APPLIANCE BUTTON

• US 20090152089A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Hanes, Adam
• Application Number:
  US11/958,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152089A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/004 Evacuation of penetrating liquid

Abstract

An appliance button for use in an appliance that has a housing, a button opening in the housing and a control structure within the housing. The appliance button includes a push button with a distal end of the push button that extends outwardly through the button opening in the housing. A button stem is located within the housing and is aligned with the push button. A proximal end of the button stem is operably connected to the control structure. A deflector is located within the housing and positioned between the button stem and the push button.

Claims

1. An appliance button for use in an appliance having a housing, a button opening in the housing and a control structure within the housing, the appliance button comprising:

a push button, a distal end of the push button extending outwardly through the button opening in the housing;

a button stem located within the housing and aligned with the push button, a proximal end of the button stem operably connected to the control structure; and

a deflector located within the housing and positioned between the button stem and the push button.

2. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the deflector extends laterally further than the push button and the button stem.

3. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the deflector is larger than the button opening.

4. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the deflector is at least partially convex.

5. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the deflector extends at least partially toward the bottom front of the appliance.

6. The appliance button of claim 5, wherein a portion of the deflector extends toward the rear of the appliance and is generally planar.

7. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the deflector includes a first side guide rail proximate a first lateral side of the deflector which extends upwardly toward the button opening.

8. The appliance button of claim 7, wherein the deflector includes a second side guide rail proximate a second lateral side of the deflector which extends upwardly toward the button opening.

9. The appliance button of claim 8, wherein the first and second side guide rails form a trough therebetween for directing liquid away from the button stem.

10. The appliance button of claim 9, wherein the trough directs liquid toward the front of the appliance

11. The appliance button of claim 1 further comprising a water resistant film between the control structure and the deflector.

12. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the push button and the deflector are integrally formed.

13. The appliance button of claim 12, wherein the push button is mounted over the distal end of the button stem.

14. The appliance button of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a blender.

15. An appliance button for use in an appliance having a housing, a button opening in the housing and a control structure within the housing, the appliance button comprising:

a push button, a distal end of the push button extending outwardly through the button opening in the housing;

a button stem located within the housing and aligned with the push button, a proximal end of the button stem operably connected to the control structure; and

a deflector extending from push button and positioned between the button opening and the control structure.