WO2018121951A1

WO2018121951A1 - Cooker device comprising a button

Info

Publication number: WO2018121951A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emrah BICER; Altan OZKOK; Merih Tarimtoru; Ilhan OFLUGIL; Kadir USTA
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-12-28
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: TR201619833A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooker device (1) comprising a panel (2), a gas control unit (3) provided behind the panel (2), a shaft (4) whose one end is connected to the gas control unit (3), enabling to transfer user preferences to the gas control unit (3), an opening (5) provided on the panel (2), in which the shaft (4) is placed, and a button (6) placed on the shaft (4), enabling actuating the shaft (4), the cooker device further comprising: - a tab (7) provided on the panel (2), extending from the panel (2) to the opening (5), and - a plurality of protrusions (8) provided on the shaft (4), contacting the tab (7) upon actuation of the shaft (4).

Description

COOKER DEVICE COMPRISING A BUTTON

The present invention relates to a cooker device comprising a button.

On the control panel of household appliances, for example of cooker devices, push-pull type rotary buttons are commonly used which enable activation of the household appliances or setting their programs. The buttons are attached from the front side on the panel, directly or through a connector to the shafts mechanically coupled to the switches on the control unit provided behind the panel by means of the seats on the panel. The shafts connected to the buttons move upon the buttons being moved, enabling selection of functions in predetermined positions according to user preferences.

State of the art European patent application no. EP1829071 discloses a household appliance comprising a button mounted to the panel.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a household appliance comprising a button providing ease of use.

The cooker device realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, comprises a panel, a gas control unit provided behind the panel, a shaft whose one end is connected to the gas control unit, enabling to transfer user preferences to the gas control unit, an opening provided on the panel, in which the shaft is placed, and a button placed on the shaft, enabling actuating the shaft. The gas control unit which is preferably a gas-cock, is controlled by transferring by means of the shaft, the motion applied to the button by the user. The user changes the amount of gas leaving the control unit by rotating the button.

The cooker device of the invention comprises a tab provided on the panel, extending from the panel to the opening, and a plurality of protrusions provided on the shaft, contacting the tab upon actuation of the shaft. The user is warned by transferring the vibration arising from the contact of the tab with the protrusions and the sound thus generated. By this, the user is enabled to use the cooker device according to the vibration and the sound he/she perceives from the button, without requiring him/her to look directly at the button. Furthermore, the user is given a sensation of rotating the button by being provided tactile and/or audial indication by means of the tab and the protrusions, enabling the visually-impaired users to be able to use the cooker device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises protrusions placed equidistantly around the shaft so as to have between each other a space predetermined by the producer. The amount of gas changed by the button is identical between each vibrational or audial sense by means of the protrusions placed equidistantly. By this, the user is enabled to control the gas control unit suitably for cooking according to the vibration or sound perceived.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises protrusions having different heights. As the heights of the protrusions vary, the vibration and sound levels arising from the contact of the protrusions with the tab vary as well. In this embodiment, protrusions have different heights predetermined by the produceraccording to different gas amount variances on the shaft. The user is enabled to perceive the gas amount variances arising from the motion of the button according to variance of vibration or sound level resulting from the contact of the tab with the protrusion. By this, the visually-impaired users are enabled to control the gas amount more effectively during using the cooker device.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises protrusions placed around the shaft so that their heights decrease in clockwise direction. In this embodiment, the protrusions are sized so as to increase the level of vibration or sound according to the increase in amount of gas leaving the gas control unit. The heights of the protrusions contacting the tab in the rotation direction of the shaft increase as the user increases the amount of gas leaving the gas control unit by rotating the button in clockwise direction.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises a frame placed on the panel so as to surround the opening, and a tab provided on the frame. The frame is enabled to be detached and replaced in case the tab provided on the frame becomes damaged thanks to the frame being detachably placed on the panel. By this, in case of malfunctions related to damaging of the tab, the malfunction is resolved by changing the frame without making any modifications on the panel, providing ease of maintenance.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises a cover placed on the shaft so as to be between the protrusion and the button. A seat having identical diameter with the outer diameter of the shaft is provided in the center of the cover, enabling the shaft to pass through. When the shaft is connected to the gas control unit by being passed through the cover, the cover enables rotation of the shaft and surrounds it so as to prevent its motion in other axes.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device comprises an abutment member placed between the protrusion and the cover so as to extend outwards from the shaft. The abutment member prevents the cover from reciprocating against the panel on the shaft.

With the invention, a cooker device is realized whose control is facilitated by means of the button.

The cooker device realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cooker device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cooker device in an embodiment of the invention, before placement of the button to the panel.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the panel and the button in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the frame in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the panel and the gas control unit in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the button, cover and the shaft in another embodiment of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Cooker device
Panel
Gas Control unit
Shaft
Opening
Button
Tab
Protrusion
Frame
Cover
Abutment member

The cooker device (1) comprises a panel (2), a gas control unit (3) provided behind the panel (2), a shaft (4) whose one end is connected to the gas control unit (3), enabling to transfer user preferences to the gas control unit (3), an opening (5) provided on the panel (2), in which the shaft (4) is placed, and a button (6) placed on the other end of the shaft (4), enabling actuating the shaft (4) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The cooker device (1) of the invention comprises,

a tab (7) provided on the panel (2), extending from the panel (2) to the opening (5), and
a plurality of protrusions (8) provided on the shaft (4), contacting the tab (7) upon actuation of the shaft (4).

Gas transmission from the gas control unit (3) which is preferably a gas-cock, is controlled by means of the button (6). The user can increase or decrease the amount of gas leaving the gas control unit (3) by rotating the button (6) in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. When the user rotates the button (6), the shaft (4) and the protrusions (8) provided on the shaft (4) rotate together with the button (6). The protrusions (8) contact the tab (7) during motion of the shaft (4), and the sound generated by this contact alerts the user. The tab (7) preferably made of elastic material, generates vibration and sound when it contacts the protrusions (8). The user is thus enabled to better perceive the change in gas amount executed when he/she rotates the button (6).

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises protrusions (8) placed equidistantly around the shaft (4) so as to have between each other a space predetermined by the producer. The contact of each protrusion (8) with the tab (7) corresponds to an equal gas amount change at the gas control unit (3), by means of the protrusions (8) placed equidistantly.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises protrusions (8) having different heights. The sound and the vibration generated through the contact of the tab (7) with the protrusions (8) vary depending on the heights of the protrusions (8). As the heights of the protrusions (8) increase, the sound and the vibration generated from their contact with the tab (7) increase as well. By means of the protrusions (8) having different heights, the tab (7) is excited at the protrusion (8) higher than the one before.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises protrusions (8) placed around the shaft (4) so that their heights decrease in clockwise direction. In this embodiment, the user increases the amount of gas leaving the gas control unit (3) by rotating the button (6) in clockwise direction. By means of the protrusions (8) having heights decreasing in clockwise direction, the height of the protrusion (8) contacting the tab (7) increases as the amount of gas leaving the gas control unit (3) increases. The user is thus effectively alerted when the amount of gas leaving the gas control unit (3) is increased.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises a frame (9) placed on the panel (2) so as to surround the opening (5), and a tab (7) provided on the frame (9). The frame (9) produced separately from the panel (2), is connected to the panel (2) preferably by means of a screw. A seat through which the shaft (4) is passed, is provided in the center of the frame (9). After placement of the frame (9) on the panel (2), the shaft (4) is passed through the seat and is connected to the gas control unit (3) provided behind the panel (2).

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises a cover (10) placed on the shaft (4) so as to be between the protrusion (8) and the button (6). The shaft (4) is centered in the opening (5) by means of the cover (10). The cover (10) surrounds the shaft (4) so as to allow it to rotate about its own axis.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooker device (1) comprises an abutment member (11) placed between the protrusion (8) and the cover (10) so as to extend outwards from the shaft (4). The abutment member (11) prevents the cover (10) from moving towards the protrusions (8) by abutting on the cover (10). The cover (10) is thus prevented from covering the protrusions (8) by moving towards the panel (2).

In the cooker device (1) of the invention, the user is alerted by means of the sound and the vibrations generated by the contact of the protrusions (8) provided on the shaft (4) connected to the gas control unit (3), with the tab (7) provided on the panel (2). Thus, the user is enabled to better control the motion of the button (6), as well as the visually-impaired users are enabled to effectively use the button (6).

Claims

A cooker device (1) comprising a panel (2), a gas control unit (3) provided behind the panel (2), a shaft (4) whose one end is connected to the gas control unit (3), enabling to transfer user preferences to the gas control unit (3), an opening (5) provided on the panel (2), in which the shaft (4) is placed, and a button (6) placed on the other end of the shaft (4), enabling actuating the shaft (4), characterized by,

- a tab (7) provided on the panel (2), extending from the panel (2) to the opening (5), and

- a plurality of protrusions (8) provided on the shaft (4), contacting the tab (7) upon actuation of the shaft (4).
A cooker device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the protrusions (8) placed equidistantly around the shaft (4) so as to have between each other a space predetermined by the producer.
A cooker device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the protrusions (8) having different heights.
A cooker device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the protrusions (8) placed around the shaft (7) so that their heights decrease in clockwise direction.
A cooker device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a frame (9) placed on the panel (2) so as to surround the opening (5), and a tab (7) provided on the frame (9).
A cooker device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cover (10) placed on the shaft (4) so as to be between the protrusion (8) and the button (6).
A cooker device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by an abutment member (11) placed between the protrusion (8) and the cover (10) so as to extend outwards from the shaft (4).