US-12624838-B2 - Brace for an oven appliance

US12624838B2US 12624838 B2US12624838 B2US 12624838B2US-12624838-B2

Abstract

An oven appliance may include a cabinet that defines a top side and a back side. In addition, the oven appliance may include a control assembly that may be positioned at the top side and the back side of the cabinet. Further, the oven appliance may include a rear wire cover connected to the control assembly. In addition, the oven appliance may include a control bracket attached to the control assembly, the control bracket comprising a brace.

Inventors

John Adam Yantis

Assignees

HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230418

Claims (16)

1 . An oven appliance defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction, the lateral direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction being mutually perpendicular, the oven appliance comprising: a cabinet extending between a top side and a bottom side along the vertical direction, and extending between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction; a control assembly positioned at the top side and at the back side of the cabinet, the control assembly comprising a control panel, a top panel, and a rear panel; a rear wire cover connected to the control assembly, the rear wire cover rotatable between an open position and a closed position; and one or more control brackets attached to the control assembly, each of the one or more control brackets comprising a rear portion attached directly to the rear panel of the control assembly, a top portion extending parallel to the top panel of the control assembly, a panel portion extending parallel to the control panel, and a brace attached to the top portion of the respective control bracket of the one or more control brackets, wherein each brace defines a notch that is configured to allow the rear wire cover to rotate between the open position and the closed position.
2 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein each brace comprises a tab that is engageable with the rear wire cover to brace the rear wire cover when the rear wire cover is in the closed position.
3 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein each brace is formed integrally with a respective control bracket of the one or more control brackets.
4 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein each brace is coupled to a respective control bracket of the one or more control brackets.
5 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rear wire cover and the control assembly together form an electrical enclosure when the rear wire cover is in the closed position.
6 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein the control assembly comprises a control board, and wherein the control board is mounted to the control assembly via the one or more control brackets.
7 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein each brace is L-shaped or curved shaped.
8 . The oven appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rear wire cover is configured to be freestanding in the closed position.
9 . An oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a top side and a back side; a control assembly positioned at the top side and the back side of the cabinet, the control assembly comprising a control panel, a top panel, and a rear panel; a rear wire cover connected to the control assembly, wherein the rear wire cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position; and a control bracket attached to the control assembly, the control bracket comprising a rear portion attached directly to the rear panel of the control assembly, a top portioning extending parallel to the control assembly, a panel portion extending parallel to the control panel, and a brace attached to the top portion of the control bracket, wherein the brace defines a notch that is configured to allow the rear wire cover to rotate between the open position and the closed position.
10 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the brace comprises a tab that is engageable with the rear wire cover to brace the rear wire cover when the rear wire cover is in the closed position.
11 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the rear wire cover and the control assembly form an electrical enclosure when the rear wire cover is in the closed position.
12 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the brace is formed integrally with the control bracket.
13 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the brace is coupled to the control bracket.
14 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the control assembly comprises a control board, and wherein the control board is mounted to the control assembly via the control bracket.
15 . The oven appliance of claim 9 , wherein the control bracket is a first control bracket comprising a first brace, and wherein the oven appliance further comprises a second control bracket comprising a second brace.
16 . The oven appliance of claim 15 , wherein the first brace and the second brace are configured to brace the rear wire cover.

Description

FIELD The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, and more particularly, to braces for oven appliances. BACKGROUND Oven appliances generally include a control assembly that may house control components of the oven appliance. The control components may be electrical components that are configured to control, or may facilitate control, of the oven appliance. For example, the control components of the oven appliance may be, but are not limited to, control boards, wires, and switches. In some instances, the control assembly may define an opening at the rear of the oven appliance that may be used to access control components housed within the control assembly. For example, the opening may allow an operator of the oven appliance to access the control components during installation and/or maintenance of the oven appliance. Additionally, the oven appliance may include a rear wire cover that is connected to the control assembly to close the opening. The rear wire cover may be fastened to the control assembly, e.g., to secure the rear wire cover in place. Ideally, minimal fasteners may be used to fasten the rear wire cover to the control assembly to reduce part count, reduce cost, and increase factory efficiency. However, when minimal fasteners are used, the rear wire cover may deflect and/or bend when force is applied to it. For example, when an operator of the oven appliance presses the rear wire cover, the rear wire cover may deflect and/or bend relative to the control assembly. In another example, the rear wire cover may be pressed against a wall such that the rear wire cover may deflect and/or bend relative to the control assembly. Such deflection and/or bending may permit ingress of moisture, grease, particulate matter and/or other contaminants which may be deleterious to the control components housed within the control assembly. Accordingly, improved bracing features for bracing the rear wire cover may be desired. In particular, bracing features which prevent deflection of the rear wire cover relative to a control assembly of the oven appliance when installed and which do not interfere with the rotation of the rear wire cover during assembly, would be advantageous. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may define a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. More particularly, the lateral direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction may be mutually perpendicular. Further, the oven appliance may include a cabinet that extends between a top side and a bottom side along the vertical direction. In addition, the cabinet may extend between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction. The oven appliance additionally includes a control assembly positioned at the top side and the back side of the cabinet. Further, the oven appliance includes a rear wire cover connected to the control assembly. More particularly, the rear wire cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The oven appliance additionally includes one or more control brackets attached to the control assembly. Each of the control brackets further includes a brace. In another exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include a cabinet defining a top side and a back side. Further, the oven appliance may include a control assembly positioned at the top side and the back side of the cabinet. The oven appliance additionally includes a rear wire cover connected to the control assembly. Further, the oven appliance includes a control bracket attached to the control assembly. More particularly, the control bracket includes a brace. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an oven appliance in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the oven appliance of FIG. 1 with a door of the oven appliance opened. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the oven appliance of FIG. 1, with a rear wire cover of the oven appliance in an open position. FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of a portion of the o