A household appliance comprising a knob with illuminated outer periphery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household appliances, especially cooking appliances with narrow volumes under the control panel, the placement of light sources, light guides, and light emitters around knobs for illumination is challenging due to space constraints and the need for effective leak-proofing.
Innovation Solution
A transparent sealing element, which also serves as a light guide, is positioned behind the control panel to illuminate the knob's periphery without additional elements, enhancing leak-proofing and illumination efficiency while being flexible and semi-transparent or transparent to allow for homogeneous lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources, light guides, and light emitters are disposed around the knob for illumination, then the knob periphery is illuminated, but the volume under the control panel is consumed and space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing element and light guide into a single integrated component. The sealing element, which prevents liquid entry, also serves as the light guide that transmits light from the light source to illuminate the knob periphery. This combination eliminates the need for separate light guide elements, saving space under the control panel while maintaining both sealing and illumination functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides liquid sealing around the knob shaft and acts as a light guide for illumination. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed in the limited space under the control panel, resolving the contradiction between illumination requirements and space constraints.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple elements like light source, light guide and light emitter are placed around the knob, then the knob periphery is illuminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing element and light guide into one integrated component, eliminating the need for separate light guide and light emitter elements. This reduction in the number of components simplifies the device structure while maintaining the illumination function around the knob.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to perform multiple functions: liquid sealing and light guidance. By making the sealing element also serve as the light guide, the patent reduces the total number of elements required, thereby decreasing device complexity while achieving effective knob illumination.
3Reliability
If a sealing element is added to prevent liquid entry, then leak-proofing is improved, but the space under the control panel is further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the light guide function into the sealing element, so that the same component that provides leak-proofing also serves as the light guide for illumination. This integration avoids adding extra space-consuming elements while maintaining both sealing reliability and illumination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: preventing liquid entry and guiding light to illuminate the knob. This multi-functional design ensures that leak-proofing is improved without requiring additional space under the control panel, as the sealing element itself carries out the light guidance function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution achieves efficient and aesthetically enhanced illumination of the knob's periphery with reduced component usage, saving space and energy, while improving user experience and appliance durability by preventing liquid entry and allowing for color-coded functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitted from the light source enables the illumination around the knob without the need of a separate element by means of the transparent sealing element
Implementation Method 2
the periphery of the knob is homogeneously illuminated by homogeneously emitting the light in the sealing element
Data Source
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AI summary
The household appliance (1) of the present invention relates to a control panel (2) by which the user can control the functions of the household appliance (1); at least one opening (3) disposed on the control panel (2); a shaft (4) that is disposed behind the control panel (2) so as to extend towards the opening (3) and that enables the related function to be realized; a knob (5) that is disposed on the shaft (4) and that enables the user to move the shaft (4); a sealing element (6) that is disposed on the opening (3) so as to almost completely surround the shaft (4).