U.S. patent application number 10/967150 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for window assembly for electric home appliance and control panel assembly usingg the same.
Invention is credited to Hur, Chj Wan, Je, Sang Man, Kang, Yu Beom, Kim, Geon, Kim, Jae Kyum.
Application Number | 20050178167 10/967150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34836750 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050178167 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Jae Kyum ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
Window assembly for electric home appliance and control panel
assembly usingg the same
Abstract
A window assembly for an electric home appliance and a control
panel assembly using the same are provided. The window assembly
includes a plurality of windows for covering a plurality of display
elements, respectively; and a unifying member for joining the
windows, the unifying member having at least one flexible portion.
The unifying member has a plurality of window couplers, each window
coupler ganging together a predetermined group of the plurality of
windows, and the at least one flexible portion is formed by at
least one group joining member for flexibly joining the plurality
of window couplers. The plurality of windows is made up of at least
two window groups, each window group having at least one window,
adjacent window groups of the at least two window groups being
separated by a predetermined distance. The at least one flexible
portion has a predetermined length, the predetermined length being
greater than the predetermined distance, to compensate for
dimensional discrepancies in a control panel assembly resulting
from normal manufacturing processes. The control panel assembly
includes a panel having a plurality of through holes formed in an
exterior surface; and a substrate, disposed behind the panel,
having a plurality of display elements. The window assembly is
disposed between the panel and the substrate, and the plurality of
windows of the window assembly are respectively inserted into the
plurality of through holes.
Inventors: |
Kim, Jae Kyum; (Gimhae-si,
KR) ; Kim, Geon; (Jinhae-si, KR) ; Hur, Chj
Wan; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Kang, Yu Beom;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Je, Sang Man; (Koje-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
34836750 |
Appl. No.: |
10/967150 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.27 ;
68/3R |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 2219/066 20130101;
H01H 2229/044 20130101; D06F 2105/58 20200201; H01H 2229/064
20130101; D06F 34/28 20200201; D06F 2101/00 20200201; H01H 2231/012
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/012.27 ;
068/003.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2004 |
KR |
P 2004-0009706 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A window assembly for an electric home appliance, comprising: a
plurality of windows for covering a plurality of display elements,
respectively; and a unifying member for joining the windows, the
unifying member having at least one flexible portion.
2. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality
of windows comprises at least two window groups, each window group
having at least one window, adjacent window groups of the at least
two window groups being separated by a predetermined distance.
3. The window assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least
one flexible portion has a predetermined length, the predetermined
length being greater than the predetermined distance.
4. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one flexible portion has a U-shaped form.
5. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one flexible portion has a V-shaped form.
6. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one flexible portion has a semicircular form.
7. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display
elements are light-emitting diodes.
8. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display
elements are segmented elements.
9. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the windows
are made of a transparent material.
10. The window assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
transparent material is formed as a pane for viewing one of the
plurality of display elements.
11. The window assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
transparent material is formed as a bulb for viewing one of the
plurality of display elements.
12. The window assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
transparent material is formed as a lens for conducting and
magnifying light emitted from one of the plurality of display
elements.
13. The window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unifying
member comprises a plurality of window couplers, each window
coupler ganging together a predetermined group of the plurality of
windows, and wherein the at least one flexible portion comprises at
least one group joining member for flexibly joining the plurality
of window couplers.
14. A window assembly for an electric home appliance, comprising: a
plurality of windows for covering a plurality of display elements,
respectively; a plurality of window couplers, each window coupler
ganging together a predetermined group of the plurality of windows;
and at least one group joining member for flexibly joining the
plurality of window couplers.
15. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at
least one group joining member has a U-shaped form.
16. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at
least one group joining member has a V-shaped form.
17. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at
least one group joining member has a semicircular form.
18. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display
elements are light-emitting diodes.
19. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display
elements are segmented elements.
20. The window assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the window
couplers are formed of a rigid material.
21. The window assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rigid
material has a greater rigidity than the at least one group joining
member.
22. A control panel assembly, comprising: a panel having a
plurality of through holes formed in an exterior surface; a
substrate, disposed behind the panel, having a plurality of display
elements; and a window assembly disposed between the panel and the
substrate, the window assembly comprising: a plurality of windows
for covering a plurality of display elements, respectively; and a
unifying member for joining the windows, the unifying member having
at least one flexible portion, wherein the plurality of windows are
aligned with the plurality of through holes.
23. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
unifying member of the window assembly comprises a plurality of
window couplers, each window coupler ganging together a
predetermined group of the plurality of windows, and wherein the at
least one flexible portion comprises at least one group joining
member for flexibly joining the plurality of window couplers.
24. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
plurality of windows are inserted into the plurality of through
holes.
25. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
window assembly has a structure corresponding to the formation of
the plurality of through holes in the panel.
26. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
plurality of through holes is arranged in a predetermined pattern
corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of display
elements, the predetermined pattern of through holes and the
arrangement of the plurality of display elements each being formed
by a mass-production process.
27. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
panel comprises at least two surfaces occupying the same plane.
28. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
panel comprises at least two surfaces occupying separate
planes.
29. A washing machine, comprising: a cabinet; and a control panel
assembly mounted with respect to the cabinet, the control panel
assembly comprising: a control panel having a plurality of through
holes formed in an exterior surface; a substrate, disposed behind
the control panel, having a plurality of display elements; and a
window assembly disposed between the control panel and the
substrate, the window assembly comprising: a plurality of windows
for covering a plurality of display elements, respectively; and a
unifying member for joining the windows, the unifying member having
at least one flexible portion, wherein the plurality of windows are
aligned with the plurality of through holes.
30. The washing machine as claimed in claim 29, wherein the
unifying member of the window assembly comprises a plurality of
window couplers, each window coupler ganging together a
predetermined group of the plurality of windows, and wherein the at
least one flexible portion comprises at least one group joining
member for flexibly joining the plurality of window couplers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. 10-2004-0009706, filed on Feb. 13, 2004, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an electric home appliance,
and more particularly, to a window assembly for an electric home
appliance and a control panel assembly using the same, in which the
window assembly is made up of a plurality of transparent windows,
to be inserted into a corresponding plurality of through holes
formed in a panel of the control panel assembly, and a flexible
portion to facilitate the insertion during an assembly step.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Contemporary washing machines are typically provided with
display means comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes
mounted on a substrate of a control panel assembly to be
respectively positioned behind a corresponding plurality of windows
through which the status of a washing cycle can be displayed for
user reference. An exemplary drum- type washing machine having such
display means is shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 illustrates an
exemplary control panel assembly of a general home appliance such
as a washing machine.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a cabinet 2 forms the exterior of a
washing machine 1 in which a tub (not shown) is mounted. A drum 4
for accommodating laundry is rotatably disposed inside the tub, to
be rotated by a motor (not shown) coupled to the rear of the drum.
A plurality of lifters 8, for lifting the laundry in the drum 4 to
a predetermined height from which the laundry may fall due to
gravity, is installed on an inner surface of the drum. A cabinet
cover 12, having a laundry opening 10 centrally formed in the
cabinet cover for accessing the laundry in the drum 4, is mounted
on a front side of the cabinet 2, and a door 16 for closing the
laundry opening is hinged with respect to the cabinet cover. A
control panel assembly 14, for controlling operation of the washing
machine 1, is disposed above the cabinet cover 12 and is mounted
with respect to the cabinet 2.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 2, the control panel assembly 14 includes
a panel 20 in which a plurality of through holes 26 are formed as
an arrangement for facilitating user operation of the washing
machine 1, a substrate 30 disposed behind the panel, and a
plurality of transparent windows 40 respectively inserted into the
through holes formed in the panel. A rotary switch 32, a tactile
switch 34, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 36 are all
mounted on the substrate 30. When the control panel assembly 14 is
assembled, the transparent windows 40, which are individually
inserted into the through holes 26 from the rear side of the panel
20, align with the light-emitting diodes 36 of the substrate 30, so
as to cover each light-emitting diode, thereby allowing the emitted
light to project through the through holes to be viewed by a user
to confirm the operational status of the washing machine 1.
[0008] The substrate 30 is also typically provided with a rotary
switch 32 and a series of tactile switches 34, which are arranged
with the plurality of light-emitting diodes 36. To operate these
switches, the panel 20 is provided with a rotary dial 22 and a
series of push buttons 24 to be coupled with corresponding elements
mounted on the substrate 30, ie., the rotary switch and tactile
switches, respectively, to allow a physical force to be transmitted
from the panel to the substrate.
[0009] The control panel assembly as described above, however,
utilizes a large number of assembly components, i.e., the plurality
of windows 40, and requires many assembly steps, i.e., individual
insertion of the windows into the through holes 26. To overcome
this problem, the plurality of windows 40 may be grouped together
into a plurality of groups of windows, as shown in FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating another example of
a control panel assembly, the plurality of transparent windows 40
are arranged as a plurality of window groups, each group being
ganged together by a connecting plate 42. Therefore, assembly of
the window groups to the panel 20 by insertion into the through
holes 26 is assisted by the connecting plate 42, whereby the window
group joined by one of the plurality of connecting plates can be
simultaneously inserted into a corresponding group of through
holes, by simply manipulating a window assembly 50. Accordingly,
the assembly process of the control panel assembly is simplified in
that the number of assembly components and the number of assembly
steps are both reduced.
[0011] As a result, however, the window groups themselves become
prefabricated assembly components that contribute to the part count
of a manufactured washing machine, and each window group requires a
separate assembly step, thereby inhibiting the assembly efficiency,
complicating the assembly process, and burdening assembly component
storage and tracking requirements for the control panel
assembly.
[0012] To further facilitate assembly, the number of prefabricated
components and the number of assembly steps may be further reduced,
for example, by ganging together the entire plurality of
transparent windows 40 into a unified body for assembly to the
panel 20 by a simultaneous insertion of just one prefabricated
component into the through holes 26 collectively. In doing so, the
number of assembly components and the number of assembly steps are
greatly reduced.
[0013] In practice, however, prefabrication of the windows 40 as a
unified body impedes rather than simplifies assembly, due to
dimensional discrepancies resulting from normal manufacturing
processes. That is, minute variations in size, shape, and position
occur when forming an injection molding of the unified body forming
the plurality of windows 40, and an inherent degree of error occurs
when locating the through holes 26 in the panel 20, which may
create a misalignment of the unified body with respect to the
panel, may cause an improper assembly of the windows to the panel,
or may even render impossible the insertion of the windows into the
through holes. Moreover, in a mass-production manufacturing
process, the error tolerances of predetermined dimensions should be
maximized for a more streamlined production, which exacerbates the
aforementioned assembly problems of the unified body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a window
assembly for an electric home appliance that substantially obviate
one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the
related art.
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a window
assembly for an electric home appliance, by which a unified body
forms a prefabricated assembly joining a plurality of transparent
windows.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
window assembly for an electric home appliance, which enables a
compensation of dimensional discrepancies in a control panel
assembly resulting from normal manufacturing processes.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
window assembly for an electric home appliance, which enhances
assembly efficiency of a control panel assembly.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
window assembly for an electric home appliance, which resolves a
product deficiency caused by dimensional discrepancies resulting
from normal manufacturing processes.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
window assembly for an electric home appliance, which enables a
plurality of windows to be joined by a unifying member having at
least one flexible portion.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
window assembly for an electric home appliance, which enables a
manufacturing operation to increase an error tolerance.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
control panel assembly suitable for implementing the window
assembly of the present invention.
[0022] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0023] To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance
with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a window assembly for an
electric home appliance. The window assembly comprises a plurality
of windows for covering a plurality of display elements,
respectively; and a unifying member for joining the windows, the
unifying member having at least one flexible portion made of a
flexible material, wherein the plurality of windows comprises at
least two window groups. Each window group has at least one window,
and adjacent window groups of the at least two window groups are
separated by a predetermined distance. To compensate for
dimensional discrepancies, which result from unintentional
variations in a set of predetermined dimensions for fabrication of
the control panel assembly that may occur during manufacturing, the
at least one flexible portion has a predetermined length greater
than the predetermined distance. Preferably, the flexible portion
has a U-shaped form but may have a V-shaped form, a semicircular
form, or any similar form providing an excess length to the
flexible material. The unifying member comprises a plurality of
window couplers, each window coupler ganging together a
predetermined group of the plurality of windows, and the at least
one flexible portion comprises at least one group joining member
for flexibly joining the plurality of window couplers.
[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a control panel assembly comprising a panel having a
plurality of through holes formed in an exterior surface; a
substrate, disposed behind the panel, having a plurality of display
elements; and the above window assembly, which is disposed between
the panel and the substrate, such that the plurality of windows are
respectively inserted into the plurality of through holes and are
aligned with the plurality of display elements. The window assembly
windows has a structure corresponding to the formation of the
plurality of through holes in the panel, and the through holes are
arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding to an arrangement
of the display elements, the predetermined pattern of through holes
and the arrangement of the plurality of display elements each being
formed by a mass-production process.
[0025] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a washing machine comprising a cabinet and the above
control panel assembly, which is mounted with respect to the
cabinet.
[0026] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general drum-type washing
machine;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of
a control panel assembly of the washing machine of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing another
example of a control panel assembly of the washing machine of FIG.
1;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the control panel assembly of FIG.
3;
[0032] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel
assembly according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 6 is front side view of the control panel assembly of
FIG. 5; and
[0034] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the control panel assembly of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, a window assembly 80 according to
the present invention includes a plurality of windows 82 for
respectively covering a corresponding plurality of display elements
76 and a unifying member 90, having at least one flexible portion,
for joining the windows 82 into a single prefabricated body. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display elements
76 are comprised of light-emitting diodes but may be comprised of
segmented elements. Likewise, the windows 82 of the present
invention may be formed as a transparent viewing bulb, i.e., a
window for covering a light-emitting diode, as a transparent
viewing pane, i.e., a window for covering a segmented element, or
as a transparent viewing lens, i.e., a window for conducting and
magnifying the light emitted from the light-emitting diode or
segmented element.
[0037] The unifying member 90 comprises a plurality of window
couplers 84, for ganging together the windows 82 of a predetermined
group, and at least one group joining member 86 for flexibly
joining the window couplers. Here, the group joining member 86 is a
flexible portion of the unifying member 90, the flexible portion
being of a sufficient length for absorbing any dimensional
discrepancies occurring due to normal variations in fabricating
components of an electric home appliance such as a washing machine
having a control panel. Each group joining member 86 is formed of a
flexible material, such as a pliable plastic, to provide
dimensional flexibility between adjacent window groups and may be
have a U-shaped form, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, or may have a V-shaped
form, a semicircular form, or a similar form providing an excess
length to the flexible material.
[0038] Each window coupler 84 is preferably formed of a rigid
material such as a hard plastic having greater rigidity than the
flexible material forming the group joining members 86. Thus, each
of the window couplers 84 gangs together a predetermined group of
windows 82, namely, window groups G1, G2, G3, G4, or G5, by
providing a connection between the windows of any group. The window
couplers 84 are coupled to the windows 82, preferably at a bottom
portion thereof, so that the windows of the group are spaced apart
from each other. The windows 82 of any group may be individually
arranged in variety of control panel patterns, as desired, for
example, a linear, curved, or grid pattern. Each group joining
member 86 joins at least two adjacent groups among the window
groups G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5. Accordingly, the group joining
members 86 form the windows 82 as a unified body allowing an
insertion of the window assembly 80 into the through holes 66 using
a single assembly step, thereby simplifying the assembly process
for the control panel assembly.
[0039] A control panel assembly 10 according to the present
invention comprises a panel 60, in which a plurality of through
holes 66 are formed as an arrangement for facilitating user
operation of a washing machine adopting the present invention, and
a substrate 70 mounted on the rear side of the panel. The window
assembly is disposed between the panel 60 and the substrate 70, and
the control panel assembly 110 is mounted with respect to a cabinet
52 forming the exterior of a washing machine according to the
present invention. To mount the control panel assembly 110 to the
cabinet 52, a plurality of hooks 60a formed on the perimeter of the
panel 60 is engaged with a corresponding plurality of slots 52a
formed in surfaces of or adjacent to the cabinet.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
control panel assembly adopting the window assembly according to
the present invention includes a panel 60 having a predetermined
hole pattern for mounting control and control display components
and a substrate 70 providing a corresponding arrangement of
substrate components for controlling and monitoring the status of
the operation of an electric home appliance. The control and
control display components of the panel 60 may include a rotary
dial 62, a plurality of push buttons 64, and a view screen 68. The
substrate components of the substrate 70 may include a rotary
switch 72, a plurality of tactile switches 74, and a display screen
78. The substrate 70 is disposed behind the panel 60, and the
substrate components face the panel, so that the rotary switch 72
is controllable by operation of the rotary dial 62, the tactile
switches 74 are controllable by operation of the push buttons 64,
and the display screen 78 can be viewed through the view screen
68.
[0041] The window assembly 80 can be inserted into the plurality of
through holes 66 at one assembly step and has a structure for
compensating normal dimensional variations in the predetermined
hole pattern of the panel 60 or in the fabrication of the window
assembly itself. When assembled into the control panel assembly
110, the windows 82 of the window assembly 80 are respectively
positioned opposite the plurality of light-emitting diodes 76, and
the window assembly is collectively inserted into the plurality of
through holes 66 formed in the panel 60. Thus, owing to the
transparency of the windows 82, the irradiating light emitted from
the light-emitting diodes 76 is projected through the plurality of
windows, which are respectively covering the plurality of
light-emitting diodes while being aligned with and inserted into
the plurality of through holes 66 from the rear side of the panel
60, to be visible from the panel's exterior, so that the display
status of each display element can be viewed by a user.
[0042] The group joining members 86, which preferably have a
U-shaped form, absorb any differences in size, shape, and/or
positioning among the window groups G1-G5, the windows 82, and/or
the through holes 66. In other words, dimensional discrepancies,
resulting from unintentional variations in a set of predetermined
dimensions for fabrication of the control panel assembly 110, may
occur during a process of forming an injection molding of the
window assembly 80 or during a process of perforating the panel 60
to form the through holes 66.
[0043] Since the window assembly 80 is formed as a unified body,
thereby allowing the windows 82 to be simultaneously assembled to
the through holes 66 of the panel 60, the coupling of the window
assembly to the panel is likely to be adversely affected by the
dimensional variations occurring during processes for forming the
windows and through holes, especially the relative distances
between any adjacent two of the window groups G1, G2, G3, G4, and
G5. The individual flexibility of each of the plurality of group
joining members 86, however, enables a compensation of such
dimensional variations, thereby facilitating the assembly of the
window assembly 80 to the panel 60. That is, while performing a
function of joining adjacent groups of windows, each group joining
member 86 also maintains a mean separation distance between the
adjacent groups.
[0044] In assembling the control panel assembly 110 according to
the present invention, the rotary dial 62 and the push buttons 64
are positioned on the panel 60, so as to be manipulated in
conjunction with the rotary switch 72 and tactile switches 74 of
the substrate 70. The window assembly 80 is installed from the rear
side of the panel 60, such that the plurality of windows 82 are
aligned for simultaneous (single-step) insertion into the plurality
of through holes 66, respectively. At this time, a dimensional
variation may occur during the process of forming an injection
molding of the window assembly 80 or during the process of
perforating the control panel 60 to form the through holes 66, so
that some portion or portions of the plurality of windows or window
groups may become misaligned or misassembled with the corresponding
through hole. If a mass-production process is employed, wherein a
single manipulation of just one tool for forming any of the window
groups G1-G5, each group comprising one or more of the windows 82,
the spacing between windows is maintained while the spacing between
groups may vary. To compensate for such variations, the group
joining members 86 of the window assembly 80 may individually
expand and contract as necessary to correct the assembly position
of the windows 82, thereby absorbing any dimensional differential
existing between the panel 60, the through holes 66 formed therein,
and the components, e.g., window groups G1-G5, of the window
assembly. After assembling the window assembly 80 to the panel 60,
the substrate 70 is mounted on the rear side of the panel, which is
coupled to the window assembly, so as to be positioned behind the
window assembly. At the same time, interlocking connections are
performed for each of the substrate components mounted on the
substrate 70 with respect to the control and control display
components installed in the panel 60. Thus, when a user turns the
rotary dial 62, the rotary switch 72 turns accordingly, thereby
setting a washing cycle of the drum-type washing machine; when the
user pushes a push button 64, the corresponding tactile switch 74
is also pushed, thereby controlling the operation of the drum-type
washing machine; and the user can confirm the current status of the
washing cycle, which is displayed by the display screen 78 through
the viewing screen 68. Depending upon the state of the
light-emitting diodes 76 displayed through the windows 82, the user
can likewise confirm the current status of the washing cycle and
the controlled condition of the operation of the drum-type washing
machine.
[0045] Although not specifically shown in the drawings, the window
assembly of the present invention facilitates an assembly of a
control panel having plural surfaces. That is, the flexibility of
the joining members 86 permits an alignment and insertion of the
windows 82 into the through holes 66 formed in a control panel
having varying surface depths or multiple surfaces. In other words,
the panel 60 may comprise at least two surfaces occupying the same
or separate planes, such that the normal dimensional variations of
a control panel assembly include the third dimension, i.e., depth,
and the window assembly 80 according to the present invention can
be applied to compensate for variations in depth.
[0046] As described above, in the window assembly for the electric
home appliance and the control panel using the same according to
the present invention, adjacent groups of windows are joined
together by a window coupler, to be formed as a unified body and
thereby facilitate an assembly process of the control panel
assembly and allow for an increase in error tolerances for the
window assembly fabrication and the through hole placement. Also,
the group joining members of the window assembly are formed of a
flexible material that can expand and contract horizontally and
vertically, and even along a third axis, so as to compensate for
dimensional discrepancies and poor positioning between the windows
and the through holes, thereby preventing deficient assembly of the
control panel assembly and increasing its productivity.
[0047] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *