Air flow management for an oven appliance with hidden heating source

Abstract

An oven appliance with one or more features for managing the flow of heated air within the oven cavity is provided. Such features are provided on a floor or wall that is positioned over one or more heating elements. The features are configured to disrupt the formation and/or flow of a high temperature film so that heated air is more uniformly distributed within the oven cavity in order to promote a more uniform cooking of food items therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 an oven cavity for the receipt of food items for cooking;   a bottom wall defining at least a lower part of said oven cavity, said bottom wall comprising
 at least one connecting portion, 
 at least one air directing portion, said air directing portion including a surface for directing a flow of heated air upwardly in said oven cavity; and 
   a heating source located below said bottom wall for providing heat energy to said oven cavity.   
     
     
         2 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compartment positioned below said bottom wall;   wherein said heating source is positioned within said compartment.   
     
     
         3 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one air directing portion comprises a dimple projecting into said oven cavity. 
     
     
         4 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one air directing portion comprises a plurality dimples spaced about said bottom wall between a plurality of connecting portions, said dimples projecting into said oven cavity. 
     
     
         5 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one air directing portion comprises a rib projecting into said oven cavity. 
     
     
         6 . An oven appliance as in  claim 5 , wherein said rib extends longitudinally from the front to the rear of said oven cavity. 
     
     
         7 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one air directing portion comprises a plurality of ribs spaced about said bottom wall between a plurality of connecting portions, said ribs projecting into said oven cavity. 
     
     
         8 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said oven cavity defines a lateral direction and has a centerline, and wherein said bottom wall slopes downwardly along the lateral direction on each side of the centerline of said oven cavity. 
     
     
         9 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface of said at least one air directing portion is convex. 
     
     
         10 . An oven appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface of said at least one air directing portion is concave. 
     
     
         11 . An oven appliance, comprising:
 an oven cavity for the receipt of foods for cooking, said oven cavity defined in part by a cavity floor and a top wall, said cavity floor comprising
 a plurality of air directing portions, each air directing portion including at least one surface projecting upwardly into said oven cavity so as to direct a flow of heated air upwardly into said oven cavity; 
   a heat source positioned below the said cavity floor for providing heat energy to said oven cavity.   
     
     
         12 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of air directing portions comprise a plurality of dimples spaced about said cavity floor. 
     
     
         13 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of air directing portions comprise a plurality of ribs spaced about said cavity floor. 
     
     
         14 . An oven appliance as in  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of ribs extend longitudinally between a front and a back of said cavity floor. 
     
     
         15 . An oven appliance as in  claim 13 , wherein said oven cavity is further defined by a pair of opposing side walls, and wherein said plurality of ribs extend longitudinally between the pair of opposing side walls. 
     
     
         16 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , further comprising a compartment positioned beneath said cavity floor, wherein said heat source is positioned in said compartment. 
     
     
         17 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one surface of each of said air directing portions is convex. 
     
     
         18 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one surface of each of said air directing portions is concave. 
     
     
         19 . An oven appliance as in  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of connecting portions extending between said air directing portions. 
     
     
         20 . An oven appliance as in  claim 19 , wherein said connecting portions are planar.