WO2005043042A2

WO2005043042A2 - Household appliance comprising an operating strip

Info

Publication number: WO2005043042A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/052650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johann Huber
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2003-10-30
Filing date: 2004-10-25
Publication date: 2005-05-12
Also published as: KR101153477B1; EP1690042A2; WO2005043042A3; KR20060111468A; EP1690042B1; DE10350588A1

Abstract

Known household appliances for integrating into a sector of a worktop (5) comprise an operating strip (7) containing at least one operating element (13) and having a supporting surface (23) on the lower side thereof for supporting the household appliance on the worktop (5), and at least one recess (15) containing the operating element (13). The aim of the invention is to support the household appliance on the worktop (5) in a stable manner by means of the operating strip. To this end, the operating element (13) is arranged in the recess (15) of the operating strip (7) in such a way that it is staggered in relation to the supporting surface (23), or the operating element is flush with the supporting surface (23) in a sealed manner.

Description

Description of the household appliance with a control bar The invention relates to a household appliance for insertion into a section of a worktop, with a control bar in which at least one control element is arranged and which has a support surface on its underside for supporting the household appliance on the worktop and at least one recess has, in which the control element is arranged.

[002] DE 198 11 372 C2 discloses a cooktop with a highly permeable cooktop plate made of glass ceramic and with operating and display elements. The cooktop has an operating bar with an operating surface facing an operator, below which a piezo sensor is arranged, which detects touching the operating surface and sends a corresponding signal to the control unit. The control bar is part of a hob frame made of stainless steel, which moves the glass ceramic plate like a rabbit and carries it. The hob frame is supported with its angled edge on the circumference on the top of a worktop. Between the underside of the cooktop frame and the worktop, a gasket moves the hob cutout of the worktop. There is a mounting gap between a circumferential edge of the worktop cut-out and the hob housing. the control element protrudes.

The object of the invention is to provide a household appliance for insertion into a section of a worktop, which is stably supported on its top bar on an upper side of the worktop.

The object is achieved by a household appliance with the features of claim 1. According to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, the control element is arranged set back in the recess of the control bar relative to the support surface or closes the control element flush with the support surface. As a result, the control element can be arranged above the worktop without being supported on the top of the worktop.

Preferably, the control bar can have a plurality of mutually separate depressions on its underside, in which various device components are arranged. In this case, the control bar can be made from a solid semi-finished product with high dimensional stability, in which only the recesses required for the device components are incorporated. On the one hand, this allows the control bar to be manufactured inexpensively. At the same time, their stability is increased and their design is appealing.

It is particularly preferred if the control bar is made essentially by master shaping or milling. Original forms are understood to mean the production of a molded part from an informal starting material (e.g. granulate, melt, powder, etc.). For this purpose, the formless starting material is introduced (e.g. cast or pressed) into a special primary molding tool, in which it changes to the solid state through solidification or sintering. The molded part formed in this way is removed from the master mold. This manufacturing process largely gives the control bar its required shape with high dimensional accuracy, which reduces the number of post-processing steps. It is also possible to implement technically advantageous profile profiles on the control bar, which are not possible or only possible with very great effort in the case of control bars produced only by continuous casting.

In terms of stability, it is advantageous if the material thickness of the control bar changes depending on the respective requirements. This results in a high thermal stability of the control bar. At the same time, the risk of warping the control bar is reduced. Likewise, other elements for the assembly of the control bar and its assembly can be formed in one piece on the control bar without great additional effort, whereby the assembly effort is further reduced. The above-mentioned advantages can also be achieved by means of a control bar which is essentially manufactured by milling.

Advantageously, a sealing channel can be formed in the control bar as an additional recess, in which a seal is held for sealing between the control bar and the worktop. For example, a sealing strip can be glued in place in the sealing channel.

In addition, the control bar can have as an additional recess on its underside at least one mounting recess in which a mounting flange of a housing of the household appliance is in contact with the control bar. The mounting flange is thus at least partially sunk in the mounting recess. The overall height of the control bar is therefore not increased by the mounting flange. It is particularly advantageous if the housing-side fastening flange is arranged set back in the mounting recess of the operating bar in relation to the support surface or is flush with the support surface. In this case, the mounting recess can be surrounded by the support surface.

In a special embodiment, the control element is designed as a piezo sensor which is in contact with a bottom of the depression for the control element in the control bar. If an operator presses a corresponding control surface with his finger, the control bar deforms slightly. This deformation is detected by the piezo sensor and forwarded to an electronic control device. In order to further increase the sensitivity of the piezo sensor, at least one positioning recess is formed in the bottom of the depression, in which the piezo sensor is positioned. In the area of the positioning recess, the material thickness is further reduced to increase the sensitivity. At the same time, correct positioning of the piezo sensor in the recess is simplified.

[011] It can be advantageous if a number of spaced-apart mounting recesses are provided in the operating bar. The depression of the control element can be arranged between these. In this case, the mounting recess and the recess for the control element can be arranged one behind the other in a row on the underside of the control bar. As a result, the control bar can be made particularly narrow. H. whose overall depth is reduced.

In order to achieve a good seal of the household appliance, it is advantageous if the mounting recess and or the recess for the control element are arranged essentially within the sealing channel of the control bar. In this way, not only the control element, but also the mounting flange on the housing side is protected from the ingress of liquid.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by a household appliance with the features of patent claim 13. According to the characterizing part of claim 13, the control bar is analogously slightly inclined with its support surface relative to the household appliance. This allows the control bar to be in line contact in the area of its front edge on the top of the worktop. Unevenness on the top of the worktop or in the support surface of the control bar can be compensated for by the line contact. This ensures a reliable support of the control bar on the top of the worktop. The actuation pressure exerted by the user on the control bar is thus reliably detected by the piezo sensor and is not used to press the control bar into contact with the worktop. The angle of inclination of the control bar relative to the household appliance can preferably lie in an angular range between 0.3 ° and 1 °, in particular at 0.5 °.

[014] In one embodiment, the cover strip can be attached to the household appliance via at least one fastening element. The fastening element can be adapted in a simple manner in order to mount the operating bar relative to the household appliance in a downward inclination on the household appliance.

[015] The fastening element can preferably be designed to be elastically bendable. When the household appliance is inserted into the worktop cutout, the fastening element can therefore be slightly elastically deformed. This makes it possible to compensate for unevenness on the top of the worktop and ensures that the control bar lies flat on the worktop. This can advantageously be achieved in that the fastening element is designed as an angular part, one leg of which is fastened to the household appliance and the control bar is fastened to the other leg. Bumps on the top of the ar- worktop can be compensated particularly well if the control bar is connected to the household appliance via a number of spaced apart, in particular two fastening elements.

[016] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the attached figures. Show it:

[017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hob inserted in a worktop;

[018] FIG. 2 in a side sectional view in sections of the cooktop along the line I-I from FIG. 1;

[019] FIG. 3 shows an exploded section of the cooktop;

[020] FIG. 4 in a side sectional view in sections of the cooktop along the line II-π from FIG. 1;

[021] Figure 5 is a control bar of the hob; and

FIG. 6 shows a lead-through element to be inserted in a housing opening of the hob.

In Figure 1, a hob is shown as a household appliance, which has a glass ceramic plate 1 with four different hotplates. Suitable heating elements are arranged in a manner known per se below a decorative print 3 on the hotplates. The hob is inserted in a cutout of a worktop 5 and is supported on an upper side of the worktop 5. On its front side facing an operator, the hob is supported on the worktop 5 via an operating bar 7. On its other sides, the hob is supported on the worktop 5 via a peripheral edge of the glass ceramic plate 1. The control bar 7 is made of aluminum and has on its top 9 circular bulges 11 for operating the hotplates. The control bar 7 can also be part of a closed cooktop frame, which moves the glass ceramic plate 1 like a frame.

The control bar 7 is wedge-shaped in cross section according to FIG. The top 9 of the control bar 7 is slightly curved and inclined towards the worktop 5. As a result, a smooth transition between the worktop 5 and the control bar 7, which is advantageous in terms of appearance and for cleaning, is achieved.

The hotplates are operated by finger pressure on the corresponding bulge 11 according to FIG. 1. This finger pressure is recorded by a piezo sensor 13 which is located on an underside of the operating bar and is located directly below the bulge 11 and which detects the finger pressure converted into an electronic signal. According to FIG. 2, the piezo sensor 13 is arranged in a recess 15 which is formed on the underside of the control bar 7. For the piezo sensor 13, a positioning recess 19 is incorporated in a bottom 17 of the recess 15, which ensures the correct positioning of the piezo sensor 13 within the Recess 15 simplified. In addition, the wall thickness between the positioning recess 19 and the opposite bulge 11 on the top is significantly reduced in order to increase the sensitivity of the piezo sensor 13. The piezo sensor is firmly cast into the recess 15 via a plastic casting compound 21.

[026] A support surface 23 is also formed on the underside of the control bar 7, by means of which the hob is supported on the top of the worktop 5. The piezo sensor 13 is in this case set back in relation to the support surface 23 in the recess 15 of the operating bar 7. As a result, the control bar 7 can also be supported on the worktop 5 in the region of the depression 15 without damaging the piezo sensor 13. According to FIG. 2, the control bar 7 is mostly on the top of the worktop 1. When pressure is exerted on the bulge 11, the worktop 1 therefore acts as a stable counter-bearing for the control bar, as a result of which a reliable pressure absorption by the piezo sensor 13 is ensured.

To attach the control bar 7 to a housing 25 of the hob, two angular parts 29 spaced apart from one another are welded via their first leg 27 to an outside of the housing 25. The housing 25 can consist of one part or of several separate parts, for example a housing frame with a base cover. The angle parts consist of a sheet steel; one of the angle parts 29 is shown in FIG. 3. A bent second leg 28 is bent almost parallel to the glass ceramic plate 1 and has a mounting flange 31. The mounting flange 31 is inserted in the assembled state of the hob in an installation recess 33 on the underside of the control bar 7.

The second leg 28 is not at right angles, but is bent at a slightly smaller angle than 90 ° to the first leg 27. The result of this is that in the assembled state, the control bar 7 with its support surface 23 is inclined downward by approximately 0.5 ° relative to the hob over an inclination angle α shown in FIG. 3. The angle part 29 has sufficient elasticity. This ensures that the operating bar 7 is reliably supported on the worktop over its entire length, even in the event of unevenness on the top of the worktop.

The mounting recess 33 is surrounded by the support surface 23. As shown in FIG. 3, a sealing channel 41 is also formed on the underside of the operating bar 7. A sealing strip 43, shown in FIG. 4, is glued in the sealing channel 41 and extends circumferentially around the entire hob. Both the mounting recess 33 and the recess 15 for the piezo sensors 13 are arranged within the sealing strip 43. The mounting flange 31 is sunk in the mounting recess 33 of the control bar 7. As a result, the overall height of the control bar 7 supported on the worktop 5 is reduced. By inserting the Mounting flange 31 in the mounting recesses 33 is easily achieved a correct positioning of the control bar 7 relative to the housing 25. For this purpose, an edge of the mounting recess 33 essentially delimits the fastening flange 31 on the housing with a positive fit. The mounting flange 31 is arranged according to Figure 4 between the control bar 7 and the top of the worktop.

In addition to the mounting flange 31, two plug-in parts 45 are formed on the second leg 28, which are arranged in one plane with the first leg 27 welded to the housing 25 and are therefore oriented perpendicular to the glass ceramic plate 1. The mounting flange 31 is arranged between the two plug parts 45. In the assembled state of the hob, the mounting flange 31 is in flat contact with a contact surface 47, which is formed in the mounting recess 33. The fastening flange 31 can be screwed via a countersunk screw into a threaded hole 49 which is formed in the contact surface 47. The plug-in parts 45 also have a plastic adapter 51, by means of which the plug-in parts are inserted in a form-fitting manner in a corresponding plug-in recess 53 which is formed within the mounting recess 33. In this way, the plug-in parts 45, which are formed perpendicular to the fastening flanges 31, form a counter bearing, which ensures that the control bar 7 is held in a dimensionally stable manner on the housing 25. At the same time, the plug-in parts 45 center the control bar 7 when the control bar 7 is mounted on the housing 25.

In the event that, according to FIG. 4, food containers exert a weight on the hob in an arrow direction F, a torque acts on the mounting flange 31 in the arrow direction M. This torque is essentially absorbed by the plug-in parts 45 of the angle parts 25. The control bar 7 is therefore particularly dimensionally stable and rigidly held on the housing 25. According to the invention, the support surface 23 of the operating bar 7 is only spaced from the hob housing 25 by a narrow mounting gap s of, for example, 5 mm. A lever arm length assigned to the torque M is accordingly reduced.

A side edge 55 of the glass ceramic plate 1 is arranged between a projection 57 of the operating bar 7 facing the glass ceramic plate 1 and a support flange 59. A seal 61 is arranged between the side edge 55 of the glass ceramic plate 1 and the control bar 7.

The hob housing 25 is trough-shaped with raised side walls 63. The side walls 63 have at their upper end the support flange 59 which is bent inwards at right angles. The support flange 59 of the side walls 63 is glued to an underside of the glass ceramic plate 1 using a silicone adhesive (not shown). With the exception of the front, the glass ceramic plate 1 is supported on it Side edge 55 on the top of the countertop 5. Between the glass ceramic plate 1 and the worktop 5 there is formed the sealing strip 43 arranged on the circumference, which is guided in the sealing channel 41 in the region of the front operating bar 7.

5 shows the underside of the control bar 7 without the hob housing 25 and without piezo sensors 13. The control bar 7 is made from an extruded profile made of aluminum, for example. In a further production step, the mounting recesses 33 with the recess 15 arranged in between for the piezo sensors 13 are formed in the extruded profile by milling. The processing of the control bar 7 by milling enables a high degree of dimensional accuracy, whereby the number of post-processing steps is reduced. Furthermore, the material thickness of the control bar 7 can be changed by milling with high dimensional accuracy and adapted to the respective requirements. For this reason, the risk of the control bar warping is significantly reduced.

The electrical signals generated by the piezo sensors 13 are passed via connecting lines 67 to an electronic control device 65 provided within the housing 25. One of the connecting lines 67 is shown in FIG. The connecting lines 67 are combined to form a line string and are guided out of the casting compound 21 poured into the recess 15. The ends of the connecting lines 67 are connected to a plug 68 indicated in FIG. 6. This is guided through a housing opening provided in the housing side wall up to the electronic control device 65 and connected to it.

A bushing element 69 shown in detail in FIG. 6 is arranged in the housing opening. The lead-through element 69 is manufactured as a plastic injection-molded part which has a frame 71 which is inserted in the housing opening. The frame 71 delimits a passage opening 73 through which the connecting lines 67 are guided to the control device 65 in a protected manner from sheet metal edges of the housing opening. A bearing flange 75 is formed on an upper bar of the frame 71, which in the inserted state is in contact with the edge of the housing opening on the inside. A latching tab 77 is formed in the center of a lower frame bar of the frame 71, which latches into the side wall of the housing 25 to fasten the flow element 69. Likewise, a flap-like actuator 79 is pivotally connected to the lower frame bar of the frame 71 via a film hinge. Depending on its pivot position, the actuator 79 can change a cross section of the through opening 73.

When inserting the feed-through element 69, its bearing flange 75 is first guided from the outside through the housing opening of the housing and on the inside with the Edge area of the housing opening brought into contact. Then the latching tab 77 is pressed into a corresponding latching cutout in the side wall of the housing.

[038]

In FIG. 6, the flap-like actuating element 79 is shown open, so that the cross section of the opening 73 is correspondingly enlarged. As a result, the plug 68 can be guided in a simple manner through the through opening 73 to the control device 65. The Stellgüed 79 is essentially plate-like and has an angled projection 81 which is formed with a groove-like recess 83. On the opposite side edges of the Stellghed 79 locking elements 85 are formed, which releasably engage behind the side frame strips of the DurnInHungsrahmen 71 with Stellgüed 79 closed. In this position of the actuating light 79, the cross section of the passage opening is reduced to a small gap which is formed between the groove-like recess 83 of the actuating element attachment 81 and the upper frame bar. In this case, the connecting lines 67 are adequately fixed in terms of assembly technology. At the same time, when the actuator 79 is closed, the angled actuator attachment 81 makes access to the connecting lines 67 considerably more difficult, since the section of the connecting lines 67 on the outside of the housing is almost completely cut off from the angled actuating attachment 81 (see FIG. 2). The angled extension 81 of the actuating device 79 also acts as a spacer which, after the hob has been inserted into the cutout of the worktop 5 according to FIG. 4, maintains a narrow mounting gap s between the housing 25 and the cutout edge of the auxiliary plate 5, without the connecting lines 67 be damaged when inserting the hob.

Claims

Expectations

Household appliance for insertion into a section of a worktop (5), with an operating bar (7), which has on its underside a support surface (23) for supporting the household appliance on the worktop (5) and at least one recess (15), in which at least one control element (13) is arranged, characterized in that the control element (13) in the recess (15) of the control bar (7) is set back from the support surface (23) or is flush with the support surface (23).

Domestic appliance according spoke 1, characterized in that the control bar (7) has on its underside a number of separate recesses (15, 33, 41) for different device components.

Household appliance according spoke 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (15) for the control element (13) is formed within the support surface (23) of the control bar (7).

[004] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control bar (7) is essentially manufactured by master shaping or milling.

Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a material thickness of the control bar (7) changes depending on requirements.

Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealing channel (41) for a seal (43) for sealing between the control bar (7) and the worktop (5) is formed on the underside of the control bar (7).

Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one mounting recess (33) is formed on the underside of the control bar (7), in which a mounting flange (31) of a housing part (25) of the household appliance with the control bar (7 ) is in the system.

[008] Control bar according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing-side fastening flange (31) in the mounting recess (33) of the control bar (7) is set back from the support surface (23) or is flush with the support surface (23).

[009] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (13) is designed as a piezo sensor which is in contact with a bottom (17) of the depression (15) in the control bar (7).

[010] Household appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one positioning recess (19) for positioning the piezo sensor (13) is formed in the bottom (17) of the recess (15).

[011] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of spaced-apart mounting recesses (33) are formed in the operating bar (7).

[012] Household appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the recess (15) for the control element (13) is arranged between mounting recesses (33) in the control bar (7).

13. Household appliance for insertion into a cutout of a worktop (5), with a housing part (25) and an operating bar (7), on the underside of which at least one piezo sensor (13) is arranged, which one on the operating bar ( 7) the actuating pressure exerted and transmits a corresponding signal to a control device (65), and a support surface (23) for supporting the household appliance on the worktop (5) is formed, characterized in that the control bar (7) with its support surface (23 ) is inclined slightly downwards over an angle of inclination (α) with respect to the housing part (25).

14. Household appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that the angle of inclination (α) of the control bar (7) relative to the housing part (25) lies in an angular range of 0.3 ° to 3 °, in particular at 0.5 °.

15. Household appliance according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the control bar (7) via at least one fastening element (29) is attached to the housing part (25).

16. Household appliance according to claim 15, characterized in that the fastening element (29) consists of an elastically bendable material, preferably sheet steel.

17. Household appliance according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening element (29) is designed as an angular part, one leg (27) of which is fastened to the housing part (25) and on the other leg (28) the operating bar ( 7) is attached.

18. Household appliance according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the control bar (7) is connected to the housing part (25) via two spaced-apart fastening elements (29).