Oven rack assembly
A rack assembly for use in an oven includes a rack, a rack frame having a left bar, a right bar, and a rear bar, with the rack coupled to the left bar and the right bar. Each left bar and right bar has a front vertical section, a front horizontal section coupled to the front vertical section, a rear horizontal section coupled to the rear of the front horizontal section, and a rear vertical section that is coupled to the rear of the rear horizontal section. The front vertical section extends downwardly from the front of the front horizontal section, the rear vertical section extends upwardly from the rear of the rear horizontal section, the front horizontal section is disposed at a higher vertical level than the rear horizontal section, and the rear bar has opposite ends that are coupled to the rear vertical section of each of the left and right bars.
This application is related to Provision Application No. 61/063,860 filed Feb. 7, 2008, whose entire disclosure is incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ovens, and more particularly to extendable rack assemblies for ovens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ovens often have one or more racks generally within the oven. The racks are useful for the placing of cookware, food, and other items, within the oven. The racks place the cookware generally towards the middle of the oven, and keep the cookware away from heating elements and the like. In addition, ovens with multiple racks allow for placement of cookware on a variety of levels within the oven, thereby increasing the total volume of available cooking space.
The racks are often supported by ledges formed along the walls of the oven. The racks are then movable in and out of the oven on the ledges. This allows the racks to be removed from the oven for cleaning or for other purposes. Often, the racks may be partially removed from the oven so as to allow easier access to items placed on the racks.
Movement of the racks on the ledges, or through other friction mechanisms, may not always provide smooth and relatively effortless motion. Unconformities in the ledges or friction mechanisms may interfere with motion of a rack. Similarly, food or other items may become lodged in a rack pathway, increasing the difficulty in movement of the rack.
In addition, the racks often may not be extended very far from the oven, particularly when heavy items are placed on the rack. Since the racks must still be supported by the ledges of the oven, over extension of the rack may lead to a sloped surface with tenuous lateral support causing disastrous results, with the rack and its contents dropping from the oven. Moreover, the items on the rack may be difficult to view or handle if the rack is partially in the oven. This increases the chances of burns occurring to users of the oven through contact with other racks or the side walls of the oven. Further, at times lateral stability of a rack, particularly when a rack is extended fully from the oven, may be important to uphold and bear the load of food contents.
Therefore, there remains a need for an oven rack that addresses the concerns set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURETo accomplish the objectives set forth above, the present invention provides a rack assembly for use in an oven. The rack assembly includes a rack, a rack frame having a left bar, a right bar, and a rear bar, with the rack coupled to the left bar and the right bar. Each left bar and right bar has a front vertical section, a front horizontal section coupled to the front vertical section, a rear horizontal section coupled to the rear of the front horizontal section, and a rear vertical section that is coupled to the rear of the rear horizontal section. The front vertical section extends downwardly from the front of the front horizontal section, the rear vertical section extends upwardly from the rear of the rear horizontal section, the front horizontal section is disposed at a higher vertical level than the rear horizontal section, and the rear bar has opposite ends that are coupled to the rear vertical section of each of the left and right bars.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The oven of
Referring to
Another vertical section 76 extends downwardly from the proximal or rear end of the horizontal section 74 to a fourth transverse section 78 that extends away from the slide member 102 towards a fourth horizontal section 80 adjacent the proximal or rear end of the bars 26 and 30. Yet another vertical section 82 extends upwardly from the rear end of the horizontal section 80, and the top end of each vertical section 82 transitions into the rear bar 28.
Thus, the horizontal sections 54, 68, and 80 and the vertical sections 50 and 82 are all aligned along a first plane, and the horizontal sections 62 and 74, and the vertical sections 60, 64, 72 and 76 are all aligned along a second different plane, with the first and second planes being parallel to each other. The second plane is positioned alongside the respective slide member 102, so that the bars 26 and 30 can be secured to the respective slide member 102 at any location along the horizontal sections 62 and 74 and the vertical sections 60, 64, 72 and 76 using techniques such as welding and screws. As an example, the left bar 26 can be secured to the left slide member 102 at one location along the horizontal section 62, and at two spaced-apart locations along the horizontal section 74, and the right bar 30 can be secured to the right slide member 102 at the same locations. Accordingly, the first outer member 102 is fixed to the rack frame 20, with the rack frame 20 within the oven. The inner member 106 extends from the first outer member 102, and is illustrated as being extended from the first outer member 102 towards the front of the oven. The second outer member 104 extends from the inner member 106 with the second outer member 104 substantially fully out of the oven. Thus, as in the instant case, the term full extension when used with respective slide 24 refers to the ability of a portion of the slide 24, namely a slide member 104, to extend substantially completely out of an enclosure.
The rack 22 can be secured to the two second outer members 104 using techniques that are well-known in the art, including bolting and welding, among others. The rack 22 may be extended substantially out of the oven and still be stably supported by the slides 24.
To remove the rack assembly 10 from a ledge 14, the user merely lifts the front vertical section 50 and pivoting the rack 22 so that the rear vertical section 82 becomes disengaged from the rear edge 48. The user can then pull the rack assembly 20 out of the oven.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A rack assembly for use in an oven, comprising:
- a rack;
- a rack frame having a left bar, a right bar, and a rear bar, with the rack coupled to the left bar and the right bar; and
- wherein each left bar and right bar has a front vertical section, a front horizontal section coupled to the front vertical section, a rear horizontal section coupled to the rear of the front horizontal section, and a rear vertical section that is coupled to the rear of the rear horizontal section, and wherein: the front vertical section extends downwardly from the front of the front horizontal section; the rear vertical section extends upwardly from the rear of the rear horizontal section; the front horizontal section is disposed at a higher vertical level than the rear horizontal section; and the rear bar has opposite ends that are coupled to the rear vertical section of each of the left and right bars.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each left and right bar further includes a central horizontal section that is positioned between the front and rear horizontal sections, with the central horizontal section aligned at the same vertical level as the front horizontal section.
3. The assembly of claim 1, further including a slide assembly that couples the rack to the rack frame, the slide assembly having a slide member that carries the rack forward from the rack frame.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the front, central and rear horizontal sections are all aligned in the same plane.
5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the front, central and rear horizontal sections are all aligned in the same plane and define outer horizontal sections, each of the left and right bars further including a first inner horizontal section coupled between the front and central horizontal sections, and a second inner horizontal section coupled between the central and rear horizontal sections, with the first and second inner horizontal sections being aligned in the same plane, but different from the plane of the outer horizontal sections.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein each inner horizontal section is coupled to two adjacent outer horizontal sections via a transverse section.
7. An oven assembly, comprising:
- an oven having interior side walls, with a plurality of ledges provided in aligned fashion on the side walls, each ledge having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a rear edge;
- rack assembly for use in an oven, comprising: a rack; a rack frame having a left bar, a right bar, and a rear bar attached to rear ends of the left bar and the right bar; and wherein each left bar and right bar has a front vertical section, a front horizontal section coupled to the front vertical section, a rear horizontal section coupled to the rear of the front horizontal section, and a rear vertical section that is coupled to the rear of the rear horizontal section, and wherein: the front vertical section extends downwardly from the front of the front horizontal section; the rear vertical section extends upwardly from the rear of the rear horizontal section; the front horizontal section is disposed at a higher vertical level than the rear horizontal section; and the rear bar has opposite ends that are coupled to the rear vertical section of each of the left and right bars;
- wherein the left and right bars of the rack frame are seated on pairs of aligned ledges in a manner where the front vertical section and the front horizontal section of the left and right bars abut the front edge and the top edge of the ledges, and the rear vertical section and the rear horizontal section of the left and right bars abut the rear edge and the bottom edge of the ledges.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each left and right bar further includes a central horizontal section that is positioned between the front and rear horizontal sections, with the central horizontal section aligned at the same vertical level as the front horizontal section, and with the central horizontal section of each left and right bar resting on the top edge of a corresponding ledge.
9. The assembly of claim 7, further including a slide assembly that couples the rack to the rack frame, the slide assembly having a slide member that carries the rack forward from the rack frame.
10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the front, central and rear horizontal sections are all aligned in the same plane.
11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the front, central and rear horizontal sections are all aligned in the same plane and define outer horizontal sections, each of the left and right bars further including a first inner horizontal section coupled between the front and central horizontal sections, and a second inner horizontal section coupled between the central and rear horizontal sections, with the first and second inner horizontal sections being aligned in the same plane, but different from the plane of the outer horizontal sections, and with the inner horizontal sections being coupled to the rack.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein each inner horizontal section is coupled to two adjacent outer horizontal sections via a transverse section.
13. A method of inserting a rack assembly into an oven, comprising:
- providing an oven having interior side walls, with a plurality of ledges provided in aligned fashion on the side walls, each ledge having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a rear edge;
- providing rack assembly for use in an oven, comprising: a rack; a rack frame having a left bar, a right bar, and a rear bar attached to rear ends of the left bar and the right bar; and wherein each left bar and right bar has a front vertical section, a front horizontal section coupled to the front vertical section, a rear horizontal section coupled to the rear of the front horizontal section, and a rear vertical section that is coupled to the rear of the rear horizontal section, and wherein: the front vertical section extends downwardly from the front of the front horizontal section; the rear vertical section extends upwardly from the rear of the rear horizontal section; the front horizontal section is disposed at a higher vertical level than the rear horizontal section; and the rear bar has opposite ends that are coupled to the rear vertical section of each of the left and right bars;
- inserting the rack assembly into the oven at angle such that the rear vertical section and the rear horizontal section are below a target ledge and the front vertical section and the front horizontal section are above the target ledge; and
- pivoting the rack assembly such that the rear vertical section hooks on to the rear edge of the target ledge in an upward motion, and the front vertical section hooks on to the front edge of the target ledge in a downward motion.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of pivoting the rack assembly includes pivoting the rack assembly about a central portion of the rack assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 6, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 13, 2009
Inventor: Daniel Dao (Diamond Bar, CA)
Application Number: 12/322,823
International Classification: F24C 15/16 (20060101); A47F 7/00 (20060101);