WO2016087079A1

WO2016087079A1 - A household appliance operated in safe mode

Info

Publication number: WO2016087079A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/072423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hakan Amac; Ibrahim Yildirim
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-02
Filing date: 2015-09-29
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a control panel (2), an on/off button (3) that enables the household appliance (1) to be turned on and turned off, a program selection knob (4) that has a program (P) selection function, a start/pause button (5) that enables the selected program (P) to be started and paused if desired and more than one auxiliary function button (6) that determines the auxiliary functions (F) to be executed and a control unit (8), wherein a safe start button (7) is disposed on the control panel that allows the user to start a program by selecting at least one auxiliary function button (6) together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) and that, when activated, indicates the user by means of visual warning means which auxiliary function buttons (6) on the control panel (2) can be selected.

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE OPERATED IN SAFE MODE

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a safe start mode.

In household appliances, for example in washing machines, safe mode function is used in order that the user interface functions such as program cancellation or new program start can be deactivated. The safe mode function is activated and deactivated by using at least one predetermined key or key combination. For example, the user activates the safe mode by pressing one or more than one button situated on the control panel, and when he/she presses the same buttons again, the safe mode is deactivated. In the state of the art, while the safe mode is active, the program start button is also active. For this reason, especially in household appliances comprising touch buttons, the start button can be accidentally triggered, thus causing the household appliance to be accidentally stopped or operated again. This causes energy and time losses. More importantly, it causes safety risks such as the starting of the machine by a child when another child is in the product.

In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP2000082352, in a household appliance, a child lock switch enables the operation switches to change from the unlocking mode to the locking mode or from the locking mode to the unlocking mode, and even when the child lock is activated, this does not affect the main power switch, and on – off functions of the machine are performed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance that is enabled to be operated in a controlled and safe manner.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises an on/off button that is situated on the control panel and that controls the activation of the household appliance, a program selection knob that enables the user to select programs such as wool washing, synthetic washing, etc., a start/pause button that enables the selected program to be started or paused and more than one auxiliary function button that determines the auxiliary functions such as washing temperature, spin-drying speed, etc. to be used during the program.

The household appliance furthermore comprises a control unit that enables the activation or deactivation of the safe mode function after pressing at least predetermined one function button and a predetermined safe start button used for the starting of the program and composed of the combination of the start/pause button and the function buttons. Thus, if the on/off button is triggered when the safe mode is active, the operation status of the household appliance does not change. In other words, if operating, the household appliance continues to operate, if not, the household appliance does not start to operate even if the starting means is triggered. With the starting means not operating when the safe mode function is active, the program is prevented from being accidentally started and the household appliance is enabled to operate in a controlled manner.

The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 – is the schematic view of a control panel and a control unit in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the schematic view of a control panel and a control unit related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Household appliance
Control panel
On/off switch
Program selection knob
Start/pause button
Auxiliary function button
Safe start button
Control unit
Display
Illumination means
Temperature setting button
Temperature indicator

The household appliance (1) comprises a control panel (2), an on/off button (3) that enables the household appliance (1) to be turned on and turned off, a program selection knob (4) that has a program (P) selection function, for example the programs including cotton, wool, synthetic washing programs in a washing machine, a start/pause button (5) that enables the selected program (P) to be started and paused if desired and more than one auxiliary function button (6) that determines the auxiliary functions (F) to be executed, such as washing temperature, spin-drying speed, etc. in a washing machine.

The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises a safe start button (7) that is disposed on the control panel (2) and that allows the user to start the program (P) by selecting at least one auxiliary function button (6) together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5), and a control unit (8) that enables the household appliance (1) to be started in the safe start mode (SSM) by means of the safe start button (7), that provides that the auxiliary function buttons (6) on the control panel (2) that can be selected by the user are indicated for the user by means of visual warning means when the safe start button (7) is activated and thus, that the user selects one or more than one auxiliary function button (6) together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) so that the household appliance (1) is operated in the safe start mode (SSM).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a display (9) disposed on the control panel (2) and the control unit (8) provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the symbols related to the auxiliary function buttons (6) blink on the display (9) and that the user selects the auxiliary function buttons (6) to be used together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) by touching the said symbols on the display (9).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the duration options for pressing/touching the selected auxiliary function buttons (6) or the symbols are presented to the user and the preferred duration is shown on the display (9).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises more than one illumination means (10) disposed close to the auxiliary function buttons (6) and the control unit (8) provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the auxiliary function buttons (6) to be used together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) are presented to the user by activating the illumination means (10).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a temperature setting button (11) disposed on the control panel (2) and more than one temperature indicator (12) showing the temperatures set. In this embodiment, the control unit (8) provides that after selecting the auxiliary function buttons (6) the user determine the auxiliary function button (6) pressing duration by selecting the temperature indicator (12) corresponding to the duration preferred from the temperature indicators (12), each showing different durations by means of the temperature setting button (11).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) provides that the safe start mode is cancelled after the safe start button (7) is pressed again and the corresponding auxiliary function buttons (6) and the durations thereof are determined again when the household appliance (1) is operated in the safe start mode (SSM) by means of the safe start button (7) and the auxiliary function buttons (6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a washing machine.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dryer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is an oven.

In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the start/pause button (5) is inactivated when the safe mode is activated. The start/pause button (5) performs its function only if the safe mode is deactivated by user intervention. Thus, the start/pause button (5) is prevented from being triggered by accident and from terminating the running program or starting the program in an uncontrolled manner.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a control panel (2), an on/off button (3), a program selection knob (4) that has a program (P) selection function, a start/pause button (5) that enables the selected program (P) to be started and paused if desired and more than one auxiliary function button (6) that determines the auxiliary functions (F) to be executed, characterized by a safe start button (7) that is disposed on the control panel (2) and that allows the user to start the program (P) by selecting at least one auxiliary function button (6) together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5), and a control unit (8) that provides that the auxiliary function buttons (6) on the control panel (2) that can be selected by the user are indicated for the user by means of visual warning means when the safe start button (7) is activated and thus, that the user selects one or more than one auxiliary function button (6).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, comprising a display (9) disposed on the control panel (2) and characterized by the control unit (8) that provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the symbols related to the auxiliary function buttons (6) blink on the display (9) and that the user selects the auxiliary function buttons (6) to be used together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) by touching the said symbols on the display (9).
A household appliance as in Claim 2, characterized by the control unit (8) provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the duration options for pressing/touching the selected auxiliary function buttons (6) or the symbols are presented to the user and the preferred duration is shown on the display (9).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, comprising more than one illumination means (10) disposed on the control panel (2), close to the auxiliary function buttons (6), characterized by the control unit (8) that provides that when the safe start button (7) is activated, the auxiliary function buttons (6) to be used together with the start/pause button (5) or instead of the start/pause button (5) are presented to the user by activating the illumination means (10).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, comprising a temperature setting button (11) disposed on the control panel (2) and more than one temperature indicator (12) showing the temperatures set, characterized by the control unit (8) that provides that after selecting the auxiliary function buttons (6) the user determine the auxiliary function button (6) pressing duration by selecting the temperature indicator (12) corresponding to the duration preferred from the temperature indicators (12), each showing different durations by means of the temperature setting button (11).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (8) that provides that the safe start mode is cancelled after the safe start button (7) is pressed again and the corresponding auxiliary function buttons (6) and the durations thereof are determined again when the household appliance (1) is operated in the safe start mode (SSM) by means of the safe start button (7) and the auxiliary function buttons (6).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 6, which is a washing machine.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 6, which is a dryer.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 6, which is an oven.