U.S. patent application number 12/202812 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for control panel window assembly of washing/drying machine.
Invention is credited to Han-Ki Cho, Ho-Sung JANG, Yong-Min Jeon, Gil-Yong Lee, Chang-Woo Son.
Application Number | 20090056386 12/202812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40251832 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090056386 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JANG; Ho-Sung ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
CONTROL PANEL WINDOW ASSEMBLY OF WASHING/DRYING MACHINE
Abstract
A control panel window assembly of a washing/drying machine
includes a control panel with a window hole on which a display part
is mounted, wherein a control panel window is mounted at the window
hole, and the control panel window includes: a display window
formed to cover a portion of the display part; a button portions
including a plurality of button portions formed at both sides of
the display window. The washing/drying machine having the control
panel window assembly can meet the needs of users who prefer a
washing/drying machine in harmony with the cabinet made of
stainless steel and provide a high-end quality image.
Inventors: |
JANG; Ho-Sung; (Changwon,
KR) ; Son; Chang-Woo; (Changwon, KR) ; Lee;
Gil-Yong; (Changwon, KR) ; Jeon; Yong-Min;
(Changwon, KR) ; Cho; Han-Ki; (Changwon,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
40251832 |
Appl. No.: |
12/202812 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/32 20200201;
D06F 34/30 20200201; D06F 34/28 20200201; D06F 2105/58
20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/12.27 |
International
Class: |
D06F 33/02 20060101
D06F033/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 3, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0089183 |
Claims
1. A control panel window assembly of a washing/drying machine,
comprising: a control panel with a window hole in which a display
part displaying various information and a control panel window are
mounted, wherein the control panel window comprises: a display
window formed to cover a portion of the display part; and a
plurality of button portions formed around the display window.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the button portions are formed
in a cantilever shape on the control panel window.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the button portions have a
rectangular shape with at least one side separated from the control
panel window.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the button portions indicate
each function.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the button portions have each
function indication etched to be formed.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the display window is bent
toward a rear side of the control panel window.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a TPU (Thermoplastic
Polyurethane) elastic resin is stacked on a rear surface of the
control panel window.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein silicon is attached to the TPU
elastic resin.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein a light emitting element is
mounted on a rear surface, corresponding to the button portions, of
the TPU elastic resin.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a switch is mounted on a rear
surface of the light emitting element and installed on a circuit
board.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the switch is a dome
switch.
12. The assembly of clam 9, wherein the light emitting element is a
light emitting diode (LED), and the LED includes a light guide
plate (LGP).
13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the TPU elastic resin in
contact with the light emitting element includes a contact
protrusion.
14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the control panel window is
made of stainless steel.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the control panel window is
made of SUS 304 stainless steel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a control panel window
assembly suitably applied for a washing/drying machine having a
stainless steel cabinet to provide the sense of high-end metal
quality and improve user convenience, and a washing/drying machine
having the same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In general, a washing/drying machine includes a washing
machine, a drier, a refresher, or the like.
[0005] A drum type washing machine performs washing by using a
frictional force between a drum that rotates upon receiving driving
force of a motor and the laundry put in the drum together with a
detergent and washing water. With the advantages that the laundry
is little damaged and not entangled and it can obtain a striking
and rubbing washing effect, demands for the drum type washing
machine are increasing.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general drum type
washing machine.
[0007] The drum type washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 10
constituting an external appearance, a tub (not shown) installed
within the cabinet 10, and a drum 30 rotatably accommodated within
the tub and receiving the laundry.
[0008] A front cover 16 is mounted on a front side of the cabinet
10, and a door 14 for opening and closing the entrance of the drum
30 is mounted at a substantially central portion of the front cover
16. A control panel 60 is attached to an upper portion of the front
cover 16, including a manipulation unit for inputting washing
conditions a display part 58 or the like to display a washing
state.
[0009] In order to input the washing conditions, the manipulation
unit may include button portions 70 or a dial knob 54 allowing the
user to rotate it with his hands to input washing conditions.
[0010] Recently, demands for the drum type washing machine
including the cabinet with at least a portion made of a material
providing the sense of metallic quality or stainless steel to
provide a high-end touch are increasing.
[0011] However, the related art control panel window assembly
including the display part 58, the lower button portions 70 or the
like on the control panel 60 cannot provide such sense of quality
similar to that of the cabinet made of stainless steel.
[0012] In addition, with respect to operations performed by
pressing the button portions 70 positioned below the display part
58, corresponding information is not provided to the user, so in
order to providing such information, a plurality of holes 59 should
be formed, resulting in degradation of the productivity of the
control panel 60 and making the structure complicated.
[0013] Also, a contact switch positioned at the rear side of the
button portions 70 is used, making it difficult to configure a
touch type button which is thin and smooth and to modularize the
control panel window assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Therefore, in order to address the above matters, the
various features described herein have been conceived. One aspect
of the exemplary embodiments is to provide a control panel window
assembly including a control panel with a window hole on which a
display part is mounted, wherein a control panel window is mounted
at the window hole and the control panel window includes: a display
window formed to cover a portion of the display part; button
portions formed at both sides of the display window.
[0015] The button portions are configured in a cantilever form on
the control panel window.
[0016] With such configuration, because there is no need to
fabricate the display window mounted on the display part and the
button portions as separate components, the productivity can be
improved and a fabrication cost can be reduced, and a restoring
unit such as a spring to return a pressed button to its original
state is not required.
[0017] The display window is formed to be bent toward the rear side
of the control panel window. Namely, edges of the display window
are bent inwardly to prevent an injection-molded product or the
like stacked on a rear surface of the control panel window from
being separated from the control panel window.
[0018] A TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) elastic resin may be
stacked on the rear surface of the control panel window. The TPU
elastic resin has nearly similar physical properties to that of
rubber. The resin may be attached to the rear surface of the
control panel window to increase elastic return force of the button
portions with a cantilever shape, and a gap between the button
portions and the control window may be filled with the resin.
[0019] Here, silicon may be attached to the TPU elastic resin.
[0020] A light emitting element may be mounted on a portion of a
rear surface of the TPU elastic resin corresponding to the button
portions. Namely, the light emitting element may be positioned
between the button portions and the TPU elastic resin to provide
illumination effect to a button portion selected by the user. In
addition, when the button portions are etched to be formed, a
selected function can be illuminated by light so as to be informed
to the user.
[0021] The light emitting element may be an LED (Light Emitting
Diode), and the LED may include a light guide plate (LGP). With the
LGP, light can be evenly transmitted to the entire LED.
[0022] A switch may be mounted on a rear surface of the light
emitting element, and a circuit board is installed at a rear side
of the switch. Here, the switch may be a dome switch. By employing
dome switches, the button portions may be implemented as soft touch
type button portions and the thickness from the button portions to
the circuit board can be reduced.
[0023] A contact protrusion may be formed at the TPU elastic resin
in contact with the switch. The contact protrusion comes in contact
with the dome type switch to press the switch although the user
lightly touches the button portions.
[0024] The control panel window may be made of stainless steel so
as to be in harmony with the cabinet of the washing/drying machine
which is made of metal such as stainless steel in the high-end
trend of the washing/drying machine.
[0025] Here, the control panel window may be made of stainless
steel of a SUS 304 group which has good corrosion resistance and
suitable for mechanical working such as drawing.
[0026] This specification provides a washing/drying apparatus
including a plurality of button portions for function selection, a
display part for displaying various information, and a control
panel including a plurality of button holes in which the plurality
of button portions are installed and a window hole on which the
display part is installed, wherein the above-mentioned control
panel window assembly is mounted.
[0027] Here, the control panel window may be made of stainless
steel of a SUS 304 group, and a coupling flange is formed to be
bent at edges of the control panel window so as to be combined with
the control panel.
[0028] Because the coupling flange is formed at the edges of the
control panel window, the control panel window can be fixed to the
control panel without using a fastening unit such as a screw or the
like.
[0029] As mentioned above, the present invention provides the
washing/drying machine having the control panel window assembly
that can meet the needs of users who prefer a washing/drying
machine that can be in harmony with the cabinet made of stainless
steel and have a high-end image.
[0030] In addition, because characters indicating functions of
button portions are etched to be formed on the button portions and
light is provided to the function indication characters by using
the light emitting element, operation information of a button
portion selected by the user can be clearly and accurately
provided, and the button portions can be aesthetically
improved.
[0031] Also, because button functions are indicated on the button
portions by themselves, it is not necessary to additionally form a
function indication means at an outer side of button portions, so
the productivity can be improved.
[0032] Moreover, because the soft touch button portions are
implemented by using the dome type switches, user convenience can
be improved, and because the control panel window assembly is
modularized by including the circuit board and the dome type
switches, the assembling characteristics of the control panel
window assembly can be improved.
[0033] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a general
drum type washing machine;
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a control panel according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a control panel window
assembly in FIG. 2;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
3;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG.
3;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
3;
[0040] FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of the control panel
window assembly in FIG. 6; and
[0041] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a switch in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] A drum type washing machine as an example of a
washing/drying machine according to embodiments of the present
invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0043] FIG. 2 shows a control panel according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0044] With Reference to FIG. 2, a detergent box hole 102 for
drawing in or out a detergent box is formed at one portion of a
control panel 100 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. A knob hole 103 is formed at a substantially central
portion, allowing a rotary knob 54 is insertedly positioned. A
window hole 101 is formed at another portion of the control panel
to mount a control panel window 111. The control panel window 111
includes a display window 112 for mounting a display part 120
displaying operation information of the washing/drying machine and
a plurality of button portions 130.
[0045] A control panel window assembly is configured including the
control panel window 111 and the display part 120, which will be
described in detail hereafter.
[0046] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a control panel window
assembly in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line
IV-IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line
V-V in FIG. 3.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the control panel window 111 includes
the display window 112 taking the most area, on which the display
part 120 is mounted, and the button portions 130 formed at both
sides of the display window 112.
[0048] In order to display more information to the user,
effectively, the display window 112 is maximized and the button
portions 130 are disposed at left and right sides of the display
window 112. Namely, the button portions 130 of the control panel
window 111 are formed to cover a portion of the display part
120.
[0049] The button portions 130 may be formed in a cantilever form
on the control panel window 111. Namely, as shown in FIG. 3, the
button portions 130 are formed in a cantilever manner and face each
other based on a central line in a lengthwise direction of the
control panel window 111.
[0050] The button portions 130 have a substantially rectangular or
square shape, and one side of the button portions are integrally
formed with the control panel window 111 so as to be connected with
the control panel window 111 while the other three sides of the
button portions are separated from the control panel window 111.
Namely, the three remaining sides, excluding one side connected
with the control panel window 111 are separated from the control
panel window 111 with a gap 131 interposed therebetween.
[0051] Accordingly, when the user presses the button portions 130
formed as the cantilever with only one side connected with the
control panel window 111, the button portions 130 perform a
cantilever motion based on the portion connected with the control
panel window 111 as a support point so as to return to the original
position.
[0052] Here, the elastic return force of the button portions 130
may be determined by the length between the portion of the fixed
end connected with the control panel window 111 and the portion of
a free end facing the portion of the fixed end.
[0053] The free end portion and the fixed end portion of the button
130 may not only face (to be symmetrical) based on a central line
in a lengthwise direction of the control panel window 111 but also
face (to be symmetrical) based on a central line in a widthwise
direction (substantially perpendicular to the central line in the
lengthwise direction) of the control panel window 111. Also, the
fixed end or the free end of the button portions 130 may be formed
to be asymmetrical based on the central line in the lengthwise
direction or in the widthwise direction of the control panel
window.
[0054] With such configuration, the display window 112 on which the
display part 120 is mounted and the button portions 130 do not need
to be fabricated with separate components, so the productivity of
the control panel window 111 can be improved, the fabrication costs
may be reduced, and a restoring unit such as a spring for returning
pressed button portions 130 to their original state is not
required.
[0055] A coupling flange 113 is formed to be bent at edges of the
control panel window 111. With the presence of the coupling flange
113 formed at the edges of the control panel window 111, the
control panel window 111 can be fixed to the control panel without
having to use a fastening unit such as a screw.
[0056] With reference to FIG. 4, the coupling flange 113 makes a
step with the control panel window 111 and may be bent toward the
rear side of the control panel window 111.
[0057] The edges of the display window 112 are bent toward the rear
side of the control panel window 111. Accordingly, with the edges
of the display window 112 bent to the inner side of the control
panel window 111, an injection-molded product or the like stacked
on the rear surface of the control panel window can be prevented
from being separated from the control panel window 111.
[0058] With reference to FIG. 4, notably, an edge portion, forming
the shortest side of the edges of the display window 112, is bent
with a certain length toward the rear side of the control panel
window 111, and the bent portion 112a is buried in the display part
120 or an injection-molded product. If a plastic resin product is
injection-molded on the rear surface of the control panel window
111, the bent portion 112a would be buried in the injection-molded
product to firmly combine the injection-molded product and the
control panel window 111.
[0059] With reference to FIG. 5, notably, an edge portion, forming
the longest side of the edges of the display window 112, is bent
with a certain length toward the rear side of the control panel
window 111 and the bent portion 112b is buried in the display part
120 or the injection-molded product. Here, the function of the bent
portion 112b is the same as that of the bent portion 112a mentioned
above, so its detailed description will be omitted.
[0060] Here, the control panel window assembly as shown in FIGS. 4
and 5 is illustrated to explain the coupling structure of the
control panel window 111 and the display part 120, namely, the bent
portions 112a and 112b of the control panel window 111. That is,
FIGS. 4 and 5 does not illustrate the overall structure of the
control panel window assembly.
[0061] The display part 120 is injection-molded on the rear surface
of the control panel window 111 and other some materials or
components are also stacked on the rear surface of the control
panel window 111 to form the control panel window assembly 110. The
configuration of the control panel window assembly 110 will now be
described in detail.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3,
FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of the control panel window
assembly in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a switch in
FIG. 7.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the control panel window assembly
110 is formed by sequentially stacking the control panel window 111
made of stainless steel, a TPU elastic resin 140, a light emitting
element 150, a switch 160, a circuit board 170, a display part 120,
and an injection-molded product.
[0064] Here, the control panel window 111 is made of stainless
steel in order to allow a cabinet of the washing/drying machine
fabricated by using metal such as stainless steel following the
high-end trend and the control panel window 111 to have the same
texture.
[0065] The control panel window 111 may be made of stainless steel
of a SUS 304 group. The stainless steel of SUS 304 group contains
13% or more chromium and nickel and good corrosion resistance,
without magnetism.
[0066] The control panel window may have a thickness of 0.15
mm.
[0067] As for the section of the control panel window 111, the
display window 112, the button portions 130, and a gap 131 are
explicitly shown.
[0068] The TPU elastic resin 140 may be stacked on the rear surface
of the control panel window 111. The TPU elastic resin 140 is also
called thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, which has physical
properties substantially similar to rubber and melt with heat so as
to be processed and fabricated.
[0069] With the TPU elastic resin 140 stacked on the rear surface
of the control panel window 111, the elastic return force of the
button portions 130 having the cantilever shape can be
increased.
[0070] The gap 131 between the button portions 130 and the control
panel window 111 is filled with the TPU elastic resin 140, and the
resin 140 connects the free end of the button portions 130 and the
control panel window 111, to allow the free end of the button
portions 130 to have, specifically, a median degree of freedom of
the free end and the fixed end.
[0071] Here, the TPU elastic resin 140 corresponding to the button
portions 130 includes gap blocking protrusions 141 to fill the gap
131 between the button portions 140 and the control panel window
111. In addition, a contact protrusion 142 is formed on the rear
surface of the TPU elastic resin 140.
[0072] In this case, silicon may be additionally stacked on the
front or rear surface of the TPU elastic resin 140.
[0073] The light emitting element 150 is mounted on a portion,
corresponding to the button portions 130, of the rear surface of
the TPU elastic resin 140. Because the light emitting element 150
is stacked between the button portions 130 and the TPU elastic
resin 140, an illumination effect can be provided to the button
portions 130 selected by the user, and when the button portions 130
is formed to be etched, the selected function can be illuminated to
accurately inform the user about whether or not the button portions
130 is operated. Namely, a button function indication character may
be printed on the surface of the button portions 130, or the button
function indication may be formed to penetrate the button portions
130 to accurately inform the user about the function of the button
portions 130 by using light emitted from the light emitting element
150 and enhance aesthetic sense of the external appearance.
[0074] When the button function indication is penetratingly formed
on the button portions 130 through etching, light emitted from the
light emitting element 150 can penetrate the button function
indication after passing through the TPU elastic resin 140 and then
transferred to the front side of the button portions 130 to
illuminate function of the button portions 130 selected by the
user.
[0075] Here, the TPU elastic resin 140, which is formed as a type
of print film and attached to silicon, is enough thin to allow
light emitted from the light emitting element 150 to pass through
the TPU elastic resin 140 to reach the button portions 130.
[0076] The light emitting element 150 includes an LED or an OLED.
In this case, the light emitting element 150 may include a light
guide plate (LGP). In general, the LGP refers to an acryl
injection-molded product assembled in a backlight unit guiding
light to liquid crystal within the LCD, and it is one of plastic
molded lenses uniformly transferring light emitted from a CCFL
(Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) to the entire surface of the
LCD.
[0077] By including such LGP in the light emitting element 150,
light can be evenly transferred from the entire light emitting
element 150.
[0078] The switch 160 is mounted on the rear surface of the light
emitting element 150, and installed on the circuit board 170
positioned at a rear side of the switch 160. Various signal
movement paths are formed on the circuit board 170 and the circuit
board 170 receives a signal according to a contact of the switch
160.
[0079] Here, the switch 160 may be a dome switch as shown in FIG.
8. In order to reduce the thickness of the control panel window
assembly 110, the dome switch may have a diameter of about 5 mm and
a weight of about 160 grams. The thickness of the circuit board 170
is about 0.8 mm.
[0080] By employing the dome switch 160 and the circuit board 170,
the button portions 130 may be implemented as a soft touch type of
button portions, and the overall thickness of the button portions
130, the switch 160 and the circuit board 170 can be reduced.
[0081] The switch 160 is pressed by the contact protrusion 142
formed on the TPU elastic resin 140. That is, although the user
slightly touches the button portions 130, the contact protrusion
142 of the TPU elastic resin 140 presses the dome switch 160 to
allow the switch 160 and the circuit board 170 to be in contact
with each other.
[0082] A plastic (PCB) injection-molded product or the display part
120 is stacked on the rear surface of the circuit board 170.
[0083] As so far described, because the control panel window
assembly 110 is applied to the washing/drying machine having the
main body made of stainless steel, the control panel window
assembly can be in harmony with the cabinet made of stainless steel
and users' demands on the washing/drying machine providing a
high-end sense can be satisfied.
[0084] In the above description, the drum type washing machine has
been explained as an example of the washing/drying machine, but the
present invention can be also applicable to various types of
washing/drying machines such as a dryer, a drum type washing
machine with a dryer, a composite washing system, a refresher, or
the like.
[0085] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also
be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited
by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within
its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all
changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of
the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore
intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *