Technical field

The present invention relates to an oven with wire guides for inserting and extracting a shelf intended to support foods.

State of the art

Ovens comprising rectilinear wire guides along the internal side walls of the muffle to enable foods to be positioned at distinct levels (that is, at different distances from the ceiling of the muffle) are well known. For each level there is a specific and distinct pair of wire guides which, by cooperating, permit the positioning of a shelf between them.

Aim of the invention

In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to provide an oven that enables the cost of wire guides to be minimized. The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by an oven comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an oven, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

-figure 1 shows a perspective view of an oven according to present invention;

-figure 2 shows a front view of the oven of figure 1 ;

-figure 3 shows a view according to the section plane A-A of figure 2;

-figures 4, 5 and 6 respectively show a perspective, front and side view of a component of the oven according to present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the appended figures, the reference number 1 denotes an oven comprising a muffle 2 for treating foods. The oven 1 is a household electrical appliance since it is mainly intended for household use. The oven 1 further comprises a door, not illustrated, which enables foods to be extracted from and inserted into the muffle.

The oven 1 also comprises a first group 3 of wire guides placed in the muffle 2 and suitable for inserting and extracting a shelf intended to support foods (directly or indirectly). Wire guides in general terms are well known in the technical field. Conveniently, the wire guides of the first group 3 have a circular cross section. The wire guides of the first group 3 could be spaced equally apart from each other or else have different reciprocal distances. A positioning level for a shelf can be identified between each pair of guides of said first group 3. This positioning level ensures a guide for inserting and extracting a shelf without the risk of tipping. In the description below, reference to horizontal/vertical planes will be made taking the operating position of the oven as a reference.

The first group 3 of guides is mounted in the muffle in such a way as to extend along a first side wall 61 of the muffle 2.

The oven 1 comprises a second group 7 of guides identical to the first group 3 of guides.

The second group 7 of guides is mounted in the muffle mirror- symmetrically relative to the first group 3, so as to extend along a second side wall 62 opposite the first side wall 61. The first wall 61 extends between the top and bottom and between the door and the rear wall of the oven 1 .

The first group 3 of wire guides comprises at least a first and a second wire guide 31 , 32.

The second guide 32 is placed below first guide 31 . Conveniently, the first and second guides 31 , 32 are metallic. Preferably, all the wire guides of the first group 3 are metallic.

Conveniently, the first group 3 of wire guides is connected to at least two upright members 81 , 82 which extend between the top and bottom. In the preferred embodiment the upright members 81 , 82 are substantially vertical. Conveniently, the first group 3 of wire guides and the two upright members 81 , 82 define a single body (not disassemblable). Preferably, the two upright members 81 , 82 and the first group 3 of wire guides are reciprocally welded. The first guide 31 is a body made in one piece.

Conveniently, the length of the first guide 31 is less than 120% of the distance between the two vertical upright members 81 , 82.

The first guide 31 comprises a first and a second portion 41 , 42 for supporting an extractable shelf placed on the first guide 31 .

The first guide 31 comprises a third portion 43 which is interposed between the first and second portions 41 , 42 and extends toward the second guide 32 to limit the raising of a shelf resting on the second guide 32. There is usually vertical play between the shelf placed on the second guide 32 and the third portion 43.

The third portion 43 comprises:

- an intermediate portion 430;

- a first ramp 431 that connects the intermediate portion 430 to the first portion 41 ;

- a second ramp 432 that connects the intermediate portion 430 to the second portion 42.

With reference to what was described previously, the portion 430 is intermediate relative to the first ramp 431 and the second ramp 432. The portion 430 is a central portion of the third portion 43. Conveniently, the first and second ramps 431 , 432 are rectilinear and form an angle of between 20° and 80° relative to a horizontal plane.

Between the first and the second portion 41 , 42, the first guide 31 comprises only four bending zones 91 , 92, 93, 94 (which are preferably separated by three rectilinear portions).

The first ramp 431 , the second ramp 432 and said intermediate portion 430 lie in the same imaginary plane. Conveniently, this imaginary plane 90 is vertical.

Conveniently, the first portion 41 and second portion 42 also lie in the imaginary plane 90. For over 90% of their length, the first and second guides 31 , 32 lie in said imaginary plane 90. Conveniently, all the guides in the first group 3, for over 90% of their length, lie in said imaginary plane 90.

The first portion 41 and the second portion 42 lie in a same horizontal plane 91 (likewise fictitious). The intermediate portion 430 is substantially rectilinear. Preferably, the intermediate portion 430 is substantially horizontal.

The first portion 41 and/or the second portion 42 and/or said intermediate portion 430 have a length that is greater than 20% of the length of the first guide 31 . Analogously, the first portion 41 and/or the second portion 42 and/or said intermediate portion 430 have a length less than 30% of the length of the first guide 31.

The first guide 31 is symmetrical relative to a fictitious plane 92, which is vertical and perpendicular to the intermediate portion 430. In particular, the first group 3 of guides and said upright members 81 ,82 are symmetrical relative to said fictitious plane 92, which is vertical and perpendicular to the intermediate portion 430. In this manner, the first group 3 of guides can be mounted either on the first or on the second wall 61 , 62 of the oven.

Conveniently, the oven 1 comprises a shelf 5 for supporting food products. The shelf 5 comprises a projection 51 which is intended to come up against an extraction stop 320. The stop 320 is formed in the second guide 32 and extends away from the first side wall 61 . When the shelf 5 is placed on the first guide 31 , the projection 51 is interposed between said imaginary plane 90 and said side wall 61 . Conveniently, when the shelf 5 is completely inserted in the muffle 2, resting on the first guide 31 , it rests simultaneously on both the first and second portions 41 , 42 of the first guide 31 . When the shelf 5, during extraction, is stopped by the limit stop 320 of the second guide 32, the shelf 5 abuts against said intermediate portion 43 of the first guide 31 (which prevents it from tipping).

The first and second ramps 431 , 432 are substantially rectilinear.

Conveniently, one or more of the features described with reference to the first guide 31 can also be repeated for the second guide 32 (and advantageously also for a plurality of other guides) and vice versa. In particular, one or more the features described in relation to the first guide 31 can be repeated for all the guides of the first group 3 (possibly with the exception of the lower guide and the upper guide).

Conveniently, the upper wire guide of said first group 3 is rectilinear. Conveniently, the lower wire guide of said first group 3 is rectilinear.

The invention thus conceived enables multiple advantages to be conceived.

First of all, it makes it possible to minimize the cost of a component such as the guide. In fact, for "n" levels, only "n+1 " wire guides are necessary. Moreover, the length of the wire guide is only slightly greater than that of a hypothetical rectilinear guide (again with a view to containing costs and minimizing the materials used).

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept which characterizes it. Furthermore, all of the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practical terms, all of the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any whatsoever according to need.