WO2003009586A1 - Appliance with interchangeable face-plate - Google Patents

Appliance with interchangeable face-plate Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003009586A1
WO2003009586A1 PCT/US2002/022129 US0222129W WO03009586A1 WO 2003009586 A1 WO2003009586 A1 WO 2003009586A1 US 0222129 W US0222129 W US 0222129W WO 03009586 A1 WO03009586 A1 WO 03009586A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plate
housing
interchangeable face
appliance
front surface
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/022129
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kirby L. Watson
Iii William T. Dixon
Varina Cordova
Russell Whitman
Original Assignee
Icebox, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Icebox, Llc filed Critical Icebox, Llc
Publication of WO2003009586A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003009586A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/64—Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates generally to the customization of electronic appliances, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to appliances with an interchangeable face-plate or interchangeable face-plate sections, secured over an existing front surface of the appliance.
  • Appliance manufacturers in seeking to make their products more desirable to the consuming public, often utilize a number of colors, designs and/or other aesthetic features in an effort to appeal to a wide range of potential purchasers.
  • the aesthetic appearance of the appliance may be fixed by the application of paint or other coating, or by particular dyes or other additives employed in a manufacturing process by which a housing for the appliance is constructed.
  • many small appliances including electronic appliances
  • an appliance housing comprised, at least in part, of prefabricated plastic parts. Because of the costs associated with the manufacturing process, it is often impractical to produce these plastic parts in a wide variety of colors and/or designs.
  • one color or design may be particularly popular in one region of the country where, for example, it corresponds to the colors of a local sports team or university, the same color or design may be unpopular elsewhere. In such cases, the costs of inventorying unwanted units and/or shipping units from one geographical location to another may make providing a variety of colors and/or designs cost prohibitive.
  • Figure 1 is a front, left perspective view of one embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto via spring clips;
  • Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the appliance and the interchangeable face-plate illustrated in Figure 1 , showing the two separate components and their relationship to one another;
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged view, taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1 , illustrating a portion of the front surface of an appliance housing with a portion of an interchangeable face-plate secured over the appliance housing via a spring clip;
  • Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3, illustrating an alternative embodiment wherein a portion of the front surface of an appliance housing is shown with a portion of an interchangeable face-plate secured over the appliance housing via a friction fit;
  • Figure 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto;
  • Figure 6 is a front, left perspective view of still another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto;
  • Figure 7 is a front, left perspective view of yet another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with a pair of interchangeable face-plate sections secured thereto, and showing the separate face-plate sections and their relationship to the appliance.
  • Embodiments of a customized appliance and methods of customizing an appliance are described in detail herein.
  • numerous specific details are provided, such as the identification of various system components, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention.
  • One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc.
  • well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.
  • an aspect of the illustrated embodiments is to provide an interchangeable face-plate or interchangeable face-plate sections to facilitate the customization of electronic appliances. Customization may be accomplished by securing the face-plate over an existing front surface of an appliance housing.
  • interchangeable face-plate sections may be secured over the existing appliance housing to modify all or a portion of the appearance of the appliance.
  • the customized appliance 10 comprises, in an embodiment, an electronic appliance 12 and an interchangeable face-plate 14.
  • the electronic appliance 12 includes a housing 16 for containing the electrical components that provide functionality to the appliance 12.
  • the housing 16 includes a front surface 18 and a body surface 20.
  • the front surface 18 may comprise a face 22 (see, e.g., Figures 3 and 4), and a side 24 of varying thickness, as indicated by the arrow having reference numeral 26.
  • the side 24 may, in one embodiment, comprise a top-side 24a, a left-side 24b, a bottom-side 24c, and a right-side 24d.
  • the front surface 18 may extend beyond the body surface 20 to form a lip 28.
  • the front surface 18 may be substantially flush with the body surface 20 at a point or points where the two are adjacent to one another, and in still other embodiments, the front surface 18 or the body surface 20 may include a groove (not shown) to facilitate securing the interchangeable face-plate 14 to the appliance 12, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.
  • the interchangeable face-plate 14 comprises, in an embodiment, a front panel 30, and a side panel 31 , which, in one embodiment, extends substantially perpendicularly from the front panel 30.
  • the front panel 30 comprises an exposed surface 32 and a hidden surface 34.
  • the size and/or shape of the front panel 30 may be defined by an outer edge 36, and at least one opening 38x (where x is a-e), wherein the at least one opening 38x is defined, in an embodiment, by an inner edge 40x (where x is a-e).
  • the outer edge 36 of the front panel 30 is flush with the side panel 31 (see, e.g., Figures 1-4).
  • the outer edge 36 extends past the side panel 31 , and may be configured into the form of a recognizable object, such as an apple, as illustrated in Figure 6.
  • the outer edge 36 may be of varying thickness depending on the thickness of the construction of the front panel 30, or based upon other aesthetic considerations.
  • the interchangeable face-plate 14 may comprise an integrated plastic component.
  • the side panel 31 comprises an outer surface 42 and an inner surface 44, and may, in an embodiment, form a contiguous panel on the hidden surface 34 of the front panel 30, as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the side panel 31 is configured into a form corresponding to the side 24 of the front surface 18 to enable the interchangeable face-plate 14 to be placed over the front surface 18 such that the inner surface 44 of the side panel 31 , and at least a portion of the hidden surface 34, define a cavity adapted to receive the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (see, e.g., Figures 1-4).
  • the side panel 31 may form a non-contiguous panel on the hidden surface 34 of the front panel 30.
  • the side panel 31 may be configured into a form corresponding only to the top-side 24a of the side 24.
  • the customized appliance 10 will likely be relatively stationary, and consequently, a partial, non-contiguous side panel 31 may be sufficient to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 to the appliance 12 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • the side panel 31 may be configured into a form corresponding only to the left-side 24b and the right-side 24d of the side 24, or a form corresponding to the top-side 24a, left-side 24b and right-side 24d of the side 24.
  • the shape of the side 24 of the front surface 18 of the housing 16 of the electronic appliance 12 may vary from one appliance to another, and that the substantially rectangular shape shown in the illustrated embodiments is intended only to be an example for purposes of explanation.
  • the electronic appliance 12 may include various components, for example, a screen 46, a control panel 48, a pair of grills 50, 52, through which stereo sound may be emitted, an aperture 54 for receiving electromagnetic radiation, and/or other components, which may comprise a part of the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (e.g., grills 50 and 52), or may be associated with the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (e.g., screen 46).
  • Each of the components of the electronic appliance 12 defines an area having a particular set of dimensions.
  • the screen 46 defines an area characterized by a height and width of the screen 46.
  • the control panel 48 which may comprise a plurality of buttons 56 for controlling the operation of the electronic appliance or other components, a player for a laser- readable disc 58, an aperture 60 for receiving electromagnetic radiation, transmitted from a remote control for example, and/or other components, defines an area characterized by the position and/or location of the plurality of components.
  • the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14 includes an opening 38a with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the screen 46 to enable a user of the electronic appliance 12 to view images on the screen 46 when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14, includes a pair of openings 38c and 38d with dimensions substantially equal to the areas defined by the grills 50 and 52, respectively, to enable the areas defined by the grills 50 and 52 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14 includes an opening 38b with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the control panel 48 to enable the area defined by the control panel 48 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 such that a user may operate the appliance and/or components thereof.
  • the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14 includes an opening 38e with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the aperture 54 to enable the area defined by the aperture 54 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the front surface 18 of the housing 16 may be constructed to form a variety of designs and/or shapes to suit the particular tastes of consumers. Two such variations are illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
  • the interchangeable faceplate 14 may comprise an interchangeable face-plate section
  • the customized appliance 10 may comprise one or more interchangeable face-plate sections secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 of the electronic appliance 12.
  • FIG. 7 an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, showing the electronic appliance 12 with a pair of interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and I4b secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and I4b may, in an embodiment, be of contrasting colors and/or designs to provide even greater flexibility to the user in customizing the electronic appliance 12.
  • the interchangeable face-plate 14 and/or the interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and 14b may be secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 by any or a combination of various mechanisms, including for example, but not limited to, utilization of spring clips, a friction fit, a semi-permanent adhesive, Velcro®, or the like.
  • Figures 1-3, and 6-7 illustrate the utilization of spring clips to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14, or the interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and 14b, to the electronic appliance 12.
  • a spring clip 62 having a ridge 64 extending along a distal end 66 thereof, engages the lip 28 in the housing 16 to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the spring clips may comprise a part of the side panel 31 of the interchangeable face-plate 14.
  • a groove (not shown) may be constructed into the housing 16 in place of the lip 28 to engage the ridge 64 of the spring clip 62 to effectively secure the interchangeable face- plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
  • the position and number of spring clips used to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 may vary in alternative embodiments of the present invention.
  • the interchangeable face- plate 14 may be designed to fit snugly over the existing front surface 18 of the housing 16, thereby enabling the interchangeable face-plate 14 to be secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 by a friction fit.
  • Figure 4 is illustrative of such an attachment mechanism.

Abstract

An electronic appliance (12) with an interchangeable face-plate (14), and methods of customizing the appliance (12) are disclosed. Customization, to enhance or alter the aesthetic qualities of the appliance, without interfering with the use or function of the appliance, may be accomplished by securing the interchangeable face-plate (14) over an existing front surface (18) of an appliance housing.(16) In other embodiments, interchangeable face-plate sections may be utilized to provide users with greater flexibility in modifying all or a portionof the appearence of the appliance.

Description

APPLIANCE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE FACE-PLATE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure relates generally to the customization of electronic appliances, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to appliances with an interchangeable face-plate or interchangeable face-plate sections, secured over an existing front surface of the appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Appliance manufacturers, in seeking to make their products more desirable to the consuming public, often utilize a number of colors, designs and/or other aesthetic features in an effort to appeal to a wide range of potential purchasers. Depending on the particular characteristics and construction of the appliance, the aesthetic appearance of the appliance may be fixed by the application of paint or other coating, or by particular dyes or other additives employed in a manufacturing process by which a housing for the appliance is constructed.
For example, many small appliances, including electronic appliances, are often contained within an appliance housing, comprised, at least in part, of prefabricated plastic parts. Because of the costs associated with the manufacturing process, it is often impractical to produce these plastic parts in a wide variety of colors and/or designs. In addition, while one color or design may be particularly popular in one region of the country where, for example, it corresponds to the colors of a local sports team or university, the same color or design may be unpopular elsewhere. In such cases, the costs of inventorying unwanted units and/or shipping units from one geographical location to another may make providing a variety of colors and/or designs cost prohibitive. Because it is difficult, if not impossible, to know from the outset which colors and/or designs will appeal to the widest variety of people, manufacturers will often produce units in solid, neutral colors such as black or white, leaving consumers with little choice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a front, left perspective view of one embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto via spring clips; Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the appliance and the interchangeable face-plate illustrated in Figure 1 , showing the two separate components and their relationship to one another;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view, taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1 , illustrating a portion of the front surface of an appliance housing with a portion of an interchangeable face-plate secured over the appliance housing via a spring clip;
Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3, illustrating an alternative embodiment wherein a portion of the front surface of an appliance housing is shown with a portion of an interchangeable face-plate secured over the appliance housing via a friction fit;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto;
Figure 6 is a front, left perspective view of still another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with an interchangeable face-plate secured thereto; and
Figure 7 is a front, left perspective view of yet another embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating an appliance with a pair of interchangeable face-plate sections secured thereto, and showing the separate face-plate sections and their relationship to the appliance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of a customized appliance and methods of customizing an appliance are described in detail herein. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as the identification of various system components, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In still other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. As an overview, an aspect of the illustrated embodiments is to provide an interchangeable face-plate or interchangeable face-plate sections to facilitate the customization of electronic appliances. Customization may be accomplished by securing the face-plate over an existing front surface of an appliance housing. In other embodiments, interchangeable face-plate sections may be secured over the existing appliance housing to modify all or a portion of the appearance of the appliance. Other features of the illustrated embodiments will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims, and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1 , there is illustrated one embodiment of the present invention showing a customized appliance generally at 10. The customized appliance 10 comprises, in an embodiment, an electronic appliance 12 and an interchangeable face-plate 14. With reference now primarily to Figure 2, the electronic appliance 12 includes a housing 16 for containing the electrical components that provide functionality to the appliance 12. The housing 16 includes a front surface 18 and a body surface 20. In an embodiment, the front surface 18 may comprise a face 22 (see, e.g., Figures 3 and 4), and a side 24 of varying thickness, as indicated by the arrow having reference numeral 26. The side 24 may, in one embodiment, comprise a top-side 24a, a left-side 24b, a bottom-side 24c, and a right-side 24d. In one embodiment, the front surface 18 may extend beyond the body surface 20 to form a lip 28. In another embodiment, the front surface 18 may be substantially flush with the body surface 20 at a point or points where the two are adjacent to one another, and in still other embodiments, the front surface 18 or the body surface 20 may include a groove (not shown) to facilitate securing the interchangeable face-plate 14 to the appliance 12, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. The interchangeable face-plate 14 comprises, in an embodiment, a front panel 30, and a side panel 31 , which, in one embodiment, extends substantially perpendicularly from the front panel 30. In one embodiment, the front panel 30 comprises an exposed surface 32 and a hidden surface 34. In one embodiment, the size and/or shape of the front panel 30 may be defined by an outer edge 36, and at least one opening 38x (where x is a-e), wherein the at least one opening 38x is defined, in an embodiment, by an inner edge 40x (where x is a-e). In one embodiment, the outer edge 36 of the front panel 30 is flush with the side panel 31 (see, e.g., Figures 1-4). In other embodiments, the outer edge 36 extends past the side panel 31 , and may be configured into the form of a recognizable object, such as an apple, as illustrated in Figure 6. The outer edge 36 may be of varying thickness depending on the thickness of the construction of the front panel 30, or based upon other aesthetic considerations. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interchangeable face-plate 14 may comprise an integrated plastic component. The side panel 31 , comprises an outer surface 42 and an inner surface 44, and may, in an embodiment, form a contiguous panel on the hidden surface 34 of the front panel 30, as illustrated in Figure 2. In an embodiment, the side panel 31 is configured into a form corresponding to the side 24 of the front surface 18 to enable the interchangeable face-plate 14 to be placed over the front surface 18 such that the inner surface 44 of the side panel 31 , and at least a portion of the hidden surface 34, define a cavity adapted to receive the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (see, e.g., Figures 1-4). In other embodiments, the side panel 31 may form a non-contiguous panel on the hidden surface 34 of the front panel 30. For example, in one embodiment, the side panel 31 may be configured into a form corresponding only to the top-side 24a of the side 24. In a typical scenario, the customized appliance 10 will likely be relatively stationary, and consequently, a partial, non-contiguous side panel 31 may be sufficient to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 to the appliance 12 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In still other embodiments, the side panel 31 may be configured into a form corresponding only to the left-side 24b and the right-side 24d of the side 24, or a form corresponding to the top-side 24a, left-side 24b and right-side 24d of the side 24. The reader will appreciate that the shape of the side 24 of the front surface 18 of the housing 16 of the electronic appliance 12 may vary from one appliance to another, and that the substantially rectangular shape shown in the illustrated embodiments is intended only to be an example for purposes of explanation. In various embodiments, the electronic appliance 12 may include various components, for example, a screen 46, a control panel 48, a pair of grills 50, 52, through which stereo sound may be emitted, an aperture 54 for receiving electromagnetic radiation, and/or other components, which may comprise a part of the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (e.g., grills 50 and 52), or may be associated with the front surface 18 of the housing 16 (e.g., screen 46). Each of the components of the electronic appliance 12 defines an area having a particular set of dimensions. For example, the screen 46 defines an area characterized by a height and width of the screen 46. The control panel 48, which may comprise a plurality of buttons 56 for controlling the operation of the electronic appliance or other components, a player for a laser- readable disc 58, an aperture 60 for receiving electromagnetic radiation, transmitted from a remote control for example, and/or other components, defines an area characterized by the position and/or location of the plurality of components.
In an embodiment, the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14, includes an opening 38a with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the screen 46 to enable a user of the electronic appliance 12 to view images on the screen 46 when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16. In one embodiment, the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14, includes a pair of openings 38c and 38d with dimensions substantially equal to the areas defined by the grills 50 and 52, respectively, to enable the areas defined by the grills 50 and 52 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16. In one embodiment, the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14, includes an opening 38b with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the control panel 48 to enable the area defined by the control panel 48 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 such that a user may operate the appliance and/or components thereof. In other embodiments, the at least one opening 38x of the interchangeable face-plate 14, includes an opening 38e with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the aperture 54 to enable the area defined by the aperture 54 to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate 14 is secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16.
In other embodiments, the front surface 18 of the housing 16 may be constructed to form a variety of designs and/or shapes to suit the particular tastes of consumers. Two such variations are illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the interchangeable faceplate 14 may comprise an interchangeable face-plate section, and the customized appliance 10 may comprise one or more interchangeable face-plate sections secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 of the electronic appliance 12. With reference now primarily to Figure 7, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, showing the electronic appliance 12 with a pair of interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and I4b secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16. The interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and I4b may, in an embodiment, be of contrasting colors and/or designs to provide even greater flexibility to the user in customizing the electronic appliance 12. The interchangeable face-plate 14 and/or the interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and 14b may be secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 by any or a combination of various mechanisms, including for example, but not limited to, utilization of spring clips, a friction fit, a semi-permanent adhesive, Velcro®, or the like. Figures 1-3, and 6-7 illustrate the utilization of spring clips to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14, or the interchangeable face-plate sections 14a and 14b, to the electronic appliance 12. With reference primarily to Figures 2 and 3, a spring clip 62 having a ridge 64 extending along a distal end 66 thereof, engages the lip 28 in the housing 16 to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16. As shown in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-3, and 6-7, the spring clips may comprise a part of the side panel 31 of the interchangeable face-plate 14. As mentioned previously, a groove (not shown) may be constructed into the housing 16 in place of the lip 28 to engage the ridge 64 of the spring clip 62 to effectively secure the interchangeable face- plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16. The position and number of spring clips used to secure the interchangeable face-plate 14 over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 may vary in alternative embodiments of the present invention.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the interchangeable face- plate 14 may be designed to fit snugly over the existing front surface 18 of the housing 16, thereby enabling the interchangeable face-plate 14 to be secured over the front surface 18 of the housing 16 by a friction fit. Figure 4 is illustrative of such an attachment mechanism.
While the invention is described and illustrated here in the context of a limited number of embodiments, the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention. The illustrated and described embodiments, including what is described in the abstract of the disclosure, are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A customized appliance, comprising: an electronic appliance having a housing, the housing including a front surface that contributes to the appearance of the appliance; and an interchangeable face-plate capable of being secured over the front surface of the housing to alter the appearance of the appliance in a decorative manner without interfering with a function of the appliance, the interchangeable face-plate comprising: a front panel having an exposed surface and a hidden surface, the front panel being defined by an outer edge and at least one opening, the at least one opening being defined by an inner edge and configured to permit a user to utilize the electronic appliance when the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing; and a side panel extending substantially perpendicularly from the front panel, the side panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of the side panel and at least a portion of the hidden surface of the front panel define a cavity adapted to receive the front surface of the housing when the interchangeable face- plate is secured thereto.
2. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the electronic appliance includes a screen, which defines an area, and wherein the at least one opening in the front panel of the interchangeable face-plate includes an opening with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the screen to enable a user of the electronic appliance to view images on the screen when the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing.
3. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the housing includes a grill through which audio may be heard by a user, the grill defining an area, and wherein the at least one opening in the front panel of the interchangeable face-plate includes an opening with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the grill to enable the area defined by the grill to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing.
4. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the electronic appliance includes a control panel, which defines an area, and wherein the at least one opening in the front panel of the interchangeable face-plate includes an opening with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the control panel to enable the area defined by the control panel to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing.
5. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the electronic appliance includes an aperture for receiving electromagnetic radiation from a remote source, which defines an area, and wherein the at least one opening in the front panel of the interchangeable face-plate includes an opening with dimensions substantially equal to the area defined by the aperture to enable the area defined by the aperture to remain substantially unobstructed when the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing.
6. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable face- plate is secured over the front surface of the housing via a friction fit between the side panel of the interchangeable face-plate and the housing.
7. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the side panel includes at least one spring clip adapted to engage a lip formed in the housing, and the interchangeable face-plate is secured over the front surface of the housing via engagement of the at least one spring clip with the lip.
8. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable face- plate comprises an integrated plastic component.
9. The customized appliance of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable face- plate comprises an interchangeable face-plate section.
10. The customized appliance of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional interchangeable face-plate section.
11. A method of customizing an appliance, the method comprising: providing an electronic appliance having a housing, the housing including an existing front surface; providing an interchangeable face-plate adapted to be secured over at least a portion of the existing front surface of the housing, wherein the interchangeable face-plate comprises: a front panel having an exposed surface and a hidden surface, the front panel being defined by an outer edge and at least one opening, the at least one opening being defined by an inner edge and configured to permit a user to utilize the electronic appliance when the interchangeable face-plate section is secured over the existing front surface of the housing; and a side panel extending substantially perpendicularly from the front panel, the side panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of the side panel and at least a portion of the hidden surface of the front panel define a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the existing front surface of the housing when the interchangeable face-plate is secured thereto; and securing the interchangeable face-plate over the existing front surface of the housing.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein securing the interchangeable faceplate over the existing front surface of the housing comprises placing the interchangeable face-plate over the existing front surface of the housing to enable a friction fit.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein securing the interchangeable faceplate over the existing front surface of the housing comprises placing the interchangeable face-plate over the existing front surface of the housing to enable at least one spring clip to engage a lip formed in the housing.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the interchangeable face-plate comprises an integrated plastic component.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the interchangeable face-plate comprises an interchangeable face-plate section.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing at least one additional interchangeable face-plate section; and securing the at least one additional interchangeable face-plate section over the existing front surface of the housing.
PCT/US2002/022129 2001-07-16 2002-07-12 Appliance with interchangeable face-plate WO2003009586A1 (en)

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US90718201A 2001-07-16 2001-07-16
US09/907,182 2001-07-16

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GB2402032A (en) * 2003-05-23 2004-11-24 Ian Paul Rees Releasable,decorative fascia for TV,monitor or VDU
GB2409563A (en) * 2003-11-19 2005-06-29 Udo Peterges A removable frame for covering the surround of a screen
GB2464828A (en) * 2008-10-29 2010-05-05 Daniel Stephen Loftus Decorative television fascia
EP1990994A3 (en) * 2007-05-08 2011-07-27 ROBUST Electronics GmbH Casing for a consumer electronics device
FR3023147A1 (en) * 2014-07-07 2016-01-08 Gerard Bonniol REMOVABLE DUST FILTER HOLDER FOR ALL-IN-ONE COMPUTER
US9288427B2 (en) 2011-11-07 2016-03-15 International Visual Corporation Inc. Device for displaying products having a generic screen base with an interchangeable top display
US9387912B2 (en) 2009-10-09 2016-07-12 Driessen Aircraft Interior Systems, Inc. Panel inserts for aircraft and other vessels
US9387932B2 (en) 2009-10-09 2016-07-12 Driessen Aircraft Interior Systems, Inc. Panel inserts for aircraft and other vessels

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GB2402032A (en) * 2003-05-23 2004-11-24 Ian Paul Rees Releasable,decorative fascia for TV,monitor or VDU
GB2409563A (en) * 2003-11-19 2005-06-29 Udo Peterges A removable frame for covering the surround of a screen
EP1990994A3 (en) * 2007-05-08 2011-07-27 ROBUST Electronics GmbH Casing for a consumer electronics device
GB2464828A (en) * 2008-10-29 2010-05-05 Daniel Stephen Loftus Decorative television fascia
US9387912B2 (en) 2009-10-09 2016-07-12 Driessen Aircraft Interior Systems, Inc. Panel inserts for aircraft and other vessels
US9387932B2 (en) 2009-10-09 2016-07-12 Driessen Aircraft Interior Systems, Inc. Panel inserts for aircraft and other vessels
US9288427B2 (en) 2011-11-07 2016-03-15 International Visual Corporation Inc. Device for displaying products having a generic screen base with an interchangeable top display
FR3023147A1 (en) * 2014-07-07 2016-01-08 Gerard Bonniol REMOVABLE DUST FILTER HOLDER FOR ALL-IN-ONE COMPUTER

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