Panel arrangement for a domestic appliance

• US 7,700,900 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PAS Deutschland GmbH (Baird Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PAS Deutschland GmbH (Baird Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seikel, Michael, Hegewald, Ronald, Geiger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ralis; Stephen J
• Application Number:
  US11/384,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20060219697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 219/445.1, 219/452.11, 219/506, 68/122.7, 68/3.R
• US Class Current: 219/506
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/34 characterised by mounting or attachment features, e.g. detachable control panels or detachable display panels
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/30 Drying processes controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32

Abstract

A panel arrangement for a domestic appliance, having a panel which can be fitted to the domestic appliance such that it is visible from the outside. Indicator and/or operator controls are provided which are mounted on the panel. A printed circuit board comprises control and possibly power electronics and can be arranged in the interior of the domestic appliance. The indicator and/or operator controls are connected to the printed circuit board. At least some of the indicator and/or operator controls are mounted on the panel substantially independently of the layout of the printed circuit board and are connected to the printed circuit board via at least one flexible supply line.

Claims

1. A panel arrangement for a domestic appliance, having a panel arranged to be fitted to the domestic appliance such that it is visible from an outside of the domestic appliance,

at least one of indicators and at least one of operator controls, each of which are mounted on the panel, and having a printed circuit board, which comprises control electronics, arranged in the interior of the domestic appliance, with the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls being connected to the printed circuit board,

wherein at least one of the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls operator controls, each of which are mounted on the panel independent of the layout of the printed circuit board and are connected to the printed circuit board via a flexible supply line, wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on an integrally formed support which is provided separately from the panel and wherein the printed circuit board is arranged in the interior of the domestic appliance between the panel and the integrally formed support, wherein the panel is attached to the integrally formed support, wherein the integrally formed support has a length extending over an entire width of the domestic appliance,

wherein the integrally formed support comprises a container holding section adjacent to a retaining section for mounting the printed circuit board laterally adjacent to the container holding section for holding a functional container, comprising at least one of a drawer and a collection container, for containing materials during the function of the domestic appliance, wherein the container holding section has a frame section formed as part of the integrally formed support through which the functional container can be pushed from the outside.

2. The panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel is formed in the manner of a box with a front and a circumferential rim section.

3. The domestic appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting of the printed circuit board separately from the panel and the mounting of the at least one of the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls independent of the layout of the printed circuit board provides a control panel arrangement which may be employed in a large number of different types of domestic appliances without necessitating any changes in the arrangement of the printed circuit board.

4. The panel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls operator controls are in each case individually connected to the printed circuit board.

5. The panel arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible supply line of at least one of the at least one of individually connected indicators and the at least one of individually connected operator controls are combined to form a cable harness.

6. A domestic appliance having:

a panel arrangement with a panel arranged to be fined to the domestic appliance such that it is visible from an outside of the domestic appliance, at least one of indicators and at least one of operator controls, each of which are mounted on the panel, and having

a printed circuit board which comprises control electronics arranged in an interior of the domestic appliance, with the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls being connected to the printed circuit board, wherein at least one of the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls, each of which are mounted on the panel independent of the layout of the printed circuit board and are connected to the printed circuit board via a flexible supply line,

wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on an integrally formed support which is separate from the panel and the printed circuit board is arranged in the interior of the domestic appliance between the panel and the integrally formed support, wherein the panel is fixed to the integrally formed support over the printed circuit board, wherein the integrally formed support extends over an entire width of the domestic appliance and provides structural support for opposed side walls of the domestic appliance, wherein the integrally formed support comprises an integral container holding section adjacent to a retaining section for mounting the printed circuit board laterally adjacent to the integral container holding section for holding a functional container, including at least one of a drawer and a collection container, for containing materials during the function of the domestic appliance, wherein the container holding section has a frame section formed as part of the integrally formed support through which the functional container can be pushed from the outside.

7. The domestic appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mounting of the printed circuit board separately from the panel and the mounting of the at least one of the at least one of indicators and the at least one of operator controls independent of the layout of the printed circuit board provides a control panel arrangement which may be employed in a large number of different types of domestic appliances without necessitating any changes in the arrangement of the printed circuit board.

8. The domestic appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support is secured to a section of a front wall of the domestic appliance.

9. The domestic appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support is suspended on the front wall section by means of hooks.