Household appliance, in particular household appliance with water guidance

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a domestic appliance with water guidance, such as for example a dishwasher, having an appliance housing (2) which provides an appliance chamber (3), having a loading opening (4) for accessing the appliance chamber (3), and having an appliance door (5) which can be mounted about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening (4), wherein the appliance door (5) has a door handle (18) and an operating unit (7) having a panel (9) and an operating area (10), wherein the operating area (10) is arranged pivotable on the panel (9) about a swivel axis (13) which extends along a lower longitudinal edge (12) of the operating area (10) in a height direction (11) and in order to be pivotable from a first position in which the operating area (10) is flush with an outer surface (8) of the appliance door (5) to a second position in which the operating area (10) is moved into a cavity provided by the panel (9) and in order to be pivotable from the second position to the first position, and wherein the door handle (18) is a grip provided by the panel (9) on the cavity side which can be reached by a user through an opening gap (23) between the operating area (10) and the panel (9) when the operating area (10) is in the second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a household appliance, and more particularly, to a water-guided household appliance, such as, for example, a dishwasher, having an appliance housing with an appliance chamber having a loading opening for access to the appliance chamber, and an appliance door mounted rotatably about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening, the appliance door having a door handle and an operating unit with a panel and operating area. Furthermore, the invention also relates to an operating unit for a household appliance having a panel and operating area. Background Technology

[0002] General household appliances, and especially water-guided household appliances, are known from the existing state of the art, and therefore no separate written evidence is required in this regard. This is why patent documents DE 10 2011 053 290 A1, DE 10 2007 033 357 A1 and EP 1 795642 B1 are referenced by way of example only, and these documents disclose a general household appliance.

[0003] In the context of this invention, "household appliance" specifically refers to a water-guided household appliance, such as, for example, dishwashers, washing machines, and / or dryers. However, the term "household appliance" also includes ovens, electric steamers, microwave ovens, and / or similar products.

[0004] Typical household appliances have an appliance housing containing an appliance compartment. To allow the user access to the appliance compartment, the appliance housing has a loading opening. To close the loading opening during appliance use, an appliance door is envisioned, arranged on the appliance housing in a manner pivotable about a pivot axis. Under intended use, the appliance door can be pushed by the user from the open position to the closed position, thereby closing the loading opening, and vice versa. In the case of water-guided household appliances, the closure of the loading opening by the appliance door in the closed position is preferably a fluid seal.

[0005] To enable a user to operate the appliance door, the appliance door is equipped with a door handle that can be grasped by the user during use. Such a door handle can be, for example, a gripping part or a recessed gripping part.

[0006] The appliance doors of typical household appliances also have operating units. These units can be used by the user to operate and use the appliance as intended. For this purpose, the operating unit has an operating area that provides corresponding operating functions, depending on the design of the appliance. This operating area can be configured, for example, as a so-called touch panel. However, the operating area can also provide mechanically actuated buttons and / or knobs.

[0007] The operating unit also has a panel. It is arranged on the appliance door and provides an operating area. In this sense, the panel serves as a support unit for the operating area.

[0008] Modern kitchens are characterized by simple, minimalist designs. Large surfaces and small connections define the overall look. Built-in appliances, such as typical household appliances, also follow this trend of smooth surfaces operated by touch, without control knobs or buttons.

[0009] Appliance handles prominently positioned on the outside of appliance doors contradict this ideal of simplified design. Therefore, it is desirable to construct appliance doors in a way that minimizes protruding appliance components, such as door handles, which protrude from the front of the appliance door. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to constructively improve general-type household appliances, in this sense, at least on appliance doors in the closed position, to create an overall planar appearance without visible door handles, which at the same time improves the user's operation.

[0011] To achieve this objective, the present invention proposes a general household appliance characterized in that an operating area is arranged on a panel to be pivotable about a rotation axis extending along a lower longitudinal side edge of the operating area in the height direction, and to be pivotable from a first position to a second position, in which the operating area is flush with the outer surface of the appliance door, and in the second position, the operating area is moved into a cavity provided by the panel, and to be pivotable from the second position to the first position, wherein the door handle is a gripping portion provided by the panel on the side of the cavity, the gripping portion being accessible to the user through an opening gap located between the operating area and the panel when the operating area is in the second position.

[0012] The operating unit according to the invention provides a pivotable operating area that, in its non-pivotable position, covers the gripping portion provided by the operating unit, making the gripping portion invisible to the user from the outside. Therefore, in the case of the non-pivotable operating area, the configuration according to the invention creates a reduced, planar design without a visible door handle. The door handle is configured as a gripping portion, preferably a recessed gripping portion, and the door handle is covered by the operating area in its non-pivotable position. The user can only access this configured door handle when the operating area is pivoted. In this respect, the operating area can be pivoted in a single user action, simultaneously reaching the gripping portion provided by the operating unit. Therefore, operation is simplified while maintaining a reduced-size design, since the gripping portion serving as a handle is invisiblely covered by the operating area in the non-pivotable position.

[0013] According to the invention, the operating area is pivotally arranged on the panel. The operating area extends along the longitudinal side edge of the operating area about its pivot axis, that is, along the lower longitudinal side edge that is located at the bottom in the height direction.

[0014] According to the invention, the operating area can pivot from a first position to a second position, and from a second position to a first position. In the first position of the operating area, the so-called non-pivoting position, the operating area is closed and flush with the outer surface of the appliance door. In this position, the gripping part provided by the operating unit is located behind the operating area in the user's viewing direction relative to the household appliance. Therefore, the operating area covers the gripping part in this position, making the gripping part invisible. In this position of the operating area, there is a design configuration that reduces the overall planarity of the front portion of the appliance.

[0015] To bring the operating area to the second position, the operating area must pivot along its longitudinal side edge, which is opposite to its lower longitudinal side edge, into the cavity provided by the operating unit. Therefore, the operating area never protrudes beyond the outer surface provided by the appliance door. In the first position, the operating area is flush with the outer surface, while in the second position, the operating area is moved along its upper longitudinal side edge into the cavity provided by the operating unit.

[0016] According to the present invention, the door handle is a gripping portion provided on the cavity side of the panel of the operating unit. In the simplest case, the gripping portion provides a recessed gripping portion or indicates a recessed gripping portion, which is constructed by the internal contour of the panel itself. The user can only access the gripping portion at a second position in the operating area, i.e., through an opening gap, which is configured at the second position in the operating area to be located between the operating area and the panel. When the operating area returns from the second position to the first position, the opening gap closes again, making the operating area flush with the outer surface of the appliance door, and the gripping portion or recessed gripping portion is covered by the operating area, so that the gripping portion or recessed gripping portion cannot be seen by the user.

[0017] Pivotable operating areas are known from the prior art. Thus, for example, patent document DE 10 2007 033 347 A1, mentioned at the outset, illustrates a household appliance with a door having an operating panel arranged above the door handle. This operating panel provides a display device constructed in a pivotable manner and, if desired, can be moved to an inclined position relative to the operating panel to improve user readability. The display device known from this document protrudes beyond the outer surface of the appliance door in the pivoted position. Furthermore, the panel described herein does not present any operational functions. For actuating the appliance door, a separate door grip is provided, arranged vertically below the pivotable display device.

[0018] Patent document DE 10 2011 053 290 A1 discloses a household appliance with a user interface on a gripping part. The gripping part is equipped with a touch panel and is pivotable from a non-use position to a use position, in which the gripping part protrudes beyond the external surface provided by the appliance door. In this respect, the gripping part is arranged to be pivotable about a rotation axis that extends in the height direction toward the upper longitudinal side edge of the gripping part. Therefore, it allows the operating area provided by the gripping part to be tilted toward the user, which improves readability.

[0019] Finally, patent document EP 1 795 642 B1 also discloses a similarly pivotable operating area, which, for better readability, can be tilted toward the user. This is achieved by the operating area being pivotable about a rotation axis that extends in the height direction toward the upper longitudinal side edge of the operating area.

[0020] Previously known pivotable operating areas share the common characteristic that they protrude beyond the outer surface provided by the appliance door in at least one location. In contrast, the configuration according to the invention proposes that, in the pivot position, the operating area is moved into a cavity provided by the panel of the operating unit, and therefore it does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the appliance door. In the non-pivot position, the operating area according to the invention is flush with the outer surface of the appliance door, i.e., it therefore does not protrude beyond the outer surface. In this sense, the configuration according to the invention provides the advantage of avoiding optical interference to the overall design of the household appliance due to the operating area protruding beyond the outer surface of the appliance door. Furthermore, operating areas pivoted from the outer surface of the appliance door are susceptible to failure due to damage and are also easily affected by dust, particularly from dust particles and / or impurities falling from the worktable arranged above the household appliance; the configuration according to the invention also overcomes these disadvantages.

[0021] According to another feature of the invention, the operating area is envisioned to be manually pivotable. To open the appliance door, the user presses the operating area from a first vertical position to a second inwardly pivotable position, i.e., inward into the cavity provided by the operating unit, for example, by making only one movement with the back of his / her hand, and grasping the recessed gripping portion provided by the operating unit with one or more fingers, thereby allowing the pivoting movement of the appliance door. Thus, simple and safe operation of the appliance door is permitted, and in the case of the non-pivoting operating area, the recessed gripping portion is invisible because it is hidden behind the non-pivoting operating area.

[0022] According to another feature of the invention, it is envisioned that the operating area be configured to pivot via an actuator, preferably a motor. In this case, manual operation is not required, and the operating area is pivoted by the operation of the actuator. Such an actuator can be capacitively triggered, for example, by touching the operating area, pressure on the operating area, a proximity sensor, or a camera. Therefore, pivoting of the operating area can be easily triggered without requiring special contact.

[0023] According to another feature of the invention, the operating area is envisioned to be locked in a second position by a latching device. This prevents undesirable clamping due to rearward pivoting of the operating area. To pivot the operating area back to the first position from the user's perspective, for example by pressing the operating area for new manual actuation, or, in the case of a motor configuration, a new triggering of the actuation is required. In this regard, it is conceivable to apply a prestress to a spring during the transition from the first position to the second position, which, upon release from the user's perspective, causes automatic pivoting back to the first position.

[0024] In conjunction with or alternatively according to another feature of the invention, it is conceivable to dampen the pivoting movement of the operating area. This also serves to prevent clamping, as the operating area shifts back to the first position with a time delay due to the damping. Furthermore, the damping serves to prevent undesirable rattling of the operating area during movement of the appliance door.

[0025] According to another feature of the invention, it is envisioned that the pivoting movement of the operating area is blocked during the pivoting movement of the appliance door. Therefore, pivoting movement of the operating area is only possible when the appliance door is in the closed position. In this respect, it is also envisioned that the operating area is pivotable up to a certain gap width opening in the appliance door. If, in any case, this gap width opening is exceeded, the pivoting movement of the operating area is blocked, thus preventing undesirable pivoting of the operating area when the appliance door is open. In particular, this provides protection against undesirable damage to the operating area.

[0026] According to another feature of the invention, the operating area is envisioned to pivot according to an appliance program performed as intended by the appliance, for example, automatically when the user initiates the appliance program or when the appliance program as intended ends. Therefore, in particular and for example, it is envisioned that the operating area automatically pivots from its first position to a second position after the appliance program as intended ends. The end of the correctly executed appliance program is thus optically displayed to the user of the appliance. Furthermore, by pivoting the operating area to the second position, the recessed grip provided by the operating unit is released, allowing the user to easily grasp it. Additionally or alternatively, it is envisioned that when the operating area is in its second position, it can automatically pivot from the second position to the first position when the user initiates the appliance program.

[0027] According to another feature of the invention, the damping of the operating area is optionally constructed in a velocity-dependent manner. When the operating area is being pivoted normally by the user, the damping has no effect or only a weak effect. Conversely, if the appliance door is suddenly brought to its end position, the pivoting movement of the operating area about its axis of rotation occurs with stronger damping.

[0028] According to another feature of the invention, child protection is envisioned. Therefore, pivoting of the operating area from the first position to the second position is prevented, and this prevention is only lifted by fingerprint or camera recognition. Thus, it can be ensured that unauthorized persons, in particular unauthorized children, cannot open household appliances. Therefore, it is also impossible for pets to open household appliances.

[0029] In a self-protective manner, the present invention also proposes an operating unit for a household appliance, specifically for a household appliance of the aforementioned type, having a panel and an operating area. The operating unit is characterized in that the operating area is arranged on the panel to be pivotable about a rotation axis extending along a lower longitudinal side edge of the operating area in the height direction, and to be pivotable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the operating area is flush with the outer surface of the appliance door. In the second position, the operating area is moved into a cavity provided by the panel and to be pivotable from the second position to the first position. A door handle is provided, the door handle being a gripping portion provided by the panel on the cavity side, the gripping portion being accessible to the user through an opening gap between the operating area and the panel when the operating area is in the second position.

[0030] The operating unit according to the present invention has the advantages described above. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Further advantages and features of the present invention are derived from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thus, Figure 1 Only a schematic side view of the household appliance according to the invention, in the form of a dishwasher, is shown; Figure 2 A schematic perspective view of the operating unit according to the present invention is shown; Figure 3 A schematic perspective view of the operating unit according to the invention is shown, without the operating area. Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of the operating unit of the present invention according to a first embodiment having a non-pivoting operating region is shown; Figure 5 The basis for the pivotal operating area is shown. Figure 4 A cross-sectional side view of the operating area; Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional side view of the operating region of the present invention according to a second embodiment having a pivoting operating region is shown; and Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the operation based on a non-pivoting operating area. Figure 6 A cross-sectional side view of the operating unit. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic side view of a household appliance in a dishwasher 1 configuration according to the present invention is shown. The dishwasher 1 has an appliance housing 2 that provides an appliance compartment 3.

[0033] To access the appliance chamber 3, the appliance housing 2 has a loading opening 4. The loading opening 4 can be closed by an appliance door 5 that is rotatable about a pivot axis.

[0034] The appliance door 5 has an end plate 6 in the form of a decorative panel on its front side, which provides an outer surface 8. In addition, an operating unit 7 is provided, which is arranged above the end plate 6 along the height direction of the appliance door 5.

[0035] According to the invention, the operating unit 7 is in another... Figures 2 to 7 It is described in different views.

[0036] Especially in Figure 2 As can be seen, the operation unit 7 has a panel 9 on one side and an operation area 10 on the other. In this respect, the operation area 10 is configured to be pivotable relative to the panel 9, that is, pivotable about a rotation axis 13, which extends along the lower longitudinal side edge 12 of the operation area 10, which is located at the lower part in the height direction 11. This is particularly evident when viewed in conjunction with the first embodiment. Figure 4 and Figure 5 And observe together through the second embodiment Figure 6 and Figure 7 As can be seen, the operating area 10 can be accessed from the first position (see...) Figure 4 or Figure 7 Pivot to the second position (see) Figure 5 or Figure 6 And vice versa. In this respect, the operating area 10 is not pivoted in the first position, such that the operating area 10 is flush with the outer surface 8 of the appliance door 5. In the second pivoted position, the operating area 10 is pivoted into the cavity provided by the panel 9, thereby the opening gap 23 is configured to be located between the panel 9 and the operating area 10. Figure 2 The pivot position of the operating area 10 and the resulting opening gap 23 are shown.

[0037] When observed together Figures 4 to 7 As can be seen, panel 9 includes a base 15 on one side and a front frame 16 on the other. In this respect, the base 15 and the frame 16 are preferably constructed as a single unit and are made of, for example, plastic.

[0038] from Figure 2 As can be seen from this embodiment, the frame 16 is U-shaped, such that the lower longitudinal side edge 12 of the operating area 10, which is located at the bottom in the height direction 11, is flush with the lower side edge of the frame 16. Alternatively, it is conceivable to construct the frame 16 in a wraparound manner, such that a portion of the frame also extends below the lower longitudinal side edge 12 of the operating area 10.

[0039] Just as when observing together Figures 4 to 7 It can also be seen that the transition area between the base 15 and the frame 16 is constructed as a recessed gripping part. When the operating area 10 is pivoted, the user can use one finger 19 or several fingers to grasp the resulting opening gap 23 behind the frame 16, which, according to Figure 5 This is particularly evident in the description. This allows the user to pivot the appliance door 5 and move it from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, the frame 16, which is angled relative to the base 15, provides an upper portion in the height direction 11, which functions as a door handle 18, i.e., provides the user with a recessed gripping part.

[0040] The operating area 10 is preferably configured as a touch panel. For example... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen, the control electronics required for this purpose are arranged on the rear side of the operating area 10 and pivot with it when actuated by the user.

[0041] according to Figure 4 or Figure 5 The example illustrates an implementation in which the operating area 10 must be manually pivoted by the user. Figure 6 and Figure 7 Another embodiment is shown, in which pivoting is envisioned via an actuator operating region 10. For this purpose, Figure 6 and Figure 7 The motor, not described in further detail, is conceived as part of the control electronics 17. In use, the control electronics 17 actuates the drive roller 21, which in turn cooperates with a mating surface 22 provided by the panel on a portion thereof. Therefore, in operation, the drive roller 21 rolls relative to the mating surface 22, depending on the rotation direction of the motor unit, which allows the operating area 10 to move from... Figure 7 The first position transitions to according to Figure 6 The second position, and vice versa.

[0042] The cooperation between the drive roller 21 and the mating surface 22 can also be based on Figure 3 As seen in the illustrative description, in Figure 3 For clarity, the operation area 10 is not described in the text.

[0043] Figure 3A closing latch 20, contemplated for use with the appliance door 5, is also shown. The operating area 10 is preferably operatively connected to this closing latch 20 such that actuation of the operating area 10 is blocked when the appliance door 5 is not in the closed position. Therefore, pivoting of the operating area is only possible when the appliance door 5 is in the closed position and the closing latch is in its corresponding position. Otherwise, pivoting of the operating area is impossible, which helps prevent undesirable damage to the operating area 10.

[0044] List of reference numerals 1. Dishwasher 2. Appliance housing 3. Equipment Room 4 Loading opening 5. Appliance Door 6. Decorative panels (end panels) 7. Operation Unit 8 external surface 9 panels 10 Operating Area 11. Height Direction 12 Longitudinal side edges 13. Axis of rotation 15 matrix 16 Framework 17 Control electronic devices 18 door handles 19 fingers 20 Close the latch 21 Drive Rollers 22 mating surfaces 23. Opening gap.

Claims

1. A household appliance having an appliance housing (2) having an appliance chamber (3) having a loading opening (4) for access to the appliance chamber (3), and having an appliance door (5) mounted in a manner rotatable about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening (4), the appliance door (5) having a door handle (18) and an operating unit (7), the operating unit (7) having a panel (9) and an operating area (10), the household appliance being characterized in that the operating area (9) 10) is arranged on the panel (9) so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis (13) extending along the lower longitudinal side edge (12) of the operating area (10) in the height direction (11) and so as to be pivotable from a first position to a second position, in the first position, the operating area (10) being flush with the outer surface (8) of the appliance door (5), and in the second position, the operating area (10) being moved into the cavity provided by the panel (9) and so as to be pivotable from the second position to the first position, wherein, The door handle (18) is a gripping part provided on the cavity side of the panel (9), which can be touched by the user through the opening gap (23) between the operating area (10) and the panel (9) when the operating area (10) is in the second position.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The household appliance in question is a water-guided household appliance.

3. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The household appliance in question is a dishwasher.

4. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be manually pivotable.

5. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be pivotable by an actuator.

6. The household appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pivoting of the operating area (10) by the actuator is controlled by a sensor.

7. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be pivotable by a motor.

8. The household appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pivoting of the operating area (10) by the motor is controlled by a sensor.

9. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is latched and positioned in the second position by means of a latching device.

10. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The pivoting motion of the operating area (10) is damped.

11. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, During the pivoting motion of the appliance door (5), the pivoting motion of the operating area (10) is blocked.

12. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to pivot according to the appliance program that is to be performed by the household appliance as expected.

13. An operating unit for a household appliance, the operating unit having a panel (9) and an operating area (10), characterized in that the operating area (10) is arranged on the panel (9) so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis (13) extending along a lower longitudinal side edge (12) of the operating area (10) in the height direction (11), and so as to be pivotable from a first position to a second position, in the first position, the operating area (10) being connected to the appliance. The outer surface (8) of the door (5) is flush with the second position, the operating area (10) is moved into the cavity provided by the panel (9) so that it can pivot from the second position to the first position, and a door handle (18) is provided, the door handle (18) being a gripping part provided by the panel (9) on the cavity side, the gripping part being accessible to the user through the opening gap (23) between the operating area (10) and the panel (9) when the operating area (10) is in the second position.

14. The operating unit according to claim 13, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be manually pivotable.

15. The operating unit according to claim 13, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be pivotable by an actuator.

16. The operating unit according to claim 15, characterized in that, The pivoting of the operating area (10) by the actuator is controlled by a sensor.

17. The operating unit according to claim 13, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to be pivotable by a motor.

18. The operating unit according to claim 17, characterized in that, The pivoting of the operating area (10) by the motor is controlled by a sensor.

19. The operating unit according to any one of claims 13-18, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is latched and positioned in the second position by means of a latching device.

20. The operating unit according to any one of claims 13-18, characterized in that, The pivoting motion of the operating area (10) is damped.

21. The operating unit according to any one of claims 13-18, characterized in that, During the pivoting motion of the appliance door (5), the pivoting motion of the operating area (10) is blocked.

22. The operating unit according to any one of claims 13-18, characterized in that, The operating area (10) is configured to pivot according to the appliance program that is to be performed by the household appliance as expected.

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