Method of assembling an appliance with interchangeable consoles
First Claim
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1. A method of assembling appliances, comprising:
- providing a plurality of base units with identical components;
providing a plurality of control consoles with different control features;
selecting a first control console from the plurality of consoles; and
mounting the first control console onto one of the base units to create a first model of the appliance wherein the base unit of the first model include electrical components that are not electrically connected to the first control console.
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Abstract
Various appliance models are made by installing a control console onto a base unit. The base units of the appliances are all identical, with the control consoles having different control features, so that different appliance models are made by the different consoles installed on the standardized base units. The console is selected by a purchaser and is mounted by the dealer or retailer or by the manufacturer at a regional warehouse. The appliance can be easily upgraded by removing the first selected console and exchanging for a second selected console having additional control features.
23 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of assembling appliances, comprising:
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providing a plurality of base units with identical components;
providing a plurality of control consoles with different control features;
selecting a first control console from the plurality of consoles; and
mounting the first control console onto one of the base units to create a first model of the appliance wherein the base unit of the first model include electrical components that are not electrically connected to the first control console. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of assembling an appliance, comprising:
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allowing a purchaser to select a control console from a plurality of consoles each having different control features for operating components in a base unit; and
then mounting the selected control console onto the base unit to create the assembled appliance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An appliance, comprising:
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a base unit;
electrical components in the base unit for performing functions of the appliance;
a control console mounted on the base unit and being electrically connected to less than all of the electrical components to control the components; and
the control console being selected from a group of consoles each having different control features.
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Specification