Operating configuration for a household appliance, operating element and household appliance

• US 20050067268A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Hurrle, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,399,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/161 comprising light emitting elements

Abstract

An operating device for a household appliance is formed with an aperture, and an operating element is guided through an assembly hole in the aperture. A plurality of light sources in the operating element, indicate the operational state of the household appliance. The information content is increased with the plurality of light sources that indicate at least two mutually different operational states of the household appliance.

Claims

1. An operating configuration for a household appliance having an operating panel, comprising:

an operating element mounted to extend through an installation opening of the operating panel;

a plurality of light sources in said operating element for indicating an operating state of the household appliance, said light sources being configured to indicate at least two mutually different operating states of the household appliance.

2. The operating configuration according to claim 1, wherein said light sources connected to be activated simultaneously, and to simultaneously indicate the different operating states.

3. The operating configuration according to claims 1, wherein a respective said light source assigned to one operating state is configured to light up in a color different from a color of another light source.

4. The operating configuration according to claim 1, wherein the light source assigned to one operating state lights up at a flashing frequency which differs from that of the other light sources.

5. The operating configuration according to claim 1, wherein said operating element includes a guide part secured on the operating panel, and an operating knob adjustably mounted to said guide part.

6. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein a multiplicity of light-guiding lines are formed in said guide part, and said guide part contains partition walls separating said light-guiding lines.

7. The operating configuration according to claim 6, wherein said light sources are disposed within said light-guiding lines.

8. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said guide part is formed of a transparent material.

9. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said guide part is formed of a translucent material.

10. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said operating knob is assigned a respective said light source to indicate an operating state that is adjustable by said operating knob.

11. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said operating knob is a push-down knob displaceably mounted in said guide part and/or a rotary knob.

12. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said operating knob is a rotary push-down knob displaceably mounted in said guide part.

13. The operating configuration according to claim 5, wherein said operating knob is a rotary knob rotatably mounted in said guide part.

14. In a household appliance, the operating configuration according to claim 1 configured to operate functions of the household appliance.

15. An operating element for an operating configuration in a household appliance, the household appliance having an operating panel, the operating element comprising:

a frame structure configured to be mounted in an installation opening of the operating panel;

a multiplicity of light sources in said frame structure for indicating an operating state of the household appliance, said light sources being configured to indicate at least two mutually different operating states of the household appliance.