Oven appliance with features for selecting convection air flow direction

Abstract

An oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet with a cooking chamber for receipt of food for cooking. The oven appliance also includes features for selectively generating a flow of heated air within the chamber in a first direction or a second direction. Selecting the direction of heated air within the chamber can improve cooking of food items therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet having a chamber positioned within said cabinet, the chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking;   a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and opposing sidewalls defining the chamber, said top wall defining a first plurality of apertures, said sidewalls or said back wall defining a second plurality of apertures, a first duct in fluid communication with the chamber through the first plurality of apertures, and a second duct in fluid communication with the chamber through the second plurality of apertures; and   a fan in fluid communication with said first duct and said second duct, said fan operable to cause air to flow out of either the first plurality of apertures or the second plurality of apertures depending upon the direction of air flow selected for cooking operations.   
     
     
         2 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan is configured for rotation in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, wherein when said fan rotates in the first direction air flows out of the first plurality of apertures, wherein when said fan rotates in the second direction airflows out of the second plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan is an axial fan. 
     
     
         4 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a damper configured for selective adjustment between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration said fan directs air flow into said first duct, wherein in the second configuration said fan is directs air flow into said second duct. 
     
     
         5 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan is a radial fan. 
     
     
         6 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan comprises:
 a first fan in fluid communication with the first duct; and   a second fan in fluid communication with the second duct.   
     
     
         7 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan is positioned adjacent said top wall. 
     
     
         8 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said fan is positioned adjacent said back wall. 
     
     
         9 . An oven appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a chamber positioned within said cabinet and configured for receipt of food items for cooking, said chamber defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a pair of opposing side walls extending between said top wall and said bottom wall;   a first plurality of apertures defined by said top wall;   a first duct defined between said top wall and said cabinet;   a second plurality of apertures defined by said back wall;   a second duct defined between said back wall and said cabinet; and   a fan in fluid communication with said first duct and said second duct, said fan operable to cause air to flow out of either said first plurality of apertures or said second plurality of apertures depending upon the direction of air flow selected for cooking operations.   
     
     
         10 . The oven appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said fan is configured for rotation in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, wherein when said fan rotates in the first direction air flows out of said first plurality of apertures, wherein when said fan rotates in the second direction air flows out of said second plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The oven appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said fan is an axial fan. 
     
     
         12 . The oven appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising a damper configured for selective adjustment between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration said fan is in fluid communication with said first duct, wherein in the second configuration said fan is in fluid communication with said second duct. 
     
     
         13 . The oven appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said fan is a radial fan. 
     
     
         14 . The oven appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said fan comprises:
 a first fan in fluid communication with said first duct; and   a second fan in fluid communication with said second duct.   
     
     
         15 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a chamber positioned within said cabinet and configured for receipt of food items for cooking, said chamber defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a pair of opposing side walls extending between said top wall and said bottom wall;   a first plurality of apertures defined by said top wall;   a first duct defined between said top wall and said cabinet;   a second plurality of apertures defined by said side walls;   a second duct defined between said side walls and said cabinet; and   a fan in fluid communication with said first duct and said second duct, said fan operable to cause air to flow out of either the first plurality of apertures or the second plurality of apertures depending upon the direction of air flow selected for cooking operations.   
     
     
         16 . The oven appliance of  claim 16 , wherein said fan is configured for rotation in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, wherein when said fan rotates in the first direction air flows out of said first plurality of apertures, wherein when said fan rotates in the second direction air flows out of said second plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The oven appliance of  claim 16 , further comprising a damper configured for selective adjustment between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration said fan is in fluid communication with said first duct, wherein in the second configuration said fan is in fluid communication with said second duct. 
     
     
         18 . The oven appliance of  claim 16 , wherein said fan comprises:
 a first fan in fluid communication with said first duct; and   a second fan in fluid communication with said second duct.   
     
     
         19 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet having a chamber positioned within said cabinet, the chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking;   a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and opposing sidewalls defining the chamber, said top wall defining a first plurality of apertures, said sidewalls or said back wall defining a second plurality of apertures; and   a first fan and a second fan, said first fan operable to cause air to flow out of the first plurality of apertures, said second fan operable to cause air to flow out of the second plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         20 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet having a chamber positioned within said cabinet, the chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking;   a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and opposing sidewalls defining the chamber, said top wall of defining a first plurality of apertures, said sidewalls or said back wall defining a second plurality of apertures, a first duct in fluid communication with the chamber through the first plurality of apertures, and a second duct in fluid communication with the chamber through the second plurality of apertures; and   means for causing air to flow out of either the first plurality of apertures or the second plurality of apertures depending upon the direction of air flow selected for cooking operations.