JP2008282769A - Switch storage device for electric appliance, and heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow flexible selection of a panel mounting part for concealing the outer peripheral edge of a waterproof sheet without being restricted by a structure inside a housing while achieving efficient drainage to the outside and preventing water from entering into the inside of the housing even when water enters through panel windows in a switch storage device for an electric appliance in which each button hole of the housing having a built-in switch is covered with the waterproof sheet. <P>SOLUTION: A panel 12 is mounted to the housing 1 side from the front side by adhesion in which adhesive layers 15a, 15b are interposed so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of a waterproof sheet 10. Each non-adhesive region and the adhesive layers 15a, 15b, which are respectively formed between the panel 12 and the waterproof sheet 10, are configured so as to collect water entering through each window 13 in the lowest part 24, being the lowest position in the relationship of the housing 1 with a downward gradient, in the inner peripheral edge of the adhesive layers 15a, 15b and to drain the water to the outside through the non-adhesive region 23 composed of a cut between the adhesive layers 15b, 15b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch storage device for an electrical appliance in which a built-in switch is operated by pressing a button exposed from a housing, and a cooking device provided with the switch storage device.

  An electric appliance equipped with this type of switch storage device is provided with a switch in the housing, the operation portion of the switch faces the button hole of the housing, and a waterproof sheet covering the button hole is adhered to the housing to waterproof the housing. A panel for concealing the outer peripheral edge of the sheet is attached, the button is exposed from the window of the panel, and the operation part of the switch is pushed through the waterproof sheet. The button is provided integrally with the seat or is provided on a housing or a frame member attached to the housing. When the switch operation is completed, the button returns to the standby position due to the elasticity of the seat or the elastic support of the frame member, and the switch operation unit automatically returns to the standby position.

  The waterproof sheet is bonded to the housing at least at the outer peripheral edge of the sheet. The panel is screwed into a screw hole provided in the housing.

This type of switch storage device is used in electric appliances such as cooking devices, electric water heaters, air purifiers, and dishwashers. Among them, cooking equipment such as rice cookers, automatic bread machines, and hot plates are used. In the bowl, a plurality of buttons and display windows for setting a cooking menu, a cooking reservation, and the like are collectively arranged in one section of the housing. For this reason, if these button holes and display windows are covered with a single sheet, the peripheral length of the outer peripheral edge of the sheet will be longer, and if this outer peripheral edge is exposed, it will be conspicuous on the appearance and lift will occur It becomes a problem.
For this reason, in particular, in a cooking device, the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet is concealed by a panel, so that it is difficult to determine that the sheet is stuck, and the product value is increased (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-25863 (FIG. 3, paragraphs 0020-22, 0025, 0026, 0031)

However, when the panel is screwed to the screw hole provided in the housing as in the switch storage device of Patent Document 1 described above, the screwing location may be limited due to the space in the housing. When the panel mounting site is limited in this way, the panel mounting force acts locally, which may cause inconveniences such as warping of the panel.
Furthermore, when water enters from the window of the panel, the water may enter the inside of the housing from a screw hole provided in the housing and cause electric leakage.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to limit the mounting portion of the panel that hides the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet to the structure in the housing in the switch storage device of the electric appliance in which the button hole of the housing containing the switch is covered with the waterproof sheet. In addition, it is possible to efficiently drain water to the outside without causing water to enter the housing when water enters from the window of the panel.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a switch in a housing, an operation portion of the switch faces a button hole of the housing, a waterproof sheet covering the button hole is adhered to the housing, and the housing In the storage device, a panel for concealing the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet is attached, a button is exposed from the window of the panel, and the operation portion of the switch is pushed through the waterproof sheet. It is attached by adhering from the front side through an adhesive layer, and the water that enters between the panel and the housing side through the window of the panel flows in a non-adhesive region formed between them according to a downward gradient. It is characterized in that it reaches outside.

  According to this invention, since the panel is attached to the housing side by bonding through the adhesive layer from the front side, the attachment site of the panel can be freely selected without being limited by the structure in the housing. It becomes possible.

  Here, since the water from the window reaches the outside by flowing in a non-adhesive region formed between them in accordance with the downward gradient, the water can be efficiently drained outside without allowing water to enter the housing. it can. In addition, since the panel is attached by adhesion, there is no screw hole in the housing, and there is no fear that water from the window reaches the inside of the housing from the screw hole. In addition, the problem of hygiene associated with the bonding of the panels is unlikely to occur. For this reason, the switch storage device according to the present invention is suitable for a heating cooker.

The panel is a decorative part that hides the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet, and it is not preferable that the outer peripheral portion of the panel is lifted from the housing.
Here, if the adhesive layer is provided so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet between the outer peripheral portion of the panel and the housing, it is possible to prevent the adhesive layer from being lifted at the outer peripheral portion of the panel. Needless to say, the non-adhesive region is surrounded by a space.

Here, the non-adhesive region and the adhesive layer provided so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet, the innermost edge of the adhesive layer, the lowermost in the lowest position in relation to the downward slope, the If the immersion water is collected and then drained to the outside, the immersion water can be efficiently guided to the outside by the non-adhesive region.
Furthermore, if the lowermost part is provided at only one place and the non-adhesive region connecting the lowermost part and the outside is formed at only one place, the area of the adhesive layer can be easily obtained while achieving efficient drainage.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the switch storage device for an electrical appliance in which the button hole of the housing containing the switch is covered with a waterproof sheet, the mounting portion of the panel that hides the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet is provided in the housing. It can be selected freely without being restricted by the structure, and even if there is water between the panel and the housing side, it can be efficiently drained to the outside.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment is an example in which the switch storage device according to the present invention is applied to a rice cooker. A housing 1 of this rice cooker includes a housing body 2 containing an inner container, a heating device and the like (not shown), and a lid 3 provided on the housing body 2 so as to be openable and closable. ing.

  The configuration of the switch storage device is shown in FIGS. The housing body 2 includes an operation board 6 on which a display screen 4 and various operation switches 5 are arranged. As the display screen 4, a liquid crystal display device is used. As the switch 5, a tact switch is used.

  The operation portion of the switch 5 includes a tact operation portion 5 a of the tact switch and a switch spacer 7 supported by the housing body 2. The operation portion of the switch 5 can be configured by only the tact operation portion 5a without the switch spacer 7. Of the operation portion of the switch 5, the switch spacer 7 faces the button hole 8 of the housing body 2. The display screen 4 faces the display window 9 of the housing body 2.

  The button hole 8 and the display window 9 are covered with a waterproof sheet 10. The waterproof sheet 10 is bonded to the surface of the housing body 2. This adhesion is based on an adhesive layer provided in advance on the entire back surface of the waterproof sheet 10. For this reason, the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 is brought into close contact with the surface of the housing body 2.

The portion of the waterproof sheet 10 that covers each button hole 8 is a button 11. The button 11 is formed by embossing and can be recessed elastically. The button 11 can be provided separately from the waterproof sheet 10. The portion of the waterproof sheet 10 facing the display window 9 can be seen through the display screen 4.
And characters, such as rice cooking and heat retention, are printed on the button 11 of the waterproof sheet 10. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid insert molding of the panel 12 together with the print sheet, and it is possible to bring out a high-class feeling due to the equipment of the panel 12 while reducing the cost as the panel 12 made of a simple injection molded product.

  The waterproof sheet 10 is waterproof. As long as the adhesion of the waterproof sheet 10 is appropriate, water does not reach the button hole 8 and the display window 9 from between the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 and the housing body 2.

  A panel 12 that is pressed along the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 is attached to the housing body 2. The panel 12 has a plurality of buttons 11 provided integrally with the waterproof sheet 10 and windows 13 through which the display screen 4 is exposed. The switch 5 is operated by pressing the switch spacer 7 through the button 11 from the window 13 and the tact switch 5 a is pressed by the switch spacer 7 to operate the tact switch 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the panel 12 has an outer peripheral portion 14 that covers the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10. Adhesive layers 15 a and 15 b are provided between the outer peripheral portion 14 and the front side of the housing body 2 so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10. With the adhesive layers 15a and 15b, the panel 12 is attached to the housing 1 side by adhering from the front side, and the outer peripheral portion 14 is prevented from being lifted.

  The adhesive layers 15 a and 15 b are provided so as to extend between the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12 and the waterproof sheet 10. For this reason, the integrity of the outer peripheral portion 14 and the waterproof sheet 10 can be increased along the outer peripheral edge within the limited area of the panel 12, and the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 is more firmly secured by the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12. It is pressed.

  The outer peripheral part 14 of the panel 12 is an opaque part, and the outer periphery of the waterproof sheet 10 is not visible from the outside. For this reason, the outer periphery of the waterproof sheet 10 is concealed by the panel 12, and the sticking is difficult to stand out.

  The housing body 2, the waterproof sheet 10, and the panel 12 are symmetrically shaped when the side of the housing 1 where the waterproof sheet 10 is attached is the front and the opposite lid 3 side is the rear.

  The adhesive layers 15a and 15b are composed of a double-sided adhesive sheet, and the thickness and adhesive force at each of these parts are uniform. For this reason, average adhesion is obtained by the adhesive layers 15a and 15b. The adhesive layers 15a and 15b have stronger adhesive force than the adhesive layer between the waterproof sheet 10 and the housing body 2, and the adhesion between the panel 12 and the waterproof sheet 10 is more than the adhesion between the waterproof sheet 10 and the housing body 2. It will not weaken first.

  More specifically, the waterproof sheet 10 according to the first embodiment uses a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of 0.188 mm and is easy to bend. easy. However, since the panel 12 made of PP (polypropylene) having a thickness of 2 mm is used and does not bend, the contact force can be maintained in the entire adhesive layers 15a and 15b. Will be strong.

  The adhesive layers 15a and 15b can also be provided by applying an adhesive to the back surface of the panel 12 or the surface of the housing body 2 in advance. When the adhesive layers 15a and 15b are formed of a double-sided adhesive sheet, the adhesive layers 15a and 15b are attached to the panel 12 or the housing body 2.

  Here, the adhesive layers 15 a and 15 b do not need to completely surround the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 as long as the resistance against the lifting acts on the entire outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10 by pressing the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12. In the first embodiment, a plurality of non-adhesive regions are provided outside the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10.

  Specifically, of the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10, the edge of the corner portion 10a of the waterproof sheet 10 is an arc side with a central angle of 180 degrees or more, and an intermediate angle region of the arc side of the corner portion 10a. A non-adhesive region 16 is formed on the outside. By the non-adhesive region 16, the double-sided adhesive sheets constituting the adhesive layers 15a and 15b can be attached easily by starting the application from the outside of the corner 10a, and wrinkles and the like are less likely to occur. In addition, in order to reduce the water immersion from the non-adhesion area | region 16, the bulging part 17 which fits into the non-adhesion area | region 16 is provided in the back side of the panel 12. FIG.

  The panel 12 has a claw 18 on the back side, and the housing body 2 has a claw hole 19 on the surface. The claw 18 is press-fitted into the claw hole 19, and the housing body 2 and the adhesive layers 15a and 15b are tightened to the front and back with the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12 as shown in FIG. 5 as an example of the adhesive layer 15a. It has become. In a state where the claw 18 and the claw hole 19 are engaged with each other, the adhesive layers 15a and 15b between them are pressed. For this reason, this 1st Embodiment can adhere | attach the outer peripheral part 14 of the panel 12, and the housing main body 2 more firmly. The nail | claw 18 can also be eliminated by setting the adhesive force of the adhesive layers 15a and 15b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the claw 18 and the claw hole 19 are arranged symmetrically so that the adhesive layers 15a and 15b can be pressed respectively. In particular, in the vicinity of the corner 10 a of the waterproof sheet 10, the pressing due to the bonding of the panel 12 becomes relatively weak because of the non-bonding region 16. In order to compensate for this, the claw 18 and the claw hole 19 are arranged separately on the start end side and the end end side of the corner 10 a of the waterproof sheet 10.

  The panel 12 has a plurality of positioning protrusions 20 on the back side. The housing body 2 has insertion holes 21 at positions corresponding to the plurality of positioning protrusions 20. The plurality of positioning protrusions 20 are inserted into the insertion holes 21 before the other part of the panel 12 is bonded to the housing body 2, and the positional relationship between the panel 12 and the housing body 2 is fixed. For this reason, the panel 12 and the housing main body 2 can be bonded together without any relative positional shift, and re-attachment due to the positional shift does not occur.

  Further, the portion excluding the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12 and the waterproof sheet 10 are not directly bonded, and a non-bonded region is formed between them. This is to avoid applying a load of the panel 12 to the adhesive layer of the waterproof sheet 10. Instead, the water that has entered from the window 13 of the panel 12 is surrounded by the housing 1 side of the panel 12, that is, the panel 12, the waterproof sheet 10, and the adhesive layers 15 a and b, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 4. It will enter the gap.

  In consideration of the above-mentioned water immersion, the claw 18 and the plurality of positioning projections 20 are passed through the holes 22 of the adhesive layers 15a and 15b formed corresponding to the claw 18 and the plurality of positioning protrusions 20, respectively. Since there are adhesive layers 15a and 15b between the peripheral portions of the claw hole 19 and the insertion hole 21 of the housing and the panel 12, it is difficult for foreign matter and water to reach the claw hole 19 and the like.

  Here, in the gap surrounded by the panel 12, the waterproof sheet 10, and the adhesive layers 15 a and b, the water that has entered from the window 13 has the button hole 8 and the like covered with the waterproof sheet 10. Although it does not enter, it tries to flow on the waterproof sheet 10 according to the downward gradient of the housing 1.

  In the first embodiment, a non-adhesive region 23 formed by a non-adhesive region between the portion excluding the outer peripheral portion 14 of the panel 12 and the waterproof sheet 10 and a break between the adhesive layers 15b and 15b, and the waterproof sheet 10 The adhesive layers 15a and 15b that are provided so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the adhesive layer 15a and b are the innermost edges of the adhesive layers 15a and 15b, and are the lowest of the adhesive layers 15a and 15b that are at the lowest position in relation to the downward slope of the housing 1. The lower part 24 is formed to collect the water.

  Specifically, the water infiltrated from the window 13 flows down due to a downward slope, but contacts the inner edge of the adhesive layer 15b along the outermost part of the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet 10, and is guided to the inner edge. Eventually it reaches the bottom 24 of the inner edge of the adhesive layers 15b, 15b. The non-adhesive region 23 formed by a break between the adhesive layers 15b and 15b connects the lowermost part 24 and the outside, and the water that has reached the lowermost part 24 eventually reaches the outside through the non-adhesive region 23. For this reason, this 1st Embodiment can drain the water which entered into the crevice enclosed with panel 12, waterproof sheet 10, and adhesion layers 15a and 15b from window 13 to the exterior efficiently.

  Further, as apparent from FIG. 4, the lowermost portion 24 has only one portion, and the non-adhesive region 23 is formed in the lowermost portion 24 at only one portion. It is easy to obtain the areas of the adhesive layers 15a and 15b while efficiently draining water from the non-adhesive region 23.

  In the first embodiment, the adhesive layers 15a and 15b are provided so as to cover both the housing main body 2 and the waterproof sheet 10 of the housing 1. However, as shown in FIG. The adhesive layer 31 is provided only between 1 and the panel 12 ′, and the waterproof sheet 10 can be directly pressed by the outer peripheral portion 14 ′ of the panel 12 ′.

Moreover, it is not limited to the structure which drains the water from the window 13 through the lowermost part 24, The point is that the water from the window 13 should just be drained outside by the downward slope.
For example, as shown in the third embodiment in FIG. 7, a non-adhesive region 43 formed by a break between the adhesive layers 41 and 42 is formed at a position above the lowermost portion 24 and below the window 13. Is also possible.

  In the third embodiment, in addition to the non-adhesive region 43, a non-adhesive region 45 formed by a break between the adhesive layers 42 and 44 is also formed. Thus, if the non-adhesion area | region which consists of a cut | interruption between adhesion layers is formed in multiple places, the drainage efficiency from the lowermost part 24 vicinity will increase more.

  Needless to say, it is preferable to form a non-adhesive region below all the windows 13 formed in the panel 12 so as to connect to the outside.

Moreover, the aspect of the adhesive layer for attaching the panel 12 can be appropriately changed as long as the panel is attached with a desired attachment strength.
For example, as shown in the fourth embodiment in FIG. 8, when the adhesive layers 51 to 53 are provided so as to surround the waterproof sheet 10, the panel 12 has a desired mounting strength, but is formed in the lowermost portion 24. The non-adhesive area 54 has a drainage performance as compared with the non-adhesive area 23 of the first embodiment having the same positional relationship by widening the gap interval between the adhesive layers 51 and 52 (see also FIG. 4). Has been enhanced.

The disassembled perspective view of the switch storage apparatus with which the rice cooker which concerns on 1st Embodiment is equipped. Whole perspective view which shows the housing of the rice cooker of FIG. The partial expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the switch storage apparatus of the rice cooker of FIG. The relationship between the panel of the rice cooker of FIG. 1, a sheet | seat, and the contact bonding layer is shown, The left view bordering on the dashed-dotted line in the figure is a top view of a panel, The right side is a top view of the contact bonding layer shown by notching a panel. Partially enlarged vertical sectional view showing the nail of the panel of FIG. Main part enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment The top view which drew 3rd Embodiment in the same relationship as FIG. The top view which drew 4th Embodiment in the same relationship as FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Housing main body 3 Cover 4 Display screen 5 Switch 5a Tact operation part 6 Operation board 7 Switch spacer 8 Button hole 9 Display window 10 Waterproof sheet 15a, 15b, 31, 41, 42, 44, 51, 52, 53 Adhesive layer 11 Button 12, 12 ′ Panel 13 Window 14, 14 ′ Outer peripheral part 16, 23, 43, 45, 54 Non-adhesive area 17 Bumped part 18 Claw 19 Claw hole 20 Positioning projection 21 Insertion hole 22 Hole 24 Bottom

Claims (5)

A switch is provided in the housing, the operation portion of the switch faces the button hole of the housing, a waterproof sheet covering the button hole is adhered to the housing, and a panel for hiding the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet is attached to the housing In the switch storage device of the electrical appliance, the button is exposed from the window of the panel, and the operation portion of the switch is pushed through the waterproof sheet.
The panel is attached by adhering to the housing side through an adhesive layer from the front side, and the water that enters between the panel and the housing side from the window of the panel is formed between these non-adhesive regions A switch storage device for an electric appliance, characterized in that it flows to the outside by flowing along a descending slope.   The switch storage device for an electric appliance according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is provided so as to surround an outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet between an outer peripheral portion of the panel and the housing.   The non-adhesive region and an adhesive layer provided so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof sheet, the water immersion at the lowest position in relation to the descending slope among the inner edges of the adhesive layer The switch storage device for an electric appliance according to claim 2, wherein the switch storage device is provided so as to be drained outside after being collected.   The switch storage device for an electric appliance according to claim 3, wherein the lowermost part is provided at only one place, and the non-adhesion region connecting the lowermost part and the outside is formed at only one place.   A cooking device comprising the switch storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images