A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A KNOB

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a knob.

[0002] In household appliances, retractable and rotary knobs enabling the household appliance to be operated or the programs to be adjusted are widely used. In retractable and rotary knobs, the user not perceiving the transitions between different program parameters haptically makes the utilization difficult.

[0003] In the state of the art Chinese Patent Document No. CN101694591, a button is explained with improved handfeel.

[0004] WO 2010/049336 A1 discloses a retractable rotating knob of a switch device of a household appliance.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance comprising a knob that provides ease of utilization.

[0006] 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 a housing placed into an opening on a body and a knob mounted into the housing. The household appliance comprises a push-release mechanism having a first element with a heart-shaped channel, a second element with a pin suitable for moving in the channel and a spring providing the connection of the first element and the second element. Thus, the knob is enabled to enter the housing when pushed and stay inside the housing and to protrude from the housing when pushed again.

[0007] The household appliance of the present invention comprises a gear that moves together with the knob when the knob is rotated and that has teeth arranged on the lateral surface thereof, and at least one L shaped claw that extends towards the gear, that limits the movement of the gear by meshing with the teeth and that creates vibrations on the knob. Thanks to the vibrations and noise generated, the user is enabled to understand that the knob is brought to a position that changes the program parameter of the household appliance.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least two claws that are positioned around the gear and in a staggered manner so as to almost face each other and that limit the movement of the gear. The claws that stretch in the opposite direction with the contact of the gear cause the formation of tension on the knob. Thus, the user is informed haptically and audibly about the movement of the knob.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the claw is arc- and recess-shaped so as to allow the teeth of the gear to go therein and exit therefrom.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a elliptic supporter that extends along the line where the front surface and the later surface of knob coincide.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a circuit board that is connected to the knob and enables the household appliance to be operated according to the selected program parameters, and a shaft that is situated below the push-release mechanism and transmits the movement of the knob to the circuit board.

[0012] The model embodiments relating to a household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 - is the exploded view of a push-release mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a push-release mechanism and a housing in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a push-release mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a housing and a circuit board in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1.

Household appliance

2.

Body

3.

Opening

4.

Housing

5.

Knob

6.

Channel

7.

First element

8.

Pin

9.

Second element

10.

Spring

11.

Push-release mechanism

12.

Gear

13.

Claw

14.

Supporter

15.

Circuit board

16.

Shaft

17.

Tooth

[0014] The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2), an opening (3) arranged on the body (2), a housing (4) placed into the opening (3) and extending towards the inner part of the body (2) from the opening (3), and a cylindrical knob (5) that is placed into the housing (4) and moved by being rotated and pushed. The knob (5) is moved in the housing (4) by being rotated and pushed. When the knob (5) is desired to be used, the user enables the knob (5) to protrude from the housing (4) by pressing on the knob (5) The user rotates the knob (5) in order to bring the knob (5) to the desired program parameter. The user hides the knob (5) in the housing (4) by pressing on the knob (5) again after adjusting the desired program parameter by means of the knob (5). The program parameters can be viewed and selected when the knob (5) is in the housing (4) and also when the knob (5) is used outside the housing (4) by being rotated. The household appliance (1) comprises a push-release mechanism (11) having a first element (7) with a channel (6) placed into the housing (4), a second element (9) disposed behind the knob (5) with a pin (8) suitable for moving inside the channel (6), and a spring (10) that enables the second element (9) to move tautly while the pin (8) moves in the channel (6). The knob (5) is a push-release type so that the knob (5) is outside the housing (4) when in use and is hidden inside the housing (4) by being pushed when not in use. During the back and forth movement of the pin (8) in the channel (6), the knob (5) leaves and goes into the housing (4) a little.

[0015] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a gear (12) that is disposed on the push-release mechanism (11), that moves together with the knob (5) when the knob (5) is rotated and that has more than one tooth (17) all around, and at least one claw (13) that is positioned on the housing (4) so as to contact the gear (12) and that stretches in the rotational direction of the gear (12) by meshing with the teeth (17) during the rotational movement of the gear (12). The gear (12) is enabled to rotate intermittently by means of the claw (13). The claws (13) contact the teeth (17) around the gear (12) and stretch sequentially over the teeth (17) during the rotational movement of the gear (12). When the claws (13) touch each bottom land between each two teeth (17), the gear (12) rotates intermittently, thus the user perceives that the following program parameter is selected.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least two claws (13) that are disposed reverse symmetrically and that enable the gear (12) to rotate in steps by contacting the gear (12). With the contact of the gear (12), one of the claws (13) arranged at certain intervals in a circular path on the housing (4) stretches forward while the other stretches backward. Thus, the haptic feedback can be sensed at equal density in any situation independently from the rotational direction of the knob (5). That one of the claws (13) is pushed backward creates a high tension on the gear (12) while the forward movement of the other generates a low tension that facilitates the release of the gear (12) from the claw (13). Thus, reverse forces acting on the gear (12) are balanced and the haptic feedback relayed to the user becomes stable.

[0017] According to the present invention, the claw (13) is L-shaped. When the gear (12) is rotated, the teeth (17) of the gear (12) pushes and moves the claws (13) in the direction of the curves of the latter. Since the gear (12) rotates by rubbing against the claws (13), the user easily perceives the rotation of the gear (12).

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a ring-shaped supporter (14) that extends along the line where the front surface and the later surface of knob (5) coincide. Thanks to the supporter (14), the knob (5) can be more easily grasped and rotated. Moreover, devices such as light source, etc. that facilitates the utilization of the knob (5) are placed to into the housing (4) by means of the supporter (14).

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a circuit board (15) that is disposed behind the housing (4) and controls the operation of the selected program parameters, and a shaft (16) that is situated under the first element (7) at the base of the housing (4) and that transmits the movement of the knob (5) to the circuit board (15).

[0020] In different embodiments of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a cooling device, a laundry dryer, a cooking device, a washing machine or a dishwasher.

[0021] By means of the present invention, thanks to the intermittent rotation of the gear (12) owing to the claws (13), the user can perceive by touch or hearing that the knob (5) is being rotated and the program parameters are being changed. By giving the mechanical feedback related to the rotation of the knob (5) via a simple system composed of the gear (12) and the claws (13), ease of assembly during the production of the knob (5) is provided and the production costs are decreased.

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) comprising

- a body (2),

- an opening (3) arranged on the body (2),

- a housing (4) placed into the opening (3) and extending from the opening (3) towards the inner part of the body (2),

- a cylindrical knob (5) placed into the housing (4) and moved by being rotated and pushed,

- a push-release mechanism (11) having a first element (7) with a channel (6) placed into the housing (4), a second element (9) disposed behind the knob (5) with a pin (8) suitable for moving inside the channel (6), and a spring (10) that enables the second element (9) to move tautly while the pin (8) moves in the channel (6),
characterized by

- a gear (12) that is disposed on the push-release mechanism (11), that moves together with the knob (5) when the knob (5) is rotated and that has teeth (17) all around, and

- at least one claw (13) that is positioned on the housing (4) so as to contact the gear (12), that stretches in the rotational direction by meshing with the teeth (17) during the rotational movement of the gear (12) and that enables the gear (12) to rotate intermittently,
wherein the claw (13) is L shaped.

2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least two claws (13) that are disposed reverse symmetrically and that enable the gear (12) to rotate in steps by contacting the gear (12).

3. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a ring-shaped supporter (14) that extends along the line where the front surface and the later surface of knob (5) coincide.

4. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a circuit board (15) that is disposed behind the housing (4) and controls the operation of the selected program parameters, and a shaft (16) that is situated under the first element (7) at the base of the housing (4) and that transmits the movement of the knob (5) to the circuit board (15).

5. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a cooling device.

6. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a laundry dryer.

7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above Claims 1 to 4, which is a cooking device.

8. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a washing machine.

9. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a dishwasher.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1) umfasst;

- einen Körper (2),

- eine Öffnung (3), die am Körper (2) angeordnet ist;

- ein Gehäuse (4), das in die Öffnung (3) eingesetzt ist und sich von der Öffnung (3) aus zu dem inneren Teil des Körpers (2) erstreckt,

- einen zylindrischen Knopf (5), der eingesetzt in das Gehäuse (4) ist und durch Drehen und Schieben bewegt wird,

- einen Ausrückmechanismus (11), der mit einem ersten Element (7) in einem Kanal (6) in das Gehäuse (4) eingesetzt ist; ein zweites Element (9), das hinter dem Knopf (5) mit einem Stift (8) angeordnet und innerhalb des Kanals (6) mit einer Feder (10) bewegt wird, die es dem zweiten Element (9) ermöglicht, sich steif zu bewegen waherend der Stift (8) sich innerhalb des Kanals (6) bewegt; gekennzeichnet wird es dadurch,

- ein Zahnrad (12), das an dem Ausrückmechanismus (11) angeordnet ist und sich mit dem Knopf (5) zusammen bewegt, wenn der Knopf (5) gedreht wird und umher Zähne (17) aufweist; und

- mindestens eine Klaue (13), die so an dem Gehäuse (4) angeordnet ist, dass sie das Zahnrad (12) berührt und sich in die Drehrichtung erstreckt, indem es während der Drehbewegung des Zahnrads (12) mit den Zähnen (17) kämmt und hierdurch sich das Zahnrad (12) intermittierend dreht, wobei die Klaue (13) L-förmig ist.

2. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens zwei Klauen (13), die umgekehrt und symmetrisch angeordnet sind, es ermöglichen, dass sich das Zahnrad (12) durch den Kontakt mit dem Zahnrad (12) schrittweise dreht.

3. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüche aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein ringförmiger Träger (14) sich entlang der Linie erstreckt, wo die Vorderfläche und die spätere Fläche des Knopfes (5) zusammentreffen.

4. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüche aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Leiterplatte (15) hinter dem Gehäuse (4) angeordnet ist und den Betrieb der ausgewählten Programmparameter steuert; und eine Welle (16), die unter dem ersten Element (7) am Boden des Gehäuses (4) angeordnet ist und die Bewegung des Knopfes (5) auf die Leiterplatte (15) überträgt.

5. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich um ein Kühlgerät handelt.

6. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich um einen Wäschetrockner handelt.

7. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich um einen Kochgerät handelt.

8. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich um eine Waschmaschine handelt.

9. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich um einen Geschirrspüler handelt.

Revendications

1. Un appareil électroménager (1) comprenant

- un corps (2),

- une ouverture (3) disposée sur le corps (2),

- un boîtier (4) placé dans l'ouverture (3) et s'étendant de l'ouverture (3) vers la partie intérieure du corps (2),

- un bouton cylindrique (5) placé dans le boîtier (4) et actionné par rotation et poussée,

- un mécanisme de déverrouillage par pression (11) comportant un premier élément (7) avec un canal (6) placé dans le boîtier (4), un deuxième élément (9) disposé derrière le bouton (5) avec une broche (8) appropriée pour se déplacer à l'intérieur du canal (6), et un ressort (10) qui permet au deuxième élément (9) de se déplacer de manière tendue lorsque la broche (8) se déplace dans le canal (6), est caractérisé par

- une roue dentée (12) qui est disposée sur le mécanisme de libération de poussée (11), qui se déplace avec le bouton (5) lorsque le bouton (5) est tourné et qui présente des dents (17) tout autour, et

- au moins une griffe (13) qui est positionnée sur le boîtier (4) de manière à venir en contact avec la roue dentée (12), qui se déploie dans le sens de rotation en engrenant avec les dents (17) pendant le mouvement rotatif de la roue dentée (12) et qui permet une rotation intermittente de cette roue (12), dans laquelle la griffe (13) est en forme de L.

2. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé par au moins deux griffes (13) qui sont disposées symétriquement en sens inverse et qui permettent à la roue dentée (12) de tourner par étapes en contact avec la roue dentée (12).

3. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, est caractérisé par un support annulaire (14) qui s'étend le long de la ligne où la surface avant et la surface arrière du bouton (5) coïncident.

4. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, est caractérisé par une carte de circuit imprimé (15) qui est disposée derrière le boîtier (4) et commande le fonctionnement des paramètres de programme sélectionnés, et un arbre (16) qui est situé sous le premier élément (7) au fond du boîtier (4) et qui transmet le mouvement du bouton (5) sur la carte de circuit imprimé (15).

5. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est un dispositif de refroidissement.

6. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est un sèche-linge.

7. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4 ci-dessus, qui est un appareil de cuisson.

8. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est une machine à laver.

9. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est un lave-vaisselle.

Drawing