Household appliance comprising a touch button

• US 9,800,241 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Original Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Inventors: Ertas, Firdevs Basaran, Acil, Aykun, Tezcan, Safak, Batur, Alper, Sar, Can
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAEED, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US14/442,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20150295576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 200341, 200344, 200345, 200296, 200600, 200333, 200 5 A
• 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 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/086 touch control
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a control panel (2) having an area (A) designated thereon which provides the user to select the desired program parameters by touching, a board holder (3) situated behind the control panel (2), a circuit board (4) situated in the board holder (3), at least one touch button (7) having at least one spring (5) one end of which is fixed to the circuit board (4) and which transmits to the circuit board (4) the capacitive difference that is formed when the designated area (A) is touched and having a plate (6) which is fixed to the free end of the spring (5) so as to contact the control panel (2), and a cover (8) mounted onto the circuit holder (3) and providing the circuit board (4) to be fixed in the board holder (3). The household appliance further comprises a first element (9) that is situated on the cover (8) and that extends outwards from the cover (8) in parallel to the spring (5), and a guide (11) that provides the cover (8) to be fixed on the board holder (3) by being mounted onto the cover (8) and that has a second element (10) that forms a housing (Y) surrounding the spring (5) by joining with the first element (9) when mounted onto the cover (8).

Claims

1. A household appliance (1), comprising:

a control panel (2) having an area (A) designated thereon which provides a user to select desired program parameters by touching;

a board holder (3) situated behind the control panel (2);

a circuit board (4) situated in the board holder (3), the circuit board (4) including at least one touch button (7) having at least one spring (5) one end of which is fixed to the circuit board (4) and which transmits to the circuit board (4) a capacitive difference that is formed when the designated area (A) is touched, the at least one spring (5) having a plate (6) which is fixed to a free end of the spring (5) so as to contact the control panel (2);

a cover (8) mounted onto the board holder (3) and fixing the circuit board (4) to the board holder (3), the cover (8) having a first element (9) that is situated on the cover (8) and that extends outwards from the cover (8) in parallel to the spring (5); and

a guide (11) mounted onto the cover (8) and fixing the cover (8) to the board holder (3), the guide (11) having a U-shaped second element (10) that aligns with the first element (9) of the cover (8), wherein the first element (9) of the cover (8) and the second element (10) of the guide (11) are detachably coupled to each other to form a housing (Y) that surrounds the spring (5).

2. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the first element (9) is formed as an upright so as to complete an open end of the second element (10).

3. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one recess (12) arranged on the cover (8); and

at least one protrusion (13) situated on the board holder (3) and aligning the first element (9) with the spring (5) by being seated into the recess (12).

4. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one opening (14) situated on the guide (11); and

at least one claw (15) situated on the board holder (3) and providing the guide (11) to be mounted onto the cover (8) by passing through the opening (14).

5. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one channel (16) situated on the cover (8); and

at least one pin (17) situated on the guide (11) and mounting the guide (11) onto the cover (8) by being slid.

6. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cavity (18) arranged on the control panel (2); and

at least one extension (19) situated on the cover (8) and suitable to be fitted into the cavity (18).

7. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1) is a laundry dryer.

8. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1) is a cooking device.

9. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1) is a washing machine.

10. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.

11. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1) is a cooling device.

12. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the housing (Y) limits movement of the spring (5).

13. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the second element (10) is shaped so as to partially enclose the spring (5) in a horizontal plane, and wherein the first element (9) is shaped such that the first element (9) and the second element (10) can join to fully enclose the spring (5) in the horizontal plane.

14. The household appliance (1) as in claim 1, wherein the spring (5) is a coil spring having more than one coil and wherein the first element (9) extends outwards from the cover (8) in parallel to a vertical plane though the more than one coil of the spring (5).