Control device for an electrical appliance

• US 7,504,598 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Weigold, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US11/869,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 200/6.A, 200/61.52, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.45 R, 335205-207, 219/457.1, 219/507, 338/12, 338/32.R, 338/32.H, 32420711-20726
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/97 using a magnetic movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94068 with magnetic detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/746 Protection, e.g. overheat cutoff, hot plate indicator

Abstract

An operator control device for an electric heating apparatus comprises a control element, which rotatably and removably rests on a mounting surface and is held by a magnetic retaining force. The control element has a bottom side facing the mounting surface while the mounting surface has a planar top side facing the control element. The bottom side is embodied in a flat manner in a first sub-area to keep the control element in a stable basic position, an effect that is supported by the magnetic retaining force. Said first sub-area is surrounded by an adjacent second sub-area that encompasses a receding curvature such that the control element can be tilted from the basic position while the contact to the mounting surface is maintained. Detection sensors are provided for detecting the position of the control element in the basic position or another position in order to trigger a control function.

Claims

1. A control device for an electrical appliance, said control device having a control element with a control element underside having a first surface area and a second surface area, said control element being constructed for resting in movable and removable manner with said control element underside on a mounting surface having a planar mounting surface top side by means of a retaining force, wherein said control element underside in said first surface area is constructed corresponding to said planar mounting surface top side for a stable position of said control element in a tilt-stable basic position, said retaining force assisting said basic position, said first surface area being surrounded by said second surface area having a convexity diverging from a course of said first surface area and retreating from said mounting surface top side in such a way that said control element is tiltable away from said basic position in case of engagement towards said mounting surface into a tilted position, detection means being provided for detecting said position of said control element in said basic position or in said tilted position and for triggering a control function.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control element underside is substantially planar in said first surface area.

5. The control device according to one claim 1, wherein said second surface area is curved back in rounded manner away from said first surface area.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a transition between said first surface area and said second surface area has a step and is formed in discontinuous manner.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said first surface area is annular and said second surface area is constructed in the manner of a spherical cap-shaped ring, said first surface area passing along an annulus directly into said second surface area.

8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said first surface area is polygonal and said second surface area is constructed with extended, prism-like partial faces, said first surface area passing along said outer edges of said polygon directly into said second surface area.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a stabilizing device for producing said retaining force in contactless manner by a magnetic force is provided.

10. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said detection means are constructed for contactless detection by magnetic force or a magnetic field, wherein an active magnet is located in said control element and under said mounting surface are provided magnetic field sensors for detecting a change in said magnetic field in said control element as a result of said tilting of said control element.

11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein further magnetic field sensors are distributed beneath said mounting surface around a point on which said control element is located.

12. The control device according to claim 9, wherein said detection means magnet is said magnet for said stabilizing device.

13. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control element is tiltable in several directions.

14. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a further detection device for detecting a rotary movement of said control element and for triggering a further control function is provided, wherein said further detection device has further magnetic field sensors beneath said mounting surface, which cooperate with one or more magnets of said control element.

15. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a further detection device for detecting a rotary movement of said control element and for triggering a further control function is provided, and being constructed for contactless detection.

3. A control device for an electrical appliance, said control device having a control element with a planar control element underside having a first surface area and a second surface area, said control element being constructed for resting in movable and removable manner with said control element underside on a mounting surface having a mounting surface top side by means of a retaining force, wherein said mounting surface top side in said first surface area is constructed corresponding to said planar control element underside for a stable position of said control element in a tilt-stable basic position, said retaining force assisting said basic position, said first surface area being surrounded by said second surface area having a curvature diverging from a course of said first surface area and retreating from said control element underside in such a way that said control element is tiltable away from said basic position in case of engagement towards said mounting surface into a tilted position, detection means being provided for detecting said position of said control element in said basic position or said tilted position and for triggering a control function.

4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said mounting surface top side is substantially planar in said first surface area.