Patent Application
20130025579
The invention is directed to a manifold assembly for a domestic kitchen appliance.
An example of an application for the invention is an assembly that includes the controls for a built-in domestic kitchen oven.
Many domestic appliances, such as built in ovens, have a manifold assembly that includes the various controls and indicators for the operation of the oven. These assemblies often include a printed circuit board or other board having electronic and/or mechanical devices attached thereto.
Some manifold assemblies include a glass panel that displays indicator lights and is touch sensitive or transmits a touch input through to a control panel that includes the various controls. The assembly of a manifold assembly, especially one having a glass panel, can be a time consuming and detailed process. Also, some assembly methods result in a manifold assembly that is difficult, if not impossible, to disassemble. This can lead to high costs associated with repair or replacement of a damaged or defective piece. For example, the glass panel of some manifold assemblies is fixed permanently to a frame of body of the manifold assembly with a tape or other permanent bonding agent. This is often done using expensive precision equipment prior to the manifold assembly being received on the assembly plant floor.
The invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide a manifold assembly that is relatively quick and easy to assemble on an assembly plant floor, is esthetically pleasing, and allows for disassembly and reassembly to replace particular parts. The invention also recognizes that it is desirable to provide a manifold assembly that includes a structural frame to which an esthetic skin, a control panel, and (in some cases) a glass panel are attached.
Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a manifold assembly having a plurality of controls for a domestic kitchen appliance. The assembly includes a structural frame; an esthetic skin fixed to the structural frame; at least one clamp; and a control panel including the plurality of controls, the control panel being replacably removably clamped to the structural frame by the at least one clamp. The structural frame provides structural support for the skin and the control panel, and the structural frame includes control panel locating features that locate the control panel relative to the skin.
Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic kitchen appliance having a body; an operation space; a door attached to the body and enclosing the operational space; and a manifold assembly having a plurality of controls for the domestic kitchen appliance. The assembly includes a structural frame; an esthetic skin fixed to the structural frame; at least one clamp; and a control panel including the plurality of controls, the control panel being replacably removably clamped to the structural frame by the at least one clamp. The structural frame provides structural support for the skin and the control panel, and the structural frame includes control panel locating features that locate the control panel relative to the skin.
Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of assembling a manifold assembly having a plurality of controls for a domestic kitchen appliance. The method includes providing a structural frame; fixing an esthetic skin to the structural frame; and replacably removably clamping a control panel including the plurality of controls to the structural frame with at least one clamp. The skin and the control panel are structurally supported by the structural frame, and the control panel is located relative to the skin by control panel locating features of the structural frame.
The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Other embodiments have knobs and/or buttons that transmit user input to control panel 240 in addition to, or in lieu of, a glass panel. These knobs and/or buttons can protrude through openings or holes in skin/frame assembly 100.
Skin/frame assembly 100 is shown in
By using a mechanical attachment method (in this case clamping) to attach control panel 240 and glass panel 210 to structural frame 130, instead of a permanent taping method, two benefits are realized. First, no taping or other bonding/gluing is needed on the factory floor during the assembly of manifold assembly 10. Second, the non-permanent nature of the mechanical attachment method permits replacement of any one of skin/frame assembly 100, control panel 240 or glass panel 210 without requiring the replacement of the others. This saves significant cost when only one of the pieces is damaged or defective. For example, in a design in which the glass panel is permanently bonded to the skin, a scratched or broken glass panel would result in having to replace the skin. Because the skin is often an expensive piece of material, such as stainless steel, this can be a wasteful result.
Various parts, including esthetic skin 110, are shown by way of example in the drawings with varying shapes. These varying shapes are meant to represent only a few of the different shapes the various parts can take.
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention.
