EP2525342A1

EP2525342A1 - Decorative covering

Info

Publication number: EP2525342A1
Application number: EP12168390A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Giacomini
Original assignee: Indesit Co SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 2011-05-20
Filing date: 2012-05-16
Publication date: 2012-11-21
Also published as: ITRN20110037A1

Abstract

A decorative covering (1) of a portion of an electrical domestic appliance is flexible, exhibits a mean thickness of less than 1.5 millimetres and comprises magnetic means suitable for removable connection with a metal support external to the covering. The mean thickness being defined by the ratio between the volume of the covering (1) and an area of a reference surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a decorative covering of a portion of an electrical domestic appliance.
There are known electrical domestic appliances provided with a user interface comprising a plurality of switches (knobs or buttons) which protrude outward from a front surface of the electrical domestic appliance. This surface is substantially fixed relative to other portions of the electrical domestic appliance and exhibits a plurality of icons or graphic elements situated in proximity to the switches. A drawback of such electrical domestic appliances is tied to the cleaning of said front surface. In fact, the presence of the switches is an obstacle to the passage of a damp cloth for cleaning. This drawback is particularly evident when the front surface is made of a material which emphasizes the presence of dirt or more simply of fingerprints. A further drawback is tied to the fact that the graphic elements applied on said front surface require the use of words or expressions in a predetermined language. Consequently, given standardized mass production, user interfaces could be sold which bear expressions in a language other than that of the country in which the electrical domestic appliance is placed on the market. A further constraint imposed by mass production is also the fact of having to preliminarily choose the aesthetics of the front.
In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose an aesthetic covering which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art (difficulty of cleaning, problems of adapting a mass-produced electrical domestic appliance to the specific needs of some users, etc.).
A further important object of the present invention is to provide an aesthetic covering that can be adapted to particular concavities or convexities of the surface on which it is applied.
The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by an aesthetic covering comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate, and hence non-restrictive, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an electrical device as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first solution of a covering according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a schematic view of a second solution of a covering according to the present invention;
figures 3 and 4 show a schematic side view of a covering according to the present invention;
figures 5 and 6 show further constructive solutions of the covering according to the present invention.
figure 7 shows a schematic view of an electrical domestic appliance comprising a covering according to the present invention.

With reference to the appended figures, the reference number 1 indicates a decorative covering of a portion of an electrical domestic appliance (e.g. an oven, cooker, dishwasher or refrigerator). Said decorative covering 1 is of an interchangeable type. The decorative covering 1 is flexible. The flexibility is thus such as to enable the user to effortlessly bend the covering 1 by hand.
In particular, the covering 1 exhibits a mean thickness of less than 1.5 millimetres. The reduced thickness favours the flexibility of the covering 1. The mean thickness is defined by the ratio between the volume of the covering 1 and an area of a reference surface. When an imaginary reference plane 36 is positioned parallel to an imaginary main development surface 35 of the covering 1, the perpendicular projection of the covering on the imaginary reference plane 36 defines said reference surface. In the preferred solution, the covering 1 has a mean thickness of less than 1 millimetre. In the preferred solution the maximum thickness of the covering 1 is less than 3 millimetres (for example, in the case in which Braille indications are present, as better described below).
The covering 1 further comprises magnetic means 2 suitable for removable connection with a metal support external to the covering 1.
Such flexibility permits the covering 1 to be easily adapted to any concavities or convexities of the support on which it is placed.
The interchangeability of the covering 1 allows an aesthetic personalisation thereof. It also enables it to be coordinated with at least one furnishing element (which may or may not be part of the electrical domestic appliance on which the covering 1 is applied). Moreover, the removability of the covering 1 enables a thorough cleaning thereof after its removal from electrical domestic appliance. Conveniently, but not necessarily, the covering 1 is waterproof. It could possibly also be placed in a dishwasher for cleaning. In the preferred solution, the covering 1 comprises an external perimeter 34 suitable for surrounding an imaginary rectangle, the sides of which have dimensions of 30 centimetres and 5 centimetres. Preferably, the external perimeter 34 of the covering 1 is rectangular. In the preferred solution, the rectangle of the external perimeter 34 of the covering 1 has dimensions of about 590x110 millimetres.
In particular, the covering 1 comprises at least a decorative layer 31. Said decorative layer 31 could feature particular patterns or graphic symbols or else be monochromatic.
Preferably, the decorative layer 31 has a thickness of between 100 and 250 micrometres. Conveniently, the decorative layer 31 has a face 42 turned toward the outside of the covering 1. Conveniently said face is anti-fingerprint (in the technical jargon of the sector, this expression indicates that the material is such as to attenuate the signs of a person's fingerprint on the covering 1 - so that is difficult to perceive with the naked eye -). Conveniently, the covering 1 comprises a plurality of superimposed layers.
For example, the magnetic means 2 comprise a magnetic layer 32 which develops parallel to the decorative layer 31. In the preferred solution, the magnetic layer 32 has a thickness of between 400 and 800 micrometres. Said magnetic layer 32 is obtained from a material that permanently retains its magnetic capacities.
The covering 1, and more in particular the decorative layer 31, is resistant at least to a temperature of about 110°C.
Conveniently, the magnetic layer 32 develops substantially at least along the entire perimeter of the decorative layer 31. This prevents the decorative layer 31 from folding up and curling at the edges or vertices of the covering 1. Conveniently, the magnetic layer 32 develops substantially along the entire extent of the decorative layer 31, possibly with the exception of an area corresponding to at least one window fashioned in the covering 1, which makes it possible to see through the covering 1 itself.
In the preferred solution, the decorative layer 31 is made of polycarbonate.
The decorative layer 31 is conveniently a writing board 320; it can typically be written on with water-based marker pens and is erasable. For example, this operation could not be advantageously done directly on steel, as it would be left stained. Preferably, said writing board could be white.
The covering 1 comprises bi-adhesive layer 33 interposed between the decorative layer 31 and the magnetic layer 32. One face of the bi-adhesive layer 31 is directly connected to the decorative layer 31 and another face of the bi-adhesive layer 33 is directly connected to the magnetic layer 32. Preferably, the bi-adhesive layer 33 has a thickness of between 30 and 90 micrometres. The covering 1 extends between a first face of said decorative layer 31 and a face of said magnetic layer 32.
Conveniently, the covering 1 comprises at least a first housing hole 4 for a switch 92 of the electrical domestic appliance.
The covering 1 comprises elements in relief which define at least a Braille indication. Conveniently, said elements in relief are located in proximity to said first housing hole 4 so as to signal the function of the switch intended to pass through said first hole. Conveniently, the covering 1 could comprise large-size graphic symbols for visually impaired elderly persons, located in proximity to said first hole 4.
Conveniently, the covering 1 comprises a plurality of pass-through holes 4 for the switches 92 of the electrical domestic appliance. Said switches 92 could comprise a knob 921 or a pushbutton 922. Conveniently, there are graphic symbols 43 located at least one of said pass-through holes 4 for switches 92 of the electrical domestic appliance. Conveniently, said graphic symbols 43 could be of a large size for visually impaired elderly persons. Instead of or in addition to said graphic symbols 43, elements in relief defining at least a Braille indication could be used.
The covering 1 may include at least a window 5 which permits a view therethrough. This is particularly important to enable a user to see a display 50 or an indicator light 51 of the electrical domestic appliance. In such a case, the window 5 would be placed over the display 50 and/or the indicator light 51. The window 5 could be an opening that passes through the covering. Alternatively, the window 5 could be a portion of the covering 1 that is at least in part transparent.
The subject matter of the present invention also relates to a system comprising:

a first covering 1a having one or more of the previously indicated features (typically said first covering comprises said at least a pass-through hole 4 for switches);
a second covering 1b having one or more of the previously indicated features.

The second covering 1b is separated from the first covering 1a and has no housing holes which pass through it. For example, said second covering 1b can comprise the writing board. Preferably, a same decorative graphic element 44 is visible in said first covering 1a (see figure 5). Conveniently, said graphic element 44 is also visible in said second covering 1b (see figure 6). Typically, said graphic element 44 is modular. It could repeat itself several times in an identical form in said first covering 1a and/or in said second covering 1b. Said graphic element 44 can be advantageously coordinated with furnishing elements external to said system.
The subject matter of the present invention also relates to an electrical domestic appliance 9 comprising:

a metal front surface 91;
a covering 1 applied removably to said front surface 91, said covering 1 having one or more of the previously described features.

The subject matter of the present invention also relates to an electrical domestic appliance 9 comprising said system comprising the first and second coverings 1a, 1b. Conveniently, the first covering 1a is placed above the second covering 1b. Conveniently, the electrical domestic appliance can comprise:

a user interface;
a treatment compartment which is located below the user interface and can be closed off by an access door. Conveniently, the first covering 1a is located at said user interface, the second covering 1b covers at least part of the door.

This could be, for example, the case of a dishwasher or oven.
In particular, in the case of an oven the second covering 1b could also perform a function of improving the heat insulation of the door.
The invention thus conceived enables many advantages to be gained.
In particular it permits the covering to be adapted to the shape of the support it is placed on. Moreover, it permits easy cleaning of the covering 1 after removal of the covering itself.
A further important advantage is the possibility of personalising the electrical domestic appliance and coordinating it with other furnishing elements.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it. Moreover, all the details may be replaced with technically equivalent ones. In practice, all of the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any whatsoever according to need.

Claims

A decorative covering of a portion of an electrical domestic appliance, characterised in that it is flexible, exhibits a mean thickness of less than 1.5 millimetres and comprises magnetic means (2) suitable for removable connection with a metal support external to the covering, the mean thickness being defined by the ratio between the volume of the covering and an area of a reference surface; when an imaginary reference plane (36) is positioned parallel to an imaginary main development surface (35) of the covering (1), the perpendicular projection of the covering on the imaginary reference plane (36) defining said reference surface.
The covering according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a mean thickness of less than 1 millimetre.
The covering according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises an external perimeter (34) suitable for surrounding an imaginary rectangle, the sides of which have dimensions of 30 centimetres and 5 centimetres.
The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a decorative layer (31).
The covering according to claim 4, characterised in that the magnetic means (2) comprise a magnetic layer (32) which develops parallel to the decorative layer (31).
The covering according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the magnetic layer (32) develops substantially at least along an entire perimeter of the decorative layer (31).
The covering according to claim 4 or 5 or 6, characterised in that said decorative layer (31) is a cancellable writing board (320) on which writing can be done using water-based marker pens.
The covering according to any one of claims from 4 to 7, characterised in that said decorative layer (31) is made of polycarbonate.
The covering according to any one of claims from 4 to 8, characterised in that it comprises a bi-adhesive layer (33) interposed between the decorative layer (31) and the magnetic layer (32), said bi-adhesive layer being connected to the decorative layer (31) and to the magnetic layer (32).
The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least a first housing hole (4) of a switch of the electrical domestic appliance.
The covering according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises elements in relief which define at least a Braille indication, the elements being located in proximity of said first housing hole (4) such as to signal the function of the switch.
The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a window (5) which permits a view there-through.
A system comprising:
- a first covering (1a) according to claim 10 or 11 or 12;

- a second covering (1b) according to any one of claims from 1 to 9, said second covering (1b) being separate from the first covering (1a) and being without holes crossing it.
The system according to claim 13, characterised in that a same decorative graphic element (44) is visible in both said first covering (1a) and in said second covering (1b).
An electrical domestic appliance comprising a metal front surface (91) and a covering (1) applied removably to said front surface (91), said covering (1) being according to one or more of claims from 1 to 12.