US 2026/0282244 A1 · ARTICULATING USER INTERFACE

Abstract

An articulating user interface for an appliance is disclosed. The user interface can be located along a front face of an appliance and may be articulated between a closed position that may be flush or substantially flush with the front of the appliance and an open position where the user interface projects from the front of the appliance and is oriented at a forward angle relative to the front of the appliance. The movement of the user interface may be motorized and the articulating movement of the user interface may be guided by cooperating hinge assemblies located at opposite ends of a user interface shell that carries various electronic components of the user interface. When in the articulated open position, a touchscreen front panel of the user interface may be presented to a user for inputting setting to or otherwise operating the appliance.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An articulating user interface for an appliance, comprising:

a user interface shell for housing a user interface;
a mounting frame having an opening;
a first hinge assembly and a second hinge assembly arranged along opposite sides of the opening and configured to rotatably couple the user interface shell to a respective hinge case;
and
wherein the user interface shell is configured to articulate from a position where a front panel of the user interface shell is substantially parallel with a front of the appliance to a position where at least the front panel of the user interface shell extends outwardly from the appliance by the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly causing the user interface shell to extend outwardly from the appliance.

2 more elements

A household appliance, comprising:

a cabinet including a front face and a user interface opening in the front face;
an articulating user interface mounted in the cabinet and aligned with the user interface opening therein, the articulating user interface comprising:
a user interface shell for housing a user interface,
a mounting frame having an opening, and
a first hinge assembly and a second hinge assembly arranged along opposite sides of the opening and configured to rotatably couple the user interface shell to a respective hinge case;
and
wherein the user interface shell is configured to articulate from a position where a front panel of the user interface shell is substantially parallel with a front of the appliance to a position where at least the front panel of the user interface shell extends outwardly from the appliance by the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly causing the user interface shell to extend outwardly from the appliance.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving a command to articulate a user interface of an appliance;
in response to receiving the command, causing a first hinge assembly and a second hinge assembly coupled to respective hinge cases and arranged along opposite sides of an opening in a mounting frame to rotate;
and
in response to the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly rotating, articulating a user interface shell coupled to the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly from a position where a front panel of the user interface shell is substantially parallel with a front of the appliance to a position where at least the front panel of the user interface shell extends outwardly from the appliance.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Articulating user interface

Life of this patent

Articulating user interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20