Oven baffle

Abstract

A baffle for directing air in a convection oven is disclosed herein. The baffle includes upper vents, lower vents and side vents that draw in air from the cooking chamber, or discharge air from a fan into the cooking chamber of the convection oven. Left and right conduits are disposed around the fan that redirect air drawn in from the upper and lower vents, or pushes the air through the upper and lower vents. The left and right conduits and locations of the upper and lower vents are configured to produce airflow throughout the cooking chamber and even distribution of cooking temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convection oven comprising:
 a baffle comprising:
 a panel with a front surface and a rear surface; 
 an inlet opening generally at a center of the panel; 
 upper vents toward a top edge of the panel; 
 lower vents toward a bottom edge of the panel; 
 side vents toward a left edge and a right edge of the panel; 
 a left conduit on the rear surface of the baffle, the left conduit configured to draw in air from the lower vents and direct the air toward the inlet opening; 
 a right conduit on the rear surface of the baffle, the right conduit configured to draw in air from the upper vents and direct the air toward the inlet opening; and 
   a fan adjacent the inlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , wherein the left conduit surrounds the lower vents and comprises a left conduit opening and wherein the right conduit surrounds the upper vents and comprises a right conduit opening. 
     
     
         3 . The convection oven of  claim 2 , wherein each of the left conduit inlet and the right conduit inlet are disposed adjacent the inlet opening and span approximately a quarter of the circumference of the inlet opening. 
     
     
         4 . The convection oven of  claim 2 , wherein a width of the left conduit increases proceeding from the left conduit opening to the lower vents. 
     
     
         5 . The convection oven of  claim 2 , wherein a width of the right conduit increases proceeding from the right conduit opening to the upper vents. 
     
     
         6 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , wherein the left conduit and right conduit have a generally triangular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , wherein the left conduit and right conduit have a thickness between approximately 0.25 inch to approximately 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , wherein the left conduit and right conduit have a thickness of approximately 0.4 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating element coiled around the fan. 
     
     
         10 . The convection oven of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter over the inlet opening. 
     
     
         11 . A baffle for a convection oven, the baffle comprising:
 a panel with a front surface and a rear surface;   an inlet opening generally at a center of the panel;   upper vents toward a top edge of the panel;   lower vents toward a bottom edge of the panel; and   a pair of air conduits on the rear surface of the baffle, the air conduits configured to draw in air from the upper vents and lower vents and direct the air toward the inlet opening.   
     
     
         12 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein each air conduit comprises an air conduit opening and an end surrounding the lower or upper vents. 
     
     
         13 . The baffle of  claim 12 , wherein the air conduit opening are disposed adjacent the inlet opening and spans approximately a quarter of the circumference of the inlet opening. 
     
     
         14 . The baffle of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the air conduits increase proceeding from the air conduit opening to the ends. 
     
     
         15 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the air conduits have a generally triangular shape. 
     
     
         16 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the air conduits comprise a generally horizontal top side and a first side extending from the top side at an angle at least approximately 90 degrees and/or less than or equal to approximately 135 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the air conduits comprise a generally horizontal end side and a second side extending from the end side at an angle at least approximately 45 degrees and/or less than or equal to approximately 135 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the air conduits have a thickness between approximately 0.25 inch to approximately 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         19 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the air conduits have a thickness of approximately 0.4 inch. 
     
     
         20 . The baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the baffle is at least partially made of sheet metal.