Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
09RG25362
CA 02537623 2006-02-24
GAS FIRED COOKTOP AND METHOD OF
ASSEMBLING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to gas cooking appliances, and, more
specifically, to apparatus and methods for gas fired cooktops.
Gas fired cooktops typically include a top surface having one or more
openings with a gas burner set in each opening. In addition, a number of
raised
cooking grates rest on the cooktop, generally above and surrounding the
burners to
provide a cooking surface spaced from the burner. At least some known cooktops
include four burners arranged on the top surface in a compact pattern. Cooking
implements such as pots and pans are placed on the stove grates above the
burners.
Some gas fired cooktops also include a griddle component that is
configured to either replace a set of burners or be positioned between
existing burners.
Accordingly, it may not be possible to use all of the existing burners for
cooking with
utensils while using a griddle. Alternatively, the addition of a griddle
burner on some
known cooktops will narrow the space between burners such that not enough
secondary air is allowed to enter the burner for adequate combustion, and
flame from
an adjacent burner may impinge upon the griddle and result in excessive
griddle
heating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, a gas burner assembly for a gas fired cooktop is
provided. The gas burner assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth
gas
burners arranged such that the first and second burners are spaced with
respect to each
other at a f rst distance and the third and fourth burners are spaced with
respect to
each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. Each of the
first and
second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and
fourth
burners. A fifth gas burner is positioned between the first and second burners
and
between the third and fourth burners.
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In another aspect, a gas fired cooktop includes a body and first, second,
third, and fourth gas burners arranged on the body such that each of the first
and
second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and
fourth
burners. The first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at
a first
distance and the third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each
other at a
second distance longer than the first distance. A fifth gas burner positioned
between
the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners. A grate
frame
is positioned over at least one of the burners.
In still another aspect, a method for providing a cooktop is provided.
The method includes providing a bady and positioning first, second, third, and
fourth
gas burners on the body. Each of the first and second burners have a power
output
greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners. The first and
second burners
spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and the third and fourth
burners
spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first
distance. A
fifth gas burner is positioned between the first and second burners and
between the
third and fourth burners. A grate frame is positioned over at least one of the
burners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary free standing gas range.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary cooktop for the gas
range shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cooktop shown in Figure 2 including
a middle griddle section positioned thereon.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cooktop shown in Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 illustrates a gas cooking appliance in the form of a free
standing gas range 10 including an outer body or cabinet 12 that incorporates
a
generally rectangular cooktop 14. An oven, not shown, is positioned below
cooktop
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14 and has a front-opening access door 16. A range backsplash 18 extends
upward of
a rear edge 20 of cooktop 14 and includes, for example, a control display and
control
selectors for user manipulation to select operative oven features, cooking
timers, time
and temperature displays, etc. It is contemplated that the present invention
is
applicable, not only to cooktops which form the upper portion of a range, such
as
range 1 t), but to other forms of cooktops as well, such as, but not limited
to, built-in
counter units that are mounted to kitchen counters. Therefore, gas range 10 is
provided by way of illustration rather than limitation, and accordingly there
is no
intention to limit application of the present invention to any particular
appliance or
cooktop, such as range 10 or cooktop 14. In addition, it is contemplated that
the
present invention is applicable to multiple fuel cooking appliances, e.g., a
gas cooktop
with an electric oven or other combinations of heating elements.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of cooktop 14. In an exemplary
embodiment, cooktop 14 includes a body 22, five gas fueled burners 24, 26, 28,
30,
and 32 arranged on body 22, and a grate frame 34 positioned over burners 24,
26, 28,
30, and 32. Body 22 has an upper surface 36, and a recessed area 38 defined on
upper
surface 36. Specifically, recessed area 38 is positioned below upper surface
36 of
cooktop 14, and is surrounded by a front wall 40, a back wall 42, and two side
walls
44, 46. As such, recessed area 38 serves to catch spills from cooking utensils
(not
shown) being used with cooktop 14. In one embodiment, front wall 40 is
adjacent to a
cooking area that would be utilized by an operator when manipulating gas range
10.
In the exemplary embodiment, burners 24, 26, 28, and 30 are
substantially circular in shape, and are positioned on recessed area 38.
Specifically,
burners 24, 26, 28, and 30 are positioned in spaced apart pairs 24, 28 and 26,
30
positioned adjacent side walls 44, 46 of cooktop 14, respectively. Each burner
24, 26,
28, and 30 has a respective power output, and each burner 24, 26 has a power
output
greater than that of each burner 28, 30. In an exemplary embodiment, at least
one of
burners 24, 26 has a power output more than 11,000 British thermal units per
hour.
As such, burners 24, 26 having higher power outputs are positioned adjacent
front
wall 40, and burners 28, 30 having lower power outputs are positioned adjacent
back
wall 42. In addition; burners 24, 26 having the higher power outputs are
spaced with
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respect to each other at a first distance and burners 28, 30 having the lower
power
outputs are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than
the first
distance. As such, burner 28 is positioned closer to side wall 44 than burner
24.
In the exemplary embodiment, burner 32 is an elongated burner
dedicated to griddle use, and is substantially centrally positioned on
recessed area 38
and between burner pairs 24, 28, and 26, 30. Specifically, burner 32 includes
a first
burner end 52 adjacent front wall 40 and positioned between burners 24, 26,
and a
second burner end 54 adjacent back wall 42 and positioned between burners 28,
30.
The construction and operation of the range heating elements,
including gas burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are believed to be within the
purview of
those in the art and therefore will not be discussed further.
In the exemplary embodiment, grate frame 34 substantially spans
cooktop 14, and includes a left grate section 60, a right grate section 62,
and a
separately provided middle grate section 64 positioned between and adjacent
grate
sections 60, 62. In use, grate section 60 overlies burner pair 24, 28, grate
section 62
overlies burner pair 26, 30, and grate section 64 extends between grate
sections 60, 62
and overlies burner 32.
In the exemplary embodiment, grate sections 60, 62 are similarly
constructed and each section 60, 62, and 64 includes a plurality of exterior
frame
elements 66, and at least one interior frame element 68 extending between
exterior
frame elements 66. As used herein, "interior" and "exterior" refer to relative
positions
in the overall grate frame 34 with exterior referring to outer edges of the
overall grate
frame 34 and interior referring to elements extending from and/or between the
outer
edges of grate frame 34. In an exemplary embodiment, each section 60, 62
includes
an interior cross frame element 70 extending between and elevated from frame
members 66, 68 and dividing corresponding sections 60, 62 into halves, and
each half
is dimensioned to surround one of burners 24, 26, 28, and 30. Section 64 also
includes two interior cross frame elements 70 extending between and elevated
from
interior frame elements 68.
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In the exemplary embodiment, each section 60, 62, and 64 further
includes a plurality of utensil supporting fingers 72 extending inwardly from
frame
elements 66, 68, 70 and toward the corresponding burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and
32,
respectively. Specifically, forgers 72 of each section 60, 62 extend
substantially
toward a center of the corresponding halves, respectively. Each finger 72
includes a
substantially flat top surface 74 to support cooking utensils and implements
(e.g., pots
and pans) thereon, and top surfaces 74 of fingers 72 on the same grate section
are
substantially coplanar with respect to each other. In an exemplary embodiment,
at
least some of interior cross frame element 70 also include a flat top surface
76
substantially coplanar with top surfaces 74 of fingers 72 on the same grate
section,
and provide additional support surfaces between the neighboring burners for
placement of the cooking utensils. It is recognized, however, that the
configuration
and arrangement pattern of the fingers and interior frame elements could be
varied in
alternative embodiments of the invention.
In the exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in Figure 2, when
grate frame 34 is employed on cooktop 14, interior frame elements 68 of grate
sections 60, 62 are abutted against interior frame elements 68 of middle
section 64.
Lateral exterior frame elements 66 of middle section 64 are generally aligned
with
lateral exterior frame elements 66 of grate sections 60, 62. In addition, at
least some
supporting fingers 72 of middle section 64 share a curvature of supporting
fingers 72
extending from interior frame elements 68 of grate sections 60, 62.
Supporting fingers 72 and cross frame element 70 of each grate section
60, 62, and 64 are elevated from exterior and interior frame elements 66, 68.
Thus,
when exterior frame elements 66 of sections 60, 62, and 64 are placed on
cooktop 14,
fingers 72 and interior frame elements 68, 70 extend above cooktop 14 and
above
burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32. In addition, support fingers 72 and interior
cross frame
elements 70 of sections 60, 62, and 64 include generally coplanar top
surfaces. As
such, grate frame 34 provides a utensil supporting surface 78 over cooktop 14
and
defined by top surfaces 74, 76 of fingers 72 and interior cross frame elements
70. The
cooking utensils may be placed on utensil supporting surface 78, and further
be slid
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across utensil supporting surface 78 to any desired position on utensil
supporting
surface 78 without lifting the utensils.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of cooktop 14 shown in Figure 2 with an
alternative middle griddle section 82 positioned thereon. Cooktop 14 is
substantially
the same as illustrated in Figure 2, except that middle section 82 substitutes
for middle
section 64 (shown in Figure 2). In the exemplary embodiment, middle section 82
includes two lateral exterior frame elements 84, and two interior frame
elements 86
extending between exterior frame elements 84. In addition, middle section 82
further
includes two slots 88, 89 defined at two ends thereof, and an elongated
griddle plate
90 extending therebetween. Slots 88, 89 facilitate removal of middle section
82 from
cooktop 14 for cleaning, maintenance, and/or substitution. Elongated griddle
plate 90
includes a first end 92 configured to be positioned adjacent front wall 40 and
burners
24, 26, and a second end 94 configured to be positioned adjacent back wall 42
and
between burners 28, 30. Griddle plate 90 widens from first end 92 to second
end 94.
Griddle plate 90 also includes a recessed cooking surface 96, and a recess 98
defined
on cooking surface 96 such that griddle plate 90 is located at a lower plane
than a
plane of burners 24, 26, 28, and 30 on cooktop 14. This location of griddle
plate 90
facilitates avoiding interference of the cooking utensils being simultaneously
used on
cooktop 14. In an exemplary embodiment, cooking surface 96 generally has a
normal
cooking temperature of about 500 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking foods, such as
hamburgers. Cooking surface 96 is coated with a non-stick material, such as a
teflon
material, which typically can withstand a temperature up to 600 degrees
Fahrenheit.
As such, the margin between the normal cooking temperature and the maximum
temperature is small, and heat contribution from the adjacent burners to
cooking
surface 96 is undesired. Recess 98 is defined on cooking surface 96 at first
end 92,
and is used as a grease trap which facilitates collecting grease generated
during
cooking.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of middle grate section 82 mounted on
cooktop 14 shown in Figure 2. Middle section 82 is also positioned between
sections
60, 62, and overlies burner 32 (shown in Figure 2) in a manner similar to
middle
section 64 (shown in Figure 2).
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In the exemplary embodiment, supporting fingers 72 of each section
60, 62 provides a utensil supporting surface 78 over burner pairs 24, 28, and
26, 30,
respective. Griddle plate 90 of middle section 82 is positioned below utensil
supporting surface 78 of each section 60, 62. As such, interference between
griddle
plate 90 and a burner flame is considerably reduced, if not avoided as the
burner flame
is extended radially outwardly by a cooking utensil. A clearance or air gap is
then
provided between a bottom surface of a cooking utensil positioned above the
adjacent
burner and a top surface of griddle plate 90, such that heat and flame
generated from
the adjacent burners may pass therethrough and pass above griddle plate 90.
Heat
contribution from the adjacent burners to griddle plate 90 is then
considerably
reduced, and a normal cooking temperature of griddle plate 90 is well
maintained
below the maximum temperature for the griddle surface. Additionally, by
positioning
griddle plate 90 below utensil supporting surface 78, utensils positioned on
the
adjacent burners may extend above and overlap at least a portion of griddle
plate 90
without disturbing the normal operation of griddle plate 90. This positioning
reduces
any interference of utensils being simultaneously used on cooktop 14.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be
practiced
with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
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