WO2006038147A2

WO2006038147A2 - A home appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2006038147A2
Application number: PCT/IB2005/053164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Korkut Avci; Cuneyt Tezcan
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2004-10-04
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2006-04-13
Also published as: TR200701772T1; WO2006038147A3

Abstract

This invention relates to a home appliance (1) comprising a panel (2) having indicator (3) and several buttons (4) and showing the state of the switch (10) triggered by a button (4) used to choose some specific function to the user.

Description

Description A HOME APPLIANCE

[001] This invention relates to a home appliance comprising a panel comprising indicator and several buttons.

[002] In home appliances, preferably in washer/dryers, the product functions are controlled by means of panels whereon buttons and indicators are located and if necessary, the user chooses desired options by using the mentioned panel. If there are more than one identical buttons or indicators, there may be problems in showing which button is the chosen one to the user, without creating an ambiguity. In the current state of the art, several panels are available which may be controlled by mechanical or electronical mechanisms.

[003] In the current state of the art, in the German Patent Document DE 10200317, a de¬ scription is given of a front panel whereon controlling components are mounted.

[004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a home appliance wherein means are provided to easily trace the buttons, which are chosen and activated by the user.

[005] The home appliance designed to fulfill the object of the present invention is il¬ lustrated in the attached figures where:

[006] Fig.l - is a perspective view of a home appliance.

[007] Fig.2 - is a perspective view of a panel.

[008] Fig.3 - is a perspective view of an adapter and a control card whereon an indicator and more than one buttons are located.

[009] Fig.4 - is an exploded perspective view of a panel group.

[010] Fig.5 - is a sectional view of a panel, in the direction AA.

[011] Fig.6 - is a sectional view of a panel, in the direction CC.

[012] Fig.7 - is a sectional view of a panel, in the direction BB.

[013] Elements shown on figures are numbered as follows:

1. Home appliance

2. Panel

3. Indicator

4. Button

5. Knob

6. Trigger

7. Adapter

8. Control card

9. Light source

10. Switch 11. Light transmitter

12. Contact housing

13. Choosing projection

14. Bending extension

15. Fixer

16. Lock

17. Window

18. Panel group

[014] Home appliances (1), for instance washer/dryers, cookers etc, comprise a panel group (18) enabling the users to control and follow the operation.

[015] The panel group (18) comprises a control card (8) whereby home appliance is controlled, a panel (2) which provides an aesthetical appearance and whereon the control card (8) is positioned, one or more indicators (3) for following purposes, one or more knobs (5) whereby several functions are chosen by means of the control card (8) on the panel (2), one or more switches (10), which is connected to a circuit, and enable the opening or closing of the said circuit, in order to be able to choose several functions in the control card (8), one or more buttons (4) whereby the switch (10) is opened and closed, one or more light sources (9) indicating whether the switch (10) is activated, one or more triggers (6) made of a transparent material, whereon the buttons (4) are mounted and enabling the switch (10) to be triggered by means of its elastic structure while moving together with the button (4), and also during the mentioned triggering action, enabling the light to be transferred to the button (4) and thereby to the outside of the panel (2) through its transparent structure and, one or more adapters (7) mounted onto the indicator (3) by means of the trigger (6) attached on it and whereby the indicator (3) is protected and is made visible via its transparent material structure.

[016] The trigger (6) comprises a choosing projection (13) pushing the switch (10) to move it to the open or closed position as desired, a light transmitter (11) transferring the light emitted by the light source (9) to the button (4) when the switch (10) is brought to the open position, a bending extension (14) whereon the button (4) is mounted and whereon there are light transmitter (11) and choosing projection (13) and which enables the user to trigger and accordingly to open and close the switch (10) by elastically moving such as a spring and can turn back to its first position, one or more locks (16) whereby the button (4) positioned on the bending extension (14) is fastened onto the mentioned bending extension (14) and, one or more fixers (15) whereby the trigger (6) is attached to and detached from the adapter (7).

[017] The button (4) comprises a window (17) where the light transmitter (11) is fitted into and whereby the user is enabled to see the light transferred from the light source (9) by the light transmitter (11).

[018] The adapter (7) comprises several contact housings (12), in a suitable number and form, whereby the light transmitter (11) is mounted in and demounted out and enabling the switch (12) to be reached.

[019] In assembling the embodiment of the present invention, the adapter (7) is fitted to its place on the control card (8) after the mentioned control card (8) is mounted. After the buttons (4) are placed onto the light transmitters (11), the trigger (6) whereon the buttons (4) are fastened is attached onto the adapter (7). After the buttons (4), the trigger (6) and the adapter (7) are attached to their locations, the assembly is completed by mounting the panel (2) onto them. Thereby, by means of a small number of pieces, the production is obtained in a short time with less cost and the service can be provided after production.

[020] In using the embodiment of the present invention, when the user pushes the button

(4) he/she wants to use, the button (4) moves the bending extension (14) where the light transmitters (11) are attached and the choosing projection (13) passing through the contact housing (12) triggers the switch (10) on the control card (8). Thereby, if the switch is in closed position it opens and if it is in open position it closes. Meanwhile, the light source (9) is activated as the switch (10) is opened and starts to emit light and at the same time, it is achieved to transfer the light outside by means of the light transmitter (11) located opposite to the light source (9). Thus, the user can see the button (4) he/she pushes to open the switch (10), on the washer/dryer (1), at any instant. Whereas the switch (10) is triggered and closed, the light source (9) is de¬ activated, ensuring that there is not any change on the button (4) since the light transmitter (11) can not transfer any light.

[021] In another application of the present invention, by changing the color of the adapter

(7), it is achieved that the users see different colors in different home devices (1) where the indicator (3) is utilized.

[022] By means of the application, which is the object of the present invention, the state of the switch (10) triggered by a button (4) that is used to choose some specific function by pushing onto it is easily shown to the user.

Claims

[001] A home appliance (1) comprising a control card (8) for controlling purposes, a panel (2) which provides an aesthetical appearance and whereon the control card (8) is positioned, one or more switches (10), which is connected to a circuit, and enable the opening or closing of the said circuit, in order to be able to choose several functions in the control card (8), one or more buttons (4) whereby the switch (10) is opened and closed, one or more light sources (9) indicating whether the switch (10) is activated or not, and characterized by a panel group (18) comprising one or more triggers (6) made of a transparent material, whereon the buttons (4) are mounted and which enables the switch (10) to be triggered by means of its elastic structure while moving together with the button (4), and also during the mentioned triggering action, which enables the light to be transferred to the button (4) and thereby to the outside of the panel (2) through its transparent structure.

[002] A home appliance (1) as described in Claim 1, characterized by a panel group

(18) comprising a trigger (6) which has a light transmitter (11) that transfers the light emitted by the light source (9) to the button (4) when the switch (10) is brought to the open position.

[003] A home appliance (1) as described in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a panel group (18) comprising a trigger (6) which has a choosing projection (13) that pushes the switch (10) to move it to the open or closed position as desired.

[004] A home appliance (1) as described in any of the Claims, characterized by a panel group (18) comprising a trigger (6) that has a bending extension (14) whereon the button (4) is mounted and whereon there are light transmitter (11) and choosing projection (13) and which enables the user to trigger and ac¬ cordingly to open and close the switch (10) by elastically such as a spring and can turn back to its first position.

[005] A home appliance (1) as described in any of the Claims, characterized by a panel group (18) comprising one or more adapters (7) mounted onto the indicator (3) by means of the trigger (6) attached on it and whereby the indicator (3) is protected and is made visible via its transparent material structure.

[006] A home appliance (1) as described in any of the Claims, characterized by a panel group (18) comprising a trigger (6), which has one or more locks (16) whereby the button (4) positioned on the bending extension (14) is fastened onto the mentioned bending extension (14) and, one or more fixers (15) whereby the trigger (6) is attached to and detached from the adapter (7).

[007] A home appliance (1) as described in any of the Claims, characterized by a panel group (18) comprising a button (4), which has a window (17) where the light transmitter (11) is fitted into and whereby the user is enabled to see the light transferred from the light source (9) by the light transmitter (11).