household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1), in particular a household cooking appliance, with a treatment chamber (2), and a control knob (13, 14) for selecting an operating function by a user, wherein the control knob (13, 14) has a switch handle (28), and an axle adapter (17) with a light-reflecting inner surface (21), and wherein the axle adapter (17) has a receiving section (23) for receiving a lighting device (24).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance.

[0002] A household appliance, such as an oven, comprises a cooking chamber enclosed by a muffle or oven cavity, in particular a cooking chamber, to which a door is hinged. A user can select a function of the household appliance using a control knob attached to a control panel.

[0003] Against this background, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved household appliance.

[0004] Accordingly, a household appliance, in particular a household cooking appliance, is proposed, comprising a treatment chamber and a control knob for selecting an operating function by a user, wherein the control knob has a switch handle and an axis adapter with a light-reflecting inner surface, and wherein the axis adapter has a receiving section for receiving a lighting device.

[0005] The household appliance can be, for example, a stove, an oven, a combination microwave oven, a double oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, a washing machine, or the like. If the household appliance is a cooking appliance, the treatment chamber can also be a cooking chamber. Preferably, a door is pivotally mounted on the treatment chamber. Hinges may be provided for this purpose. Alternatively, the door can also be arranged on a pull-out oven rack or the like that extends from the treatment chamber. In this case, the door is not pivotally mounted on the treatment chamber but can be moved linearly relative to it. The treatment chamber is preferably cube-shaped or cuboid and comprises a floor, a ceiling opposite the floor, a rear wall opposite the closed door, and two opposing side walls.

[0006] The recording section can be designed in a slotted shape. Slotted in this context means that the recording section has a significantly larger extent in one spatial direction than in the other two. Opposite side walls of the recording section are aligned parallel to each other. Therefore, the recording section is not tapered or wedge-shaped.

[0007] The receiving section can be located in a transition area of ​​the axle adapter, meaning an area where the contour of the axle adapter's inner surface changes, for example, transitioning from a cylindrical contour to a circular disc contour. However, other arrangements of the receiving section within the axle adapter are also conceivable.

[0008] The user of the household appliance is a person who operates, i.e., uses, the household appliance.

[0009] The lighting device is specifically designed to illuminate the control knob, thus illuminating it from within. For this purpose, the lighting unit incorporates a light source, which could be, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), although other types of light sources are also conceivable. Furthermore, the lighting device can be a single LED attached by means of its electrical control leads. Alternatively, the lighting device could be a surface-mounted LED (SMD) mounted on a circuit board.

[0010] The light-reflecting property of the inner surface of the axle adapter can be understood in the sense that a large proportion of the light incident on the inner surface is reflected and thrown back by the inner surface, while only a negligible proportion of the incident light is absorbed by the axle adapter.

[0011] The control knob can be located on a control panel, which may be situated above the door of the appliance. This allows the user to easily and ergonomically reach the control knob and select a function of the appliance.

[0012] Because the control knob's axis adapter has a mounting section for the lighting unit, the control knob can be easily and optionally equipped with the lighting unit. This allows the control knob to be manufactured and used as a modular system, similar to a building block system. The modular design ensures that the standardized axis adapter can be used in control knobs with and without lighting units. This reduces manufacturing and storage costs as well as the number of tools required.

[0013] Furthermore, the proposed household appliance advantageously allows the axle adapter to be designed as a modular component with regard to the type of lighting device, enabling both the arrangement of a loose, single LED and an LED implemented as an SMD component on a circuit board. This also reduces both manufacturing and storage costs.

[0014] Thanks to the light-reflecting inner surface, a high light output can be achieved and the entire operating knob illuminated, even with the help of a low-intensity lighting device, which is therefore cost-effective both in terms of its purchase price and its subsequent energy costs.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the axle adapter is designed in a pot shape.

[0016] The pot-shaped design of the axle adapter results in a particularly pronounced curvature of its inner surface. This curvature is especially advantageous for light reflection, as parallel incident light rays can be widely scattered by the curvature of the inner surface itself, thus achieving a particularly homogeneous illumination of the control knob.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the axle adapter has an axle adapter base, an axle adapter side wall and a concave transition area arranged between the axle adapter base and the axle adapter side wall.

[0018] The transition area thus represents a contour transition between the cylindrical side wall of the axle adapter and the disc-shaped base of the axle adapter. This transition area can, in particular, have a radius designed such that, viewed from the center of the axle adapter, it is concave. In addition to this concave area, the transition area can also have non-concave sections, for example, in the area of ​​the receiving section. However, the largest area of ​​the transition area is concave, thus forming the pot-shaped profile of the axle adapter.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the axle adapter is designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation and has an axle adapter bearing for receiving an axle, which axle adapter bearing is arranged centrally on the axis of rotation.

[0020] In addition to the rotationally symmetrical shape of the axle adapter, it can also have areas that are not rotationally symmetrical, for example, in the area of ​​the mounting section. The axle adapter bearing can be designed, for example, as a recess within the axle adapter or as a surrounding area of ​​the axle adapter in which the axle can be inserted. However, it is also conceivable to manufacture the axle and the axle adapter as a single piece and thus omit the axle adapter bearing. A two-component injection molding process can be used for this purpose. In both cases, however, the axle adapter is designed so that the axle is positioned centrally on the axis of rotation. This advantageously allows for particularly precise concentricity of the operating knob.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the axle adapter has a light-reflecting surface coating and / or a light-reflecting material.

[0022] In particular, the axle adapter features a light-reflecting surface coating and / or light-reflecting material or surface structure, which may also be designed to diffuse light. Light-reflecting in this context means that a large portion of the incident light falling on the surface is reflected and bounced back, while only a negligible amount is absorbed. The surface coating can be, for example, a light-colored paint or lacquer. However, it is also conceivable to apply a metallic material as a surface coating, for example, through an electroplating process. Alternatively or in addition to a surface coating, the axle adapter material itself can also possess light-reflecting properties, for example, by being made of a light-colored plastic or metal.This can advantageously achieve a standardization of the entire manufacturing process chain, and, for example, existing and non-light-reflecting axle adapters can also be part of the operating knob.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the operating knob has a lighting device for illuminating the operating knob, wherein the lighting device is arranged in such a way that the light emitted by it shines exclusively into the axle adapter.

[0024] The lighting device can also be arranged so that the light it emits shines forward. The lighting device includes the light source, which can be an LED. This allows the control knob to be illuminated particularly cost-effectively and with minimal energy consumption. Illuminating the control knob is especially advantageous because it makes it easier for the user to recognize and distinguish the symbols used to select a function. For example, this allows the user to operate the appliance safely even in poor lighting conditions.

[0025] The lighting device can be designed in a single color, but it can also be multicolored, for example as a multicolored LED or as an arrangement of several differently colored LEDs. This allows the user to distinguish between different operating functions by color, thus preventing, for example, incorrect operation of the household appliance.

[0026] The lighting device is preferably arranged such that the light it emits shines exclusively into the axle adapter. The main beam direction of the lighting device points towards the axle adapter. The light emitted by the lighting device can therefore reach the axle adapter via a direct beam path, in particular without reflections between the lighting device and the axle adapter. However, it is also conceivable that, for example due to manufacturing processes, the lighting device also emits light with a beam direction deviating from this main beam direction, and thus light rays from the lighting device can reach components other than the axle adapter via a direct beam path. Preferably, however, all light emitted by the lighting device reaches the axle adapter via a direct beam path.This advantageously allows for a particularly pronounced reflection and distribution of the light rays within the operating knob, in conjunction with the light-reflecting inner surface of the axle adapter.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the axle adapter has an axle adapter cavity which is connected to the receiving section via a common opening, with the lighting device being arranged inside the receiving section.

[0028] In other words, the axle adapter has two cavities. The receiving section is one of these cavities and serves to house the lighting device. The receiving section is connected to the significantly larger axle adapter cavity via a common opening. This opening is designed to allow light from the lighting device to enter the axle adapter cavity. Among other functions, the axle adapter cavity serves to reflect the light rays off its inner wall, thus distributing the light throughout the entire control knob.The arrangement of the lighting device within the separate receiving section, which is only connected to the axle adapter cavity via the small opening, serves not least the safety of the user and ensures, for example, that the user cannot access or touch electrically live components even when removing the switch handle.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the household appliance is characterized in that the receiving section is arranged in the transition area and the opening opens the receiving section towards the axis of rotation and is arranged in such a way that the light of the lighting device shines essentially perpendicular to and towards the axis of rotation.

[0030] The main beam direction of the lighting device extends from the lighting device perpendicular to the axis of rotation towards the opposite side of the transition area. Advantageously, this causes the light rays to be reflected, scattered, and distributed within the control knob, particularly at the concave contour of the transition area. However, some of the light rays also strike the axis or the axle adapter bearing located centrally on the axis of rotation. The incident light is also reflected, scattered, and distributed within the control knob at their surfaces. This advantageously results in a particularly homogeneous distribution of the light rays within the control knob.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the household appliance is characterized in that the receiving section is arranged on the side wall of the axle adapter and the opening opens the receiving section towards the bottom of the axle adapter and is designed in such a way that the light from the lighting device shines essentially parallel to the axis of rotation and away from the switch handle.

[0032] The receiving section can, for example, be arranged perpendicular to the axle adapter side wall with respect to its main dimension and penetrate the axle adapter side wall. The main beam direction of the light from the lighting device is directed from the lighting device parallel to the axis of rotation towards the axle adapter base. The light from the lighting device is thus first reflected and distributed at the axle adapter base and from there reflected back towards the switch handle. A direct beam path between the lighting device and the switch handle is excluded. Advantageously, this results in a particularly homogeneous distribution of the light from the lighting unit within the operating knob. However, some of the light can also be emitted in directions not parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, the switch handle is designed as a hollow, rotationally symmetrical cylinder and has a switch handle cavity, which switch handle cavity is connected to the axle adapter cavity and together with the axle adapter cavity forms a common cavity, which common cavity penetrates a control panel.

[0034] The switch handle, designed as a hollow, rotationally symmetrical cylinder, is open on one side and oriented with its open side towards the shaft adapter, while the cup-shaped shaft adapter is also open on one side and positioned with its open side towards the switch handle. In this way, the switch handle cavity and the shaft adapter cavity are aligned and connected to each other, forming a common cavity. This common cavity is essentially sealed to the outside. However, the common cavity may also have openings to the outside, particularly in the area of ​​the control panel, which may be due to manufacturing processes and / or tolerances. "To the outside" here refers to the surroundings of the household appliance. The penetration of the control panel is understood to mean that the common cavity intersects a plane of the control panel.The common cavity can therefore extend in both directions normal to the control panel, where normal is understood to mean a direction perpendicular to a plane of the control panel. The switch handle is predominantly designed as a hollow, rotationally symmetrical cylinder. However, it can also have areas that are not rotationally symmetrical. For example, the switch handle may have contours that deviate from a rotationally symmetrical shape in a certain area or at a point on its circumference. For instance, the switch handle may be flattened in an area used to set a specific operating function of the household appliance, in order to emphasize and clarify this function for the user.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the operating knob is designed and arranged in such a way that the light from the lighting device is reflected and scattered on the light-reflecting inner surface and only reaches the switch handle indirectly, so that the switch handle is homogeneously illuminated on the inside.

[0036] Because the switch handle receives only indirect light from the lighting device, which is reflected at least once from an inner surface of the knob, the switch handle is illuminated particularly homogeneously on the inside. "Inside" here means that the light from the lighting device, emitted from within the knob's body, especially from a cavity within the knob, reaches the switch handle from the knob's center. The center of the knob refers to its geometric midpoint. This does not preclude the possibility that the switch handle may also be illuminated from the outside, for example, by natural sunlight or room lighting, which could result in uneven illumination of the switch handle on the outside.Advantageously, the homogeneous internal illumination of the switch handle allows for the illumination of every area of ​​the switch handle, meaning that every area of ​​the switch handle can be perceived as illuminated by the user.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the switch handle has a switch handle front which has areas of transparent and / or translucent material as well as areas of opaque and non-translucent material, wherein the transparent or translucent areas are in particular arranged to represent one or more symbols for an operating function.

[0038] In particular, the switch handle front features areas made of transparent, translucent, light-diffusing, and / or light-dispersing material. The opaque and non-translucent areas are designed so that the light from the illumination device cannot penetrate them. In contrast, the light from the illumination device can penetrate the transparent and / or translucent areas, so that these appear illuminated or shining when viewed from the outside, for example, by the user. The combination of these areas makes it possible to display illuminated or shining symbols on the switch handle front or on a surface of the control knob. The control knob is designed so that all symbols for operating functions on the switch handle front are illuminated or shining simultaneously.This advantageously allows the user to operate the household appliance safely even in poor lighting conditions, while the illumination of the symbols can be implemented particularly easily and cost-effectively.

[0039] According to another embodiment, the switch handle is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation, wherein the switch handle has a switch handle bearing for receiving the axis, which switch handle bearing is arranged centrally on the axis of rotation.

[0040] Similar to the axle adapter bearing, the switch handle bearing can be designed as a recess in the switch handle or as a framed area of ​​the switch handle in which the axle can be located. However, it is also conceivable to manufacture the switch handle and axle as a single unit instead of using a separate switch handle bearing.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the operating knob has the axis for connecting the switch handle and the axis adapter, wherein the switch handle is either rotatably mounted about the axis or the switch handle together with the axis is rotatably mounted on the axis adapter.

[0042] The rotation of the axis with the switch handle allows the appliance to easily detect and recognize the current angular position of the switch handle, and thus the selected operating function. Furthermore, the use of an axis between the switch handle and the axis adapter facilitates particularly easy mounting of the control knob and, in particular, allows the switch handle to be positioned on one side of the control panel and the axis adapter on the opposite side. However, it is also conceivable that the switch handle, the axis, and the axis adapter could be designed as a single, one-piece component.

[0043] According to another embodiment, the switch handle either rests on the control panel with an outwardly projecting edge or is designed in such a way that the switch handle can be recessed through the control panel.

[0044] The edge can be the aforementioned outer surface. The switch handle can therefore have an edge projecting outwards, distally from the axis of rotation, and a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of a bore in the control panel, thus allowing the switch handle to rest on the control panel. "Residing" here does not necessarily mean constant contact between the switch handle and the control panel. Rather, the outwardly projecting edge of the switch handle acts as a stop, preventing the switch handle from penetrating the control panel. Alternatively, the switch handle can also be designed to be recessed through the control panel. In this case, the control panel has a bore through which the switch handle fits.This allows the user to push the switch handle through the control panel and recess it flush with the panel inside the appliance. For example, to select a function, the user can push the switch handle back through the panel by pressing it again. This not only offers aesthetic advantages but also effectively prevents damage to the switch handle, such as during transport or accidental bumping.

[0045] Other possible implementations of the household appliance also include combinations of features or embodiments described previously or subsequently with regard to the exemplary embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned. In such cases, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the household appliance.

[0046] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the household appliance are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the household appliance described below. The household appliance will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective cutaway view of an embodiment of a control knob of the household appliance according to Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic cutaway view of the control knob according to Fig. 2; Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic cutaway view of another embodiment of a control knob of the household appliance according to Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a lighting device of the household appliance according to Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a switch handle of the household appliance according to Fig. 1.

[0047] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference symbols, unless otherwise indicated.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance 1. The household appliance 1 can be a stove, an oven, a combination microwave oven, a double oven, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a washing machine, or the like. The household appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 2, which can be closed by means of a door 3. If the household appliance 1 is a cooking appliance, the cooking chamber 2 can also be a cooking chamber. The cooking chamber 2 can also be referred to as a muffle or oven muffle. The cooking chamber 2 can be arranged inside a housing of the household appliance 1.

[0049] Door 3 is in the Fig. 1 is shown in a closed position. The door 3 can be opened or closed by pivoting it around a pivot axis provided at a lower end or at a lower edge 4 of the door 3. Alternatively, the door 3 can be hinged laterally to the treatment chamber 2. Furthermore, the door 3 can be mounted on a baking trolley that can be pulled out of the treatment chamber 2. However, the movement of the door 3 when opening it is arbitrary. That is to say, the door 3 can, in principle, perform any desired movement when opening.

[0050] A handle 6 may be provided on an upper section or on an upper edge 5 of the door 3. However, the door 3 may also be handleless. The treatment chamber 2 has a floor 7, a ceiling 8 opposite the floor 7, a rear wall 9 opposite the closed door 3, and two opposing side walls 10, 11. The treatment chamber 2 is preferably cuboid or cube-shaped. The treatment chamber 2 may be made of a metal material, in particular a sheet of steel.

[0051] The household appliance 1 further includes control knobs 13 and 14 provided on a control panel 12. The control knobs 13 and 14 may be identical. Therefore, the following text will always refer to control knob 13. However, the descriptions of control knob 13 also apply analogously to control knob 14. Control knob 13 may, for example, be rotatable. A control device 15, shown only schematically, for controlling the household appliance 1 may be provided on the rear of the control panel 12. The control device 15 may be a regulating and / or controlling device. A display 16 may also be provided on the control panel 12. The display 16 can show the operating status of the household appliance 1. For example, the display 16 can show a temperature set using control knob 13.

[0052] Household appliance 1 or treatment room 2 is assigned a coordinate system with a width direction (x-direction), a height direction (y-direction) (y), and a depth direction (z-direction) (z). The directions x, y, and z are oriented perpendicular to each other. The x-direction (x) is oriented from side wall 10 towards side wall 11. The y-direction (y) is oriented from floor 7 towards ceiling 8. The z-direction (z) is oriented from back wall 9 towards the closed door 3.

[0053] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective cutaway view of an embodiment of a control knob 13 of the household appliance 1, as mentioned above. The control knob 13 has a cup-shaped axle adapter 17. The axle adapter 17, in turn, has an axle adapter base 18, an axle adapter side wall 19, and a concave transition area 20 arranged between the axle adapter base 18 and the axle adapter side wall 19. The axle adapter base 18, the The axle adapter side wall 19 and the transition area 20 together form the pot-shaped form of the axle adapter 17. In addition, the axle adapter 17 has a light-reflecting inner surface 21, the light-reflecting properties of which are designed such that a large proportion of the incident light is reflected and only a negligible proportion of the incident light is absorbed. The axle adapter 17 forms an axle adapter cavity 22, which is open towards the control panel 12, i.e., in the direction of the positive depth direction z.

[0054] The axle adapter 17 also has a receiving section 23 for receiving a lighting device 24. The receiving section 23 is slot-shaped, meaning it has a significantly larger dimension in one spatial direction than in the other two, with the opposing side surfaces of the receiving section 23 being aligned parallel to each other. The receiving section 23 is connected to the axle adapter cavity 22 via an opening 25; thus, the receiving section 23 is open to the axle adapter cavity 22 via the opening 25. The axle adapter 17 has an axle adapter bearing 26 located centrally on a rotational axis r. This bearing is surrounded by a frame and serves to receive an axle 27.

[0055] The axle adapter 17 is predominantly rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation r. This means that the axle adapter base 18, the axle adapter side wall 19, the transition area 20, and the axle adapter bearing 26 are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation r, while the receiving section 23 is only located at one point on the axle adapter 17 and therefore does not exhibit rotational symmetry.

[0056] The inner surface 21 of the axle adapter 17 can be provided with a light-reflecting surface coating. Alternatively or additionally, the material of the axle adapter 17 itself can already have light-reflecting properties, for example, by being made of a light-colored plastic or metal. The lighting device 24 is arranged within the axle adapter 17 such that the light emitted by it falls predominantly on the axle adapter 17, in particular on the light-reflecting inner surface 21.

[0057] The control knob 13, in addition to the axle adapter 17 and the axle 27, has a switch handle 28, which is designed as a hollow, rotationally symmetrical cylinder. The switch handle 28 is arranged on one side of the control panel 12, while the axle adapter 17 is arranged on the opposite side. The switch handle 28 forms a switch handle cavity 29, which is oriented towards the control panel 12. The switch handle cavity 29 thus forms a common cavity 30 with the axle adapter cavity 22, and this common cavity 30 penetrates the control panel 12.

[0058] In addition, the switch handle 28 has a switch handle bearing 31, which is designed as an enclosed area and serves to receive the axis 27 and is arranged centrally on the axis of rotation r. The switch handle 28 is rotationally fixed to the axis 27, with the assembly of switch handle 28 and axis 27 being rotatably mounted on the axis adapter 17.

[0059] The switch handle 28 also has a switch handle front 32, which faces the user during use of the household appliance 1. The switch handle 28 also has an outwardly projecting rim 33, distal to the axis of rotation r. This rim 33 can also be referred to as a circumferential surface. This rim 33 can serve as a stop, allowing the switch handle 28 to rest on the control panel 12. Alternatively, the switch handle 28 could be designed so that the user can push the switch handle 28 through the control panel 12 and recess it flush with the control panel 12 inside the household appliance 1. In this case, the switch handle 28 does not rest on the control panel 12, but rather the stop is on the axis adapter 17.

[0060] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic cutaway view of the control knob 13. In the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the embodiment of the operating knob 13 shown in Figure 3, the receiving section 23 and the lighting device 24 are arranged in the transition area 20 of the axle adapter 17. The opening 25 opens the receiving section 23 in the direction of the axis of rotation r and is arranged such that the light from the lighting device 24 shines essentially perpendicular to and towards the axis of rotation r.

[0061] The Fig. Figure 3 also shows how the light emitted by the lighting device 24 (shown as dashed arrows) is reflected and scattered on the inner surface 21 of the axle adapter 17 and distributed within the common cavity 30 of the control knob 13, reaching the switch handle 28 only indirectly. This enables homogeneous illumination of the control knob 13 from within.

[0062] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic cutaway view of another embodiment of a control knob 13 of the household appliance 1, as previously mentioned. In this embodiment of the control knob 13, the receiving section 23 is arranged on the side wall 19 of the axle adapter. The opening 25 opens the receiving section 23 towards the base of the axle adapter 18 and is designed such that the light from the illumination device 24 (shown as dashed arrows) shines substantially parallel to the axis of rotation r and away from the switch handle 28 (i.e., in the negative depth direction -z). The light from the illumination device 24 thus reaches the switch handle 28 only after at least one reflection off the inner surface 21.

[0063] The Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the lighting device 24 of the operating knob 13. The lighting device 24 includes a light source 34 in the form of an LED, which is designed as an SMD component. The lighting device 24 can also have several light sources 34, which, for example, can be multicolored to emit different colored light. In the Fig. Figure 5 shows several light sources 34, but only one of them is labelled. The light sources 34 are mounted on a circuit board 35, which could also be referred to as a circuit board. The circuit board 35 is designed to be mounted within the receiving section 23 of the axle adapter 17.

[0064] The Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the switch handle 28 of the operating knob 13. The switch handle 28 is shown from a typical user perspective, namely a view of the switch handle 28 in the negative depth direction -z, such that the front of the switch handle 32 is seen frontally. The front of the switch handle 32 has areas 36, 37 made of opaque and non-translucent material, through which the light from the illumination device 24 does not penetrate. In addition, the front of the switch handle 32 also has several areas 38 made of transparent or translucent material, through which the light from the illumination device 24 penetrates and is thus visible to the user. In the Fig. Figure 6 shows several areas 38, but only one of them has a reference sign.

[0065] In this way, one or more illuminated or luminous symbols can be implemented cost-effectively, representing one or more operating functions of the household appliance 1. This allows the user to easily recognize the corresponding symbols even in poor lighting conditions and thus reliably select the desired operating function of the household appliance 1. The control knob 13 is designed so that all areas 38 representing the corresponding operating function symbols are illuminated simultaneously. This makes the illumination particularly simple and cost-effective. The rim 33 can also be illuminated. For this purpose, translucent symbols can be provided on the rim 33.

[0066] Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways. Reference symbols used: 1 household appliance 2 treatment rooms 3 Door 4 bottom edge 5 Top edge 6 handle 7 Floor 8 ceiling 9 Back panel 10 side wall 11 Side wall 12 Control panel 13 Control knob 14 Control knob 15 Control unit 16 Display 17 axle adapters 18 axle adapter base 19 axle adapter side wall 20 Transition area 21 interior surface 22 axle adapter cavity 23 Recording section 24 Lighting equipment 25 Opening 26 axle adapter bearings 27 axle 28 Switch handle 29 Switch handle cavity 30 Common cavity 31 Switch handle bearing 32 Switch handle front 33 Rand 34 light bulbs 35 circuit boards 36 area 37 area 38 area r axis of rotation x x-direction y y-direction z z-direction

Claims

[1] Household appliance (1), in particular a household cooking appliance, with a treatment chamber (2), and a control knob (13, 14) for selecting an operating function by a user, wherein the control knob (13, 14) has a switch handle (28), and an axle adapter (17) with a light-reflecting inner surface (21), and wherein the axle adapter (17) has a receiving section (23) for receiving a lighting device (24). [2] Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized by that the axle adapter (17) is pot-shaped. [3] Household appliance according to claim 2, characterized by that the axle adapter (17) has an axle adapter base (18), an axle adapter side wall (19), and a concave transition region (20) arranged between the axle adapter base (18) and the axle adapter side wall (19). [4] Household appliance according to one of claims 1-3, characterized bythat the axle adapter (17) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a rotation axis (r) and has an axle adapter bearing (26) for receiving an axle (27), which axle adapter bearing (26) is arranged centrally on the rotation axis (r). [5] Household appliance according to one of claims 1-4, characterized by that the axle adapter (17) has a light-reflecting surface coating and / or a light-reflecting material. [6] Household appliance according to one of claims 1-5, characterized by that the operating knob (13, 14) has a lighting device (24) for illuminating the operating knob (13, 14), wherein the lighting device (24) is arranged such that the light emitted by it shines exclusively into the axle adapter (17). [7] Household appliance according to claim 6, characterized byin that the axle adapter (17) has an axle adapter cavity (22), which axle adapter cavity (22) is connected to the receiving section (23) via a common opening (25), wherein the lighting device (24) is arranged within the receiving section (23). [8] Household appliance according to claims 3, 4 and 7, characterized by that the receiving section (23) is arranged in the transition region (20) and the opening (25) opens the receiving section (23) towards the axis of rotation (r) and is arranged such that the light of the illumination device (24) radiates substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation (r) and towards it. [9] Household appliance according to claims 3, 4 and 7, characterized bythat the receiving section (23) is arranged on the axle adapter side wall (19) and the opening (25) opens the receiving section (23) towards the axle adapter base (18) and is designed such that the light of the lighting device (24) radiates substantially axially parallel to the axis of rotation (r) and away from the switch handle (28). [10] Household appliance according to one of claims 7-9, characterized by in that the switch handle (28) is designed as a hollow, rotationally symmetrical cylinder and has a switch handle cavity (29), which switch handle cavity (29) is connected to the axle adapter cavity (22) and together with the axle adapter cavity (22) forms a common cavity (30), which common cavity (30) penetrates a control panel (12). [11] Household appliance according to one of claims 6-10, characterized bythat the operating knob (13, 14) is designed and arranged in such a way that the light of the lighting device (24) is reflected and scattered on the light-reflecting inner surface (21) and reaches the switch handle (28) only indirectly, so that the switch handle (28) is homogeneously illuminated on the inside. [12] Household appliance according to one of claims 1-11, characterized by in that the switch handle (28) has a switch handle front side (32), which switch handle front side (32) has both areas (38) made of transparent and / or translucent material and areas (36, 37) made of opaque and non-translucent material, wherein the transparent or translucent areas (38) are arranged in particular such that they represent one or more symbols for an operating function. [13] Household appliance according to one of claims 4-12, characterized bythat the switch handle (28) is mounted rotatably about the rotation axis (r), wherein the switch handle (28) has a switch handle bearing (31) for receiving the axis (27), which switch handle bearing (31) is arranged centrally on the rotation axis (r). [14] Household appliance according to claim 13, characterized by that the operating knob (13, 14) has the axis (27) for connecting the switch handle (28) and the axis adapter (17), wherein the switch handle (28) is either rotatably mounted about the axis (27) or the switch handle (28) is rotatably mounted on the axis adapter (17) together with the axis (27). [15] Household appliance according to one of claims 10-14 characterized by that the switch handle (28) either rests on the control panel (12) with an outwardly projecting edge (33), or that the switch handle (28) is designed such that the switch handle (28) can be retracted through the control panel (12).

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