Self-cleaning oven door holding means

Claim 2

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition with the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a selfcleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer member having a mid-portion free of engagement with the door, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said midportion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply inward pressure through said pressure-applying portions by said door in substantially equalized manner at its periphery against said wall means adjacent said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode.

Claim 3

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member comprises an elongated member and said pressure-applying portions comprise end portions thereof aligned with the edge of said oven chamber opening when disposed in pressure-applying position.

Claim 4

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member is adjustably carried by the oven door.

Claim 5

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member is mounted within the oven door.

Claim 6

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member is disposed at the top of the oven door for applying inward pressure by said door against said wall means on the top of said opening.

Claim 7

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member is disposed at the top of the oven door for applying inward pressure by said door against said wall means at the top of said opening at the opposite sides thereof.

Claim 8

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure transfer member comprises a U-section channel.

Claim 9

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said door carries a peripheral resilient seal for sealingly engaging said oven walls about said opening when the door is in the closed position and said door surface portions are disposed outwardly adjacent said seal.

Claim 10

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 1 wherein said pressure-transfer member is provided with an opening in said mid-portion and the forcible urging means includes a tension bar adapted to pass through said opening and engage the outer surface of said mid-portion to urge said mid-portion inwardly toward the oven chamber when the door is closed and the oven is in the self-cleaning mode.

Claim 11

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition with the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer member having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply inward pressure by said door in substantially equalized manner at its periphery against said wall means adjacent said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, bosses being provided on one of said door or said pressure transfer member to be disposed outwardly of said pressure-applying portions and said door surface portions when the door is in the closed position for providing a force concentration on said door surface portions.

Claim 12

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition with the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer member having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply inward pressure by said door in substantially equalized manner at its periphery against said wall means adjacent said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, bosses being provided on one of said door or said pressure transfer member to be disposed outwardly of said pressure-applying portions and said door surface portions when the door is in the closed position for providing a force concentration on said door surface portions.

Claim 13

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion free of engagement with the door, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure through said pressure-applying portions by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode.

Claim 14

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion free of engagement with the door, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure through said pressure-applying portions by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode.

Claim 15

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 11 wherein said door carries a peripheral seal and said pressure applying portions are space above and laterally outwardly of said seal.

Claim 16

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 11 wherein said pressure transfer and pressure equaliZing member is movably carried on the door.

Claim 17

The self-cleaning oven door holding means of claim 11 wherein said force maintaining means comprises a safety cam, a solenoid for selectively positioning the safety cam to (a) prevent release of the force holding means from the door holding position when the temperature in the oven chamber is above a preselected temperature, and (b) permit release of the force holding means when the temperature in the oven chamber is below said preselected temperature.

Claim 18

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, said pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member comprising an elongated element, and said door being provided with a pair of spaced retainers engaging tbe opposite ends of said element for retaining the element in association with the door.

Claim 19

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, said pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member comprising an elongated element, and said door being provided with a pair of spaced retainers engaging tbe opposite ends of said element for retaining the element in association with the door.

Claim 20

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, said door being provided with outwardly projecting bosses defining said outwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 21

In a self-cleaning oven having wall means defining an oven chamber defining a front opening, a door for closing said front opening, and means for providing a self-cleaning high temperature condition within the oven chamber including manually operable control means selectively settable to place the oven in a self-cleaning mode, means for holding the door in a chamber-closing position across said opening comprising: a pressure transfer and pressure equalizing member carried by said door having a mid-portion, and pressure-applying portions spaced oppositely from said mid-portion and engaging outwardly facing surface portions of the door; force means carried by said wall means above said oven chamber for forcibly urging said mid-portion of the pressure transfer member inwardly toward said oven chamber to apply substantially equalized inward pressure by said door against said wall means above the top of said opening; and means for maintaining the forcible urging of said mid-portion by said force means while said oven is in the self-cleaning mode, said door being provided with outwardly projecting bosses defining said outwardly facing surfaces.