Cooking appliance console assembly with attachment features adapted for structural support

Abstract

A console assembly for a cooking appliance includes a first supporting end post mountable on an upper surface of the cooking appliance on a first side thereof. The first supporting end post defines a first outer surface having a perimeter and a first flange offset from the outer surface and extending outwardly from the perimeter. The console assembly also includes a console body having a first major face and a first inwardly-turned end surface on a first side of the first major face. The console body has at least one control unit for the cooking appliance mounted thereto. The console body is coupled with the first supporting end post by engagement of the inwardly-turned end surface with the first flange of the first supporting end post with the inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the first outer surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A console assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising:
 a first supporting end post mountable adjacent to an upper surface of the cooking appliance on a first side thereof, the first supporting end post defining a first outer surface having a perimeter and a first flange offset from the outer surface and extending outwardly from the perimeter; and   a console body having a first major face and a first inwardly-turned end surface on a first side of the first major face and being coupled with the first supporting end post by engagement of the inwardly-turned end surface with the first flange of the first supporting end post with the inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the first outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flange of the first supporting end defines at least one notch extending inwardly toward the perimeter with a tab positioned within the notch; and   the console body includes at least one tab extending laterally from an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface, the notch defining a slot with the tab of the first supporting end being received in the notch to couple the console body to the first supporting end.   
     
     
         3 . The console assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tab of the first supporting end is received in the notch in a press-fit arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first supporting end defines at least one slot positioned at an interface between the first outer surface and the first flange; and   the console body includes at least one tab extending away from an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface generally parallel to the inwardly-turned end surface [may be offset with connector not making it not generally parallel] and being received within the slot of the first supporting end to couple the console body to the first supporting end.   
     
     
         5 . The console assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the perimeter of the outer surface of the first flange includes a forward portion and an upper portion;   the at least one slot includes a first slot positioned along the forward portion of the perimeter and a second slot positioned along the upper portion of the perimeter;   the inwardly-turned end surface includes a rearwardly-extending portion and a downwardly-extending portion;   the at least one tab includes a first tab positioned along the rearwardly-extending portion and a second tab positioned along the downwardly-extending portion; and   the first tab and second tab respectively engage with the first and second slots in a snap fit arrangement.   
     
     
         6 . The console assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the console body defines a return flange coupled with an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface and extending parallel therewith in a direction toward the first major face and an attachment flange coupled with the return flange opposite the inwardly-turned end surface and extending parallel therewith in a direction away from the first major face; and   the first flange of the first supporting end is received between the return flange and the attachment flange of the console body to couple the console body with the first supporting end post.   
     
     
         7 . The console assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the return flange and the attachment flange comprise a reinforcing frame portion on the first end of the console body. 
     
     
         8 . The console assembly of  claim 1 , further including a second supporting end post mountable on the upper surface of the cooking appliance on a second side thereof, the second supporting end post defining a second outer surface having a perimeter and a second flange offset from the outer surface and extending outwardly from the perimeter, wherein:
 the console body further has a second inwardly-turned end surface on a second side of the first major face opposite the first inwardly-turned end surface, the console body being coupled with the second supporting end post by engagement of the second inwardly-turned end surface with the second flange of the second supporting end post with the second inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the second outer surface.   
     
     
         9 . The console assembly of  claim 1 , further including at least one of a control unit and a display unit for the cooking appliance being directly coupled to console body on an interior thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A cooking appliance, comprising:
 a cooktop upper surface; and   a console assembly extending upwardly from a rear edge of the cooktop upper surface and including:
 a first supporting end post mountable on the upper surface of the cooking appliance on a first side thereof adjacent the rear edge, the first supporting end post defining a first outer surface having a perimeter and a first flange offset from the outer surface and extending outwardly from the perimeter; and 
 a console body having a first major face and a first inwardly-turned end surface on a first side of the first major face, the console body being coupled with the first supporting end post by engagement of the inwardly-turned end surface with the first flange of the first supporting end post with the inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the first outer surface; and 
 at least one control unit for the cooking appliance mounted to the console body. 
   
     
     
         11 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first flange of the first supporting end defines at least one notch extending inwardly toward the perimeter with a tab positioned within the notch; and   the console body includes at least one tab extending laterally from an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface, the notch defining a slot with the tab of the first supporting end being received in the notch to couple the console body to the first supporting end.   
     
     
         12 . The cooking appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tab of the first supporting end is received in the notch in a press-fit arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first supporting end defines at least one slot positioned at an interface between the first outer surface and the first flange; and   the console body includes at least one tab extending away from an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface generally parallel to the inwardly-turned end surface [may be offset with connector not making it not generally parallel] and being received within the slot of the first supporting end to couple the console body to the first supporting end.   
     
     
         14 . The cooking appliance of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the perimeter of the outer surface of the first flange includes a forward portion and an upper portion;   the at least one slot includes a first slot positioned along the forward portion of the perimeter and a second slot positioned along the upper portion of the perimeter;   the inwardly-turned end surface includes a rearwardly-extending portion and a downwardly-extending portion;   the at least one tab includes a first tab positioned along the rearwardly-extending portion and a second tab positioned along the downwardly-extending portion; and   the first tab and second tab respectively engage with the first and second slots in a snap fit arrangement.   
     
     
         15 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the console body defines a return flange coupled with an edge of the inwardly-turned end surface and extending parallel therewith in a direction toward the first major face and an attachment flange coupled with the return flange opposite the inwardly-turned end surface and extending parallel therewith in a direction away from the first major face; and   the first flange of the first supporting end is received between the return flange and the attachment flange of the console body to couple the console body with the first supporting end post.   
     
     
         16 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , further including a second supporting end post mountable on the upper surface of the cooking appliance on a second side thereof, the second supporting end post defining a second outer surface having a perimeter and a second flange offset from the outer surface and extending outwardly from the perimeter, wherein:
 the console body further has a second inwardly-turned end surface on a second side of the first major face opposite the first inwardly-turned end surface, the console body being coupled with the second supporting end post by engagement of the second inwardly-turned end surface with the second flange of the second supporting end post with the second inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the second outer surface.   
     
     
         17 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the console body defines a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to the first major face thereof; and   the at least one control unit includes a plurality of control units coupled directly to an interior of the console body, each one of the plurality of control units having operative portions extending through respective ones of the apertures and extending to an exterior of the console body.   
     
     
         18 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the console assembly further includes lower, top, and rear cover members coupled with the first supporting end post respectively beneath, above, and rearward the console body. 
     
     
         19 . A console assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising:
 first and second supporting end posts mountable on an upper surface of the cooking appliance on respective first and second sides thereof, each of the first and second supporting end posts defining respective first and second outer surfaces having a respective perimeter and respective first and second flanges offset from the respective outer surface and extending outwardly from the respective perimeter; and   a console body having a first major face, a first inwardly-turned end surface on a first side of the first major face, and a second inwardly-turned end surface on a second side of the first major face opposite the first inwardly-turned end surface, the console body being coupled with the first supporting end post by engagement of the first inwardly-turned end surface with the first flange of the first supporting end post with the inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the first outer surface and with the second supporting end post by engagement of the second inwardly-turned end surface with the second flange of the second supporting end post with the second inwardly-turned end surface positioned outside of the first flange and the first major surface extending perpendicular to the second outer surface; and   at least one control unit for the cooking appliance mounted to the console body on an interior thereof and having an operative portion positioned on an exterior of the console body.   
     
     
         20 . The console assembly of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the console body defines a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to the first major face thereof; and   the at least one control unit includes a plurality of control units coupled directly to an interior of the console body, each one of the plurality of control units having operative portions extending through respective ones of the apertures and extending to an exterior of the console body.