EP1687571B1 - Household appliance comprising an operating strip - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance for insertion into a section of a worktop, with a control bar, in which at least one control element is arranged and which has on its underside a support surface for supporting the household appliance on the worktop.

Out DE 198 11 372 C2 is a hob with a translucent hob plate of glass ceramic as well as control and display elements known. The hob has a control bar with a, an operator facing control surface, below which a piezoelectric sensor is arranged, which detects a touch of the control surface and outputs a corresponding signal to the control unit. The control panel is a part of a stainless steel hob frame, which moves the glass ceramic plate like a frame and this carries. The hob frame is supported with its angled edge circumferentially on the top of a worktop. Between the underside of the hob frame and the worktop, a gasket moves the cooking surface of the worktop.

Further embodiments of control strips are known from the prior art. So is in the US Pat. No. 6,492,623 B1 a prefabricated set for the preparation of a cooking surface described. In this case, a frame is provided which has a projection in which operating elements are to be received. In the frame a glass ceramic plate is added, which serves as a cooking surface.

In the DE 82 31 895 U1 a cooktop is described in which a frame is made by a die-casting process and having a chamber spar for receiving controls. US 6,236,024 B1 describes a one-piece shaped hob with molded control bar, the control bar or at least its edge rests on a countertop.

In the US Pat. No. 6,455,819 B1 is described a approach for a hob, the approach is made of glass and can serve as a control bar. The approach is in the assembled state on the worktop.

According to the US 5,549,100 A a prefabricated glass plate is subsequently formed to produce the control bar. Passages for control buttons are introduced by drilling.

In the DE 198 17 195 C1 is a hob with operating area described. Here, the glass ceramic hob protrudes beyond the edge of a cutout in a worktop. In this edge area, the controls are arranged.

US 2002/014482 A1 relates to a control system for a hob. Here, the front of the hob is preferably inclined relative to the actual cooking surface down. In the front inclined area, the controls for the hob are arranged.

Finally revealed DE 198 11 372 A1 a household appliance with control and display elements, are used in the piezoelectric elements as controls.

A disadvantage of the known control strips is that they can either be manufactured only with great effort and / or can only be adequately aligned with the household appliance.

The object of the invention is to provide a household appliance for insertion into a section of a worktop, the control bar is supported on the worktop, is made in a simple manner and with high dimensional accuracy and can be positioned in the correct position relative to the household appliance.

The object of the invention is achieved by a household appliance having the features of patent claim 1. According to claim 1, the control bar is manufactured essentially by prototyping or milling. The production by prototyping or milling reduces the risk that the control panel warps. The support surface of the control bar can be designed flat in a simple manner, whereby a flat support of the support surface is ensured on the worktop. Such a planar support of the operating element on the Worktop is crucial in the application of piezo sensors as controls. These can be arranged on an underside of the control bar and detect an actuating pressure which is exerted on the top of the control bar by a user. The actuation pressure exerted by the user on the control panel is therefore reliably detected by the piezo sensor and not used to press the control panel into contact with the worktop.

Prototypes are understood to mean the production of a molded part from a shapeless starting material (eg granules, melt, powder, etc.). For this purpose, the informal starting material is introduced into a special forming tool (for example cast or pressed), in which it passes into the solid state by solidification or sintering. The molding formed in this way is removed from the mold. Through this manufacturing process, the control bar largely gets its required shape with high dimensional accuracy, whereby the number of post-processing steps is reduced. Such a high dimensional accuracy is particularly advantageous when using piezoelectric sensors. By prototyping or milling, it is possible to realize technically advantageous profile shapes on the control bar, which are not possible or only with great effort in only produced by continuous casting controls.

According to the invention, the control bar has at least one recess for a device component. Preferably, the control bar may have on its underside a plurality of separate recesses in which different device components are arranged. In this case, the control panel can be made of a solid semi-finished product made of solid material, which has a high dimensional stability. In the semi-finished product, only the recesses required for device components are incorporated. As a result, on the one hand, the control bar cost manufacturable. At the same time their stability is increased and their design appealing.

Furthermore, according to the invention, at least one mounting recess is formed in the control bar, in which a housing-side mounting flange with the control bar in abutment. The mounting recess is preferably provided on the underside of the control bar. The mounting recess simplifies the assembly of the Domestic appliance a positionally correct positioning of the control bar relative to the housing of the household appliance.

In a particular embodiment, the housing-side mounting flange can be set back in the mounting recess of the control bar relative to the support surface or flush with the support surface. Thus, the mounting flange is sunk in the mounting recess. The height of the control bar is therefore not increased by the mounting flange.

For a compact and rigid construction, it is preferred if the mounting recess is substantially surrounded by the support surface of the control bar. In this case, the mounting recess of the control bar outside the worktop cutout can be arranged on the top of the worktop.

Mounting technology is advantageous if an edge of the mounting recess limits the housing-side mounting flange substantially positive fit. This allows a positionally correct positioning of the housing-side mounting flange with the control bar can be further simplified.

Thus, the control bar is dimensionally stable on the housing of the household appliance, a plug-in recess may be formed on the underside of the control bar. In this a corresponding housing-side formed plug-in part is inserted during assembly. This plug-in part serves as an abutment which can absorb forces, for example a torque. Preferably, the plug-in recess can be formed within the mounting recess of the control bar. In this case, it is achieved that the plug-in part can be easily formed directly on the mounting flange, whereby a compact design is achieved. In order to provide a positive connection of the housing-side male part with the control bar in a simple manner, a plastic adapter can be used between the male part and the male recess of the control bar, which ensures a positive connection between the male part and the control bar.

To attach the control bar to the housing of the household appliance, the housing-side mounting flange may be connected via a screw with the mounting recess of the control bar.

In terms of stability, it is favorable if the material thickness of the control bar changes depending on the respective requirements. This also results in a high thermal stability of the control bar. At the same time, the risk of the control panel warping is reduced. Likewise, additional elements for the assembly of the control bar and their installation can be integrally formed on the control bar without much additional effort, whereby the assembly cost is further reduced. The aforementioned advantages can also be achieved by a control bar, which is essentially made by milling.

Figur 1

in einer perspektivischen Ansicht ein in einer Arbeitsplatte eingesetztes Kochfeld;

Figur 2

in einer Seitenschnittansicht abschnittsweise das Kochfeld entlang der Linie I-I aus der Figur 1;

Figur 3

in einer Explosionsansicht abschnittsweise das Kochfeld;

Figur 4

in einer Seitenschnittansicht abschnittsweise das Kochfeld entlang der Linie II-II aus der Figur 1;

Figur 5

eine Bedienleiste des Kochfeldes; und

Figur 6

ein in einer Gehäuseöffnung des Kochfelds einzusetzendes Durchführungselement.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures will be described. Show it:

FIG. 1

in a perspective view of a hob used in a countertop;

FIG. 2

in a side sectional view sections of the hob along the line II from the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

in an exploded view sections of the hob;

FIG. 4

in a side sectional view sections of the hob along the line II-II from the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5

a control panel of the hob; and

FIG. 6

a passage element to be inserted in a housing opening of the hob.

In the FIG. 1 is shown as a household appliance, a hob, which has a glass ceramic plate 1 with four different cooking zones. Below a decorative printing 3 of the cooking zones suitable heating elements are arranged in a conventional manner. The hob is inserted in a section of a worktop 5 and supported on an upper side of the worktop 5. At its, an operator facing front of the hob is supported via a control bar 7 on the worktop 5. On its other sides, the hob is supported over a peripheral edge of the glass ceramic plate 1 on the worktop 5. The control bar 7 consists of Aluminum and has on its top 9 circular lobes 11 for actuating the cooking zones. The control bar 7 may also be part of a closed hob frame, which moves the glass ceramic plate 1 like a frame.

The control bar 7 is in accordance with FIG. 2 formed wedge-shaped in cross section. The top 9 of the control bar 7 is slightly curved and inclined in the direction of the worktop 5. As a result, an optically advantageous as well as for cleaning smooth transition between the worktop 5 and the control bar 7 is reached.

The operation of the hotplates is done by a finger pressure on the corresponding bulge 11 according to the FIG. 1 , This finger pressure is picked up by a piezoelectric sensor 13 arranged on an underside of the control strip directly underneath the bulge 11 and converts the finger pressure into an electronic signal. According to the FIG. 2 the piezo sensor 13 is arranged in a recess 15 which is formed on the underside of the control bar 7. For the piezo sensor 13, a positioning recess 19 is incorporated in a bottom 17 of the recess 15, which simplifies the positionally correct positioning of the piezo sensor 13 within the recess 15. In addition, the wall thickness between the positioning recess 19 and the opposite protrusion 11 on the upper side is substantially reduced to increase responsiveness of the piezo sensor 13. The piezoelectric sensor is firmly embedded in the recess 15 via a potting compound 21 made of plastic.

Likewise on the underside of the control bar 7, a support surface 23 is formed, via which the hob is supported on the top of the worktop 5. The piezo sensor 13 is arranged offset from the support surface 23 in the recess 15 of the control bar 7. As a result, the control bar 7 - be supported without damage to the piezoelectric sensor 13 - in the recess 15 on the worktop 5. According to the FIG. 2 If the pressure is applied to the bulge 11, therefore, the worktop 1 acts as a stable abutment for the control bar, whereby a reliable pressure pickup is ensured by the piezo sensor 13.

To attach the control bar 7 to a housing 25 of the hob 25, two spaced-apart angle parts 29 are welded on an outer side of the housing 29 via its first leg 27. The housing 25 can be made in one piece or from several separate parts, such as a housing frame with a bottom cover. The angle parts consist of a steel sheet; one of the angle parts 29 is in the FIG. 3 shown. A bent second leg 28 is bent almost parallel to the glass ceramic plate 1 and has a mounting flange 31. The mounting flange 31 is inserted in the assembled state of the hob in a mounting recess 33 on the underside of the control bar 7.

The second leg 28 is not rectangular, but bent by a slightly smaller angle than 90 ° to the first leg 27. This results in that in the assembled state, the control bar 7 with its support surface 23 via a in the FIG. 3 shown inclination angle α is inclined by about 0.5 ° relative to the hob downwards. The angle 29 has sufficient elasticity. This ensures a reliable support of the control bar 7 on the worktop over its entire length, even with unevenness on the top of the worktop.

The mounting recess 33 is surrounded by the support surface 23. Like in the FIG. 3 shown, a sealing channel 41 is further formed on the underside of the control bar 7. In the sealing channel 41 is in the FIG. 4 shown sealing strip 43 glued, which extends circumferentially around the entire hob. Both the mounting recess 33 and the recess 15 for the piezoelectric sensors 13 are arranged within the sealing strip 43. The mounting flange 31 is recessed in the mounting recess 33 of the control bar 7. As a result, the height of the supported on the worktop 5 control bar 7 is reduced. By inserting the mounting flange 31 in the mounting recesses 33 is a positionally correct positioning of the control bar 7 relative to the housing 25 is achieved in a simple manner. For this purpose, an edge of the mounting recess 33 limits the housing-side mounting flange 31 in a substantially positive fit. The mounting flange 31 is according to the FIG. 4 between the control bar 7 and the top of the worktop arranged.

In addition to the mounting flange 31, two plug-in parts 45 are formed on the second leg 28, which are arranged in a plane with the first leg 27 welded to the housing 25 and are therefore oriented perpendicular to the glass ceramic plate 1. The mounting flange 31 is disposed between the two plug-in parts 45. In the assembled state of the hob, the mounting flange 31 is in planar contact with a contact surface 47, which is formed in the mounting recess 33. The mounting flange 31 can be screwed via a countersunk screw into a threaded hole 49, which is formed in the contact surface 47. The plug-in parts 45 also have a plastic adapter 51, via which the plug-in parts are positively inserted in a corresponding plug-in recess 53, which is formed within the mounting recess 33. In this way, formed perpendicular to the mounting flanges 31 plug-in parts 45 an abutment that ensures a dimensionally stable mounting of the control bar 7 on the housing 25. At the same time carried by the plug-in parts 45 during assembly of the control bar 7 on the housing 25, a centering of the control bar. 7

In the event that according to the FIG. 4 Gargutbehältnisse in an arrow direction F exert a weight force on the hob acts on the mounting flange 31 a Torque in the direction of arrow M. This torque is absorbed by the male parts 45 of the angle parts 25 substantially. The control bar 7 is therefore particularly dimensionally stable and rigidly mounted on the housing 25. According to the invention, the support surface 23 of the operating strip 7 is spaced apart from the cooktop housing 25 only by a narrow mounting gap s of, for example, 5 mm. Accordingly reduced is therefore a torque M associated lever arm length.

Between a glass ceramic plate 1 facing projection 57 of the control bar 7 and a support flange 59 of the housing 25, a side edge 55 of the glass ceramic plate 1 is arranged. Between the side edge 55 of the glass ceramic plate 1 and the control bar 7, a seal 61 is arranged.

The hob housing 25 is trough-shaped with raised side walls 63. The side walls 63 have at their upper end the right angles inwardly bent support flange 59. The support flange 59 of the side walls 63 is glued with a silicon adhesive, not shown, with an underside of the glass ceramic plate 1. With the exception of the front side, the glass-ceramic plate 1 is supported on its side edge 55 on the upper side of the worktop 5. Between the Glaskera nzikplatte 1 and the worktop 5, the circumferentially arranged sealing strip 43 is formed, which is guided in the region of the front control bar 7 in the sealing channel 41.

In the FIG. 5 is the bottom of the control bar 7 without the hob housing 25 and shown without piezoelectric sensors 13. The control bar 7 is made of an extruded profile of, for example, aluminum. In a further manufacturing step, the mounting recesses 33 are formed with the interposed recess 15 for the piezoelectric sensors 13 in the extruded profile by milling. The processing of the operating bar 7 by milling allows a high dimensional accuracy, whereby the number of post-processing steps is reduced. Further, the material thickness of the control bar 7 can be changed by milling with high dimensional accuracy and adapted to the respective requirements. For this reason, with the control bar, the risk that it warps, significantly reduced.

The electrical signals generated by the piezoelectric sensors 13 are conducted via connection lines 67 to an electronic control device 65 provided inside the housing 25. In the FIG. 2 one of the connection lines 67 is shown. The connecting lines 67 are combined to form a cable strand and guided out of the casting compound 21 cast into the depression 15. The ends of the connecting lines 67 are connected to one in the FIG. 6 indicated plug 68 in conjunction. This is guided by a provided in the housing side wall housing opening to the electronic control device 65 and connected thereto.

In the case opening is a in the FIG. 6 arranged in detail through-feed element 69. The feedthrough element 69 is made as a plastic injection molded part, which has a frame 71 which is inserted in the housing opening. The frame 71 defines a passage opening 73, through which the connecting lines 67 are guided protected by sheet edges of the housing opening to the control device 65. On an upper bar of the frame 71, a bearing flange 75 is formed, which is in the inserted state on the inside with the edge of the housing opening in abutment. On a lower frame strip of the frame 71, a latching tongue 77 is centrally formed, which engages in the side wall of the housing 25 for fixing the feedthrough element 69. Likewise, a flap-like actuator 79 is pivotally connected via a film hinge with the lower frame rail of the frame 71. Depending on its pivotal position, the actuator 79 may change a cross section of the passage opening 73.

When inserting the lead-through element 69, its bearing flange 75 is first guided from the outside through the housing opening of the housing and brought into contact with the edge region of the housing opening on the inside. Subsequently, the latching tab 77 is pressed into a corresponding latching cutout of the side wall of the housing.

In the FIG. 6 the flap-like actuator 79 is shown open, so that the cross-section of the passage opening 73 is increased accordingly. Thereby, the plug 68 can be guided in a simple manner through the passage opening 73 to the control device 65. The actuator 79 is formed substantially plate-like and has an angled shaped projection 81 which is formed with a groove-like recess 83. On the opposite side edges of the actuator 79 locking elements 85 are formed, which engage releasably behind the lateral frame strips of the lead-through frame 71 when the actuator 79 is closed. In this position of the actuator 79, the cross-section of the passage opening is reduced to a small gap formed between the groove-like recess 83 of the actuator extension 81 and the upper frame rail. In this case, the connection lines 67 are adequately fixed in terms of mounting technology. At the same time access to the connecting lines 67 is substantially more difficult with the actuator 79 closed by the angled actuator extension 81, since the housing outer side extending portion of the connecting lines 67 is almost completely shielded from the angled actuator extension 81 (see FIG. 2 ). The angled approach 81 of the actuator 79 also acts as a spacer, which after inserting the hob into the cutout of the worktop 5 according to the FIG. 4 a narrow mounting gap s between the housing 25 and the cut-out edge of the worktop 5 maintains, without the connecting lines 67 are damaged when inserting the hob.

According to the FIG. 5 is the recess 15 for the piezoelectric sensors 13 groove-shaped and formed centrally between the two longitudinal end faces of the control bar. To increase the torsional stability of the control bar 7 whose recess 15 is surrounded by solid material sections. In this case, a dimensional stability of the control bar by a front stabilizing wall 83 and a rear stabilizing wall 85 is increased, between which the recess 15 is arranged. At the front stabilizing wall 83 of the control bar 7, a wedge-shaped material section 87 connects in cross-section, whereby the dimensional stability in the front region of the control bar 7 is further increased.

On a side wall of the housing 25 bearing journals, not shown, are formed. When installing the hob in the worktop cut-out, these trunnions snap into spring elements of mounting rails, which are arranged at the edge of the worktop cutout. Once the journals are engaged in the spring elements of the mounting rails, press the spring elements of the mounting rails, the hob on the control bar 7 and the peripheral edge of the glass ceramic plate 1 against the top of the worktop. 5

Claims (14)

1. Household appliance for insertion into a cutout of a work surface (5), having an operating strip (7), in which at least one operating element (13) is arranged and which, on its underside, has a support surface (23) for supporting the household appliance on the work surface (5), wherein the operating strip (7) is essentially manufactured by primary forming or milling, wherein at least one indentation (11, 15, 33, 41) for an appliance component is embodied in the operating strip, characterised in that at least one indentation (11, 15, 33, 41) is an assembly indentation (33), in which a fastening flange (31) of an appliance housing part (25) is attached to the operating strip (7).
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that a material thickness of the operating strip (7) changes as a function of the respective requirements.
3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating strip (7) consists of a semi-finished part made of solid matter.
4. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the indentation (15, 33, 41) together with the support surface (23) is embodied on the underside of the operating strip (7).
5. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the housing-side fastening flange (31) in the assembly indentation (33) of the operating strip (7) is arranged rearwardly offset in respect of the support surface (23) of the operating strip (7) or sits flush with the support surface (23).
6. Household appliance according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the at least one indentation (15, 33, 41) is essentially surrounded by the support surface (23) of the operating strip (7).
7. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that an edge of the assembly indentation (33) delimits the housing-side fastening flange (31) in an essentially form-fit manner.
8. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a plug-in recess (53) for inserting a corresponding plug-in part (45) embodied on the housing part (25) is embodied within the assembly indentation (33) of the operating strip (7).
9. Household appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the plug-in part (45) is inserted in a form-fit manner in the plug-in recess (53) of the operating strip (7) by way of a plastic adapter (51).
10. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the housing-side fastening flange (31) is connected to the operating strip (7) by way of a screw connection.
11. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that a contact surface (47), to which contact surface the fastening flange (31) attaches in a detachable manner, is embodied within the assembly indentation (33) of the operating strip (7).
12. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that a number of assembly indentations which are distanced from one another are provided in the underside of the operating strip (7).
13. Household appliance according to claim 12, characterised in that at least one indentation (15) for the operating element (13) is embodied between the assembly indentations (33).
14. Household appliance according to one of the claims, characterised in that the assembly indentations (33) and/or the at least one indentation (15) for the operating element (13) are arranged in series one behind the other.

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