Glass-ceramic plate and its manufacturing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glass-ceramic plate, intended notably to cover heating elements, and having at least one opening located within a local deformation of the plate, this opening being at a location other than a heating area and/or having at least one dimension greater than 10 cm and/or an angular and/or complex shape. The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing the plate and to the cooking appliance comprising said plate.

1 . A glass-ceramic plate intended, for example, to cover or receive heating elements, and comprising at least one opening located within a local deformation of the plate, this opening being at a location other than a heating area and/or having at least one dimension greater than 10 cm and/or an angular and/or complex shape.  
   
   
       2 . The plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein it is provided or combined or intended to be used with a suction hood allowing in particular the extraction of cooking gases.  
   
   
       3 . The plate as claimed in either of claims  1  and  2 , wherein the opening is at least 35 mm from the edge and/or from each heating area of the plate.  
   
   
       4 . The plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the opening occupies a position mid-way between the cooking areas, generally it is in a central area of the plate.  
   
   
       5 . The plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the opening has a polygonal or angular shape.  
   
   
       6 . The plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the hood is located beneath the plate in its operating position.  
   
   
       7 . The plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the opening is covered with a protective element preventing objects from dropping through it while still allowing the cooking gases to be sucked out, such as a mesh.  
   
   
       8 . A process for manufacturing a plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  7 , comprising the forming of the plate, preferably consisting in a sinking, molding or pressing operation, with, where appropriate, the use of one or more supports or one or more surfaces having the desired geometry.  
   
   
       9 . The process as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a forming operation is carried out by a sinking operation, in order to raise the edge of the opening relative to the plane of the plate during the glass plate ceramification cycle, the raising being preferably produced by means of an element or bearing piece of shape corresponding to that of the opening that it is desired to obtain.  
   
   
       10 . A cooking and/or high-temperature-maintaining device comprising a glass-ceramic plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  7 .  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for manufacturing a glass-ceramic plate as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  7 , comprising at least one element or bearing piece for producing the raised feature.