Electrically operated appliance controls and methods of making the same

• US 4,761,540 A
• Filed: 07/21/1987
• Issued: 08/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: McGeorge, Gram J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paschall, M. H.
• Application Number:
  US07/076,045
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 219/491, 219/492, 219/493, 219/494, 219/501, 219/507, 219/506, 219/508, 219/451-453, 219/10.55 B, 340/706, 340/588, 340/584
• US Class Current: 219/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/104 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

Electrically operated appliance controls and methods of making the same are provided, one control comprising an electrically operated device for providing two different functions of the device, an electrically operated visual display unit, and a manually operated selector unit electrically interconnected to the device and the display unit for selecting a desired function of the device and for setting the device to provide that selected function in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on the display unit by such operation of the selector unit. The selector unit has a manually operated start actuator which when actuated will cause the device to begin to produce the selected function thereof and in that selected set manner thereof. The selector unit comprises a manually operated movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof selects one of the functions and then sets the device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on the display unit as the selector member is being moved in the one direction and which when moved in the other direction a certain amount from the off position thereof selects the other of the functions and then sets the device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on the display unit as the selector member is being moved in the other direction.

Claims

1. In a method of making an electrically operated appliance control comprising the steps of forming an electrically operated device for providing two different functions of said device, forming an electrically operated visual display unit, forming a manually operated selector means, electrically interconnecting said selector means to said device and said unit for selecting a desired function of said device and for setting said device to provide that selected function in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on said display unit by such operation of said selector means, and forming said selector means to have a manually operated start actuator which when actuated will cause said device to begin to produce the selected function thereof and in that selected set manner thereof, the improvement comprising the steps of forming said selector means to comprise a single manually operated movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof to a first position thereof selects one of said functions and then sets said device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction and which when moved in the other direction a certain amount from said off position thereof to a second position thereof selects the other of said functions and then sets said device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said other direction from said second position thereof, and causing said one function of said device to be a time-of-day function and said other function of said device to be a run down interval timer function.

2. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of forming said device with means that changes said time of day function thereof to a new time-of-day function as said selector member is being moved in either direction after said time-of-day function has been selected by said selector member having been moved in said one direction from said off position said certain amount from said first position thereof.

3. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 2 and including the step of forming said device with means that increases the interval time being selected by said selector member as said selector member is being moved in said other direction after said interval timer function has been selected by said selector member having been moved in said other direction from said off position said certain amount of said second position thereof.

4. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 3 and including the step of forming said means of said device that increases the interval time being selected to also decrease the interval time being selected as said selection member is being moved in said one direction after a particular interval time has been selected by selector member.

5. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 4 and including the step of forming said selector member to be rotatable whereby the movement thereof is a rotatable movement.

6. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 4 and including the step of forming said selector means to comprise a rotary switch means operated by said rotatable selector member.

7. In a method of making an electrically operated appliance control comprising the steps of forming an electrically operated device for providing two different functions of said device, forming an electrically operated visual display unit, forming a manually operated selector means, electrically interconnecting said selector means to said device and said unit for selecting a desired function of said device and for setting said device to provide that selected function in a desired set manner thereof as being indicated on said display unit by such operation of said selector means, and forming said selector means to have a manually operated start actuator which when actuated will cause said device to begin to produce the selected function thereof and in that selected set manner thereof, the improvement comprising the steps of forming said selector means to comprise a single manually operated movable selector member which when moved in one direction a certain amount from an off position thereof to a first position thereof selects one of said functions and then sets said device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said one direction and which when moved in the other direction a certain amount from said off position thereof to a second position thereof selects the other of said functions and then sets said device to provide that selected function in a desired manner as being indicated on said display unit as said selector member is being further moved in said other direction from said second position thereof, forming said device with means that is adapted to operate the heating means of an oven of a cooking apparatus for a predetermined time period, and forming said selector member of said selector means to be adapted to select said predetermined time period for said device after said actuator means has been actuated in a certain manner.

8. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of forming said selector means with means that is adapted to select said predetermined time period to begin at a certain time in the future within certain limits.

9. A method of making a control as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of forming said means of said device that is adapted to operate the heating means to be adapted to operate said heating means for a cooking operation for said predetermined time period or for an oven cleaning operation for said predetermined time period.