Abstract: An appliance, such as an oven, includes a housing having an internal compartment and an RF antenna. At least a portion of the housing comprises an electrically conductive portion. The antenna includes an active component and a connection to the electrically conductive portion, which serves as a ground plane of the antenna. The housing may include a door assembly having a window that includes the electrically conductive portion in the form of a transparent conductive layer. The door assembly may be detachable and the connection to the antenna may be made by way of capacitive coupling. In an alternative arrangement, the housing includes a light fixture for illuminating the internal compartment, wherein the active component of the antenna is disposed in the light fixture.

Abstract: A layered composite includes an insulation sheet and at least one scrim layer secured thereto. The at least one scrim layer may be embedded within the thickness of the insulation sheet, or bonded to a corresponding face of the insulation sheet, and have a tensile strength greater than that of the insulation sheet. As such, the scrim layer provides structural support to the insulation sheet as well as a trap for fibers or particles that may separate from the insulation sheet.

Abstract: An accessory for an oven includes a support base and a heating element hingedly coupled to the support base. The heating element is movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position. A motor is positioned in the support base. A drive assembly is positioned in the support base and operably coupled to the motor. A rotary pan is operably coupled to the drive assembly and positioned on a top side of the support base. A food holder assembly can be operably coupled to the rotary pan.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating cavity with a heat source. A cavity connector is disposed within the heating cavity and a rack is slidably coupled with a sliding structure disposed within the heating cavity. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate and engage the powered accessory with the rack and is coupled to the powered accessory. A second locating assembly is disposed between the sliding structure and a pair of opposing sidewalk of the heating cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing having a heating cavity defined therein, wherein a heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cooling channel is disposed proximate a sidewall of the housing. A blower selectively operates to move at least cooling air through the cooling channel and to an air outlet. A vent aperture extends through the sidewall between the heating cavity and a ventilation channel. The ventilation channel includes a narrowed portion proximate the vent aperture, wherein during operation of the blower, the narrowed portion defines a low static pressure region of the ventilation channel that draws cavity air from the heating cavity and directs the cavity air into the ventilation channel to be combined with the cooling air.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing having a heating cavity defined therein, wherein a heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cooling channel is disposed proximate a sidewall of the housing. A blower selectively operates to move at least cooling air through the cooling channel and to an air outlet. A vent aperture extends through the sidewall between the heating cavity and a ventilation channel. The ventilation channel includes a narrowed portion proximate the vent aperture, wherein during operation of the blower, the narrowed portion defines a low static pressure region of the ventilation channel that draws cavity air from the heating cavity and directs the cavity air into the ventilation channel to be combined with the cooling air.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing having a sidewall and a front panel, wherein a heating cavity is defined within the housing. An operable door panel is rotationally coupled proximate the front panel and operable to provide selective access to the heating cavity via an aperture defined within the front panel. A heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity and the front panel. A blower is disposed within an interstitial space at least partially defined by an outer surface of the housing. A ventilation tower is attached to the sidewall and positioned proximate the front panel. Selective operation of the blower draws ventilation air from an external region proximate the front panel and into the interstitial space via the ventilation tower.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating cavity with a heat source. A cavity connector is disposed within the heating cavity and a rack is slidably coupled with a sliding structure disposed within the heating cavity. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate and engage the powered accessory with the rack and is coupled to the powered accessory. A second locating assembly is disposed between the sliding structure and a pair of opposing sidewalls of the heating cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.

Abstract: A vent hood kit comprises a canopy assembly having an intake end and an outlet end, a blower housing selectively and alternatively coupled with the exhaust end of the canopy assembly in an in-line position and an external position, a blower assembly disposed within a blower housing and in communication with the intake end in both the in-line and external positions and an exhaust duct adapter of the blower housing is configured to be in communication with the intake end in both the in-line and external positions.

Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided herein. A heating element is configured to generate heat for cooking a food item. A user interface is configured to allow selection of a cooking program for cooking the food item and includes a sear feature that is selectable while a selected cooking program is underway. Selection of the sear feature increases a cooking temperature to a maximum cooking temperature without otherwise interrupting the selected cooking program that is underway.

Abstract: A ventilation hood is mounted to an underside of a cabinet, including a bottom panel and a lower support frame positioned above a cooking appliance, by first and second brackets secured below the cabinet at spaced positions aligned with outermost edge portions of the lower support frame and at least one fastener assembly secured to a front portion of the ventilation hood. Multiple embodiments are disclosed for the at least one fastener assembly, including tabs bent from a housing of the ventilation hood, feet threadably attached to the hood, mounting blocks including snap connectors, threaded fasteners, and pinned bolts.

Abstract: An accessory for an oven includes a support base and a heating element hingedly coupled to the support base. The heating element is movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position. A motor is positioned in the support base. A drive assembly is positioned in the support base and operably coupled to the motor. A rotary pan is operably coupled to the drive assembly and positioned on a top side of the support base. A food holder assembly can be operably coupled to the rotary pan.

Abstract: A ventilated grilling device includes a plurality of grates each having interior channels defined therein, a housing positioned at a first end of each of the plurality of grates, the housing having a ventilating interior in communication with each of the interior channels, a heat-conductive ceramic plate positioned below the plurality of grates, wherein the space defined between the top surface of the ceramic plate and the grates defines a suction jacket that is in fluid communication with the ventilating interior of the housing and a heat source positioned below the ceramic plate, wherein heat from the heat source is thermally transferred through the ceramic plate and up to a cooking region positioned proximate an upper portion of the plurality of grates.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing having a heating cavity defined therein, wherein a heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cooling channel is disposed proximate a sidewall of the housing. A blower selectively operates to move at least cooling air through the cooling channel and to an air outlet. A vent aperture extends through the sidewall between the heating cavity and a ventilation channel. The ventilation channel includes a narrowed portion proximate the vent aperture, wherein during operation of the blower, the narrowed portion defines a low static pressure region of the ventilation channel that draws cavity air from the heating cavity and directs the cavity air into the ventilation channel to be combined with the cooling air.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing having a sidewall and a front panel, wherein a heating cavity is defined within the housing. An operable door panel is rotationally coupled proximate the front panel and operable to provide selective access to the heating cavity via an aperture defined within the front panel. A heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity and the front panel. A blower is disposed within an interstitial space at least partially defined by an outer surface of the housing. A ventilation tower is attached to the sidewall and positioned proximate the front panel. Selective operation of the blower draws ventilation air from an external region proximate the front panel and into the interstitial space via the ventilation tower.

Abstract: A cooking device is provided herein. The cooking device includes a touch-sensitive display configured to register user-input via one or more touch events to enable a user to make selections related to the operation of the cooking device. The user-input is provided to a controller, and in response, the controller controls the operation of the cooking device based on the user-input.

Abstract: An accessory for an oven includes a support base and a heating element hingedly coupled to the support base. The heating element is movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position. A motor is positioned in the support base. A drive assembly is positioned in the support base and operably coupled to the motor. A rotary pan is operably coupled to the drive assembly and positioned on a top side of the support base. A food holder assembly is operably coupled to the rotary pan.