Household appliance with a user interface
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsAjay Ram Narayana Pillai, Arkadiusz Michal Teclaw, Priyanka Popat Mali
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user interface for a home appliance comprises a circuit board having at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area. The user interface further comprises an input interface having at least one button defining a second area, greater than the first area, and having an actuator corresponding to the switch. The button is coupled to at least one of the circuit board or the input interface for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the switch.
Claims18
A user interface comprising:
- a circuit board having at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area;
- an input interface having a button defining a second area, greater than the first area, the button defining a major body axis and a minor body axis, the major body axis having first and second lateral ends at opposite sides of the major body axis, and having an actuator corresponding to the switch, the actuator positioned proximate to the first lateral end;
- and
- a stabilizing element movably coupling the button to at least one of the circuit board or input interface for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the switch;
- wherein the stabilizing element prevents depressive force receivable at the second lateral end of the button from non-uniform depression of the button along the major body axis toward the circuit board, as the button moves from the non-actuation position to the actuation position.
A home appliance comprising:
- a treating chamber for receiving articles for treatment according to a cycle of operation;
- a controller configured to implement the cycle of operation;
- and
- a user interface configured to provide user input to the controller, the user interface comprising:
- a circuit board having at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area;
- an input interface having a button defining a second area, greater than the first area, the button defining a major body axis and a minor body axis, the major body axis having first and second lateral ends at opposite sides of the major body axis, and having an actuator corresponding to the switch, the actuator positioned proximate to the first lateral end;
- and
- a stabilizing element movably coupling the button to at least one of the circuit board or input interface for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the switch;
- wherein the stabilizing element prevents depressive force receivable at the second lateral end of the button from non-uniform depression of the button along the major body axis toward the circuit board, as the button moves from the non-actuation position to the actuation position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.