CONTROL PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR LAUNDRY DEVICE AND LAUNDRY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20100139329A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Seong Kyu, Heo, Seon Il, Hwang, Sung Gi, Yoon, Ju Han
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/139
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials

Abstract

The present invention relates to control panel assemblies for laundry devices and laundry devices with the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved control panel assembly which is easy to fabricate, and easy to recognize a selected operation condition, and a laundry device with the same. The control panel assembly for a laundry device includes a button assembly (200) having a plurality of buttons (220) provided in correspondence to operation conditions, a control panel (100) having a plurality of mounting holes (110) for exposure of the plurality of buttons (220) therethrough from a front thereof, and a frame (210) on a rear of the control panel, the frame (210) jointing the plurality of buttons (220) as one unit, and preventing pressing interference between adjacent buttons (220).

Claims

1. A control panel assembly for a laundry device comprising:

a button assembly having a plurality of buttons provided in correspondence to operation conditions;

a control panel having a plurality of mounting holes for exposure of the plurality of buttons therethrough from a front thereof; and

a frame on a rear of the control panel, the frame jointing the plurality of buttons as one unit, and preventing pressing interference between adjacent buttons.

2. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes;

an outer frame which forms a rim of the button assembly, and

inner frames arranged in a width or a height direction in the outer frame.

3. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner frame is projected in a rear direction beyond a rear of the button.

4. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner frame is projected to a height the same with a backward maximum moving distance of the button.

5. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the buttons includes an indicating unit for indicating a selected operation condition.

6. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating unit is projected from a front to a rear of the button to form a light path.

7. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicating unit is formed of a transparent material.

8. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicating unit is formed as one unit with the button by double injection molding.

9. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicating unit is formed of a material different from a material of the button or has a color different from a color of the button even though the indicating unit is formed of a material the same with a material of the button.

10. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicating unit includes;

an outside circumferential portion projected from the front of the button to a rear direction, and

a fore end portion for receiving a light.

11. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fore end portion is semispherical.

12. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fore end portion and the outside circumferential portion have roughness different from each other so that the light passes the fore end portion well, and while the light can not pass the outside circumferential portion well.

13. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising position adjusting ribs each for placing on sides of the button and placing in the mounting hole in the control panel for adjusting a position of the button placed in the mounting hole.

14. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the position adjusting ribs are formed on up/down or left/right sides of the button.

15. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the position adjusting rib is formed to have a slope such that a projection height thereof becomes the greater as it goes to a rear direction of the button the more.

16. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the position adjusting ribs are formed on up/down and left/right sides of the button.

17. A control panel assembly comprising:

a control panel having a plurality of mounting holes;

a button assembly including;

a plurality of buttons provided in a number the same with a number of a plurality of operation conditions for being exposed from a front of the control panel through the mounting holes, and

a frame on a rear of the control panel for jointing the plurality of buttons as one unit within the frame; and

an interference preventive portion on a rear of the button assembly for preventing pressing interference between adjacent buttons.

18. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a board guide having switches to be switched as the buttons are pressed respectively, and the interference preventive portion is projected forward from the board guide.

19. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the button includes an indicating unit for indicating an operation condition selected as the button is pressed.

20. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a lamp supporter for guiding an LED light to the indicating unit, and the interference preventive portion is projected forward from the lamp supporter.

21. A laundry device comprising:

an exterior case which forms an exterior of the laundry device;

a drum mounted in the exterior case for holding laundry;

a control panel having a plurality of mounting holes;

a button assembly including;

a plurality of buttons exposed from a front of the control panel through the mounting holes for a user to select an operation condition by pressing the button, and

a frame on a rear of the control panel for jointing the plurality of buttons as one unit within the frame, and

an interference preventive portion on a rear of the button assembly for preventing pressing interference between adjacent buttons.

22. A laundry device comprising:

an exterior case which forms an exterior of the laundry device;

a drum mounted in the exterior case for holding laundry;

a control panel on the exterior case; and

a button assembly on the control panel, having a plurality of buttons formed as one unit,

wherein the button assembly includes;

a plurality of buttons exposed from a front of the control panel for selecting an operation condition as a user presses the button, each of the plurality of buttons having an indicating unit for indicating the operation condition selected thus, and

a frame on a rear of the control panel for jointing the plurality of buttons as one unit within the frame.

23. A laundry device comprising:

an exterior case which forms an exterior of the laundry device;

a drum mounted in the exterior case for holding laundry;

a button assembly on the exterior case having a plurality of buttons formed as one unit; and

a control panel for exposing the plurality of buttons from a front through a plurality of mounting holes;

wherein a button assembly including;

a plurality of buttons for selecting an operation condition as a user presses the button, ‘

a position adjusting rib on sides of the button for adjusting a position of the button placed in the mounting hole in the control panel, and

a frame on a rear of the control panel for jointing the plurality of buttons as one unit within the frame.