FR2492602A1 - ELECTRICALLY EQUIPMENT WITH DISPLAY PANEL AND LIGHT CONTROL - Google Patents

Abstract

APPLIANCE WITH LIGHT DISPLAY AND CONTROL PANEL. APPLIANCE WITH A DISPLAY AND OR CONTROL PANEL LIT FROM A SINGLE LIGHT SOURCE BY LIGHT CONDUCTORS. IT INCLUDES A SINGLE LIGHT CONDUCTOR 17 WHOSE FRONT END IS OPTICALLY CONNECTED TO A LIGHT SOURCE (BULB 30) AND WHICH EXTENDS ALONG TABLE 3 WITH WHICH THE DISPLAY AND / OR CONTROL ELEMENTS ARE OPTICALLY LINKED. APPLICATION TO ELECTRIC COOKERS, WASHING MACHINES, DISHWASHER.

Description

Domestic appliance with a notice board and

enlightened control.

  The present invention relates to an electromechanical

  swimming, for example an electric cooker, a washing machine, a dishwasher or similar apparatus, which includes a display and control panel and a single light source, by which the display elements and / or or control can be illuminated, via

light conductors.

  In the case of a known household appliance, for example an electric cooker (utility model DE 17 53 265), there is provided a control panel comprising a plurality of switches to which optical display elements are individually associated. The illumination of the display elements is provided by a single light source, which is in optical connection with these display elements via different shaped light conductors.

  of bar, individually associated with said display elements.

  The object of the present invention is to improve, from the point of view of the construction and assembly technique, the household appliance defined above, in particular by

  as regards the reduction of space required for

the lighting device.

  The present invention solves this problem by the use of a single light conductor, optically connected, at its front face, to a light source, and which extends along the display and control board with which the display and / or control elements are in

optical link.

  Due to the use of a single light conductor for all display and / or control elements, maximum simplification is obtained from the point of view of the construction and assembly technique, in particular with regard to the space needed to house the device

  lighting on the back of the control panel.

  It is preferable that the light conductor be in the form of a plate or a rod, for example "Plexiglas" or any other similar material usually used for the manufacture of light conductors, and this at least on its

  stretch that runs along the bulletin board and

  to cover the entire board, so that it is possible to connect as many optical signaling points to the light conductor as desired,

  distributed on the control panel.

  This gives a control panel of a con-

  very flat truction, lighting device included, so that it does not almost encroach on the space provided behind the control panel to house the control and regulation devices. From the point of view of the mounting technique, it is particularly advantageous that many individual conductors need not be connected to the light source, but only a single light conductor common to all the signaling points. said light source can be placed inside the apparatus in an area that is not necessary, for example to accommodate

  control and regulating devices.

  According to an additional feature of the present invention, light reflective display symbols, or reflective surfaces, are applied, for example printed, on the back side of the light conductor, which is opposite the front face of the light conductor. display and control panel, and preferably at the height of cuts or windows made in a mask covering the driver

of light on its front face.

  In this case, according to another characteristic of the

  In the present invention, at least one

  mandrel made in the form of a rotary joystick, which has, in front of the light conductor, an at least partially transparent display disc, with display symbols arranged on its periphery, symbols which, by rotation of the control element, may be brought into the area of the cut-out or window of the mask placed between the display disc and the light conductor, and in the area of a reflecting surface

of the light conductor.

  In this case, an additional feature of the present invention provides that a sector of the disc corresponding to the "off" position of the control element (rotary handle)

be dark in color

  Another feature of the present invention provides for the front face of the display and control panel to be covered with a cover plate, at least substantially transparent, on which are arranged the

control elements.

  It is advantageous that, according to an ad-

  of the present invention, the light conductor is substantially L-shaped, and has a section parallel to the display and control panel and a section which passes along a side face of the device (wall

  side) until reaching the rear area of the

  in most cases, it is best suited to receive the light source or a light box, said section being optically connected, at its rear end, has a

light source.

  In that case. another feature of the present invention is that a reflective layer is provided for

  curvature points, preferably at the angle zone of the

  L-shaped light source, on the convex outer surface, said reflective layer being, for example, printed on the

light conductor.

  Another additional feature of the present invention proposes, in this case, that the rear end end of the light conductor, terminate in a luminous housing, which will preferably tapering into a funnel shape.

  towards the point o leads the light conductor.

  In this case, another feature of the present invention proposes that a portion of the light box is made in the form of a support for a lamp socket,

  bracket that can be fixed to the housing by snapping.

  According to another characteristic of the present invention, the light conductor is positioned, at least in part, on its longitudinal edges, in shaped tabs, preferably

by folding, on the mask.

  According to another characteristic of the present invention, the light conductor is wider, on the input side of the light, and preferably in the region of the section of L which passes along the lateral face of the apparatus, than

  in the area of the stretch extending along the

  and control which shows the display symbols. According to another feature of the present invention, the light conductor is provided with a reflective layer on at least some of the lateral delimiting surfaces, preferably on the end face of its end opposite the input end of the light as well as on the surface

lower bound.

  According to another feature of the present invention, the light conductor and the light box are attached to a common rail and can be removed from the apparatus as

that autonomous component.

  According to another characteristic of the present invention, the light conductor has on the input side of the

  light, a section resistant to high temperatures.

  The present invention will be better understood by means of the

  detailed description of several embodiments taken

  as non-limitative examples and illustrated by the

  Figure 1 is a front view of the top of an electric range, which includes a display and control panel, Figure 2 is a section on II-II of Figure 1 of the table of FIG. display and control, with the device - lighting, and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of two

  light conductors of different configurations.

  1 denotes, in general, in Figure 1, an electric cooker, which is designed in the form of a built-in appliance, installed below a continuous work surface 2. The reference numeral 3 designates, in general, a bulletin board and control panel which is placed in the zone which is at the very top of the front face of the cooker, and which presents a row of display and control elements such as 4 of which are represented as set up, the display elements 5 associated with the various rotary levers 4, the pushbuttons 6 of a timer 7, which

  is not described in greater detail, and a

  display element 8 for giving the operating indications for the unrepresented oven of the electric cooker 1. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the rotary levers 4 are integral in rotation with display disks 9 , of round shape and transparent, which bear on their periphery of the display symbols formed by the numbers 1 to 9. Each control element, made in the form of a rotary joystick 4, is individually associated with a cooking plate. a cooktop, which rests on the worktop 2, four cooking plates being provided in total. The display symbols 1 to 9 correspond to the different switching positions or powers according to

  which one can operate the hobs.

  Another display symbol, namely the digit 0, is furthermore shown around the periphery of the disc, to characterize the

  "off" position of the corresponding cooking plate.

  The rotary handle 4 is rotatably housed by its rod 10 in a bearing 11 and is functionally connected to a control and regulating device 12 for the cooking plates, and which is not described in detail. In the case of this embodiment, the four right-hand maneuvering members in FIGS. 1 and 2 are associated with the four cooking plates of the cooking table.

  cooking, while the remaining maneuvering

  lay in the oven. The front face of the display and control panel 3 is constituted by a cover strip 13,

  transparent, which, for the sake of clarity, was partially

  FIG. 1, which has passages 14 suitable for the rods 10 of the rotary levers 4. In the zone between the strip 13 and a mask 15 are arranged the dish-shaped display disks. , who

  are mounted on the rods 10 or on the bearings 11 of the rods.

  Immediately behind the mask 15 is the section 16 of a light conductor 17 L-shaped, for example "Plexiglas", section 16 which is parallel to the front face of the stove. The other portion 18 of the light conductor 17, perpendicular to the first, is placed immediately next to the

  sidewall 19 of the electric cooker 1, and is parallel to

  leash to this wall. Finally, the bulletin board and

  Mande 3 is closed, rearward, by a cover plate, which has appropriate openings to allow the passage of the shafts of the control elements. The light conductor 17 is rod-shaped, that is to say that it is made of a flat material, plate-shaped. As shown in Figure 1 at one point, recesses 21 are provided along the opposite longitudinal edges of the light conductor 17, recesses into which tabs 22 bent from the mask 15 penetrate, so that the light conductor 17 is held in position. Immediately above the control elements, the mask 15 has recesses or cutouts 23, of square shape, and, below these, other recesses or cuts 24 in the form of crown sector. The surface of the mask 15 is, moreover, opaque,

  as shown in Figure 1 by longitudinal hatching.

  At the height of the recesses or cuts 23, symbols of

  5, in the form of a dot or ring, reflecting the light and, for example, of white color, are printed on the rear face of the light conductor 17, four symbols being provided in each cutout or window 23, and one of these four symbols being, in each case, a solid symbol, which indicates the position of the corresponding cooking plate on the hob. The cutouts or windows 24 are placed at the height of the periphery of the display disks 9, and for each of the switching positions of the control element, a display symbol of the disk 9 is placed in this position.

  cutout or window 24 and there is visible.

  In the "off" position, the cutout or window 24 is covered by the dark-colored sector 26 that the display disk 9 presents, the symbol in this sector being made in such a way that it is still visible when the cooker is turned off or the lighting is switched off. As shown in FIG. 1, the section 16 of the light conductor 17, which, in the present embodiment, is upwardly shifted with respect to the section 18, extends over the area of the cutout or window 24, reflective surfaces, similar to the printed display symbols 5, are in turn provided on the rear face of the light conductor 17, at the height of the cutouts or windows 24. The free end of the section 18 of the light conductor 17 is terminates in a light box 27, which is disposed in the area of the side wall 19 of the electric range 1, towards the rear thereof.The light box 27 has a removable portion 28, on which is mounted a socket 29 provided for an incandescent bulb 30. The light housing 27 has a narrowed portion in the form of funnel 31, in the free end 32 of which terminates the free end of the light conductor 17, and the FIG. 2 shows a concave reflective layer 32, for example printed, whose role is to ensure that the light rays emitted by the light source 30 pass through the concave angular zone of the light conductor 17.

  losses, from section 18 to section 16 of the light conductor.

  When the electric cooker is in operation, the light source 30 is turned on, and the light passing through the light conductor 17 is reflected on the reflecting surfaces at the height of the cutouts or windows 24 and on the display elements. 5 or display symbols and sent towards the front face of the cooker through the cuts made in the mask 15. Of course, it is the same for the elements of display and

control that correspond to the oven.

  3 and 4 show light conductors 17 'or 17', which can replace the light conductor 17 previously described, in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. L-shape and comprises a section 18 ', which goes to the light box 27, according to Figure 1, and a section 16', substantially perpendicular to the first, and which is parallel to the display and control panel, In order to achieve optimum light absorption, the section 18 'is substantially wider than the section 16', on which the display symbols are printed.

  or the like. In addition, the section 18 'has, at its end,

  which leads directly into the light box 27, a section 18 ", which is made of a material resistant to high temperatures and which can be connected to the remaining portion of the light conductor 16 ', for example by gluing, welding or molding by It is therefore ensured that the properties of the light conductor, in particular its shape, can not be adversely affected by the relatively high temperatures involved in the light box. embodiment according to FIG. 4, the front face 35 of the free end of the light conductor 17 ", as well as the lower delimiting surface 36 of the narrower section of the light conductor (over a length a), are provided with a reflective layer

  the light, which is shown in Figure 4 dotted.

  In this way, maximum yield is obtained, that is to say

  a total advantage of the irradiated light.

Claims (15)

  1. Household appliance, eg cooker   electric, washing machine, dishwasher or similar   which consists of a display and control panel as well as a single light source, through which the elements   display and / or control may be illuminated by   intermediate of light conductors, characterized in that a single light conductor (17), optically connected by its front face, to a light source (incandescent bulb 30) is provided, and which extends along of the Board   display and control system (3) with which the elements of   and / or control are in optical connection.   Domestic appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the light conductor (17) has the form of a plate or a rod, at least on its section (16).   which extends along the display and control panel (3).   3. Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or   2, characterized in that display symbols (5) are   the light, or reflecting surfaces, are   printed on the back side of the light conductor (17), which is opposite the front face of the display and control panel (3), and preferably at the height of cutouts or windows (23,24) made in a mask (15) which covers the light conductor on its frontal face.   4. Domestic appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one control element is provided in the form of a rotary handle (4), which, in front of the light conductor (17), has a disk of display (9) at least partially transparent, with display symbols arranged around its circumference, symbols which, by rotation of the control element, can be brought into the area of the cutout or window (24) of the mask (15 ) placed between the display disc and the light conductor, and   in the area of a reflective surface of the light conductor.   5. Domestic appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that a disc sector corresponding to the "off" position of the control element (rotary handle 4) is dark in color   6. Household appliance according to any one or   several of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the front face of the display and control panel (3) is covered with a cover plate (13), at least for the most part transparent, on which are arranged the   control elements (rotary levers 4).   7. Household appliance according to any one or   several of the preceding claims, characterized in that   that the light conductor (17) has, essentially, the shape   of an L, and has a section (16) parallel to the table of   and a section (18) which passes along a lateral face of the apparatus (side wall 19), and which is optically connected, at its rear end, to   a light source (incandescent bulb 30).   Domestic appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that a reflective layer (32) is provided at the curvature points, preferably at the angle region of the L-shaped light conductor (17) on the face. external convex, this reflective layer (32) being, for example,   printed on the light conductor.   9. Domestic appliance according to claim 7 or   8, characterized in that the rear end of the conductor   light source (17) terminates in a light box (27), which preferably tapers into a funnel shape   towards the point o leads the light conductor.   Domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that part of the light housing (27) is designed as a support for a lamp socket (29),   bracket that can be fixed to the housing by snapping.   11. Domestic appliance according to any one of   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   light beam (17) is positioned, at least in part, on its longitudinal edges, in tabs (22) formed preferably by folding on the mask (15).   12. Household appliance according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the driver   light (17 ') is wider, on the input side of the light, and preferably in the region of the section of L (18') passing along the lateral face of the apparatus, than in   the area of the section (16 ') extending along the table of   and control which shows the display symbols. 13. Household appliance according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the driver   of light (17 ") is provided with a reflective layer on at least   some of the lateral delimiting surfaces, pre-   on the front side of its opposite end to the ex-   entrance tremity of the light as well as on the surface of lower delimitation.   14. Household appliance according to any one of   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   light conductor (17) and the light housing (27) are   mounted on a common rail (19) and can be removed from the   same as an autonomous component.   15. Domestic appliance according to any one of   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the con-   light conductor (17 ') present, on the input side of the   light, a section (18 ") resistant to high temperatures.