JPH05187716A - Operation part for kitchen apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an operation part for a kitchen apparatus which prevents water from being poured on a self-return type switch and produces a feeling creating a desire for operation. CONSTITUTION:A recessed part 11 having a protrusion part 111, in which a communication hole 12 is formed is formed on the surface side. An upper edge part 14 is provided with a frame 1 in which slits 15 and 16 are formed, and a microswitch 2 fixed on the back side of the protrusion part 111 in a state that a stem 21 is loosely engaged with the communication hole 12. Further, a waterproof film 3 stuck to the protrusion part 111 to close the communication hole 12 and an operation button 4 which has a round rod part 41 protruding from a recessed part on the back side and is assembled in the recessed part 11 through engagement of claws 43 and 44 with the slits 15 and 16 are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating portion of a kitchen appliance suitable for an operating switch such as a gas water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, a heat exchange channel formed by connecting a water supply pipe, a heat exchanger, and a hot water outlet pipe 501 in series, and a motor-driven water shutoff valve disposed in the heat exchange channel. , A water flow switch that turns on the contact when water flows in the heat exchange channel, a gas burner that heats the heat exchanger, a gas pipe line that installs a solenoid valve and supplies fuel gas to the gas burner, and by pressing operation. BACKGROUND ART A gas water heater C including an operation switch for starting and stopping hot water supply, a combustion controller for energizing a motor or an electromagnetic valve based on operation of the operation switch, and a battery has been conventionally known. In this gas water heater C, the operation switch button 5
The water can be discharged or stopped by lightly pressing 02.

[0003]

However, when the button 502 of the driving switch is pressed with a wet hand, the button 502 is pressed.
Since water intrudes through the gap 503 between the water heater case and the operation switch, the present inventor has a problem that the waterproof film 601 covers the stem of the operation switch as shown in FIG. A gas water heater D, in which was attached to a water heater case 602, was manufactured as a prototype. In this gas water heater D,
Although the waterproof film 601 has solved the problem that the operation switch is exposed to water, the waterproof film 601 has a flat surface, and therefore, even if the user presses the waterproof film 601, the user feels "operated". A new issue was found that was difficult to be addressed. An object of the present invention is to provide an operating portion of a kitchen appliance that can prevent the self-returning type switch from getting wet and can provide a feeling of being operated.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is of a normally-open type in which a base having a communication hole communicating with the back side is opened and a stem is loosely fitted and fixed in the communication hole. A self-returning switch, a waterproof film that covers the communication hole and is attached to the base, and an operation member having a rod portion on the back surface, and by pressing the surface of the operation member. The stick portion pushes the stem through the waterproof film, and the contact of the self-resetting switch is closed.

[0005]

When the user presses the surface of the operating member, the rod on the back side of the operating member pushes the stem through the waterproof film,
The contacts of the self-resetting switch are closed.

[0006]

Since the operating member has a three-dimensional shape, the user can feel the operation when pressing. Even if water is applied to the operation part, the waterproof film prevents water from entering the inside through the communication hole. Therefore, the self-resetting switch does not get wet.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in the figure, the operation switch A of the gas water heater B includes a frame 1, a micro switch 2, a waterproof film 3, an operation button 4, and a cover 5, and is screwed to the lower front portion of the housing 100. Has been done.

The frame 1 (made of plastic) has a concave portion 11 having a convex portion 111 formed on the front side, and the convex portion 11 is formed.
1, a communication hole 12 communicating with the back side (substantially the center of the recess 11),
A communication hole 13 is opened and an upper edge 14 facing the recess 11 is formed.
Slits 15 and 16 are formed on both sides of the.
The lower edge 17 of the frame 1 is formed into a curved surface.

A micro switch 2 (self-restoring normally open type) soldered to a substrate 200 together with an LED 201.
Is fixed to the rear surface side of the convex portion 111 so that the tip end surface 211 of the stem 21 slightly protrudes outward from the communication hole 12 (in a loosely fitted state). Further, the LED 201 has a communication hole 13
The tip is in contact with. A wire is taken out from the substrate 200 to electrically connect with a combustion control device (not shown).

A convex portion 11 is formed so as to close the communication holes 12 and 13.
The waterproof film 3 attached to 1 is a thin film that can be deformed by a pressing force, and a portion corresponding to the communication hole 13 is transparently formed. Further, a circular recess 31 that is slightly larger than the communication hole 12 is formed in a portion corresponding to the communication hole 12.

A recess is formed on the back side, and a communicating hole 12 is formed in the recess.
A slightly larger operation button 4 (made of plastic) in which a round bar portion 41 having a smaller diameter is projected and an LED confirmation hole 42 is bored on the surface has a shape smaller than the concave portion 11 and has an upper edge portion. Claws 43 and 44 engageable with the slits 15 and 16 are formed. In this operation button 4, the claws 43 and 44 are engaged with the slits 15 and 16, and the round bar portion 41 is connected to the communication hole 12.
Is assembled in the concave portion 11 so as to correspond to. Incidentally, 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes a flange portion which is hooked on the lower inner edge rear end portion 52 of the cover 5 to prevent the operation button 4 from coming off.

The cover 5 has a window 51 which is slightly larger than the surface of the operation button 4, and is fitted and fixed in the frame 1 in which the operation button 4 and the waterproof film 3 are assembled.

Next, the operation of the operation switch A will be described.
When the user wants to discharge hot water from the hot water discharge pipe of the gas water heater B or to stop the hot water discharged from the hot water discharge pipe of the gas water heater B in operation, the user presses the operation button 4.
When the user presses the lower half side of the operation button 4 in the drawing,
The claws 43 and 44 engaged with the slits 15 and 16 act as a fulcrum to press the operation button 4, the round bar 41 pushes the stem 21 through the waterproof film 3, and the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed. .. Further, when the user presses the upper half side of the operation button 4 in the drawing, the flange portion 45 is restrained by the lower inner edge rear end portion 52 of the cover 5, and the flange portion 45 acts as a fulcrum to push down the operation button 4. Round bar part 4
1 pushes the stem 21 through the waterproof film 3, and the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed. Further, when the user presses the right half side of the operation button 4 in the figure, the claw 43 and the flange portion 45 act as a fulcrum to push down the stem 21, and when the left half side of the operation button 4 in the figure is pushed down. The claw 44 and the flange portion 45 act as a fulcrum to push down the stem 21.

In the present embodiment, when the electromotive force of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage that allows the gas water heater to be used, the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed or the LED 201 is activated. Is lit up.

The advantages of this embodiment will be described below. (A) Since the operation button 4 has a three-dimensional shape, a feeling of being operated can be obtained when pressed. (B) Even if the operation switch A is splashed with water and enters the recess 11, the waterproof film 3 allows the water to pass through the communication hole 1.
It doesn't go into 2 and 13. Therefore, the LED 201 and the micro switch 2 are not exposed to water. (C) The operability is excellent because the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed no matter where the operation button 4 is pressed. (D) It is possible to confirm that the electromotive force of the battery is normal (LED 201 is lit) through the LED confirmation hole 42, and since the LED 201 is provided in the operation switch A, it means to the user that the LED 201 is lit. In addition, the user is less likely to overlook the lighting of the LED 201. Also, when the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed,
Since the LED 201 lights up, the user can operate the operation button 4
It is possible to easily recognize that the button is being pressed, and it is effective for preventing the operation button 4 from being continuously pressed. (E) Since the operation button 4 is made of plastic and is not deformed even when pressed, a feeling of “operated” can be obtained more than a case where the waterproof film 601 is directly pressed with a finger. (F) With the conventional one in which the waterproof film 601 is directly pressed with a finger, when trying to enlarge the operating portion, the contact of the micro switch 2 is closed no matter where the waterproof film 601 is pressed. It was difficult to do so due to problems in manufacturing the film, the characteristics of the film, and the like, but in this embodiment, the operation button 4 can be made large, and a water heater having excellent operability can be provided. ..

The present invention includes the following embodiments in addition to the above embodiments. a. The configuration of the present invention is applied to a gas rice cooker, a gas fan heater, a gas tableware dryer, a gas clothes dryer, a built-in range, a gas table, a gas infrared stove, a system kitchen, a gas oven, etc., in addition to a water heater. Is also good. b. Since the water heater is usually installed above the sink, when the user presses the operation button with his / her finger, the user usually presses the tip of the finger upward. That is, a force is applied to the lower part than the center of the operation button 4. Therefore, since the flange portion 45 of the operation button 4 does not need to act as a fulcrum,
The gap between the flange portion 45 and the rear inner edge rear end portion 52 of the cover 5 may be such that the operation button 4 does not come off. As in the above-described embodiment, the claws 43 and 44 of the operation button 4 and the flange portion. Compared with the assembly in which both of them are used as fulcrums, the dimensional accuracy and the assembly accuracy of the parts are not so required, so that the manufacturing cost becomes low. Also, if there is no risk of the operation button 4 coming off, the flange portion 4
5 may be omitted. In this case, the micro switch 2
If is arranged above the center of the operation button 4, it can be pressed with a lighter force. c. The operation button 4 may be small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a gas water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of an operation switch of the gas water heater.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a conventional gas water heater.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a conventional gas water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Gas water heater operation switch (kitchen appliance operation part) 1 Frame (base) 2 Micro switch (self-resetting switch) 3 Waterproof film 4 Operation button (operation member) 12 Communication hole 21 Stem 41 Round bar ( Bar)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A base having a communication hole formed on the back side thereof, a self-resetting switch of a normally open type in which a stem is loosely fitted and fixed to the communication hole, and the base is closed to close the communication hole. It comprises a waterproof film adhered to the, and an operating member having a rod portion on the back surface, and by pressing the surface of the operating member, the rod portion pushes the stem through the waterproof film. An operating part of a kitchen appliance in which the contact of the self-resetting switch is closed.