EP2260751A1

EP2260751A1 - Domestic appliance

Info

Publication number: EP2260751A1
Application number: EP09007642A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kevin Breese
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2009-06-10
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2010-12-15
Also published as: CN101919660A

Abstract

Summary

The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1), having a control panel (2) which has at least one written information (3) for the operation of the domestic appliance (1). To propose an economic concept for equipping the control panel with written information in a second language, the invention is characterized in that the control panel (2) comprises a carrier structure (2') and an information carrier (2"), wherein the information carrier (2") is fixed on the carrier structure (2') by means of at least on magnet (4).

Description

The invention relates to a domestic appliance, having a control panel which has at least one written information for the operation of the domestic appliance.
Domestic appliances, like domestic ovens, domestic washing machines or domestic dish washers, require control panels with written information to comfortably operate the appliance by the user. As the same appliance is designed to be sold in a plurality of countries, it is necessary to supply the written information on the control panel in the respective local language.
DE 32 13 627 A1 suggests to provide the control panel with a field in which a specific information carrier is fixed on which the local language is printed. The information carrier is equipped with an adhesive to fix it on the control panel. The same concept is proposed in EP 0 496 985 A1 . In GB 2 156 310 A the information carrier is designed as an adhesive film which can be applied to the control panel.
In DE 33 40 543 A1 a domestic appliance is disclosed where an information carrier is applied to the control panel as well. Here, for fixing the information carrier a snap connection is suggested. Also, an adhesive can be used to fix the information carrier on the panel.
The pre-known possibilities for equipping a domestic appliance with an information carrier in a specific local language have disadvantages. Nowadays it is wanted to produce the control panel in a stainless steel version, preferably with a brushed surface and with an anti-fingerprint coating. It is sometimes not acceptable to have any snap connection visible. Also glueing is sometimes no option as the exact application of the information carrier with the desired language is not so easy and cannot be carried out by a non-professional worker like an importer or even by an end user.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to propose a domestic appliance with an easy and economical possibility to equip the control panel with an information carrier with a desired language. The design should allow it that the application of the information carrier can be done without any specific skill and consequently even by the end user of the appliance. Also, the appearance should be very good.
The solution of this object according to the invention is characterized in that the control panel comprises a carrier structure and an information carrier, wherein the information carrier is fixed on the carrier structure by means of at least on magnet.
The at least one magnet is preferably a permanent magnet.
The carrier structure can be made from a ferromagnetic material, wherein the information carrier is made from a magnetic material. Alternatively, the carrier structure can be made from a ferromagnetic material, wherein at least one magnet is attached to the information carrier.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the information carrier can be made from a ferromagnetic material, wherein the carrier structure is made from a magnetic material. Alternatively, the information carrier can be made from a ferromagnetic material, wherein at least one magnet is attached to the carrier structure. In the latter case the at least one magnet can be arranged at the reverse side of the carrier structure at the side remote from the information carrier.
The carrier structure and/or the information carrier can be made from stainless steel.
The carrier structure can cover only a part of the surface area of the control panel.
Preferably, the carrier structure is supplied with a written information in a first language, wherein the information carrier is supplied with a written information in another, second language.
A plurality of magnets can be arranged. Also, a magnetic foil can be used as the magnet.
To avoid scratching of the carrier structure, the information carrier can be coated with a soft material at least at the side facing the carrier structure. The soft material is preferably plastic.
By the suggested design is becomes possible to easily apply and - if necessary - to remove the information carrier with another language as printed on the carrier structure. This can be easily done even by the user of the domestic appliance.
The proposed idea has basically no influence on the design of the control panel. That means, with respect to the appearance of the control panel it is possible that only a minor interference is caused when the information carrier is applied.
The information carrier (language overlay) can be produced from the same material in the same manner (e. g. from brushed stainless steel), so no modifications are visible when applying the information carrier on the carrier structure.
Beneficially, no clips are necessary for fixing the information carrier on the carrier structure and thus there is no visible clip.
Also no need for applying an adhesive (glue) is necessary.
The application as well as the removal of the information carrier does not influence the carrier structure and thus the control panel. So, the application and the removal are both reversible, i. e. it is possible to take the information carrier off and put it back many times.
The proposed idea also allows a reduction in complexity of the production of the domestic appliance.
The suggested design is applicable for any domestic appliance, like domestic ovens, domestic washing machines and/or drying machine, domestic dish washers or the like.
Even very small markets with a low production figure can be easily equipped with an information carrier with the local language in a cheap way.
In the drawings an embodiment of the invention is depicted.

FIG 1: shows a perspective view of a domestic appliance, namely of a domestic oven,
FIG 2: shows the control panel of the domestic appliance according to FIG 1, wherein a carrier structure and an information carrier is shown in an exploded view, and
FIG 3: shows a cross sectional view through a control panel of the domestic appliance according to FIG 1.

In FIG 1 a domestic appliance 1 is shown which is a domestic oven in the depicted embodiment. The appliance 1 has a control panel 2 carrying the necessary turning knob 6 and switches 7 in a known manner.
To equip the appliance for a specific market with a local language with respect to the information for operating the appliance, the arrangement is suggest as shown in FIG 2.
The control panel 2 consists of a carrier structure 2'; the carrier structure 2' has also a written information 3 in a first language. To change the written information 3 to a second language, an information carrier 2" is applied onto the carrier structure 2'.
It is important that the control panel 2 comprises the carrier structure 2' and the information carrier 2", wherein the information carrier 2" is fixed on the carrier structure 2' by means of at least on magnet 4 (see FIG 3).
If the information carrier 2" is pressed onto the carrier structure 2' in the direction of the arrow in FIG 2, the printed written information 3 on the carrier structure 2' is covered by the written information 3 on the information carrier 2" and thus the appliance 1 is prepared for the use with the "new" language.
In FIG 3 the cross sections view through the control panel is shown. Here is can be seen that a number of magnets 4 is fixed at the reverse side 5 of the carrier structure 2'. The control panel 2 and the carrier structure 2' respectively as well as the information carrier 2" consist from ferritic stainless steel.
Due to the magnetic force of the magnets 4 the information carrier 2" is firmly connected to the carrier structure 2'.
On the information carrier 2' the written information (text and graphics) are printed in the same way as it is the case for the normal control panel.
Reference Numerals

1: Domestic appliance
2: Control panel
2': Carrier structure
2": Information carrier
3: Written information
4: Magnet
5: Reverse side
6: Turning knob
7: Switch

Claims

Domestic appliance (1), having a control panel (2) which has at least one written information (3) for the operation of the domestic appliance (1),
characterized in that
the control panel (2) comprises a carrier structure (2') and an information carrier (2"), wherein the information carrier (2") is fixed on the carrier structure (2') by means of at least on magnet (4).
Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnet (4) is a permanent magnet.
Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier structure (2') is made from a ferromagnetic material and that the information carrier (2") is made from a magnetic material.
Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier structure (2') is made from a ferromagnetic material and that at least one magnet (4) is attached to the information carrier (2").
Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information carrier (2") is made from a ferromagnetic material and that the carrier structure (2') is made from a magnetic material.
Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information carrier (2") is made from a ferromagnetic material and that at least one magnet (4) is attached to the carrier structure (2').
Domestic appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one magnet (4) is arranged at the reverse side (5) of the carrier structure (2') at the side remote from the information carrier (2").
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 4 or 6 till 7, characterized in that the carrier structure (2') is made from stainless steel.
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 2 or 4 till 7, characterized in that the information carrier (2") is made from stainless steel.
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 9, characterized in that the carrier structure (2') covers only a part of the surface area of the control panel (2).
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 10, characterized in that the carrier structure (2') is supplied with a written information in a first language and that the information carrier (2") is supplied with a written information in a second language.
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 11, characterized in that a plurality of magnets (4) is arranged.
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 11, characterized in that a magnetic foil is arranged.
Domestic appliance according to at least one of claims 1 till 13, characterized in that the information carrier (2") is coated with a soft material at least at the side facing the carrier structure (2').
Domestic appliance according to claim 14, characterized in that the soft material is plastic.