Membrane touch control panel assembly for an appliance with a glass control panel

• US 4,894,493 A
• Filed: 11/04/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bowles, Howard R., Smith, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/267,507
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/308, 200/310, 200/314, 200/317, 200/512, 200/517, 200/600, 361/398, 361/358, 361/283, 341/33, 341/22, 341/24, 84/343, 400/479.1, 400/479.2, 219/10.55 R, 219/10.55 B, 219/10.55 E
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/02 Interspersed fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/062 Maintenance or repair facilities
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/012 Household appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/008 Static electricity considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/064 Simulating the appearance of touch panel

Abstract

An appliance with a glass control panel is provided with a membrane touch control panel assembly which simulates the appearance of a glass capacitive touch panel, and which can tolerate relatively harsh temperature environments such as on the backsplash of a range.

Claims

1. In a cooking appliance having a plurality of surface units and a glass control panel disposed proximate the surface units a membrane touch switch control panel assembly comprising:

a laminated membrane switch array disposed on the outer surface of the glass control panel having a ribbon cable for connecting said switch array to control the circuitry disposed behind the glass control panel, the glass control panel having a hole formed therein to allow said ribbon cable to pass therethrough;

a bezel which circumscribes said switch array having an inner edge which overlappingly engages said switch array at the periphery thereof;

means for securing said bezel to the outer surface of the glass control panel, said switch array being sandwiched between said inner edge of said bezel and outer face of the glass control panel;

whereby said membrane touch switch control panel assembly simulates the appearance of a glass capacitive touch panel.

2. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the glass control panel has formed therein a plurality of holes and wherein said securing means comprises mounting studs projecting from the inner surface of said bezel for receiving said studs thereby locating said switch array on the glass control panel.

3. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said switch array includes an outer graphics layer comprising a flexible resilient material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 220°

F.

4. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 3 wherein said outer graphics layer is formed of hard coat polycarbonate material.

5. A membrane touch switch control panel assembly for a cooking appliance having a plurality of surface units and a glass control panel disposed proximate at least one of the surface units, said assembly comprising:

a laminated membrane switch array disposed on the outer surface of the glass control panel;

said switch array including an outer appearance graphics layer formed of a flexible resilient material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 220°

F.;

mounting means circumscribing said switch array for sealingly securing said switch array at the edges thereof to the glass control panel;

said outer appearance graphics layer and said mounting means together simulating the appearance of a glass capacitive touch panel.

6. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 5 wherein said mounting means comprises a bezel which circumscribes said switch array having an inner edge which overlappingly engages said switch array at the periphery thereof, said bezel having mounting studs projecting from the inner surface thereof, the glass control panel having a plurality of holes formed therein for receiving said mounting studs to locate said bezel and said switch array and secure said bezel to the glass control panel.

7. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 6 wherein said switch array includes a ribbon cable for conecting said switch array to control circuitry disposed remote from said switch array, and wherein the glass control panel has formed therein a hole for permitting said cable to pass therethrough.

8. The membrane touch switch control panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said outer appearance graphics layer is formed of hard coat polycarbonate material.