Appliance fascia and mounting therefore
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsJeffrey Scott Cites, Steven S. Rosenblum, George Francis Wildeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thin lightweight glass fascia for appliances. The fascia may be a seamless shaped glass fascia for an appliance, such as a glass fascia that wraps around at least two opposing edges of an appliance. The glass fascia may seamlessly incorporate a display or control panel under the fascia. A mounting arrangement that facilitates quick fascia removal and replacement may be provided. The fascia may be a chemically-strengthened glass sheet having a thickness of less than 2.0 mm, and a near-surface region under a compressive stress, wherein the compressive stress (CS) at a surface of the first glass sheet is greater than 300 MPa and extends to a depth of layer of at least 20 micrometers.
Claims34
An appliance with a thin glass fascia mounted on an outer surface of the appliance, the thin glass fascia comprising:
- a chemically-strengthened glass sheet having a thickness less than 2.0 m and a near-surface region under a compressive stress, wherein the compressive stress (CS) at a surface of the glass sheet is greater than about 300 MPa and extends to a depth of layer of at least 20 μm;
- and
- a backer sheet adhered to one or more portions of the glass sheet, the backer sheet having a modulus of elasticity of at least about 2 GPa and comprising a material chosen from polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, nylon, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
- wherein the glass sheet further comprises a substantially planar or curved central portion having opposing side portions that are bent rearward from the central portion.
An appliance with a thin glass sheet on an outer surface of the appliance;
- the appliance comprising:
- a glass sheet having a thickness less than 2.0 mm;
- mounting elements mounting the glass sheet to an outer surface of the appliance with a space between an inner surface of the glass sheet and an outer surface of the appliance;
- at least one of a display panel or a control panel located in the space for at least one of viewing or activating the panel through the glass sheet;
- and
- a backer sheet adhered to one or more portions of the glass sheet, the backer sheet having a modulus of elasticity of at least about 2 GPa and comprising a material chosen from polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, nylon, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
- wherein the glass sheet further comprises a substantially planar or curved central portion having opposing side portions that are bent rearward from the central portion.
An appliance with a laminate structure on an outer surface of the appliance, the appliance comprising:
- a laminate structure having:
- a first glass sheet having a thickness less than 2.0 mm, and
- a polymer interlayer formed over a major surface of the first glass sheet;
- mounting elements mounting the laminate structure to an outer surface of the appliance with a space between an inner surface of the laminate structure and an outer surface of the appliance;
- a backer sheet adhered to one or more portions of the laminate structure, the backer sheet having a modulus of elasticity of at least about 2 GPa and comprising a material chosen from polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, nylon, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
- and
- at least one of a display panel or a control panel located in the space for at least one of viewing or activating the panel through the laminate structure,
- wherein the laminate structure further comprises a substantially planar or curved central portion having opposing side portions that are bent rearward from the central portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.