Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0025—Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14336—Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/28—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
  • D06F34/30—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
  • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
  • G05G1/30—Controlling members actuated by foot
  • G05G1/50—Manufacturing of pedals; Pedals characterised by the material used
  • G05G1/503—Controlling members for hand-actuation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0025—Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks
  • B29C2045/0027—Gate or gate mark locations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0018—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds having particular optical properties, e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
  • B29K2995/0025—Opaque
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0018—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds having particular optical properties, e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
  • B29K2995/0026—Transparent
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/46—Knobs or handles, push-buttons, grips
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
  • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
  • G05G1/08—Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
  • G05G1/10—Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a knob with improved appearance suitable for use in household appliances, and to the production method of said knob.
• the operation of the household appliances is usually controlled by means of knobs arranged on a control panel.
• the knobs When activated by the user, the knobs enable the user preferences to be transmitted to a control unit controlling the operation of the household appliance and thus, allows the users to control the operation of the household appliance. Consequently, the knobs are the elements most frequently contacted by the user and thereby, have a profound effect on the quality perception of the user. Therefore, some producers prefer to cover the outer surface of the knob with a transparent plastic material by the plastic injection molding method to improve the visual and tactile perception of the knobs. However, defects such as surface blemishes, roughs, burrs, etc. may be encountered at regions where the transparent plastic material is injected into the injection mold and said defects can be seen from outside due to the transparent properties of the material. Such defects caused by the injection process adversely affect the appearance of the knob and decrease the quality perception of the user.
• the aim of the present invention is the realization of a knob with improved appearance that is suitable for use in household appliances.
• the knob realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises an opaque body produced from opaque material, and a transparent cover that is in the form of a transparent layer surrounding the opaque body so as to allow the opaque body to be seen from outside and that is formed by covering the opaque body with the transparent plastic material by means of injection molding.
• the transparent cover is formed by filling the space between the opaque body placed into the injection mold and the inner surfaces of the injection mold, and comprises a peripheral skirt covering the lateral surface of the opaque body, a cap covering the front surface of the opaque body and a feeding section that is arranged on the skirt so as to allow firstly the formation of the skirt of the transparent cover in the mold and through which the transparent material flows into the injection mold.
• the knob comprises a flange that extends outwards from the opaque body so as to be almost perpendicular to the lateral surface of the opaque body, and the feeding section is arranged at the part of the skirt remaining behind the flange so as to be concealed by the flange.
• the defects in the feeding section are prevented from being visible when the knob is viewed from the front.
• the flange is formed by extending the edges of the front surface of the opaque body outwards.
• the knob comprises a collar that is produced from an opaque material and that surrounds the skirt.
• the part of the skirt remaining under the collar is concealed, and the feeding section on the skirt is prevented from being visible when viewed from the top.
• a visual indicator such as text, pattern, symbol, etc. is provided on the front surface of the opaque body.
• a flawless appearance is provided on the front surface of the opaque body since possible production errors occur on the skirt instead of the front surface, and visual indicators can be advantageously provided on the front surface of the knob.
• the usability of the knob is improved by means of the visual indicators that provide ease of use for the user.
• the front surface of the opaque body is concave, and the cap of the transparent cover that covers the front surface has a varying thickness.
• the front side of the knob is provided with a lens effect, and the visual attention is drawn towards the front side of the knob. Consequently, the quality perception of the knob is improved.
• the production method of the present invention comprises the steps of placing the opaque body into the mold; injecting the transparent material through a feeding section on the skirt into the space between the injection mold and the opaque body so as to form first the skirt and then the cap, and terminating the feeding of the transparent material through the feeding section.
• the knob is enabled to have a flawless appearance without additional production and molding costs, and the user satisfaction is improved.
• Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the knob related to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 - is the partial cross-sectional view of the knob related to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3 - is the partial cross-sectional view of the opaque body and the transparent cover related to another embodiment of the present invention.
• the knob (1) suitable for use in household appliances comprises an opaque body (2) produced from an opaque material; a transparent cover (5) that is formed by coating the opaque body (2) in an injection mold with a transparent material fed into the injection mold and that has having a cap (6) covering the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2) and a peripheral skirt (7) covering the lateral surface (4) of the opaque body (2), and a feeding section (8) that is arranged on the transparent cover (5) and that is the first part of the transparent cover (5) formed in the injection mold after the start of injecting the transparent material into the injection mold.
• the opaque body (2) is preferably disc-shaped, having a front surface (3) and a peripheral lateral surface (4) remaining behind the front surface (3).
• the opaque body (2) is placed into the injection mold (not shown in figures), and the transparent material is injected into the space between the injection mold and the opaque body (2) through a gate (not shown in figures) disposed at the feeding section (8).
• a gate not shown in figures
• the entire transparent cover (5) is formed as the space between the opaque body (2) and the injection mold is completely filled with the transparent material, and the transparent cover (5) takes the form of a shell having a cap (6) covering the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2) and a skirt (7) surrounding the lateral surface (4) thereof.
• the knob (1) of the present invention comprises the feeding section (8) that is arranged on the skirt (7).
• the feeding section (8) is arranged on the skirt (7) such that the transparent cover (5) starts to be formed starting from the skirt (7) during the formation thereof in the injection mold.
• the gate is placed in the mold so as to extend into the space wherein the skirt (7) is formed.
• At least one flange (9) that extends outwards from the lateral surface (4) of the opaque body (2) is provided on the opaque body (2), and the feeding section (8) is arranged on the skirt (7) so as to remain at least partially behind the flange (9) in a direction perpendicular to the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2).
• the flange (9) is in the form of a protrusion that extends outwards in the radial direction from over the opaque body (2) so as to be almost perpendicular to the lateral surface (4) of the opaque body (2).
• the feeding section (8) disposed on the skirt (7) remains behind the flange (9) in the direction perpendicular to the direction the flange (9) extends such that the feeding section (8) is concealed by the flange (9) when the knob (1) is viewed from the front.
• the feeding section (8) is advantageously concealed behind the flange (9).
• the flange (9) is arranged on the front edge of the opaque body (2) so as to be flush with the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2).
• the flange (9) is in the form of a peripheral protrusion that is formed on the front edge of the opaque body (2) and that is obtained by expanding the front surface (3) outwards in the radial direction.
• a collar (10) that is produced from an opaque material and that surrounds the skirt (7) is mounted onto the skirt (7).
• the collar (10) is produced from an opaque material such as metal, plastic, etc. and snap-fitted onto the skirt (5) so as to be on the outer lateral surface of the knob (1) that is grasped by the user.
• the feeding section (8) remains under the collar (10) in a direction perpendicular to the lateral surface (4) of the opaque body (2) and is prevented from being seen when the knob (1) is viewed from the top.
• the collar (8) a material with the desired specifications can be used in the part of the knob (1) grasped by the user and the visual and tactile perception of the knob (1) is improved.
• a visual imprint (not shown in figures) such as text, mark, pattern, symbol, etc. is provided on the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2).
• a visual imprint can be formed on the front surface (3) of the body (2) since no mark or vestige remains on the cap (6) of the transparent cover (5) or the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2).
• the functionality of the knob (1) is improved.
• the front surface (3) has a concave curvature.
• the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2) has a concave curvature.
• the cap (6) has a convex curvature that fills the concave structure in a matching form for the front surface (3) of the body (2).
• the cap (6) of the transparent cover (5) is in the form of a convex lens narrowing towards the edges, and the appearance of the visual imprint on the front surface (3) of the opaque body (2) is improved.
• the visual perception of the knob (1) is improved.
• the household appliance of the present invention comprises the above-described knob (1).
• the household appliance (1) is a laundry washing and/or drying machine.
• the knob (1) is a rotary knob and enables the washing-drying programs to be selected by being rotated by the user.
• the production method of the present invention comprises the steps of
• the defects that are formed as a result of the injection process are concealed in a simple and effective manner, and the appearance of the knob (1) is improved without the need for changing the mold.
• the visual marks are enabled to be advantageously provided on the knob (1) by preventing the formation of surface roughs during the production and the functionality of the knob (1) is improved.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=63762514

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2017
  • 2017-11-15 TR TR2017/17944A patent/TR201717944A2/tr unknown
• 2018
  • 2018-10-02 EP EP18782397.6A patent/EP3710218A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-10-02 WO PCT/EP2018/076785 patent/WO2019096485A1/en unknown

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