Heat sink for a cooking appliance

Abstract

A heat sink for LEDs or other electronic elements in a kitchen appliance is provided. The chassis or other heat conducting components of the appliance are used as a heat sink to conduct away heat. The LEDs or other electronic features may be connected directly to the heat sink or may be connected by e.g., a bracket.

1 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance, comprising the steps of:
 selecting a position on the kitchen appliance that will facilitate the conduction of heat away from the electronic component;   placing the electronic component in thermal contact with the kitchen appliance at such position; and   conducting heat from the electronic component to the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said selecting step further comprises determining a position that will facilitate the transfer of heat away from the electronic component by natural convection. 
     
     
         3 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said selecting step comprises locating the position on a part of the appliance that is constructed from a conductive metal. 
     
     
         4 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 2 , wherein said selecting step further comprises locating the position on a part of the appliance that forms part of the chassis of the appliance. 
     
     
         5 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a range hood and the electronic component is an LED lamp positioned in the range hood, the range hood having a mounting panel that is not directly exposed to the heat source, and wherein said LED lamp is placed into thermal contact with the mounting panel. 
     
     
         6 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a range hood having a vent duct, and wherein the electronic component is an LED lamp positioned into thermal contact with the vent duct such that heat is conducted from said LED lamp to said vent duct, the method further comprising the step of transmitting the light from the LED lamp towards a surface positioned below the range hood. 
     
     
         7 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , the kitchen appliance having a user interface, and wherein the electronic component is a PCB mounted into thermal contact with the appliance such that heat is conducted from said PCB to said appliance, wherein said PCB is mounted a predetermined distance away from the user interface, and further comprising the step of transmitting data input, data output, or both by a wired connection between the user interface and the PCB. 
     
     
         8 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , the kitchen appliance having a user interface, and wherein the electronic component is a PCB mounted into thermal contact with the appliance such that heat is conducted from said PCB to said appliance, wherein said PCB is mounted a predetermined distance away from the user interface, and further comprising the step of transmitting data input, data output, or both by a wireless connection between the user interface and the PCB. 
     
     
         9 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said placing step comprises attaching the electronic component directly to the appliance. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said placing step comprises attaching the electronic component to a bracket that is attached directly to the appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A kitchen appliance, comprising:
 an electronic component providing one or more features for the appliance; and   a heat conducting element that forms part of the kitchen appliance;   wherein said electronic component is thermally connected with said heat conducting element such that heat generated by said electronic component is conducted to the heat conducting element.   
     
     
         12 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein the appliance is a range hood, the appliance further comprising;
 an appearance panel, wherein said electronic component comprises an LED lamp providing light through said appearance panel; and   wherein said heat conducting element comprises a mounting panel located behind said appearance panel, said LED lamp thermally connected to said mounting panel such that heat created by said LED lamp is conducted away from said LED lamp by said mounting panel.   
     
     
         13 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 12 , wherein said LED lamp is attached directly to said mounting panel. 
     
     
         14 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 12 , further comprising a bracket attached directly to said mounting panel, and wherein said LED lamp is attached directly to said bracket. 
     
     
         15 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein the appliance is a range hood, the appliance further comprising a vent duct for allowing the range hood to exhaust cooking fumes and heat, wherein said electronic component is placed into thermal communication with said vent duct. 
     
     
         16 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 15 , wherein said electronic component is attached to said vent duct. 
     
     
         17 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 15 , wherein said electronic component is an LED lamp that is attached to said vent duct, and further comprising means for transmitting light from said LED lamp towards a surface located below the range hood. 
     
     
         18 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 15 , wherein said electronic component is a PCB board attached to said vent duct. 
     
     
         19 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a user interface for operating the appliance; and   a wired connection between said user interface and said PCB board.   
     
     
         20 . A kitchen appliance as in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a user interface for operating the appliance; and   a wireless connection between said user interface and said PCB board.