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 method of assembly for a switch within a user interface for a home appliance includes housing a circuit board within the user interface. The circuit board has at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area. An input interface of the user interface has a 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.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- housing a circuit board within a user interface, the circuit board having at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area and with an input interface of the user 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 at least one mechanically actuated switch, the actuator positioned proximate to the first lateral end;
- and
- movably coupling the button, by a stabilizing element, to at least one of the circuit board or the input interface for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the at least one mechanically actuated switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the at least one mechanically actuated 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 method of assembly for a switch within a user interface for a home appliance, the user interface configured to provide user input to a controller configured to implement a cycle of operation within a treating chamber of the home appliance, the method comprising:
- forming an input interface of the user interface, the user interface housing a circuit board having the switch, the switch having a first area, and the 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
- movably coupling the button, by a stabilizing element, 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;
- 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 method comprising:
- housing a circuit board within a user interface, the circuit board having a mechanically actuated switch having a first area and with an input interface of the user 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 mechanically actuated switch, the actuator positioned proximate to the first lateral end;
- and
- coupling the button, via a stabilizing element, to at least one of the circuit board or the input interface, the button configured for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the mechanically actuated switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the mechanically actuated switch and 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.