Appliance interface and input chassis

• US 9,803,310 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Leisl, III, Donald James, Vitan, Craig Robert, Kulkarni, Sripad
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US15/207,555
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 200600, 200517, 200430, 200521, 2002761, 200457, 200409, 200458, 200520, 200537, 200341, 200345
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• 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: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode

Abstract

An appliance, including an interface and input chassis is provided. Appliance may include a contact plate, a conductive spring, and a support wall. The input chassis may define a connection aperture extending therethrough. The contact plate may be disposed above the connection aperture of the input chassis. The contact plate may include a top surface facing away from the input chassis and a bottom surface facing toward the input chassis. The conductive spring may be coupled the contact plate at the bottom surface of the contact plate. The conductive spring may extend through the connection aperture. The support wall may be attached to the input chassis and disposed about the conductive spring between the contact plate and the connection aperture of the input chassis.

Claims

1. An appliance user interface comprising:

an input chassis defining a connection aperture extending therethrough;

a contact plate disposed above the connection aperture of the input chassis, the contact plate including a top surface facing away from the input chassis and a bottom surface facing toward the input chassis;

a conductive spring coupled to the contact plate at the bottom surface of the contact plate, the conductive spring extending through the connection aperture and above the chassis;

a printed circuit board attached to the conductive spring below the input chassis; and

a support wall extending from the contact plate and disposed about the conductive spring between the contact plate and the connection aperture of the input chassis, wherein the support wall includes a resilient support arm attached to the contact plate in a biased engagement and extending to the input chassis in attachment therewith, and wherein the biased engagement urges the contact plate and spring towards the printed circuit board in an interference fit between the contact plate and the printed circuit board.

2. The appliance user interface of claim 1, further comprising an integral joint formed in connection with the support wall and the input chassis.

3. The appliance user interface of claim 1, further comprising a rigid touch panel disposed over the contact plate and across the input chassis.

4. An appliance user interface comprising:

an input chassis defining a connection aperture extending therethrough;

a contact plate disposed above the connection aperture of the input chassis, the contact plate including a top surface facing away from the input chassis and a bottom surface facing toward the input chassis;

a conductive spring fixed to the bottom surface of the contact plate, the conductive spring extending through the connection aperture and above the chassis;

a printed circuit board fixed to the conductive spring below the input chassis; and

a support wall extending from the contact plate and disposed about the conductive spring between the contact plate and the connection aperture of the input chassis, the support wall including a resilient arm extending to the input chassis and integrally attached to the contact plate in a biased engagement, wherein an integral joint is formed in connection with the resilient arm and the input chassis, and wherein the biased engagement urges the contact plate and spring towards the printed circuit board in an interference fit between the contact plate and the printed circuit board.

5. The appliance user interface of claim 4, wherein the contact plate and the support wall define a translatable pocket containing at least a portion of the spring.

6. The appliance user interface of claim 4, further comprising a rigid touch panel disposed over the contact plate and across the input chassis.

7. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an opening for the receipt of articles to be treated;

an interface bracket disposed on the cabinet; and

a user interface disposed on the interface bracket, the user interface comprising

an input chassis defining a connection aperture extending therethrough,

a contact plate disposed above the connection aperture, the contact plate including a top surface facing away from the input chassis and a bottom surface facing toward the input chassis,

a conductive spring fixed to the bottom surface of the contact plate, the conductive spring extending through the connection aperture and above the chassis;

a printed circuit board attached to the conductive spring below the input chassis, and

a support wall extending from the contact plate and disposed about the conductive spring between the contact plate and the connection aperture, wherein the support wall includes a resilient support arm attached to the contact plate in a biased engagement and extending to the input chassis in attachment therewith, and wherein the biased engagement urges the contact plate and spring towards the printed circuit board in an interference fit between the contact plate and the printed circuit board.

8. The appliance of claim 7, further comprising a rigid touch panel disposed over the contact plate and across the input chassis.

9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes an integral joint formed in connection with the support wall and the input chassis.