US-12616300-B2 - Mounting arrangement for over-the-range cooking appliance

Abstract

A mounting bracket for an appliance, such as an over-the-range cooking appliance, for mounting to an underside of a structure. The bracket may be configured to be secured to the wall near the structure and configured to support the appliance. The bracket may include one or more pivoting mechanisms.

Inventors

• Daniel J. Trice
• Brian M. Langness

Assignees

• MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230626

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An over-the-range cooking appliance configured for mounting to an underside of a wall cabinet, the over-the-range cooking appliance comprising: a housing including a cooking cavity configured to receive food; and a bracket configured to support the housing, wherein the bracket includes a body and a threaded member threadably coupled to the body, wherein rotation of the threaded member relative to the body is configured to pivot the bracket and/or housing upwardly towards the underside of the wall cabinet.
2. 2 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the threaded member includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a pad.
3. 3 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 2 wherein the body of the bracket rotatably fixes the pad thereto.
4. 4 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 2 wherein the pad rotates with the threaded member.
5. 5 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 2 wherein the pad of the distal end is rotated from a first axial position proximate the body of the bracket to a second axial position distal from the body.
6. 6 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the threaded member is configured to contact a wall disposed proximate to the wall cabinet.
7. 7 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the body includes a rear facing side and a front facing side, and wherein an axis of the threaded member is angled relative to the rear facing side facing a wall disposed proximate to the wall cabinet.
8. 8 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the body includes a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall includes a recess configured to access and drive the threaded member.
9. 9 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the threaded member is proximate a bottom end of the body of the bracket and a pivoting axis of the body of the bracket is proximate a top end of the body of the bracket.
10. 10 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the threaded member is threaded in a linear direction between a stowed position within the body of the bracket and a deployed position different from the stowed position, when in the stowed position the bracket is pivoted less than when in the deployed position.
11. 11 . The over-the-range cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein the bracket is pivoted upwardly towards the underside of the wall cabinet when rotating the threaded member.
12. 12 . A mounting bracket for an over-the-range cooking appliance comprising: a body having a fastener mechanism and a pivoting mechanism, wherein the fastener mechanism is adjacent a top end of the body and the pivoting mechanism is adjacent a bottom end of the body; and wherein the pivoting mechanism includes a threaded aperture within the body and a threaded member rotatably engaging the threaded aperture between a stowed position and a deployed position different from the stowed position, wherein the body of the bracket is in a first pivot position about the fastener mechanism when in the stowed position and a second pivot position about the fastener mechanism different from the first pivot position.
13. 13 . The mounting bracket of claim 12 wherein a length of the threaded member is increased away from the threaded aperture from the stowed position towards the deployed position.
14. 14 . The mounting bracket of claim 12 wherein the threaded member includes a proximal end configured to be operated by the user and a distal end configured to engage a wall.
15. 15 . The mounting bracket of claim 14 wherein the proximal end of the threaded member includes a pad rotational fixed or freely rotatable relative to a remaining portion of the threaded member.
16. 16 . The mounting bracket of claim 15 wherein the body includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall includes the pivoting mechanism.
17. 17 . The mounting bracket of claim 12 wherein the threaded member is rotatable about a rotational axis transverse to a rear-facing surface of the bracket body.
18. 18 . A method of pivoting a mounting bracket for an over-the-range cooking appliance comprising the steps of: providing a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to support the over-the-range cooking appliance; fastening the mounting bracket to a wall disposed proximate to an underside of a wall cabinet; rotating a threaded member of the mounting bracket; and pivoting the mounting bracket upwardly to narrow a gap between the mounting bracket and the underside of the wall cabinet.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising placing the over-the-range cooking appliance on the mounting bracket.
20. 20 . The method of claim 19 wherein placing the over-the-range cooking appliance on the mounting bracket occurs after pivoting the mounting bracket.

Description

BACKGROUND Cooking appliances, and in particular microwave cooking appliances, are commonly used for residential cooking, and are often installed over a range or cooktop. The installation of an over-the-range cooking appliance over a range or cooktop is a lengthy process and often requires two individuals to complete. Furthermore, installation of these units may necessitate drilling many holes into the surrounding cabinetry. During installation of a typical over-the-range cooking appliance, a first individual may be required to hold the appliance in position underneath a wall cabinet while a second individual drives several mounting screws through the wall cabinet from within the interior of the wall cabinet. Such an operation may also be complicated by the need to level or properly close one or more gaps, or portions thereof, between the appliance/bracket and the underside of the cabinet. Accordingly, a need continues to exist in the art for a manner of simplifying mounting of an over-the-range cooking appliance, and in some instances, allowing for an individual to pivot a cooking appliance over a range or cooktop. SUMMARY The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by providing a mounting bracket and/or appliance that is configured for mounting to a wall. The bracket/appliance, or portions thereof, may include one or more pivot mechanisms. In some embodiments, an over-the-range cooking appliance may be configured for mounting to an underside of a wall cabinet. In various embodiments, the over-the-range cooking appliance may include a housing including a cooking cavity configured to receive food. In some embodiments, the appliance may include a bracket configured to support the housing. In various embodiments, the bracket may include a body and a threaded member threadably coupled to the body, wherein rotation of the threaded member relative to the body is configured to pivot the bracket and/or housing upwardly towards the underside of the wall cabinet. In addition, in some embodiments, the threaded member may include a proximal end and a distal end. In some embodiments, the distal end includes a pad. In various embodiments, the body of the bracket may rotatably fixe the pad thereto. In some embodiments, the pad may rotate with the threaded member. In various embodiments, the pad of the distal end may be rotated from a first axial position proximate the body of the bracket to a second axial position distal from the body. In some embodiments, a distal end of the threaded member may be configured to contact a wall disposed proximate to the wall cabinet. In various embodiments, the body may include a rear facing side and a front facing side. In some embodiments, an axis of the threaded member may be angled relative to the rear facing side facing a wall disposed proximate to the wall cabinet. In various embodiments, the body may include a bottom wall. In some embodiments, the bottom wall may include a recess configured to access and drive the threaded member. In some embodiments, the threaded member may be proximate a bottom end of the body of the bracket and a pivoting axis of the body of the bracket is proximate a top end of the body of the bracket. In various embodiments, the threaded member may be threaded in a linear direction between a stowed position within the body of the bracket and a deployed position different from the stowed position, when in the stowed position the bracket is pivoted less than when in the deployed position. In some embodiments, the bracket may be pivoted upwardly towards the underside of the wall cabinet when rotating the threaded member. In some embodiments, a mounting bracket for an over-the-range cooking appliance may include a body having a fastener mechanism and/or a pivoting mechanism. In various embodiments, the fastener mechanism may be adjacent a top end of the body and/or the pivoting mechanism may be adjacent a bottom end of the body. In some embodiments, the pivoting mechanism may include a threaded aperture within the body. In various embodiments, the pivot mechanism may include a threaded member rotatably engaging the threaded aperture between a stowed position and a deployed position different from the stowed position. In various embodiments, the body of the bracket may be in a first pivot position about the fastener mechanism when in the stowed position and a second pivot position about the fastener mechanism different from the first pivot position. In addition, in some embodiments, a length of the threaded member may be increased away from the threaded aperture from the stowed position towards the deployed position. In various embodiments, the threaded member may include a proximal end configured to be operated by the user and a distal end configured to engage a wall. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the threaded member may include a pad rotational fixed or freely rotatable relative to a remaining portion of th