LAUNDRY DEVICE

• US 20090133448A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Dong Geum, Yoon, Ju Han
• Application Number:
  US12/097,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/13.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/16 Target humidity for the drying process, e.g. very-dry cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/12 Humidity or dryness of laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/012 Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/046 Multi-colour or double shot injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/012 Household appliance

Abstract

A control panel assembly for use in a laundry device and a laundry device having the same are disclosed. More particularly, an improved control panel assembly of easy manufacture and recognition of selected operating options and a laundry device having the same are disclosed. The laundry device includes a case defining the outer appearance of the laundry device, a drum provided in the case and configured to receive laundry therein, a control panel (100) provided at a side of the case, and a button assembly (200) provided at the control panel (100). The button assembly (200) includes a plurality of buttons (220) integrated with one another, the buttons (200) being exposed to the outside from a front surface of the control panel (100), so as to be pressed manually for the selection of operating options, and a display portion (240) provided on each of the buttons (220) and used to display the selected operating option.

Claims

1. A laundry device comprising:

a case defining the outer appearance of the laundry device;

a drum provided in the case and configured to receive laundry therein;

a control panel provided at a side of the case; and

a button assembly provided at the control panel,

wherein the button assembly comprises;

a plurality of buttons integrated with one another, the buttons being exposed to the outside from a front surface of the control panel, so as to be pressed manually for the selection of operating options; and

a display portion provided on each of the buttons and used to display the selected operating option.

2. The laundry device according to claim 1, wherein the button assembly further comprises a frame located at a rear surface of the control panel and configured to integrally connect the plurality of buttons therein.

3. The laundry device according to claim 2, wherein the button assembly further comprises an elastic rib configured to connect the plurality of buttons with one another while allowing the buttons to be pressed under the influence of an elastic force thereof.

4. The laundry device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of buttons, the elastic rib, and the frame are integrally injection molded by use of the same material as one another.

5. The laundry device according to claim 4, wherein the material is an opaque material.

6. The laundry device according to claim 5, wherein each of the buttons has a lettered mark indicating a specific operating option, and the lettered mark is formed on a front surface of the button by double injection molding.

7. The laundry device according to claim 4, wherein the display portion is integrally injection molded at each button and is made of a transparent material for transmitting light therethrough.

8. The laundry device according to claim 7, wherein the button assembly further comprises a button exterior shell partially formed at an outer surface of each button to block the transmission of light.

9. The laundry device according to claim 8, wherein the button exterior shell is formed on the button by double injection molding.

10. The laundry device according to claim 1, wherein the display portion is made of a transparent material for transmitting light therethrough.

11. The laundry device according to claim 10, wherein the display portion is a transparent window formed at a front surface of each of the plurality of buttons made of an opaque material.

12. The laundry device according to claim 11, wherein the display portion is configured to protrude rearward from the front surface of the button, so as to define a path of light.

13. The laundry device according to claim 10, wherein the display portion is formed at the button by double injection molding.

14. The laundry device according to claim 1, wherein the control panel is perforated, through the front surface thereof, with a plurality of mounting holes, to allow the plurality of buttons to be inserted, respectively, into the mounting holes from a rear side of the control panel so as to be exposed to the outside from the front surface of the control panel.

15. The laundry device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a board guide provided behind the button assembly and having a plurality of lamps, each lamp corresponding to the display portion of each of the buttons.

16. The laundry device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a lamp supporter provided between the button assembly and the board guide and adapted to support the lamps.

17. The laundry device according to claim 16, wherein the lamp supporter has an integral structure.

18. A laundry device comprising:

a case defining the outer appearance of the laundry device;

a drum provided in the case and configured to receive laundry therein;

a control panel provided at a side of the case; and

a button assembly provided at the control panel,

wherein the button assembly comprises;

a plurality of buttons exposed to the outside from a front surface of the control panel, so as to be pressed manually for the selection of operating options;

a display portion provided on each of the buttons and used to display the selected operating option; and

a lettered mark provided on a front surface of each of the buttons for indicating a specific operating option, and

wherein at least one of the display portion and the lettered mark is formed on the button by double injection molding.