STOVE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gas stove and parts thereof, and more particularly to a waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove and a gas stove having the waterproof structure.

Related Art

A gas stove panel at an operating device of an existing gas stove has an opening, which is generally sealed by using a soft waterproof structure such as rubber, so that soup spilled onto the gas stove panel does not enter a gas stove housing through the opening, otherwise a gas valve or other parts are contaminated to cause failures. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, before a gas stove panel 20' is fixed, a waterproof structure 10' is pressed upwards below the gas stove panel 20' by an external force to mount the waterproof structure 10' into an opening of the gas stove panel, and then the gas stove panel 20' is fixed. However, the waterproof structure 10' is of a soft structure manufactured by using a same material, and during mounting, it is likely that the waterproof structure 10' is not mounted in place, for example, a seal edge 120' of the waterproof structure 10' is partially placed in the opening, or a base 110' of the waterproof structure 10' is partially pressed into the opening, so that during mounting, checking needs to be performed above and below the gas stove panel to ensure that the waterproof structure is mounted in place, but the area of the gas stove panel is not small and the gas stove panel has some weight, and especially for a gas stove panel inlaid with ceramics or tempered glass, the operation is more difficult in the process. In case of any misoperation, the gas stove panel needs to be removed first, and the mounting of the waterproof structure is adjusted before the gas stove panel is fixed, thereby making it difficult to increase assembly efficiency of the process. When a user is using the gas stove, the waterproof structure is likely to be pulled out of a mounting position by the user by mistake because the waterproof structure is manufactured by using a same soft material; however, above the gas stove panel, the waterproof structure cannot be successfully mounted, the gas stove panel has to be removed first before the waterproof structure is mounted, and then the gas stove panel is re-mounted, which incurs troubles to the user. It can be seen that mounting of a waterproof structure of an operating knob of an existing gas stove is very difficult, the waterproof structure is not fixed reliably, and there is a risk that the waterproof structure is not mounted in place.

Unless supported by sufficient evidences, the prior art described herein does not mean that it is known to those of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove, which can be easily mounted and has the reduced risk of that the waterproof structure is not mounted in place, so as to eliminate the technical defects of an existing waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove that the waterproof structure may not be mounted in place and mounting is not easy.

The present invention solves the foregoing technical problem through the following technical solutions. A waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove is provided, the waterproof structure is in the shape of a hollow barrel and includes a snap portion and a sealing portion that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the waterproof structure, the snap portion is connected to the sealing portion, and the hardness of the snap portion is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion. In the present invention, the hardness of the snap portion of the waterproof structure is increased, which not only facilitates mounting of the waterproof structure and makes the waterproof structure be more firmly fixed, but also greatly reduces the risk that the waterproof structure is not mounted in place; and the sealing portion with the lower hardness is effectively waterproof. The ingenious combination of the two makes the waterproof structure of the present invention not only have desirable waterproof performance, but also have the advantage of being easy to mount.

Further, the snap portion and the sealing portion are manufactured by using different materials respectively to achieve that the hardness of the snap portion is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion, that is, the snap portion is manufactured by using a material with the higher hardness and the sealing portion is manufactured by using a material with the lower hardness; alternatively, the snap portion and the sealing portion are manufactured in different process conditions respectively to achieve that the hardness of the snap portion is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion.

Further, the snap portion and the sealing portion are integrally molded, so as to not only facilitate manufacturing, but also further facilitate increase of bond strength between the sealing portion and the snap portion, and save the trouble of manual connection of the sealing portion and the snap portion.

Further, the snap portion and the sealing portion are separately molded, and then are assembled to be connected together. An assembly procedure may be combined with a mounting procedure of the waterproof structure, so as to improve efficiency.

Further, the snap portion is manufactured by using a hard plastic material, and the sealing portion is manufactured by using a soft rubber material. The hard plastic material has desirable corrosion resistance and is easy to be machined and molded; and the soft rubber material is easy to be in close contact with a surface of the gas stove, so as to ensure desirable tightness of the sealing portion.

Further, the snap portion is manufactured by using polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or nylon, and the sealing portion is manufactured by using a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. The snap portion is manufactured by using PP, ABS, or engineering plastic nylon, resulting in the low manufacturing cost and greater durability. The TPE material is a functional material has both the elasticity of rubber and the rigidity of plastic, the TPE is green, and the material does not contain any phthalate or halogen, and is environmentally friendly.

Further, with the features of machining and molding of the materials being taken into account, the sealing portion is integrated with the snap portion through secondary injection molding.

In order to facilitate application of a secondary injection molding process, the melting point of the material of the snap portion is higher than the melting point of the material of the sealing portion.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the sealing portion includes a first protruding edge, a first neck portion, and a second protruding edge that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the sealing portion. After the waterproof structure of the present invention is mounted, the first protruding edge is in close contact with an upper surface of the gas stove panel, resulting in desirable tightness; and the first neck portion and the second protruding edge can effectively prevent a large amount of soup in the shape of a stream from entering into a gas stove housing through an upper end of the waterproof structure.

Further, in order to facilitate machining and further improve the waterproof effect of the waterproof structure of the present invention, the first neck portion is in the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone.

In order to further prevent a large amount of spilled soup from flowing over the upper end of the waterproof structure to directly enter into the barrel-shaped waterproof structure, in any cross section including the axis of the waterproof structure, an angle between an outer surface of the second protruding edge and an outer surface of the first neck portion is 45°-135°, thereby effectively preventing the soup from flowing over the second protruding edge.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the snap portion includes a second neck portion and a snap protrusion disposed on the second neck portion. Through the second neck portion, the snap protrusion is held at a lower surface of the gas stove panel, thereby firmly fixing the waterproof structure.

Further, in order to make the waterproof structure be steadily located and easily mounted in place, the snap portion includes multiple snap protrusions, and the multiple snap protrusions are evenly distributed on the second neck portion along a circumferential direction of the second neck portion.

Further, in order to make it easy to perform, above the gas stove panel, the mounting of the waterproof structure after the gas stove panel is fixed, a maximum radial distance from the snap protrusion to the axis of the waterproof structure decreases gradually from top to bottom.

Further, in order to provide sufficient elasticity along a radial direction of the snap portion to provide sufficient withdrawing space for the snap protrusion when the snap portion is snapped into the opening, the second neck portion includes at least one gap, and the gap extends downwards to an end of the second neck portion.

In order to further enhance bond strength between the snap portion and the sealing portion, the snap portion further includes a third protruding edge connected to the second neck portion, and the first protruding edge of the sealing portion covers the third protruding edge.

In order to further increase the bond strength between the snap portion and the sealing portion, the third protruding edge includes several holes, the sealing portion is integrated with the snap portion through secondary injection molding, and during the secondary injection molding, the several holes are filled with the material of the sealing portion.

Another technical solution applied by the present invention to solve the technical problem is that: a gas stove includes a gas stove panel and an operating device that controls power of the gas stove, and the gas stove panel is provided with an opening through which a shaft portion of the operating device runs. The gas stove further includes the waterproof structure that is sleeved on the shaft portion and is described above, and the snap portion runs through the opening and is held at the gas stove panel. In the waterproof structure of the gas stove of the present invention, the hardness of the snap portion is increased, so that the snap portion can very easily run through the opening of the gas stove panel so as to be held at the gas stove panel, thereby facilitating a mounting operation of the waterproof structure and enhancing reliability of the fixing of the waterproof structure. Meanwhile, the risk that the waterproof structure is not mounted in place is greatly reduced; the sealing portion with the lower hardness is effectively waterproof; and the ingenious combination of the two makes the gas stove of the present invention have the beneficial effects obviously superior to those in the prior art.

Further, the snap portion runs through the opening from above the gas stove panel and is held at the gas stove panel. As a result, the waterproof structure may be mounted after the gas stove panel is fixed, making the operation easier.

Further, in order to enhance the waterproof effect of the waterproof structure, the sealing portion is located above the gas stove panel, and the first protruding edge is in close contact with a surface of the gas stove panel. Further, in order to make the waterproof structure be more reliably held at the gas stove panel, the gas stove panel is located between the snap protrusion and the third protruding edge. As a result, the snap protrusion and the third protruding edge with the higher hardness are held below and above the gas stove panel, so that when the gas stove is in use, the waterproof structure is not likely to be pulled up by mistake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a waterproof structure of an existing operating device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the existing waterproof structure in use;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a sealing portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a snap portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a snap portion according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a waterproof structure in use according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an area A in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a gas stove according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along a line V-V in FIG. 9; and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of an area B in FIG. 10. List of reference numerals: 1 Gas stove; 10 Waterproof structure; 11 Snap portion; 12 Sealing portion; 20 Gas stove panel; 30 Operating device; 11 1 Second neck portion; 112 Snap protrusion; 113 Third protruding edge; 121 First protruding edge; 122 First neck portion; 123 Second protruding edge; 210 Opening; 310 Shaft portion; 1 110 Gap; 1130 Hole

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To make further understanding of the objectives, structures, features, and functions of the present invention, detailed descriptions are provided in the following through embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove according to an embodiment of the present invention. A waterproof structure 10 of the present invention is in the shape of a hollow barrel, and includes a snap portion 1 1 and a sealing portion 12 that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the waterproof structure 10. The snap portion 11 is connected to the sealing portion 12, and the hardness of the snap portion 1 1 is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion 12.

Further, the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12 are manufactured by using different materials respectively to achieve that the hardness of the snap portion 11 is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion 12, that is, the snap portion 11 is manufactured by using a material of the higher hardness (for example, plastic with the Shore hardness HD being 80-90) and the sealing portion 12 is manufactured by using a material of the lower hardness (for example, rubber with the Shore hardness HA being 50- 60). Alternatively, the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12 are manufactured in different process conditions respectively to achieve that the hardness of the snap portion 11 is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion 12. For example, different annealing temperatures, injection pressures, molding cycles, etc. are adopted during an injection molding process of a material.

Further, in order to facilitate manufacturing of the waterproof structure 10 of the present invention, the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12 are integrally molded. For example, a material used to manufacture the snap portion 1 1 is integrated with a material used to manufacture the sealing portion 12 through a secondary injection molding process; alternatively, the material used to manufacture the snap portion 11 and the material used to manufacture the sealing portion 12 are integrally molded at one time through a dual-material injection molding machine. In this way, not only manual assembly or connection processes can be reduced to improve production efficiency, but also bond strength between the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12 is increased. Definitely, it is also feasible that the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12 are separately molded and then are assembled to be connected together; it is more feasible that an assembly procedure of the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12 and a mounting procedure of the waterproof structure 10 are combined, the snap portion 11 enters from a position below a gas stove panel into an opening of the gas stove panel, so as to be assembled with the sealing portion 12 above the gas stove panel, and once the assembly procedure of the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12 is completed, the mounting of the waterproof structure 10 is completed. Further, when functions of the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12 are taken into account, preferably the snap portion 11 is manufactured by using a hard plastic material, and the sealing portion 12 is manufactured by using a soft rubber material. A soft rubber material can be easily in close contact with a surface of the gas stove panel tightly, so as to ensure desirable tightness of the sealing portion 12. Additionally, the hard plastic material has desirable corrosion resistance, and is easy to be machined and molded. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the snap portion 1 1 is manufactured by using PP, ABS or nylon, the sealing portion 12 is manufactured by using a TPE material, and through a secondary injection molding process, the snap portion 1 1 is integrated with the sealing portion 12. In a specific procedure, the snap portion 11 with the hardness being relatively higher is made through first molding by using a material such as PP, ABS, or nylon, then the molded snap portion 11 is placed in a female mold of a mold for secondary molding, then a TPE material is injected at an appropriate temperature onto the snap portion 11 to adhere to the snap portion 1 1 , and the waterproof structure 10 is obtained through cooling. In order to meet conditions for the secondary injection molding process, the melting point of the material of the snap portion 1 1 is higher than the melting point of the material of the sealing portion 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a sealing portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a possible embodiment, the sealing portion 12 includes a first protruding edge 121 , a first neck portion 122, and a second protruding edge 123 that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the sealing portion 12. Preferably, the first neck portion 122 is in the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone. As a further improvement, in any cross section including the axis C-C of the waterproof structure 10, a value range of an angle a between an outer surface of the second protruding edge 123 and an outer surface of the first neck portion 122 is 45°-135°. In the angle range, the second protruding edge 123 can more effectively prevent soup spilled out of cookware on the gas stove from entering into a gas stove housing. As indicated by a solid-line arrow in FIG. 1 1 , when a stream of soup on the gas stove panel flows to the waterproof structure 10, the liquid soup encounters the second protruding edge 123 and is therefore prevented from entering into the waterproof structure 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a snap portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a possible embodiment, a snap portion 1 1 includes a second neck portion 11 1 and a snap protrusion 1 12 disposed on the second neck portion 1 11. Further, the snap portion 11 includes multiple snap protrusions 112, the multiple snap protrusions 112 are evenly distributed on the second neck portion 11 1 along a circumferential direction of the second neck portion 11 1 , so that the waterproof structure 10 is steadily fixed, thereby reducing the risk that the waterproof structure 10 is inclined or is not mounted in place. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a snap portion according to another embodiment of the present invention, a second neck portion 111 has at least one gap 11 10, and the gap 1 110 extends downwards to an end of the second neck portion 1 11. When being snapped into an opening on a gas stove panel, the snap portion 11 is inevitably pressed in a radial direction by a wall of the opening. This design makes the snap portion 1 1 have better elasticity in the radial direction, so as to provide sufficient withdrawing space for the snap protrusion 112. Further, in this embodiment, the snap protrusion 1 12 is formed at a whole lower end of the second neck portion 1 11 , which is different from the snap protrusion shown in FIG. 5, and achieves a further advantage that the waterproof structure is more firmly held on the gas stove panel. Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 in combination with FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a waterproof structure in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a possible embodiment, a maximum distance from the snap protrusion 1 12 to the axis C-C of the waterproof structure 10 decreases gradually from top to bottom. As a result, when the snap portion 1 1 is being snapped into the opening, the snap protrusion 112 further has a guiding function, so as to help the waterproof structure 10 be mounted correctly in place. Due to the increase in the hardness of the snap portion 1 1 in combination with the structural feature of the snap protrusion 112, after the waterproof structure 10 is mounted in place, an operator can feel it with the hand clearly, and can even hear a faint "click" when a material such as hard plastic or metal is used for the snap portion 1 1. In this way, the operator can clearly confirm whether the waterproof structure is mounted in place, but in the prior art, the whole waterproof structure is soft and is likely not to be mounted in place, and the process of checking and confirming the mounting is also very troublesome.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 in combination with FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an area A in FIG. 7. In order to further enhance the bond strength between the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12, the present invention makes a further improvement, where the snap portion 11 further includes a third protruding edge 113 connected to the second neck portion 1 11. The first protruding edge 121 of the sealing portion 12 covers the third protruding edge 113. Herein, a contact area between the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12 is increased, so as to enhance the bond strength between the two. The first protruding edge 121 covers the third protruding edge 113, particularly a lower surface of the third protruding edge 113, so that the first protruding edge 121 with the lower hardness can be in close contact with the gas stove panel, thereby ensuring a desirable sealing effect of the waterproof structure 10. In order to further increase the bond strength between the snap portion 11 and the sealing portion 12, the third protruding edge 1 13 includes several holes 1130. During secondary injection molding of the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12, the several holes 1130 are filled with the material of the sealing portion 12, such as TPE. It can be seen from FIG. 7 that, when the waterproof structure 10 is in use, the snap portion 1 1 is held above and below the gas stove panel through the snap protrusion 1 12 and the third protruding edge 113 of the snap portion 11 , and because the hardness of the snap portion 11 is higher, the fixed waterproof structure 10 is not likely to be pulled out. Compared with that of a waterproof structure manufactured by using a soft material in the prior art, the reliability of the fixing of the waterproof structure 10 of the present invention is higher.

Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 1 1 , FIG. 9 is a top view of a gas stove according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a sectional view along a line V-V in FIG. 9; and FIG. 1 1 is an enlarged view of an area B in FIG. 10. The present invention provides a gas stove 1 , which includes a gas stove panel 20, and an operating device 30 that controls power of the gas stove. The gas stove panel 20 is provided with an opening 210 through which a shaft portion 310 of the operating device 30 runs. The gas stove 1 further includes a waterproof structure 10 that is sleeved on the shaft portion 310. The waterproof structure 10 is in the shape of a hollow barrel, and includes a snap portion 1 1 and a sealing portion 12 that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the waterproof structure 10. The snap portion 11 is connected to the sealing portion 12, and the hardness of the snap portion 11 is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion 12. The snap portion 1 1 runs through the opening 210 and is held at the gas stove panel 20.

Further, the operating device 30 is a knob, and performs operations of igniting and turning off a burner of the gas stove 1 and adjusting the power. The sealing portion 12 is located above the gas stove panel 20. The sealing portion 12 includes a first protruding edge 121 , a first neck portion 122, and a second protruding edge 123 that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the sealing portion 12. The snap portion 1 1 includes a second neck portion 11 1 and a snap protrusion 1 12 disposed on the second neck portion. In order to further enhance the bond strength between the snap portion 1 1 and the sealing portion 12, the snap portion 1 1 further includes a third protruding edge 1 13 connected to the second neck portion 11 1. The specific structural feature and function of each part of the waterproof structure 10 and the material and manufacturing of the waterproof structure 10 are as those described in the foregoing, and are not described herein again.

In the waterproof structure 10 of the present invention, the hardness of the snap portion 11 is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion 12, so that the snap portion 11 can enter the opening 210 more easily. Further, in an assembly procedure of the gas stove, in this embodiment, after the gas stove panel 20 is mounted and fixed, the waterproof structure 10 may be snapped from a position above the gas stove panel 20 into the opening 210. Definitely, it is also feasible to change the structure of the snap portion 11 and snap the waterproof structure 10 from a position below the gas stove panel 20 into the snap portion 11. No matter in which case, when the hardness of the snap portion 1 1 is increased, the waterproof structure 10 can be mounted in place more easily; in combination with the structural feature of the snap protrusion 112, when the waterproof structure 10 is mounted in place, it can be felt with the hand clearly. Further, it can be seen from FIG. 1 1 that, the gas stove panel 20 is located between the snap protrusion 112 and the third protruding edge 1 13. As a result, the snap protrusion 112 and the third protruding edge 1 13 with the higher hardness are held below and above the gas stove panel 20, so that when the gas stove 1 is in use, the waterproof structure 10 is not likely to be pulled up by a user by mistake. However, in the prior art, the waterproof structure is manufactured by using a same soft material, and is very likely to be pulled out by mistake when used by a user; above the gas stove, the existing waterproof structure cannot be successfully mounted, and the gas stove panel has to be removed before the waterproof structure is mounted, but the removal and re-mounting of the gas stove panel affects desirable experience of the user on the product and is likely to cause post-sale complaints from the user. In the present invention, the sealing portion 12 of the waterproof structure 10 effectively prevents soup and water spilled out of cookware on the gas stove from entering into the gas stove housing through the opening 210 on the gas stove panel 20, otherwise the gas valve or other parts are contaminated to cause failures. The sealing portion 12 has the lower hardness, and is manufactured by using, for example, a soft material such as a soft rubber material or TPE, so that the first protruding edge 121 is in close contact with the surface of the gas stove panel 20, so as to provide the waterproof structure with desirable tightness. As indicated by the solid-line arrow in FIG. 1 1 , when a large amount of spilled soup falls on the gas stove panel 20, a stream of the soup flows to the operating device 30, and especially when the user wipes the soup towards the operating device 30 by using a rag, the soup inevitably flows to the operating device 30; and the soup returns after hitting the first neck portion 122 and the second protruding edge 123 of the sealing portion 12. The second protruding edge 123, which is designed to form an angle with the first neck portion 122, makes the soup return after the hitting and makes it difficult for the soup to flow over the second protruding edge 123 to enter into the waterproof structure 10, thereby more effectively blocking the soup. Further, in any cross section including the axis C-C of the waterproof structure 10, the value range of the angle between the outer surface of the second protruding edge 123 and the outer surface of the first neck portion 122 is 45°-135°, and the angle range is proved to facilitate returning of the soup after the soup hits the second protruding edge 123, thereby achieving a better waterproof effect. The waterproof structure 10 of the present invention is effectively waterproof, but does not completely seal the opening on the gas stove panel 20 to prevent air from entering into the housing of the gas stove 1 as some existing technologies do. As indicated by a dotted arrow in FIG. 1 1 , ambient air may enter into the gas stove housing through the gap between the operating device 30 and the second protruding edge 123 and the gap between the whole waterproof structure 10 and the shaft portion 310 of the operating device 30, so as to supply air to the burning of the burner of the gas stove.

It can be seen that, the assembly sequence of the gas stove of the possible embodiment of the present invention is different from that in the prior art, and in the embodiment, above the gas stove panel 20, the waterproof structure 10 is mounted after the gas stove panel 20 is mounted. The mounting operation is easy. It is not required to be as in the prior art that, the waterproof structure is mounted on the gas stove panel first, and then the gas stove panel is mounted, where once something is wrong with the mounting of the waterproof structure, the gas stove panel needs to be removed and remounted. However, the waterproof structure 10 of the present invention has the snap portion 1 1 with the higher hardness, which greatly reduces the risk that the waterproof structure 10 is not mounted in place; meanwhile, the sealing portion 12 with the lower hardness ensures desirable tightness of the waterproof structure 10; and the ingenious combination of the two greatly improves the assembly efficiency and yield of the gas stove of the present invention.

The present invention is described through the foregoing related embodiments, but the foregoing embodiments are only examples of implementation of the present invention. It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. On the contrary, changes and modifications made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.