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(11) | EP 3 725 209 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A CONTROL PANEL FOR BUILT-IN ELECTRIC DEVICES AND AN ELECTRIC DEVICE COMPRISING THE CONTROL PANEL |
| (57) A control panel (K) suitable for use in an electric device which comprises a compartment,
and a door which is opened/closed to control access into the inner compartment, wherein
an outer surface of the door is suitable for being coated with a decorative panel
(1), the control panel (K) comprising a body (6) which is located between the door
and the decorative panel (1) and on which units for controlling functions of the electric
device by a user and providing the user with a feedback are mounted, and a housing
(7) which extends from a first surface of the body (6) facing the decorative panel
(1) to form protrusion (2) towards the decorative panel (1) such that the housing
(7) forms a recess, which is suitable for receiving a sensor (3), at a second surface
of the body (6) opposite to the first surface thereof, and thus, enables the protrusion
(2) and the body (6) to contact the decorative panel (1) without having any gaps in
between, thereby enabling the sensor (3) located in the recess to be mounted without
having any air gaps between the sensor (3) and the decorative panel (1) so that the
sensor (3) operates properly; and an electric device comprising the control panel.
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Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a control panel developed for built-in electric devices and an electric device comprising the control panel.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Modern kitchens generally comprise kitchen closets and electric devices which do not contain any visible handles/grips. Said electric devices often comprise a body having an inner compartment; a door which is opened/closed to control access into the inner compartment; and a control panel for controlling functions of the electric device by a user and providing the user with a feedback.
[0003] In full built-in electric devices, the door is coated with a decorative panel which may be made of a wooden, glass, plastic or a different material; and the control panel is invisible from outside while it is visible when the door is opened. Said electric devices may comprise door opening mechanisms that facilitate opening of the door slightly or opening thereof by the user, since they do not comprise any handles. The door opening mechanism may be triggered by a sensor which, for example, may be a proximity sensor. The door opening mechanism may be triggered when the user approaches her/his hand to the sensor or contacts the area by her/his hand where the sensor is located. Furthermore, various functions of the electric device may be triggered or controlled by said sensor or different sensors. The sensors are mounted on the control panel of the electric devices; however, an air gap may be generated between the sensor and the decorative panel as a result of the mounting. In this case, the sensor cannot function properly and said gap causes problems when the user tries to open the door by touching the decorative panel. Mounting the sensor on the decorative panel without having any gaps in between and without creating any protrusion that spoils the appearance causes some mounting-related difficulties.
Brief Description of the Invention
[0004] The control panel according to the invention is suitable for use in an electric device which comprises at least one inner compartment; and a door which is opened/closed to control access into the inner compartment, wherein an outer surface of the door facing the outer environment is suitable for being coated with at least one decorative panel, the control panel comprising at least one body which is located between the door and the decorative panel and on which units for controlling functions of the electric device by a user and providing the user with a feedback are mounted; and at least one housing which extends from a first surface of the body facing the decorative panel to form protrusion towards the decorative panel such that the housing forms a recess, which is suitable for receiving a sensor, at a second surface of the body opposite to the first surface thereof, and thus, enables the protrusion and the body to contact the decorative panel without having any gaps in between, thereby enabling the sensor located in the recess to be mounted without having any air gaps between the sensor and the decorative panel so that the sensor operates properly.
[0006] The control panel and the electric device comprising the control panel according to the invention enable the sensor to be mounted without having any air gaps between the sensor and the decorative panel such that the sensor is assisted in operating properly.
Object of the Invention
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a control panel suitable for use in built-in electric devices and an electric device comprising the control panel.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control panel in built-in electric devices comprising a sensor, which enables the sensor to be mounted behind a decorative panel, and an electric device comprising the control panel.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a control panel in which the sensor is enabled to operate properly, and an electric device comprising the control panel.
Description of the Drawings
[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the control panel and the electric device comprising the control panel according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:
- Figure 1
- is a sectional view of the control panel according to the invention.
- Figure 2
- is another sectional view of the control panel according to the invention.
- Figure 3
- is a perspective view of the control panel according to the invention.
[0011] All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:
| Control panel | (K) |
| Decorative panel | (1) |
| Protrusion | (2) |
| Sensor | (3) |
| Connection socket | (4) |
| Cover | (5) |
| Body | (6) |
| Housing | (7) |
Description of the Invention
[0012] In full built-in electric devices, the door providing access into an inner compartment of the device is coated with a decorative panel; and said electric devices may comprise door opening mechanisms for opening the door at least slightly. Said door opening mechanism may be triggered by a sensor which, for example, may be a proximity sensor. The door opening mechanism may be triggered when the user approaches her/his hand to the sensor or contacts the area by her/his hand where the sensor is located. Furthermore, various functions of the electric device may be triggered or controlled by said sensor or different sensors. The sensors are mounted on the control panel of the electric devices; however, an air gap may be generated between the sensor and the decorative panel as a result of the mounting. In this case, the sensor cannot function properly and said gap causes problems when the user tries to open the door by touching the decorative panel. Mounting the sensor on the decorative panel without having any gaps in between and without creating any protrusion that spoils the appearance causes some mounting-related difficulties. Accordingly, with the present invention, there is provided a control panel and an electric device comprising the control panel in order to solve these problems.
[0013] The control panel (K) according to the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-3, is suitable for use in an electric device which comprises at least one inner compartment (not illustrated in the figures); and a door (not illustrated in the figures) which is opened/closed to control access into the inner compartment, wherein an outer surface of the door facing the outer environment is suitable for being coated with at least one decorative panel (1), the control panel (K) comprising at least one body (6) which is located between the door and the decorative panel (1) and on which units for controlling functions of the electric device by a user and providing the user with a feedback are mounted; and at least one housing (7) which extends from a first surface of the body (6) facing the decorative panel (1) to form protrusion (2) towards the decorative panel (1) such that the housing (7) forms a recess (not illustrated in the figures), which is suitable for receiving a sensor (3) that is preferably a proximity sensor (or an electronic board on which a sensor is provided), at a second surface of the body (6) opposite to the first surface thereof, and thus, enables the protrusion (2) and the body (6) to contact the decorative panel (1) without having any gaps in between, thereby enabling the sensor (3) located in the recess to be mounted without having any air gaps between the sensor (3) and the decorative panel (1) so that the sensor (3) operates properly.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sensor (3) is placed in the recess and fixed to the housing (7) by using, for example, a double-sided tape. In the embodiment, using a double-sided tape allows that the body (6) and the sensor (3) are fixed to each other such that there is no gap in between. However, the sensor (3) can be mounted, by any other embodiment known in the art, on the housing (7) located in said body (6) such that there is no gap in between. Then, the body (6) comprising the sensor (3), wherein the body (6) also comprises units which are preferably located on the body (6) for controlling functions of the electric device by a user and providing the user with a feedback, is mounted on the door such that the second surface thereof faces the door. In said embodiment, when the decorative panel (1) is positioned on the door to cover the first surface of the body (6) as well, the housing (7) extending from the body (6) to form protrusion towards the decorative panel (1) and the decorative panel (1) will contact each other without having any air gaps in between. Thus, it is enabled that the sensor (3) placed in the housing (7) and the decorative panel (1) are mounted without having any air gaps in between and accordingly, the sensor (3) operates properly. The protrusion (2) has dimensions that are suitable for preventing any air gaps which may occur between the decorative panel (1) and the door and that will not cause visual problems or any extra spaces between the decorative panel (1) and the body (6) and/or the door.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control panel (K) also comprises at least one cover (5) which covers the housing (7) to protect the sensor (3) from external factors, and at least one connection socket (4) which provides connection between the sensor (3) and an electronic board required to operate said sensor.
[0016] With the present invention, there is also provided an electric device which comprises the control panel (K) and is preferably a dishwasher. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electric device further comprises at least one door opening mechanism (not illustrated in the figures) which is in connection with the sensor (3) and operates according to a signal transmitted by the sensor (3). In said embodiment, the sensor is a proximity sensor, and if the user approaches the electric device (the sensor) or approaches her/his hand to electric device or touches the electric device, it transmits a signal to the door opening mechanism for turning on the door opening mechanism so that the door opening mechanism is activated. In said embodiment, the door opening mechanism enables the door to be at least partially opened based on the signal received.
1. A control panel (K) suitable for use in an electric device which comprises at least
one inner compartment; and a door which is opened/closed to control access into the
inner compartment, wherein an outer surface of the door facing the outer environment
is suitable for being coated with at least one decorative panel (1), characterized by comprising at least one body (6) which is located between the door and the decorative
panel (1) and on which units for controlling functions of the electric device by a
user and providing the user with a feedback are mounted; and at least one housing
(7) which extends from a first surface of the body (6) facing the decorative panel
(1) to form protrusion towards the decorative panel (1) such that the housing (7)
forms a recess, which is suitable for receiving a sensor (3), at a second surface
of the body (6) opposite to the first surface thereof, and thus, enables the protrusion
(2) and the body (6) to contact the decorative panel (1) without having any gaps in
between, thereby enabling the sensor (3) located in the recess to be mounted without
having any air gaps between the sensor (3) and the decorative panel (1) so that the
sensor (3) operates properly.
2. A control panel (K) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (3) is a proximity sensor (3).
3. An electric device comprising a control panel (K) according to claim 1 or 2.
4. An electric device according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric device is a dishwasher.
5. An electric device according to any of the claims 3 or 4, characterized by comprising at least one door opening mechanism which is in connection with the sensor
(3) and operates according to a signal transmitted by the sensor (3).