Household appliance comprising a knob with illuminated outer periphery

Abstract

The household appliance of the present invention relates to a control panel by which the user can control the functions of the household appliance; at least one opening disposed on the control panel; a shaft that is disposed behind the control panel so as to extend towards the opening and that enables the related function to be realized; a knob that is disposed on the shaft and that enables the user to move the shaft; a sealing element that is disposed on the opening so as to almost completely surround the shaft.

Claims

1. A household appliance comprising: a control panel by which a user can control functions of the household appliance; at least one opening disposed on the control panel; a shaft that is disposed behind the control panel so as to extend towards the opening and that enables a related function to be realized; a knob that is disposed on the shaft and that enables the user to move the shaft; a sealing element that is disposed on the opening so as to almost completely surround the shaft; wherein the sealing element is produced from transparent material, wherein a first transparent portion of the sealing element extends over the control panel and a second transparent portion of the sealing element extends under the control panel such that the first transparent portion and the second transparent portion of the sealing element sandwich the control panel; and a light source that is disposed behind the control panel so as to be aligned with the sealing element, wherein the first transparent portion and the second transparent portion of the sealing element are configured to emit light emitted from the light source and illuminate the knob by illuminating over and under the control panel.

2. The household appliance as in claim 1, characterized by the sealing element produced from silicone material.

3. The household appliance as in claim 1, characterized by the light source that constantly emits light.

4. The household appliance as in claim 1, characterized by the light source that emits light while the knob is being moved.

5. The household appliance as in claim 1, characterized by the light source that emits light in different colors for different functions.

6. The household appliance as in claim 1, characterized by the light source that is a light emitting diode.

Description

(1) A household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

(2) FIG. 1is the perspective view of a household appliance.

(3) FIG. 2is the perspective view of the control panel, the knob and the shaft in an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3is the cross-sectional view of the control panel, the knob, the shaft and the sealing element in another embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4is the schematic view of the control panel, the knob, the shaft, the sealing element and the light source in another embodiment of the present invention.

(6) The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: 1. Household appliance 2. Control panel 3. Opening 4. Shaft 5. Knob 6. Sealing element 7. Light source

(7) The household appliance (1) comprises a control panel (2) by which the user can control the functions of the household appliance (1); at least one opening (3) disposed on the control panel (2); a shaft (4) that is disposed behind the control panel (2) so as to extend towards the opening (3) and that enables the related function to be realized; a knob (5) that is disposed on the shaft (4) and that enables the user to move the shaft (4); a sealing element (6) that is disposed on the opening (3) so as to almost completely surround the shaft (4) and that almost completely prevents liquid entry behind the control panel (2) from around the knob (5).

(8) The user enables the shaft (4) to move by rotating or pushing the knob (5) inward and realizes the function that the shaft (4) enables to be realized. For example, in the case the household appliance (1) is a cooker, the shaft (4) controls the tap that enables the gas to be sent to the cooker and the user provides gas flow to the cooker by rotating the knob (5). When the household appliance (1) is an oven, the user adjusts the temperature of the oven with the knob (5). The sealing element (6) sits tightly around the opening (3) and prevents the electronic elements like the control card (not shown in the figures) disposed behind the control panel (2) from being damaged due to reasons like cleaning by preventing liquid entry from the opening (3).

(9) The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises the sealing element (6) produced from transparent material, and at least one light source (7) that is aligned with the sealing element (6) behind the control panel (2) and that enables the illumination of the periphery of the knob (5).

(10) The light source (7) remains behind the control panel (2) is positioned as close as possible to the sealing element (6) in order to effectively illuminate the sealing element (6), in other words in order to transmit the emitted light more effectively to the sealing element (6). The light source (6) is connected to the control unit (not shown in the figures) of the household appliance (1), and is energized according to the information recorded in the memory of the control unit regarding when and how long the illumination is to be made.

(11) By producing the sealing element (6) from transparent material, the need for the use of elements like the light guide, etc. that provide the transmitting and the emitting of the light behind control panel (2) in order to illuminate the periphery of the knob (5) is eliminated. Thus, volume saving in the illumination of the knob (5) is provided and cost advantage is provided by using less elements. The sealing element (6) can be positioned so as to be over or under the control panel (2).

(12) In an embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the sealing element (6) is disposed on the opening (3) so as to extend over the control panel (2) and at least a portion thereof extends behind the control panel (2), in other words the sealing element (6) grasps the control panel (2) from both sides. By means of this embodiment of the present invention, the liquid entry prevention function of the sealing element (6) is improved; and by means of the sealing element (6) extending so as to remain on the control panel (2), more effective illumination of the periphery of the knob (5) is enabled. In this embodiment, the light emitted from the light source (7) that is disposed behind the control panel (2) is coupled with the sealing element (6); and the sealing element (6) enables the light to be carried on the control panel (2) so as to illuminate the periphery of the knob (5) by acting as a light guide.

(13) In another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element (6) is produced from silicone material. By means of the sealing element (6) produced from silicone material, the sealing element (6) gains the feature of flexibility, for example the user is enabled to easily take out and clean the sealing element (6) when dirty.

(14) In another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element (6) is semi-transparent. By means of the semi-transparent sealing element (6), the light received from the light source (7) is enabled to be emitted in a better way in the sealing element (6) and thus the periphery of the knob (5) is more homogenously illuminated.

(15) In another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element (6) is transparent. By using a transparent sealing element (6), while the periphery of the knob (5) is illuminated, a different experience is provided to the user by enabling the user to see behind the control panel (2).

(16) In another embodiment of the present invention, the lights source (7) constantly emits light. By means of constant illumination of the periphery of the knob (5), the user can easily see the writings and the figures around the knob (5) while using the knob (5) even if the environment is not alight.

(17) In another embodiment of the present invention, the lights source (7) emits light while the knob (5) is being moved. By means of this embodiment, in addition to the above-explained embodiment, the lights source (7) emits light only while the knob (5) is being used and thus energy saving is provided.

(18) In another embodiment of the present invention, the light source (7) emits light in different colors for different functions of the household appliance (1). In this embodiment, more than one light source (7) can be used for light in different colors or the light sources (7) that emit light in different colors at different voltages can be used. Thus, the user can easily detect which function is realized with the knob (5).

(19) In another embodiment of the present invention, the light source (7) is a light emitting diode. By using a light emitting diode as the light source (7), less energy is consumed for the illumination of the periphery of the knob (5) in comparison with other state of the art light sources (7).

(20) In the present invention, the sealing element (6) used for leak-proofing purposes in the periphery of the knob (5) gains a second function by being produced from transparent material, and enables the light of the light source (7) disposed behind the control panel (2) to pass therethrough and enables the light to be emitted so as to illuminate the periphery of the knob (5). By means of the sealing element (6) having two functions, the narrow volume behind the control panel (2) is used more efficiently.