Patent Application
20140260775
The present invention is directed to an encoder selector for a module of a household appliance, and more particularly, to a dual-encoder ON/OFF selector for a module of a household cooking appliance.
Household cooking appliances are increasingly becoming multi-modal in that these appliances typically now incorporate multiple different types of cooking functions. For example, a household cooking appliance may include one or more of a steam oven, a warming drawer, a convection oven, gas burners, a griddle, a grill, a teppanyaki grill, an induction heating element, a surface steamer bay, a wok burner, a deep fryer (e.g., deep fat fryer), or the like. All of these different cooking modalities are often provided by the same household cooking appliance. As the varieties of types of cooking proliferates, the user interfaces for the household appliance to control each of these different cooking modes may increase in complexity.
The present invention, as illustrated for example in the exemplary embodiments, provides a dual-encoder ON/OFF selector for a cooking module of a household appliance, the dual-encoder ON/OFF selector including a rotatable bezel controlling activation and deactivation of the cooking module, the rotatable bezel being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position for the cooking module, wherein the rotatable bezel includes an opening configured to receive a rotatable control knob extending through the opening in either direction such that the rotatable control knob is concentrically arranged within the rotatable bezel.
The present invention also provides a household cooking appliance including a cooking module, a control panel, a rotatable control knob on the control panel, and a dual-encoder ON/OFF selector for the cooking module on the control panel, the dual-encoder ON/OFF selector including a rotatable bezel controlling activation and deactivation of the cooking module, the rotatable bezel being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position for the cooking module, wherein the rotatable bezel includes an opening, and wherein the rotatable control knob extends through the opening of the rotatable bezel and is concentrically arranged within the opening of the rotatable bezel.
In this way, the present invention provides a user interface that simplifies the controls of different cooking modalities while also providing a clean and uniform “knob-controlled” appearance for a household cooking appliance, which commonly is desirable to many high end household cooking appliance buyers because it provides a “classic” look in a high capability household appliance. The present invention also enables a variety of components or modules from various sources or manufacturers to be used to form various cooking modules, such as surface cooking modules or the like, for household cooking appliances, such as cooking ranges. The present invention provides a uniform user interface for each of the various modules and input types to activate/deactivate the module such that all of the controls have a similar appearance and/or function. In this way, all of the controls appear to a user to be from the same product or manufacturer even in cases in which the components of the appliance are from various sources or manufacturers. The present invention also can provide for activation/deactivation of each module in a simple, non-confusing manner with a minimal amount of hand movement as possible.
Prior to describing the exemplary embodiments in greater detail, and to provide a better understanding of the invention, this disclosure will first describe some of the problems with conventional controls of a household cooking appliance.
As explained above, household cooking appliances are increasingly becoming multi-modal and may include one or more of a steam oven, a warming drawer, a convection oven, gas burners, a griddle, a grill, a teppanyaki grill, an induction heating element, a surface steamer bay, a wok burner, a deep fryer (e.g., deep fat fryer), or the like. Each of a variety of different modules for different cooking modalities commonly may have completely different types and arrangements of control knobs, input devices, control devices, etc. For example, some modules may have a control design which includes a control box mounted behind a wall of the cabinet or control panel along with a knob having a stem (e.g., an integral stem, an integral wide plastic stem, a thin plastic stem, etc.) that passes through the wall of the cabinet or control panel and operates the control box. Another module (such as an electric cooktop) may include infinite switches having a stem (e.g., a thin stem, a thin plastic stem, a thin, integral plastic stem, etc.) that extends forward from the control box through the wall of the cabinet or control panel such that a knob can be mounted on the stem. In yet another module, a gas valve may include a stem (e.g., a thin stem, thin metal stem, etc.), which extends forward from behind the wall of the cabinet or control panel and through the wall of the cabinet or control panel to the front panel such that a knob can be mounted on the stem. As a result, existing conventional controls do not provide a user interface which provides adequate control over each desired cooking function out of the multiple different types of cooking functions while still being able to maintain a desired clean, uniform, ornamental appearance.
Not only do all of these different cooking modalities increase the complexity of the controls and prevent a uniform appearance to the user, but these different cooking modalities also increase power demand on the cooking appliance, depending on which modalities or how many modalities of the appliance are being operated at the same time. As a result, a user may operate multiple modalities at the same time and exceed, for example, a desired or maximum amp limit for that particular appliance.
To solve the foregoing problems, a dual-encoder ON/OFF selector for a cooking module of a household appliance has been provided in which the dual-encoder ON/OFF selector includes a rotatable bezel controlling activation and deactivation of the cooking module, the rotatable bezel being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position for the cooking module, wherein the rotatable bezel includes an opening configured to receive a rotatable control knob extending through the opening in either direction such that the rotatable control knob is concentrically arranged within the rotatable bezel. A household cooking appliance also has been provided in which the household cooking appliance includes a cooking module, a control panel, a rotatable control knob on the control panel, and a dual-encoder ON/OFF selector for the cooking module on the control panel, the dual-encoder ON/OFF selector including a rotatable bezel controlling activation and deactivation of the cooking module, the rotatable bezel being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position for the cooking module, wherein the rotatable bezel includes an opening, and wherein the rotatable control knob extends through the opening of the rotatable bezel and is concentrically arranged within the opening of the rotatable bezel.
More particularly, the dual-encoder ON/OFF selector and household cooking appliance according to the exemplary embodiments of the invention include an outer bezel that is rotatable to actuate an on-off switch (such as a micro-switch inside the bezel or behind the wall of the cabinet or control panel, or similar device). The rotatable outer bezel includes a “cutout” or opening that permits a stem of various different types of input knobs to pass through from either, or both, of the front side or the rear side of the bezel such that nearly any style of valve stem can pass through the middle. The knob is extended through the opening in the rotatable outer bezel and nested in the outer bezel to provide a ‘knob-in-knob’ arrangement. This bezel can be designed to reach up around the sides of the knob. The knob and rotatable outer bezel are concentrically arranged such that the bezel rotates about the knob around a common axis. In this way, a universal rotatable outer bezel can be mounted to the control panel and surround a knob independent of the type of knob.
A variety of knobs having a universal outward appearance can be provided with a variety of different arrangements of stems for interfacing with various types of input devices, control devices, etc. A knob having a universal appearance to the other knobs can be matched with or selected to have a corresponding stem interface arrangement to the particular input device or control device of the module. The selected knob then can be inserted through the opening of the universal outer bezel to engage the particular input device or control device while being nested in the outer bezel to provide a uniform appearance while controlling the particular module.
For example, a universal outer bezel is provided that permits a knob, which includes a direct mechanical connection to a gas valve that controls a gas burner, to pass through the cutout, for example, from a rear side of the knob-bezel. In another example embodiment, the knob-bezel can accommodate a knob shaft to pass through the cutout, for example from a front side of the knob-bezel, to an encoder, which may be disposed behind the bezel (e.g., inside the face plate of the appliance), to control the temperature of an oven. In another module (such as an electric cooktop), the input may include infinite switches having a stem or shaft (e.g., a thin, integral plastic stem or shaft, etc.) that extends forward from the control box through the wall of the cabinet or control panel such that a knob can be mounted on the stem or shaft. In yet another module, the input may include a switch having a shaft (e.g., a plastic blade-like shaft) upon which the knob can be mounted. In a further module, the input may include a traditional gas valve having a stem (e.g., a thin stem, thin metal stem, etc.), which extends forward from behind the wall of the cabinet or control panel and through the wall of the cabinet or control panel to the front panel such that a knob can be mounted on the stem. In still another module, the input may include a shaft of a thermostat with a bulb. In this way, each cooking module can have a different knob designed to fit over the specific stem of that cooking module and into the opening or cutout of the universal outer bezel, while providing a consistent and universal outward appearance of each knob of the appliance.
In an exemplary embodiment, the rotatable outer bezel controls an ON/OFF actuation of a first cooking module while the knob controls a setting, such as a temperature setting, of the first cooking module. In this way, the present invention can provide for activation/deactivation of each module in a simple, non-confusing manner with a minimal amount of hand movement as possible. For example, a user can turn the module on using the rotatable outer bezel while setting the temperature of the module with a single hand motion. In another embodiment, the rotatable outer bezel controls an ON/OFF actuation of a first cooking module while the knob controls a function or setting of a second, different cooking module.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention can include a rotatable outer bezel around each control knob having a switch or integral switch. In another embodiment, a microswitch can be mounted to the outside diameter of the rotatable outer bezel (i.e., encoder) on the back side of the control panel to increase available space for knob stems. The present invention provides a universal way of turning various modules on and off, while making their knobs all look uniform and interact in the same way. In an exemplary embodiment, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel can be used as additional safety layer to prevent unintentional activation of a module. In other embodiments, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel serves to let a main control board or controller know when a module is active or inactive such that the controller can enact appropriate power management strategies, which will be explained in greater detail below.
As explained above, the features of the present invention are important for providing a user interface that simplifies the controls of different cooking modalities while also providing a clean and uniform “knob-controlled” appearance for a household cooking appliance, which commonly is desirable to many high end household cooking appliance buyers because it provides a “classic” look in a high capability household appliance. The present invention also enables a variety of components or modules from various sources or manufacturers to be used to form various cooking modules, such as surface cooking modules or the like, for household cooking appliances, such as cooking ranges. The present invention provides a uniform user interface for each of the various modules and input types to activate/deactivate the module such that all of the controls have a similar appearance and/or function. In this way, all of the controls appear to a user to be from the same product or manufacturer even in cases in which the components of the appliance are from various sources or manufacturers. The present invention also can provide for activation/deactivation of each module in a simple, non-confusing manner with a minimal amount of hand movement as possible.
As explained above, the present invention recognizes that, not only do all of these different cooking modalities increase the complexity of the controls, but these different cooking modalities also increase power demand on the cooking appliance, depending on which modalities or how many modalities of the appliance are being operated at the same time. As a result, a user may operate multiple modalities at the same time and exceed, for example, a desired or maximum amp limit for that particular appliance. For example, some household cooking appliances may have a maximum amperage limit such as 50 amps, 30 amps, etc.
The bezel of the present invention can be used to turn ON/OFF various modules and/or components of the household cooking appliance to maintain the total amperage drawn by the appliance under the maximum amperage limit. This may be particularly beneficial when the appliance includes a module, for example that is manufactured by another manufacturer such as an off-the-shelf pre-wired module, that is not configured to, or cannot, interface with a control board of the appliance.
In an embodiment, the bezel can be configured to communicate with the control panel of the appliance. The bezel can be used to turn ON/OFF the module or component. The ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel serves to let a main control board or controller know when a module is active or inactive such that the controller can enact appropriate power management strategies.
If the overall amperage drawn by the appliance when a first component or module is turned on exceeds the maximum allowable amps of the appliance, then the control panel can provide one or more of an error signal, error message, or the like to notify the user of the appliance that use of the first component or module will exceed the maximum allowable amps of the appliance and/or that one or more second components or modules must be turned off to reduce the total amps drawn by the appliance and free up allowable amperage for the first component or module to be operated.
In an embodiment, the control panel can provide an interface for a user regarding which components or modules are turned ON/OFF and maintain the total amperage drawn by the appliance at or below the maximum amps for the particular model or type of appliance.
For example, in operation, a user turns on a first component or module controlled by the bezel. The control panel determines if the amount of amps drawn by the first component or module will cause the total amps drawn by the appliance to exceed the maximum allowable amperage of the appliance. If the maximum allowable amperage of the appliance will not be exceeded, then the control panel turns on a relay to supply power to the first component or module. If the maximum allowable amperage of the appliance will be exceeded, then the control panel does not turn on the relay and instead provides one or more of an error signal, error notification, error message, or the like to inform the user that the first component or module will exceed the maximum allowable amps of the appliance and/or that one or more second components or modules must be turned off to reduce the total amps drawn by the appliance and free up allowable amperage for the first component or module to be operated.
In another exemplary embodiment, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel can be used as an additional safety layer to prevent unintentional activation of a module. For example, if a particular module requires the outer bezel to be turned to the ‘on’ position to operate, an accidental or unintentional bumping or turning of the control knob for the module will not activate the module, thereby providing an additional safety layer on top of existing safety features of control knobs. In another example, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel can be configured to provide a child safety layer, or an additional child safety layer, to deter or prevent activation of a module by a child.
For purposes of this disclosure, a cooking module can include one or more of a gas burner, a steam oven, a warming drawer, a convection oven, gas burners, a griddle, a grill, an induction heating element, a teppanyaki grill, a surface steamer bay, a wok burner, a deep fryer (e.g., deep fat fryer), or the like. The invention is not limited to any particular type of cooking module and other cooking modules, types of cooking modules, arrangements of cooking modules, and combinations of cooking modules are contemplated by the present invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and drawings.
These and other aspects and features of embodiments of the present invention will be better understood after a reading of the following detailed description, together with the attached drawings, wherein:
The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to the drawings,
The household cooking appliance 100 can include one or more gas burners 108 or induction heating elements (not shown). The household cooking appliance 100 can include one or more cooktop cooking modules 110, such as one or more of a griddle, a grill, an induction heating element, a teppanyaki grill, a surface steamer bay, a wok burner, a deep fryer (e.g., deep fat fryer), or the like. The exemplary embodiment of
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In an exemplary embodiment, the on-off switch 124 is an off-the-shelf, inexpensive snap action microswitch that detects rotation of the bezel 116 and communicates with a main control board (described with reference to
With reference to
A variety of knobs 118 having a universal outward appearance can be provided with a variety of different arrangements of stems for interfacing with various types of input devices, control devices, etc. A knob 118 having a universal appearance to other knobs of the appliance 100 can be matched with or selected to have a corresponding stem interface arrangement to the particular input device or control device of the module 110. The selected knob 118 then can be inserted through the opening 120 of the outer bezel 122 to engage the particular input device or control device while being nested in the outer bezel 122 to provide a uniform appearance while controlling the particular module. In this way, each cooking module 110 of the appliance 100 can have a knob 118 and bezel 116 with a common external appearance and operation to the user, while each knob 118 can be differently configured to match and fit over the particular stem design of the particular control device of that module 110 such that differences in control types of the modules 110 or differences in the products or manufactures of the modules 110 are not perceivable by the user.
As explained above, each exemplary arrangement of
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In another example embodiment, the bezel 116 can accommodate a knob 118 that controls an encoder, which may be disposed behind the bezel 116 (e.g., inside the face plate of the appliance), to control the temperature of one of the cooking components or modules, such as the oven 102. In still another module, the input may include a shaft of a thermostat with a bulb.
The rotatable outer bezel 116 can be configured to control an ON/OFF actuation of a first cooking module 110 while the knob 118 controls a setting, such as a temperature setting, of the first cooking module 110. In this way, the present invention can provide for activation/deactivation of each module 110 in a simple, non-confusing manner with the least amount of hand movement as possible. For example, a user can turn the module 110 on using the rotatable outer bezel 116 while setting the temperature of the module 110 with a single hand motion using the knob 118. In an alternative embodiment, the rotatable outer bezel 116 can be configured to control an ON/OFF actuation of a first cooking module or a feature of the appliance or module, such as one or more lights of the appliance or module, while the knob 118 controls a function or setting of a second, different cooking module.
As explained above, the incorporation of various different cooking modalities into the household cooking appliance 100 (e.g., by incorporating one or more cooking modules 110 into the appliance 100) may increase power demand on the cooking appliance 100, depending on which modalities, or how many modalities, of the appliance 100 are being operated at the same time. As a result, a user may operate multiple modalities at the same time and exceed, for example, a desired or maximum amp limit for that particular appliance. For example, some household cooking appliances may have a maximum amperage limit such as 50 amps, 30 amps, etc., which may be exceed upon turning on one or more cooking modules 110 while other cooking modules are active or while other cooking components are active, such as oven 102, steam oven 104, warming drawer 106, etc. The bezel 116 of the present invention can be used to turn ON/OFF various modules 110 and/or components of the household cooking appliance 100 to maintain the total amperage drawn by the appliance under the maximum amperage limit. This may be particularly beneficial when the appliance includes a module 110, for example that is manufactured by another manufacturer such as an off-the-shelf pre-wired module, that is not configured to, or cannot, interface with a control board of the appliance.
To provide additional power management features, the present invention provides an exemplary embodiment, as shown in
The appliance 100 also can include an optional notification device 146 in communication with the controller 142. The notification device 146 can provide one or more of an error signal, error message, or the like to notify the user of the appliance that use of the component or module will exceed the maximum allowable amps of the appliance and/or that one or more second components or modules must be turned off to reduce the total amps drawn by the appliance and free up allowable amperage for the first component or module to be operated. The notification device 146 can include various types of notifications, such as visual notifications or audible notifications or tactile notifications (e.g., vibration). For example, the notification device 146 can include one or more of a display device for displaying a text or image warning or notification, a light, a sound generating device, a vibrating device, among other common notifications means. In an embodiment, the control panel 112 can provide an interface for a user regarding which components or modules are turned ON/OFF such that the user can easily and effortlessly maintain the total amperage drawn by the appliance at or below the maximum amps for the particular model or type of appliance.
With reference again to the example in
With reference to
For example, with reference again to the example in
In another exemplary embodiment, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel 116 can be used as an additional safety layer to prevent unintentional activation of a module 110. For example, if a particular module 110 requires the outer bezel 116 to be turned to the ‘ON’ position to operate, an unintentional or accidental bumping or turning of the control knob 118 for the module 110 by a user will not activate the module 110, thereby providing an additional safety layer on top of existing safety features of control knobs 118. In another example, the ON/OFF functionality provided by the outer bezel 116 can be configured to provide a child safety layer, or an additional child safety layer, to deter or prevent activation of the module 110 by a child.
The present invention has been described herein in terms of several preferred embodiments. However, modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It is intended that all such modifications and additions comprise a part of the present invention to the extent that they fall within the scope of the several claims appended hereto.
