ES2894853T3 - Manual control device for a household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Manual control device for a household appliance, the control device (100) being shaped to connect to a control shaft, a movement action on said control device (100) entailing a movement on the control shaft, said device comprising control element (100): - a control element (100A) comprising a support part (2) and a moving part (1) mounted on a first side of said support part (2) and which is shaped to receive a movement action representative of a control, said support part (2) comprising a base and comprising, on a second side opposite said first side, fixing means (26) intended to fix said support part (2) to a support plate; and - a locking element (6) that is mounted on said second side of said support part (2) and that acts together with said fixing means (26) to lock said support part (2), said locking element comprising locking (6) a central part (62), said control device being characterized in that said locking element (6) comprises at least one end (63) that acts together with said fixing means (26), said fixing means extending (26) protruding from said base (21) of the support piece (2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Manual control device for a household appliance

The present invention relates to a manual control device, such as a control knob, for a household appliance.

It also relates to a control interface comprising such a manual control device.

A manual control device is intended for activation of a control by action on the control device. For example, a control device such as a control knob or a control button on a household appliance allows setting the value of operating parameters of the household appliance such as the power of a cooking light, the temperature of an oven, a washing or drying program, etc.

The manual control device or control knob is mounted on a support plate that forms a control band or control interface of a home appliance. The control interface allows users of the household appliance, for example, to select operating programs or values for operating parameters.

Conventionally, a manual control device is connected to a control shaft, a control shaft being a part that extends longitudinally along an axis and is connected at one of its ends to a sensor or to a mechanical or electromechanical actuator. . A moving action on the manual control device entails a rotational movement of the control shaft about the axis, this rotational movement of the control shaft putting into effect an associated control.

Thus, for example, a user who wishes to select the value of a parameter, such as a cooking power, or an operating program of the household appliance, exercises an action on the control knob, such as a rotation movement of the knob or a translation movement in the case of a push button. The control knob, being integral with the control shaft, drives the control shaft in motion, positioning it in such a way that it allows the actual execution of the selection made by the user.

Therefore, the control shaft is driven in motion by a moving action on the control knob so that a control is implemented.

Once the control shaft and control knob are installed in a home appliance, the control knob can be removed from the control shaft by a user.

When a knob is removed from the control shaft, internal parts of the appliance that are live are accessible to the user.

Therefore, a withdrawal of the control, for example inadvertently, can present a risk to a user. Document DE 102011007236 A1 discloses a manual control device according to the preamble of claim 1. Documents US 2008/0289940 A1, US 2012/0087721 A1, US 2005/0002664 A1 disclose features of the manual control device of claim 1.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a control device for an electrical household appliance that makes it possible to avoid risks for a user.

To this end, the invention refers, according to a first aspect, to a manual control device for an electrical household appliance, the control device being shaped to be connected to a control shaft, a movement action on the control device entailing a movement on the control axis. The control device comprises:

- a control element comprising a support part and a movable part mounted on a first side of said support part and which is shaped to receive a movement action representative of a control, said support part comprising a base and comprising, on a second side opposite to said first side, fixing means for fixing said support piece to a support plate; and

- a locking element that is mounted on the second side of the support part and that acts together with the fixing means to lock said support part.

According to the invention, the locking element comprises a central part and at least one end that it acts together with said fixing means, the fixing means extending protruding from the base of the support piece.

Due to the locking of the support part by means of the locking element, the control device is therefore locked, ie it can only be removed if the locking element is removed from the support part.

The locking element is positioned on a side of the support part that is opposite to the side on which the moving part receiving movement actions representative of controls is positioned.

Therefore, during use of the control device (the control device being mounted on a support plate), the first side of the support part is mounted in a manner accessible to users so that the moving part can receive motion actions. As the locking element is positioned on a side opposite to the first side, it is not accessible to users and cannot be removed from the support part when the control device is in use.

Therefore, the control device cannot be disassembled by mistake.

In addition, thanks to the joint action between said at least one end of the locking element and the fixing means of the support piece, the control device remains locked once assembled. According to one characteristic, said at least one end comprises a flange and the fixing means comprise at least one clipping element, said at least one flange hooking onto said at least one clipping element.

Consequently, the rim engaged on the clip element locks the clip element so that the support part cannot be disassembled once it has been assembled.

According to one characteristic, the central part has a substantially cylindrical shape and the support part comprises a central opening that houses said central part of said locking element.

Therefore, the central part of the locking element is inserted into a hole formed by the central opening of the support piece, said clipping element therefore being positioned around the central part of the locking element.

According to one characteristic, the central part comprises a peripheral surface that is arranged opposite an internal face of said at least one clipping element, said at least one end extending protruding from said peripheral surface and being in contact with an external face of said at least one clipping element. minus one clipping element.

In this way, the peripheral surface of the central part of the locking element is arranged protruding with respect to the base of the support part.

Therefore, said at least one clipping element is surrounded by the locking element, the central part of the locking element being in contact with the internal face of the clipping element and the end of the locking element being in contact with the external face of the clipping element.

According to one characteristic, the device further comprises a transmission element that transmits a movement of the moving part with respect to the support part, to the control axis.

Therefore, the moving part and the control shaft act together by means of the transmission element that transmits a movement of the moving part to the control shaft.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control interface comprising at least one control device and a support plate, the support plate comprising an opening that receives the support part of said at least one control device. .

Therefore, once the control device is mounted on a support plate, it is locked by the locking element and can only be disassembled if the locking element is removed from the control device.

The characteristics of the control device allow that, when the control device is in use, that is to say that it is mounted on a support plate of a household appliance, the control element can be handled in complete safety due to the impossibility of its disassembly without removing the locking part. In effect, the locking part is placed on the opposite side to the mobile part, this mobile part being the part of the control element accessible to users.

According to one characteristic, the support plate comprises a front face and a rear face, with a base of the support part resting on the support plate, the mobile part being positioned at the level of the front face of the support plate, and the fixing means and the locking element being positioned at the level of said rear face of said support plate.

The mobile part that receives the movement actions is therefore located on one side of the plate and the locking element is located on the opposite side of the plate.

When the support plate is installed in a household appliance or forms part of the household appliance, the locking element is inaccessible on the side of the plate accessible to users or on the side where the moving part is located.

According to one characteristic, the locking element comprises a front edge positioned resting on the rear face of the support plate.

Therefore, the locking element is immobilized between the support plate and the clipping element of the support part.

According to one characteristic, the support plate and the support part comprise means for acting together and for positioning the support part with respect to a support plate.

Thanks to the co-acting and positioning means, the support piece is indexed on a support plate.

According to one feature, the support plate comprises a tongue that cooperates with a notch formed in the support part so that a base of the support part rests on the support plate and said support part is immobilized in opposite directions. parallel to the plane in which said support plate extends.

Therefore, once the control device is installed on the support plate, the base of the support piece rests on the support plate and the notch is positioned on the tab of the support plate. The control device is therefore positioned on the plate in a stable and immobile manner in directions parallel to the plane in which the base extends.

Furthermore, the locking element acting together with the fixing means prevents movements of the support part in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the base extends.

Therefore, the support part remains stationary with respect to the support plate, the mobile part being able to move with respect to an assembly formed by the support plate and the support part.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a control interface according to the invention.

The control interface and the household appliance have characteristics and advantages analogous to those described above in relation to the control device.

Other features and advantages of the invention will further emerge from the following description. In the attached drawings, provided by way of non-limiting examples:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a control interface according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective, according to an exploded view, a control device according to one embodiment;

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate in perspective a part of the elements of the control device of Figure 2;

figure 3C illustrates in perspective a section of the mobile ring of figure 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the elements of the control device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

- Figures 5A and 5B illustrate in perspective a support plate and the support part of the embodiment represented by Figure 1;

- figure 6A illustrates in perspective a rear view of the control interface according to one embodiment, and

- figure 6B illustrates in perspective a rear view of a part of the control device of figure 2. The present invention finds application in all types of household appliances, such as a hob, a cooking oven or stove, a washer and/or dryer, or a refrigerator.

A household appliance comprises a user or control interface comprising control means, such as manual control devices that allow a user to configure the operation of the household appliance.

Therefore, a user can act on the control means in order to set operating parameters of the household appliance.

Furthermore, the user or control interface may comprise display means for displaying information about the operation of the household appliance, such as usage parameters selected by the user.

Figure 1 illustrates a control interface 1000 for a home appliance according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the control interface comprises a support plate 500 and a control device 100.

The support plate 500 constitutes a control band on which at least one control device 100 is mounted (in this case, a single control device 100) and which may further comprise, for example, display means (not shown) associated with the control device 100.

A user can act on the control device 100 in order to configure usage parameters of the household appliance that carries this control band.

The support plate 500 comprises a face designated "front face" 500a and a face designated "rear face" 500b.

It will be noted that, hereinafter, the "front face" of any element corresponds to the face of the element facing the user when the control device is installed in the household appliance, that is, facing the outside of the household appliance. .

Similarly, the "rear face" of an item refers to the face opposite the front face, ie, a face facing the interior of the appliance.

According to embodiments, the control strip can be fixed to a wall of a household appliance or can form part of the wall itself.

This last embodiment is the case of a control interface that is part of the ceramic hob of a cooking hob or that is part of the door of an oven.

The mounting of the control device 100 on the support plate 500 will be described later.

In the described embodiment, the support plate 500 comprises a support element 51 and an external plate 52 fixed to the support element 51, for example by adhesion. The external plate 52 can be, for example, a decoration element.

The support member 51 is attached to a wall of the household appliance or constitutes a wall of the household appliance.

In this embodiment, the external plate 52 comprises an opening 53.

The opening 53 can be in the form of a window in order to show, for example, display means (not shown in the figures) arranged between the support element 51 and the external plate 52. Furthermore, the opening 53 can leave visible , in addition to display means, other control devices such as sensitive keys.

In this example, the opening 53 has a rectangular shape. Obviously, the window can have other shapes in other embodiments.

According to another embodiment, the support plate that forms the control band is formed by a single element.

According to another embodiment, the support plate is a wall of a domestic appliance, the control device being directly attached to this wall.

Figure 2 illustrates in perspective, according to an exploded view, a manual control device 100, or control knob, for an electrical household appliance (not shown in the figures) according to one embodiment. In order to implement a control associated with an action from a user on the manual control device or control knob, the control device 100 is associated with a control axis 200.

A movement action (or change of position) on the control device 100 entails a movement (or change of position) on the control axis 200. A movement action on the control device 100 can be defined as any action performed by a user of the household appliance on the control device involving the modification of the position of a part of the manual control device.

By means of the movement action, the user intends to implement a control, for example setting a parameter to a certain value or selecting an operating program. A movement action can be, for example, a positioning of the control device 100 in a position in order to select a value for a parameter or to select a program, for example a power value of a cooking spotlight on a hob cooking, or a cooking mode of a cooking oven.

The manual control device or control knob 100 can be rotated or pushed by a user in order, for example, to select an operating parameter or an operating program of the household appliance.

The control axis 200 is mounted on an electronic card 2000 that has control means necessary to implement a control based on the movements of the control axis 200.

The manual control device or control knob 100 comprises a control element 100A comprising a mobile part 1 mounted on a support part 2. The mobile part 1 comprises, as will be described with reference to Figure 3, a mobile ring 11, a cross piece 3 and a stop element 4.

The movable part 1 is mounted on a first side of the support part 2 and is shaped to receive a movement action representative of a control.

As will be described below, the support part 2 comprises, on a second side opposite to said first side, fixing means intended to fix said support part 2 to a support plate 500. Therefore, the support part support 2 is fixed on its second side to a support plate 500, the movable part 1 being fixed to the first side of the support part 2.

The assembly formed by the mobile ring 11 and the cross piece 3 is mobile in rotation with respect to the support piece 2, the cross piece 3 being mobile in translation with respect to the mobile ring 11. The stop element 4 limits the displacement in translation of the cross piece 3 with respect to the mobile ring 11.

The assembly formed by the moving part 1, the support part 2 and the cross part forms the control element 100A of the control device 100.

It will be noted that a movement action on the manual control device 100 corresponds to a movement action on the moving part 1.

The support part 2 and the mobile part 1 comprise connection means intended to join the mobile part 1 and the support part 2 between them.

As will be described below with reference to Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, the joining means of the support part 2 and the moving part 1 act together with each other in such a way that these two parts are kept together, while the mobility of the mobile part 1 with respect to the support part 2 is allowed. The manual control device or control knob 100 further comprises a transmission element 30 that transmits a movement of the mobile part 1 with respect to the support part. bracket 2 to control shaft 200.

Therefore, when a user performs a movement action on the mobile part 1, it changes position with respect to the support part 2, transmitting this movement or change of position by means of the transmission element 30 to the control axis 200.

The control device 100 further comprises a locking element 6 which is intended to lock the position of the manual control device or control knob 100 on the support plate 500. The locking element will be described with reference to figures 6A and 6B .

The enervating element 6 is mounted on the second side of said support part 2 and acts together, as will be described, with the fixing means 26 of the support part to the support plate 500, to lock said support part two.

The moving part 1, the support part 2 and the transmission element 30 will be described in detail later. Figures 3A and 3B respectively illustrate the mobile ring 11 of the mobile part 1 and the support part 2 according to one embodiment.

Figure 3C illustrates in perspective a sectional view of the moving ring.

The support part 2 (figure 3B) comprises a base 21 and a joining element 22 to the mobile ring 11, the base 21 extending in a plane P. The support part 2 comprises a first face called "front face" (or first face). side) 2a and a second face called "rear face" (or second side) 2b.

The support element 2 comprises a central opening 29 having a suitable shape and size to house and allow the movement of the transmission element 30 (not visible in these figures).

Therefore, the base 21 and the connecting element 22 are positioned around the central opening 29.

The connecting element 22 extends protruding from the base 21 in a direction perpendicular to a plane P in which the base 21 extends and towards the front face 2a of the support piece 2. The connecting element 22 comprises a peripheral surface twenty.

In this embodiment, the base 21 is substantially crown-shaped, that is to say, with a surface formed by two concentric circles, and comprises a peripheral surface 210.

In the embodiment described, the peripheral surfaces of the base 210 and of the connecting element 20 are cylindrical, the circumference formed by the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element having a smaller diameter than the peripheral surface 210 of the base 21.

The mobile ring 11 (FIG. 3A) comprises a central opening 19. The mobile ring 11 has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the shape and size of the central opening 19 are such that the mobile ring 11 is mounted on the support part 2, in particular that the mobile ring 11 is mounted on the peripheral surface 20 of the element. connection 22 of the support piece 2.

In other embodiments, the mobile ring can be mounted on an internal surface of the connecting element of the support part.

The mobile ring has a front face 11a and a rear face 11b, the rear face 11b being positioned on the base 21 of the support part 2 once the mobile part 1, and in particular the mobile ring 11, is mounted on the base. support piece 2.

Therefore, the mobile ring 11 and the connecting element 22 of the support part 2 are mounted in contact with each other. The shapes of the mobile ring 11 and of the connecting element 22 of the support piece 2 are complementary and the sizes are similar so that one can be inserted inside the other while allowing rotation of one with respect to the other.

In the embodiment described, the mobile ring 1, the base 21 and the connecting element 22 of the support part 2 are cylindrical.

In the embodiment described, a first internal surface 11c of the mobile ring 11 is mounted on the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the mobile ring 11c is positioned on the support part 2, the first internal surface 11a of the mobile ring 11 and the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22 are concentric, with the mobile ring 11 placed on the outside of the connecting element 22, in particular on the outside of the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22.

Therefore, the circumference formed by the first internal surface 11c of the mobile ring 11 is slightly greater than the circumference formed by the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22.

The mobile ring 11 and the connecting element 22 of the support piece 2 respectively comprise means of union 12, 23.

The connecting means 12 of the mobile ring 11 comprise a groove or groove 12 formed at the level of the rear face 1b of the mobile ring 11.

In this embodiment, the groove or groove 12 is formed on the first internal surface 11c of the mobile ring 11 and acts together with the joining means 23 of the support part 2 when the mobile ring 11 is mounted on the support part. two.

In this embodiment, the first internal surface 11c is cylindrical and the groove 12 is formed on the entire circumference formed by the first internal surface 11c.

In other embodiments, the groove may be non-continuously formed along the circumference. In the embodiment described, the connection means 23 of the support part 2 are formed on the connection element 22 in such a way that a continuity of the peripheral surface 20 is maintained.

In this case, the joining means 23 are clipping elements 23, the clipping elements 23 acting together with the groove or groove 12 of the mobile ring 11 so that the mobile ring 11 and the support piece 2 remain joined together once. while the mobile part 1, and in particular the mobile ring 11, is mounted on the support part 2.

Each clipping element 23 comprises a tab 23a that extends projecting from the base 21 in a direction perpendicular to the plane P, the external surface of the tab 23a being in continuity with the peripheral surface 20.

Clipping element 23 further comprises a head 23b intended for hooking clipping element 23 with slot 12.

Therefore, the head 23b of the clip element 23 is housed in the groove 12 when the mobile ring 11 is mounted on the support part 2.

In this embodiment, the number of clipping elements 23 is three, this number being able to be different in other embodiments.

Therefore, when the mobile part 1 is mounted on the support part 2, the rear face 11b of the mobile ring 11 is positioned in contact with a front face 21a of the base 21 and the connecting means 12 of the mobile ring 11 act together with the joining means 23 of the support part 2 so that the support part 2 and the mobile part 1, in particular the mobile ring 11, become integral.

The clipping elements 23 have a height, starting from the base 21, such that they can be inserted into the groove 12 of the mobile ring 11 and prevent any axial movement of the mobile ring 11 with respect to the support piece 2.

The support part 2 also comprises means for guiding the movement 24 of the mobile ring 11 with respect to the support part 2.

The movement guide means 24 comprise a set of projections or protuberances formed on the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22. The projections or protuberances 24 have a semi-cylindrical shape that extends over the peripheral surface 20 starting from the base 21 according to a direction perpendicular to the plane P in which the base 21 extends.

The rounded shape of the projections 24 allows moving ring 11 to be guided in movement with respect to the support part 2.

In the embodiment described, the shape of the projections 24 makes it possible to guide the mobile ring 11 in rotation with respect to the support part 2 and, in particular, with respect to the connecting element 22.

In this embodiment, the dimensions of the projections 24 as well as those of the peripheral surface 20 of the support part 2 are determined in such a way that the connecting element 22 of the support part 2 can be inserted into the mobile ring 11. The projections 24 are inscribed in a cylinder with a diameter substantially less than or equal to the diameter of the first internal surface 11c in order to allow rotation without play of the mobile ring 11 with respect to the support part 2. In this embodiment, there are three projections 24 and they are equidistantly distributed on the peripheral surface 20 of the connecting element 22.

Obviously the number of protrusions may be different and the shapes may vary while allowing guiding the mobile ring in rotation with respect to the support part.

It will be noted that a user exerts a rotational movement or a thrust movement on the mobile ring 11 when he wishes to implement a control associated with the control device 100.

The mobile ring 11 comprises a second internal surface 11d arranged between the groove 12 and the front face 11a of the mobile ring 11. The second internal surface 11d is made up of several faces 111 (FIG. 3C) forming a polygonal shape.

The shape of the inner surface 11d is complementary to that of the cross member 3, as will be described with reference to Figure 4.

The support part 2 further comprises fixing means 26 for fixing the support part 2 to the support plate 500, as will be described with reference to figure 5A.

The fixing means 26 extend protruding from the base 21 in a direction perpendicular to the plane P in the opposite direction to the connecting element 22 and, consequently, from the mobile part 1 when the mobile part 1 is mounted on the support part. 2. In other words, the fixing means 26 extend towards the rear face 2b of the support part 2.

Therefore, the fixing means 26 are positioned starting from a rear face of the base 21b and the connecting element 22 is positioned starting from the front face 21a of the base 21.

In the embodiment described, the fixing means 26 comprise clipping elements.

The manner in which the support piece 2 and clip elements 26 co-operate with the support plate 500 will be described with reference to Figure 5A.

Figure 4 illustrates in perspective a part of the mobile part 1, the support part 2 and a transmission element 30 according to the embodiment (represented in figures 2 and 3).

When the control device 100 is mounted, the transmission element 30 is mounted between the moving part 1 and the control shaft 200.

The transmission element 30 is intended to transmit a movement of the moving part 1 to the control shaft 200. In the embodiment described, a rotation exerted on the moving part 1 is transformed into a rotation of the control shaft 200.

Furthermore, an axial movement exerted on the moving part 1 is transmitted in an axial movement of the control shaft 200.

The mobile part 1 and the transmission element 30 have complementary joint actuation means that allow the transmission of a movement of the mobile part 1 to the control shaft 200.

It will be noted that the transmission element 30 is not fixed to the moving part 1, that is to say that the transmission element 30 is independent of the moving part 1.

The mobile part 1 comprises a cross piece 3 positioned in contact with the mobile ring 11. This cross piece 3 constitutes means of joint action of the mobile piece 1 with the transmission element 30. The cross piece 3 comprises a plate 31 positioned in the front of moving part 1.

In the embodiment described, the crosspiece 3 is positioned inside the mobile ring 11 in contact with a second internal surface 11d (see figure 3A), so that the plate 31 is arranged in a plane P1 parallel to the plane P in which the base 21 of the support part 2 extends when the mobile part 1 is mounted on the support part 2.

The plate 31 has a complementary shape to the second inner surface 11d of the mobile ring 11.

In this embodiment, the plate 31 has a polygonal shape. The second inner surface 11d of the movable ring 11 has a complementary shape such that the peripheral surface 31a of the plate 31 is in contact with the second inner surface 11d of the movable ring 11.

Such a polygonal shape advantageously makes it possible to allow an axial displacement of the cross piece 3 with respect to the mobile ring 11 while ensuring that the cross piece 3 and the mobile ring 11 are solidarity in rotation.

The mobile part 1 further comprises a stop element 4 (see figure 1) intended to guarantee the stop in translation along an axis X perpendicular to the plane P around which the control device 200 is located.

Therefore, the cross piece 3 is kept on the movable ring 11 by the stop element 4.

In this embodiment, the stop element 4 is a stop ring positioned at a front end or front edge 11a of the mobile ring 11.

In this embodiment, the stop ring 4 is an element connected to the mobile ring 11 and made integral, for example by screwing, crimping, drawing or adhesion. However, in other embodiments, the movable ring itself may comprise a rim that guarantees the stop of the support part in translation along an axis X perpendicular to the plane P around which the control device is located, thus forming the ring of stop and the mobile ring a single piece.

The crosspiece 3 further comprises at least one lug 32 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane P1 in which the plate 31 extends.

When the crosspiece 3 is positioned on the movable ring 1, the plate 31 is positioned towards the front face 11a of the movable ring 11 and the lugs 32 towards the rear face 11b of the movable ring 11.

In this embodiment, the lugs 32 constitute the means of joint action of the mobile part 1 with the transmission element 30.

In this embodiment, there are two studs 32. Obviously, the number of lugs can be different. The transmission element 30 is therefore intended to transmit a movement of the moving part 1 to the control shaft 200, while allowing an axial misalignment between the moving part 1 and the control shaft 200.

Therefore, if, during assembly or during use of the control device, the moving part 1 is not aligned with the control axis 200, the transmission element 30 allows the transmission of a movement of the moving part 1 to the axis of rotation. control 200 freeing itself from the axial misalignment between the two elements.

In this exemplary embodiment, the transmission element 30 is of the "Oldham joint" type and comprises at least one opening 302 complementary in shape to a lug 32 of the crosspiece 3 of the moving part 1. The opening 302 houses the lug 32 so that a movement of the cross piece 3 entails a movement of the transmission element 30.

In the embodiment described, the transmission element 30 is housed in the central opening 29 formed in the support part 2.

In this embodiment, the transmission element 30 is fixed to the control shaft 200 in such a way that when the moving part 1 receives a movement, the movement is transmitted to the control shaft 200.

When the mobile part 1 receives a rotational movement on the mobile ring 11, the crosspiece 3, which is integral in rotation with the mobile ring 11, carries out this rotational action.

The lug 32 which is housed by the opening 302 of the transmission element 30 drives the transmission element 30 in rotation, this rotation drives the control shaft 200 in rotation.

In this embodiment, the opening 302 constitutes means for joint action of the transmission element 30 with the moving part 1.

Furthermore, an axial translational movement on the crosspiece 3 generates an axial translational movement of the transmission element 30, this generating an axial translational movement on the control axis 200. When the crosspiece 3 is driven in axial translation due to a user pressing action, it returns to its initial position thanks to spring pieces 28 positioned at the level of the front face 2a of the support piece 2.

In particular, when the crosspiece plate 31 receives a pressing action from a user, it bears against the spring pieces 28. As these spring pieces 28 are made of elastic material, they push the crosspiece 3 to its initial position when the click action disappears.

The cross piece 3 that allows to receive the user's pressing action and move axially because this pressing fulfills the function of a push button.

Control shaft 200 is thus driven in motion even though there is no direct link between moving part 1 and control shaft 200.

In addition, the transmission element 30 allows the moving part 1 to be mounted with respect to the support part 2 and to the support plate 500 on which the support part 2 is mounted, and not with respect to the control shaft 200. In effect , thanks to the transmission element 30, the control axis 200 can be misaligned with respect to the moving part 1, this misalignment not being evident in the control device 100 installed on a support plate 500.

In other words, since the moving part 1 is supported by the support part 2 and not by the control shaft 200, positioning defects between the manual control device 100 with respect to the support plate 500 are avoided.

Therefore, the control device according to the invention can be precisely positioned with respect to marks indicating, for example, a parameter value or an operating program.

It will further be noted that, when the movable part 1 is mounted on the support part 2, the movable part 1 cannot be disassembled by a user.

In effect, the stop ring 4 prevents the disassembly of the crosspiece 3 and the crosspiece 3 prevents a user from deforming the joining means 23 of the support piece 2 in order to extract the mobile piece 1.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate in perspective the support plate 500 and the support part 2 of the embodiment of Figure 1.

In this embodiment, the support plate 500 (FIG. 5A) comprises an opening 50 shaped to receive the support part 2.

Once the support part 2 is mounted and fixed on the support plate 500, the base 21, in particular its rear face 21b, is supported on the front face 500a of the support plate 500.

In this embodiment, the opening 50 has a substantially circular shape having a diameter adapted to receive the support part 2.

As described with reference to Figure 1, the support plate 500 comprises in this embodiment a support element 51 and an external plate 52.

The support element 51 comprises an opening 51a. The opening 50 of the support plate 500 is formed by the opening 51a of the support element and the opening 53 of the outer plate 52.

The support plate 500 comprises at least one tab 54 located at the level of the opening 50 of the support plate 500, shaped to act together with the support part 2, as will be described below, so that the support part 2 is stably placed on the support plate 500. In the described embodiment, the support plate 500 comprises two tabs 54.

In this embodiment, the tabs 54 are formed on the outer plate 52. In particular, the tabs 54 are formed on a lateral side 53a of the opening 53 that extends into the opening 53. The lateral side 53a in which the tabs 54 are formed has a semicircle or crescent shape 53aa between the two tabs 54.

The external or decoration plate 52 is arranged on the support element 51 in such a way that the opening 53, and in particular the tabs 54 and the semicircle part 53aa of the lateral side 53a of the opening 53, are arranged in overlap with the opening. 51a formed on the support member 51.

Therefore, the opening 50 formed by the support member 51 and the outer plate 52 has a shape adapted or shaped to receive the support part 2, the support part 2 being placed on the support plate 500 in a stable manner.

It will be noted that the opening 50 has a first contour part formed in the support element 51 and a second contour part formed by the lateral side 53a (comprising the tabs 54 and the semicircle shape 53aa) of the window 53 formed in external plate 52.

In this embodiment, the first and second portions of the contour are not continuous, the second portion of the contour being located on the external plate 52 and the first portion of the contour being located on the support element 51 and therefore being slightly offset towards behind the support plate 500 of the front face 52a of the outer plate 52.

In the embodiment described, the support piece 2 is shaped to be mounted in the opening 50 comprising such first and second contour portions.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the rear face 21b of the base 21 of the support part 2 is discontinuous, that is to say, it comprises a first half-surface 21x and a second half-surface 21y that extend respectively in parallel planes. The planes have a distance from each other with a value substantially equal to the thickness of the external plate 52.

The first half-surface 21x is intended to co-operate with the front surface 51a of the support element 51 or with the first part of the contour of the opening 50 and the second half-surface 21y is intended to co-operate with the front face 52a of the plate. external 52 or with the second part of the contour of the opening 50.

In other embodiments, the support plate can be made up of a single element in which a window is formed that leaves the display means visible, as well as an opening intended for fixing the support device (this embodiment is not represented in the figures).

In other embodiments, the opening of the external plate and a window intended to show display means of the external plate are different (this embodiment is not shown in the figures). The support piece 2 comprises at least one notch 27 shaped to accommodate said at least one tongue 54 of the support plate 500 so that the base 21 of the support piece 2 rests on the front face 500a of the support plate. 500.

In the embodiment described, the number of notches 27 is two, each notch 27 housing a tongue 54. The notch 27 and the tongue 54 have complementary shapes so that the tongue 54 rests on the notch 27 once the piece support piece 2 is installed on the support plate 500. Therefore, the notch 27 and the tongue 54 form co-operating means between the support part 2 and the support plate 500. These co-operating means also constitute positioning means of support 2 with respect to support plate 500.

Figure 6A shows a rear view of the control interface 1000 of Figure 1. The support element 51 of the support plate 500 is not shown in the figure so that the control device 100 is visible. In this figure 6A, it can be seen how the tabs 54 of the support plate 500 are housed by the notches 27 of the support piece 2.

It will be noted that, once the support piece 2 is installed on the support plate 500, a front face 54a of the tongue 54 of the support plate 500 rests on a rear face 27a of the notch 27 of the support piece. support 2.

Lateral faces 27b, 27c of the notch 27 of the support piece 2 are placed substantially in contact with the lateral faces 54b, 54c of the tongue 54 of the support plate 500.

Therefore, the support part 2 is immobilized in directions parallel to a plane P2 in which the support plate 500 extends, as well as in directions parallel to the plane P in which the base 21 of the support part 2 extends. .

It will be noted that, in this embodiment, once the support part 2 is installed on the support plate 500, the support part 2 cannot make rotational movements with respect to the support plate 500 or movements according to the X axis in a direction towards the rear face 500b of the support plate 500.

In this embodiment, the number of notches 27 as well as of tabs 54 is two.

Obviously, in other embodiments, the number of tabs and notches could be different.

In other embodiments, the positioning of the support 2 with respect to the support plate 500 can also be carried out according to other means than the notches 27 and the tabs 54, for example using other geometric shapes.

Figure 6A further illustrates fixing means 26 intended for fixing the support part 2 to the support plate 52.

In this embodiment, the fixing means 26 are clipping elements in which a locking element 6 is positioned so that the control device 100 is immobilized on the support plate 500. The locking element 6 acts together with the fixing means 26 of the support piece 2. In this embodiment, the fixing means 26 are arranged in such a way that they can penetrate without effort into the opening 50, for example being inscribed in a circle with a diameter substantially less than or equal to to the diameter of the opening 50.

The locking element 6 is illustrated in figure 6B.

The locking element 6 is intended to lock the position of the manual control device or control knob 100 on the support plate 500.

The locking element 6 extends in a plane that is parallel to the plane P in which the base 21 extends when the locking element 6 is located on the control device 100.

During the mounting of the control device 100 on a support plate 500, the locking element 6 is positioned on the rear face 500b of the support plate 500, that is, on the opposite side of the support plate 500 to the side on which the base 21 of the support part 2 is positioned.

It will be noted that the locking element 6 is mounted on the rear face 2b or on the second side of the support part 2.

In the embodiment described, the locking element 6 has a central opening 60 so that it surrounds the assembly formed by the transmission element 30 and the control shaft 200.

The locking element 6 comprises a central part 62 which has a substantially crown or cylindrical shape about the axis X (see Figure 2) and which forms the central opening 60. The central part 62 therefore surrounds the transmission element. 30 and control shaft 200 once control device 100 is mounted.

The central part 62 comprises a peripheral surface 64. This peripheral surface 64 is arranged opposite an internal face 26a of the clipping element 26 of the support part 2 when the locking element 6 is mounted on the control device 100.

The locking element 6 further comprises at least one end 63 that extends radially from the peripheral surface 64 and that is shaped to come into contact with an external face 26b of the clipping element 26 of the support piece 2.

Therefore, the locking element 6, and in particular the end 63, acts together with the fixing means 26 of the support part 2 in such a way that the control device 100 is immobilized.

In the embodiment described, the locking element 6 comprises three ends 63, each end 63 acting together with a fixing means 26 of the support part 2.

Each end 63 comprises a perimeter 630 having a peripheral surface 631 that is in continuity with the peripheral surface 64 of the central part 62 of the locking element 6.

Each end 63 of the locking element 6 comprises a rim or hooking piece 61.

The rim or hook piece 61 extends transversely to the perimeter 630.

In this embodiment, the rim or hook piece 61 extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the peripheral surface 631 of the end 63 extends, towards the central part 62.

The rims or hooking pieces 61 respectively hook into the clipping elements 26 of the support part 2, when the control device 100 is mounted.

Therefore, the ridges 61 hooked on the clipping elements 23 lock the clipping elements 26 in such a way that the support part 2 can only be disassembled by disassembling the locking element 6.

In the embodiment described, the central part 62 of the locking element 6 is housed by the central opening 29 of support piece 2.

The enervation element 6 comprises at least one blocking element or rim 61 intended to act together with a clipping element 26 of the support part 2.

Therefore, the rim 61 has a complementary shape to a clipping element 26, so that the rim 61 and the clipping element 26 act together, the locking element 6 being retained by this joint action.

The use of clipping elements is known to those skilled in the art. However, it will be recalled that the elastic deformation of the clipping elements 26 allows the locking element 6 to be positioned and then the clipping elements 26 to return substantially to their initial position, while maintaining a substantial deformation of the locking element. locking 6, which entails a substantial stress of the locking element 6 on the rim 61.

The locking element 6, once mounted on the support part 2 and the support plate 500, rests on the rear face 500b of the support plate 500 and is held in this position by the joint action between the rim 61 and the clipping element 26 of the support piece 2.

Therefore, in a control interface 1000 as shown in figure 1, the rear face 2b of the support part 2 rests on the front face 500a of the support plate 500, thus being the mobile part 1 positioned at the level of the front face 500a of the support plate 500 and the fixing means 26 of the support piece 2 and the locking element 6 being positioned at the level of the rear face 500b of the support plate 500.

In addition, the locking element 6 comprises a front face 6a which is positioned, at the level of the ends 63 resting on the rear face 500b of the support plate 500, in particular on the rear face 51b of the support element 51 (not shown). in Figure 6A), when the control device 100 is mounted on the support plate 500.

It will be noted that the support part 2 cannot be disassembled from the front face 500a of the support plate 500. Therefore, a user of a household appliance comprising such a control device 100 or such a control interface 1000 type will not be able to disassemble the control device 100 according to the invention from the outside of the electronic appliance, preventing the user from coming into contact with parts of the appliance that may represent a danger.

In other embodiments that are not representative of the present invention, the locking of the support part with respect to the support plate can be carried out according to an alternative embodiment.

For example, clipping elements can be arranged on the periphery of the support piece 2 so that the end of the latter is inscribed in a circle with a diameter substantially greater than the opening of the support plate, the clipping elements being deformed during the insertion of the rear part of the support piece in the opening and then returning to its initial position and resting on the rear face of the support plate.

In this non-representative embodiment of the present invention, the presence of a locking element 6 is not necessary.

In one embodiment, the support part 2 is made of electrically insulating material.

Therefore, the control shaft 200 is electrically isolated with respect to the support plate 52, this support plate 500 being in direct contact with the user.

Claims (11)

i. Manual control device for a household appliance, the control device (100) being shaped to be connected to a control shaft, a movement action on said control device (100) entailing a movement on the control shaft, said device comprising control(100): - a control element (100A) comprising a support part (2) and a moving part (1) mounted on a first side of said support part (2) and which is shaped to receive a movement action representative of a control, said support part (2) comprising a base and comprising, on a second side opposite to said first side, fixing means (26) intended to fix said support part (2) to a support plate; and - a locking element (6) that is mounted on said second side of said support part (2) and that acts together with said fixing means (26) to lock said support part (2), said locking element comprising (6) a central part (62), said control device being characterized in that said locking element (6) comprises at least one end (63) that acts together with said fixing means (26), said fixing means extending ( 26) protruding from said base (21) of the support piece (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one end comprises a flange (61) and the fixing means (26) comprise at least one clipping element, said at least one flange hooking onto said at least one clipping element. clipping. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said central part (62) comprises a peripheral surface (64) that is arranged opposite an internal face (26a) of said at least one clipping element (26), said at least an end (63) protruding from said peripheral surface (64), and being in contact with an external face (26b) of said at least one clipping element (26). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said central part (62) has a substantially cylindrical shape and said support part comprises a central opening (29) that houses said central part of said locking element (6) . Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a transmission element (30) that transmits a movement of the moving part (1) with respect to the support part (2), to the control axis. Control interface for a household appliance, characterized in that it comprises at least one control device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, and a support plate (500), said support plate (500) comprising an opening (50) receiving said support part (2) of said at least one control device (100). 7. Control interface according to claim 6, characterized in that the support plate (500) comprises a front face (500a) and a rear face (500b), with a base (21) of the support piece (2) resting on the support plate (500), the mobile part (1) being positioned at the level of said front face (500a) of said support plate (500), and the fixing means (26) and the locking element (6) being ) positioned at the level of said rear face (500b) of said support plate (500). Control interface according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking element (6) comprises a front edge (6a) positioned resting on the rear face (500b) of the support plate (500). Control interface according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said support plate (500) and said support part (2) comprise means for joint action and positioning (54, 27) of the support part (2). ) with respect to the support plate (500). Control interface according to claim 9, characterized in that said support plate (500) comprises at least one tab (54) that acts together with at least one notch (27) formed in said support part (2) so that a base (21) of the support part (2) is supported on the support plate (500) and that said support part (2) is immobilized in directions parallel to the plane in which said support plate (500) extends ). Domestic appliance, characterized in that it comprises a control interface (1000) according to one of claims 6 to 10.