Patents by Inventor Franz Gratz

Franz Gratz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7573003
    Abstract: In a cooktop with a cooktop panel, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed for heating up a cooking vessel to be placed on the cooktop panel, and with a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the cooktop panel, which temperature sensor is in heat-conducting contact with the underside of the cooktop panel within the heating element and is connected to a control unit for controlling the heating power of the heating element, to simplify assembly/fitting, the invention provides a heat-conducting element within the heating element in heat-conducting contact with the underside of the cooktop panel, and fastens the temperature sensor in this region to the heat-conducting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Grätz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Publication number: 20090159589
    Abstract: A household appliance is provided that includes a functional element that a user can see and includes as well as display elements or control elements for actuating or monitoring the functional element. The display elements and the control elements are disposed where the associated functional element is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Grätz, Uwe Has, Andreas Marbach, Peter Vetterl
  • Patent number: 6753509
    Abstract: In a cooktop with a cooktop plate, in particular, made from glass ceramic, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed, for heating a cooking vessel to be placed on the cooktop plate, and having a temperature sensor for recording the temperature of the cooktop plate, which temperature sensor senses the temperature of the underside of the cooktop plate within the heating element and is shielded from the thermal radiation from a heating device of the heating element by insulating material, and is connected to a control unit for controlling the heating power of the heating element, to enable a good measurement accuracy to be achieved, the temperature sensor is in thermal contact with the underside of the cooktop plate by a thermally conductive element, and that the element and the temperature sensor are shielded from the thermal radiation of the heating device by insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Grätz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Patent number: 6580058
    Abstract: In a cooktop having a cooktop panel, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed for heating up a vessel to be placed on the panel, and a temperature sensor sensing temperature of the underside of the panel within the heating element and connected to a control unit for controlling heating power of the heating element, to make assembly/fitting of the unit easier, the temperature sensor is fastened to an element extending from a region inside the heating element into a region outside the heating element, the element having a receiving portion inside the heating element for the temperature sensor and a fitting portion for fastening of the element, in particular, to the heating element, and/or a connection portion for connecting at least an electrical line from outside the heating element, which receiving portion lies radially offset laterally with respect to the fitting portion or connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Grätz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Publication number: 20030042246
    Abstract: In a cooktop with a cooktop panel, in particular, made of glass ceramic, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed for heating up a cooking vessel to be placed on the cooktop panel, and with a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the cooktop panel, in particular, the underside thereof within the heating element and is connected to a control unit for controlling the heating power of the heating element, the temperature sensor is connected to a heat-conducting element, which is in heat-conducting connection with the underside of the cooktop panel, and the element completely covers the temperature sensor in the upward direction toward the cooktop panel, to achieve sufficient measurement accuracy with a high standard of safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Franz Gratz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Publication number: 20030029858
    Abstract: In a cooktop with a cooktop plate, in particular, made from glass ceramic, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed, for heating a cooking vessel to be placed on the cooktop plate, and having a temperature sensor for recording the temperature of the cooktop plate, which temperature sensor senses the temperature of the underside of the cooktop plate within the heating element and is shielded from the thermal radiation from a heating device of the heating element by insulating material, and is connected to a control unit for controlling the heating power of the heating element, to enable a good measurement accuracy to be achieved, the temperature sensor is in thermal contact with the underside of the cooktop plate by a thermally conductive element, and that the element and the temperature sensor are shielded from the thermal radiation of the heating device by insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Franz Gratz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Publication number: 20030024923
    Abstract: In a cooktop having a cooktop panel, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed for heating up a vessel to be placed on the panel, and a temperature sensor sensing temperature of the underside of the panel within the heating element and connected to a control unit for controlling heating power of the heating element, to make assembly/fitting of the unit easier, the temperature sensor is fastened to an element extending from a region inside the heating element into a region outside the heating element, the element having a receiving portion inside the heating element for the temperature sensor and a fitting portion for fastening of the element, in particular, to the heating element, and/or a connection portion for connecting at least an electrical line from outside the heating element, which receiving portion lies radially offset laterally with respect to the fitting portion or connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Franz Gratz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi
  • Publication number: 20030019863
    Abstract: In a cooktop with a cooktop panel, beneath which at least one heating element is disposed for heating up a cooking vessel to be placed on the cooktop panel, and with a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the cooktop panel, which temperature sensor is in heat-conducting contact with the underside of the cooktop panel within the heating element and is connected to a control unit for controlling the heating power of the heating element, to simplify assembly/fitting, the invention provides a heat-conducting element within the heating element in heat-conducting contact with the underside of the cooktop panel, and fastens the temperature sensor in this region to the heat-conducting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Franz Gratz, Uwe Has, Dan Neumayer, Markus Theine, Peter Vetterl, Monika Zeraschi