIt'n1Lnt. I4CI- 142 is properly intercngaged
witli corrc;sponelir-ig niounting mcmbcrs 90-97, base clcnicnt 143
interenga,igt~:s with bflsc membcr 1()(). More spccifically, as best shown in
TifiurG 4, base member 10() inclttdcs a first scction 194 that leads to an
up-t:urncci section 195 tlt:tt, when btj4o rnQn=tbc:r 100 is sc:Citrecà to
bottam
cdgc: section 74 of cloor 10 through mechanical ffistcners 104, is spaced
i'ronl outor panel portiort 84 so as to dcfno a gap 199. In any ev4nt, base
c1c1T1Ct3t 143 is shown tc> inclttdc a first ot- Ã7;it portion 204 t.httt, in
a
n7an11Cr sIITlilaC to LIldI CÃE'ticrihCd :tbovc with respect to h)Slsk'
5Cct'F()n 184,
is preferably scct.trud to inficr sut-lia.ce 134 ctf gl,7ss panel 114 wil.h an
adhesive strip 200. Flat portion 204 cxtcnds to an in-turtlcd scction 206
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
that tcrminatcs in a down-turncd portion 208. L:)own turncd portion 20$
slidas between s.ip-t.urne d scetion 195 and otitcr pan.cl portion 64 to
sLtppor-L glass prtncl 1 14 in a manncr that will be dc;scribc:d morc fully
bclow.
When installirlg glass parlt! 114 oiito door 10, rnounting n3cmbcrs
90 arlit 91 transition illOng otit.Crl?a!')Cl. pC1rtEUn 84 LIntII 1)aSC
cll7nlCrlt. 143
abuts bnsc member 100, C)uring the transition, niocinting clctticnts 141
and 142 pas5 L1Zrough, t,r interengage with, mounting members 92-97. As
bcst shown in Figures 3 and 4, oncc irltitallecl, gl,iss pancl 114 is
zic:tuutlly
in sl.sacod 1:t'om outcr patlc,l txlrtiorr 84 so as to appear to J7ozit t-
c.lative to door
10. "1'hat is, wliilc still completely covcritig door 10, glass panel 1.14 is
triaintaincd a slight distance from outcr panCl portion 84, .vitll motrnling
mcmbcrs 90-97, niorinting cleme:nt.5 14()-142, base niVrnbcr 100 and base
clcmctlt: 143 nut being visible tircmi front or artgl4d side views of'
rcCrigcrator 2, sp as io pi-ovidc the illusion that glass panel 114 is
suspi:ncl4d in mid-air,
Reference will now bt' made to Figures :1-7 in describing a kitchen
appliance 250 constructed in 61CCUrdance wilh il second cnlb0(linlt'.Rt O1
the prCscnt Invclltll>n, As slloxvn. Icitcl-ic:n appliance 25() trlkc;s the
form ol'
2u a disltwasltcr having,t tiupport body or Cramc mcmbor 253 that supports a
dishwatihing cotiipartiitciit 255. As sliown, disliwasllcr 250 is arranged
bclotiv a kitchen coLinturtop 258 ad,jncc>nt cabinctry 261. AI. tiiis point,
it
should he understood that, vvhlic dishwasher 250 is shown as a
convcntion:ll-typl' dishwasher, the present il1YC:rltlOn c:in fac incorporated
into othcr n-tt>de l tyl:3cs, si.ic.h as dishwashers having vtiri us 'lidc-out
w,lshing conipartnicnts.
fl
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Dishwasher 250 inclucles a door 266 thrtt pivots abotrt ag'cncr.tlly
horiTontal a.cls to scleCtivcly rcvcttl a frontal opcnittg (tiot separately
labcltd) to cnalilc llte loading and unloading ol'dishc.s into dishwaslting
comE7artrnent 255. row,:trdti fh<tt end, door 266 is prvvided witli a handle
274 }Zaving a crasspiccc 278 as well as (irst and secorid support, mtnibc:r5
280 and 281. In the prefcrrcd ct-nbodinicnt, first and secttnd suppart
members 230 and 281 are niounte;d to a glass pancl assembly 290 in a
niatmcr that will be t#eticrihetl mt7re fttlly Liclow. More spcciftcnlly.
glass
p<anel assembly 290 inclttdcs aglclss panel 294, as well as atn upper I.rini
tp piece 298 tlitit provides a iittishcd appearance to tloor 266. As Uest
shown
in Figure 7, glass pancl 294 is actually bowed or curved so as to provide a
distinct appctir;IncL to dOor 266. In c:,t.lzor words, when viewed ti=cnl
above, glass panel 294 actually h.ts a sliglat ctt.rWAure.
As best shown in rigurc 6, door 266 includos a main body portion
is 3 14 liaving a to;a cdgi: scction 317, bottom edge scction 3 18 and
opposing
side edge sections 319 and 320 t.hat collectively dcfinc an istttcr panel
portion 323 and an outcr pancl pprt'it7rt 324. In accordance 'with this
secottd r mhudin-ient, door 266 Et1cIt1tlCs il P1llXilllty UfnlOltntltlg
tT2l:rllklk'rs
328-331 fortt7ed in main bocly portion 334. As shqw-ii, nicrtinting
:n menabcrs 328-331 arc constituted by kcyholc-sh3pcd oponings.forrned in
main bocty pot=t.ictn 31 4. In addition to mounting mt:nibeers 328..33 t,
doot=
26(.i incl.ttdcs a generally U-shapr:d base mcn3licr 3;i;i mountcd to outor
patx;f portion 324 adjaccnt bottorri 4({g<: srction 31 S. Base member 335 is
pt-ovidcd with a l~;tiro~'upcnin~s 337 and 33$ whicli, as will be discussed
25 nkore 1'ully hc.low, arc ttdapt.ed to receive mechanical fasteners (not
siiown) for sc:cttring glass panel 294 tx> ctocrr 266.
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
Cilass panel 294 incluclcs a top cdyc portion 360, a bot.tom cdgc
por-tion 361 and opposing sic9e edgr: portions 362 arrci 363 tliat dclinc an
inner, (1CCOrIItlvc surface 366 and an Otrtcr surface 367. In a nianncr
con-csponding to thrrt described above, inner clccorat.ivc .,urfacc 366
cr~tlld
s simply be colorcxl or smakc;cl gletss with or without various dccoratiorts.
In any casc, -,lass pancl 294 inclvdcs a plurality of niotrni.ing; clcnicnts
376-379 adhesively scca.rrcd to inncr sttrtitc.c 366 and spaced -inwari.l
along
opposing side edge portions 362 and 363. Cilass panel portion also
includeti a pair of base elcrnentS 384 anCi 385 t.hat, as will be detailed
M morc fully below, cooperate with base n'ien'1hGi= 335 to cJet~achahly retain
glass I ncl 294 on door 266_ Ft3rtlierrnorC, in order to secure upper trim
piece 298 to door 266 and glass panel 294, a 17lur.ility of'crown elements
390-392 are .ullzesively securecJ tO innc;r sur6ac:e 366 spaced adjacent top
cd-c portion 3fi0. Also arranged ;7cf_jaccn.t top cdgc portion 360 Lirc a pair
is of opcriings or holes 395 and 396 ffir rnounting handle 274. l"'inafly, in
order to rcdtrcG any I)ot.cntial rattling sound whe;rt dishwasher 250 is
4)1)C:ri3U:(1 and to provide a niore scztnilcss appcarancc, Optional silicoriu
beads or seals 399 and 400 are shown extending verticrrlly along
opposing side edge portions 362 and 363 on inncr strrfiacc 366.
20 At this point, rcfcrcn.c.e; will bc made to F'igtrrc 8 in cfc5crihi3ig a
prelerred con5tr=t2cticn for the plurality of mounting cfcri3cnts 376-379
cmployc<1 itt the second c-mbodimcnt of'tlic present invcnt.ion. Howcvor,
as each matrnting clerncnt 376-379 is idcntical, a detailed description will
be n1aC1C w'rtll respect to r1l.oUntir7g, clen7CFlt 376 with arl
undertirtlnding that
'_>s the remaining mounting clcnwnts 377-379 are similarly fnrnied.
M.oumlint; elemLnt 376 incltrdes sz n7ain hoCjy 410 having a base section
412 provided with a pair of terminal ribs 414 :incJ 415 which provide
~?
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
spacers tisetj ln biTnd111g tllotlntillty ('lClllcilt 376 to 1tlflCr surface
36t') of
0,l:lss 1)Flnel 294. nl)I)t)sitc base SCctiOtl 412, 171i31n VC1dy,}11)
Lnc1Lid(;s an
outer scction 4 17 from whictz extends a tab menlbcr 419. As sllown, tab
nlcnlbcr 419 include:s a first portion 423 wliich cxtcnds gcnci-ally
pc:rpcndicularly outward fronl outor scctic,-n 417 ;a.nd leads to -a seconct
pclrticln 425 which projcct5 stlbstantitllly perpendicularly fronl lir5t
portion 423 creating a gap 428 betwccn scccltld portion 425 ,tncf outcr
section 417 t:llert;hy est<lblishing an [..-sh.lpcd hocll: 429. !s7 a manner
that
will he discusscti niorc fully below, t..-sh..ipc,d hook 429 cooperates or
io itltcrcngagcs witll mounting mernbers 328-331 to secure gI"Iss panel 294
to doiyt= 266.
As described above, in acltlitiort to mounting clcnicnts 376-379,
glass panel 294 includes a pair ol'basc clcmcllts 384 and 385, as well as a
plurality of crown elenicnts 390-392. As base elements 384 and 385 and
is croWtl clcnlcnts 390-392 ai-e pre.fcrtlbly identical, reference will be
111acl4
to Figure 9 in describing crown e#ement 390 with an understanding that
the rl:t1'lAiSllllg crown 4'1cIllCntti 391 and 392, as well as base c'.lcn-
tonts 3i;4
and 385 are similarly fornzed. Crown clement 390 includes <Y nnain body
442 lltjving a base pol-tion 445 whictl, in manner sinlilar ro that
clesc;rihcd
2rr above, ltlcltlCle3 a pair of terminal ribs 447 and 448, Opposite base
portiun 445 is an upper section 450 tllat. is 1,7roviciccl with f irst and
second
curv4d clenlcnts 452 arld 4,53 that define a central bore 456. Aatually,
first s1nti1 seconci ctirvcd clctllcnts 452 and 453 proj 'rcl. from uprcr
scctioxY
450 tow:ir4s e.ac.l1 othcr to also definc ag;ll.l 458 leading into ccntral
base
25 456. Gap 458 allows lirst: and scconcl cur=vod clc.nlt;nts 452 and 451 tc.i
tiell.ect t7or receipt tlt'a mccllanical fast(;ncr, sucll as a sclt=tallltinly
scrcW
(ntlt. sbown), ilitc) cs:rit.rrll bore 456.
i -t
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
With tliis particular coristruction. oncc mounting c:lenients 376-379,
bayc clcmcnts 384-385 and crown olcmcnts 390-392 are scctircd to g]ass
pane~l 294, handle 274 is niortntcd. At thiti point, upper trim piece 298 is
put in position and sccur4cl to crown elcment5 390-392 with nicc:hanic.ttl
s Fastcncrs (not shown). That is, a mechanical fastener (not showrl) cxtcnds
througll crown clcmenl.s 390-392 and taps into trim pie:c,.~ 298. Trim
piece 298 is further iecured through thc intcrengage;rncnt of two laterally
spaccd round licad mechanical fiistencrs 465 and 466 with cort=cspotltiing
ribs 467, 468 I'ormed oii an cendarsicie (not separately labctecl) ol= trini
io lyi<,ce298. /A ftcr uppcr trim I~iec e~i)8 is sccurcd, ~iass }~;~ne l?94 is
placed ad,jaecnt door 266 with tllc,unting elenients 376-379 aligning with
correspondit:g rnountinf; nlcmbers ;32$-33 1. Once pr-operly aligned,
sccond portions 425 of'mounting clements 376-379 arc insert.ed into
muunting clcments 328-331. Glass p~mc:l 294 is thcn slliftcki ver.tically
is downw~trci, trapping tab members 419 in the kcyhole-shapcd opcning;; of'
niountinc; n2 cmbcrs 328-33 I.(;lc{ss pancl 294 is furtlicr sccurcd with
mechxnic:tl Iasteners (not shown) that extend through openings 337 and
338 of base nlctlll)ur 135, ti917p1ng lnto 1,7;154 l'.l<:117Cnts 384 .inc!
385.
RCl'CrCt1c4' will 1lOW 1?c made 1tl Figure 10 in Clt,'.st:ribiilg a 1CitchCl1
~u appliance 476 cnnsttttctca in accordancc with a third emboclinu;rtt ol'thc:
present invcntion. In the eml-iodinlcnt shrnwn, kItcllcil appliance 476
constitutcs an <>vun 1-angc llaving a support body or cabinet 479. Wliile
shown as a frCCstandtil~.? oven range, kitchen applianec 476 could talce;
various fortlis, such as a slidc-in ran;;c or wall ov4n. In any case, kitchen
zs appliance 476 inc.ILK.10S Zitl tip13cr cookingsurfacc or coolctop 483
provided
witli a p]urality ol,cooking, zones 486-49() bckow whicll is arranged an
ovcn 493. In a nianiier lcnown in thv art, oven 493 is provided with itn
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
ovcn cavity 496 having a frontal olx:nin~; ('nnt labeled) which is
selectively acccsscd tlirougli a door 500,
In a manner altio known in Ehe art, door 500 is shc>tivn to inc:lude a
smooth glass surface 5 10 [ravi-jg a central transparent Zonc 51 ! t.hat.
s ullows a c,onsurncr to view tl1e c,ontclzts of ovcn cavity 496 wheri door
500 is closed. L7oor 500 is also provided with a handlcs 515, as well as a
liluralit:y af ve:nt.s 520 arr;tnl;cd bc:Ilind htindlc 515. Arrtmgccl t;bovc
cooktop 4S3 is a control patlcl 533 having a plurality of control elements
537-542 that. arC et-t1!}loyC(1 to SCl('.ctivCly control cooking zones 486-
490,
iu as well as ovcn 493. Centrally Eoc.ated Orr conlrc>l p,a.nel 533 is a
display
550 that provides inforrnation tc, the consunlcr=, suclt as cook t.irnc
rcmainittg, cooking opcration sclcctcd, etc. Sinc4 the control ,Inci
operation of kitchen appliance 476 in known in the art and docs not form
palrt of the pruSpnt invention, il will riot be discussed futl.licn cercill.
15 Arranged below ovcn 49; is ::r storage /onc 556 havislg a storage
compartment 559. Storage compartment 559 is cmploycd to hold, for
ctialrplc, baking trays, broiling p:ins ,end the likc. In any ovcrtt, staragc=
collipnrtmcnt. 55{) is provided with a door 567 havirlg a(!eco=alive glass
panel asscn=rbly 572;:rt3.:acllc;d tlicrcto in accordance wltll tl1c prescrtt
?n invcrttion. I11 accordance with the enlboclinicnt shown, doot' 567 and
storage compartment 559 are sliclirlalc it1 unis0n l)c;lwccn 4xti:ndccl ;.ind
retracted positions.
As best sh()wr1 in Figtit'e I!, door 567 includes a nvaili =1'>octy rorl.ion
.586 having a tap cdgc section 590, bottom edge soction 591 and opposing
25 side cdgq SCSctlonS 592 an(1 593 that colicctivoly dclinc an Illncf
17'c11144I
< <S
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
portion 599 and an outer p,lnel pcartiori 600. Door 567 illcludcs a pair of
mounting members 607 and 608 fornied in otster panel porticin 600. More
Si)Gcitlcally, Cacll 111oUntlilg nicnlbcr 607, 60$ constitutes a ijt;rresseci
rcgion 614, 615 that cstablishes a respective ol3cnittg 61'7, 618. 1=:ach
depressed region 614, 615 also includes a correspc-nditlg ccntral opcning
620, 621 wllicli, as will bc discusscd mort; fully below, receives a
n-tcchanical ftlstcner 630 to sccurC rl;tss pfuncl assembly 572 to door 567.
In acarrdancc with this tllirci cnibodirilalt of the present invc;iriiun,
glass
panel assembly 572 includcs agtas5 panel 636 having a top edgc portion
io 640, a botcorrt edge portion 641 and opposing side edge portions 642 and
643 t.htil, collectively ilefint: :In inner surf(ac;e 650ancl an out.et'
surlrace 65 I.
Arranged on inner sitrtace 650 are a pair of motmling elcmeiits 660 and
661 which, as will be; ciescribcd niol-c fully below, int4rtngagc with
nioitnting members 607 and 605 to secure glass pancl 636 to-door 567.
r5 Refcrenct will now be nirrcic to Figurc 12 in dc5cribin;; nlounting
c:lemcnts 660 and 661. As each n3ounttng clcnlcllt 660, 661 is similarly
constructcd, a detailed description will be nlill'lC to rllf]Unt1ng clement
061
with an tmdersta.ndin- that niountin, clcnicnt 660 is identical. /1s showlt,
nlounting clonlcnt 661 includcs s.3 main body 6,82 having tl base section
; c) 685 wlric:h, irl a maruncr c.orresponding to that dcscr=ibcd above with
respect to the first alld second cnlbodimCnts, includes a liair of t.4nrtinal
spacer ribs 688 and 659. 13asc scction 685 also inclutlcs art extended,
GantilE,vcrecl tiec;t.ion 692 that projccts beyond rila 6$9_ lvio;2 nting
clctncnt
661 also inclt.tdc:s a tab mcnibcr 098. '1'ab rncnlbcr 698 incluties a fir5t.
sectic>n 700 I.hat e.xte:rlcis substantially perpcrzdicttlarly from i.ittsc
scction
685 to a sCCon(}t section 704 that CrtL11C15 substantially
pc.rpL:ilCIICUIat=ly
outward fi-orii frrst scctiotl 700 to establish an L-shapcd llook.7(15_
I'7
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
Scct7nd s(:ct1Dn 704 is prov]C1ctI wltl1 a threaded opcning 707 whicll, as
will be discussed niorc fully below, receives a mcchanical fa;stcner 630.
With this partictitlrtr arrangement, tnountinb it4'ment.s 660 ttncl 661
itrc initially sccitrcd to niiier st.+rtiacc 650 of glass pancl 636 with
respcctive adhesive st.rips 710_ Once in pl.tce, g13s5 pancl 636 is
positionccl against otiter pancl portion 60) of door 567 with motttitini;
elernetits 660 and 661 aligninK with mounting rtiembers 607 itnd 60$
respcctivcly, At this point, glass panel 636 is shiftcd downward such that
cantilevered portions 602 of incauntinp, clcmcnt.5 660 and 66 Fen-age with
to outer panel portion 600 ol' door 567 through openings 617 atid 618 as
illt.istrat(:el irt l~igurc 12. Once in plitcc, respective rnechanlc~il
t3stencrs
630 are inset'tecl through openings 620 and 621 and cng:rge witll tlircaclccl
openings 707 formed in sccond sectiott 704 of mottnting clements 660
and 66 1, sccut-in-, glttss panel 636 tn door 567.
15 At Llzis p611t, it should be undcrstood that thc presGnt: invcntion
provides for a sitnplc nt(ntntiag arretngenicnt 'for securinl; glass paneis to
thc outar surfact oi'doors of kitChen appiianccs sucl-t t.hat. t.hc'glass
panels
appear to tlc7at relativc to the doors. That is, the ~;lass pancl does not
aplicar to he directly aff iYed to il-t(: appliance door bttt rathcr an
illusion is
20 created whercin the glass pancl appears to I.?e tidvariagcocttily,
1'to.tting in
rrUnt of t11C appliance: to provlcl4 tx nlorc itcstllctic apPearetnce: In
addition, thc pre;5ent tnvct1t10sI Cnablcs tltC gla.ss p:incls to be
clc;tachably
t-iiotmtod to thc doors sticlI that, in t.lic cvcnt the con.sumcr wishes to,
fbr
wItati:ver reitson, clean or changc the appearance c7f the a.ppliancc, tltc
:ts glass I.)anei can be readily renxovcrl and replacccl.
~h
CA 02536420 2006-02-14
AIt.hougl7 dc:yerib4d witli re#:crcncc to pl-cfcr-rcd cnlbodimcnts oFthc
invcntion, it should bc rcadily understood that various cliartgi5 urid/or
rllodifrcatiorls can l~e rli~rc~c to the irlvcntioti withoart dcf~artiri~
fl=~rr~ th~
spirit thcraol'. In gcncral, the iY1v411tiot1 is o11IV Ir1t.4T1CiLd tU be
lllllit'G(j by
t:he scol:)e oFt=hC followlng cltiims.
i? ~
