WO2013098248A2

WO2013098248A2 - A household appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2013098248A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/076694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nihat BICER; Serdar Turkoz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2011-12-30
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2013-07-04
Also published as: WO2013098248A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2), a panel (3) situated on the body (2), more than one knob (4) situated on the panel (3) and produced from plastic; the knob (4) having a lid (8) having a front wall (6) that forms the front surface of the knob (4) and that has at least one first fixing hole (5) situated on the inner surface thereof and a side wall (7) surrounding the front wall (6), a circular support (11) that forms the portion of the knob (4) seated on the panel (3) and that has more than one lug (9) extending from the inner surface thereof towards the center and at least one second fixing hole (10) situated on each lug (9), and a ring (12) that is situated between the side wall (7) and the support (11) such that the first fixing holes (5) and the second fixing holes (10) overlap and that gets stuck between the side wall (7) and the support (11) when a fixing member is fixed by being passed through the fixing holes (5, 10).

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising more than one knob.

In household appliances, more than one knob is situated on the panel that is situated on the body, that serves the user in selecting the program parameters. Various knob design and production methods are used for making the outer appearance of the household appliance more aesthetic. For visually improving the knobs produced generally from plastic, the knobs are produced as several separate pieces having different color and texture and then the said pieces are joined. However, some difficulties are encountered during the assembly of these pieces and this results in the increase of the labor cost.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance comprising a knob during the production of which ease of assembly is provided.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a knob situated on the panel and that is produced from plastic material by joining together three different pieces and fixing them to each other. The knob comprises a lid having a front wall that forms the front surface thereof and a side wall surrounding the front wall, a circular support seated on the panel and a circular ring situated between the support and the side wall. More than one fixing hole is situated on the inner surface of the front wall. The support comprises more than one lug situated on the inner surface thereof and that extends from the inner wall towards the center and a second fixing hole situated on each lug. The first fixing holes and the second fixing holes are provided to overlap by stacking the ring, the lid and the support one over the other such that the ring remains therebetween. The fixing member passes through the second fixing hole and provides the lid and the support to be fixed to each other such that the ring remains therebetween by extending towards into the first fixing hole. When the fixing process is performed, the ring gets stuck between the support and the lid such that the ring cannot be dislodged from between the lid and the support. The edges of the ring bear against the side wall and the support. Thus the assembly process of the knob, that is produced by joining three separate pieces, that is the lid, the support and the ring, is facilitated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support comprises a skirt seated on the panel and the diameter of which is almost equal to the diameter of the ring, and a base situated on the skirt, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the skirt and over which the ring is fitted. During the assembly of the knob, the ring is seated on the base and thus the ring is provided to be supported by the base. Thus, holding together the support and the ring is facilitated and the lid can be easily mounted thereon.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the outer walls of the ring become coplanar with the side wall and the skirt when the lid, the support and the ring are fastened to each other such that the ring remains therebetween. Thus, the exterior appearance of the knob is improved. Furthermore, since no gap is left between the side wall, the skirt and the ring, accumulation of dirt and residue therebetween is prevented.

In another embodiment of the present invention, more than one protrusion is situated around the base and more than one recess is situated on the inner surface of the ring, into which each protrusion is seated when the ring is seated on the base. The recesses and the protrusions facilitates the seating of the ring on the base by serving as guides in situating the ring on the base.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a cooking device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a dishwasher.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a washing machine.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a laundry dryer.

By means of the present invention, the assembly process of the knob, produced by joining three different pieces, the lid, the support and the ring, is made easier and the workmanship time spent for the assembly is shortened.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 – is the exploded view of a knob.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of a knob.

Figure 4 – is the sideways view of a knob.

Figure 5 – is the sideways cross-sectional view of a knob.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of a support.

Figure 7 – is the cross-sectional view of a support.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of a ring.

Figure 9 – is the perspective view of a lid.

Figure 10 – is the sideways cross-sectional view of a lid.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Household appliance
Body
Panel
Knob
First fixing hole
Front wall
Side wall
Lid
Lug
Second fixing hole
Support
Ring
Skirt
Base
Protrusion
Recess

The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2), a panel (3) situated on the body (2), more than one knob (4) situated on the panel (3) and produced from plastic.

The knob (4) comprises

a lid (8) having a front wall (6) that forms the front surface of the knob (4) and has at least one first fixing hole (5) situated on the inner surface thereof and a side wall (7) surrounding the front wall (6),
a circular support (11) that forms the portion of the knob (4) seated on the panel (3) and that has more than one lug (9) extending from the inner surface thereof towards the center and at least one second fixing hole (10) situated on each lug (9), and
a ring (12) that is placed between the side wall (7) and the support (11) such that the first fixing holes (5) and the second fixing holes (10) overlap and that gets stuck between the side wall (7) and the support (11) when a fixing member is fixed by being passed through the fixing holes (5, 10).

The second fixing holes (10) are seated on the first fixing holes (5) when the lid (8) and the support (11) are joined such that the ring (12) remains therebetween. The fixing members such as screw etc. are enabled to extend towards into the first fixing holes (5) by passing through the second fixing holes (10). When the fixing process is completed, the support (11), the ring (12) and the lid (8) are provided to be fixed to each other. The lid (8) is situated on one side of the ring (12) and the support (11) on the other side. The edges of the ring (12) bear against the side wall (7) and the support (11). Thus, the lid (8), the support (11) and the ring (12), that are produced separately, are provided to be easily fastened to each other. Furthermore, knobs (4) with visual variability are obtained by changing the features such as color and texture during the production of the lid (8), the support (11) and the ring (12).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support (11) comprises a skirt (13), the diameter of which is almost equal to the diameter of the ring (12) and a base (14), connected to the skirt (13), the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the skirt (13) and whereon the ring (12) is seated. During the assembly of the knob (4), the ring (12) is fitted over the base (14) and thus the base (14) is provided to hold the ring (12). Since the base (14) supports the ring (12) from the inner surface, the fixing holes (5, 10) are provided to be easily guided to each other by situating the lid (8) on the ring (12). Thus, the production cost of the knob (4) is provided to be decreased by facilitating the labor during the assembly of the knob (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the ring (12) becomes coplanar with the side wall (7) and the skirt (13) when the lid (8) and the support (11) are fixed to each other such that the ring (12) remains therebetween. Thus, both a more esthetic appearance is obtained and the knob (4) is provided to be easily used by preventing accumulation of dirt and residue between the lid (8), the support (11) and the ring (12).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the support (11) comprises more than one protrusion (15) situated on the base (14) so as to surround the base (14). The ring (12) comprises more than one recess (16) situated on the inner surface thereof, into which each protrusion (15) is seated when the ring (12) is seated on the base (14). The recesses (16) are shaped as channels and extend longitudinally on the inner surface of the ring (12). The depth of the base (14) is almost equal to the depth of the ring (12). Thus, the recesses (16) almost entirely surround the protrusions (15). One protrusion (15) is seated into each recess (16) when the ring (12) is fitted over the base (14) and thus the ring (12) and the base (14) are provided to be positioned with respect to each other. Furthermore, the ring (12) is provided to be fastened on the support (11) and the lid (8) is provided to be fixed thereon, both in a simple manner by the protrusions (15) being seated into the recesses (16).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a cooking device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a washing machine.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a laundry dryer.

In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the lid (8), the support (11) and the ring (12), that are produced separately, are provided to be easily mounted to each other and cost advantage is provided in the production of the knob (4).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should also be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2), a panel (3) situated on the body (2), more than one knob (4) situated on the panel (3) and produced from plastic, characterized by the knob (4) having

- a lid (8) having a front wall (6) that forms the front surface of the knob (4) and that has at least one first fixing hole (5) situated on the inner surface thereof and a side wall (7) surrounding the front wall (6),

- a circular support (11) that forms the portion of the knob (4) seated on the panel (3) and has more than one lug (9) that extends from the inner surface thereof towards the center and at least one second fixing hole (10) situated on each lug (9), and

- a ring (12) that is situated between the side wall (7) and the support (11) such that the first fixing holes (5) and the second fixing holes (10) overlap and that gets stuck between the side wall (7) and the support (11) when a fixing member is fixed by being passed through the fixing holes (5, 10).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the support (11) comprising a skirt (13), the diameter of which is almost equal to the diameter of the ring (12) and a base (14) connected to the skirt (13), the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the skirt (13) and whereon the ring (12) is seated.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the ring (12) that becomes coplanar with the side wall (7) and the skirt (13) when the lid (8) and the support (11) are fixed to each other such that the ring (12) remains therebetween.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the support (11) comprising more than one protrusion (15) situated on the base (14) so as to surround the base (14) and the ring (12) comprising more than one recess (16) situated on the inner surface of the ring (12), into which each protrusion (15) is seated when the ring (12) is seated on the base (14).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a cooking device.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a dishwasher.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a washing machine.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a laundry dryer.