Sealing Device For An Oven Door

Abstract

The present device relates to a sealing device for an oven door. A groove or channel (2g) is formed on the door case (2) of the oven (1), and a sealing gasket (P) is attached to an interior surface of the groove or channel (2g). An extrusion (3t) is formed on the frame (3f) of the door (3), aligned for insertion into the groove (2g). Therefore, if the door (3) is closed, the extrusion, (3t) formed on the frame (3f) of the door (3) is inserted into the groove or channel (2g) coming in firm elastic contact with the gasket (P) and sealing the oven firmly. Sealing contact is maintained between the oven door (3) and door case (2), while protecting the gasket (P) from damage.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to ovens, and in particular to a sealing device for an oven door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ovens of various kinds are designed in such a way that if the oven door is closed to the door case, the cooking chamber of the oven, in which food is heated or cooked, is sealed from the outside to prevent the leakage into the ambient environment of burning gases, vapor, vaporized oil content, odor, etc. generated, in using an oven.

In all conventional ovens, as shown in FIG. 5, both the door frame (F) and the door case (D) of the oven are made up of a chassis in a substantially sectional form, and a gasket (P) is attached to the inside of the door frame (F) via an adhesive such as silicon (S). Accordingly, when the door placed in a closed configuration, the gasket (P) causes the door case (D) and the door frame (F) to come into sealing contact with each other, and to be maintained in that state. The gasket (P) may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as rubber.

With the passage of time, the sealing contact between the oven door case and the door frame created by the gasket deteriorates gradually from physical damage and wear and tear to the gasket material. As the sealing contact between the oven door case and the door frame created by the gasket deteriorates, burning gasses, vapor, vaporized oil content, odor, and the like can then leak through the resulting gap created between the oven door and the door case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is designed to solve this problem by providing a groove or channel along the entire exterior perimeter of the door case of the oven that comes in contact with the door frame, attaching a sealing rubber gasket in an interior of said groove or channel, and forming an extrusion on the portion of the interior of the door frame that come in contact with the door case. That extrusion is cooperatively aligned with the groove or channel for insertion into said groove or channel when the door is placed in the closed configuration, so that if the door is closed, the extrusion formed on the door frame is inserted into the groove and comes in close contact with the rubber gasket leading to the desired sealing contact between the oven door and the door case. As a result, the useful life span of the oven is extended, since the gasket is substantially protected from damage regardless of whether the oven door is in the open or the closed configuration. Advantageously, this improvement is achieved without substantial change to the basic structure of the oven door case or door, is simple, and presents little risk of mechanical failure.

As the sealing gasket is attached to the interior surface of the groove, there is little likelihood of the gasket suffering damage by wear and tear or exposure to the environment, such as friction from opening/closing the oven door, physical damage such as scratching or tearing of the gasket, and the like. As a result, the rubber gasket is maintained safely, preserving the desired sealing contact between the door case and the door frame.

With the added enhancement of this sealing device, the oven can be used for a longer time more safely and conveniently than ovens with conventional sealing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present device showing the oven door in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present device showing the oven door in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a partial expanded perspective view of the door case and the door frame of the present device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present device showing sealing contact between the door case and the door frame; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a prior art oven showing sealing contact between the door case and the door frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, in an oven (1) having a hinged door (3) for opening to and from the door case (2) of the oven, and as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a groove or channel (2g) is provided to substantially frame the entire perimeter of the door case (2) that comes in contact with the frame (3f) of the door (3). A sealing gasket (P) is attached to an interior surface of the groove or channel (2g), in the depicted embodiment being at least a bottom surface of the interior of a rectangular groove or channel (2g). An aligned extrusion (3t), substantially corresponding in exterior dimension to the interior dimension of the groove or channel (2g), is provided on the interior of the frame (3f) of the portion of the door that comes in contact with the door case (2). The extrusion (3t) is aligned with the groove or channel (2g) whereby if the door (3) of the oven (1) is closed, the extrusion (3t) formed on the frame (3f) of the door (3) is inserted into the groove or channel (2g) of the door case (2). At this time, the protruding surface (3s) of the extrusion (3t) contacts with the gasket (P), creating the desired sealing contact between the door (3) and the door case (2) of the oven (1). In the depicted embodiments, the door case (2) the door (3), the groove or channel (2g), and the extrusion (3t) all define substantially rectangular shapes. However, the skilled artisan will recognize that any suitable shape or configuration for those structures is contemplated, with the caveat that the desired sealing contact be provided between the door case (2) and the door (3).

As explained above, in the present device, a groove or channel (2g) is formed on the door case (2) of the oven. A gasket (P) is attached to an interior of the groove or channel (2g), and an extrusion (3t) is formed on the frame (3f) of the door (3) for insertion into said groove or channel (2g), so that if the door (3) is closed, the extrusion (3t) formed on the frame (3f) is inserted into the groove or channel (2g) of the door case (2) and the protruding surface (3s) of the extrusion (3t) comes in close contact with the gasket (P) attached to the groove or channel (2g) of the door case (2). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, if the door of the oven is closed, the protruding surface (3s) of the frame (3f) of the door (3) comes in close contact with the gasket (P) attached to the groove (2g) of the door case (2) and remains in that state. Advantageously, the rubber gasket (P) is thereby protected from damage, but the door case (2) and the frame (3f) of the door (3) can still be placed in sealing contact to prevent escape of burning gases, vapors, and the like as discussed above.

Claims

1. A seating device for an oven door in an oven (1) having a hinged door (3) for opening to and from a door case (2) of the oven, comprising:

a) a groove or channel (2g) formed on an exterior perimeter of the door case (2);

b) a scaling gasket (P) attached to an interior surface of the groove or channel (2g); and

c) an extrusion (3t) formed on an interior of the frame (3f) of the door (3), wherein the extrusion (3t) is aligned with the groove or channel (2g);

whereby upon placing the door (3) in a closed configuration a portion of the extrusion (3t) contacts the rubber gasket (P), providing a sealing contact between the door (3) and the door case (2).