Electrically operated appliance controls and methods of making the same

• US 4,695,711 A
• Filed: 09/29/1986
• Issued: 09/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: McGeorge, Gram J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US06/912,968
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 219/492, 219/497, 219/506, 219/497, 219/10.55 B, 219/507-509, 340/706, 340/584, 340/588, 340/589, 340/582
• US Class Current: 219/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/10 using selector switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

Electrically operated appliance controls and methods of making the same are provided, one control comprising an electrically operated device for providing two different functions of the device, an electrically operated visual display unit, and a manually operated selector unit electrically interconnected to the device and the display unit for selecting a desired function of the device and for setting the device to provide that selected function in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on the display unit by such operation of the selector unit. The selector unit has a manually operated start actuator which when actuated will cause the device to being to produce the selected function thereof and in that selected set manner thereof. The selector unit comprises a manually operated movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof selects one of the functions and then sets the device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on the display unit as the selector member is being moved in the one direction and which when moved in the other direction a certain amount from the off position thereof selects the other of the functions and then sets the device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on the display unit as the selector member is being moved in the other direction.

Claims

1. In an electrically operated appliance control comprising an electrically operated device for providing various modes of operation thereof, an electrically operated visual display unit, and a manually operated selector means electrically interconnected to said device and said unit for selecting a desired mode of operation of said device and for setting said device to provide that selected mode in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on said display unit by such operation of said selector means, said selector means having a manually operated start actuator which when actuated will cause said device to begin to produce the selected mode of operation thereof and in that selected set manner thereof, the improvement wherein said selector means comprises a manually movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof to a first position thereof first selects one of said modes of operation and then sets said device to provide that selected mode of operation in a desired manner from a first sequence of operations thereof as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction between said first position thereof thru a certain distance that provides said first sequence of operations and a certain second position thereof and which when moved in said one direction to said second position thereof selects another mode of operation thereof and then sets said device to provide that other selected mode of operation in a desired manner from a second sequence of operations thereof as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction beyond said second position thereof thru a certain distance that provides said second sequence of operations.

2. A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein said device has means that is adapted to operate heating means of an oven of a cooking apparatus and wherein said one mode of operation of said device is to have said means of said device operate said heating means in a baking mode thereof.

3. A control as set forth in claim 2 wherein said selector member sets said means of said means of said device to cause said heating means to provide a set temperature depending upon the position of said selector member between said first position thereof that selects said baking mode and said second position thereof.

4. A control as set forth in claim 3 wherein said selector means increases the set temperature as said selector member is moved in said one direction from said first position thereof that selects said baking mode to said second position thereof.

5. A control as set forth in claim 3 wherein said other mode of operation of said device is to have said means of said device operate said heating means in a broil mode thereof.

6. A control as set forth in claim 5 wherein said selector member sets said means of said device to cause said heating means to provide a high broiling operation or a low broiling operation depending upon the position of said selector member between said second position thereof and a position beyond said second position in said one direction.

7. A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector member selects a third mode of operation of said device when said selector member is being further moved in said one direction to a third position beyond said second position thereof.

8. A control as set forth in claim 7 wherein said device has means that is adapted to operate heating means of an oven of a cooking apparatus, said one mode of operation of said device causing said means of said device to operate said heating means in a baking mode thereof, said other mode of operation of said device causing said means of said device to operate said heating means in a broil mode thereof, said third mode of operation of said device causing said means of said device to operate said heating means in a cleaning mode thereof.

9. A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector member is rotatable whereby the movement thereof is a rotatable movement.

10. A control as set forth in claim 9 wherein said selector means comprises a rotary switch means operated by said rotatable selector member.

11. In a method of making an electrically operated appliance control comprising the steps of forming an electrically operated device for providing various modes of operation thereof, forming an electrically operated visual display unit, forming a manually operated selector means, electrically interconnecting said selector means to said device and said unit for selecting a desired mode of operation of said device and for setting said device to provide that selected mode in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on said display unit by such operation of said selector means, and forming said selector means to have a manually operated start actuator which when activated will cause said device to begin to produce the selected mode of operation thereof and in that selected set manner thereof, the improvement comprising the step of forming said selector means to comprise a manually movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof to a first position thereof first selects one of said modes of operation and then sets said device to provide that selected mode of operation in a desired manner from a first sequence of operations thereof as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction between said first position thereof and a certain second position thereof and which when moved in said one direction to said second position thereof selects another mode of operation thereof and then sets said device to provide that other selected mode of operation in a desired manner from a second sequence of operations thereof as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction beyond said second position thereof thru a certain distance that provides said sequence of operations.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 and including the steps of forming said device with means that is adapted to operate heating means of an oven of a cooking apparatus, and causing said one mode of operation of said device to have said means of said device operate said heating means in a baking mode thereof.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 and including the step of forming said selector member to set said means to provide a set temperature depending upon the position of said selector member between said first position thereof that selects said baking mode and said second position thereof.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 and including the step of forming said selector means to increase the set temperature as said selector member is moved in said one direction from said first position thereof that selects said baking mode to said second position thereof.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13 and including the step of causing said other mode of operation of said device to have said means of said device operate said heating means in a broil mode thereof.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 and including the step of forming said selector member to set said means of said device to cause said heating means to provide a high broiling operation or a low broiling operation depending upon the position of said selector member between said second position thereof and a position beyond said second position in said one direction.

17. A method as set forth in claim 11 and including the step of forming said selector member to select a third mode of operation of said device when said selector member is being further moved in said one direction to a third position beyond said second position thereof.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 and including the steps of forming said device to have means that is adapted to operate heating means of an oven of a cooking apparatus, causing said one mode of operation of said device to cause said means of said device to operate said heating means in a baking mode thereof, causing said other mode of operation of said device to cause said means of said device to operate said heating means in a broil mode thereof, and causing said third mode of operation of said device to cause said means of said device to operate said heating means in a cleaning mode thereof.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 and including the step of forming said selector member to be rotatable whereby the movement thereof is a rotatable movement.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 and including the step of forming said selector means to comprise a rotary switch means operated by said rotatable selector member.