Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6572206
-
Patent Number
6,572,206
-
Date Filed
Monday, September 24, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 3, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Mai; Lanna
- Anderson; Jerry A.
Agents
- Rankin, Hill, Porter & Clark LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 228
- 312 2571
- 312 2656
- 312 2655
- 312 263
- 312 279
- 248 271
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the planar body and are adapted for securement to the appliance main body. Each of the supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to control panels and, more particularly, to control panels end caps that are designed to facilitate mounting the control panel in one of a plurality of orientations relative to a host machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide product differentiation while maintaining or reducing costs, it has been proposed to build a commercial appliance control panel that is positionable in one of a pair of orientations. A first orientation has the face of the control panel at a relatively steep slope or orientation relative to the surface of the machine. A second orientation, in which the face is rotated 180°, disposes the face at a relatively less steep angular orientation. Such a structure is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,424.
However, the assemblies known in the art do not include means to temporarily secure the control panel to the main body of the appliance. Accordingly, it has proven difficult for one person to handle the control panel during the assembly process.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method and device for preliminarily securing the control panel to the appliance main body during assembly. Moreover, there exists a need in the art for a preliminary securement device that is operable regardless of the orientation of the multi-position control panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a method and device for preliminarily securing the control panel to the appliance main body during assembly. The present invention is further directed toward a preliminary securement device that is operable regardless of the orientation of the control panel.
In accordance with the present invention, an end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the body and are adapted for securement to said appliance main body.
In further accordance with the present invention, each of said supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and further features of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of an appliance incorporating the present invention with the control panel in a first orientation;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the appliance of
FIG. 1
with the control panel in a second orientation; and,
FIGS. 3-7
are perspective views of different embodiments of the end cap according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It should be noted that in the detailed description which follows, identical components have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present invention. It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely disclose the present invention, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown in somewhat schematic form. It is also noted that although the invention is shown and described herein as it relates to a washing machine, it is contemplated that the preliminary attachment technique taught herein can be used on other appliances.
With reference to
FIG. 1
, a control panel
10
is shown spaced from a top surface
12
of a washing machine
14
. The washing machine top surface
12
includes mounting openings
17
through which tabs from an end cap
16
, to be discussed hereinafter, extend. The control panel
10
is shown in a first orientation wherein it is at a relatively steep angle. The same control panel
10
is in a second orientation in
FIG. 2
, the second orientation being at a relatively shallow angle.
The control panel
10
includes a body
18
that extends between end caps
16
and is covered by a faceplate
20
. The faceplate
20
, includes graphics or writing to assist the user in operating the conventional controls (not shown) mounted thereto. The control panel body
18
and faceplate
20
, as well as the general structure and operation of the washing machine
14
are unaffected by the present invention and will not be discussed further hereinafter.
With reference to
FIGS. 3-7
, the end caps
16
include a front surface
22
and first and second support surfaces
24
,
26
. The front surface
22
is preferably curved, and includes first and second edges
28
,
30
. The first edge
28
is located at the intersection of the front surface
22
and the first support surface
24
. The second edge
30
is located at the intersection of the front surface
22
and the second support surface
26
.
When the control panel
10
is in the first orientation (FIG.
1
), the end cap
16
is generally as shown in
FIGS. 3-5
. In other words, the first support surface
24
is in abutting contact with the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
, and the second support surface
26
is facing rearwardly relative to the washing machine
14
(and may have a rear cover plate secured thereto). The first edge
28
is adjacent the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
, and the second edge
30
is remote from the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
.
Alternatively, when the control panel
10
is rotated such that it is in the second orientation (FIG.
2
), the second support surface
26
is in abutting contact with the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
, and the first support surface
24
is facing rearwardly relative to the washing machine
14
(and may have a rear cover plate secured thereto). The second edge
30
is adjacent the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
, and the first edge
28
is remote from the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
.
With reference to the end cap
16
first embodiment shown in
FIG. 3
, the first support surface
24
and the second support surface
26
each have a pair of L-shaped tabs
32
extending therefrom. The tabs
32
have a first leg
34
that extends generally perpendicular to the associated support surface
24
,
26
and a second wedge-shaped leg
36
that extends from the first leg
34
. The face
38
of the second leg
36
facing the support surface
24
,
26
is angled, and the second leg
36
becomes gradually narrower as it extends away from the first leg
34
. Accordingly, the spacing between the second leg
36
and the support surface
24
,
26
gradually decreases as one moves from the distal end of the second leg toward the proximal end of the second leg (i.e., toward the first leg).
The end caps
16
, and hence the control panel
10
, may be preliminarily or temporarily mounted to the washing machine
14
by inserting the second legs
36
of the end cap
16
through the holes
17
in the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
and then pushing the control panel
10
forwardly to trap the washing machine top surface
12
between the support surface
24
,
26
and the second leg face
38
. Accordingly, the control panel
10
is secured at each end to the washing machine. Moreover, the control panel
10
is positively positioned and in place for more permanent affixation and assembly.
With reference to
FIG. 4
, a second preferred embodiment of the end cap
16
is illustrated. The end cap
16
differs from the end cap
16
of
FIG. 3
discussed hereinbefore in the structure and arrangement of the tabs
132
. The tabs
132
according to the second embodiment include a resilient retainer
134
, a locator pin
136
, and an L-shaped leg
138
. The resilient retainer
134
includes a web
140
that secures the retainer
134
to the associated support surface
24
,
26
, and a half-moon-shaped member
142
that extends from the web
140
. Naturally, in this case the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
will have three holes
17
to receive the tabs
132
extending from the end caps
16
. The end caps
16
are secured by inserting the tabs
134
,
136
,
138
into the holes
17
in the washing machine top surface
12
, and then sliding the end caps
16
rearwardly such that the member
142
and the leg
138
are received under the washing machine top surface
12
.
With reference to
FIG. 5
, a third preferred embodiment of the end cap
16
is shown to include a pair of L-shaped tabs
232
. The tabs
232
include a first leg
234
that extends away from the associated support surface
24
,
26
and a second leg
236
that extends rearwardly from the first leg
234
and generally parallel to the support surface
24
,
26
. The end cap
16
is secured by inserting the tabs
232
through the holes
17
provided in the top surface
12
of the washing machine
14
and then pushing the control panel
10
and end caps
16
rearwardly so that a portion of the top surface
12
is received between the support surface
24
,
26
and the second leg
235
of the L-shaped tabs.
With reference to
FIG. 6
, a fourth preferred embodiment of the end cap
16
is shown to include an L-shaped tab
332
and a J-shaped tab
334
. The L-shaped tab
332
includes a first leg
336
extending away from the associated support surface
24
,
26
and a second leg
338
extending forwardly from the first leg
336
. A side
340
of the second leg
338
facing the support surface
24
,
26
is angled such that the second leg
338
adjacent the first leg
336
is closer to the support surface
24
,
26
than the end of the second leg
338
remote or distal from the first leg
336
. The J-shaped leg
334
has a proximal end
342
attached to the associated support surface
24
,
26
and a distal end
344
spaced from the support surface
24
,
26
to define a gap therebetween. The distal end
344
includes a surface facing the support surface
24
,
26
. The end cap
16
is attached to the washing machine
14
by inserting the tabs
332
,
334
through the holes
17
and then moving the control panel
10
and end caps
16
forwardly so that portions of the washing machine top surface
12
are trapped between the support surface
24
,
26
and the first tab
332
(i.e., the side
340
of the second leg
338
) and between the support surface
24
,
26
and the second tab
334
(i.e., the surface of the distal end
344
).
With reference to
FIG. 7
, a fifth preferred embodiment of the end cap
16
includes a first tab
432
and a second tab
434
. The first tab
432
is L-shaped and defines a short ledge-like surface
436
facing the associated support surface
24
,
26
. The second tab
434
includes a ramping or camming surface
438
facing toward the support surface
24
,
26
. The end cap
16
of the fifth embodiment is attached to the washing machine
14
by inserting the tabs
432
,
434
through the holes
17
in the washing machine top surface
12
and then sliding the control panel
10
and end caps
16
forwardly until the top surface
12
is trapped between the support surface
24
,
26
and the ledge-like surface
436
of the first tab.
In each of the preferred embodiments described hereinbefore, for purposes of clarity and completeness, the end cap
16
is shown with tabs permitting it to be secured in either of the two desired orientations. However, only one set of tabs are necessary to hold the control panel
10
to the appliance. Therefore, the end caps will preferably be manufactured with only the tabs that are to be used to hold the control panel
10
to the washing machine. The die used to mold or manufacture the end caps preferably accommodates inserts to selectively block the formation of the non-necessary tabs, as is well known in the plastic injection art. As such, end caps having tabs adapted for either of the desired orientations can be easily manufactured from a single mold, reducing manufacturing costs.
The present invention has been described herein with particularity, but it is noted that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the present invention is considered to be possible of numerous modifications, alterations, and combinations of parts and, therefore, is only defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
- 1. An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance, said end cap being secured to said control panel and including:a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides, said supporting sides being disposed at a rear and bottom of the body and being adapted for securement to said appliance main body; wherein said first and second supporting sides each having securing tabs extending therefrom, said securing tabs being adapted to extend through an opening in said main body and engage said main body to preliminarily secure said control panel to said main body; wherein said end cap is adapted to be disposed in one of a first position, wherein said first edge is adjacent said appliance main body while said second edge is remote from said appliance body, and a second position, wherein said first edge is remote from said appliance main body while said second edge is adjacent said appliance body, said securing tabs from said first supporting side engaging said main body when said end cap is in said first position and said securing tabs from said second supporting side engaging said main body when said end cap is in said second position.
- 2. The end cap according to claim 1, wherein said front side is curved and includes a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being defined by the intersection of said front side and said first supporting side while said second edge is defined by the intersection of said front side and said second supporting side.
US Referenced Citations (6)