HEATING APPARATUS AND FURNITURE AND WALL MEMBER INCORPORATING HEATING APPARATUS

• US 20090184110A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Semori, Yoshio, Youta, Masato, Itou, Tomokazu
• Application Number:
  US12/300,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/702
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/30 Arrangements for mounting stoves or ranges in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

To provide a heating apparatus which is good in the matching property when incorporated into a cabinet etc. without degrading the usability of a heating apparatus itself.

The heating apparatus is configured by a lid 4 which opens and closes a heating chamber 3, a control portion 5 which controls a heating unit and an operation portion 6 which controls the driving of the heating unit. The operation portion 6 is configured by being provided with electrostatic switches at the inner side of a semi-transparent member and is also configured in a manner that the operation portion is illuminated and placed in a state of accepting a switch operation when the semi-transparent member is touched. The operation portion normally cannot be seen from the outside and so the apparatus is good in the matching property with furniture etc. when incorporated into a cabinet etc. Further, when a user touches the semi-transparent member at the time of service, the operation portion is illuminated and placed in the state of accepting the switch operation. Thus, the apparatus can be used in the similar manner as the conventional apparatuses without degrading usablity.

Claims

1. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating chamber;

a heating unit which heats a material to be heated within the heating chamber;

a lid which opens and closes the heating chamber;

a control portion which controls the heating unit; and

an operation portion which controls driving of the heating unit, wherein the operation portion is configured by being provided with an electrostatic switch at an inner side of a semi-transparent member and is configured to emit light and be placed in a state of accepting a switch operation when the semi-transparent member is touched.

2. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is openably and closably disposed at a front face of a main body of the apparatus constituting the heating chamber, an upper portion of a front face of the heating chamber of the apparatus main body is covered by a front panel constituted by a semi-transparent member like the lid, and the operation portion is provided at the front panel.

3. A heating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus main body is provided with an exhaust fan and an exhaust port for discharging hot air within the heating chamber, and the exhaust port is opened between the lid and the front panel.

4. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semi-transparent member is provided with a plurality of switch operation display portions, the switch operation display portion emits light and the electrostatic switch is placed in an accepting state when the switch operation display portion is touched, and the control is started when the switch operation display portion is touched.

7. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with a window portion through which an inner portion of the heating chamber can be seen, and the operation portion and the window portion are provided on a substantially same plane.

8. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semi-transparent member of each of the window portion of the lid and the operation portion is configured by a semi-transparent mirror.

9. A cabinet in which the heating apparatus according to claim 1 is incorporated.

10. A wall member in which the heating apparatus cording to claim 1 is incorporated.

5. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating chamber;

a heating unit which heats a material to be heated within the heating chamber;

a lid which opens and closes the heating chamber;

a control portion which controls the heating unit; and

an operation portion which controls driving of the heating unit, wherein the operation portion is configured by being provided with an electrostatic switch at an inner side of a semi-transparent member and is configured to emit light and be placed in a state of accepting a switch operation when the lid is opened or a handle of the lid is touched.

11. A heating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lid is provided with a window portion through which an inner portion of the heating chamber can be seen, and the operation portion and the window portion are provided on a substantially same plane.

12. A heating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the semi-transparent member of each of the window portion of the lid and the operation portion is configured by a semi-transparent mirror.

13. A cabinet in which the heating apparatus according to claim 5 is incorporated.

14. A wall member in which the heating apparatus according to claim 5 is incorporated.

6. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating chamber;

a heating unit which heats a material to be heated within the heating chamber;

a lid which opens and closes the heating chamber;

a control portion which controls the heating unit;

an operation portion which controls driving of the heating unit; and

a human body detecting device, wherein the operation portion is configured by being provided with an electrostatic switch at an inner side of a semi-transparent member and is configured to emit light and be placed in a state of accepting a switch operation when the human body detecting device detects a human body.

15. A heating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the lid is provided with a window portion through which an inner portion of the heating chamber can be seen, and the operation portion and the window portion are provided on a substantially same plane.

16. A heating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the semi-transparent member of each of the window portion of the lid and the operation portion is configured by a semi-transparent mirror.

17. A cabinet in which the heating apparatus according to claim 6 is incorporated.

18. A wall member in which the heating apparatus according to claim 6 is incorporated.