WO2000046822A1

WO2000046822A1 - Elliptic push and pop button assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2000046822A1
Application number: PCT/TR1999/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alp Karahasanoglu; Bora BÜKÜLMEZ; Ümit ALTUN
Original assignee: Arçelik A.Ş.
Priority date: 1999-02-08
Filing date: 1999-02-08
Publication date: 2000-08-10
Also published as: AU2556599A; TR200003576T1

Abstract

The button assembly is formed by superposing the cam (4), the intermediary piece (5), the buttom (1) and the indicator component (2) without using any fasteners. The movement and ergonomical usage facility of the elliptic button (1) is provided by the force of the spring (8) placed in the push and pop button mechanism, and a cam (4) controlling the guiding mechanism is incorporated to this button assembly. The elliptic button (1) attached to the intermediary piece (5) and cam (4) by means of centring claws (6) at any desired point, provides the on and off position movement by means of the spring (8) and the wire (7).

Description

ELLIPTIC PUSH AND POP BUTTON ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to an elliptic button assembly that can be stopped at desired operational positions depending on the spring (4) force within a certain movement area, and which forms a holding area by the elliptic button (1) and which drives the said water guiding mechanism according to the machine operation program by the help of the cam (4) in the elliptic button assembly.

Motion is provided by the movement of the button cap in a completely circular form in the conventional push and pop up buttons and the indication of the washing program stage is provided by the printing around the button cap or on a separate indicator or component.

In the circular mechanism wherein the hold part is pushed out by means of the stroke motion, as disclosed in the European Patent Application no. 93110933.4, this stroke motion is provided with the indicator part.

In another type of button assembly, wherein the form facilitating the hold, is a mechanism depending on the spring force and the button can stay released only in off-position.

It is also known that the cam component in the machines operating with a cam that brings the water guiding mechanism according to the rotational angle of the programmer, to a proper position, is mounted on the programmer shaft as a separate component from the button assembly.

One object of the present invention is to provide the formation of the elliptic button assembly by superposing the cam (4), the intermediary piece (5), the elliptic button (1), the spring (8) and the indicator (2) without using any fasteners. Another object of the present invention is to solve such problems as the skipping of the user's wet hand while turning the button, wherein the turning torque renders the turning of the button difficult; and to obtain a hold surface larger than the open motion of the water guiding mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable the program flow chart print showing at which stage the washing programme is, to be read more easily on the indicator, and to facilitate the mounting of the elliptic button assembly by reducing the number of components used.

The embodiment of the elliptic button assembly realized to achieve the objects of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the elliptic button assembly.

Figure 2 is a perspective view shown when the elliptic button assembly is at "on" position on the panel.

Figure 3 is a section view shown when the elliptic button assembly is at

"on" position.

Figure 4, is the perspective view of the button assembly at the "off position, on the panel.

Figure 5, is the section view of the button assembly at "off position.

Figure 6, shows the bottom view of the cam.

Figure 7, shows the side view of the cam. Figure 8, shows the side view of the lower part of the elliptic button assembly.

Figure 9, shows the bottom view of the intermediary piece.

Figure 10, shows the side view of the intermediary piece.

Figure 11, shows the top (plan) view of the cam.

The reference numerals of the components shown in the drawing are as follows:

1) Elliptic Button

2) Indicator Component 3) Panel

4) Cam

5) Intermediary Piece

6) Centring Claw

7) Wire 8) Spring

9) Bearing

10) Centring claw recess

11) Panel Claws

12) Spring retaining projections 13) Spring Channel (Groove)

14) Wire press tongue

15) Space (gap)

16) Program flow chart print

17) Locking claws 18) Bearing canals The elliptic push and pop button assembly consists of six components, namely the cam (4), wire (7), spring (8), intermediary piece (5), elliptic button (1) and the indicator part (2). On the cam (4) a bearing (9) with bearing canals (18) at the sides, which matches the elliptic form of the assembly is provided as one piece with the cam (4). After the circular spring (8) is placed around the said bearing (9), over the spring retaining projections (12) and the intermediary piece (5), so that it can be inserted in the spring groove (13) formed in the structure of this part, the intermediary piece (5) with the same form as the bearing (9) is placed on the bearing.

The locking claws (17) used while engaging the intermediary piece (5) and the cam (4) to each other is made are one piece, extending downwards from two sides of the bearing (9) on the cam (4) and upwards from two sides of the intermediary piece (5). As the said claws (17) are reversely oriented relative to each other, they engage with each other only when the intermediary piece (5) is scarf fitted on the bearing (9) over the horizontal cam (4) and on the bearing canals (18).

Upon the engagement of the cam (4) with the intermediary piece (5) by means of the claws (17) on the bearing (9), their separation is prevented by the force of the spring (8) placed between the said two components (4 and 5) and the movement of the intermediary piece (5) is only in the cam (4) direction.

After attaching the wire (7) over the cam (4) and the intermediary piece (5), the lower part of the button assembly consisting of the cam (4), spring (8) and intermediary piece (5) is formed. The wire (7) on the cam (4) serves to keep the intermediary piece (5) to remain in the heart -shaped groove with the help of the pressing tongue (14) and provides a "click" sound while moving by the force applied.

In order to be able to place the elliptic button (1) and the indicator part (2) over thus formed lower part of the elliptic button assembly without using any fasteners, two centring claws (6) on the elliptic button and centering claw recesses (10) on which the said centring claws (6) will be fit, on the intermediary piece (5) are provided.

While superposing the components forming the elliptic button assembly, after the spring (8) is placed on the cam (4), the intermediary piece (5) is placed by attaching it on the bearings (9) provided at the sides of the cam (4). The centring claws (6) on the elliptic button (1) are fitted into the recesses (10) provided for this purpose on the intermediary piece (5) while placing the elliptic button (1) on the intermediary piece (5). The indicator part (2) consisting of a space in the same form as the periphery of the elliptic button (1) is fitted onto the centring claws (10) of the indicator (2) by passing it over the elliptic button (1) and thus the elliptic button (1) is fixed on the elliptic button assembly. After engaging the panel (3) on the panel claws (11) at the edges of the indicator part (2) , a push and pop button assembly is formed without using any fasteners and the said elliptic button assembly is fixed to the panel.

In order to enable the program flow diagram print (16) showing at which stage the washing cycle is, to be read better and more easily, the indicator part (2) is projected from the surface of the panel in a suitable angle to be perceived visually and is attached between the elliptic button assembly with push and pop mechanism and the control panel (3). On and off position movements are provided by the elliptic button (1) attached to the intermediary piece (5) and to the cam (4) wherever desired, by the centring claws (6), by means of the spring (8) and the wire (7).

The movement area of the mechanism is enhanced by incorporating the cam (4) which brings the water guiding mechanism to a suitable position according to the rotational angle of the programmer, among the elliptic button assembly components instead of leaving it as a separate component and thus, a larger hold surface is obtained for the open motion of the part hold by hand. Furthermore, by this method the number of the components used is reduced and assembly is facilitated.

Claims

1. An elliptic push and pop button assembly characterized in that a bearing (9) provided in conformity with the elliptic form as one piece with the cam (4) and bearing grooves (18) on the edges of the bearing are provided on the cam (4), a circular spring (8) is attached on the said bearing (9), an intermediary piece (5) with the same elliptic form as the bearing (9) is placed on the said bearing (9) by engaging it on the bearing grooves (18), and that the lower group of the elliptic button assembly, consisting of the cam (4), spring (8) and the intermediary piece (5) is formed by placing the cam (4) and the intermediary piece (5) between the projections (12) provided on the cam (4) and intermediary piece (5) and by connecting them in such a manner that the circular spring (8) stays between the said components.

2. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claim 1 characterized in that buton consists of a cam (4), a wire (7), a spring (8), an intermediary piece (5), an elliptic button (1) and an indicator part (2), and which is provided with centring claw recesses (10) wherein the centring claws (6) are to be fitted, the elliptic button (1) with two centering claws (6) on it and the indicator part (2) comprising a space in the same form as the periphery of the elliptic button (1) are placed on the lower group of the elliptic button assembly which consists of a cam (4), a spring (8) and an intermediary piece (5), without using any fasteners and that the edges of the space at the upper part of the indicator (2) are fitted on the centring claws (6) which already are fitted in their recesses (10); and that the panel (3) is scarf-fitted on the panel claws (11) provided at the edges of the indicator part (2).

3. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by an intermediary piece (5) with a built-in spring groove, having the same elliptic configuration as the said bearing, which is placed on the said bearing by being fitted on the bearing groove, having the same elliptic configuration as the said bearing, which is placed on the said bearing by being fitted on the bearing grooves (18) at the edges of the bearing (9) made in line with the elliptic form as one piece as the cam (4), superposed on the cam (4).

4. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the centering claw recesses (10) in which the centering claws (6) on the intermediary part and two centering claws (6) on the elliptic button are to be fitted.

5. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the indicator part (2) is provided with space (gap) in the same form as the periphery of the elliptic button (1), at its upper part.

6. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cam (4) which enables the water guiding mechanism to come to a suitable position according to the rotational angle of the programmer, is incorporated among the elliptic button assembly .

7. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in order to provide the programme flow diagram print (16) showing at which stage the washing cycle is, to be read better and more easily, the indicator part (2) is projected from the surface of the panel in a suitable angle to be perceived visually.

8. An elliptic push and pop button assembly according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the elliptic button (1) wherein, a larger hold surface is obtained for the open motion of the part held by hand.