Bracket assembly for a cooktop

Abstract

A cooktop defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The cooktop includes a cooking surface and a frame coupled with the cooking surface. The frame defines at least one recess. The frame comprises a tab. The cooktop also includes a bracket operably coupled with the frame. The bracket defines a first aperture configured to receive the tab. The bracket comprises at least one flange operably received by the at least one recess. The cooktop also includes a user input device disposed within a path defined at least in part by the cooking surface, the frame, and the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooktop defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the cooktop comprising:
 a cooking surface;   a frame coupled with the cooking surface, the frame defining at least one recess, wherein the frame comprises a tab;   a bracket operably coupled with the frame, the bracket defining a first aperture configured to receive the tab, wherein the bracket comprises at least one flange operably received by the at least one recess; and   a user input device disposed within a path defined at least in part by the cooking surface, the frame, and the bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further defines a first fastener aperture, wherein the bracket further defines a second fastener aperture operably aligned with the first fastener aperture via at least one of the tab received by the first aperture or the at least one flange received by the at least one recess. 
     
     
         3 . The cooktop of  claim 2 , wherein a fastener operably disposed with the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture couples the frame with the bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a frame sidewall, wherein the frame sidewall defines the at least one recess. 
     
     
         5 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises a bracket sidewall, wherein the bracket sidewall comprises the at least one flange. 
     
     
         6 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a frame embossed portion, wherein the bracket further comprises a bracket embossed portion operably engaged with the frame embossed portion, wherein the frame is spaced from the bracket by the frame embossed portion and the bracket embossed portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , further comprising a grommet operably coupled with the user input device, the grommet defining a grommet aperture configured to receive the user input device. 
     
     
         8 . The cooktop of  claim 7 , wherein the grommet further defines the path. 
     
     
         9 . The cooktop of  claim 8 , wherein the tab received by the first aperture and the at least one flange received by the at least one recess allow the user input device to be inserted into the path without intersecting the grommet, the frame, and the bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the tab has a first width, and wherein the at least one recess has a second width that is substantially similar to the first width. 
     
     
         11 . The cooktop of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange has a third width, and wherein the at least one recess has a fourth width that is substantially similar to the third width. 
     
     
         12 . A bracket assembly for a cooktop, the cooktop comprising a cooking surface and a user input device, the bracket assembly comprising:
 a frame coupled with the cooking surface, the frame comprises a tab, wherein the frame defines:
 a plurality of recesses; and 
 a first fastener aperture; 
   a bracket coupled with the frame, the bracket comprises a plurality of flanges configured to be received by the plurality of recesses, respectively, wherein the bracket defines:
 a first aperture configured to receive the tab; and 
 a second fastener aperture operably aligned with the first fastener aperture; 
   a fastener disposed within the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture; and   wherein the frame, the bracket, and the cooking surface of the cooktop each define a user input device aperture that each align to define a path for the user input device.   
     
     
         13 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the frame further comprises a frame base, and wherein the frame base comprises a frame embossed portion to space the frame base from the bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The bracket assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket further comprises a bracket base, and wherein the bracket base comprises a bracket embossed portion engaged with the frame embossed portion such that the bracket base is spaced from the frame base by the bracket embossed portion and the frame embossed portion. 
     
     
         15 . The bracket assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the frame further comprises a frame sidewall, and wherein the frame sidewall defines the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The bracket assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the frame sidewall has a height at the plurality of recesses that is substantially to a distance the frame base is spaced from the bracket base such that the frame coupled with the bracket allows:
 the plurality of flanges to engage the frame sidewall within the plurality of recess; and   the frame embossed portion to engage the bracket embossed portion.   
     
     
         17 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a grommet defining a grommet aperture, wherein the grommet aperture further defines the path for the user input device. 
     
     
         18 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first fastener aperture operably aligns with the second fastener aperture via at least one of the plurality of flanges being received by the plurality of recesses or the tab being received by the first aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the tab has a first width, wherein the first aperture has a second width substantially equal to the first width, and wherein the tab has a narrowed tip. 
     
     
         20 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12  wherein the frame has a plurality of sloped edges leading into the plurality of recesses, respectively.