EP3149235B1

EP3149235B1 - A household appliance comprising a front panel

Info

Publication number: EP3149235B1
Application number: EP15707996.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sevim USTUNER VARDAR; Salih YILDIRIM; Aykun ACIL; Sema KARACA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-05-29
Filing date: 2015-03-06
Publication date: 2018-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-06
Also published as: TR201722611T3; WO2015180852A1; EP3149235A1

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a front panel.
Illuminated displays are provided on the front panels of household appliances that inform the user. In illuminated displays, light sources are used that are disposed on the printed circuit board behind the front panel. Holes are arranged on the front panel for the illuminated indicators and the light guides that provide the delivery of the light are fixed into the holes since light being dispersed by reflecting from different and multiple surfaces is an unwanted situation. Thus, the light can be transmitted by a single medium after the light source. Opaque light barriers are used between the light sources so that there is no optical crosstalk between the light sources that are close to one another. Liquid may enter through the gaps around the holes during the cleaning of the household appliance or due to other causes. The printed circuit board can be damaged when the liquid entering from the gaps reach the electronic components like the light source by moving along the light barrier.
In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20050003811 , a washing machine is disclosed, wherein the printed circuit board is covered by a water resistant material.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2009217712 , a washing machine is disclosed, that comprises a decorative panel that is mounted around the rotary knob for preventing light leakage.
In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20070066604 , a washing machine is disclosed, wherein water leakage into the light sources is prevented.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2013091904 , a washing machine is disclosed, that comprises a waterproof member that is disposed between the front panel and the circuit board so as to prevent water from permeating into the circuit board.
In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JPH07213471 , a washer is disclosed, wherein light leakage between the light sources is prevented by a double walled structure.
In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN1492098 , a washing machine is disclosed, comprising a light barrier having oppositely aligned walls.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance wherein the liquid leaking therein through the front panel is prevented from damaging the electronic components.
The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a front panel having consecutive holes, a printed circuit board that is positioned behind the front panel and that has light sources situated opposite the holes, a light barrier that isolates the light sources from one another and that has channels extending along the light source - hole, more than one light guide that is seated into the channel, that collects the light of the light source by one end and that delivers the light to the hole with the other end, a housing disposed between two consecutive channels, and more than one extension that extends between two consecutive holes and that is inserted into the housing when the light barrier is mounted in place. By creating a path for the liquid that may leak from the gaps between the holes to flow with effect of gravity, the liquiad is prevented from moving in the linear direction and damaging the electronic components like the light source.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the extension is longer than the length of the holes. Thus, when liquid leaks in through the gaps around the hole, the liquid is enabled to be collected on the extension in any case.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the extension is inclined so as to make an obtuse angle with the front panel. Thus, the liquid collected on the extension is enabled to remain thereon without flowing to other surfaces.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housings are inclined so as to face downward. When the liquid leaking through the gaps around the hole flows/drops on the light guide and/or the channel, it is enabled to move downwards and is prevented from flowing towards the light source.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a collection chamber is disposed just below the lowermost hole. The liquid leaking through the gaps around the holes flows downwards along the extension-housing pairs and is collected in the collection chamber. The discharge of the liquid collected in the collection chamber is realized by a discharge conduit, one end of which is connected to the collection chamber.
In the household appliance of the present invention, the liquid that may leak through the holes on the front panel is prevented from damaging the household appliance by means of modifications made on the rear surface of the front panel and the light barrier. Moreover, the extensions behind the front panel used in preventing the damage done by the liquid and the housings between the channels also function as the light barrier.
The model embodiments that relate to the household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the front perspective view of a household appliance related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the partial perspective view of the front panel rear surface in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the light barrier in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of the front panel, the printed circuit board, the light guide and the light barrier in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance
2. Front panel
3. Hole
4. Printed circuit board
5. Light source
6. Light barrier
7. Channel
8. Light guide
9. Housing
10. Extension
11. Collection chamber
12. Discharge conduit

The household appliance (1) comprises a front panel (2) having more than one consecutive hole (3), a printed circuit board (4) positioned behind the front panel (2), more than one light source (5) disposed on the printed circuit board (4), a light barrier (6) that is situated between the printed circuit board (4) and the front panel (2) and that isolates the light sources (5) from one another and that has more than one channel (7) extending between the light source (5) and the hole (3), and more than one light guide (8) that is seated into the channel (7), with one end extending to the light source (5) and the other end bearing against the holes (3) (Figure 1).
In the household appliance (1), the printed circuit board (4) is positioned behind the front panel (2) and the light sources (5) are aligned with the holes (3). The light sources (5) enable the user to be informed indicating the selected function in the household appliance (1). The light barrier (6) prevents the light belonging to different sources (5) from coupling with each other by means of the channels (7) isolating the light sources (5) from one another. The channels (7) are consecutively arranged and almost cover the distance between the printed circuit board (4) and the front panel (2) by extending from the light sources (5) towards the holes (3). The light guide (8) is seated into the channel (7) such that one end is aligned over the light source (5), the other end into the hole (3). The end of the light guide (8) entering into the hole (3) is snap-fitted into the hole (3). The light guide (8) collects the light emitted from the light source (5) and delivers into the respective hole (3), enabling the light to be seen.
The light barrier (6) of the present invention comprises a housing (9) situated between two consecutive channels (7). Furthermore, the household appliance (1) comprises an extension (10) that is disposed at the rear surface of the front panel (2) between two consecutive holes (3) and that extends so as to enter into the housing (9) (Figure 2, Figure 3).
An extension (10) is provided, that extends between two consecutive holes (3) on the rear wall of the front panel (2) and that enters into the housing (9) when the light barrier (6) is mounted in place. On the front panel (2) the consecutive structure of one hole (3)-one extension is situated opposite to the consecutive structure of one channel (7)-one housing (9) on the light barrier (6). As the extensions (10) enter into the housings (9), a stepped structure, one within the other, is seen when viewed from the side. Thus, the liquid that leaks through the gaps around the holes (3) is first collected on the extension (10), the liquid overflowing from the extension (10) fills into the housing (9) and the liquid overflowing from the housing (9) flows onto the extension (10) at the level below and this cycle is repeated. The liquid is enabled to move vertically instead of horizontally, thus prevented from reaching the printed circuit board (4) (Figure 4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the extension (10) is more than the width of the hole (3). Thus, when liquid leaks through one hole (3), the liquid is enabled to flow onto the extension just below the hole (3) and is prevented from flowing onto the light guide (8) at the level below and from reaching the light source (5) by flowing along the light guide (8) (Figure 2).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the extension (10) inserted into the housing (9) is inclined so as to face upwards. By means of the extension (10), the end of which extends upwards, the leaked liquid is prevented from moving uncontrollably due to the effect of the gravity.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housings (9) are inclined downwards. When viewed from the sideways cross section, the housing (9) and the extension (10) inserted into the housing (9) remain parallel to each other. With this embodiment, the liquid inside the housing (9) is transferred onto the extension (10) at the level below and the discharge process is accelerated. Thus, the condensation that may occur inside the household appliance (1) due to the heat within is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a collection chamber (11) positioned just below the consecutive extension (10) - housing (9) pairs and a discharge conduit (12), one end of which is connected to the collection chamber (11). The discharge of the liquid flowing downwards along the extension (10) - housing (9) pair is realized by the discharge conduit (12) (Figure 4).
In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the liquid that may leak through the light holes (3) on the front panel (2) is prevented from damaging the household appliance by guiding the liquid along the extension (10) - housing (9) pair. Furthermore, as the extensions (10) are inserted into the housings (9), the optical crosstalk that may occur between two consecutive light guides (8) is also prevented.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a front panel (2) having more than one consecutive hole (3), a printed circuit board (4) positioned behind the front panel (2), more than one light source (5) disposed on the printed circuit board (4), a light barrier (6) that is situated between the printed circuit board (4) and the front panel (2) and that isolates the light sources (5) from one another and that has more than one channel (7) extending between the light source (5) and the hole (3), and more than one light guide (8) that is seated into the channel (7), with one end extending to the light source (5) and the other end bearing against the holes (3), characterized by a housing (9) that is situated between two consecutive channels (7) and by an extension (10) that is disposed at the rear surface of the front panel (2) between two consecutive holes (3) and that extends so as to enter into the housing (9)
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the extension (10), the width of which is greater than the width of the hole (3).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the extension (10), the end of which is inclined so as to face upwards.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the housing (9) that is inclined downwards.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a collection chamber (11) positioned just below the consecutive extension (10), by housing (9) pairs and by a discharge conduit (12), one end of which being connected to the collection chamber (11).