DIVIDER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A divider assembly for dividing a cooking cavity of an appliance includes a housing portion. The housing portion includes front and rear walls spaced-apart from one another, upper and lower walls spaced-apart from one another, and first and second end walls spaced-apart from one another to define an interior cavity. The housing portion further includes an access slot opening into the interior cavity of the housing portion. A roller is positioned within the housing portion for rotation therein. A deployable divider includes a flexible body portion having first and second ends. The deployable divider is coupled to the roller at the second end of the body portion. The deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein a portion of the deployable divider is positioned outside of the housing portion, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to divider assembly and more specifically, to a divider assembly for an appliance for dividing a cooking cavity of the appliance

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a rack system for a cooking cavity of an appliance includes a rack assembly having a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion, with a body portion disposed therebetween. A divider assembly is operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly and includes a housing portion having an interior cavity. A deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein the deployable divider is operably coupled to the front portion of the rack assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion. A body portion of the deployable divider covers the body portion of the rack assembly when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a divider assembly includes a housing portion. The housing portion includes front and rear walls spaced-apart from one another, upper and lower walls spaced-apart from one another, and first and second end walls spaced-apart from one another to define an interior cavity. The housing portion further includes an access slot opening into the interior cavity of the housing portion. A roller is positioned within the housing portion for rotation therein. A deployable divider includes a body portion having first and second ends. The deployable divider is coupled to the roller at the second end of the body portion. The deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein a portion of the deployable divider is positioned outside of the housing portion, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes one or more walls defining a cooking cavity. A rack assembly is supported on the one or more walls of the cooking cavity, and includes a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion with a body portion disposed therebetween. A divider assembly is operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly, and includes a housing portion having an interior cavity. The divider assembly further includes a deployable divider that is operable between retracted and deployed positions. A body portion of the deployable divider divides the cooking cavity into upper and lower cooking areas when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an appliance having a rack assembly positioned in a cooking cavity thereof, with a divider assembly coupled to the rack assembly;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 1 with a deployable divider of the divider assembly shown in a deployed position;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional top perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2 taken at line III;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional bottom perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2 taken at line III;

FIG. 4 is a rear top perspective view of a divider assembly;

FIG. 5 is a front top perspective view of the divider assembly of FIG. 4 showing the deployable divider in the deployed position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the divider assembly of FIG. 4 taken at line VI;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the divider assembly of FIG. 5 taken at line VII;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a divider assembly exploded away from a rack assembly;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the divider assembly of FIG. 8 engaging the rack assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional top perspective view of a divider assembly engaged with a rack assembly;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the divider assembly and rack assembly of FIG. 8 with a deployable divider shown in a deployed position;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the deployable divider engaging a front portion of the rack assembly of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a divider assembly showing a deployable divider in a deployed position;

FIG. 14 is a close up top perspective view of the divider assembly of FIG. 13 taken at location XIV;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a divider assembly coupled to a rack assembly as positioned within a cooking cavity; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the divider assembly and rack assembly of FIG. 15 as fully received within the cooking cavity.

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a divider assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an appliance 10 is shown having a cooking cavity 12. The cooking cavity 12 includes a plurality of walls 14 which define the cooking cavity 12. Specifically, the plurality of walls 14 of the cooking cavity 12 includes first and second sidewalls 20, 22 that are opposed sidewalls that are spaced-apart from one another. The first and second sidewalls 20, 22 are interconnected by upper and lower walls 24, 26, and a rear wall 28. Together, the first and second sidewalls 20, 22, the upper and lower walls 24, 26, and the rear wall 28 cooperate to define the parameters of the cooking cavity 12. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of rack support members 21 are positioned on the first sidewall 20 in a configuration wherein individual rack support members of the plurality of rack support members 21 are vertically spaced-apart from one another. It is contemplated that a plurality of rack support members are also positioned on the second sidewall 22 in a mirrored configuration relative to the plurality of rack support members 21 positioned on the first sidewall 20. In this way, a rack system 30 can be supported within the cooking cavity 12 between the first and second sidewalls 20, 22.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the rack system 30 includes a rack assembly 32. The rack assembly 32 includes a front portion 34 that is spaced-apart from a rear portion 36 (FIG. 3A) to define a body portion 38 positioned therebetween. A first side 40 of the rack assembly 32 is shown supported on a rack support member of the plurality of rack support members 21 positioned on the first sidewall 20. Further description of the rack assembly 32 is provided with specific reference to FIG. 8.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a divider assembly 50 is operably coupled to the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32. The divider assembly 50 is shown in FIG. 1 with a deployable divider 52 (FIG. 2) thereof in a retracted position. As such, the deployable divider 52 is a retractable member that can also be pulled out to a deployed position, as best shown in FIG. 2. With the deployable divider 52 in the deployed position, the cooking cavity 12 is divided into upper and lower cooking cavities 16A, 16B.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, with the deployable divider 52 in the deployed position, the deployable divider 52 is coupled to the front portion 34 of the rack assembly 32, as further described below. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 is positioned below the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the divider assembly 50 includes a housing portion 54 having an interior cavity 56. As noted above, the deployable divider 52 is operable between a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and a deployed position (FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B). As noted above, the deployable divider 52 includes a body portion 70 which is housed within the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54, as best shown in FIG. 6, when the deployable divider 52 is in the retracted position. As further shown in FIG. 6, the housing portion 54 includes upper and lower walls 60, 62 that are opposed walls that are spaced-apart from one another, and front and rear walls 64, 66 that are opposed walls that are also spaced-apart from one another. The upper and lower walls 60, 62 are interconnected by the rear wall 66, and the front wall 64 upwardly extends from the lower wall 62. Together, the upper and lower walls 60, 62 and the front and rear walls 64, 66 cooperate to define the parameters of the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54. The housing portion 54 further includes a first end wall 67 (FIG. 6) and a second end wall 69 (FIG. 4) that are opposed end walls that are spaced-apart from one another, such that the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54 is a substantially closed cavity having a rectangular configuration. It is contemplated that the housing portion 54 may be comprised of a roll formed sheet metal material having a first end 61 and a second end 63. As shown in FIG. 6, a downwardly angled introductory ramp 65 is positioned adjacent the second end 63 of the housing portion 54 that outwardly and downwardly extends from the front wall 64 of the housing portion 54. Further, an access slot 68 is positioned between the upper wall 60 and the front wall 64, through which the deployable divider 52 enters and exits the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54. Thus, the upper wall 60 and the front wall 64 are spaced-apart from one another to define the access slot 68 positioned therebetween, such that the access slot 68 opens into the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54.

As further shown in FIG. 6, the deployable divider 52 is positioned on a roller 72 which is contemplated to be rotatably mounted between the first and second end walls 67, 69 of the housing portion 54 for rotation within the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54. In this way, the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 is configured to rotate with the roller 72 in first and second rotational directions as indicated by arrows R1, R2. In FIG. 6, it is contemplated that the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 has rotated with the roller 72 in the rotational direction as indicated by arrow R2, such that the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 has wrapped around the roller 72 and itself until the entirety of the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 is housed within the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54 on the roller 72. It is contemplated that the roller 72 may be biased towards rotation in the rotational direction R2, such that the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 is biased towards the retracted position. It is contemplated that the bias of the deployable divider 52 is provided using a spring mechanism coupled to or integrated with the roller 72.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the divider assembly 50 includes an engagement member 80. The engagement member 80 includes a hook member 81. The hook member 81 includes a first portion 82 that is spaced-apart from a second portion 84 to define a receiving channel 88 therebetween. The first portion 82 and the second portion 84 are interconnected by a curved intermediate portion 86 to generally define a C-shaped configuration. The receiving channel 88 of the hook member 81 is an inwardly opening receiving channel. As shown in FIG. 6, the second portion 84 of the hook member 81 is coupled to a first end 74 of the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52. As further shown in FIG. 6, the roller 72 is coupled to a second end 76 of the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52. In this way, the deployable divider 52 includes the body portion 70 positioned between the first and second ends 74, 76 thereof. In FIG. 6, the hook member 81 of the engagement member 80 is accessible from outside of the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. In this way, a user can engage the engagement member 80 to pull the deployable divider 52 towards the deployed position from the retracted position in a substantially horizontal direction as indicated by arrow 89, away from the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. In use, the engagement member 80 is configured to receive a component part of the front portion 40 of the rack assembly 32 in the receiving channel 88 to retain the deployable divider 52 in a deployed position, such that the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 covers the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, a user will pull the engagement member 80 until the engagement member 80 clears the front portion 40 of the rack assembly 32, at which time the engagement member 80 can be lifted vertically, and receive the front portion 40 of the rack assembly 32 in the receiving channel 88 thereof as the deployable divider 52 retracts towards the retracted position as biased thereto. As further shown in FIG. 6, the second portion 84 of the hook member 81 of the engagement member 80 includes a thickness or width D1 that is greater than a width D2 of the access slot 68, such that the engagement member 80 does not retract into the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54. Instead, the second portion 84 of the hook member 81 of the engagement member 80 is contemplated to abut the upper wall 60 and front wall 64 at the access slot 68 positioned therebetween when the deployable divider 52 is in the fully retracted position. Thus, the width D1 of the second portion 84 of the hook member 81 of the engagement member 80 is greater than the width D2 of the access slot 68 as measured between the upper wall 60 and the front wall 64 of the housing portion 54 along the access slot 68.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the divider assembly 50 also includes one or more brackets 90. With specific reference to FIG. 6, the bracket 90 shown therein includes a hook member 91. The hook member 91 includes a first portion 92 that is spaced-apart from a second portion 94 to define a receiving channel 98 therebetween. The first portion 92 and the second portion 94 are interconnected by a curved intermediate portion 96 to generally define an inverted U-shaped configuration. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the first portion 92 of the hook member 91 is an inwardly angled portion, such that the hook member 91 is positioned over the upper wall 60 of the housing portion 54. Thus, the hook member 91 both upwardly and inwardly extends at an angle α above the upper wall 60 of the housing portion 54. As used herein, the term angle α is meant to define any angle that is less than 90° as measured between the first portion 92 of the hook member 91 and the upper wall 60 of the housing portion 54. The receiving channel 98 of the hook member 91 is a downwardly opening receiving channel. As further shown in FIG. 6, the bracket 90 further includes a base portion 100, wherein the base portion 100 includes a first portion 102 coupled to the rear wall 66 of the housing portion 54 and a second portion 104 extending orthogonally from the first portion 102 and coupled to the lower wall 62 of the housing portion 54. As further shown in FIG. 6, with the base portion 100 coupled to the rear wall 66 and the lower wall 62 of the housing portion 54, the hook member 91 extends upwardly and inwardly over the housing portion 54 at the upper wall 60 thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7, the divider assembly 50 is shown with the deployable divider 52 in a partially deployed position. The body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 includes a first portion 70A that is deployed and thereby positioned outside of the housing portion 54. The body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 further includes a second portion 70B that is housed within the interior cavity 56 of the housing portion 54 when the deployable divider 52 is in the partially deployed position.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the rack system 30 is shown with divider assembly 50 exploded away from the rack assembly 32. As shown in FIG. 8, the rack assembly 32 includes a frame assembly 44, wherein the frame assembly 44 is defined by the front and rear portions 34, 36 as interconnected by first and second sides 40, 42. The frame assembly 44 is provided as a wire frame assembly that is configured to be supported within the cooking cavity 12 at the first and second sides 40, 42 thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. As further shown in FIG. 8, the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32 is comprised of a plurality of cross members 48 which extend between the front and rear portions 34, 36 of the rack assembly 32. The cross members 48 of the rack assembly 32 are configured to support a food item or cookware item within the cooking cavity 12 of the oven 10. In FIG. 8, the front portion 34 and rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 are shown as crossbars that run substantially perpendicular to the cross members 48.

With reference to FIGS. 8-10, the mounting of the divider assembly 50 to the rack assembly 32 will now be described. With specific reference to FIG. 8, the divider assembly 50 is positioned above the rack assembly 32 at the rear portion 36 thereof. Further, the divider assembly 50 has been rotated, such that the hook members 91 of the brackets 90 are directed towards the rack assembly 32. From the position shown in FIG. 8, the divider assembly 50 is moved downward towards the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 in the direction as indicated by arrow 106, such that the hook members 91 of the brackets 90 are positioned within spacings 49 provided between adjacent cross members 48 of the rack assembly 32, as shown in FIG. 9. From the position shown in FIG. 9, the divider assembly 50 is rotated in the direction as indicated by arrows 108 to engage the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 with the hook members 91 of the brackets 90 of the divider assembly 50. From the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10, the divider assembly 50 is rotated in the direction as indicated by arrow 110 (FIG. 10) to secure a portion 36A of the crossbar defined at the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 within the receiving channel 98 of the hook member 91 shown in FIG. 10. It is contemplated that another portion of the crossbar defined at the rear portion 36 the rack assembly 32 is also received in the corresponding receiving channel 98 of the adjacent hook member 91 shown in FIG. 8. In this way, the hook members 91 support the divider assembly 50 from the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 at dual support points along the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32. As noted above, the hook member 91 of the bracket 90 is inwardly angled over the upper wall 60 of the housing portion 54. With this angle configuration, the hook member 91 imparts a rotational moment on the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50 towards rotation in the direction as indicated by arrow 110, such that the upper wall 60 of the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50 may abut an underside 48A of the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32, as defined along the cross members 48 thereof, when the divider assembly 50 is supported from the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, deployment of the deployable divider 52 will now be described. The deployable divider 52 is deployed from the housing portion 54 by a user engaging the engagement member 80 and pulling the engagement member 80 in the direction as indicated by arrows 89 from the housing portion 54 towards the front portion 34 of the rack assembly 32. As noted above, once the engagement member 80 clears the front portion 34 of the rack assembly 32, the engagement member 80 is positioned in front of the front portion 34 of the rack assembly 32 and retracted back in the direction as indicated by arrow 89A, towards which the deployable divider 52 is biased, such that the crossbar defined at the front portion 34 of the rack assembly 32 is received in the receiving channel 88 of the hook member 81 of the engagement member 80. This configuration is best shown in FIG. 12. In this way, the deployable divider 52 is retained in the deployed position, whereby the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 covers the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32. As used herein, the term “cover” does not necessarily mean that the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 is positioned above the body portion 38, but rather, the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32 may be positioned above the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52, in the manner as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Thus, the term “cover”, as used herein, describes the positioning of the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 in the deployed position as being adjacent to the body portion 38 of the rack assembly 32. In this way, the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 separates the cooking cavity 12 into upper and lower cooking areas 16A, 16B.

The deployable divider 52 is contemplated to be a flexible member that can be rolled upon itself and the roller 72 within the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. Being comprised of a flexible material, the deployable divider 52 is easily deployed and retracted relative to the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. This provides an ease of use of the divider assembly 50 of the present concept as opposed to the rigid cooking cavity dividers known in the art, and also provides a deployable divider 52 that can be easily stowed in a cooking cavity 12 where available space is limited. Material suitable for the deployable divider 52 may include flexible fabric materials, such as glass fiber fabrics, ceramic fiber fabrics and carbon fiber fabrics, for example. The deployable divider 52 must be able to withstand cooking temperatures reached within the cooking cavity 12 of the oven 10 (FIGS. 1, 2) during a cooking sequence. The material used for the deployable divider 52 can be coated to provide a heat insulating property to divide the cooking cavity 12 into upper and lower cooking areas 16A, 16B when different temperatures are desired within the upper and lower cooking areas 16A, 16B. Thus, the deployable divider 52 not only physically divides the cooking cavity 12 when the deployable divider 52 is in the deployed position, but thermally divides the cooking cavity 12, such that different foods can be cooked at different temperatures within the upper and lower cooking areas 16A, 16B during a single cooking sequence. The deployable divider 52 may also be comprised of a material suitable for radiating heat throughout the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52. In this sense, the divider assembly 50 may be a powered accessory, as further described below.

Referring now to FIG. 13, another embodiment of the divider assembly 50 is shown, wherein the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50 includes connecting plugs 120 and 122. As shown in FIG. 13, the connecting plugs 120, 122 rearwardly extend from the rear wall 66 of the housing portion 54. In this way, the connecting plugs 120, 122 can connect to a power receptacle positioned within an oven cavity, as further described below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the connecting plugs 120, 122 are positioned adjacent to the end wall 67, 69, respectively, of the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. It is contemplated that the connecting plugs 120, 122 can be positioned in other areas of the housing portion 54, and fewer or more connecting plugs may be provided for powering the divider assembly 50.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the connecting plug 120 is shown and the description of which is contemplated to describe connecting plug 122 as well. As shown in FIG. 14, the connecting plug 120 includes a plug member 124 which outwardly extend from a bezel 126. In this way, the plug member 124 extends rearwardly from the rear wall 66 of the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50, such that the plug member 124 can engage a power receptacle positioned on a rear wall of an oven cavity as the divider assembly 50 is positioned on a rack assembly within the oven cavity.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the divider assembly 50 is positioned on the rack assembly 32 within the cooking cavity 12 of the oven 10. As the rack assembly 32 slides inwardly into the cooking cavity 12 towards a fully received position, the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32 approaches the rear wall 28 of the cooking cavity 12. As coupled to the rear portion 36 of the rack assembly 32, the divider assembly 50 also approaches the rear wall 28 of the cooking cavity 12. As noted above, and further shown in FIG. 15, the connecting plug 120 of the divider assembly 50 rearwardly extends from the housing portion 54 of the divider assembly 50. The connecting plug 120 is aligned with a power receptacle 130 positioned on the rear wall 28 of the cooking cavity 12, as supported on the rack assembly 32. In this way, plug member 124 of the connecting plug 120 is received in the power receptacle 130 of the oven 10 as the rack assembly 32 moves to the fully received position within the cooking cavity 12, as best shown in FIG. 16. In this way, the connecting plugs 120, 122 (FIG. 13) of the divider assembly 50 are in selective communication with power receptacles 130 of the oven 10. As such, is contemplated that the oven 10 may include another power receptacle positioned on an opposite side of the rear wall 28 from the power receptacle 130 shown in FIG. 15 that is configured to receive connecting plug 122. The divider assembly 50 may include a resistive heating element that is configured to heat the deployable divider 52 for heating one of the upper or lower cooking areas 16A, 16B, or both, during a cooking sequence.

It is contemplated that a film heater can be used along with various chemical compositions to provide a heating element to the deployable divider 52. For example, the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52 may include a high temperature resistant polymer matrix or ceramic-based matrix that is blended with active fillers. The active fillers may include graphene, graphite and other carbon compounds that are able to generate heat and to be balanced in the coating composition to achieve the right level of coating flexibility and resistance value. In this way, the deployable divider 52 can be deployed and rolled, as described above, while still having heating capabilities. The coating/thin film can be applied onto the body portion 70 of the deployable divider 52, and can then be connected to an electric power supply through the use of printed metal circuits and then powered through a connection provided between the connecting plug 120 and the power receptacle 130 positioned on the rear wall 28 of the cooking cavity 12. In this way, is contemplated that the flexible material of the deployable divider 52 may be a material suitable for radiating heat within the cooking cavity 12.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a rack system for a cooking cavity of an appliance includes a rack assembly having a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion, with a body portion disposed therebetween. A divider assembly is operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly and includes a housing portion having an interior cavity. A deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein the deployable divider is operably coupled to the front portion of the rack assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion. A body portion of the deployable divider covers the body portion of the rack assembly when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

According to another aspect, the divider assembly includes a bracket coupled to the housing portion. The bracket includes a hook member positioned over the housing portion and having a receiving channel.

According to another aspect, the rear portion of the rack assembly includes a crossbar. A portion of the crossbar is received in the receiving channel of the hook member of the bracket.

According to another aspect, the hook member is inwardly angled and positioned above an upper wall of the housing portion.

According to another aspect, the divider assembly includes an engagement member coupled to a first end of the body portion of the deployable divider. The engagement member includes a hook member having a receiving channel.

According to another aspect, the front portion of the rack assembly includes a crossbar. The crossbar is received in the receiving channel of the hook member of the engagement member to retain the deployable divider in the deployed position.

According to another aspect, a roller is rotatably mounted within the interior cavity of the housing portion of the divider assembly. A second end of the body portion of the deployable divider is coupled to the roller.

According to another aspect, the deployable divider is biased by the roller to the retracted position.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a divider assembly includes a housing portion. The housing portion includes front and rear walls spaced-apart from one another, upper and lower walls spaced-apart from one another, and first and second end walls spaced-apart from one another to define an interior cavity. The housing portion further includes an access slot opening into the interior cavity of the housing portion. A roller is positioned within the housing portion for rotation therein. A deployable divider includes a body portion having first and second ends. The deployable divider is coupled to the roller at the second end of the body portion. The deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein a portion of the deployable divider is positioned outside of the housing portion, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion.

According to another aspect, one or more brackets are coupled to the housing portion. Each of the one or more brackets includes a hook member that upwardly and inwardly extends at an angle above the upper wall of the housing portion.

According to another aspect, each of the one or more brackets further includes a base portion. The base portion includes a first portion coupled to the rear wall of the housing portion and a second portion coupled to the lower wall of the housing portion.

According to another aspect, an engagement member includes a hook member having a first portion that is spaced-apart from a second portion to define a receiving channel therebetween. The second portion of the hook member is coupled to the first end of the body portion of the deployable divider.

According to another aspect, the second portion of the hook member includes a width that is greater than a width measured between the upper wall and the front wall of the housing portion at the access slot.

According to another aspect, the deployable divider is comprised of a flexible fabric material.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes one or more walls defining a cooking cavity. A rack assembly is supported on the one or more walls of the cooking cavity, and includes a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion with a body portion disposed therebetween. A divider assembly is operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly, and includes a housing portion having an interior cavity. The divider assembly further includes a deployable divider that is operable between retracted and deployed positions. A body portion of the deployable divider divides the cooking cavity into upper and lower cooking areas when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

According to another aspect, the deployable divider is received within the housing portion of the divider assembly when the deployable divider is in the retracted position.

According to another aspect, the deployable divider is a flexible member that is biased towards the retracted position.

According to another aspect, the deployable divider covers the body portion of the rack assembly when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

According to another aspect, the body portion of the deployable divider includes a coating having a high temperature resistant polymer matrix

According to another aspect, the divider assembly includes one or more connecting plugs outwardly extending from the housing portion thereof.

According to another aspect, the cooking cavity includes one or more power receptacles configured to receive the one or more connecting plugs of the divider assembly to power a resistive heating element of the divider assembly.

According to another aspect, the cooking cavity includes one or more power receptacles configured to receive the one or more connecting plugs of the divider assembly to connect the coating of the deployable divider with a power source for heating the deployable divider.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

Claims

1. A rack system fora cooking cavity of an appliance, comprising:

a rack assembly having a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion, with a body portion disposed therebetween; and

a divider assembly operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly, wherein the divider assembly includes a housing portion having an interior cavity, and a deployable divider operable between a deployed position, wherein the deployable divider is operably coupled to the front portion of the rack assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion, and further wherein a body portion of the deployable divider covers the body portion of the rack assembly when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

2. The rack system of claim 1, wherein the divider assembly includes a bracket coupled to the housing portion, wherein the bracket includes a hook member positioned over the housing portion and having a receiving channel.

3. The rack system of claim 2, wherein the rear portion of the rack assembly includes a crossbar, and further wherein a portion of the crossbar is received in the receiving channel of the hook member of the bracket.

4. The rack system of claim 3, wherein the hook member is inwardly angled and positioned above an upper wall of the housing portion.

5. The rack system of claim 1, wherein the divider assembly includes an engagement member coupled to a first end of the body portion of the deployable divider, wherein the engagement member includes a hook member having a receiving channel.

6. The rack system of claim 5, wherein the front portion of the rack assembly includes a crossbar, and further wherein the crossbar is received in the receiving channel of the hook member of the engagement member to retain the deployable divider in the deployed position.

7. The rack system of claim 5, including:

a roller rotatably mounted within the interior cavity of the housing portion of the divider assembly, wherein a second end of the body portion of the deployable divider is coupled to the roller.

8. The rack system of claim 7, wherein the deployable divider is biased by the roller to the retracted position.

9. A divider assembly, comprising:

a housing portion, wherein the housing portion includes front and rear walls spaced-apart from one another, upper and lower walls spaced-apart from one another, and first and second end walls spaced-apart from one another to define an interior cavity, wherein the housing portion further includes an access slot opening into the interior cavity of the housing portion;

a roller positioned within the housing portion for rotation therein; and

a deployable divider having a body portion with first and second ends, wherein the deployable divider is coupled to the roller at the second end of the body portion, and further wherein the deployable divider is operable between a deployed position, wherein a portion of the deployable divider is positioned outside of the housing portion, and a retracted position, wherein the deployable divider is housed within the interior cavity of the housing portion.

10. The divider assembly of claim 9, including:

one or more brackets coupled to the housing portion, wherein each of the one or more brackets includes a hook member that upwardly and inwardly extends at an angle above the upper wall of the housing portion.

11. The divider assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more brackets includes a base portion that includes a first portion coupled to the rear wall of the housing portion and a second portion coupled to the lower wall of the housing portion.

12. The divider assembly of claim 9, including:

an engagement member having a hook member, wherein the hook member includes a first portion that is spaced-apart from a second portion to define a receiving channel therebetween, and further wherein the second portion of the hook member is coupled to the first end of the body portion of the deployable divider.

13. The divider assembly of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the hook member includes a width that is greater than a width measured between the upper wall and the front wall of the housing portion at the access slot.

14. The divider assembly of claim 9, wherein the deployable divider is comprised of a flexible fabric material.

15. An appliance, comprising:

one or more walls defining a cooking cavity;

a rack assembly supported on the one or more walls of the cooking cavity, wherein the rack assembly includes a front portion spaced-apart from a rear portion, with a body portion disposed therebetween; and

a divider assembly operably coupled to the rear portion of the rack assembly, wherein the divider assembly includes a housing portion having an interior cavity, and a deployable divider operable between retracted and deployed positions, wherein a body portion of the deployable divider divides the cooking cavity into upper and lower cooking areas when the deployable divider is in the deployed position.

16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the deployable divider is received within the housing portion of the divider assembly when the deployable divider is in the retracted position.

17. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the deployable divider is a flexible member that is biased towards the retracted position.

18. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the body portion of the deployable divider includes a coating having a high temperature resistant polymer matrix.

19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the divider assembly includes one or more connecting plugs outwardly extending from the housing portion thereof.

20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the cooking cavity includes one or more power receptacles configured to receive the one or more connecting plugs of the divider assembly to connect the coating of the deployable divider with a power source for heating the deployable divider.