DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs. More particularly, the invention discloses a modified burner incorporating an interlocking arrangement with a mixing tube, thereby enhancing safety and cleaning.

BACKGROUND ART
Maintaining good hygiene is crucial for safe cooking, which is why kitchen appliances must be cleaned regularly. The gas cooktop, which is frequently used, is no exception. Typically, the upper area of the cooktop is wiped down with a cloth, and the pan supports and drip trays are removed and cleaned separately.

In order to clean the area beneath the cooktop, it must be lifted at an angle. One hand tilts the cooktop while the other hand cleans the bottom area. However, if the burners are not removed before cleaning, they can fall off the mixing tube and cause an accident. The conventional cooktop and burner assembly is shown in Figures 1 and 2. They may damage the glass or injure the user if they fall to the ground.

Even if one is careful, removing and replacing the burners is a time-consuming and effortful task. To address this issue, we have developed a solution: interlocking the burner with the mixing tube. This not only ensures safety but also reduces cleaning time and effort.

In prior art, a European application EP1541924A1 from BSH BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE [DE] discloses a burner for a cooking hob with a locking element. The said locking element consists of a spring elastic material and may be constructed as a spring element.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In the developing world, incorporating innovative features into existing items can reduce user effort. One issue with cooktops is cleaning, which requires careful handling. While routine cleaning can be laborious, it is necessary for optimal hygiene.

Typically, the cooktop is raised to clean the bottom surface, and the burner must be removed before lifting. However, people often forget to do this, which can cause the burners to fall off the mixing tube, potentially injuring someone or breaking glass.

To address this problem, the applicant has developed a unique solution, which includes interlocking the burner with the mixing tube. The mixing tube has a projection that securely holds the burner in place, preventing it from coming off even when the cooktop is turned upside down. This simple yet effective innovation simplifies the cleaning process and improves safety.

Therefore, such as herein described, there is provided an interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs comprising of a burner including multiple holes with a cup-shaped structure configured for supplied igniting gases; a mixing tube configured to house the said burner such that the mixed gas and air pass through the holes of the said burner; wherein the said burner includes at least one integrated locking slot and the said mixing tube includes at least one mating locking stud; and wherein the said at least one integrated locking slot of the burner is configured to get interlocked with said at least one mating stud of the mixing tube by way of twisting the said burner over stationary mixing tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig 1 illustrates a mixing tube of cooktop as prior art;
Fig 2 illustrates a burner with a slot of cooktop as prior art;
Fig 3 illustrates a burner and mixing tube set with a twist interlocking arrangement of cooktop/hob in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates the burner (top and side) view with design details as an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 illustrates the burner locking arrangement with design details as another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 6 illustrates the design details of the mixing tube as another embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 3 shows a gas burner for a gas cooktop, which has a burner part and a mixing tube. The multiple holes with a cup-like burner are delimited by its cylindrical side wall and an upwardly open mixing chamber for a gas/air mixture. A burner cap closes the mixing chamber on the upper edge of the side wall.

In the modified assembly, there is no need to strain to remove burners during cleaning; with the new interlocking feature between the burner and the mixing tube, there is no need to strain or exert excessive effort to remove the burners during cleaning. This is a significant improvement over the previous design, which required the burners to be removed before the cooktop could be lifted and cleaned.

Instead of providing recesses or projecting portions on a supporting surface to engage the several forms of the invention, pegs, nails, or lugs may be secured to the supporting surface and arranged to engage the recess or projecting portion of the base mixing tube. From the above description, the applicant has invented an exceedingly simple but efficient interlocking, provided with means for preventing rotation or displacement thereof when the assembly is being put on in the usual manner.

In the said interlocking feature, the burner must be screwed tightly onto the mixing tube in order to prevent the leakage of air therein, which may cause an accident. Hitherto, holding an assembly while the burner was tightly secured has been difficult.

Simple to fit: The interlocking feature is simple to use and fits easily into the existing design of the cooktop. The user can place the burner onto the mixing tube and twist it to lock it in place without the need for any additional tools or equipment.

The burner won't slip off the mixing tube; the interlocking feature ensures that even if the cooktop is turned upside down during cleaning, the burner will not slip off the mixing tube. The projection on the mixing tube fits securely into the slot on the burner, creating a strong and stable connection between the two components.

No chance of injury due to burner while cleaning: With the new interlocking feature, the risk of injury due to the burner falling off during cleaning is significantly reduced. This is because the interlocking mechanism holds the burner securely in place, which prevents it from dislodging even if the cooktop is moved or turned. As a result, users can clean their cooktop with greater ease and safety without worrying about potential accidents or injuries.

Interlocking between burner and mixing tube: The interlocking mechanism between the burner and the mixing tube is an innovative solution that improves the safety and ease of use of the cooktop. The two components can be easily locked together by adding a projection on the mixing tube and a slot on the burner. This interlocking feature ensures that the burner stays securely in place during cleaning and other activities.

Therefore, the interlocking feature is designed for simple fit and use. It can be easily incorporated into the existing design of the cooktop without requiring any significant modifications, additional tools, or additional parts. This makes it a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for improving the functionality and safety of the cooktop.

No effect on operational functionality: The interlocking feature does not affect the operational functionality of the cooktop in any way. It adds an extra layer of security and convenience, ensuring the burner stays in place during cleaning and other activities. This means that users can continue using their cooktop the same way they always have, without any additional training or adjustment required.

Minimal modifications to the typical design: The interlocking feature require only minimal modifications to the typical cooktop design. It can be easily integrated into the existing components, such as the mixing tube and burner, without requiring any significant changes to the overall design or functionality. This makes it a practical and cost-effective solution for improving the safety and convenience of the cooktop without requiring substantial investment or redesign.

Example-
As shown in Fig 4 Fig 5 and Fig 6, the diameter of the burner is taken as 92 mm. The burner, in this case, is a brass burner. It can be of any diameter, and the material can be used in any suitable alloy. The height (2) of the burner is taken as 14.5 mm, which can be altered to any suitable height (3) in a cooktop/hob, which is 7.5 mm in this case and is suitable for the mixing tube in this invention. The groove diameter (5) of the locking area is maintained at 32 mm, which is suitable for the ID (9) of mixing tube of this invention which is 33 mm The groove width (7), 2.7mm, is used as a guide for the stud lock given in the mixing tube.

As per the invention, at the entry point (8), the burner is aligned with the Stud lock (13 14), in the mixing tube and said burner is made to sit on the mixing tube as shown in Fig 3. The burner and mixing tube get mated at burner seating area (4) in the burner and mixing tube seating area (11) in the mixing tube. Then, the burner is rotated either clockwise or anti-clockwise so that Stud lock (13,14) gets guided into the groove (7), thereby locking the Burner and mixing tube together.

To unlock the burner with the mixing tube, the burner needs to be rotated either clockwise or anti-clockwise so that the entry point (8) in the burner is aligned with the Stud lock (13, 14). Then, the burner can be lifted upwards and taken out of assembly.

Reference-
While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes could be made to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. The above-mentioned descriptions are provided to clarify the aspects of the invention, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. By way of example, the total assembly is customized. The above-mentioned assembly example is just one of the many configurations the mentioned components can take on. All modifications and improvements have been incorporated herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the present invention.

,CLAIMS:

1. An interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs comprising of:
a burner including multiple holes with a cup-shaped structure configured for supplied igniting gases;
a mixing tube configured to house the said burner such that the mixed gas and air pass through the holes of said burner;
wherein the said burner includes at least one integrated locking slot and the said mixing tube includes at least one mating locking stud; and
wherein the said, at least one integrated locking slot of the burner is configured to get interlocked with at least one mating stud of the mixing tube by way of twisting the said burner over the stationary mixing tube.
2. The interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said burner includes a plurality of integrated locking slots; and
wherein said mixing tube includes a plurality of corresponding mating studs.
3. The interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said twisting is either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
4. The interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locking slots are tapered at the ends in order to guide the mating studs.
5. The interlocking burner for gas cooktops/hobs, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner is made to sit on the mixing tube, and the burner and mixing tube are mated.