Operating part structure of device

Abstract

To provide an operating part structure of a device that can improve the aesthetic appearance by making a surface of an operation panel as a planar surface.SOLUTION: There is provided a structure of an operating part 2 provided in a device 1. The operating part 2 includes: an operation device 5 which has an operation switch 7; a storage part 6 which stores the operation device 5; and an operation panel 4 which covers the storage part 6. The operation device 5 comprises: a light-emitting element 8 that emits light according to the operation of the operation switch 7; and a switch operation surface 12 which allows the operation of the operation switch 7 and in which the light emitted by the light-emitting element 8 is visible. The storage part 6 includes an opening part 14 that opens the switch operation surface 12 when the operation device 5 is stored. The operation panel 4 is positioned with a gap A between the switch operation surface 12 and itself and closes the opening part 14 of the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating unit structure for equipment, and more particularly to a structure of an operating unit that is provided on the main body of a warm air heating device, for example, and that performs operations during heating operation. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, the operation section of a device is provided with multiple operation switches, and in recent years, light-emitting elements such as LEDs that light up in response to the operation of each operation switch are also provided. However, the operation switches and light-emitting elements of the operation section are attached to a board, which is not desirable in terms of appearance.

[0003] Therefore, the operation switches and the light emitting elements are covered by an operation panel so that they are not exposed from the operation unit. The operation panel is made of a relatively thin plate-like synthetic resin, and is designed to bend appropriately when pressed by a finger or the like, so that the pressing force is transmitted to the operation switches.

[0004] In addition, the operation panel is provided with printed markings showing the position and function of each operation switch, and at the corresponding positions of the printed markings, light from the light-emitting elements is transmitted so that various information such as the position and operating status of each operation switch can be confirmed by light.

[0005] Conventionally, an operation panel is attached to a switch operation surface of an operating device equipped with operation switches and light-emitting elements via an adhesive. At this time, the adhesive is provided on almost the entire surface of the switch operation surface excluding the operation switches and the light-emitting elements. As a result, the operation panel is attached in close contact with almost the entire surface of the switch operation surface of the operating device (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-260967 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when an operation panel is adhered tightly to almost the entire switch operation surface of an operating device as in the conventional method, the surface of the operation panel is not flat due to the unevenness and steps on the switch operation surface, which reduces the aesthetic appearance of the operation panel.

[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation section structure for a device that has a flat surface for the operation panel, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a structure of an operating unit that is provided in an equipment and operates the equipment, the operating unit comprising an operating device provided with an operating switch, a storage section formed in the equipment and storing the operating device, and a flat plate-shaped operating panel covering the storage section, the operating device comprising a light-emitting element that emits light in response to operation of the operating switch, and a switch operating surface on which the operating switch can be operated and on which the light of the light-emitting element corresponding to the operating switch can be visible, the storage section comprises an opening section that opens the switch operating surface when the operating device is stored, and the operation panel closes the opening section of the storage section with a gap remaining from the switch operating surface of the operating device.

[0010] According to the present invention, a gap is formed between the operation panel and the switch operation surface of the operating device, so that even if unevenness or steps are formed on the switch operation surface, the operation panel can be maintained flat, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance.

[0011] In the present invention, a gap is formed between the operating device accommodated in the storage section and the inner wall of the storage section, and the storage section is characterized in that a curved surface is formed that gradually widens and curves from the inside to the outside of the storage section along the entire outer peripheral edge of the open portion.

[0012] When the operation switch of the operating device is touched or pressed via the operation panel, the operation panel may be deformed so as to recess inward from the opening of the storage section. In this case, if corners are formed on the outer periphery of the opening, the operation panel may become angular along the outline of the opening, which may reduce the aesthetic appearance of the operation panel.

[0013] In contrast, in the present invention, a curved surface is formed along the entire outer edge of the opening, so that even if the operation switch of the operating device is touched or pressed via the operation panel and the operation panel deforms so as to recess inward from the opening of the storage section, the operation panel curves along the curved surface and does not become angular, and the aesthetic appearance of the operation panel can be maintained.

[0014] In the present invention, the storage section has a flat surface extending around the opening, and the operation panel is adhered to the flat surface around the opening by an adhesive means at a predetermined distance from the opening of the storage section.

[0015] According to the present invention, the adhesive means adheres the operation panel around the opening of the storage section at a predetermined distance from the opening, so that an unglued portion is located between the peripheral edge of the opening and the operation panel, thereby reducing the degree of contact of the operation panel with the inner peripheral edge of the opening.

[0016] In the present invention, the operating device may further include a diffusion sheet that covers a top surface of the operating device and diffuses light from the light-emitting elements.

[0017] The diffusion sheet diffuses the unevenness of the light emitted by the light-emitting elements of the operating device, thereby obtaining a uniform light-emitting state, and improving the aesthetic appearance and visibility of the light emitted by the light-emitting elements.

[0018] Furthermore, the diffusion sheet is provided in a state of non-contact with the operation panel. This allows the operation panel to be kept flat even if foreign matter or air bubbles get in and cause unevenness or steps, improving the aesthetic appearance. If the diffusion sheet is attached to the operation panel, there is a risk that the diffusion sheet will be visible through the operation panel, but by providing the diffusion sheet in a state of non-contact with the operation panel as in the present invention, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the aesthetic appearance caused by the diffusion sheet being visible.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that the diffusion sheet is adhered to the operation panel by an adhesive means in an area excluding an area extending from the outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the operating device to a position a predetermined distance inward, and a position corresponding to the switch operation surface and the periphery of the switch operation surface.

[0020] This makes it possible to suppress expansion of the operation panel due to temperature changes and expansion of the operation panel due to contraction of each component on the operating device, thereby preventing deterioration of the aesthetic appearance due to distortion of the operation panel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams showing a plan view of an operation unit, in which FIG. 2A shows the operation panel before operation starts, and FIG. 2B shows the operation panel when a light-emitting element is emitting light. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the structure of an operation unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the operation unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an embodiment of the operating part of the present invention, an operating part 2 provided in a warm air heater 1 shown in FIG.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, warm air heater 1 corresponds to the equipment of the present invention, and inside the highly aesthetic casing 3, although not shown, there are housed an air heating device that generates warm air for heating, an air purifying device that corrects and circulates the indoor air, and a control device that controls the air heating device and air purifying device.

[0024] The operation unit 2 of this embodiment is provided on the top surface side of the casing 3, and is covered with a flat operation panel 4 that is dark in color (black), as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0025] The operation panel 4 displays various information as shown in FIG. 2B by emitting light from an operation device 5, which will be described later.

[0026] 3 and 4, the operating device 5 is accommodated in a housing portion 6 provided in the casing 3 and is electrically connected to a control device (not shown) to operate the control device. The operating device 5 includes a board 9 on which a plurality of operating switches 7 and LEDs 8, which are light-emitting elements, are mounted. The LEDs 8 include one that emits light in response to the operation of the operating switches 7 and one that displays the upper side from the control device (a 7-segment LED in this embodiment).

[0027] Furthermore, the operating device 5 includes a pressing member 10 that comes into contact with the upper portion of each operating switch 7 on the substrate 9, and a block-shaped holding member 11 that holds each pressing member 10. The upper surface of the holding member 11 (corresponding to the top surface of the operating device 5 in the present invention) is formed flat, and serves as a switch operating surface 12 of the operating device 5.

[0028] The pressing member 10 transmits the pressing force from above during pressing operation to the operation switch 7. In addition, the pressing member 10 is made of a transparent hard synthetic resin, and also functions as a light guiding member that guides the light of the LED 8 to the switch operation surface 12.

[0029] 3 and 4, a diffusion sheet 13 is attached to the upper surface of the holding member 11. The diffusion sheet 13 is made of a white resin film, and even if the light of the LEDs 8 that passes through the pressing member 10 becomes uneven, the light can be transmitted through the diffusion sheet 13 to diffuse the uneven light, thereby achieving a uniform light emission state on the switch operation surface 12.

[0030] 4, the storage section 6 is formed with an opening 14 that opens above the switch operation surface 12 of the operating device 5. The operating device 5 is formed smaller than the storage section 6, so that a gap B is formed between the inner peripheral wall 6a of the storage section 6 and the holding member 11 of the operating device 5.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, a curved surface 15 is formed along the entire outer periphery of the open portion 14. The curved surface 15 curves and gradually widens from the inside to the outside of the open portion 14 at the upper edge of the inner circumferential wall 6a of the storage section 6. Because the curved surface 15 is provided in this manner, the inner periphery of the open portion 14 is not angular.

[0032] 4, the upper surface of the outer periphery of the opening 14 formed in the housing section 6 is a flat surface 16. The flat surface 16 is formed flat over an area corresponding to the shape of the operation panel 4 in a plan view.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4, the operation panel 4 covers the opening 14. The operation panel 4 is attached to the periphery of the opening 14 at a predetermined distance from the opening 14 by an adhesive means 17 such as a double-sided adhesive tape. As shown in Fig. 4, a gap A is formed between the operation panel 4 and the switch operation surface 12 (the upper surface of the diffusion sheet 13) of the operation device 5.

[0034] Furthermore, the gap A need only be small in size, so that when the operation panel 4 is pressed, the amount of bending of the operation panel 4 is extremely small, and when a pressing force is applied to the operation panel 4, the pressing force is instantly transmitted to the operation switch 7.

[0035] According to the structure of the operation unit 2 of this embodiment described above, the operation panel 4 is provided with a gap A between it and the switch operation surface 12 (upper surface of the diffusion sheet 13) of the operation device 5. Therefore, even if unevenness or steps are formed on the switch operation surface 12 (or the upper surface of the diffusion sheet 13), the gap A can absorb the unevenness or steps and prevent the occurrence of distortion of the operation panel 4, thereby maintaining the flatness of the operation panel 4 and preventing a deterioration in its appearance.

[0036] Furthermore, since a gap A is provided between the operation panel 4 and the diffusion sheet 13 of the switch operation surface 12, it is possible to prevent the diffusion sheet 13 from being visible through the operation panel 4, as would occur if the diffusion sheet 13 were in close contact with the operation panel 4.

[0037] Furthermore, by providing a gap A between the open portion 14 and the switch operation surface 12 (the upper surface of the diffusion sheet 13), a difference in height occurs between the periphery of the open portion 14 and the switch operation surface 12 of the operating device 5. However, since the periphery of the open portion 14 is formed as a curved surface 15, the operation panel 4 comes into contact with the curved surface 15 when pressed, and curves smoothly without any sharp edges, so that the outlines of the open portion 14 and the switch operation surface 12 do not stand out on the operation panel 4.

[0038] Moreover, since the adhesive means 17 is provided at a position away from the opening 14, an unadhered portion is formed between the periphery of the opening 14 and the operation panel 4, so that the degree of contact of the operation panel 4 with the inner periphery (curved surface 15) of the opening 14 can be reduced. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the outlines of the opening 14 and the switch operation surface 12 from appearing on the operation panel 4 during operation.

[0039] As a modified example of the operation section, there may be mentioned a structure shown in Fig. 5. That is, as shown in Fig. 5, the diffusion sheet 13 provided on the operation device 5 and the operation panel 4 are adhered by an adhesion means 18 such as a double-sided adhesive tape. At this time, the adhesion means 18 is provided in a portion excluding an area W1 from the outer periphery of the upper surface of the holding member 11 (the top surface of the operation device 5) to a position a predetermined distance inward, and an area W2 corresponding to the switch operation surface 12 and its periphery, and adheres the operation panel 4 and the diffusion sheet 13.

[0040] As a result, when the operation panel 4 expands due to a change in room temperature or when the operation panel 4 expands due to contraction of the peripheral portion of the storage section 6 to which the operation panel 4 is adhered, distortion of the operation panel 4 can be suppressed, and deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the operation panel 4 can be prevented.

[0041] In this embodiment, a curved surface 15 is formed along the entire outer periphery of the open portion 14 as a preferred example, but it may also be an inclined surface or a chamfer such as a C-cut.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the operating unit 2 of the warm air heater 1 has been described as an example, but the structure of the operating unit in the present invention can be suitably adopted in devices other than the warm air heater 1 (for example, various cooking utensils such as stoves and ranges, and home appliances), improving the appearance and enhancing the aesthetics of the device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...warm air heater (equipment), 2...operation section, 4...operation panel, 5...operation device, 6...accommodation section, 6a...inner wall of accommodation section, 7...operation switch, 8...LED (light-emitting element), 12...switch operation surface, 13...diffusion sheet, 14...open section, 15...curved surface, 16...flat surface, 17, 18...adhesive means, A...gap, B...gap section.

Claims

1. A structure of an operation unit provided in a device to operate the device, The operation unit includes an operation device provided with an operation switch, a housing portion formed in the device and housing the operation device, and a flat plate-like operation panel covering the housing portion, the operation device includes a light-emitting element that emits light in response to operation of the operation switch, and a switch operation surface on which the operation switch is operable and on which light from the light-emitting element corresponding to the operation switch is visible; the housing portion includes an opening portion that exposes the switch operation surface when the operating device is housed in the housing portion, 11. An operating section structure for equipment, wherein the operating panel closes the open portion of the housing portion with a gap therebetween from the switch operating surface of the operating device.

2. The operation unit structure of the device according to claim 1, A gap is formed between the operating device accommodated in the accommodation portion and an inner peripheral wall of the accommodation portion, An operating portion structure for an equipment, characterized in that the storage portion has a curved surface formed along the entire outer peripheral edge of the opening portion, the curved surface gradually widening and curving from the inside of the storage portion toward the outside.

3. The operation unit structure of the device according to claim 1, The storage section has a flat surface extending around the opening, 13. An operating section structure for an apparatus, wherein the operating panel is attached by an adhesive means to the flat surface surrounding the opening of the storage section at a predetermined distance from the opening.

4. The operation unit structure of the device according to claim 1, The structure of an operating portion of an apparatus, wherein the operating device is provided with a diffusion sheet that covers a top surface of the operating device and diffuses light from the light-emitting element.

5. The operation unit structure of the device according to claim 4, 13. The structure of an operation section of an apparatus, wherein the diffusion sheet is provided in a non-contact state with the operation panel.

6. The operation unit structure for an instrument according to claim 4 or 5, The structure of an operating section of an equipment, characterized in that the diffusion sheet is adhered to the operation panel by an adhesive means in an area excluding an area extending from the outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the operating device to a position a predetermined distance inward, and a position corresponding to the switch operation surface and the periphery of the switch operation surface.

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