Keyboard box

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of water heaters, and particularly relates to a key board box and application thereof. The key board box comprises a key board unit, the key board unit further comprises a key board, keys used for achieving man-machine interaction through touch are arranged on the front face of the key board, conductive tracks formed through welding are arranged on the back face of the key board, the key board box is used for installing the key board, and the back face of the key board is close to the inner side of the key board box. And the sinking table is arranged on the inner side of the keyboard plate box and is used for forming an interval space between the back part of the keyboard plate and the keyboard plate box. The inner side of the key board box is provided with a plurality of sinking platforms with a three-dimensional structure, so that the back of the key board is still provided with enough assembly space after the key board is mounted on the inner side of the key board box, a conductive track or a component on the back of the key board is prevented from being in contact with the key board box or being dewed to cause short circuit, and the reliability is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of water heaters, and in particular relates to a keypad box. Background Art

[0002] A gas water heater is a household appliance that uses gas as an energy source to heat water through combustion. It is one of the common hot water solutions in the home, especially suitable for scenarios where hot water needs to be heated instantly and used in large quantities. Most gas water heaters are rectangular or square in shape and vary in size to accommodate different installation spaces and heating needs. Generally speaking, the width and height of household gas water heaters can range from smaller sizes (such as 30cm x 50cm) to larger sizes (such as 60cmx 80cm or larger) to meet the needs of different families. On the front or side of the gas water heater, there is usually a control panel with operating interfaces such as temperature adjustment buttons and switches. These control elements allow users to easily adjust the water temperature, view system status, etc.

[0003] With the diversity of gas water heater appearance and new material applications, more and more gas water heater operating panels are made of acrylic material. Acrylic material has good transparency and glossiness, and can be produced in various colors and textures, making the gas water heater operating panel more beautiful and stylish, and easy to integrate into the design style of modern homes.

[0004] Gas water heaters usually have a keypad for realizing human-computer interaction through touch. The keypad is usually installed in a keypad box. However, the back of the keypad has many conductive tracks formed by welding and components connected thereto. When the above conductive tracks or components are in direct contact with the inside of the keypad box, the inside of the keypad box will always rub against the solder joints or other parts of the conductive tracks during installation and use. Over time, this may cause problems such as short circuits, thereby causing danger.

[0005] In summary, there is a need for a keypad box that can safely install a keypad. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model aims to provide a keypad box. The keypad box is provided with a plurality of sunken platforms with a three-dimensional structure inside, so as to ensure that after the keypad is installed inside the keypad box, the back of the keypad still has enough assembly space, so as to prevent the conductive tracks or components on the back from touching the keypad box or condensing to cause a short circuit, thereby improving reliability.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve the above problem is a key board box, the key board box includes a key board unit, and the key board unit also includes:

[0008] A keypad, the front of the keypad having keys for realizing human-computer interaction by touch, the back of the keypad having conductive tracks formed by welding, the keypad box being used to install the keypad, the back of the keypad being close to the inner side of the keypad box;

[0009] A sinking platform is arranged inside the keypad box and is used to separate the back of the keypad and the keypad box into a space; a plurality of sinking platforms are arranged inside the keypad box;

[0010] The key plate fastener is used to connect the respective fixing channels of the key plate and the sink.

[0011] Among them, the inside of the keypad box refers to the inner surface of the keypad box, that is, the surface inside the box, that is, the side where the keypad will be installed. When the sink is set on the inner side of the keypad box, it means that the sink is located inside the keypad box. The back of the keypad refers to the other side of the keypad relative to the side with keys (that is, the user interaction side). This side usually contains electronic components, welding points and conductive tracks, and is not facing the user. When referring to the back of the keypad close to the inside of the keypad box, it means that this side of the keypad (that is, the side where the electronic components are located) faces and is close to the inside of the keypad box.

[0012] A further preferred technical solution is that each of the sinks has the same height.

[0013] A further preferred technical solution is that the sink has a flange and is higher than the inner surface of the keypad box.

[0014] A further preferred technical solution is that the flange has a triangular structure, which is composed of a longer side and two shorter sides of the same length, wherein the longer side of the triangular structure is formed on the inner side of the side of the keypad box.

[0015] A further preferred technical solution is that the top edge of the sink has a chamfer.

[0016] A further preferred technical solution is that the sink is formed by pressing the back of the keypad box inwards.

[0017] A further preferred technical solution is that three sunken platforms are arranged on the inner side of the key board box, and the angles formed by each adjacent sunken platform are consistent.

[0018] A further preferred technical solution is that the keypad unit is installed in a display notch of a face shell assembly, the face shell assembly includes a face shell, a face shell hole arranged in the face shell, and an extended edge arranged in the face shell hole, the extended edge surrounds to form the display notch.

[0019] The display gap is a gap of a certain size formed in the middle of the extended edge, so as to provide space for the keys on the front side of the keypad to be displayed externally.

[0020] A further preferred technical solution is that: the keypad unit is covered with an operating panel, and the operating panel includes a panel member adhered to the extending edge.

[0021] A further preferred technical solution is that: the operation panel also includes a chamfer arranged on the edge of the panel member.

[0022] A further preferred technical solution is that the face shell assembly further includes a fixing claw arranged on the inner side of the extending edge, and the key panel fastener is further connected to the fixing channel of the fixing claw.

[0023] Among them, the keypad fastener and the fixing channel are in various forms, for example, the keypad fastener is a screw and the fixing channel is a fixing hole, or the keypad fastener is a first protrusion and the fixing channel is a second protrusion, and the second protrusion has a channel for installing the first protrusion.

[0024] A further preferred technical solution is that: the face shell assembly also includes a latch slot arranged on the extension edge; the operation panel also includes a latch arranged on the panel member and used to be inserted into the latch slot.

[0025] A further preferred technical solution is that the key board has spring-shaped keys.

[0026] A further preferred technical solution is that it also includes an adapter plate assembly, the adapter plate assembly includes an adapter plate, a display area arranged on the adapter plate, and a notch arranged on the adapter plate; the latch is used to insert into the notch and the latch slot.

[0027] A further preferred technical solution is that: the adapter plate assembly further includes an adhesive area which is arranged on the adapter plate and surrounds the display area, and the panel member is adhered to the adhesive area.

[0028] The application of the keypad box described in any one of the above items is characterized in that the application fields include gas water heaters and electric water heaters.

[0029] Among them, gas water heaters and electric water heaters are two common hot water supply devices for household and commercial purposes. The main difference between them is the type of energy used to heat hot water. Gas water heaters, also known as gas water heaters, mainly heat water by burning natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or city pipeline gas. When the water flows through the heat exchanger, the heat generated by the combustion will be transferred to the water to heat it up. Electric water heaters use electrical energy to heat water and usually contain one or more electric heating elements. These heating elements are immersed in the water in the water tank. When the current passes through, the heating elements transfer heat to the water. Both types of water heaters usually require a keypad box for control to adjust the water temperature, set the desired hot water temperature, turn the power of the water heater on or off, and other operations.

[0030] In summary, the utility model has the following benefits:

[0031] 1. The utility model provides a plurality of three-dimensional sunken platforms on the inner side of the keypad box to ensure that after the keypad is installed inside the keypad box, there is still enough assembly space on the back of the keypad to prevent the conductive tracks or components on the back from touching the keypad box or condensing to cause a short circuit, thereby improving reliability.

[0032] 2. The utility model has a surface shell hole on the surface shell for installing the keypad box, and the surface shell hole extends an extension edge inwardly. The extension edge increases the bonding area and does not affect the display of the human-computer interaction system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The utility model is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the appearance of a gas water heater with a round acrylic operating panel;

[0035] Figure 2 It is a front view schematic diagram of a gas water heater with a round acrylic operating panel;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the face shell assembly and the operation panel;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the section along line AA;

[0038] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the front side of the face shell assembly;

[0039] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the face shell assembly, A shows the width of the extended edge;

[0040] Figure 7 for Figure 6Schematic diagram of the cross section along line BB, β shows the angle of the support portion of the fixed claw;

[0041] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a keypad unit, wherein h represents the spacing space formed after the keypad box and the keypad are assembled;

[0042] Fig. 9 It is a structural diagram of the operation panel;

[0043] Fig.10 for Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the section along line CC;

[0044] Fig.11 This is a schematic diagram of the inside of the keypad box;

[0045] Fig.12 This is a schematic diagram of the outside of the keypad box;

[0046] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the adapter board.

[0047] In the accompanying drawings, the components represented by each reference numeral are as follows: gas water heater 1, face shell assembly 2, bottom shell assembly 3, burner heat exchange system 4, operation panel 5, key board unit 7, face shell 201, face shell hole 202, fixing claw 203, extension edge 204, latch slot 209, panel member 501, latch 502, chamfer 503, key board 701, key board box 702, key board fastener 703. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The utility model is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0049] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of the present invention and is not a limitation of the present invention. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art may make non-creative modifications to the present embodiment as needed, but such modifications are protected by patent law as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0050] Example:

[0051] refer to Figure 1-12The keypad unit 7 is an important component of the human-computer interaction system of the gas water heater. The keypad unit 7 includes a keypad 701, a keypad box 702, and a keypad fastener 703. The keypad 701 is an interface for the user to interact directly with the water heater. Various keys are arranged on it. These keys are used to control the switch, temperature adjustment, timing setting and other functions of the water heater. The user inputs the command for the water heater operation by pressing different buttons. The keypad is usually made of durable materials, and there may be markings on the surface to indicate the function of each key. The keypad box 702 provides a structural carrier or shell for fixing and protecting the keypad 701. It not only plays the role of installing the keypad on the water heater, but also provides dustproof, waterproof and other protections for the keypad to extend the service life of the keypad. The keypad fastener 703 may be a screw, which is used to firmly fix the keypad 701 in the keypad box 702, and directly fix the keypad 701 and the keypad box 702 to the fixing claws 203 on the shell hole 202 of the water heater. These screws ensure the stability and durability of the keypad unit, and ensure that it will not become loose or damaged due to frequent operation of the keys during long-term use; the selection and design of the screws are equally important to ensure that corrosion, breakage, etc. will not occur under different environmental conditions, such as temperature changes and humidity. The number of fixing claws 203 should not be less than the number of keypad fasteners 703. For example, in this embodiment, three fixing claws 203 arranged in a circular array are provided on the shell hole 202, and three keypad fasteners 703 are provided to fix the keypad 701 and the keypad box 702. After the keypad unit 7 is successfully installed, the panel member 501 directly covers the keypad 701. The keys of the keypad 701 use spring-shaped keys. When the user touches the panel member 501 with any object, the slight deformation is detected by the circuit and converted into an electrical signal, thereby identifying the touch position and the operation intention. Compared with capacitive keys, it supports the operator to use various objects other than fingers to trigger, such as fingers wearing gloves, tableware, sticks, etc., which is more convenient to operate. While the extended edge 204 has a width A, it also leaves enough space to expose the keys and display area on the keypad 701 to the outside, which is convenient for people to observe and interact.

[0052] The back of the keypad 701 has a conductive track formed by welding. The keypad box 702 is used to install the keypad 701. The back of the keypad 701 is close to the inner side of the keypad box 702. The sink 704 is arranged on the inner side of the keypad box 702 and is used to separate the back of the keypad 701 and the keypad box 702 into a space. A plurality of sinks 704 are arranged on the inner side of the keypad box 702 and have the same height. Fig. 9, the sink 704 is pushed up toward the inside of the keypad box 702, so that the back of the keypad 701 and the inside of the keypad box 702 form an installation space with a height of h, and the size of h is related to the thickness of the sink 704, that is, the greater the thickness of the sink 704, the greater the h. However, if the sink 704 is too thick, the distance between the inside of the keypad box 702 and the back of the keypad 701 will be too large, which may cause the risk of looseness after installation, and it is also easy to occupy the space inside the face shell 201, so the thickness of the sink 704 should be within a reasonable range.

[0053] In addition, the sink 704 has a flange and is higher than the inner surface of the keypad box 702, wherein the flange is a protruding component fixed on the surface of the material to prevent other materials from directly contacting the surface of the material. The flange has a triangular structure, which is composed of a longer side and two shorter sides of the same length, wherein the longer side of the triangular structure is formed on the inner side of the side of the keypad box 702. The triangle is an extremely stable structure because its sides and corners are fixed and are not easily deformed like a quadrilateral. This stability enables the triangular sink to reliably support the keypad and reduce movement caused by vibration or impact. Reference Figure 12-13 The triangular structure is not a strict triangular shape, and each side thereof is allowed to have a certain bending structure, so as to be more in line with the overall structure of the inner side of the key board box 702, and also avoid the existence of sharp structures that damage the components on the back of the key board 701. Preferably, the top edge of the sink 704 has a chamfer, which further reduces the possibility of the existence of sharp structures.

[0054] Preferably, the sink 704 is formed by pressing the back of the keypad box 702 inwardly, which means that the sink is formed by processing the box material itself. Since the sink is part of the box material itself, this integrated design can improve the structural integrity and stability of the entire assembly. And pressing inward to form the sink may reduce the assembly steps of the assembly, because there is no need to manufacture and install the sink separately, thereby reducing manufacturing time and cost.

[0055] The structure of the gas water heater 1 mainly includes a bottom shell assembly 3, a burner heat exchange system 4 and a face shell assembly 2. The face shell assembly 2 is the "face" of the gas water heater. It not only plays an aesthetic role, but also has the functions of protection and insulation. The face shell is usually made of high temperature resistant and corrosion resistant materials, such as plastic or metal, to ensure that the shell remains stable and safe during long-term use, and at the same time provide a fixed structure for the operation display components. The bottom shell assembly 3 is the basic part of the gas water heater and provides support for the entire water heater. It not only carries all the components in the water heater, including the burner, heat exchange system, etc., but also needs to ensure the stability and safety of the structure. The bottom shell assembly is usually designed with enough ventilation holes to ensure air circulation during combustion, and also helps to dissipate heat; the bottom shell assembly is also designed with a structure for fixing and installation, so that the burner heat exchange system 4 can be firmly installed in the predetermined position. The burner heat exchange system 4 is the core of the gas water heater, responsible for generating heat energy and transferring this heat to the water flowing through. The burner is usually composed of one or more combustion nozzles, which mix the fuel gas with air and ignite it to generate high-temperature combustion gas; the heat exchange system is arranged around the combustion chamber, usually a series of metal pipes or plates, and the water flowing through these pipes or plates can absorb the heat generated by the combustion and thus be heated; the function of the combustion heat exchanger system 4 is to provide space for the burner and heat exchange, ensuring that the heat generated by the combustion is used to heat domestic water in the form of a heat exchanger.

[0056] The face shell assembly 2 includes a face shell 201, a face shell hole 202, and a fixing claw 203. The face shell 201 is the main part of the face shell assembly 2. The face shell hole 202 is arranged in the middle and lower part of the face shell 201 to facilitate the installation of the human-machine interaction structure of the gas water heater 1. The fixing claw 203 is provided with a fixing channel. The inner side of the fixing channel can be internally threaded or smooth, so as to provide an installation point for the human-machine interaction structure to be installed on the face shell hole 202. Specifically, the face shell 201 serves as the appearance and the first protective barrier of the gas water heater. Its design takes into account beauty, durability and safety. It is usually made of high-strength materials, such as high-temperature resistant plastic or metal, to ensure stability and durability in various environments; the design of the face shell may also include heat dissipation holes or grilles to promote the cooling of internal components. In addition, the shape and size of the face shell 201 will be determined according to the specific design of the water heater to adapt to different installation environments and user needs. The face shell hole 202 is located in the lower middle part of the face shell 201, and is mainly used to install the human-machine interaction structure of the gas water heater, such as a control panel or an operation interface; the purpose of the hole design is to facilitate the user to interact with the water heater, such as adjusting the temperature, turning the machine on and off, etc.; the position and size of the face shell hole 201 will be precisely designed to ensure that the human-machine interaction structure can fit tightly and provide enough space to accommodate necessary buttons, display screens and other components. The fixing claw 203 is designed on the face shell 201, and the specific position is usually on the inside of the face shell hole 202 and extends inward. Its main function is to provide one or more fixing points for installing the human-machine interaction structure on the face shell hole 202; the fixing channel on the fixing claw can be internally threaded or smooth, depending on the fixing method used when installing the human-machine interaction structure; the internally threaded design can be directly used with screws to achieve a stable connection, while the smooth design may need to be used with other types of fasteners, such as nuts or fasteners on the back, etc. Regardless of the design, the fixing claw 203 is a key component to ensure that the human-machine interaction structure is firmly installed and reduce the looseness that may be caused by vibration.

[0057] An annular extension edge 204 is provided along the inner wall of the face shell hole 202, and six fixing claws 203 are provided in an annular array on the extension edge 204, and the fixing claws 203 extend toward the inner side of the face shell 201. The operation panel 5 is a circular structure, and includes a panel member 501, a latch 502, and a chamfer 503. The front of the panel member 501 is circular and has a side. The latch 502 is arranged on the side of the panel member 501 and extends along a certain diameter of the front circle of the panel member 501. The side of the panel member 501 is provided with a chamfer 503. The existence of the chamfer 503 allows the panel member 501 to have a certain gap when installed in the face shell hole 202, ensuring that it can still be installed reliably after thermal expansion and contraction, without bulging and deformation. Specifically, the chamfer 503 is formed by beveling or rounding the side edge of the panel 501. The chamfer design can provide a certain gap for the panel 501, so that when the temperature changes and the size changes slightly, the panel can adapt to the space change and avoid bulging or deformation caused by expansion. The chamfer can guide the panel 501 to be smoothly embedded in the hole of the face shell, reduce the friction and resistance during installation, and also prevent the sharp edge from scratching other parts or operators during the installation process. The extended edge 204 has a certain width A, and can be bonded to the panel 501 by means of adhesive coating.

[0058] In addition, in the preferred solution, an adapter plate assembly 6 is also provided, and the adapter plate assembly 6 is bonded to the outer side of the extension edge 204 by bonding to expand the bonding range of the panel member 501. The adapter plate assembly 6 includes an adapter plate 601, a display area 602, and a notch 603. The adapter plate 601 is the main body of the adapter plate assembly 6, and has substantially the same shape as the face shell hole 202. When the face shell hole 202 is circular, the adapter plate 601 also has a circular shape. The display area 602 is a hollow area in the middle of the adapter plate 601, and its size is at least enough to expose the components operated and displayed on the key board unit 7 to the outside, so as to facilitate operation and observation. The notch 603 is provided at the edge of the adapter plate 601, and the length of its opening along the diameter direction of the adapter plate 601 is slightly smaller than the length of the latch 502, so that the latch 502 can be inserted and engaged therein.

[0059] In addition, in the present embodiment, the support portion of the fixing claw 203 has an angle β, which is generally greater than 90°, for example, 110°, so that the key plate 701 does not deform at an acute angle after being locked with the fixing claw 203, because the deformation forming an acute angle will cause a gap to be generated between the fixing claw 203 and the key plate 701, resulting in unstable fixation. Specifically, when the angle β is greater than 90°, after the fixing claw 203 is locked with the key plate 701, an angle will be formed between the support portion and the key plate, and this angle is greater than a right angle. From the perspective of structural mechanics, such an angle helps to disperse the force and reduce the deformation caused by pressure concentration. Therefore, the structural stability after locking is better and it is not easy to loosen. Sharp-angle deformation often leads to structural weakness, resulting in unnecessary stress concentration at the fixing point. When the angle β is greater than 90°, no acute angle will be formed between the support portion and the key plate 701, which reduces the risk of deformation to a certain extent, thereby avoiding the generation of gaps.

[0060] In summary, the installation process of the operation panel 5, the adapter board assembly 6 and the key board unit 7 on the face shell assembly 2 includes the following steps:

[0061] S11. Insert the latch 502 on the panel member 501 into the latch slot 209, and bond the back of the panel member 501 to the bonding area of ​​the extended edge 204;

[0062] S12. The keypad 701 is mounted inwardly with the back facing inward in the keypad box 702 and fixed by the keypad fastener 703;

[0063] S13 . Connect the key plate fastener 703 to the fixing claw 203 .

[0064] In addition, the same or similar element symbols are used to refer to the same or similar parts or steps in the drawings and descriptions as much as possible. The drawings are presented in simplified form and are not drawn to exact scale. For convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, upward, above, above, below, below, behind, and in front may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

Claims

1. A keypad box, characterized in that: The keypad box (702) is included in the keypad unit (7), and the keypad unit (7) further includes: A keypad (701), the front of the keypad (701) having keys for realizing human-computer interaction by touch, the back of the keypad (701) having conductive tracks formed by welding, the keypad box (702) being used to install the keypad (701), the back of the keypad (701) being close to the inner side of the keypad box (702); A sink (704) is arranged on the inner side of the key board box (702) and is used to form a separation space between the back of the key board (701) and the key board box (702); a plurality of sinks (704) are arranged on the inner side of the key board box (702); The key plate fastener (703) is used to connect the respective fixing channels of the key plate (701) and the sink (704).

2. A keypad box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sink (704) has a flange and is higher than the inner surface of the keypad box (702).

3. A keypad box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flange has a triangular structure, which is composed of a longer side and two shorter sides of the same length, wherein the longer side of the triangular structure is formed on the inner side of the side of the keypad box (702).

4. A keypad box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top edge of the sink (704) has a chamfer.

5. A keypad box according to claim 1, characterized in that: Three of the sunken platforms (704) are arranged on the inner side of the keypad box (702), and the angles formed by the adjacent sunken platforms (704) are consistent.

6. A keypad box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The keypad unit (7) is installed in a display notch of a face shell assembly (2); the face shell assembly (2) comprises a face shell (201), a face shell hole (202) arranged in the face shell (201), and an extended edge (204) arranged in the face shell hole (202); the extended edge (204) surrounds the display notch to form the display notch.

7. A keypad box according to claim 6, characterized in that: The keypad unit (7) is covered with an operating panel (5), wherein the operating panel (5) comprises a panel member (501) adhered to the extended edge (204).

8. A keypad box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The operating panel (5) further comprises a chamfer (503) arranged on the edge of the panel member (501).

9. A keypad box according to claim 6, characterized in that: The face shell assembly (2) further comprises a fixing claw (203) arranged on the inner side of the extension edge (204), and the key board fastener (703) is also connected to the fixing channel of the fixing claw (203).

10. A keypad box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The face shell assembly (2) further comprises a latch slot (209) arranged on the extension edge (204); the operation panel (5) further comprises a latch (502) arranged on the panel member (501) and used for being inserted into the latch slot (209).

11. A keypad box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key plate (701) has spring-shaped keys.

12. A keypad box according to claim 10, characterized in that: It also comprises an adapter plate assembly (6), the adapter plate assembly (6) comprising an adapter plate (601), a display area (602) arranged on the adapter plate (601), and a notch (603) arranged on the adapter plate (601); the latch (502) is used to be inserted into the notch (603) and the latch slot (209).

13. A keypad box according to claim 12, characterized in that: The adapter plate assembly (6) further comprises an adhesive region which is arranged on the adapter plate (601) and surrounds the display region (602), and the panel member (501) is adhered to the adhesive region.

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