Appliance with indicating device

• US 6,246,887 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPCom GmbH & Co KG
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Eckhardt, Claus-Chr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/199,378
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/434, 379/440, 379/426, 379/428, 455/349, 455/566, 455/90, 455/145, 345/158, 345/169, 345/173, 141/38
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

An appliance has an indicating device, means forming an outer surface provided with a throughgoing opening for receiving the indicating device, means forming an edge region which surrounds the throughgoing opening and is depressed, the edge region being formed so that the decorative part is inserted in the edge region, and a releasable connection between the decorative part and the edge region.

Claims

1. An appliance, comprising an indicating device;

a decorative part;

means forming a wall having an outer surface with a central region and an inner surface, said wall being provided with a throughgoing opening which extends from said outer surface to said inner surface of said wall and receives said indicating device, said wall also having a surrounding edge region which surrounds said throughgoing opening and is depressed relative to said outer surface of said wall so as to form a depression, said decorative part being formed as a structural element which is separate from said indicating device and being inserted in said depression of said edge region; and

means for releasably connecting said decorative part with said edge region independently from said indicating device, so that said decorative part can be removed from said depression of said edge region of said wall without said indicating device and replaced by another decorative part inserted in said depression of said edge region of said wall.

2. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably connecting is formed as an adhesive connection.

3. An appliance as defined in claim 2, wherein said adhesive connection includes a double-sided adhesive band.

4. An appliance as defined in claim 2, wherein said decorative part has a side facing toward said edge region and is provided at said side with an adhesive surface which is self-adhesively connected with said edge region, so as to form said releasably connecting means.

5. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said decorative part has a further throughgoing opening for receiving said indicating device.

6. An appliance as defined in claim 5, wherein said decorative part has a plurality of additional throughgoing openings for receiving keys.

7. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said decorative part has a plurality of additional throughgoing openings for receiving keys.

8. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said releasable connection includes an arresting connection.

9. An appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein said arresting connection includes an arresting projection provided on said decorative part and an arresting opening provided on said edge region in which said arresting projection is engageable.

10. An appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein said arresting connection includes an arresting projection formed in said edge region, and an arresting opening provided in said decorative part in which said arresting projection is arrestable.

11. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said decorative part and said edge region are arranged so that a gap is provided between said decorative part and said edge region for receiving a tool in order to release said connection.

12. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said edge region is depressed in a two-step manner relative to said outer surface.

13. An appliance as defined in claim 12, wherein said edge region has a deeper step which limits said throughgoing opening;

and further comprising a transparent disk which covers said indicating device and is placed on said deeper step.

14. An appliance as defined in claim 12, wherein said edge region has a higher step on which said decorative part is placed.