Control Knob Spacer Element to Prevent Decorative Panel Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance control panels with rotatable control knobs have limited material configuration options, restricting the rotation of the front cap and potentially damaging decorative panels during use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a partially surrounding decorative panel with a spacer element that maintains axial distance from the front cap, preventing direct contact and allowing for flexible material and color configurations, while ensuring smooth rotary movement through a radially prestressed, arcuate spacer design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the front cap extends to the control panel, then the structural support is improved, but the decorative panel is damaged during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element acts as an intermediary component between the front cap and the decorative panel. It provides the necessary structural support for the front cap while preventing direct contact with the decorative panel during rotation, thus eliminating the harmful effect of damage while maintaining the beneficial structural support.
2Shape
If the decorative panel completely surrounds the opening, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the rotation of the control knob is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative panel is segmented into two distinct parts: a main decorative panel that provides aesthetic appearance, and a separate spacer element that ensures rotational freedom. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between appearance and operability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the front cap contacts the decorative panel during rotation, then the structural stability is improved, but grinding and rubbing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element serves as a mediator that maintains the optimal distance between the front cap and the decorative panel. This prevents direct contact that would cause grinding and rubbing, while still providing sufficient structural stability for the control knob assembly.
4Shape
If the control panel is made transparent, then the modern design is improved, but the visual coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel employs local quality by having different transparency characteristics in different zones. The main decorative panel can be opaque or translucent to provide visual coverage, while the area around the opening can be transparent to maintain the modern design aesthetic. This allows each zone to have the optical properties最适合 its function.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an operating device (6) for a household appliance (1), comprising a control panel (11), and a control knob (9) arranged on the control panel (11), which control knob is mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation for adjusting the operating conditions of the household appliance (1), wherein the control knob (9) comprises a front cap (10) which is arranged projecting forward in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A) of the control toggle (9) with respect to a front side (11a) of the control panel (11) and ends with a rear end (13) in front of a front side (11a) of the control panel (11), and the front cap (10) is connected to a coupling element which extends through an opening (12) in the control panel (11), wherein a decorative panel (14) is arranged on the front side (11a) of the control panel (11), which decorative panel is arranged to border the opening (12) of the control panel (11) and only partially surround the opening (12), and a spacer element (15) is arranged in the region of the opening (12), via which the rear end (13) of the front cap (10) is arranged spaced apart with respect to the decorative panel (14) as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A). The invention also relates to a household appliance (1) comprising an operating device (6).