US 11,988,392 B2
Removable heating element cover for an oven appliance and methods of detecting same
Eric Scott Johnson, Louisville, KY (US); Hans Juergen Paller, Louisville, KY (US); and Rebekah Leigh Tyler, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on May 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/324,439.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373189 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. F24C 7/00 (2006.01); F24C 3/12 (2006.01); F24C 7/08 (2006.01); F24C 15/12 (2006.01); F24C 15/32 (2006.01)
CPC F24C 15/12 (2013.01) [F24C 3/128 (2013.01); F24C 7/085 (2013.01); F24C 15/322 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An oven appliance, comprising:
a cabinet having a chamber positioned within the cabinet, the chamber configured for receipt of a food item for cooking;
a door for providing selective access to the chamber;
a plurality of walls comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, a front wall, and opposing sidewalls defining the chamber;
a fan assembly operable to cause air to flow in the chamber;
a first heating element arranged adjacent to the bottom wall;
a removable heating element cover configured for defining a duct in fluid communication with the fan assembly and the first heating element for directing airflow in the chamber to the fan assembly and across the first heating element to heat the food item;
a sensing device for detecting a presence of the removable heating element cover within the chamber, wherein the sensing device comprises a mechanical switch; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the sensing device, the controller comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to perform a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations comprising:
receiving an indication from the sensing device confirming whether the removable heating element cover is engaged with the sensing device, wherein, when the removable heating element cover is present within the chamber, the removable heating element cover engages the mechanical switch; and
controlling operation of the oven appliance based on the indication.