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Illuminated control panel assembly

  • US 9,663,891 B2
  • Filed: 07/01/2015
  • Issued: 05/30/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A control panel assembly for an appliance, comprising:

  • a control panel having an opening;

    a circuit board;

    a rotary switch installed on the circuit board;

    a plurality of light sources disposed on the circuit board in a semicircular to circular pattern around the rotary switch;

    a window disposed in the opening and including a plurality of light transmission parts;

    a light guide member including a plurality of light guide holes corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of light sources, and corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of light transmission parts, whereineach light guide hole of the plurality of light guide holes is configured to guide light from the corresponding light source, and includes;

    a first portion to accommodate at least a portion of the corresponding light source, anda second portion, having a length longer than the first portion, to guide light emitted from the corresponding light source, at least a portion of the corresponding light source is accommodated in the first portion, towards the corresponding light transmission part,the corresponding light transmission part being configured to allow the light guided by the second portion to be visible at a front of the control panel,the first portion of each light guide hole has a same size and shape,the second portion of each light guide hole has a same size and shape,a smallest cross-sectional area of each light guide hole of the plurality of the light guide holes is formed where the first portion and the second portion of the respective light guide hole meet, andthe smallest cross-sectional area comprises a ridge or flash formed by injection molding of the light guide member.

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