Combination appliance and method for assembling a combination appliance

Abstract

The present invention concerns a combination appliance ( 10 ) comprising a cooking hob ( 12 ) and an extraction device ( 14 ) for an extraction of kitchen exhaust air. The extraction device ( 14 ) comprises an extraction device housing ( 28 ), which is arrangeable at a bottom side of the cooking hob ( 12 ), preferably at a bottom wall ( 60 ) of a cooking hob housing ( 62 ). The extraction device housing ( 28 ) comprises a. a basic structure or carrying structure and/or at least one housing wall, and b. attachment points and/or fastening means for an attachment—of at least one module or a component of the extraction de-vice ( 14 ), and/or—of at least one module or component, in particular a power board module ( 54 ), of the cooking hob ( 12 ) in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing ( 28 ). Further disclosed are another combination appliance ( 10 ) and methods for assembling a combination appliance ( 10 ).

1 . A combination appliance comprising a cooking hob and an extraction device for an extraction of kitchen exhaust air, the extraction device comprising an extraction device housing, which is arrangeable at a bottom side of the cooking hob, at a bottom wall of a cooking hob housing, wherein the extraction device housing comprises:
 a. a basic structure or carrying structure and/or at least one housing wall, and   b. attachment points and/or fastening means for an attachment of:
 at least one module or component of the extraction device, and/or 
 at least one module or component, of the cooking hob, 
   in or at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or on the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing.   
     
     
         2 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the extraction device housing includes a bottom wall and side walls, wherein assembly of the bottom wall and the side walls of the extraction device housing with the bottom wall of the cooking hob housing form a sealed housing, wherein a seal of said sealed housing excludes an inlet or suction opening and an outlet opening of the extraction device housing. 
     
     
         3 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein a fan unit is attachable or attached at the basic structure or carrying structure and/or at the at least one housing wall, wherein the fan unit;
 comprises a first suction opening and a second suction opening arranged on opposing sides of a fan housing, and   is arranged in the extraction device housing in a central position, thereby providing at least approximately equal suction areas, and/or is arranged in a horizontal alignment of a rotation axis of a fan wheel.   
     
     
         4 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one electronic board of the cooking hob is attachable or attached at an outer surface of the at least one housing wall of the extraction device housing. 
     
     
         5 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooking hob is designed as a modular system, comprising:
 a first module or component, which is configured to be arranged in or to fit in a cut-out space of a worktop of a kitchen cabinet or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette, the first module or component being arranged in the cooking hob housing, and   a second module or component, which is configured to be physically assigned to and/or to be attached to the extraction device housing.   
     
     
         6 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one electronic board of the cooking hob and/or of the extraction device is attachable or attached at an outer surface of the extraction device housing by means of a casing of the at least one electronic board. 
     
     
         7 . The combination appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein said outer surface is a surface of the at least one housing wall, wherein said at least one housing wall is vertically arranged or is inclined from a vertical axis, and wherein a first electronic board and a second electronic board of said at least one electronic board are provided and the first electronic board is allocated to a first housing wall of the at least one housing wall and the second electronic board is allocated to a second housing wall of the at least one housing wall. 
     
     
         8 . The combination appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein the extraction device housing and/or the casing, comprise;
 first fastening means configured to enter into a hook assembly, and   second fastening means configured to establish a final fixation, by means of screws or snapping means.   
     
     
         9 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the extraction device housing further comprises at least an area or a portion, which is made of an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         10 . The combination appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the extraction device housing is shaped like a truncated pyramid or is prism-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The combination appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said extraction device is a downdraft extraction device for a downdraft extraction of kitchen exhaust air,
 wherein the cooking hob housing is configured to be entirely arranged in a space including:
 a cut-out of a worktop of a kitchen cabinet or a built-in kitchen or a kitchenette, or 
 the cut-out of the worktop of the built-in kitchen or the kitchenette and an intermediate space between the worktop and a top plate of the kitchen cabinet, which is arranged beneath the worktop, 
   wherein the extraction device housing is configured to be entirely arranged or to entirely fit in at least an upper part of an interior space of the kitchen cabinet, such that horizontal dimensions of the extraction device housing are adjusted to dimensions of a horizontal cross-sectional area of the kitchen cabinet by leaving a gap between inner surfaces of vertical walls of the kitchen cabinet and the outer surfaces of the extraction device housing, wherein said gap is negligible compared to the dimensions of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the kitchen cabinet.   
     
     
         12 . A method for assembling the combination appliance according to  claim 1 , the extraction device being configured to extract kitchen exhaust air through a suction opening arranged in a cooktop of the cooking hob, wherein the method comprises:
 mounting said at least one module or component of the cooking hob on an outer surface of a housing wall of said at least one housing wall of the extraction device.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein two modules or components, are provided, wherein a first module or component of said two modules or components is a first electronic module, wherein a second module or component of said two modules or components is a second electronic module, wherein the first electronic module is mounted on a first housing wall, wherein the second electronic module is mounted on a second housing wall, and wherein the first and second housing walls are opposing walls. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the cooking hob is designed as a modular system comprising a hob assembly including a heating system for at least one cooking zone, and the first and second electronic modules, wherein prior to the step of mounting, the first and second electronic modules are pre-positioned on a left side and on a right side of the hob assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein prior to the step of mounting, a pre-assembling of the extraction device is performed by an installation of said least one component or module on or in an interior of the basic structure or carrying structure. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein an assembling step of connecting the extraction device housing to the bottom wall of the cooking hob housing by a slide-in movement of the extraction device relatively to the cooking hob, is provided prior to or after the step of mounting. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , the method comprising the steps of
 providing a hob assembly, which comprises a heating system for at least one cooking zone,   providing at least one electronic module,   positioning the hob assembly and the at least one electronic module in a side-by-side arrangement,   electrically connecting the at least one electronic module to the hob assembly,   pre-mounting an assembly of the extraction device comprising the extraction device housing, which receives or includes said at least one module or component of the extraction device,   supplying the pre-mounted assembly of the extraction device to the hob assembly,   connecting the extraction device housing to the hob assembly,   mechanically connecting the at least one electronic module to a surface of a first side wall of the extraction device housing, thereby performing a swivel movement,   mechanically and electrically connecting a control unit of the extraction device to a surface of a second side wall of the extraction device housing.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising a step of threading into or pulling in power wiring and communication wiring in a guiding channel and/or into guiding or mounting hooks, the power wiring and the communication wiring being allocated to separate guiding channels and/or guiding or mounting hooks, said power wiring and said communication wiring being provided for the electrical connection between the at least one electronic module and the hob assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A method for assembling the combination appliance according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of;
 providing the extraction device, which is configured to be universally combined with one member of a plurality of different models of cooking hobs, wherein a first member of said plurality of different models differentiates from a second member of said plurality of different models in at least one dimension,   providing a hob unit selected from the plurality of different models of cooking hobs, depending on the combination appliance model to be assembled,   establishing a mechanical connection between the hob unit and the extraction device, and   establishing an electrical connection between the hob unit and the extraction device.   
     
     
         20 . A combination cooking appliance, comprising:
 a cooking hob including:
 a hob housing having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls; 
 a cooktop spaced from the bottom wall via said plurality of side walls, said cooktop having first and second cooking zones defined thereon and a suction opening configured to receive cooking vapors; and 
   an extraction device configured to extract said cooking vapors received by said suction opening, said extraction device including:
 an extraction housing having a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, said first and second side walls being arranged opposite from one another and said third and fourth side walls being arranged opposite from one another, said extraction housing being connected to the cooking hob such that said bottom wall of the extraction housing is spaced from said bottom wall of the hob housing via said first, second, third, and fourth side walls, wherein each of said first and second side walls is inclined relative to a vertical axis of the extraction device; and 
 a fan unit disposed within said extraction housing and positioned in a central location thereof, said fan unit having first and second suction openings arranged on opposing sides of a fan housing, wherein said first and second suction openings face said first and second side walls of said extraction housing, respectively, 
   
       wherein first and second power boards are disposed on respective outer surfaces of said first and second side walls, respectively, said first and second power boards being configured to supply said first and second zones with electrical power,
 wherein a fan control module is disposed on an outer surface of said third side wall, said third side wall extending between said first and second side walls, and 
 wherein an outlet opening is formed in said fourth side wall, said fan unit being in fluid communication with said outlet opening.