HK1177961A - Control device for kitchen appliance - Google Patents

Description

Control device for kitchen appliances

Technical Field

The present invention relates to kitchen appliances, particularly, but not necessarily, cooktops (cooking hobs) and/or kitchen fumes covers (cooking hobs).

Background

Recently it is known that hobs are provided with one or more heating elements, comprising for example electric resistors or halogen lamps, and adapted to generate heat and to transfer it into a pot or similar container containing the food to be cooked.

The heating element is usually mounted in a housing, the base plate of which is made of an insulating material of suitable thickness having reflective properties for the infrared radiation emitted by the heating element.

The heating element is covered by an upper surface on which a pan or container containing the food product can rest, the upper surface being adapted to allow the passage of heat generated by the heating element.

The upper surface may be made of laminated glass or, more often, the upper surface is a material of glass-ceramic or glass-ceramic.

The known hob also comprises, instead of the heating elements, one or more induction coils capable of generating a variable magnetic field suitable for inducing in a metal pot or similar container an electric current which causes resistive heating of such metal pot or container to cook the food product contained therein.

Furthermore, in this case the induction coil is covered by a sheet of microcrystalline glass material, the microcrystalline glass substantially not interfering with the magnetic field generated by the induction coil, against which the container containing the food product can rest.

The above-mentioned known hob is provided with control means adapted to activate/deactivate/adjust the heating element/induction coil.

For example, EP 0887594 discloses a display and control device comprising a rectangular frame with an inclined front face, three or more fires, and a row of display and control devices arranged at the inclined front face. In one embodiment, the inclined face is constructed in one piece from the same glass-ceramic material as the frame; in another embodiment, the frame and the angled face are separately manufactured from the same material or different materials and assembled together. The inclined face can be metallic and the frame can be made of a glass-ceramic material.

However, this solution also has the drawback that the display and control means are provided at the inclined front face of the rectangular frame, which can cause discomfort in use, especially in the case of users who are very close to the hob (which often occurs, for example, when the user has to stir the food contained in the pan), and which can force the user to move away from the hob in order to view the display means and/or use the control means.

EP 0831276 discloses a kitchen cooking assembly comprising: the electric heating element is arranged below the microcrystalline glass stove, the electric control unit is arranged below the microcrystalline glass stove, and the electric control unit comprises a touch-sensitive controller which is arranged on the upper surface of the stove and used for controlling the heating element; and an in-built electric furnace adjacent to the microcrystalline glass cooker. The furnace is provided with corresponding control and regulation members, which are also arranged on the glass-ceramic cooktop and are also constituted by touch-sensitive controls.

This solution, however, also has drawbacks; in fact, touch-sensitive controls are arranged on the upper surface of the hob and therefore there is a risk that they come into contact with the food contained in the pot placed on the hob, which may dirty and/or damage such controls.

Furthermore, the touch-sensitive controls are very close to the electrical heating elements and thus the user may be in contact with these heating elements when using the touch-sensitive controls, with the risk of burning himself.

Known touch-sensitive controllers for kitchen appliances are described, for example, in US 4121204, which discloses a user input/output device (particularly for controlling a fire or the like) comprising a light-emitting, segmented bar graph display member and an array of light-transmissive touch-sensitive areas suspended over the bar graph display member. Suitable circuitry is responsive to the touch sensitive areas and is connected to actuate segments of the bar graph such that when any touch sensitive area is touched, the corresponding display segment and all display segments to one side are energized and the remaining display elements are de-energized. In particular US 4121204 discloses a fire comprising four conventional electric surface heating units and four corresponding input/output devices arranged on the right hand portion of a vertical fire control panel. However, due to this positioning, the input/output means may result in difficult access, especially if the pan of the other container is arranged on the heating unit.

Kitchen appliances used in combination with other appliances, such as kitchen fume hoods; for example EP 0578600 discloses a remote control system for a household appliance in order to control a primary induction heating device or a glass-ceramic device provided with a transmitter and an infrared sensor-receiver or a radio receiving device, which components are located above or below the ceramic glass, so that the controller of the heater is placed on the front of the appliance, for example a kitchen hood, or in an area comprised in the range of infrared or radio waves, for using a remote control.

This solution has some drawbacks, however, and in fact, if the controls of the heater are placed on the front of the appliance (e.g. a kitchen hood), the same problems as indicated above with reference to EP 0887594 can be present, which can lead to uncomfortable use of these controls. On the other hand, the use of a remote control increases the cost of the kitchen appliance.

Another example of a kitchen appliance for use in combination with a kitchen fume hood is shown in DE 19545942, which discloses a hob with a ceramic glass hob surface incorporated in the worktop of a semi-freestanding unit (pensular unit) so that the cooking area is accessible from either side; the extraction hood is positioned closely above the cooktop surface. All the operation controls and display components of the cooktop and exhaust fan are combined in a single control unit that is directly connected to the cooktop surface or extraction hood.

However, also in this case the use of the control unit is not very comfortable, especially in case the user is very close to the kitchen appliance.

It is thus an object of the present invention to obtain a kitchen appliance, in particular a hob and/or a kitchen fume hood, which can be operated in a comfortable and ergonomic manner even by a user very close to the kitchen appliance.

Within this aim, a further object of the invention is to provide the user with his feedback on the operation of the kitchen appliance

Another object of the present invention is to obtain a kitchen appliance that allows the user to also operate one or more other kitchen appliances.

The object of the present invention is thus to solve the above-mentioned problems, thereby overcoming the drawbacks of the cited prior art.

The inventors have found that by providing a touch-sensitive control device on a side surface of a kitchen appliance, which is adapted to operate one or more electronic/electromechanical devices provided on the same kitchen appliance and/or one or more other kitchen appliances, the same kitchen appliance and/or other kitchen appliances can be operated in a very comfortable and ergonomic way, thereby allowing the user to easily operate the kitchen appliance even if he is very close to the kitchen appliance.

Disclosure of Invention

In particular, the above objects and objects, together with others which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a kitchen appliance comprising:

one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices;

a front surface adapted to face a user once the kitchen appliance is installed;

a side surface substantially perpendicular to the front surface,

the side surface is provided with a touch-sensitive control device adapted to operate the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more other kitchen appliances.

Suitably, the side surfaces are arranged such that, once the kitchen appliance is installed, such side surfaces are inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in order to facilitate use of the touch-sensitive control device.

Suitably, the kitchen appliance comprises connection means adapted to allow the touch-sensitive control means of the kitchen appliance to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical means of one or more other kitchen appliances.

Advantageously, the kitchen appliance comprises selection means adapted to allow a user to select which one of the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances has to be operated by the touch-sensitive control means at a particular moment in time.

Advantageously, the touch-sensitive control device comprises a touch-sensitive sensor and a lighting device operated by the touch-sensitive sensor.

Suitably, the touch-sensitive sensor is connected to the side surface in such a way that the touch-sensitive sensor is able to detect a sliding of the body adjacent to or in contact with the side surface (7a, 7 b).

Preferably, the illumination means is adapted to illuminate the side surface in such a way that if a region of the side surface has not previously been illuminated by the illumination means, the region is illuminated during and/or after the body is slid over the side surface in the first sliding direction, whereas if a region of the side surface has previously been illuminated by the illumination means, the region is dimmed during and/or after the body is slid over the side surface in the second direction.

Suitably, the kitchen appliance comprises a further side surface substantially perpendicular to the front surface, the further side surface being provided with further touch-sensitive control means adapted to operate the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more further kitchen appliances.

In a preferred embodiment, the kitchen appliance comprises a hob defining said side surfaces and comprising a working surface provided with one or more heating devices, said side surfaces being substantially perpendicular or inclined with respect to said working surface. In this case, the other kitchen appliances comprise one or more kitchen fumes covers and/or one or more other cookers.

Drawings

In summary, the features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the description given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of two kitchen appliances (in particular cooktops and kitchen fume hoods) according to the invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the two kitchen appliances of fig. 1 in different operating conditions.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance, in particular a kitchen appliance comprising a hob 1 and/or a kitchen fume hood 2.

Referring to the drawings, the hob 1 comprises a box-shaped housing 6a, preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, adapted to be positioned on a top surface 8 of kitchen furniture, such as a cupboard (kitchen base).

The box-shaped enclosure 6a comprises a front surface 14a, the front surface 14a being adapted to face a user, not shown, once the hob 1 is mounted on the top surface 8; in other words, in order to use the hob 1, the user must stay substantially in front of the front surface 14 a.

The box-shaped enclosure 6a also includes a side surface 7a substantially perpendicular to the front surface 14 a.

The box-shaped enclosure 6a is closed upwards by a working surface 3a, which working surface 3a is advantageously substantially horizontal, preferably but not necessarily made of a material of laminated glass, or glass-ceramic.

Suitably, the side surface 7a is substantially perpendicular or inclined with respect to the working surface 3 a.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the working surface 3a and the side surface 7a are made separately of the same or different materials and are subsequently assembled together; in another embodiment (not shown), the working surface 3a and the side wall 7a are formed as a unitary structure, for example made of a single piece of microcrystalline ceramic material, and are suitably shaped to define the working surface 3a and the side wall 7 a.

Advantageously, the hob 1 comprises one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices; advantageously, these electric and/or electromechanical devices comprise one or more (preferably, but not necessarily, four or five) heating devices 4, the heating devices 4 being adapted to heat a pan 5 (or similar container) resting on the work surface 3a, in order to cook the food product contained in such a pan 5.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the hob 1 advantageously comprises four heating devices 4, the heating devices 4 being positioned inside the box-shaped enclosure 6a, below the working surface 3 a; in fig. 1 and 2, the heating means 4 are represented schematically by a dot-dash line, since they are covered by the work surface 3a and they are not visible from the outside.

Advantageously, the one or more heating means 4 may comprise, for example, one or more electric resistors or halogen lamps positioned below the work surface 3a and adapted to generate heat and to transfer the heat to an overlying pot 5 (or similar container) resting on the work surface 3 a; suitably, the working surface 3a is adapted in this case to allow the passage of heat generated by the heating means 4.

In another embodiment, the one or more heating means 4 advantageously comprise one or more induction coils positioned below the work surface 3a and adapted to generate a variable magnetic field which generates an electric current in a metal pot 5 (or similar metal container) placed above one of these induction coils, the electric current causing resistive heating of such metal pot 5 to cook the food product contained therein; in this case, the work surface 3a is made of a material (for example, glass-ceramic material) adapted not to disturb the magnetic field generated by the induction coil.

In another embodiment (not shown), the one or more heating means comprise one or more gas burners positioned in suitable seats obtained in the work surface 3a and provided with suitable electrical valves for the output of gas.

In another embodiment (not shown), the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices may further comprise one or more lighting devices, for example one or more LEDs (light emitting diodes), (not shown), which are associated with the working surface 3a and/or the box-shaped enclosure 6a and are adapted to illuminate the hob 1 and/or the surrounding environment.

In another embodiment (also not shown), the one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices advantageously comprise one or more display elements (not shown) provided on the work surface 3a and/or on the box-shaped enclosure 6a and adapted to communicate one or more data to the user, for example the time elapsed since the start of the cooking program.

Advantageously one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices may be connected to electrical devices in the building (in which the hob 1 is placed) by electrical connections, including for example suitable cables (not shown) leading from the box-shaped enclosure 6 a.

The kitchen fumes hood 2 comprises a box-shaped enclosure 6b, closed downwards by the work surface 3b and provided with a front surface 14b, the front surface 14b being adapted to face a user (not shown) once installed; in other words, in order to use the kitchen hood 2, the user must stay generally in front of the front surface 14 b.

The box-shaped enclosure 6b also includes a side surface 7b substantially perpendicular to the front surface 14 b.

Suitably, the working surface 3b may be substantially horizontal, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings, or, in another embodiment (not shown), it may also be inclined.

The kitchen fumes hood 2 comprises one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices; advantageously, the one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices comprise one or more suction devices (not shown) comprising, for example, one or more fans suitable for acting on (aspire) the gas and fumes through the work surface 3b and for filtering and/or evacuating such gas and fumes through suitable filtering/evacuation devices (not shown).

In another embodiment, not shown, the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices may also comprise one or more lighting devices, for example one or more LEDs (light emitting diodes), not shown, associated with the work surface 3b and/or the box-shaped enclosure 6b and adapted to illuminate the kitchen fumes hood 2 and/or the surrounding environment.

In another embodiment (also not shown), the one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices advantageously comprise one or more display means (not shown) provided on the work surface 3b and/or on the box-shaped casing 6b and adapted to communicate one or more data to the user, such as the speed of the fan, etc.

Advantageously, in the kitchen appliance according to the invention, the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b are provided with touch-sensitive control means (to be described below) adapted to operate (i.e. control, drive) one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more other kitchen appliances.

Suitably, two or more kitchen appliances according to the invention may be interconnected by suitable connection means adapted to allow operation of one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of one of the two or more kitchen appliances by using a touch-sensitive control device at or on the other cooking appliance.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the connection means advantageously comprise one or more electric wires or cables 15, connecting the hob 1 to the kitchen fumes hood 2; in another embodiment (not shown), the connection means may comprise a wireless transmission system, such as a radio wave transmission system, an infrared transmission system, a so-called "bluetooth" transmission system, or the like.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the hob 1 comprises a side surface 7a, the side surface 7a being provided with touch sensitive control means adapted to operate (i.e. activate, deactivate, adjust) one or more heating means associated with the hob 1. In this embodiment, touch-sensitive control means associated with the lateral surface 7a of the hob 1 are connected to the kitchen fumes hood 2 by connection means (for example electric wires or cables 15, or a wireless transmission system, not shown) to enable operation (i.e. activation, deactivation, adjustment) of one or more suction means of the kitchen fumes hood 2 (for example a fan housed in the box-shaped enclosure 6 b). In this case, by means of a touch-sensitive control associated with the hob 1, the kitchen fumes cover 2 can thus also be activated, deactivated, adjusted.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the kitchen fumes cover 2 also comprises a lateral surface 7b, the lateral surface 7b being provided with touch-sensitive control means adapted to operate (i.e. activate, deactivate, adjust) one or more suction means associated with the kitchen fumes cover 2; also in this case, the touch-sensitive control means associated with the lateral surface 7b of the kitchen fumes cover 2 are connected to the hob 1 by connection means (for example electric wires or cables 15, or a wireless transmission system, not shown) to enable operation of one or more heating means 4 of the hob 1. The hob 1 can thus also be operated from the kitchen fumes hood 2.

Thus, according to the present invention, there may be two or more kitchen appliances, all of which are connected to each other by one or more connection means (e.g. wires or cables, or a wireless transmission system) so that one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of one of the two or more kitchen appliances may be operated (i.e. controlled, driven) by means of one or more touch-sensitive control devices provided on one or more of the two or more kitchen appliances.

Obviously, the touch-sensitive control means may be provided on only one of two or more kitchen appliances, which are connected to each other by one or more connection means (for example, wires or cables, or a wireless transmission system); in this case, by using the touch-sensitive control device provided on another kitchen appliance, a kitchen appliance to which the touch-sensitive control device is not provided can be operated.

For example, three kitchen appliances according to the invention (e.g. two hobs and one kitchen fume hood) may be mutually connected by one or more connection means (e.g. wires or cables, or a wireless transmission system), and one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the three kitchen appliances (e.g. a heating device of a hob and a fan of a kitchen fume hood) may be operated by means of one or more touch-sensitive control devices provided on one or more of the kitchen appliances.

For example, in case of two hobs and one kitchen fume hood, the touch-sensitive control device may be provided on only one of the plurality of hobs and may be adapted to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of both hobs and of the kitchen fume hood. In another embodiment, the touch-sensitive control device may be provided only on the kitchen fume hood and may be adapted to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of both cookers and of the kitchen fume hood. In another embodiment of the invention, two touch-sensitive control devices are provided both on the kitchen fume hood and on one of the cooktops, and both are adapted to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of all three kitchen appliances.

Obviously, a touch-sensitive control device may be provided on only one kitchen appliance (e.g. the hob 1), the touch-sensitive control device being adapted to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of such kitchen appliance.

Any other combination is obviously possible.

Advantageously, the touch-sensitive control means provided on the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b comprise touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b (which will be better described below), and lighting means (not shown), which are operated by the touch-sensitive sensors.

Advantageously, a kitchen appliance according to the invention comprises an electronic controller, for example an electronic panel or an electronic microcontroller, which is adapted to operatively connect the touch-sensitive sensor, the lighting means, the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical means, and the connecting means, if present, which are adapted to connect the touch-sensitive control means of the kitchen appliance with one or more other kitchen appliances.

The electronic controller may be configured and/or programmed to operate (i.e. control, drive) one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the kitchen appliance in a specific manner, depending on a specific action detected by the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances connected thereto by connection means (e.g. electric wires or cables, or wireless transmission systems).

For example, with reference to the figures, an electronic controller (not shown) is connected to the hob 1 and can be configured and/or programmed to activate/deactivate one of the heating means 4 of the hob 1 depending on a specific action detected by the touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b of the hob 1 or of the kitchen fume hood 2.

A further electronic controller (not shown) is connected to the kitchen hood 2 and can be configured and/or programmed to activate/deactivate the exhaust fan of the hob 1 depending on the specific action detected by the touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b of the kitchen hood 2 or of the hob 1.

Preferably, the touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b are adapted to detect movements of a body (e.g. a finger, a hand, etc.) placed close to or in contact with such touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b in at least two different directions, e.g. two linear movements of the body in two opposite directions.

For example, the touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b can be capacitive sensors, or inductive sensors, or optical sensors, or piezoelectric sensors, etc.

Advantageously, the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b are associated with the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b in such a way that the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b are able to detect the sliding of the body (i.e. the user's hand, or one or more fingers) in the vicinity of the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b or in contact with the lateral surfaces 7a, 7 b; suitably, the touch sensitive sensors 16a, 16b may be fixed behind or in front of the side surfaces 7a, 7 b.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b are fixed behind each side surface 7a, 7b and are not visible from the outside, so they have been schematically indicated with a dash-dot line.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the illumination device comprised in the touch sensitive control device may comprise one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and/or one or more light guides, such as optical fibers; it is obvious that the lighting means may comprise any other electric or electronic light source (i.e. halogen lamp, light bulb, etc.).

Suitably, the illumination system is adapted to illuminate the side surfaces 7a, 7b in such a way that if an area of the side surfaces 7a, 7b was previously dark (i.e. not illuminated by the illumination means), the area is illuminated during and/or after the body is slid over/over the area in the first sliding direction, and if an area of the side surfaces 7a, 7b was previously illuminated by the illumination means, the area is dimmed during and/or after the body is slid over/over the area in the second sliding direction.

This allows the user to have visual feedback on the operation of one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices (i.e. the area of the side surface 7a, 7b is illuminated or dimmed).

For example, with reference to fig. 1, by sliding the finger 9 on a first region 10 (a region not previously illuminated by the lighting means) of the lateral surface 7ad of the hob 1, the touch-sensitive sensor 16a provided on the lateral surface 7a detects the sliding of the finger 9 in a previously fixed direction and gives instructions to the lighting means to illuminate the first region 10 (in the figure, the illumination of the regions of the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b has been indicated with a set of oblique lines).

At the same time, the touch-sensitive sensor 16a operates (i.e. activates/deactivates/regulates) one or more heating means 4 of the hob 1, and/or one or more suction means of the kitchen fumes cover 2, according to the specific programming of the electronic controller of the hob 1 and of the kitchen fumes cover 2.

Referring to fig. 2, the side surface 7b of the kitchen fumes cover 2 is previously illuminated by sliding the finger 9 over the second area 11, the touch-sensitive sensor 16b arranged on the side surface 7b detects the sliding of the finger 9 in a certain sliding direction and gives the lighting means an instruction to dim the second area 11 (while the remaining part of the side surface 7b previously illuminated by the lighting means, marked 12 in fig. 2, remains illuminated).

At the same time, the touch-sensitive sensor 16b operates (i.e. activates/deactivates/adjusts) one or more of the extraction devices of the kitchen fumes cover 2, and/or one or more of the heating devices 4 of the hob 1, according to the specific programming of the electronic controller of the hob 1 and of the kitchen fumes cover 2.

Obviously, with reference to fig. 1 and 2, if other electrical and/or electromechanical devices (not shown) are provided (such as other light emitting devices, display members, etc.), the electronic controller of the hob 1 and/or of the kitchen fumes cover 2 can be configured/programmed so as to operate these other electrical and/or electromechanical devices as well, according to the specific sliding of the finger 9 on the side surface 7a or 7b detected by the touch sensitive detector 16a or 16 b.

The kitchen appliance is advantageously provided with selection means (as will be better described below) adapted to allow the user to select which one of the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances must be operated by the touch-sensitive control means at a particular moment.

Advantageously, the selection means is connected to the electronic controller of the kitchen appliance so as to be able to associate, through suitable programming of the electronic controller, a specific action (e.g. pressing, rotating, contacting, etc.) applied to the selection means with the selection of one of the electrical and/or electromechanical devices to be operated (i.e. controlled, driven).

Advantageously, the selection means can be placed on the side surfaces 7a, 7b of the kitchen appliance, and/or on the work surfaces 3a, 3b, and/or on the box-shaped housings 6a, 6b and/or any accessible part of the kitchen appliance; suitably, the selection means may also be provided on the outside of the kitchen appliance (e.g. on the surface 8 of the kitchen furniture) and may be operatively connected to the kitchen appliance, for example by a wire or cable (not shown), or by a wireless transmission system (also not shown).

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the selection means comprise one or more buttons 17a, 17b (touch-sensitive or not), the buttons 17a, 17b being respectively placed on the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b, in proximity to the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b, and being adapted to select, by pressing the buttons 17a, 17b, which one of the electrical and/or electromechanical devices of one or more of the same or other kitchen appliances has to be operated by the touch-sensitive control means at a particular moment in time.

In another embodiment (not shown), the selection means comprise one or more buttons, which are placed on the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b and/or on the work surfaces 3a, 3b or/and on the box-shaped housings 6a, 6b and are adapted to select, by means of their rotation, which one of the electrical and/or electromechanical devices of one or more of the same or of other kitchen appliances must be operated by the touch-sensitive control means at a particular moment.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the selection means comprise identical touch-sensitive sensors provided on the side surfaces 7a, 7b of the kitchen appliance; in this case, the electronic controller of the kitchen appliance may be programmed in such a way that a particular action detected by the touch-sensitive sensor, for example two quick touches on a particular region of the side surfaces 7a, 7b (i.e. a second touch at a predetermined very short time interval after the first touch), or a rotation of the body on/above a particular region of the side surfaces 7a, 7b, etc., causes the touch-sensitive control device to operate from then on a particular one of the one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances.

For example, a specific number may be assigned to each heating device 4 of the hob 1, and the electronic controller of the hob 1 may be programmed in such a way that a specific number of quick (i.e. another touch is made within a very short time after one touch) touches are applied by the user to a specific area of the side surface 7a, from which point on the heating device 4 operated by the touch-sensitive control device is the one whose number corresponds to the number of quick touches detected by the touch-sensitive sensor.

A similar approach may be used if more than one hob 1 and/or kitchen fumes 2 are present, in order to select which one among one or more hobs 1 and/or one or more kitchen fumes 2 has to be operated by the touch-sensitive control means of one of these one or more hobs 1 and/or kitchen fumes 2.

However, this is only an example of how one or more heating means 4 or one or more suction means can be selected; the electronic controller may be programmed in such a way that the other specific actions or movements detected by the touch-sensitive sensors 16a, 16b correspond to the selection of one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances.

Advantageously, a kitchen appliance according to the invention can be provided with further lateral surfaces 13a, 13b, the further lateral surfaces 13a, 13b being substantially perpendicular to the front surfaces 14a, 14b and facing opposite the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b with respect to the work surfaces 3a, 3b, and with touch-sensitive control means similar to those described with reference to the lateral surfaces 7a, 7b, suitable for operating one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more other kitchen appliances.

For example, a side surface 7a (on the right in the figure) of the hob 1 may be provided with first touch sensitive control means for controlling the operation of the hob 1, and another side surface 13a (on the left in the figure) of the hob 1 may be provided with second touch sensitive control means for controlling the operation of the kitchen fumes cover 2.

The other side surfaces 13a, 13b of the kitchen appliance according to the invention are also substantially perpendicular or inclined with respect to the working surface 3a, 3b of such kitchen appliance.

This embodiment, in which the side surface 7a (and the other side surface 13a, if present) of the hob 1 is inclined (for example at an angle of 45 °) with respect to the working surface 3a, is particularly advantageous, since such inclination makes the contact to the touch-sensitive control means and the appearance of the touch-sensitive control means more ergonomic.

Similarly, this embodiment, in which the side surface 7b (and the other side surface 13b (if present)) of the kitchen fumes cover 2 is inclined (for example, at a 45 ° angle) with respect to the work surface 3b, is particularly advantageous, since such inclination makes the contact to the touch-sensitive control means and the appearance of the touch-sensitive control means more ergonomic.

It can thus be seen how the present invention achieves the proposed objects and aims, providing a kitchen appliance that, thanks to the specific position of the touch-sensitive control means, allows the user to operate the electronic or electromechanical devices of such kitchen appliances (for example, heating means in the case of cooktops, suction machines in the case of kitchen hoods, etc.) in a very comfortable and ergonomic way.

In addition, due to the lighting means comprised in the touch-sensitive control means, the user may have visual feedback of his operation of the kitchen appliance during use of the kitchen appliance.

Furthermore, the kitchen appliance according to the present invention allows a user to operate more than one kitchen appliance on the basis of one kitchen appliance.

Claims (12)

1. A kitchen appliance, comprising:

one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices;

a front surface (14a, 14b) adapted to face a user once the kitchen appliance is installed;

side surfaces (7a, 7b) substantially perpendicular to the front surfaces (14a, 14b),

characterized in that said lateral surfaces (7a, 7b) are provided with touch-sensitive control means adapted to operate said one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more other kitchen appliances.

2. Kitchen appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said side surfaces (7a, 7b) are arranged such that, once the kitchen appliance is installed, said side surfaces (7a, 7b) are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane in order to facilitate the use of the touch-sensitive control means.

3. Kitchen appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises connection means adapted to allow the touch-sensitive control means of the kitchen appliance to operate one or more electrical and/or electromechanical means of one or more other kitchen appliances.

4. Kitchen appliance, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises selection means (17a, 17b) adapted to allow the user to select which one of one or more electrical and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance or of other kitchen appliances must be operated by said touch-sensitive control means at a particular moment.

5. Kitchen appliance, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said touch-sensitive control means comprise a touch-sensitive sensor (16a, 16b) and lighting means operated by said touch-sensitive sensor (16a, 16 b).

6. The kitchen appliance according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said touch-sensitive sensor is associated with said lateral surface (7a, 7b) in such a way that it can detect the sliding of the body adjacent to or in contact with said lateral surface (7a, 7 b).

7. Kitchen appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said lighting means are adapted to illuminate said side surfaces (7a, 7b) in such a way that if an area of said side surfaces (7a, 7b) has not previously been illuminated by said lighting means, it is illuminated during and/or after the sliding of the body on said side surfaces in the first sliding direction, whereas if an area of said side surfaces (7a, 7b) has previously been illuminated by said lighting means, it is dimmed during and/or after the sliding of the body on said side surfaces in the second direction.

8. Kitchen appliance, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises further lateral surfaces (13a, 13b) substantially perpendicular to said front surfaces (14a, 14b), said further lateral surfaces being provided with further touch-sensitive control means suitable for operating said one or more electric and/or electromechanical devices of the same kitchen appliance and/or of one or more further kitchen appliances.

9. Kitchen appliance, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a hob (1) defining said side surface (7a) and comprising a working surface (3a) provided with one or more heating devices (4), said side surface (7a) being substantially perpendicular or inclined with respect to said working surface (3 a).

10. Kitchen appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the other kitchen appliance comprises one or more kitchen fumes hood (2) and/or one or more other cooking hob (1).

11. Kitchen appliance, according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a cooking fume hood (2) defining said lateral surface (7b) and comprising a working surface (3b) provided with suction means, said lateral surface (7b) being substantially vertical or inclined with respect to said working surface (3 b).

12. Kitchen appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the other kitchen appliance comprises one or more cooktops (1) and/or one or more other kitchen fumes hoods (2).