US 11,708,976 B2
Cooktop assembly
Edoardo Binda, Varese (IT); Francesca Partegiani, Varese (IT); and Gaetano Mungo, Caserta (IT)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on May 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/886,223.
Prior Publication US 2021/0372628 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. F24C 7/08 (2006.01); H05B 3/74 (2006.01); F16B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F24C 7/086 (2013.01) [H05B 3/74 (2013.01); F16B 2001/0035 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cooktop for a cooking appliance, comprising:
a cooking panel having a first edge;
a support feature coupled to an underside of the cooking panel proximate the first edge, wherein the cooking panel is disposed on and supported by the support feature, and wherein the support feature is configured to couple the cooking panel to said cooking appliance;
an interior panel coupled to the support feature and extending proximate to the underside of the cooking panel;
a human-machine interface coupled to the underside of the cooking panel, the human-machine interface including a control panel disposed on a base, wherein the human-machine interface is disposed above the interior panel in a space defined by the support feature, the interior panel, and the cooking panel; and
a magnet assembly configured to retain the human-machine interface in a selected position on the underside of the cooking panel, and wherein the magnet assembly includes:
a first magnet coupled to the underside of the cooking panel, the first magnet having a first shape; and
a second magnet coupled to the human-machine interface and configured to mate with the first magnet, wherein the magnet assembly couples the human-machine interface to the cooking panel by engaging the second magnet with the first magnet, an end of an elongate member of the support feature being coupled between the first magnet and the second magnet to maintain alignment of the human-machine interface with the cooking panel, wherein the second magnet is coupled to an outer surface of the base and flush with a top of the base of the human-machine interface, wherein the control panel directly abuts the underside of the cooking panel and is disposed within a space defined by the first shape of the first magnet, and wherein the second magnet extends around a perimeter of the human-machine interface.