CA2170685A1 - Appliance control assembly including improved push button actuating arrangement - Google Patents
Appliance control assembly including improved push button actuating arrangementInfo
- Publication number
- CA2170685A1 CA2170685A1 CA 2170685 CA2170685A CA2170685A1 CA 2170685 A1 CA2170685 A1 CA 2170685A1 CA 2170685 CA2170685 CA 2170685 CA 2170685 A CA2170685 A CA 2170685A CA 2170685 A1 CA2170685 A1 CA 2170685A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cover plate
- mounting
- assembly
- cover
- recessed portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
Abstract
A household appliance, such as a washer or dryer, includes a housing and a control assembly mounted on the housing. The assembly includes a control mounting member. A switch assembly mounted thereon includes push button switch actuators arranged within a contiguous area. A cover member is mounted in juxtaposed overlying relationship with the mounting member and includes a recessed area with an opening therein aligned with and encompassing the contiguous area of the switch actuators. The switch actuators extend into the opening in the cover member and a thin, flexible sheet is mounted in the recess so that selected switch actuators are activated by depressing corresponding portions of the sheet.
Description
r ~ ~ PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 8 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to appliances, such as clothes washers and clothes dryers for example, and more particularly to improved control arrangements for such appliances.
For years mechanical switches of the push button actuated, slider operated type have been used on such appliances. As is well known, depressing a selected push button, or actuator, of such a switch causes one or more of the sliders contained within the switch to move relative to other sliders. This causes various switch contact pairs to open and/or close as desired. One such illustrative mechanism is shown and described in US
Patent No. 3,569,639, entitled Pushbutton Switch Assembly With Multiple Momentary Action, issued to Steward A. Woodward and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention; which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Push button/slider operated switches are especially adapted for use in such appliances as various operations require different settings of a number of different switch contact pairs.
Typically such switch mechanisms are mounted on such appliances in a control assembly or backsplash with the various push button actuators projecting from one side or face of the assembly cover member.
In the past such switch mechanisms were mounted in the appliance control assembly with individual push buttons projecting through individual openings in the cover member or plate of the assembly. One PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 85 disadvantage of such an arrangement is that it is difficult to clean around the individual actuators.
More recently various types of "electronic"
switch mechanisms, such as capacitive touch and membrane switches, have come into use; particularly in connection with calculators and other electronic machines. Consumers often view such switch arrangements as indicating a higher quality or more modern product. For this and other reasons, appliance and mechanical switch manufacturers have improved push button/slider operated switches in a number of aspects. One result is that in present day switch mechanisms a significantly shorter stroke of the push button actuators is needed to operate the sliders than in prior such mechanisms.
This enables push button/slider operated switches to be used in conjunction with flexible cover sheets to provide a look and feel similar to electronic switches.
A number of attempts have been made to adapt such switch mechanisms to appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, without complete success. A typical approach has been to mount the flexible cover sheet directly over the switch housing and to then mount the switch housing and cover sheet behind the cover plate of the control assembly or backsplash, with the push buttons and cover sheet aligned with an opening in the cover plate. This enables the sheet to be depressed a 30 mi nimllm distance when actuating any push button.
However, the opening in the cover plate exposing the switch mechanism and flexible cover sheet presents a recession which is hard to keep clean.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance with an improved control assembly.
It is another object of this invention to provide such an improved appliance control assembly in which the switch actuators are activated through a flexible sheet, while the control assembly presents a generally planar surface to the user.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a control assembly for a household appliance includes a generally planar control mounting plate and a generally planar cover plate mounted in overlying juxtaposition. A rib extends around the periphery of the mounting plate and projects toward the cover plate. A flange extends around the periphery of the cover plate and projects toward the mounting plate. The rib abuts the cover plate and fits closely within the flange.
A switch mechanism includes a housing with a plurality of switch actuators projecting from one side thereof in a contiguous area. The switch housing is mounted to the mounting plate with the switch actuators positioned within the rib and projecting toward the cover plate. The cover plate has a recess projecting toward the mounting plate.
An opening in the recess is aligned with and encompasses the contiguous area of the switch actuators. The distal ends of the actuators are generally aligned the recess and a thin flexible cover sheet is mounted in the recess so that PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 706 85 selected actuators are activated by depressing corresponding areas of the sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a somewhat simplified, fragmentary front perspective view of an automatic clothes washing machine of the top loading type, incorporating one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the control mounting portion of the control assembly of the machine of Fig. 1, with some parts omitted for the sake of simplicity.
Fig. 3 is a simplified cross section view generally as seen along line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with some components omitted for the sake of simplicity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an automatic clothes washing machine 10 of the top loading type, incorporating one embodiment of the present invention. The machine 10 includes a cabinet 11 and a control assembly or backsplash 12.
The cabinet 11 includes a top member 13 with a lid 14, providing access to the interior of the machine. The control assembly includes a rear wall (not shown) and a pair of end caps, one of which is shown at 15. The rear wall and end caps are mounted to the cabinet 11 and support a control mounting member or plate 16 and a cover member or plate 17, both of which are best shown in Fig. 2.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 8 5 An illustrative control assembly as thus far described is shown and described in detail in co-pending US Patent Application SN. 9D-HL-18718, of Jon Katz et al, assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention, which co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to Fig.'s 2 and 3, the control mounting member or plate 16 is formed from a relatively heavy metal, such as sheet steel for example, and supports various controls such as timer 18, water level control 19 and inlet water temperature control 20. Normally clothes washers include a number of push button actuated switches to enable the operator to select various aspects of the washing operation. In the exemplification machine 10 a number of these switches are incorporated into a switch assembly 22 that is mounted on the plate 16.
The plate 16 includes a planar body 24 with an elongated rib 25 along its top edge and an elongated rib 26 along its lower edge. The ribs 25,26 project forward of the body 24, that is toward the cover plate 17. A flange 27 projects rearward along the top edge of top rib 25, while several tabs 28 project from the bottom edge of the lower rib 28. A transverse slot 29 extends across each of the tabs 28. End pieces 30,31 are mounted to the ends of control mounting plate 16 so as to effectively form parts of member 16. The fronts 32,33 of the end pieces connect the ends of ribs 25,26 and form a continuous rib 34 extending completely around the periphery of the member 16.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 The cover plate 17 conveniently is formed from a relatively thin sheet of a suitable metal, such as aluminum, and conveniently has graphic elements on its face, including indicia associated with various controls. The cover plate 17 is in the form of a generally rectangular, generally planar body 36 with a rim 37 extending along the top, bottom and ends of the body 36 and projecting to the rear, that is toward the mounting plate 16.
The corners of the body 36 are curved, as is the intersection of the body 36 and rim 37, so that the cover plate can be drawn from a single sheet of material without rupturing. A plurality of tabs depend from the rim 37 along the bottom of plate 17 and correspond to the slots 29 in tabs 28 along the bottom of mounting plate 16. Along the top of cover plate 17 the rim 37 extends into a flange 39.
The members or plates 16,17 are assembled in overlying juxtaposition by inserting the tabs 38 into the slots 29 and rotating the members 16,17 together so that the rib 34 around member 16 fits against the rear surface of member 17 and closely within the rim 37 around the periphery of member 17. The tabs 38 are then bent over to secure the plates 16,17 together. Additionally the flanges 27,39 conveniently are joined by screws, which have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The switch assembly 22 includes a generally rectangular, box like housing 42 with a front face 43 and with mounting ears 44 projecting outwardly from its the top and bottom adjacent its rear. A
plurality of push button actuators 45 project forward of the front face 43 and are depressed to PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7068~
move various sliders and thus operate contact pairs located within the housing 42. In the exemplification switch assembly 22 the switches are arranged in a single horizontal row. If desired they could be arranged in two or more parallel rows or in some other contiguous arrangement. It is significant to the present invention only that the push buttons be in a contiguous area (such as the rectangle surrounding the push buttons 45). Such switch mechanisms are well known in the art and the internal components of switch assembly 22 have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The planar body 24 of control mounting member 16 includes an opening 48 which is sized to receive the switch housing 42. The switch assembly 22 is mounted on the mounting member 16 by inserting the housing through the opening 48 until the ears 44 engage the rear or back of plate 16 and then securing the ears 44 to the body 24 by screws 49.
As will be discussed in detail hereafter, the ears are positioned relative to the front face 43 of housing 42 such that the housing extends beyond the planar body 24 a distance less than the height of the rib 34.
Referring to Fig.'s 2 and 3, the planar body 36 of cover plate 17 includes a recessed portion 52 which has a generally rectangular configuration.
An opening 53 is formed in the recessed portion 52, surrounded by a planar ledge 54. The recessed portion and opening are positioned so that the opening 53 is aligned with the switch assembly 22 and the opening 53 is sized to encompass the contiguous area surrounding the push buttons 45.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 The switch housing is positioned so that, when the control mounting member 16 and cover member 17 are in juxtaposed overlying relationship, as seen in Fig.'s 1 and 3, the ledge 54 will abut the switch housing 42 and the push buttons 45 will be positioned in opening 53, in alignment with ledge 54.
A thin cover sheet 56 of a suitable flexible material, such as the polycarbonate material sold by General Electric Company under the trademark LEXAN, is mounted in the recessed area 52.
Conveniently the sheet 56 and cover plate 17 are connected by an adhesive joint, indicated by cross hatched area 57. The adhesive can be formed in any suitable manner, such as by a separate body of adhesive or by a double backed adhesive tape, for example. The depth of the recessed area 52 is substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet 56 so that the front of the sheet is in substantially the same plane as the front of plate 17. Thus the plate and sheet present a substantially uninterrupted surface which is easy for the user to clean. Indicia areas 58 are indicated on the front face 43 of the switch housing 42, aligned with the push buttons 45, and similarly aligned indicia areas 59 are indicated on the sheet 56. In the exemplification embodiment the areas 58 contain indicia of the function controlled by the associated push button; the sheet 56 is generally opaque and the areas 59 are clear so that an operator can see the indicia in areas 58. If desired the indicia can be placed on the sheet 56 or can be placed on the plate 17, in PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 85 alignment with the push buttons; Areas 60 on the sheet are depressed to operate the associated push buttons. The areas 60 can be indicated by some indicia printed on the sheet or by a physical change in the sheet, such as by raising them from the remaining surface of sheet 56, for example.
As seen in Fig. 3, the push buttons are in close proximity to, and preferably just touch, the rear surface of the sheet 56. The rear surface of the planar ledge 54 around the opening 53 in cover member 17 is in close proximity to, and preferably just touches, the front face 43 of switch housing 42. This assures that only minimal deflection of the sheet 56 is needed to depress the push buttons.
The portions of mounting member top and bottom ribs 25,26 aligned with the recessed portion 52 of member 17 are connected to the member 17 by adhesive joints, as indicated by cross hatched areas 62,63 respectively, formed in some suitable manner, such as by a body of adhesive or by double backed adhesive tape for example. This provides additional strength and rigidity to the control assembly, particularly in the area of the interface between sheet 56 and push buttons 45.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This invention relates to appliances, such as clothes washers and clothes dryers for example, and more particularly to improved control arrangements for such appliances.
For years mechanical switches of the push button actuated, slider operated type have been used on such appliances. As is well known, depressing a selected push button, or actuator, of such a switch causes one or more of the sliders contained within the switch to move relative to other sliders. This causes various switch contact pairs to open and/or close as desired. One such illustrative mechanism is shown and described in US
Patent No. 3,569,639, entitled Pushbutton Switch Assembly With Multiple Momentary Action, issued to Steward A. Woodward and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention; which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Push button/slider operated switches are especially adapted for use in such appliances as various operations require different settings of a number of different switch contact pairs.
Typically such switch mechanisms are mounted on such appliances in a control assembly or backsplash with the various push button actuators projecting from one side or face of the assembly cover member.
In the past such switch mechanisms were mounted in the appliance control assembly with individual push buttons projecting through individual openings in the cover member or plate of the assembly. One PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 85 disadvantage of such an arrangement is that it is difficult to clean around the individual actuators.
More recently various types of "electronic"
switch mechanisms, such as capacitive touch and membrane switches, have come into use; particularly in connection with calculators and other electronic machines. Consumers often view such switch arrangements as indicating a higher quality or more modern product. For this and other reasons, appliance and mechanical switch manufacturers have improved push button/slider operated switches in a number of aspects. One result is that in present day switch mechanisms a significantly shorter stroke of the push button actuators is needed to operate the sliders than in prior such mechanisms.
This enables push button/slider operated switches to be used in conjunction with flexible cover sheets to provide a look and feel similar to electronic switches.
A number of attempts have been made to adapt such switch mechanisms to appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, without complete success. A typical approach has been to mount the flexible cover sheet directly over the switch housing and to then mount the switch housing and cover sheet behind the cover plate of the control assembly or backsplash, with the push buttons and cover sheet aligned with an opening in the cover plate. This enables the sheet to be depressed a 30 mi nimllm distance when actuating any push button.
However, the opening in the cover plate exposing the switch mechanism and flexible cover sheet presents a recession which is hard to keep clean.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance with an improved control assembly.
It is another object of this invention to provide such an improved appliance control assembly in which the switch actuators are activated through a flexible sheet, while the control assembly presents a generally planar surface to the user.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a control assembly for a household appliance includes a generally planar control mounting plate and a generally planar cover plate mounted in overlying juxtaposition. A rib extends around the periphery of the mounting plate and projects toward the cover plate. A flange extends around the periphery of the cover plate and projects toward the mounting plate. The rib abuts the cover plate and fits closely within the flange.
A switch mechanism includes a housing with a plurality of switch actuators projecting from one side thereof in a contiguous area. The switch housing is mounted to the mounting plate with the switch actuators positioned within the rib and projecting toward the cover plate. The cover plate has a recess projecting toward the mounting plate.
An opening in the recess is aligned with and encompasses the contiguous area of the switch actuators. The distal ends of the actuators are generally aligned the recess and a thin flexible cover sheet is mounted in the recess so that PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 706 85 selected actuators are activated by depressing corresponding areas of the sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a somewhat simplified, fragmentary front perspective view of an automatic clothes washing machine of the top loading type, incorporating one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the control mounting portion of the control assembly of the machine of Fig. 1, with some parts omitted for the sake of simplicity.
Fig. 3 is a simplified cross section view generally as seen along line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with some components omitted for the sake of simplicity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an automatic clothes washing machine 10 of the top loading type, incorporating one embodiment of the present invention. The machine 10 includes a cabinet 11 and a control assembly or backsplash 12.
The cabinet 11 includes a top member 13 with a lid 14, providing access to the interior of the machine. The control assembly includes a rear wall (not shown) and a pair of end caps, one of which is shown at 15. The rear wall and end caps are mounted to the cabinet 11 and support a control mounting member or plate 16 and a cover member or plate 17, both of which are best shown in Fig. 2.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 8 5 An illustrative control assembly as thus far described is shown and described in detail in co-pending US Patent Application SN. 9D-HL-18718, of Jon Katz et al, assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention, which co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to Fig.'s 2 and 3, the control mounting member or plate 16 is formed from a relatively heavy metal, such as sheet steel for example, and supports various controls such as timer 18, water level control 19 and inlet water temperature control 20. Normally clothes washers include a number of push button actuated switches to enable the operator to select various aspects of the washing operation. In the exemplification machine 10 a number of these switches are incorporated into a switch assembly 22 that is mounted on the plate 16.
The plate 16 includes a planar body 24 with an elongated rib 25 along its top edge and an elongated rib 26 along its lower edge. The ribs 25,26 project forward of the body 24, that is toward the cover plate 17. A flange 27 projects rearward along the top edge of top rib 25, while several tabs 28 project from the bottom edge of the lower rib 28. A transverse slot 29 extends across each of the tabs 28. End pieces 30,31 are mounted to the ends of control mounting plate 16 so as to effectively form parts of member 16. The fronts 32,33 of the end pieces connect the ends of ribs 25,26 and form a continuous rib 34 extending completely around the periphery of the member 16.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 The cover plate 17 conveniently is formed from a relatively thin sheet of a suitable metal, such as aluminum, and conveniently has graphic elements on its face, including indicia associated with various controls. The cover plate 17 is in the form of a generally rectangular, generally planar body 36 with a rim 37 extending along the top, bottom and ends of the body 36 and projecting to the rear, that is toward the mounting plate 16.
The corners of the body 36 are curved, as is the intersection of the body 36 and rim 37, so that the cover plate can be drawn from a single sheet of material without rupturing. A plurality of tabs depend from the rim 37 along the bottom of plate 17 and correspond to the slots 29 in tabs 28 along the bottom of mounting plate 16. Along the top of cover plate 17 the rim 37 extends into a flange 39.
The members or plates 16,17 are assembled in overlying juxtaposition by inserting the tabs 38 into the slots 29 and rotating the members 16,17 together so that the rib 34 around member 16 fits against the rear surface of member 17 and closely within the rim 37 around the periphery of member 17. The tabs 38 are then bent over to secure the plates 16,17 together. Additionally the flanges 27,39 conveniently are joined by screws, which have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The switch assembly 22 includes a generally rectangular, box like housing 42 with a front face 43 and with mounting ears 44 projecting outwardly from its the top and bottom adjacent its rear. A
plurality of push button actuators 45 project forward of the front face 43 and are depressed to PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7068~
move various sliders and thus operate contact pairs located within the housing 42. In the exemplification switch assembly 22 the switches are arranged in a single horizontal row. If desired they could be arranged in two or more parallel rows or in some other contiguous arrangement. It is significant to the present invention only that the push buttons be in a contiguous area (such as the rectangle surrounding the push buttons 45). Such switch mechanisms are well known in the art and the internal components of switch assembly 22 have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The planar body 24 of control mounting member 16 includes an opening 48 which is sized to receive the switch housing 42. The switch assembly 22 is mounted on the mounting member 16 by inserting the housing through the opening 48 until the ears 44 engage the rear or back of plate 16 and then securing the ears 44 to the body 24 by screws 49.
As will be discussed in detail hereafter, the ears are positioned relative to the front face 43 of housing 42 such that the housing extends beyond the planar body 24 a distance less than the height of the rib 34.
Referring to Fig.'s 2 and 3, the planar body 36 of cover plate 17 includes a recessed portion 52 which has a generally rectangular configuration.
An opening 53 is formed in the recessed portion 52, surrounded by a planar ledge 54. The recessed portion and opening are positioned so that the opening 53 is aligned with the switch assembly 22 and the opening 53 is sized to encompass the contiguous area surrounding the push buttons 45.
PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 21 7 0 6 8 5 The switch housing is positioned so that, when the control mounting member 16 and cover member 17 are in juxtaposed overlying relationship, as seen in Fig.'s 1 and 3, the ledge 54 will abut the switch housing 42 and the push buttons 45 will be positioned in opening 53, in alignment with ledge 54.
A thin cover sheet 56 of a suitable flexible material, such as the polycarbonate material sold by General Electric Company under the trademark LEXAN, is mounted in the recessed area 52.
Conveniently the sheet 56 and cover plate 17 are connected by an adhesive joint, indicated by cross hatched area 57. The adhesive can be formed in any suitable manner, such as by a separate body of adhesive or by a double backed adhesive tape, for example. The depth of the recessed area 52 is substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet 56 so that the front of the sheet is in substantially the same plane as the front of plate 17. Thus the plate and sheet present a substantially uninterrupted surface which is easy for the user to clean. Indicia areas 58 are indicated on the front face 43 of the switch housing 42, aligned with the push buttons 45, and similarly aligned indicia areas 59 are indicated on the sheet 56. In the exemplification embodiment the areas 58 contain indicia of the function controlled by the associated push button; the sheet 56 is generally opaque and the areas 59 are clear so that an operator can see the indicia in areas 58. If desired the indicia can be placed on the sheet 56 or can be placed on the plate 17, in PATENT - Docket No. 9D-HL-18719 2 1 7 0 6 85 alignment with the push buttons; Areas 60 on the sheet are depressed to operate the associated push buttons. The areas 60 can be indicated by some indicia printed on the sheet or by a physical change in the sheet, such as by raising them from the remaining surface of sheet 56, for example.
As seen in Fig. 3, the push buttons are in close proximity to, and preferably just touch, the rear surface of the sheet 56. The rear surface of the planar ledge 54 around the opening 53 in cover member 17 is in close proximity to, and preferably just touches, the front face 43 of switch housing 42. This assures that only minimal deflection of the sheet 56 is needed to depress the push buttons.
The portions of mounting member top and bottom ribs 25,26 aligned with the recessed portion 52 of member 17 are connected to the member 17 by adhesive joints, as indicated by cross hatched areas 62,63 respectively, formed in some suitable manner, such as by a body of adhesive or by double backed adhesive tape for example. This provides additional strength and rigidity to the control assembly, particularly in the area of the interface between sheet 56 and push buttons 45.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (13)
1. In an appliance including a housing and a control assembly mounted on said housing, said control assembly including:
a control mounting member; a push button switch assembly mounted to said mounting member and including a plurality of push button switch actuators arrayed in a contiguous area; said mounting member including a portion defining an opening therethrough aligned with and encompassing said push button switch actuators; said push button switch actuators projecting beyond said portion of said mounting member;
a cover member mounted in juxtaposed overlying relationship with said mounting member; said cover member being spaced from said portion of said mounting member; said cover member including a recessed area containing an opening therethrough aligned with and encompassing said contiguous area around said push button switch actuators; said push button switch actuators extending into said cover member opening;
a thin, flexible sheet mounted in said recessed area of said cover member, whereby said push button switch actuators are activated by depression of corresponding portions of said flexible sheet.
a control mounting member; a push button switch assembly mounted to said mounting member and including a plurality of push button switch actuators arrayed in a contiguous area; said mounting member including a portion defining an opening therethrough aligned with and encompassing said push button switch actuators; said push button switch actuators projecting beyond said portion of said mounting member;
a cover member mounted in juxtaposed overlying relationship with said mounting member; said cover member being spaced from said portion of said mounting member; said cover member including a recessed area containing an opening therethrough aligned with and encompassing said contiguous area around said push button switch actuators; said push button switch actuators extending into said cover member opening;
a thin, flexible sheet mounted in said recessed area of said cover member, whereby said push button switch actuators are activated by depression of corresponding portions of said flexible sheet.
2. An appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said flexible sheet is of a predetermined thickness and said cover member recessed area has a depth approximately equal to the thickness of said flexible sheet.
3. An appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet is mounted in said recessed area by means of an adhesive joint.
4. An appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said opening in said cover member is generally rectangular in form and said mounting member abuts said cover member in areas along at least a pair of opposite sides of said cover member opening.
5. An appliance as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said abutting areas of said mounting and cover members are joined by an adhesive joint.
6. A control assembly mounted on the housing of a household appliance and mounting controls for said appliance, said assembly including:
a generally planar control mounting plate and a generally planar cover plate positioned in overlying juxtaposition;
said mounting plate having a periphery with an elongated rib extending therearound and projecting a predetermined distance toward said cover plate;
said cover plate having a periphery with a flange extending therearound and projecting toward said mounting plate;
said mounting plate rib abutting said cover plate and fitting closely within said cover plate flange;
a switch mechanism including a housing with a plurality of switch actuators projecting from one side thereof in a contiguous area;
said switch housing mounted to said mounting plate with said switch actuators positioned within said rib and projecting toward said cover plate;
said cover plate including a recessed portion thereof projecting toward said mounting plate with an opening in said recessed portion aligned with and encompassing the contiguous area around said switch actuators;
said switch actuators including distal ends generally aligned with said recessed portion;
a thin flexible sheet mounted in said recessed portion , whereby said switch actuators selectively are activated by depressing corresponding portions of said sheet.
a generally planar control mounting plate and a generally planar cover plate positioned in overlying juxtaposition;
said mounting plate having a periphery with an elongated rib extending therearound and projecting a predetermined distance toward said cover plate;
said cover plate having a periphery with a flange extending therearound and projecting toward said mounting plate;
said mounting plate rib abutting said cover plate and fitting closely within said cover plate flange;
a switch mechanism including a housing with a plurality of switch actuators projecting from one side thereof in a contiguous area;
said switch housing mounted to said mounting plate with said switch actuators positioned within said rib and projecting toward said cover plate;
said cover plate including a recessed portion thereof projecting toward said mounting plate with an opening in said recessed portion aligned with and encompassing the contiguous area around said switch actuators;
said switch actuators including distal ends generally aligned with said recessed portion;
a thin flexible sheet mounted in said recessed portion , whereby said switch actuators selectively are activated by depressing corresponding portions of said sheet.
7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said flexible sheet has a predetermined thickness and said cover plate recessed portion has a depth approximately equal to the thickness of said flexible sheet.
8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said flexible sheet is mounted in said recessed portion by means of an adhesive joint.
9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said rib and said cover plate are united by an adhesive joint adjacent said recessed portion of said cover plate.
10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein:
said mounting plate defines an opening therein aligned with said opening in said cover plate and of sufficient size to receive said switch housing;
said switch housing being mounted to said mounting plate from the side of said mounting plate opposite said cover plate and extending through said opening in said mounting plate with said switch actuators projecting toward said cover plate.
said mounting plate defines an opening therein aligned with said opening in said cover plate and of sufficient size to receive said switch housing;
said switch housing being mounted to said mounting plate from the side of said mounting plate opposite said cover plate and extending through said opening in said mounting plate with said switch actuators projecting toward said cover plate.
11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said switch housing extends through said opening in said mounting plate a distance no more than the distance between said mounting plate and said recessed portion of said cover plate.
12. An assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said recessed portion of said cover plate abuts said switch housing.
13. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein:
said cover plate recessed portion is generally rectangular;
said mounting plate rib extends adjacent to at least an opposed pair of sides of said recessed portion; and said opposed sides of said cover plate recessed portion and said adjacent parts of said rib are connected by an adhesive joint.
said cover plate recessed portion is generally rectangular;
said mounting plate rib extends adjacent to at least an opposed pair of sides of said recessed portion; and said opposed sides of said cover plate recessed portion and said adjacent parts of said rib are connected by an adhesive joint.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US41617395A | 1995-04-04 | 1995-04-04 | |
| US08/416,173 | 1995-04-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2170685A1 true CA2170685A1 (en) | 1996-10-05 |
Family
ID=23648875
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2170685 Abandoned CA2170685A1 (en) | 1995-04-04 | 1996-02-29 | Appliance control assembly including improved push button actuating arrangement |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2170685A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107304511A (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-31 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | A kind of washing machine master control borad and roller washing machine |
-
1996
- 1996-02-29 CA CA 2170685 patent/CA2170685A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107304511A (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-31 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | A kind of washing machine master control borad and roller washing machine |
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