Unitized appliance control panel assembly and components of the assembly

• US 8,178,802 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Roose, Lee A., Monson, William M., Ricklefs, Michael P., Joerger, Steven J., Ripley, Brian D., Myers, Sean F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fishman, Marina
• Application Number:
  US12/184,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 200292-296, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200512-520, 200310-317
• US Class Current: 200/296
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/34 characterised by mounting or attachment features, e.g. detachable control panels or detachable display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/01 Mounting on appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/012 Household appliance

Abstract

An electronics enclosure and associated components form a self-contained, unitized assembly including control buttons and illuminated indicator elements, that can be mated as a single piece with an outer user interface control panel fascia. A front panel of the electronics enclosure provides a mounting location for various buttons and lighted indicators that will show through mating apertures provided in the control panel fascia. This may include light pipe collars and integral spring levers. Specially configured cup structures may be integrally molded at the ends of the spring levers to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. A mount of planar spring button pieces on the front enclosure panel, over the associated spring levers, results in an assembly incorporating two springs serving to bias the associated button to its return position, and eliminating any rattle or looseness of the parts.

Claims

1. An appliance control panel assembly, comprising:

a control panel fascia;

a plurality of push-buttons presented in apertures of said fascia; and

a unitized electronics enclosure assembly mated with a rear side of said control panel fascia, said electronics enclosure assembly including a rear electronics enclosure housing;

a printed circuit board (PCB) contained within said housing, said PCB having electronic control panel components mounted thereon, including at least one switch; and

a front enclosure panel engaged with said housing so as to cover a substantial front side portion of said PCB, said front enclosure panel comprising at least one integrally formed spring member associated with at least one of said plurality of push-buttons and operable to permit said push-button to be pressed against a bias of said spring member to releasably actuate said at least one switch, said integrally formed spring member including a moveable platform engageable with a rearward portion of said push-button, said moveable platform being formed with raised surface portions extending in a closed loop so as to surround, in spaced relation, a contact region of said rearward portion of the push-button with said moveable platform.

2. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said raised surface portions together with said platform form a circular cup for receiving, in surrounding spaced relationship, said rearward portion of the push-button.

3. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said push-button is mounted on said front enclosure panel so as to form a part of said unitized electronics enclosure assembly.

4. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein said push-button is integrally formed with a mounting base that attaches to said front enclosure panel in overlying relationship to said spring member.

5. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 4, wherein said mounting base incorporates a second spring member upon which said push-button is mounted, to permit said button to be resiliently displaced relative to said mounting base.

6. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second spring member is a planar spring integrally formed as part of a platform of said mounting base.

7. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second spring member serves to bias said contact region of said rearward portion of the push-button against said platform within said closed loop.

8. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said integrally formed spring members and said second spring member is resiliently displaced during a depression of said push-button to actuate said switch.

9. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said integrally formed spring member comprises a cantilever-mounted spring lever.

10. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 9, wherein said platform is formed at the free end of said spring lever.

11. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 1, said front enclosure panel further comprising a plurality of integrally formed collars, said appliance control panel assembly further comprising a plurality of light pipes received within said collars, and having rearward ends positioned adjacent associated light sources mounted on said PCB.

12. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 11, wherein said light pipes have front ends received in associated apertures of said fascia.

13. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the front end of at least one of the light pipes is provided in the form of a sleeve received in an associated aperture of said fascia in surrounding relationship with one of said push-buttons.

14. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 11, wherein said light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. An appliance control panel assembly, comprising:

a control panel fascia;

a plurality of push-buttons presented in apertures of said fascia; and

a unitized electronics enclosure assembly mated with a rear side of said control panel fascia, said electronics enclosure assembly including a rear electronics enclosure housing;

a printed circuit board (PCB) contained within said housing, said PCB having electronic control panel components mounted thereon, including at least one switch; and

a front enclosure panel engaged with said housing so as to cover a substantial front side portion of said PCB, said front enclosure panel comprising at least one integrally formed spring member associated with at least one of said plurality of push-buttons and operable to permit said push-button to be pressed against a bias of said spring member to releasably actuate said at least one switch, said integrally formed spring member being engageable with a rearward portion of said push-button, wherein said push-button includes a second spring member distinct from, and positioned forwardly toward said fascia relative to, said integrally formed spring member.

16. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 15, wherein said push-button is mounted on said front enclosure panel so as to form a part of said unitized electronics enclosure assembly.

17. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 16, wherein said push-button is integrally formed with a mounting base that attaches to said front enclosure panel in overlying relationship to said spring member of the front panel.

18. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 17, wherein said second spring member is a planar spring integrally formed as part of a platform of said mounting base.

19. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 15, wherein said second spring member serves to bias a contact region of said rearward portion of the push-button against said integrally formed spring member.

20. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 15, wherein both said integrally formed spring member and said second spring member are resiliently displaced during a depression of said push-button to actuate said switch.

21. An appliance control panel assembly according to claim 15, wherein said integrally formed spring member comprises a cantilever-mounted spring lever.