Gas fired cooktop and method of assembling

Abstract

A gas burner assembly for a gas fired cooktop includes first, second, third, and fourth gas burners arranged such that the first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and the third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. Each of the first and second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners. A fifth gas burner is positioned between the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners.

1 . A gas burner assembly for a gas fired cooktop ( 10 ) comprising: 
 first, second, third, and fourth gas burners ( 24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ) arranged such that said first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and said third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than said first distance, each of said first and second burners having a power output greater than that of each of said third and fourth burners; and    a fifth gas burner ( 32 ) positioned between said first and second burners and between said third and fourth burners.    
   
   
       2 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cooktop includes a front wall ( 40 ), a back wall ( 42 ), two side walls ( 44 ,  46 ), and a top recessed area surrounded by the walls, said burners configured to be positioned on the recessed area.  
   
   
       3 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first and second burners configured to be adjacent the front wall, said third and fourth burners configured to be adjacent the back wall.  
   
   
       4 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said first and third burners configured to be positioned adjacent to one of the side walls, said third burner configured to be positioned closer to the side wall than said first burner.  
   
   
       5 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said fifth burner comprises a first burner end ( 52 ) adjacent said first and second burners, and a second burner end ( 54 ) adjacent said third and fourth burners, said second burner end having a greater width than that of said first burner end.  
   
   
       6 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said fifth burner comprises an elongated griddle burner.  
   
   
       7 . A gas fired cooktop ( 10 ) comprising: 
 a body ( 22 );    first, second, third, and fourth gas burners ( 24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ) arranged on said body such that said first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and said third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than said first distance;    a fifth gas burner ( 32 ) positioned between said first and second burners and between said third and fourth burners; and    a grate frame ( 34 ) positioned over at least one of said burners.    
   
   
       8 . A gas fired cooktop in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each of said first and second burners have a power output greater than that of each of said third and fourth burners,  
   
   
       9 . A gas fired cooktop in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said body further comprises a front wall ( 40 ), a back wall ( 42 ), two side walls ( 44 ,  46 ), and a top recessed area ( 38 ) surrounded by said walls, said burners positioned on said recessed area.  
   
   
       10 . A gas burner assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said first and second burners configured to be adjacent said front wall, said third and fourth burners configured to be adjacent said back wall.  
   
   
       11 . A cooktop in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said first and third burners positioned adjacent to one of said side walls, said third burner positioned closer to said side wall than said first burner.  
   
   
       12 . A cooktop in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said fifth burner is an elongated griddle burner.  
   
   
       13 . A cooktop in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said grate frame comprises a left section ( 60 ), a right section ( 62 ), and a separately provided griddle plate ( 90 ) positioned between said left and right sections and overlying said fifth burner.  
   
   
       14 . A cooktop in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said grate frame further comprises a plurality of exterior frame elements ( 66 ), and a utensil supporting surface ( 78 ) elevated from said exterior frame elements and said griddle plate.  
   
   
       15 . A cooktop in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said grate frame further comprises a flame clearance gap defined between said griddle plate and said utensil supporting surface.  
   
   
       16 . A method for providing a cooktop ( 10 ) comprising: 
 providing a body ( 22 );    positioning first, second, third, and fourth gas burners ( 24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ) on the body, the first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance, the third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance;    positioning a fifth gas burner ( 32 ) between the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners; and    positioning a grate frame ( 34 ) over at least one of the burners.    
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein each of the first and second burners having a power output greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners,  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said positioning the first, second, third, and fourth burners comprises positioning the first and second burners adjacent a front wall and positioning the third and fourth burners adjacent a back wall.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said positioning a fifth burner comprises positioning an elongated griddle over the fifth burner.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said positioning a grate frame comprises positioning a grate frame having a left section ( 60 ), a right section ( 62 ), and a separately provided griddle plate ( 90 ) positioned between the left and right sections and overlying the fifth burner.  
   
   
       21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20  wherein said positioning a grate frame comprises positioning a grate frame having a utensil supporting surface ( 78 ), and positioning the griddle plate at a lower position with respect to the utensil supporting surface.  
   
   
       22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said positioning a grate frame comprises positioning a grate frame having a flame clearance gap defined between the griddle plate and the utensil supporting surface.