"IMPROVED AND ADJUSTABLE LOCKING SYSTEM FOR OVENS EQUIPPED WITH

A PULL-DOWN DOOR

Requestor: TECNOINOX S.r.l. Address: 33080 PORCIA (PN) - Via Torricelli,

Nationality : Italian

DOM. N° DEL:

=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0= The object of the present invention is an improved and adjustable locking system for ovens equipped with a pull-down door. The purpose of this simple and functional system is to always get a precise and airtight seal between the oven pull-down door and the oven itself. In details, such airtight seal is achieved by creating a seamless contact surface constant in time as it is adjustable through certain proper calibration of the clearances between the above mentioned pull-down door, the sealing rubber and the oven opening.

Such system has also the unique characteristics of being implemented using parts already known but adapted to be used in such kind of application and never being used for this purpose. Furthermore, such system results to be fully adjustable in order to correct undesired clearances that can happen between the pull-down door, the sealing rubber and the oven itself.

Oven doors are already well known for any kind of ovens and for any kind of usage. These closing systems can be designed in many different ways arising from different concept ideas.

One of the most commonly used systems for pull-down ovens is, for instance, the one that can be found on pizza ovens. In fact, these systems are composed of standard handles fixed around the rotation axis and an inclined surface which engages with another inclined area sticking out of the oven. When applied in combination with large doors these systems require at least two handles and can cause a tiresome and not ergonomic work process that potentially leads to cracks, increase of clearances and, eventually, to the malfunction of the airtight seal and leaks of hot gases from the oven. Ovens equipped with swing doors are not involved with the system presented here (the object of the invention). In some cases, such as cabinets, it may be possible to find certain analogies but there is no requirement of an airtight seal between the door and the opening.

The problems in several opening systems are already known, on top of than the ones mentioned above, and they will not be described and discussed because it is common knowledge for experts in this sector.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the defects and the limitations typical of the common swing door closing systems for ovens now on the market.

In order to better understand the details and the advantages of the closing system object of this invention, further information are explained here below. This list may not be exhaustive and is to be used for examples.

o Figure 1 portraits a standard oven equipped with a pull-down door closing system, similar to the one the invention applies to;

o Figure 2 portraits the same oven as Figure 1 with the door ajar;

o Figure 3 is the top view of the oven as depicted in Figure 1 and 2 with the closing system highlighted;

o Figure 4, 5 and 6 highlight, through section views, the oven closing system before the door closes;

o Figure 7 and 8 highlight the closing system.

The following text will refer to the figures illustrated above and the details in common will be recalled using the same denomination.

In Figure 1 you can notice the closing system S (the object of the invention) applied to a standard oven F equipped with a pull-down door that can be employed for domestic and professional purposes.

Figure 2 highlights that a male connecting element MA is applied to the oven F, mounting the closing system 1 as in Figure, on the pull-down door SP and a female element FA is placed on the top opening flange of the oven F, suitably located to engage with the male element MA.

In details, as reported in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the male connector MA is a plate P fixed, using screws V, to the pull-down door SP. From such plate P a small fat surface TV ending with a rounded edge T sticks out perpendicularly so that it can be engaged with the female element FA described here below.

The female connector FA is fixed within a box-shaped element SC through screws V applied to the frame of the oven F. Inside the box-shaped element SC there are two rods B that rotate around rotation pins PI placed approximately at the center of B. The ends of the rods B that come out of the shape of the oven F move along a trajectory that is approximately straight while the ends that are hidden inside the frame move on a circular trajectory that creates a clearance between the two ends where the rounded edge T of the male connector can be secured.

It is to be noted that, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, on the rear side FD of the box- shaped element SC a plate R is applied so that it is possible to adjust the coupling between the male element MA with the female element FA. This is designed to optimize the closure of the pull-down door SP and minimize the heat losses through the top side of the pull-down door SP.

It is logical that the adjustment of the clearance between the door SP of the oven F and the frame of the oven F itself is set by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the plate R or by moving forward or backward the plate R itself. Both methods are valid and applicable but, if other methods arise, they will be equivalent means of adjustment.

If the adjustment plate R is moved backward (towards the inside of the oven chamber) in the box-shaped element SC or the thickness of the adjustment plate R is decreased the male connecting element MA is held more tightly by the arms B of the female connecting element FA. Consequently, the pull-down door SP is pulled more strongly towards the oven F structure. On the other hand, if the adjustment plate R is moved forward ((away from the oven chamber) in the box-shaped element SC or the thickness of the adjustment plate R is increased the arms B of the female connecting element FA exert less grip on the male connecting element MA and the resulting pulling force on the pull-down door SP is lower.

Such adjustment method between the pull-down door SP, the oven seal strip and the oven F itself prevents certain undesired clearances in the coupling of the male connecting element MA and the female connecting element FA and allows an airtight seal between the pull-down door SP and the oven F.

It is easy to predict that several variations to the presented invention may arise without exceeding the limits of the concept described here above and claimed as industrial intellectual private property. p. TECNOINOX S.r.l p. AGENZIA BREVETTI PORDENONE