Laundry appliance with versatile programming control device
First Claim
1. In a clothes laundering appliance having a plurality of user selectable settings for cycle and operational times, a control device for use in setting both the cycle and operational times for a laundry operation comprising:
- a control member which is manually shiftable from a neutral position through a predetermined range of travel in first and second, opposing directions;
a plurality of spaced contact members movable with said control member; and
a plurality of spaced contact elements, wherein the control member may be selectively shifted varying amounts in each of the first and second, opposing directions to interengage respective ones of the plurality of contact members and contact elements in order to selectively establish the desired cycle and operational time for the laundry operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control device for a laundry appliance includes a member which need only be manually shifted through a limited range of travel, from a neutral position to which the control member is biased, in either of first and second opposing directions, to establish a desired cycle and to adjust an operational time for the cycle. The control member is provided with numerous movable contacts which are interposed between fixed contacts. Shifting of the control member a limited amount in either direction will function to engage a single pair of the contacts, while shifting the control member a further amount in the same direction causes another pair of the contacts to become engaged. In this manner, the contacts are paired to slowly increase or decrease the operational time and to also select either the next or previous operational cycle. User feedback of the selected setting is preferably provided through the use of a illuminated indicator that shifts around a track adjacent operational indicia.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a clothes laundering appliance having a plurality of user selectable settings for cycle and operational times, a control device for use in setting both the cycle and operational times for a laundry operation comprising:
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a control member which is manually shiftable from a neutral position through a predetermined range of travel in first and second, opposing directions;
a plurality of spaced contact members movable with said control member; and
a plurality of spaced contact elements, wherein the control member may be selectively shifted varying amounts in each of the first and second, opposing directions to interengage respective ones of the plurality of contact members and contact elements in order to selectively establish the desired cycle and operational time for the laundry operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An appliance for laundering clothes comprising:
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a cabinet including an access opening;
a lid, pivotally attached to the cabinet, for enabling clothes to be placed into and removed from the appliance through the access opening; and
means, including a control member manually shiftable through a predetermined range of travel in first and second, opposing directions from a neutral position, for setting both cycle and operational times for the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of setting both a desired cycle and operational time for a laundry operation in an appliance comprising:
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rotating a control member from a neutral position in a first direction a first amount to cause a first set of electrical contacts to become engaged in order to adjust one of the cycle and the operational time; and
continuing to rotate the control member in the first direction a second amount to cause a second set of electrical contacts to further become engaged in order to adjust another of the cycle and the operational time wherein, from the neutral position through the second amount, the control member being permitted to rotate through a maximum angle of 45°
.- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
limiting a permissible angular rotation of the control member to approximately 15°
in each of opposing first and second directions from the neutral position.
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23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:
providing a visual indication to a user of said cycle and operational times.
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24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:
biasing the control member to the neutral position.
Specification