A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A KNOB SAFELY MOUNTED ONTO THE PANEL

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a knob that is safely mounted onto the panel.

[0002] Household appliances, for example cooking devices, dishwashers and in particular washers/dryers, comprise a panel, a control unit and one or more than one knob that enable the functions thereof to be monitored and controlled by the user. The knobs are directly attached to the shafts that are mechanically fastened to the switches on the control unit behind the panel by means of the housings on the panel or by means of an intermediate piece from the front of the panel. As the knobs are moved, the shafts that are connected to the knobs also move and the functions at predetermined positions depending on the user preferences, for example functions like in which program the laundries should be washed, at which rpm the spin-drying should be performed or at which temperature the wash water should be used, are enabled to be selected.

[0003] In the state of the art, the knobs are mounted on the shaft that is connected to the control unit behind the panel from the front side of the panel for ease of production. In this state of the art embodiment, while the knob is mounted on the panel by means of clawed structures, some tolerances are needed to be taken into consideration in order that the shaft and the knob can be easily borne to each other. Therefore, a gap should be left around the clawed structures. While facilitating the rotation of the knob, these gaps weaken the resistance of the knob against exterior impacts and cause the knob to be operated in a loose manner. In particular this situation causes the user to have an adverse opinion that "the knob is about to fall off".

[0004] In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1829071, a household appliance is disclosed, that comprises a knob mounted to the panel.

[0005] In the state of the art British Patent Application No. GB2040396, a control knob is disclosed, that is fixed to the shaft in a safe manner.
International Patent Application WO 2009/077330 A1 describes an operating panel for an electrical appliance that comprises a front plate, a rotary knob arranged on the front side of the front plate and a controller, connected to the rotary knob, arranged on a back side of the front plate. The rotary knob comprises a shaft engaging in a recess on the front side. The shaft has a collar projecting radially outwards. A pair of clipping tongues is arranged in the recess of which a root is fixed to the front plate and a free end makes contact with the collar.
United States Patent Application US2008289940 discloses a knob which interacts with only one type of connection part that can exert forces in one direction only.
UK Patent Application GB2157800 discloses a rotary control having a popout collar, wherein two different latches are provided for limiting the axial movement of said collar.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance comprising a knob that is easily mounted and safely fixed onto the panel.

[0007] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises more than one first claw and second claw that are respectively disposed from the wall towards the center, with one applying a force on the knob from inside and the other applying a force on the knob from outside.

[0008] By means of the claws placed into the housing on the panel, the knob is enabled to be mounted to the panel and prevented from being easily detached.

[0009] By means of the present invention, the first claws prevent the knob from being dislodged from the housing by applying a force against the tensile forces acting outwards from the panel. The second claws limit the movement of the knob by applying a force against the compressive forces acting inwards from the panel. Moreover, since the intermediate piece is squeezed between the first and second claws, the intermediate piece rotates 360 degrees on the said claws. While allowing the knob to be mounted by stretching towards the wall of the housing while the knob is being mounted into the housing, the first claws stretch towards the center of the housing while the knob is tried to be detached, thus preventing the knob from being dislodged from the housing and thus providing an agreement of shape.

[0010] A household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the general front view of the panel of a household appliance.

Figure 2 - is the exploded view of the panel, the control unit, the knob, the intermediate piece and the shaft.

Figure 3 - is the detailed view of the cross-section A in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 - is the view of B cross-section in Figure 1.

[0011] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance

2. Panel

3. Control unit

4. Shaft

5. Knob

6. Handle

7. Intermediate piece

8. Housing

9. First claw

10. Second claw

11. Bearing

12. Wall

13. Barrier

14. Recess

15. Guide

16. Protrusion

17. Support

18. Flange

19. Short arm

20. Long arm

21. Bend

22. First arm

23. Second arm

24. Guiding member

25. Abutment

[0012] The household appliance (1), for example the laundry washer/dryer, comprises a panel (2) enabling the user to monitor and control the functions of the household appliance (1), a control unit (3) disposed behind the panel (2), a shaft (4) that is connected to the control unit (3) and that enables user preferences to be transmitted to the control unit (3), a knob (5) that actuates the shaft (4), an intermediate piece (7) that is disposed between the knob (5) and the shaft (4) and whereon the knob (5) is fixed, a housing (8) that is disposed on the panel (2) and wherein the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7) are placed, and a first claw and a second claw (9 and 10)

• that are respectively fixed on the wall of the housing (8) so as to surround the housing (8),
• that extends towards the center of the housing (8) in the radial direction,
• with the free ends facing the opposing direction,
• that are successively disposed.

[0013] Figure 1 and Figure 2).

[0014] After the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7) are mounted to each other, the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7) are seated into the housing (8). In this situation, when the side wall of the knob (5) bears against the panel (2), the intermediate piece (7) is fixed between the first claw (9) and second claw (10). Thus, while the first claws (9) prevent the intermediate piece (7), hence the knob (5) from being detached from the housing (8) against the tensile forces acting outwards from the panel (2), the forces acting inwards from the panel (2) are met by the second claws (10), thus preventing the knob (5) from being damaged and dislodged from the housing (8).

[0015] The knob (5) comprises a handle (6) that enables the user to hold and actuate the knob (5), at least one wall (12) and at least one barrier (13) that are oppositely disposed on the inner surface of the handle (6), and at least one recess (14) arranged between the wall (12) and the barrier (13). In another embodiment of the present invention, the knob (5) comprises at least one support (17) that is disposed on the inner surface of the handle (6) among the wall (12), the barrier (13) and the recess (14).

[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a guiding member (24) that is fitted over the shaft (4). The guiding member (24) is mounted freely on the shaft (3) situated on the control unit (3). While the control unit (3) is mounted on the panel (2), the guiding member (24) is fitted over the knob (5) and provides the connection between the knob (5) and the shaft (4).

[0017] The intermediate piece (7) is preferably a cylindrical component and comprises a bearing (11) wherein the shaft (4) or the guiding member (24) mounted on the shaft (4) is supported, a flange (18) surrounding the bearing (11), at least two guides (15) disposed on the inner surface of the bearing (11), extending along the axis of the bearing (11), that prevent the intermediate piece (7) from moving relative to the shaft (4) and to the guiding member (24), and a protrusion (16) that is disposed on the flange (18) and that is seated into the recess (14). The flange (18) has preferably has a stepped structure. The intermediate piece (7) comprises two abutments (25) that are oppositely disposed on the outer surface of the flange (18), that surround the flange (18) and against one of which the first claw (9) bears and against the other of which the second claw (10) bears when the intermediate piece (7) is seated into the housing (8).

[0018] The first claw (9) is almost L-shaped and comprises a long arm (20) that is fixed to the housing (8) and that extends so as to make an acute angle with the wall of the housing (8), a short arm (19) that is connected to the said long arm (20) so that an acute angle remains therebetween and that extends in a direction opposite to the long arm (20), and a bend (21) that connects the long arm (20) and the short arm (19) (Figure 4).

[0019] The second claw (10) is L-shaped and comprises a first arm (22) that extends from the wall of the housing (8) towards the center in the radial direction and a second arm (23) that extends perpendicularly to the first arm (22) (Figure 3).

[0020] The knob (5) is mounted to the panel (2) in the following manner. First, the intermediate piece (7) is inserted into the knob (5) and is moved until the protrusion (16) reaches the wall (12) at the inner surface of the handle (6). Upon reaching the wall (12), the protrusion (16) stretches and goes over the wall (12) and is seated into the recess (14) so as to bear against the barrier (13). In this case the intermediate piece (7) can no longer move forward in the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7) is fixed to the knob (5). The supports (17) serve for the function of centering between the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7). The intermediate piece (7) and the knob (5) connected to each other are inserted into the housing (8) on the panel (2). During this process, the first abutment (25) that is not completely surrounded by the handle (6), that is disposed on the flange (18) of the intermediate piece (7) and that passes through the housing (8) stretches the first claws (9), which partially cover the housing (8), towards the wall of the housing (8) and passes through the housing (8). The short and long arms (19 and 20) of the first claw (9) easily stretch thanks to the acute angle therebetween. As a result of this movement, while the end of the short arm (19) of the first claw (9) bears against the abutment (25) passing through the housing (8), the bend (21), which connects the short and long arms (19 and 20), and the second arms (23) of the second claws (10) bear against the other abutment (25). Thus, the intermediate piece (7) is squeezed between the first claw (9) and the second claw (10) in opposite directions. Then, the guiding member (24) is fitted over the shaft (4) and mounted onto the intermediate piece (7) and the knob (5) seated into the housing (8) from behind the panel (2).

[0021] The panel (2) comprises a circular groove (19) that surrounds the housing (8) all around and a circular protrusion (16) disposed on the said groove (19). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the free end (21) of the claw (10) of the intermediate piece (7) bearing against the panel (2) is seated on the said protrusion (16).

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) comprising a panel (2) enabling the user to monitor and control the functions of the household appliance (1), a control unit (3) disposed behind the panel (2), a shaft (4) that is connected to the control unit (3) and that enables user preferences to be transmitted to the control unit (3), a knob (5) that actuates the shaft (4), an intermediate piece (7) that is disposed between the knob (5) and the shaft (4) and whereon the knob (5) is fixed, a housing (8) that is disposed on the panel (2) and wherein the knob (5) and the intermediate piece (7) are placed, more than one first claw and second claw (9 and 10)

- that are respectively fixed on the wall of the housing (8) so as to surround the housing (8),

- that extend towards the center of the housing (8) in the radial direction,

- with the free ends facing in opposing directions,

- that are successively disposed,

- one applying a force on the knob (5) from inside and the other applying a force on the knob from outside, wherein the first claws prevent the knob (5) from being dislodged from the housing by applying a force against forces acting outwards from the panel (2), and wherein the second claws limit the movement of the knob (5) by applying a force against forces acting inwards from the panel.

2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the knob (5) comprising a handle (6) that enables the user to hold and actuate the knob (5), at least one wall (12) and at least one barrier (13) that are oppositely disposed on the inner surface of the handle (6), and at least one recess (14) arranged between the wall (12) and the barrier (13).

3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the knob (5) comprising at least one support (17) that is disposed on the inner surface of the handle (6) among the wall (12), the barrier (13) and the recess (14).

4. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the intermediate piece (7) comprising a bearing (11) wherein the shaft (4) is supported, a flange (18) surrounding the bearing (11), at least two guides (15) disposed on the inner surface of the bearing (11), extending along the axis of the bearing (11), that prevent the intermediate piece (7) from moving relative to the shaft (4), and a protrusion (16) that is disposed on the flange (18) and that is seated into the recess (14).

5. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the intermediate piece (7) comprising two abutments (25) that are oppositely disposed on the outer surface of the flange (18), that surround the flange (18) and against one of which the first claw (9) bears and against the other of which the second claw (10) bears when the intermediate piece (7) is seated into the housing (8).

6. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the first claw (9) comprising a long arm (20) that is fixed to the housing (8) and that extends so as to make an acute angle with the wall of the housing (8), a short arm (19) that is connected to the said long arm (20) so that an acute angle remains therebetween and that extends in a direction opposite to the long arm (20), and a bend (21) that connects the long arm (20) and the short arm (19).

7. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the second claw (10) comprising a first arm (22) that extends from the wall of the housing (8) towards the center in the radial direction and a second arm (23) that extends perpendicularly to the first arm (22).

8. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the intermediate piece (7) that is squeezed between the first claw (9) and the second claw (10) in opposite directions.

9. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a guiding member (24) that is fitted over the shaft (4).

Ansprüche

1. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1) umfasst ein Paneel (2), die dem Benutzer die Funktionen des Haushaltsgerätes (1) zu überwachen und steuern ermöglicht, eine Steuereinheit (3), die hinter dem Paneel (2) angeordnet ist, eine Schaft (4) mit der Steuereinheit (3) verbunden ist und die somit die Übertragung von Benutzerpräferenzen an die Steuereinheit (3) ermöglicht, einen Knopf (5), der die Schaft (4) betätigt, ein Zwischenstück (7), das zwischen den Knopf (5) und der Schaft (4) angebraucht ist und worauf der Knopf (5) befestigt ist, ein Gehäuse (8) das an dem Paneel (2) angeordnet ist und in dem der Knopf (5= und das Zwischenstück (7) angeordnet sind, zugleich als eine erste und zweite Klaue (9 und 10),

- die jeweils an der Wand des Gehäuses (8) so befestigt sind, dass sie das Gehäuse (8) umgeben,

- sie sich in radialer Richtung zur Mitte des Gehäuses (8) erstrecken,

- die freien Enden, die in entgegengesetzte Richtungen zeigen,

- die nacheinander entsorgt werden,

- die Aufbringung einer Kraft auf den Knopf (5) von innen und die andere Aufbringung einer Kraft auf den Knopf von außen, zugleich aber die ersten Klauen verhindern, dass sich der Knopf (5) aus dem Gehäuse löst, indem eine Kraft gegen nach außen wirkende Kräfte auf das Paneel (2) ausübt und wobei die zweiten Klauen die Bewegung des Knopfes (5) durch Aufbringen einer Kraft gegen von dem Paneel nach innen wirkende Kräfte begrenzen.

2. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Knopf (5) einen Griff (6) besitzt, der es dem Nutzer ermöglicht ihn zu halten und zu betätigen, des Weiteren mindestens eine Wand (12) und mindestens eine Barriere (13) aufweist, die gegenüberliegend an der innenfläche des Griffs (6) angeordnet sind und zugleich mindestens eine Aussparung (14) aufweist, die zwischen der Wand (12) und der Barriere (13) angeordnet ist.

3. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 2 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Knopf (5) mindestens eine Stütze (17) umfasst, die an der Innenfläche des Griffs (6) zwischen der Wand (12), an der Barriere (13) und Aussparung (14) angeordnet ist.

4. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 2 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Zwischenstück (7) ein Lager (11) umfasst, in dem der Schaft (4) gelagert ist, mindestens einen Flansch (18), der das Lager (11) mit zwei Führungen (15) umgibt, die an der Innenfläche des Lagers (11) angeordnet sind und sich entlang der Achse des Lagers (11) erstrecken und die verhindern, dass sich das Zwischenstück (7) stark zur Welle (4) bewegt, und einen Vorsprung (16), die am Flansch (18) angeordnet ist und in der Aussparung (14) sitzt.

5. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Zwischenstück (7) zwei Widerlager (25) aufweist, die an der Außenfläche des Flansches (18) gegenüberliegend angeordnet sind und den Flansch (18) umgeben , an denen die erste Klaue (9) anliegt und an der anderen die zweite Klaue (10) anliegt, wenn das Zwischenstück (7) in das Gehäuse (8) eingesetzt werden soll.

6. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den vorherigen Ansprüchen aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die erste Klaue (9) einen langen Arm (20) umfasst, der an dem Gehäuse (8) befestigt ist und sich so erstreckt, dass er sich akut mit der Wand des Gehäuses (8) in einen Winkel bildet, einen kurzen Arm (19), der mit dem langen Arm (20) verbunden ist, so dass ein spitzer Winkel dazwischen bleibt und der sich in einer dem langen Arm (20) entgegengesetzten Richtung erstreckt und eine Biegung (21), die den langen Arm (20) und den kurzen Arm (19) verbindet.

7. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Klaue (10) einen ersten Arm (22) aufweist, der sich von der Wand des Gehäuses (8) in radialer Richtung bis zur Mitte hin erstreckt und einen zweiten Arm (23), die sich senkrecht zum ersten Arm (22) erstreckt.

8. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Zwischenstück (7) in entgegengesetzter Richtung zwischen der ersten Klaue (9) und der zweiten Klaue (10) eingepresst ist.

9. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Führungselement (24) über dem Schaft (4) angebracht ist.

Revendications

1. Un appareil électroménager (1) comprenant un panneau (2) permettant à l'utilisateur de surveiller et de commander les fonctions de l'appareil électroménager (1), une unité de commande (3) disposée derrière le panneau (2), un dispositif (4) qui est connecté à l'unité de contrôle (3) permettant la transmission des préférences de l'utilisateur à l'unité de contrôle (3), un bouton (5) qui actionne le dispositif (4), une pièce intermédiaire (7) qui est disposée entre le bouton (5) et le dispositif (4) et sur laquelle le bouton (5) est fixé, un boitier (8) qui est disposé sur le panneau (2) et où le bouton (5) et la pièce intermédiaire (7) sont placés, plusieurs rangées de griffes placées en première et deuxième position (9 et 10)

- qui sont respectivement fixés sur la paroi du boîtier (8) de manière à entourer le boîtier (8),

- qui s'étendent vers le centre du boîtier (8) dans la direction radiale,

- avec les extrémités libres orientées dans des directions opposées,

- qui sont disposées successivement,

- les unes appliquant une force sur le bouton (5) de l'intérieur et les autres appliquant une force sur le bouton de l'extérieur, dans lequel les premières griffes empêchent le bouton (5) d'être délogé du boîtier en appliquant une force contre les forces agissant vers l'extérieur depuis le panneau (2), et dans lequel les secondes griffes limitent le mouvement du bouton (5) en appliquant une force contre des forces agissant vers l'intérieur depuis le panneau.

2. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé en ce que le bouton (5) comprend une poignée (6) qui permet à l'utilisateur de tenir et d'actionner le bouton (5), au moins une paroi (12) et au moins une cloison (13) disposées en sens inverse sur la surface intérieure de la poignée (6) et au moins un évidement (14) agencé entre la paroi (12) et la cloison (13).

3. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 2, est caractérisé en ce que le bouton (5) comprend au moins un support (17) qui est disposé sur la surface intérieure de la poignée (6) entre la paroi (12), la cloison (13) et l'évidement (14).

4. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 2, est caractérisé en ce que la pièce intermédiaire (7) comprend un palier (11) dans lequel le dispositif (4) est soutenu, une bride (18) entourant le palier (11), au moins deux guides (15) disposés sur la surface intérieure du palier (11), qui s'étendent suivant l'axe du palier (11), et empêchent la pièce intermédiaire (7) de bouger par rapport au dispositif (4), et une saillie (16) qui est placée sur la bride (18) et qui est logée dans l'évidement (14).

5. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 4, est caractérisé en ce que la pièce intermédiaire (7) comprend deux butées (25) disposées en vis-à-vis sur la surface extérieure de la bride (18), qui entourent la bride (18) et contre lesquelles la première rangée de griffes (9) repose et contre laquelle la seconde rangée de griffes (10) repose lorsque la pièce intermédiaire (7) est logée dans le boîtier (8).

6. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, est caractérisé en ce que la première rangée de griffes (9) comprend un segment long (20) qui est fixé au boîtier (8) et qui s'étend de manière à faire un angle aigu avec la paroi du boîtier (8), un segment court (19) qui est relié audit segment long (20) afin qu'un angle aigu subsiste et s'étend dans une direction opposée au segment long (20) et une courbure (21) qui relie le segment long (20) et le segment court (19)

7. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé en ce que la deuxième rangée de griffes (10) comprend un premier segment (22) qui s'étend de la paroi du boîtier (8) vers le centre dans la direction radiale et un deuxième segment (23) qui s'étend perpendiculairement au premier segment (22).

8. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé en ce que la pièce intermédiaire (7) est pressée entre la première rangée de griffes (9) et la seconde rangée de griffes (10) dans des directions opposées.

9. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé en ce qu'un élément de guidage (24) qui est monté sur le dispositif (4).

Drawing