U.S. patent application number 11/641972 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for washing appliance.
Invention is credited to Seon Il Heo.
Application Number | 20070169520 11/641972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38135982 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070169520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heo; Seon Il |
July 26, 2007 |
Washing appliance
Abstract
Washing appliance including a body case forming an exterior of
the washing appliance, a control panel attached to an upper side or
a lower side of a front of the body case depending on a position of
the body case selectively, for making various control required for
operation of the washing appliance, and a mounting portion for
mounting the control panel to the body case, thereby permitting
easy operation of the operation buttons regardless of an up/down,
or side by side arrangement of the washing appliance, and easy
change of a position of the control panel with respect to the body
case.
Inventors: |
Heo; Seon Il; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
38135982 |
Appl. No.: |
11/641972 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/3R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 29/00 20130101;
D06F 34/28 20200201; D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 58/30 20200201; D06F
58/02 20130101; D06F 39/12 20130101; D06F 34/34 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/003.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/00 20060101
D06F037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0128721 |
Claims
1. A washing appliance comprising: a body case forming an exterior
of the washing appliance; a control panel selectively mounted to an
upper side or a lower side of a front of the body case depending on
a position of the body case, the control panel having at least one
mounting portion for mounting the control panel to the body
case.
2. The washing appliance of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion
includes a magnet.
3. The washing appliance of claim 1, wherein the control panel
includes bent portions bent at opposite ends of the control panel
toward the body case.
4. The washing appliance of claim 3, wherein the mounting portion
is positioned on an each inside surface of the bent portions.
5. The washing appliance of claim 4, further comprising panel
frames mounted to an upper side and a lower side of a front of the
body case for mounting the control panel thereto.
6. The washing appliance of claim 5, wherein the panel frames
include brackets corresponding to the bent portions, the brackets
made of ferrous material.
7. The washing appliance of claim 6, wherein the brackets having
magnets.
8. The washing appliance of claim 5, wherein the panel frames
include non-ferrous brackets, the brackets corresponding to the
bent portions and having magnets.
9. The washing appliance of claim 8, wherein the mounting portions
are the same in size as the magnets of the brackets.
10. The washing appliance of claim 5, further comprising a
detachable cover panel mounted to the panel frame to which the
control panel is not mounted.
11. The washing appliance of claim 10, wherein the cover panel has
a shape identical to the control panel excluding operation
buttons.
12. The washing appliance of claim 11, wherein the cover panel
includes at least one mounting portion identical to the mounting
portion of the control panel.
13. A washing appliance comprising: a body case forming an exterior
of the washing appliance; panel frames respectively mounted to an
upper side and a lower side of a front of the body case, the each
panel frame having brackets of a non-ferrous material, the brackets
having magnets; a control panel selectively attached to the upper
or lower side of the panel frame, the control panel having mounting
portions corresponding to the magnets, the mounting portions having
the opposite poled magnets.
14. The washing appliance of claim 13, wherein the mounting
portions are the same in size as the magnets of the brackets.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2005-0128721, filed on Dec. 23, 2005, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing appliance, and
more particularly, to an washing appliance which enables easy
handling of buttons on a control panel regardless of an arrangement
of at least two washing appliances.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] In general, in the washing appliance, there are a washing
machine for washing and spinning laundry, a dryer for drying
laundry, and a washing and drying machine for washing and drying
laundry.
[0006] The dryer blows artificially produced hot air to the laundry
of which washing is finished, for drying the laundry quicker than
natural drying.
[0007] Accordingly, the dryer is used effectively in a case the
natural drying is not easy, such as, in a rainy season, and becomes
popular to busy peoples of modern times, currently.
[0008] There are a plurality of dryers arranged at a home
(particularly a boarding house or the like), or at a laundry where
much laundry is processed.
[0009] In this instance, one pair of dryer having the same
functions are arranged, or a drum type washing machine and a dryer
having functions different from each other are arranged at one pair
to form a composite washing appliance.
[0010] The composite washing appliance having a related art drum
type washing machine and/or a dryer (hereafter called as a washing
appliance) arranged in up/down direction will be described, with
reference to FIG. 1.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, there is another washing appliance 2 (a
second washing appliance) stacked on a washing appliance 1 (a first
washing appliance).
[0012] In this case, one of the washing appliances 1, and 2 is
stacked on the other due to a narrow space for the washing
appliances 1, and 2.
[0013] In this instance, the washing appliances 1 and 2 may or may
not have the same functions.
[0014] However, if the washing appliances 1 and 2 are arranged as
above, the control panel 2a of the second washing appliance 2 is
positioned comparatively high.
[0015] That is, taking a general height of a user into account,
above arrangement of the washing appliances causes a problem in
that handling of the buttons on the control panel 2a of the washing
appliance on an upper side is very difficult.
[0016] Thereby, it causes customer complaints and deteriorates
product reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing
appliance in which a control panel can be selectively mounted on an
upper or lower side of a cover cabinet of the washing appliance,
and which enables easy change of a position of the control
panel.
[0018] 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.
[0019] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a washing appliance includes a body case
forming an exterior of the washing appliance, a control panel
selectively mounted to an upper side or a lower side of a front of
the body case depending on a position of the body case, the control
panel having a mounting portion for mounting the control panel to
the body case.
[0020] Preferably, the control panel includes bent portions bent at
opposite ends of the control panel toward the body case.
[0021] Preferably, mounting portions are positioned on inside
surfaces of the bent portions.
[0022] Preferably, the washing appliance further includes a panel
frames mounted to an upper side and a lower side of a front of the
body case for attachment of the control panel thereto.
[0023] Preferably, each panel frame includes ferrous metal brackets
corresponding to the bent portions.
[0024] Preferably, the brackets have magnets.
[0025] Preferably, the washing appliance further includes a
detachable cover panel mounted to the panel frame which the control
panel is not mounted to.
[0026] Preferably, the cover panel has a shape identical to the
control panel excluding the operation buttons.
[0027] Preferably, the cover panel includes a mounting portion
identical to the mounting portion of the control panel.
[0028] Thus, the washing appliance of the present invention has the
following advantages.
[0029] The user is enabled to make easy operation of the operation
buttons of the washing appliance regardless any type of
arrangements of at least two washing appliances depending on an
available space.
[0030] The user is enabled to make easy change of a position of the
control panel.
[0031] 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
[0032] 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 embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating related art washing
appliances arranged in an up/down direction.
[0034] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a dryer in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 3A is a front view illustrating washing appliances
arranged in an up/down direction in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 3B is a front view illustrating washing appliances
arranged side by side in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a dryer in
accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings FIG. 2.about.FIG. 3B.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
[0039] For reference, the present invention will be described
taking a dryer as an example of the washing appliance.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the dryer includes a body case 10, a
panel frame 20, a control panel 30, and a mounting portion 40.
[0041] The body case 10 forms an exterior of the dryer, and
protects various outfits.
[0042] Mounted on a front of the body case 10, there is a cover
cabinet 11 which forms a portion of a front of the dryer.
[0043] The cover cabinet 11 has a laundry opening (not shown) in a
center of a front for introducing/taking out washed laundry
into/from the drum.
[0044] Mounted on one side of the laundry opening of the cover
cabinet 11, there is a door 11a for opening/closing of the laundry
opening.
[0045] The panel frame 20 has a structure for mounting the control
panel 30 to the body case 10.
[0046] The panel frame 20 includes an upper panel frame 20a on an
upper side of the cover cabinet 11, and a lower panel frame 20b on
a lower side of the cover cabinet 11.
[0047] On opposite ends of the panel frame 20, there are brackets
21 perpendicular to the panel frame 20 for easy joining of the
control panel 30.
[0048] It is preferable that the brackets 21 are made of ferrous
material for enabling attachment of magnets thereto.
[0049] The control panel 30 has operation buttons, a display window
and so on, for user inputting various operation commands including
selecting a drying course.
[0050] It is preferable that the control panel 30 has bent portions
33 bent toward the body case 10 at opposite ends corresponding to
the brackets 21.
[0051] The control panel 30 is detachably mounted to the front of
the body case 10 on an upper side or a lower side of the cover
cabinet 11 selectively.
[0052] That is, depending on cases, the control panel 30 is mounted
to either the upper panel frame 20a or the lower panel frame 20b,
selectively.
[0053] Specifically, the bent portions 33 of the control panel 30
are joined with the bracket 21 of the panel frame 20.
[0054] In the meantime, the control panel 30 has a circuit board
(not shown) having various circuitry component mounted thereon for
controlling operation of the dryer.
[0055] Together with this, there is a cable (not shown) in the
control panel 30 having one end connected to the circuit board and
the other end connected to a connector.
[0056] Mounted on an outside of the control panel 30, there are
various operation buttons 31 and a display window 32 connected to
the circuitry components.
[0057] It is preferable that the front of the control panel 30 has
a curvature the same as that of the cover cabinet 11 in view of a
fine view.
[0058] A mounting portion serves to mount the control panel 30 to
the panel frame 20, selectively. In this embodiment, there are
provided two mounting portions 40, each for one bracket 21.
[0059] The mounting portions 40 are placed on inside surfaces of
the bent portions 33 of the control panel 30.
[0060] It is preferable that the mounting portions 40 include
magnets for easy attachment to the brackets 21 which are made of
ferrous material.
[0061] The mounting portions 40 may be formed throughout or partly
on the inside surfaces of the bent portions 33.
[0062] In the meantime, the dryer is provided with a cover panel 50
for covering the other one of the panel frame when the control
panel 30 is mounted one of the upper panel frame 20a and the lower
panel frame 20b.
[0063] Though it is preferable that the cover panel 50 has a shape
identical to the control panel 30, the cover panel 50 is not
required to have the operation buttons 31 and the display window 32
and so on provided to the control panel 30.
[0064] It is apparent that the cover panel 50 also has a mounting
portions 52 in the bent portions 53 identical to those of the
control panel 30.
[0065] A process for mounting the control panel of the dryer to the
body case will be described.
[0066] For reference, it is described that the control panel 30 can
be mounted to one of the upper and lower panel frames 20a and 20b
depending on an arrangement of at least two dryers,
selectively.
[0067] A process for changing a position of the control panel of
the dryer stacked on an upper side will be described, when a side
by side arrangement of the dryers is changed to an up/down
arrangement of the dryers.
[0068] Both the control panel 30 and the cover panel 50 are
dismounted from the body case 10.
[0069] Then, a cable connected to the circuit board of the control
panel 30 is connected to a cable exposed to an outside of the lower
panel frame 20b.
[0070] In this instance, the cables at connectors thereof are
electrically connected to each other.
[0071] Then, the control panel 30 is mounted to the lower panel
frame 20b with the brackets 21.
[0072] In this instance, since the mounting portions 40 of the
control panel 30 include magnets, and the brackets 21 of the panel
frame 20 are made of ferrous material, it is apparent that the
control panel 30 is attached to the panel frame 20 easily.
[0073] Next, the cover panel 50 is attached to the upper panel
frame 20a so that the upper panel frame 20a is not exposed to an
outside of the dryer.
[0074] The cover panel 50 is attached to the upper panel frame 20a
in a way the same as that for attaching the control panel 30 to the
lower panel frame 20b.
[0075] Thus, a series of steps for changing a position of the
control panel 30 depending on the arrangement of the dryer is
finished.
[0076] Arrangements of the washing appliances depending on an
available space will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and
3B. In this instance, the washing appliances include two
dryers.
[0077] FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which the other dryer 200
(hereafter called as `a second dryer`) is stacked on a dryer 100
(hereafter called as `a first dryer`) supported on a floor.
[0078] In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 2, it is
preferable that the control panel 30 of the second dryer 200 is
mounted to a lower side of the dryer 200, i.e., the lower panel
frame 20b.
[0079] This is for enabling the user to conveniently use the
operation buttons 31 and the display window 32 of the control panel
30, taking a general height of the user into account.
[0080] In this instance, the cover panel 50 is mounted to the upper
side of the second dryer 200, i.e., the upper panel frame 20a.
[0081] FIG. 3B illustrates a state where the second dryer 200 is
horizontally arranged beside (at a right side in this instance) the
first dryer 100.
[0082] In this case, it is preferable that the control panel 30 of
the second dryer 200 is mounted to the upper panel frame 20a of the
second dryer 200.
[0083] In the horizontal arrangement case, it is for preventing the
user from bending the body or squatting down for operation of the
operation buttons 31 on the control panel 30 in a case the control
panel 30 of the second dryer 200 is mounted to the lower panel
frame 20b of the second dryer 200.
[0084] To do this, both the control panel 30 mounted to the lower
panel frame 20b of the second dryer 200 and the cover panel 50
mounted to the upper panel frame 20a are dismounted.
[0085] Then, the control panel 30 is mounted to the upper panel
frame 20a of the second dryer 200, and the cover panel 50 is
mounted to the lower panel frame 20b.
[0086] Up to now, a structure is described with reference to a
dryer in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention, in which a control panel having magnets at
mounting portions is attached to a panel frame having brackets of
ferrous material.
[0087] A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described, in which the brackets are provided with magnets.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 4, the dryer includes a body case 10
forming an exterior of the dryer, a panel frame 20, brackets 210,
and a control panel 30 having mounting portions 40.
[0089] All the elements of the dryer are the same with the dryer in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, except the brackets 210.
[0090] The brackets 210 are at opposite ends of the panel frame
20.
[0091] The brackets 210 are perpendicular to the panel frame 20 and
have magnets 60 having the poles opposite the magnets on the
mounting portions 40.
[0092] It is preferable that the brackets 210 are made of
non-ferrous material, and it is more preferable that the magnets 60
are the same in size as the magnets 40.
[0093] This is for accurate positioning of the control panel 30 at
the time the control panel 30 is attached to the upper panel frame
20a or the lower panel frame 20b of the dryer.
[0094] That is, because the mounting portions 40 on the control
panel 30 are attached, not to the brackets 210 of a non-ferrous
material, to the magnets 60 only, the control panel 30 can be
attached to an accurate position of the dryer.
[0095] Of the panel frames 20 of the dryer, the panel frame, which
the control panel 30 is not attached to, has the cover panel 50
attached thereto.
[0096] In this instance, the cover panel 50 is mounted in a way the
same as that for mounting the control panel 30 to the brackets
210.
[0097] In the meantime, the magnets 60 on the brackets 210 may be
replaced with a ferrous material which allows attachment of the
mounting portions 40 thereto. This embodiment is close to the first
embodiment where brackets are made partly of ferrous material.
[0098] 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 inventions. 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.
* * * * *