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US3666904A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Microwave oven and door structure for minimizing leakage

Assignee: Sunbeam Corp
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
•
Granted: 1972-05-30
•
Expires: 1991-04-12
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Abstract

Abstract An oven structure has a front flange plate on which is a raised member that frames the oven cavity, and which has an outermost surface parallel to the flange plate. A door hinged at one end to the oven structure carries a floating pan which, via biasing elements shown as compressed rubber strips, is normally biased against a stop when the door is opened. The outer face of the pan is coated with dielectric material. When the door is closed, the coated face of the pan is brought in face-to-face engagement with the outermost surface of the frame member. The inward travel of the door upon closure causes the rubber strips to be further compressed and the lip of the pan to move free of the stop. The pan is sufficiently thin to conform to the outermost surfaces of the frame member contacted thereby, thus permitting a capacitive seal to be formed which is effective to keep leakage around the door edges to less than a milliwatt of power. In addition, the portion of the frame adjacent the flange plate is surrounded by lossy gasket material in which is embedded ferrite or other suitable microwave energy absorbing material. A door closure mechanism is shown that employs a cam which operates in conjunction with the pan biasing elements to effect desired latching of the door.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward Z Krajewski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 05:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6414; H05B6/6417; H05B6/76; H05B6/763

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
In combination: a microwave oven structure defining a cavity, said structure including a front plate having an opening through which to insert foodstuff into the cavity, said plate having a raised portion framing said opening; a base member hinged at one edge to said plate and releasably latchable at its opposite edge to said plate; compressible means carried by said base member; and a metal pan to close said opening and having a dielectric coating to be brought into engagement with said raised portion, said pan being mounted on said compressible means, said base member during movement toward its latched position undergoing movement relative to said pan after said pan engages said raised portion, whereby said compressible means is compressed between said pan and base member in said latched position so as to keep said pan forcibly biased against said raised portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
In combination: a microwave oven structure defining a cavity, said structure including a front plate having an opening through which to insert foodstuff into the cavity, said plate having a raised portion framing said opening; a base member hinged at one edge to said plate and releasably latchable at its opposite edge to said plate; compressible means carried by said base member; and a metal pan to close said opening and having a dielectric coating to be brought into engagement with said raised portion, said pan being mounted on said compressible means, said base member during movement toward its latched position undergoing movement relative to said pan after said pan engages said raised portion, whereby said compressible means is compressed between said pan and base member in said latched position so as to keep said pan forcibly biased against said raised portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the raised portion engaged by said pan are parallel to said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said base member has a lip overhanging the peripheral edge of said pan, said compressible means causing said peripheral edge to be biased against said lip when said base member is unlatched from said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The combination of claim 2, further including a strip of lossy gasket material against said plate which encircles said raised portion; and microwave energy absorbing material carried by said gasket strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said raised portion outboard of the parallel surfaces thereof has a reenTrant wall terminating adjacent said plate, said gasket strip being releasably anchored on the edge of said reentrant wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said pan has a skirt outboard of said raised portion that terminates in a flange, the peripheral edge of said flange being that which is biased against said lip in the unlatched position of said base member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said gasket strip is in sections, and wherein said microwave absorbing material is in the form of rods inserted in said sections, said rods being frictionally held by said gasket material, but being adjustable in assembly.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2956143A Cited
US3525841A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-05-30 1975-11-29 1976-05-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-05-30 1979-11-29 1980-05-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-05-30 1983-11-29 1984-05-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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