A control panel for household appliances and a household appliance comprising the same

Abstract

A control panel (K) according to the present invention configured to be mounted on a body (G1) of a household appliance (G) comprises at least a first body member (1); at least a second body member (2) connected to the first body member (1) with a mounting hole therebetween; at least one control element (3) at the mounting hole, which is configured to allow a function of the household appliance (G) to be realized; and at least one support member (4) with at least one mounting end thereof being mounted to a mounting surface (3a) of the control element (3) facing the second body member (2) and / or to a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) extends between the second body member (2) and the control element (3), and supports the control element (3) by compressing or stretching between the control element (3) and the second body member (2), as a result of the control element (3) moving towards the first body member (1) and towards the second body member (2) upon a force applied towards the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) allows the control element (3) to return to the first body member (1) as a result of compression and stretching

Description

[0001] A CONTROL PANEL FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING THE SAME

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a control panel used in a household appliance, e.g. a washing and / or drying device, or a cooking device, and to a household appliance comprising such a control panel.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] A household appliance such as a washing and / or drying device or a cooking device, is used to facilitate people’s daily lives. Said household appliance have an operation compartment in which a function of the household appliance (washing, drying, cooking, etc.) is carried out, and a control unit that initiates, terminates, controls and regulates the processes of that function. Said control unit is provided at a control panel of the household appliance containing at least one data input element. Through the data input element, a user transmits data to the control unit regarding a process to be carried in the household appliance (for example, washing degree, cooking period, process initiation command, etc.), and accordingly, the control unit controls and regulates the operation of the household appliance according to this data.

[0006] The control panels have at least two body members connected to each other with a space therebetween, one of which is an external body part visible from the external environment of the household appliance. In the space between the body members, electrical / optical components (e.g. a lens, a screen, etc.) for connecting the control unit and the data input element may be provided, as well as the control unit. In some applications, said data input element itself (for example, in case the data input element is a touch screen) may be placed in said space, accessible through an opening in the external body part. As a result of the force applied by the user to the external body part (for example, applying a pressure to the data input element), a position of the control elements (e.g. control unit, electrical / optical components, data input element, etc.) provided in the space may change unintentionally, which may result in malfunctioning of the household appliance. For example, a control element in the form of a plate (for example, a lens) is mounted by adhering the control element to a rear surface of the external body part facing the space, so as to cover the opening on the external body part. However, due to various drawbacks such as the narrow width of this space, the presence of more than one element in the space and / or various indentation / protrusion-like structures in the body members, the assembly of such a control element may not be carried out properly (for example, the control element may not be properly adhered to the rear surface). In this case, the control element may be displaced due to the applied force, and its position within said space may change unintentionally. In addition to disrupting visual integrity, this unintentional position change negatively affects the function of the household appliance by preventing transmission of the required data to the control unit and / or by preventing transmission of information about the operation of the household appliance to the user. In addition, it causes both time loss and technical service costs for the user.

[0007] Brief Description of the Invention

[0008] A control panel according to the present invention configured to be mounted on a body of a household appliance, the control panel comprising at least a first body member; at least a second body member connected to the first body member with a mounting hole therebetween; at least one control element at the mounting hole, which is configured to allow a function of the household appliance to be realized; and at least one support member with at least one mounting end thereof being mounted to a mounting surface of the control element facing the second body member and / or to a side of the second body member facing the control element, wherein the support member extends between the second body member and the control element, and supports the control element by compressing or stretching between the control element and the second body member, as a result of the control element moving towards the first body member and towards the second body member upon a force applied towards the control element, wherein the support member allows the control element to return to the first body member as a result of compression and stretching.

[0009] The household appliance according to the present invention comprises the above- mentioned control panel. Thanks to the control panel and the household appliance comprising the same according to the present invention, an unintentional position change of the control element fixed in the control panel as a result of a force applied to the control panel, can be effectively prevented. Therefore, problems that may arise due to a position change of the control element are eliminated, and a practical, reliable and long-lasting control panel that is easy to manufacture, install and use, and a household appliance comprising said control panel, are provided.

[0010] Object of the Invention

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a control panel suitable for use in a household appliance such as a washing and / or drying device or a cooking device, and a household appliance comprising said control panel.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control panel for preventing an unintentional position change of a control element thereof, and a household appliance comprising said control panel.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide a practical, reliable and long-lasting control panel that is easy to manufacture, install and use, and a household appliance comprising said control panel.

[0014] Description of the Drawings

[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the control panel and the home appliance comprising said control panel according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the household appliance according to the invention. Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the control panel according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 3 is a side sectional view of a control element provided at the control panel according to the invention. All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

[0018] Household appliance (G)

[0019] Body (G1)

[0020] Control panel (K)

[0021] First body member (1)

[0022] Second body member (2)

[0023] Control element (3)

[0024] Mounting surface (3a)

[0025] Support member (4)

[0026] First side (4a)

[0027] Second side (4b)

[0028] Third side (4c)

[0029] Description of the Invention

[0030] Electronic household appliances such as washing and / or drying devices or cooking devices used to facilitate our daily lives comprise various control elements (e.g. a control unit, electrical / optical components, data input element, etc.) to initiate, terminate, control and regulate the processes related to the function of the household appliance (washing, drying, cooking, etc.). Said control elements may be provided in a control panel in home appliances. The control panels have at least two body members connected to each other with a space therebetween, and the control element is positioned in the space between the body members by means of various mounting means. However, in use, positions of the control elements in the control panel may change unintentionally as a result of a force applied to the control panel (for example, when the user presses the data input element to control the household appliance). Such an unintentional position change may occur especially due to assembly-related problems (for example, a control element provided in said space by adhering to one of the body members may not be adhered correctly and / or adequately to the corresponding body member), and may prevent the household appliance from performing its function correctly and effectively, causing loss of time and extra cost for the user. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a control panel and a household appliance comprising said control panel.

[0031] The control panel (K) according to the present invention, as illustrated in figures 1-3, configured to be mounted on a body (G1) of a household appliance (G), e.g. a washing and / or drying device or a cooking device, comprises at least a first body member (1) (the first body member (1) facing an external environment of the household appliance (G), when the control panel (K) is mounted on the body (G1); at least a second body member

[0032] (2) connected to the first body member (1) with a mounting hole therebetween, and preferably constituting, together with the first body member (1), a box form containing said mounting hole (the second body part (2) facing into the body (G1) when the control panel (K) is mounted on the body (G1)); and at least one control element (3) (e.g. a control unit, an electrical / optical component, a data input element, etc.) at the mounting hole, which is configured to allow a function of the household appliance (G) (e.g. washing, drying, cooking, etc.) to be realized, wherein the control element (3) is preferably mounted on an inner surface of the first body member (1) facing the mounting hole. The control panel (K) of the invention further comprises at least one (preferably at least two to support the control element (3) at its upper and lower parts) support member (4) with at least one mounting end thereof being mounted to a mounting surface (3a) of the control element (3) facing the second body member (2) and / or to a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) extends between the second body member (2) and the control element (3), and supports the control element

[0033] (3) by compressing or stretching between the control element (3) and the second body member (2), as a result of the control element (3) moving towards the first body member (1) and towards the second body member (2) upon a force applied towards the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) allows the control element (3) to return to the first body member (1) as a result of compression and stretching.

[0034] The household appliance (G), preferably a cooking device, according to the present invention comprises said control panel (K), and said control panel (K) is mounted on at least one body (G1) of the household appliance (G).

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control panel (K) is mounted on a body (G1) of the household appliance (G). The control panel (K) has at least a first body member (1) and at least a second body member (2) which are connected to each other to provide said mounting hole and enable the control panel (K) to be preferably in the form of a closed box. The first body member (1) is located on the side facing the external environment of the household appliance (G). The control element (3) is also preferably fixed within the mounting hole, in connection with the first body member (1). The support member (4) of the control panel (K) of the invention is connected at a mounting end thereof to said mounting surface (3a) of the control element (3) and / or to a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) is located in said mounting hole to extend between the control element (3) and the second body member (2). While using the household appliance (G), in case a force is applied to the first body member (1), such a force is transferred to the control element (3), moving the control element (3) towards the second body member (2). As a result of this movement, a position of the control element (3) may change unintentionally due to various reasons, especially due to insufficient / faulty assembly of the control element (3) and / or loosening in the assembly over time due to use, and a distance of the control element (3) to the first body member (1) may be greater than required, such that the control element

[0036] (3) even falls into the control panel (K) as a result of disconnection. Such situations may cause the function of the household appliance (G) to be performed incompletely, incorrectly, and sometimes even not to be realized. In the control panel (K) of the invention, by the effect of the movement of the control element (3), the support member

[0037] (4) preferably made of a flexible material is compressed and stretched between the control element (3) and the second body member (2), and it applies a force against the force applied by the control element (3) thereto due to movement. By the effect of such a counter force, the control element (3) returns to its initial mounting position (and / or maintains its initial mounting position), thereby preventing unintentional position change of the control element (3) in a practical and easy way. Therefore, the above-mentioned problems arising from unintentional movement can be eliminated. Moreover, since a width of the space between the body members varies, for example for different control panel (K) designs and / or for different types / models of household appliances (G), the support member (4) can shorten a distance that the control element (3) can move between the control element (3) and the second body member (2), as much as possible, and in this way, unintentional position change of the control element (3) can be prevented, regardless of the distance between the control element (3) and the second body member (2). Therefore, a practical and reliable control panel (K) that is easy to manufacture, assemble and use, and a household appliance (G) comprising said control panel (K), are obtained.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, said support member (4) is connected to the control element (3) (especially, preferably, to the mounting surface (3a)) at the mounting end thereof, and a free end of the support member (4) opposite the mounting end extends towards the second body member (2). Preferably, a distance between the free end of the support member (4) and the second body member (2) is minimum (preferably, the free end even contacts the second body member (2). In another preferred embodiment, there is at least one slot configured for the placement of the free end of the mounting member (4) on a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element (3). Thus, the support member (4) can prevent unintentional movement of the control element (3) more effectively.

[0039] In another alternative embodiment, said support member (4) is connected to the second body member (2) at the mounting end thereof, and a free end of the support member (4) opposite the mounting end extends towards the control element (3). Preferably, a distance between the free end of the support member (4) and the control element (3) is minimum (preferably, the free end even contacts the control element (3)). Thus, ease and flexibility of production and assembly can be achieved.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the control panel (K) of the invention comprises at least one opening at the first body member (1), and the control element (K) is an optical component (e.g. a lens) in a plate form covering the opening. According to the prior-art, the optical component is adhered to the inner surface of the first body member (1) to cover said opening. However, sometimes (for example, due to control panels (K) with different designs), there may be difficulties in adhering the optical component, and therefore the optical component cannot be mounted properly. However, during production, the adhering process may not be applied to ensure a rigid assembly of the optical component. In such cases, the optical component may move unintentionally due to a force applied by the user to the optical component, and its connection with the first body member (1) may be damaged or completely broken. Thanks to the support member (4) in the control panel (K) according to the present invention, said optical component can return to its previous position and / or does not move at all as a result of an unintentional movement. According to this embodiment, the support member (4) is especially, preferably, connected to the optical component at the mounting end thereof, and a distance between a free end of the support member (4) opposite the mounting end and the second body member (2) is minimum (preferably even the free end contacts the second body member (2)).

[0041] In a further preferred embodiment, the support member (4) comprises at least a first side (4a) comprising said mounting end and extending from the control element (3) towards the second body member (2) (and / or from the second body member (2) towards the control element (3)); and at least a second side (4b), preferably forming substantially an “L” form with the first side (4a), which is connected to an end of the first side (4a) opposite the mounting end, and extends at an angle other than 0 and 180 degrees with respect to the first side (4a) (e.g. extending from the first side (4a), away from the center of the mounting hole and / or from the first side (4a) towards the center of the mounting hole). In said embodiment, upon a force applied to the control element (3), the first side (4a) and the second side (4b) stretch towards each other and create a force against the force applied to the control element (3). For example, in an embodiment where the support member (4) is connected to the control element (3) at the mounting end thereof, a part of the second side (4b) opposite the part connected to the first side (4a) rests on the second body member (2) by the effect of the force applied to the control element (3), and in this way, the first side (4a) and the second side (4b) stretch towards each other and create a counter force. Alternatively, in an embodiment where the support member (4) is connected to the second body member (2) at the mounting end thereof, a part of the second side (4b) opposite the part connected to the first side (4a) rests on the control element (3) by the effect of the force applied to the control element (3), and therefore, by the effect of the movement of the control element (3), for example, together with the first body member (1), towards the second body member (2); and in this way, the first side (4a) and the second side (4b) stretch towards each other, creating the counter force to move the control element (3) away from the second body member (2) so as to return to its initial position. Thus, the assembly position of the control element (3) can be effectively maintained. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting member (4) also comprises at least a third side (4c) curved towards the first side (4a) and the second side (4b), and connecting a part of the first side (4a) containing the mounting end to a part of the second side (4b) that is opposite the part connected to the first side (for example, the free end of the second side (4b) that is opposite the end connected to the first side (4a)). Thus, the first side (4a) and the second side (4b) can stretch towards each other as required, and the support member (4) becomes more robust. Therefore, a practical, reliable and long- lasting control panel (K) that is easy to produce, install and use, and a household appliance (G) comprising said control panel (K), are obtained.

[0042] Thanks to the control panel (K) and the household appliance (G) comprising the same according to the present invention, an unintentional position change of the control element (3) fixed in the control panel (K) as a result of a force applied to the control panel (K), can be effectively prevented. Therefore, problems that may arise due to a position change of the control element (3) are eliminated, and a practical, reliable and long-lasting control panel (K) that is easy to manufacture, install and use, and a household appliance (G) comprising said control panel (K), are provided.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A control panel (K) configured to be mounted on a body (G1) of a household appliance (G), the control panel (K) comprising at least a first body member (1); at least a second body member (2) connected to the first body member (1) with a mounting hole therebetween; and at least one control element (3) at the mounting hole, which is configured to allow a function of the household appliance (G) to be realized, characterized by comprising at least one support member (4) with at least one mounting end thereof being mounted to a mounting surface (3a) of the control element (3) facing the second body member (2) and / or to a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) extends between the second body member (2) and the control element (3), and supports the control element (3) by compressing or stretching between the control element (3) and the second body member (2), as a result of the control element (3) moving towards the first body member (1) and towards the second body member (2) upon a force applied towards the control element (3), wherein the support member (4) allows the control element (3) to return to the first body member (1) as a result of compression and stretching.

2. A control panel (K) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support member (4) is connected to the control element (3) at the mounting end thereof, and a free end of the support member (4) opposite the mounting end extends towards the second body member (2).

3. A control panel (K) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one slot on a side of the second body member (2) facing the control element(3), which is configured for the placement of the free end of the mounting member(4).

4. A control panel (K) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support member (4) is connected to the second body member (2) at the mounting end thereof, and a free end of the support member (4) opposite the mounting end extends towards the control element (3).

5. A control panel (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one opening in the first body member (1).

6. A control panel (K) according to claim 5, characterized in that the control element (K) is an optical component in a plate form covering said opening.

7. A control panel (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support member (4) comprises at least a first side (4a) comprising said mounting end and extending from the control element (3) towards the second body member (2); and at least a second side (4b) which is connected to an end of the first side (4a) opposite the mounting end, and extends at an angle other than 0 and 180 degrees with respect to the first side (4a).

8. A control panel (K) according to claim 7, characterized in that the mounting member (4) comprises at least a third side (4c) curved towards the first side (4a) and the second side (4b), and connecting a part of the first side (4a) containing the mounting end to a part of the second side (4b) that is opposite the part connected to the first side.

9. A household appliance (G) comprising a control panel (K) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A household appliance (G) according to claim 9, characterized by being a cooking device.

Images