SEALING SYSTEM FOR AN OVEN CAVITY

The present invention relates to a sealing system for an oven cavity. In particular, the present invention relates to a seal ing system for an oven cavity of a cooking oven. Further, the present invention relates to an oven, in particular a cooking oven .

There are different types of sealings between an oven door and an oven cavity. For high temperatures gaskets made of fibreglass are used. Said fibreglass gaskets are suitable for pyrolytic cleaning functions. For steam or high humidity gaskets made of silicone are used. Said silicone gaskets are suitable for steam cooking functions.

However, the fibreglass gaskets are not suitable for ovens with high humidity, while the silicone gaskets are not suitable for oven with high temperature.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing system for an oven cavity, which allows processes with high tem perature and high humidity, wherein the environment of said oven cavity is protected against high temperature as well as high hu midity.

The object is achieved by the sealing system for an oven cavity according to claim 1.

According to the present invention a sealing system for an oven cavity of an oven, in particular of a cooking oven, is provided, wherein : the sealing system includes an outer steam-tight gasket at tachable or attached at a front frame, which encloses a cav ity frame of the oven cavity, which in turn encloses a front opening of said oven cavity,

the sealing system includes an inner heat resistant gasket attachable or attached at the cavity frame and/or the front frame, so that the inner heat resistant gasket is aligned at least partially at the cavity frame and at an inner panel of an oven door for closing the oven cavity in a closed state of said oven door,

the sealing system includes a gap sealing arrangeable or ar ranged within a gap between the cavity frame and the front frame, so that the gap sealing encloses completely or par tially the cavity frame, and

the inner heat resistant gasket and the outer steam-tight gasket are attachable or attached in such a way, that said inner heat resistant gasket and outer steam-tight gasket are aligned at the inner panel of the oven door at least in the closed state of said oven door.

The core of the present invention is the sealing system with two different gaskets, i.e. the outer steam-tight gasket and the in ner heat resistant gasket. The outer steam-tight gasket provides an outer sealing of the oven cavity, while the inner heat re sistant gasket provides an inner sealing of said oven cavity.

The complete circumference of the front opening of the oven cav ity is sealed by the outer steam-tight gasket. Further, a part of the circumference or the complete circumference of the front opening of the oven cavity is sealed by the inner heat resistant gasket. The inner heat resistant gasket provides a thermal shield for the outer steam-tight gasket. The gap sealing between the cavity frame and the front frame ensures that water or hu midity cannot enter the interior of an oven compartment. In particular, the inner heat resistant gasket and the outer steam-tight gasket are formed as separate gaskets. Preferably said inner heat resistant gasket and outer steam-tight gasket are arrangeable or arranged at a distance from each other. By this way, the air chamber between the inner heat resistant gas ket and the outer steam-tight gasket in the closed state of the oven door acts as thermal insulator.

Preferably, the outer steam-tight gasket is made of silicone, graphite, ceramic material or the like.

In contrast, the inner heat resistant gasket is preferably made of fibreglass or any other material heat resistant up to 500°C.

Further, the inner heat resistant gasket may be clampable be tween the cavity frame and a front frame enclosing said cavity frame .

Moreover, the outer steam-tight gasket may have an elongated cross-section, wherein the longitudinal axis of said elongated cross-section extends perpendicular to the plane of the inner glass panel in the mounted state of the outer steam-tight gasket and in the closed state of the oven door.

According to an embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket is attachable or attached at the inner panel of the oven door, wherein at least one contact line is formed between said inner heat resistant gasket and the cavity frame in the closed state of the oven door.

According to another embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket is attachable or attached at the cavity frame and/or front the frame, wherein at least one contact line is formed between said inner heat resistant gasket and the inner panel of the oven door in the closed state of the oven door.

For example, the inner heat resistant gasket is attachable or attached at the inner panel of the oven door or at the cavity frame, respectively, by clips, bolts, screws or the like.

Moreover, the outer steam-tight gasket is attached or attachable at the front frame enclosing the cavity frame of the oven cav ity.

Optionally, the outer steam-tight gasket is coated by a heat re sistant layer. For example, said heat resistant layer is made of the same or a similar material as the inner heat resistant gas ket .

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an oven, in par ticular a cooking oven, comprising at least one sealing system mentioned above, wherein:

the oven comprises at least one oven cavity,

the oven cavity includes a cavity frame enclosing a front opening of said oven cavity,

the oven cavity includes a front frame enclosing the cavity frame of said oven cavity,

the front sides of the cavity frame and the front frame ex tend within one plane,

the oven comprises at least one oven door for closing the front opening of said oven cavity, and

at least that portion of the inner side of the oven door ar ranged in front of the cavity frame and front frame in the closed state of the oven door extends within one plane.

In particular, the inner side of the oven door extends within one single plane. Preferably, the cavity frame and the front frame are thermally isolated from each other.

Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of a sealing system for an oven cavity according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal- ing system for the oven cavity according to a second em- bodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal- ing system for the oven cavity according to a third em- bodiment of the present invention,

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal- ing system for the oven cavity according to a fourth em- bodiment of the present invention,

FIG 5 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal- ing system for the oven cavity according to a fifth em- bodiment of the present invention,

FIG 6 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal- ing system for the oven cavity according to a sixth em- bodiment of the present invention, and FIG 7 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the seal ing system for the oven cavity according to a seventh em bodiment of the present invention.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of a sealing system for an oven cavity 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes a cavity frame 12 enclosing a front opening of said oven cavity 10. Further, a front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by an oven door 14. Said oven door includes an inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes an inner heat resistant gasket 18 and an outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam- tight gasket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam- tight gasket 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12.

Preferably, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 has an elongated cross-section, wherein the longitudinal axis of said elongated cross-section extends perpendicular to the plane of the inner glass panel 16 in the closed state of the oven door.

The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at the inner glass panel 16 of the oven door 14 by fixing elements 22. For example, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at the inner glass panel 16 by clips, bolts, screws or the like. The fixing element

22 is represented symbolically by two parallel dashes. In the closed state of the oven door 14, a contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and an inner side of the cavity frame 12. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or completely along the inner side of the cavity frame 12. In the first embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has an oval cross-section.

For example, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is made of fi- breglass, while the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is made of sili- cone .

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight gas ket 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12.

The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at the inner glass panel 16 of the oven door 14 by fixing elements 22, e.g. by clips, bolts, screws or the like. In the second embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has a triangular cross-section, wherein two sides of said triangular cross-section are concave. In the closed state of the oven door 14, two contact lines 24 are formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the cavity frame 12. Both two contact lines 24 are arranged at one side of the triangular cross-section. The one contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the front side of the cavity frame 12, while the other contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the inner side of the cavity frame 12. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or completely along the inner side and front side of the cavity frame 12. The concave sides of the triangular cross-section are aligned at the cavity frame 12 and at the in ner glass panel 16.

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight gas ket 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam-tight 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12. In this example, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at the inner side of the cavity frame 12 by fixing elements 22, e.g. by clips, bolts, screws or the like. Alternatively or addi tionally, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 may be fixed at the front side of the front frame 26 by said fixing elements 22. In the third embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has an elongated cross-section. The longitudinal axis of said elongated cross-section extends perpendicular to the plane of the inner glass panel 16. In the closed state of the oven door 14, one contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gas ket 18 and the inner glass panel 16. The contact line 24 is formed at the front side of the inner heat resistant gasket 18. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or com pletely along the inner side of the cavity frame 12.

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight gas ket 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12.

In this example, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at the front side of the cavity frame 12 by fixing elements 22, e.g. by clips, bolts, screws or the like. Alternatively or addi tionally, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 may be fixed at the front side of the front frame 26 by said fixing elements 22. In the fourth embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has a substantially rectangular cross-section. In this example, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is hollow. In the closed state of the oven door 14, one contact line 24 is formed between the in ner heat resistant gasket 18 and the inner glass panel 16. The contact line 24 is formed at the front side of the inner heat resistant gasket 18. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or completely along the inner side of the cavity frame 12.

FIG 5 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam-tight gas ket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame

26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12.

The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at an inner side of the outer steam-tight gasket 20 by fixing elements 22. For exam ple, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is connected to the outer steam-tight gasket 20 by metal clips, rivets, high temper ature glue or by stitching. In the fifth embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has a substantially trapezoid cross- section. In the closed state of the oven door 14, one contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the inner glass panel 16, while another contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the inner side of the cavity frame 12. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or completely along the inner side and front side of the cavity frame 12. The trapezoid cross-section of the inner heat resistant gasket 18 includes two concave sides, wherein said concave sides are aligned at the cavity frame 12 and at the inner glass panel 16.

FIG 6 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16.

The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The outer steam-tight gas ket 20 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12.

The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is fixed at an inner side of the outer steam-tight gasket 20. In the sixth embodiment, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 has the substantially trapezoid cross-section. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the one contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gas ket 18 and the inner glass panel 16, while the other contact line 24 is formed between the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the inner side of the cavity frame 12. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 extends partially or completely along the inner side and front side of the cavity frame 12.

In this embodiment, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is coated by a high temperature layer. For example, said high temperature layer is made of the same or a similar material as the inner heat resistant gasket 18. The high temperature layer may com prise a high temperature coating, glass coating or glass fibre coating .

FIG 7 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the sealing system for the oven cavity 10 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The oven cavity 10 includes the cavity frame 12 enclosing the front opening of said oven cavity 10. The front frame 26 en closes completely or partially the cavity frame 12. The oven cavity 10 is closed by the oven door 14 including the inner glass panel 16. The sealing system includes the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is clamped between the cavity frame 12 and the front frame 26. In the closed state of the oven door 14, the inner heat resistant gasket 18 is arranged between the cavity frame 12, the front frame 26 and the inner glass panel 16. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 encloses completely the cavity frame 12. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 is aligned at the outer side of the cavity frame 12. The cross-section of the inner heat resistant gasket 18 may be circular, rectangular or of an arbi trary profile.

Additionally, the sealing system according to the seventh embod iment includes a gap sealing 19 filling the gap between the cav ity frame 12 and the front frame 26. The gap sealing 19 ensures that water or humidity cannot enter the interior of an oven com partment .

The outer steam-tight gasket 20 is attached at the front frame 26 enclosing the cavity frame 12 of the oven cavity 10. The cav ity frame 12 and the front frame 16 are thermally isolated from each other. Thus, the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is exposed to a relative low temperature during a pyrolytic cleaning process. In this example, the cross-section of the outer steam-tight gas ket 20 has a special profile. In general, the cross-section of the outer steam-tight gasket 20 may be circular, rectangular or of an arbitrary profile.

The sealing system with the inner heat resistant gasket 18 and the outer steam-tight gasket 20 is suitable for a cooking oven with pyrolytic cleaning function and steam cooking function. The inner heat resistant gasket 18 acts as protection for the outer steam-tight gasket 20. The energy loss during the pyrolytic cleaning function is low. Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying draw ings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the in vention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the ap- pended claims.

List of reference numerals

10 oven cavity

12 cavity frame

14 oven door

16 inner glass panel

18 inner heat resistant gasket

19 gap sealing

20 outer steam-tight gasket

22 fixing element

24 contact line

26 front frame