WO2016086963A1

WO2016086963A1 - Auxiliary control plate for use with a cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2016086963A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/076207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gamze DAG; Selcuk SOYYIGIT; Serdar Gokhan DOGANAY; Yasin Sedat Yirmili
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-02
Filing date: 2014-12-02
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to an auxiliary control plate (1) for a visually impaired individual for using with a cooking appliance (2) comprising a top surface (3) which has a plurality of cooking areas (4) for cooking, a plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) for controlling the cooking areas (4), a mounting area (6) in the vicinity of the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5), and an output unit for outputting an audible signal when a touch-sensitive areas (5) is touched. The auxiliary control plate (1) of the present invention comprises a covering (7) which is adapted for attachment onto the mounting area (6). The covering (7) comprises a plurality of embossings (8) which respectively indicate the control functions of the plurality of touch sensitive areas (5).

Description

AUXILIARY CONTROL PLATE FOR USE WITH A COOKING APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to an auxiliary control plate for visually impaired individuals for use with a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance which has a touch-sensitive control facility.

A household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance generally comprises

a glass ceramic top surface which has a plurality of cooking areas for cooking and a plurality of touch-sensitive areas for controlling the cooking areas. The cooking areas and the touch-sensitive areas are generally provided with screen-printed markings or symbols which indicate their positions and functions respectively. When taking the cooking appliance into operation, the user selects by means of the touch-sensitive areas a desired cooking area and sets a desired temperature associated with the selected cooking area. During the selection and the setting procedure, the cooking appliance provides visual and audible feedback for improving the intelligibility as the user contacts the touch-sensitive areas. Thereby, the user can reliably conduct the operation of the cooking appliance. The same is not true for a visually impaired user. In general, it is difficult for a visually impaired individual to use a household appliance. The difficulty basically arises from the fact that the touch-sensitive areas of the cooking appliance are poorly accessible to the visually impaired individuals. In particular, the screen-printed markings are hardly sensible. Moreover, the visually impaired user may unintentionally activate a touch-sensitive area when contacting the screen-printed markings, especially when he or she applies an increased force on the screen-printed markings so as to improve the tactile sense. Thus, there is generally a risk that the safety of the visually impaired user is easily endangered.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary control plate for use with a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables a visually impaired user to operate the cooking appliance more easily and safely.

This objective has been achieved by the auxiliary control plate as defined in claim 1 and the cooking appliance as defined in claim 11. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

In the cooking appliance of the present invention the top surface comprises a mounting area in the vicinity of the plurality of touch-sensitive areas for mounting the auxiliary control plate of the present invention.

The auxiliary control plate of the present invention comprises a decorative covering for attachment onto the mounting area of the cooking appliance. The covering comprises a plurality of embossings which respectively indicate the control functions of the plurality of touch sensitive areas. The embossings are immediately arranged in one-to-one spatial correspondence to the touch sensitive areas.

With the present invention, the risk of unintentionally activating the touch-sensitive areas is eliminated or reduced as much as possible as the visually impaired user touches the embossings on the covering. During the selection and the setting procedure, the visually impaired user can sequentially touch all the embossings on the covering until he or she locates the desired embossing. Once the desired embossing is located, the visually impaired user can move his or her finger until an audible feedback is obtained towards the corresponding touch-sensitive area which is arranged in immediate one-to-one spatial correspondence. Thereby, the visually impaired user can select and set the desired functions and parameters and operate the cooking appliance more quickly and safely. With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the auxiliary control plate the cooking appliance can be cost efficiently converted into a blind-friendly appliance. In particular, the cooking appliance can be retrofitted with the auxiliary control plate permanently or temporally by the visually impaired user who desires to make use of it. Alternatively, the cooking appliance can be retrofitted with the auxiliary control plate permanently by the manufacturer during the assembly process. The cooking appliance of the present invention is, of course, fully operable also in the absence of the auxiliary control plate. Thus, the visually impaired user can bring along the auxiliary control plate and utilize it at any locality in combination with the cooking appliance. With the present invention, a consumer satisfaction can be increased.

In an embodiment, the covering is mountable onto the front of the cooking appliance. Thereby, the visually impaired user can easily locate the position of the covering by approaching the cooking appliance mainly from the front. Thus, the risk of unintentionally touching any of the touch-sensitive areas behind the covering is eliminated or reduced as much as possible. In this embodiment, the cooking areas are behind the touch sensitive areas. Thus, the risk of touching the cooking areas behind the touch-sensitive areas is also eliminated or reduced as much as possible. The visually impaired can safely move his or her finger from an embossing on the covering straightly towards the corresponding touch-sensitive area until an acoustic signal is emitted.

In another embodiment, the embossings are separated from the touch-sensitive areas respectively about one to two centimeters. Thereby, the visually impaired user can easily and quickly reach with his or her finger the desired touch-sensitive area from the corresponding embossing.

In another embodiment, both the touch-sensitive areas and the corresponding embossings are lined up substantially parallel to the front of the cooking appliance. The touch-sensitive areas and the corresponding embossings match each other over a relatively short distance along the front-rear direction. Thereby, the visually impaired user can easily orient himself or herself when operating the cooking appliance. The visually impaired user can sidewards scan with his or her finger the embossings along the covering and locate a desired one and subsequently move his or her finger rearwards to the corresponding touch-sensitive area behind the covering.

In another embodiment, the touch sensitive areas are respectively provided with symbols for the users which are not visually impaired. These symbols may be formed, for example, by way of screen-printing. Each symbol indicates the function and the position of the corresponding touch sensitive area. In this embodiment, the embossings resemble the symbols respectively. The embossings may also contain a Braille text for improving intelligibility. The symbols may also be omitted.

In another embodiment, the neighboring embossings are separated by boundary embossings which mark the boundary therebetween. Thereby, the visually impaired user can orient his or her finger more easily.

In another embodiment, the boundary embossings have straight shapes which extend substantially vertical to the front of the cooking appliance.

In another embodiment, the covering extends along the entire frontal width of the cooking appliance. Alternatively, the covering may be shorter than frontal width of the cooking appliance.

In another embodiment, the covering has a recess which fits the front edge of the top surface. Thereby, the auxiliary control plate can be correctly aligned and positioned onto its designated installation place.

In another embodiment, the covering is a single piece. The covering is manufactured from a plastic material. Alternatively the covering is manufactured from a metal material.

In another embodiment, an adhesive is used for attaching the auxiliary control plate to the cooking appliance.

In other alternative embodiments, the cooking appliance is provided with a single glass top surface which covers a plurality of touch-sensitive facilities which include capacitive sensors or the like and a plurality of cooking facilities which heat through induction and/or thermal conduction.

Additional advantages of the auxiliary control plate and the cooking appliance according to the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a cooking appliance which has an auxiliary control plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 – is a schematic perspective view of the auxiliary control plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, prior to attaching to the cooking appliance;

Figure 3 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail A of Fig. 2.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Auxiliary control plate
Cooking appliance
Top surface
Cooking area

4´ Cooking area

4´´ Cooking area
5. Touch-sensitive area

6. Mounting area

7. Covering

8. Embossing

9. Symbol

10. Step portion

11. Plate

The auxiliary control plate (1) is suitable for a visually impaired individual for use with a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance (2) (Fig. 1 to 3).

The cooking appliance (2) comprises a top surface (3) which has a plurality of cooking areas (4) for cooking and a plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) for controlling the cooking areas (4). The cooking appliance (2) further comprises an output unit which outputs at least an audible signal when a touch-sensitive area (5) is touched.

The cooking appliance (2) of the present invention comprises a mounting area (6) for mounting the auxiliary control plate (1). The mounting area (6) is in the vicinity of the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5).

The auxiliary control plate (1) of the present invention comprises a covering (7) which is adapted for attachment onto the mounting area (6). The covering (7) comprises a plurality of embossings (8) which respectively indicate the control functions of the plurality of touch sensitive areas (5). The embossings (8) are immediately arranged in one-to-one spatial correspondence to the touch-sensitive areas (5).

The cooking appliance (2) of the present invention further comprises the auxiliary control plate (1).

In an embodiment, the mounting area (6) is at the front of the cooking appliance (2). The plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is behind the mounting area (6). The plurality of cooking areas (4) is behind the touch-sensitive areas (5). In this embodiment, the covering (7) is adapted for attachment onto the mounting area (6) at the front of the cooking appliance (2).

In another embodiment, the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is a predetermined distance within the range of one to two centimeters behind the mounting area (6). In this embodiment, each embossing (8) is arranged in the range of one to two centimeters straight in front of the corresponding touch-sensitive area (5).

In another embodiment, the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is arranged into a single array which is aligned substantially parallel to the front of the cooking appliance (2). In this embodiment, the plurality of embossings (8) is also arranged into a matching single array which is aligned parallel to the front of the cooking appliance (2).

In another embodiment, each touch sensitive area (5) is provided with a symbol (9) which indicates its control function. In this embodiment, the plurality of embossings (8) resembles the plurality of symbols (9) respectively.

In another embodiment, the covering (7) has a plurality of boundary embossings (not shown) which are respectively arranged between the neighboring embossings (8). The boundary embossings (not shown) are immediately arranged in one-to-one spatial correspondence to the boundaries between the neighboring touch-sensitive areas (5).

In another embodiment, each boundary embossing (not shown) has a straight shape.

In another embodiment, the covering (7) is rectangular shaped and extends along the frontal width of the cooking appliance (2).

In another embodiment, the covering (7) has a step portion (10) which is adapted to embrace the front edge of the top surface (3).

In another embodiment, the covering (7), including all embossings (8) is manufactured as a single piece.

In another embodiment, the covering (7) is attached onto the mounting area (6) through an adhesive.

In another embodiment, the cooking appliance (2) comprises a single glass ceramic plate (11) which defines the entire top surface (3).

In another embodiment, the cooking appliance (2) comprises at least four cooking areas (4) which are arranged into a two by two array.

In another embodiment, at least two of the cooking areas (4´, 4´´) are adapted for induction heating.

With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the auxiliary control plate (1), the cooking appliance (2) can be cost-effectively converted into a blind-friendly appliance simply by way of mounting the decorative cover (7) of the auxiliary control plate (1) onto the front of the cooking appliance (2). With the present invention, particularly by virtue of the auxiliary control plate (1), the visually impaired user is enabled to operate the cooking appliance (2) quickly and safely. Thereby, the customer satisfaction can be improved.

Claims

An auxiliary control plate (1) for a visually impaired individual for use with a cooking appliance (2) comprising a top surface (3) which has a plurality of cooking areas (4) for cooking, a plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) for controlling the cooking areas (4), a mounting area (6) in the vicinity of the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) and an output unit for outputting an audible signal when a touch-sensitive area (5) is touched, characterized in that

a covering (7) which is adapted for attachment onto the mounting area (6), wherein the covering (7) comprising a plurality of embossings (8) which respectively indicate the control functions of the plurality of touch sensitive areas (5), wherein the embossings (8) are immediately arranged in one-to-one spatial correspondence to the touch sensitive areas (5).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting area (6) is at the front of the cooking appliance (2), wherein the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is behind the mounting area (6) and wherein the plurality of cooking areas (4) is behind the touch-sensitive areas (5), the auxiliary control plate (1) being characterized in that the covering (7) is further adapted for attachment onto the mounting area (6) at the front of the cooking appliance (2).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is a predetermined distance within the range of one to two centimeters behind the mounting area (6), the auxiliary control plate (1) being characterized in that each embossing (8) is arranged in the range of one to two centimeters in front of the corresponding touch-sensitive area (5).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) is arranged into a single array which is aligned substantially parallel to the front of the cooking appliance (2), the auxiliary control plate (1) being characterized in that the plurality of embossings (8) is arranged into a matching single array which is also aligned parallel to the front of the cooking appliance (2).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each touch sensitive area (5) is provided with a symbol (9) which indicates its control function, the auxiliary control plate (1) being characterized in that the plurality of embossings (8) respectively resemble the corresponding symbols (9).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the covering (7) has a plurality of boundary embossings which are respectively arranged between the neighboring embossings (8), wherein the boundary embossings are immediately arranged in one-to-one spatial correspondence to the boundaries between the neighboring touch-sensitive areas (5).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said boundary embossing has a straight shape.
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the covering (7) is rectangular shaped and extends along the frontal width of the cooking appliance (2).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the covering (7) has a step portion (10) which is adapted to embrace the front edge of the top surface (3).
The auxiliary control plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the covering (7), including all embossings (8) is manufactured as a single piece.
A cooking appliance (2) comprising

- a top surface (3) which has a plurality of cooking areas (4) for cooking and a plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) for controlling the cooking areas (4) and

- an output unit for outputting an audible signal when a touch-sensitive area (5) is touched,

characterized in that

- a mounting area (6) in the vicinity of the plurality of touch-sensitive areas (5) and

the auxiliary control plate (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that the covering (7) is attached onto the mounting area (6) through an adhesive.
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a single glass ceramic plate (11) which defines the entire top surface (3).
The cooking appliance (2) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that at least four cooking areas (4) which are arranged into a two by two array.
The cooking appliance (2) according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two of the cooking areas (4´, 4´´) are adapted for induction heating.