EP1581090B1 - Built-in household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fully integrated domestic appliance, with a front door, the entire front is provided with a front panel and with at least one optical power indicator, which is hidden in a built-in state of the household appliance and / or closed front door, and at least one light guide for transmitting a signal light emitted by the optical operation indicator.

There are various household appliances known, such as kitchen appliances, which essentially include stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers. Especially in refrigerators and dishwashers, there are so-called fully integrated household appliances, the entire front surface is provided with a front panel, which can be adapted to surrounding furniture fronts. In a fully integrated household appliance, the problem is that an optical power indicator, is hidden by the front panel of the device with a closed front door of fully integrated household appliance, so that the operating state of the fully integrated household appliance is not verifiable.

Out EP 0 691 100 A1 a built-in home appliance with a housing and a front door is known, wherein at a top edge of the front door, a light signaling device is provided which indicates a specific operating state of the device and which is hidden when the front door is closed. There are provided between the upper edge of the front door and a plane extending parallel to this edge means, which transmit a radiated from the flare light device toward the front of the front door.

In DE 100 22 206 C2 is a built-in dishwasher with a hinged door described that has on its upper face an optical power indicator with one or more light sources, which are covered with the door closed by a resting on top of the dishwasher countertop. There, a light guide is connected to a position fixed to the worktop base over the door fume protection element, which directs the signal light of the overlaid optical operating indicator to the front of the device.

The disadvantage of in EP 0 691 100 A1 and in DE 100 22 206 C2 described devices is that the signal light in the light guide for a user who is in front of the built-in appliance or Geschin dishwasher is poorly visible because the light guide is in a gap between the worktop base and door edge and covered from above by the worktop becomes. In particular, detection of the signal light when using a device front panel of great strength is made more difficult since in this way the light conductor is additionally covered from below by the front panel of the device.

Out DE 100 45 236 A1 a household appliance for installation behind a furniture front panel is known which comprises a hinged front flap for attaching a furniture front flap and an attachable to the furniture front flap handle for pivoting the front door. At least one electrical display element, for example a light-emitting diode, for indicating an operating state of the electrical installation device is arranged on this handle.

In WO 97/26486 is described an electrical control device for stoves, which is mounted in the handle of the stove lid.

The disadvantage of in DE 100 45 236 A1 and in WO 97/26486 described devices is that starting from the domestic appliance or the stove, a power supply for the electrical display element and the electrical control device must be inserted into the handle. In particular, there is a risk of improper mounting of the power supply in the grip by a user.

The invention has for its object to improve the visibility of the signal light at least one optical operating indicator for a vollüntegrierbares Haushaltsgerbares.

This object is achieved in a household appliance of the type mentioned above in that the optical power indicator is located outside an upper edge of the front door.

The fact that the position of the optical power indicator is not located at the top of the front door, but is located outside, the visibility of the signal light for a user is largely ensured in a simple manner. In particular, the optical waveguide can be arranged such that the signal light can be conducted and / or transmitted and / or imaged into a region of the household appliance that is visible to the user, so that the operating state of the household appliance can be checked even when the front door is closed.

If, in particular, the front face of the front door comprises the optical operating display, then an advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the front panel at the position of the optical power indicator has at least one through-hole extending to the front of the front panel, which comprises at least one light guide. In this way, the design and installation of the light guide is particularly easy because the signal light can be passed on a direct path from the optical power indicator to the front of the front panel.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a device handle can be mounted on the front panel device. This device handle comprises the light guide in such a way that the signal light emitted by the optical operating display is visible in the device handle. In this case, the required adjustment of the front panel is limited to a small number of holes to attach the device handle and to direct the signal light from the front door to the device handle. This is particularly advantageous if the front door includes the optical operating display at a position at which the device handle is mounted on the front of the front panel.

If a lateral edge or a lower edge of the front door comprises the optical operating display, it is a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the optical fiber is displaceable. In this way, the light guide can be positioned so that the signal light is particularly well visible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light guide with respect to its Lichtleitweges can be adapted to different strengths of the front panel. In this way, it is ensured that a sufficiently large area of the light guide is visible and is not obscured by the front panel, so that the signal light can be well recognized by the user.

Further features of the invention and advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

With the invention, in a vellintegrierbaren built-in household appliance, the visibility of the signal light at least one optical operating indicator is significantly improved.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seiteansicht im Schnitt durch eine Küchenzeile mit einem Haushaltgerät und einem Gesichtsfeld eines Benutzers, anhand dessen ein sichtbarer Bereich für ein Signallicht veranschaulicht wird,

Figur 2

eine schematische Perspektive auf die Küchenzeile mit dem herausgezogenen Haushaltgerät nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teils des Haushaltgeräts nach Figur 2 mit einer Gerätefrontverkleidung, die einen Lichtleiter umfasst,

Figur 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teils des Haushaltgeräts nach Figur 2 mit einem Gerätegriff, der einen Lichtleiter umfasst,

Figur 5

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teils des Haushaltgeräts nach Figur 2 zur Veranschaulichung einer Position eines Lichtleiters, wenn das Gehäuse des Haushaltgeräts die optische Betriebsanzeige umfasst,

Figur 6

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teils des Haushaltgeräts nach Figur 2 zur Veranschaulichung einer Position eines Lichtleiters, wenn eine Vordertür des Haushaltgeräts die optische Betriebsanzeige umfasst und

Figur 7

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Teils des Haushaltgeräts nach Figur 2 zur Veranschaulichung einer Anpassung eines Lichtleiters an unterschiedliche Stärken der Gerätefrontverkleidung.

The invention and its developments are explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show it

FIG. 1

a schematic side view in section through a kitchenette with a household appliance and a field of view of a user, on the basis of which a visible area is illustrated for a signal light,

FIG. 2

a schematic perspective on the kitchen with the pulled out household appliance FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a schematic sectional view of a part of the household appliance according to FIG. 2 with a front panel comprising a light guide,

FIG. 4

a schematic sectional view of a part of the household appliance according to FIG. 2 with a device handle comprising a light guide,

FIG. 5

a schematic sectional view of a part of the household appliance according to FIG. 2 for illustrating a position of a light guide, when the housing of the household appliance comprises the visual indicator,

FIG. 6

a schematic sectional view of a part of the household appliance according to FIG. 2 to illustrate a position of a light guide, when a front door of the household appliance includes the optical status indicator and

FIG. 7

a schematic sectional view of a part of the household appliance according to FIG. 2 to illustrate an adaptation of a light guide to different strengths of the front panel.

In the FIG. 1 shown in a schematic side view kitchen unit consists of a wall unit 2 with a door 3 and a household appliance 1, which is in particular a dishwasher or a refrigerator, with a front door 4 and a front panel 5. The household appliance 1 stands with a base 6 on a floor. 7 and is covered by a worktop 8. The upper cabinet 2 and the household appliance 1 with worktop 8 and 6 base are mounted directly on a wall 9.

In FIG. 1 Furthermore, a visual field of a user is shown on the basis of which a visible region for a signal light 19 is illustrated. A user 10 with an eye height 11 averaging 150 centimeters is located at a distance 12 in front of the work surface 8, which is typically no more than 30 centimeters. A visual field 13 of the user 10 is limited by the upper limit 14 and the lower limit 15. In this field of view 13 there is a first invisible area 16 below the worktop 8, which is shaded by the worktop 8, a second invisible area 16 'behind the door 3 of the upper cabinet 2, which is shaded by the door 3 of the upper cabinet 2 and a third invisible area 16 "in the area of the base 6 below the front door 4 and the front panel 5 of the household appliance 1, which is shaded by the front panel 5 device.

From the optical operating display 17, which is located on the front surface 18 of the front door 4, the signal light 19 is radiated and transmitted by means of the light guide 20 to the front 21 of the front panel 5 device. The visible area 22 for this signal light 19 is determined by the upper limit 14 and the lower limit 15 of the visual field 13, with the exception of the shaded areas 16, 16 'and 16 "shown hatched.

It's like in FIG. 1 described, particularly advantageous when the light guide 20 transmits the signal light 19 in the direction of the front side 21 of the front panel 5 and the user 10 visible area 22, as the operating state of the household appliance 1 even with the front door 4 closed by the user 10 is verifiable without the user 10 having to change his position.

That in the schematic perspective of FIG. 2 pulled out of the kitchen drawn home appliance 1 with a housing 23, the front door 4, the front panel 5 and the base 6 is installed between two built-in cabinets 24 and 24 'and is covered by a worktop 8.

In FIG. 2 the household appliance 1 is drawn pulled out of the kitchenette to make different positions to which the signal light 19 of the optical power indicator 17 is transferable by means of light guides to make clear. One possible visible position for the signal light 19 is at a rear edge 25 of the work surface 8 when the optical operating display 17 is located, for example, at the position 26 of the housing 23 of the household appliance 1. Alternatively, the signal light 19 can be conducted into a region 26 'of the base 6. In this way, the signal light 19 can be directed to positions of the visible area 22 which lie outside the front side 21 of the front panel 5.

If the optical power indicator 17 is e.g. on a lateral edge 27 of the front door 4, the signal light 19 can be directed with the aid of the light guide 28 to the front side 21 of the front panel 5.

If the front door 4 comprises the optical operating display 17, it is possible to route the signal light 19 with the light guide 30, which is located in a continuous recess of the front panel 5, to the front 21 of the front panel 5. In this way, the signal light 19 is particularly well visible, since it can be passed on a direct path from the optical power indicator 17 to the visible area 22.

An alternative possibility is to direct the signal light 19 in a device handle 31, which is for example a light guide made of glass or plastic and which is mounted on the front panel 5 device. In this case, the entire device handle 31 can be used to make the signal light 19 visible.

An advantageous development consists in that a plurality of light guides 28, 30 are provided for the transmission of signal light 19 belonging to different operating states ON, OFF, since in this way the different operating states ON, OFF can be indicated by signal light 19 at different positions.

It is particularly advantageous if, in addition, to indicate the different operating states ON, OFF, optical fibers 28, 30 of different color, e.g. red and green are provided. If, for example, the light guide 28 is red and the signal light of the operating state ON is transmitted with it and the light guide 30 is green and the signal light of the operating state OFF is transmitted with it, then the different operating states ON, OFF are particularly easy for the user 10 the different colors red and green and recognizable by the different positions 28 and 30.

In FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which the front door 4 of the household appliance 1 comprises a controller 32 with an optical power indicator 17, which in turn comprises a light-emitting diode 33 which emits a signal light 19. The front panel 5 has at the position of the optical power indicator 17 on a continuous front to the front panel 21 of the front panel 5 bore 34, which is designed in particular cylindrical. The bore 34 comprises the light guide 20, which is fixed by two clamps 35 and 35 'which are located in a recess 36 of the operating display 17, flush with the optical operating indicator 17. The signal light 19 emitted by the light-emitting diode 33 can thus be coupled directly into the light guide 20 and is conducted through the light guide 20 to the front 21 of the front panel 5, so that the signal light 19 is visible there.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the signal light 19 is directed in a straight line to the front side 21 of the front panel 5 and it is not necessary to redirect it with the aid of reflective surfaces. In this way, the light guide 20 can be easily formed by a piece of cylindrical glass or plastic, whereby the light guide 20 is very inexpensive.

If several optical operating displays 17 are present on the front door 4 of the household appliance 1, then the embodiment described above can be present several times. In addition, the bore 34 may also be designed so that it comprises a plurality of optical fibers 20, which are arranged side by side and / or one below the other.

In FIG. 4 a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which a device handle 31 comprises a light guide 45. The front door 4 of the household appliance 1 comprises an optical Operation indicator 17, with a red LED 40, which emits a red signal light 41 and signals the operating state ON and with a green light emitting diode 42, which emits a green signal light 43 and signals the operating state OFF.

On the front side 21 of the front panel 5, the device handle 31 is mounted with a holder 44, which includes a light guide 45 which extends continuously through the holder 44 to the front 21 of the front panel 5. In the bore 46 of the front panel 5 is followed by the light guide 45 of the device handle 31, a further light guide 47, which is fixed flush with the optical operating indicator 17.

The emitted from the light emitting diodes 40 and 42 signal light 41 and 43 coupled in this way in the light guide 47 and is directed by this to the front 21 of the front panel 5. From there, the signal light 41 and the signal light 43 goes into the light guide 45 of the device handle 31, so that, depending on the operating state ON or OFF, the signal light 41 or the signal light 43 in the device handle 31 is visible.

In this way, with the front door 4 of the household appliance 1 closed, the user 10 can at least determine whether the household appliance 1 is switched on or off. This is particularly advantageous when the household appliance 1 is a dishwasher, since accidental opening of the front door 4 in the switched-on operating state A in this case can lead to water leakage.

By using light emitting diodes 40, 42 of different colors, the same light guide 47 can be used for signaling the different operating states ON, OFF, since the different operating states ON, OFF can be distinguished on the basis of the different colors of the signal light 41, 43. In particular, the optical operating display 17 for displaying a plurality of operating states may comprise a plurality of light-emitting diodes with different colors. Also for the operating states ON and OFF, a color selection is not limited to red and green. Instead of LEDs, other bulbs, such as light bulbs can be used.

In FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which a housing 23 of the household appliance 1 on the front 50 of the household appliance 1 directly below the countertop 8, the optical power indicator 17 'with a light-emitting diode 33' includes a Signal light 51 radiates toward the front 21 of the front panel 5. Below the worktop 8, a light guide 52 is attached, which passes the signal light 51 from the optical operating indicator 17 'on the front door 4 of the household appliance 1 and on the front panel 5 device in the direction of the front side 21 of the front panel 5. The light guide 52 includes the work surface 8 at its end face 53 at a right angle such that the signal light 51 is reflected at an oblique light-reflecting surface 54 of the light guide 51 perpendicular to the surface 55 of the work surface 8, so that the reflected signal light 51 'is clearly visible ,

In FIG. 6 a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which a front door 4 of the household appliance 1 outside the lateral edges 27, the lower edge 27 'and the upper edge 27 "comprises an optical operating display 17" with a light emitting diode 33 ", which is a signal light 60 in At the optical operation display 17 ", a first part of the light guide 61 is arranged so that the signal light 60 can be transmitted from the optical operation display 17" to the side edge 27 of the front door 4. This first part of the light guide 61 may also consist of a bundle of glass or plastic fibers.

On the lateral edge 27 of the front door 4, a second part of the light guide 62 is arranged at a right angle to the first part of the light guide 61. This second part of the light guide 62 comprises an oblique light-reflecting surface 63, so that the signal light 60 is reflected by this surface 63 in the direction of the front side 21 of the front panel 5. The second part of the light guide 62 passes the reflected signal light 60 'over the front panel 5, so that the reflected signal light 60' on the front side 21 of the front panel 5 is visible.

If the optical operating indicator 17 "emits the signal light 60 in the direction of the lower edge 27 'or the upper edge 27" of the front door 4, then the above-described arrangement of the first part of the light guide 61 and the second part of the light guide 62 is also on the In particular, the first part of the light guide 61 may consist of a bundle of glass fibers or plastic fibers, Since the fibers are flexible, the first part of the light guide 61 may be curved in this case be, whereby the signal light 60 also from positions the optical power indicator 17 "can be passed to the edges 27, 27 ', 27", which are difficult to access with rigid optical fibers 61.

Particularly advantageous is the arrangement described above, when the second part of the light guide 62 is displaceable to the first part of the light guide 61, as below FIG. 7 described, since in this way the length of the Lichtleitweges 64 is adaptable to a different thickness of the front panel 5 device. This ensures that a sufficiently large area of the second part of the light guide 62 is visible to the user 10, so that the signal light 60 'can be easily recognized.

In FIG. 7 is an adaptation of a light guide to different strengths of the front panel device illustrated.

The side edge 27 of the front door 4 of the household appliance 1 comprises an optical operating display 17 "'with a light-emitting diode 33"', which emits a signal light 70 in the direction perpendicular to the lateral edge 27. Mounted on the side edge 27 is a bracket 71 having a recess 72 at the position of the optical power indicator 17 "'. The bracket 71 includes a light guide 73 into which the signal light 70 couples through the recess 72. This light guide 73 is shown in FIG the bracket 71 parallel to the lateral edge 27 slidably and fixable with a countersunk screw 74 in the bracket 71.

For a front panel 5 with a thickness 75, the light guide 73 is displaced so that its end face terminates in a position 76 with the front 21 of the front panel 5. In this way, the Lichtleitweg 77 is adapted to the thickness 75 of the front panel 5 device. For a front panel 5 'with a thickness 75', the light guide 73 is displaced so that its end face terminates at a position 76 'with the front side 21' of the front panel 5 '. In this way, the Lichtleitweg 77 'is adapted to the thickness 75' of the front panel 5 '.

Furthermore, the light guide 73 comprises an oblique light-reflecting surface 78, which is located at the position 78 or 78 'depending on the thickness 75 or 75' of the front panel 5 or 5 '. In this way, for different strengths 75 and 75 'of the front panel 5 or 5' ensures that the reflected signal light 79 and 79 ', as in FIG. 6 described at right angles in the direction of the front side 21 and 21 'of the front panel 5 and 5' is reflected and there is clearly visible.

With the invention, in a vellintegrierbaren built-in household appliance, the visibility of the signal light at least one optical power indicator 17 is substantially improved.

Claims (24)

1. Fully integratable built-in domestic appliance (1) with a front door (4), the entire front side (18) of which is provided with an appliance front cladding (5), and with at least one optical operating indicator (17) which in an installed state of the domestic appliance (1) and/or when the front door (4) is closed is concealed, as well as with an optical waveguide (20) for transmission of a signal light emitted by the optical operating indicator (17), characterised in that the optical operating indicator (17) is disposed outside an upper edge (27") of the front door (4).
2. Fully integratable domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20) is so arranged that the signal light (19) can be conducted and/or transmitted and/or imaged in a region (22) of the domestic appliance (1) visible to the user so that the operating state of the domestic appliance (1) can be checked even when the front door (4) is closed.
3. Fully integratable domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20) is so arranged that the signal light (19) is transmissible in the direction of the front side (21) of the appliance front cladding (5).
4. Fully integratable domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the front surface (18) of the front door (4) incorporates the optical operating indicator (17).
5. Fully integratable domestic appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the appliance front cladding (5) has at the position of the optical operating indicator (17) at least one bore (34) which is continuous up to the front side (21) of the appliance front cladding (5) and which incorporates at least one optical waveguide (20).
6. Fully integratable domestic appliance according to claim 5, characterised in that the continuous bore (34) is substantially cylindrical.
7. Domestic appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that

   - an appliance handle (31) is mountable on the appliance front cladding (5) and

   - the appliance handle (31) incorporates the optical waveguide (45, 47) in such a manner that the signal light (41, 43) emitted by the optical operating indicator (17) is visible in the appliance handle (31).
8. Domestic appliance according to claim 7, characterised in that the appliance handle (31) is an optical waveguide.
9. Domestic appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a lateral edge (27) or a lower edge (27') of the front door (4) incorporates the optical operating indicator (17).
10. Domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20) is a displaceable optical waveguide (73).
11. Domestic appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the front door (4) incorporates the optical operating indicator (17") outside the edges (27, 27', 27").
12. Domestic appliance according to claim 11, characterised in that

    - a first part of the optical waveguide (61) is so arranged that the signal light (60) is transmissible from the optical operating indicator (17") to an edge (27, 27', 27") of the front door (4) and

    - a second part of the optical waveguide (62) is so arranged that the signal light (60) is transmissible at least up to the front side (21) of the appliance front cladding (5).
13. Domestic appliance according to claim 12, characterised in that the second part of the optical waveguide (62) is displaceable relative to the first part of the optical waveguide (61).
14. Domestic appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a housing (23) of the domestic appliance (1) incorporates the optical operating indicator (17').
15. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20, 62, 73) is adaptable with respect to its optical waveguide path (77, 77') to different thicknesses (75, 75') of the appliance front cladding (5, 5').
16. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20, 47, 52, 61) is fixable flushly to the optical operating indicator (17, 17', 17").
17. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20, 47, 61, 62) comprises at least one glass fibre.
18. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical waveguide (20, 47, 61, 62) comprises at least one plastics material fibre.
19. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical operating indicator (17) is so constructed that at least the operational states (ON, OFF) of the switched-on and/or switched-off domestic appliance (1) can be signalled.
20. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical operating indicator (17) comprises at least one light-emitting diode (33).
21. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical operating indicator (17) is so constructed that signal light (41, 43) of different colour can be emitted for different operating states.
22. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of optical waveguides (28, 30) for transmission of signal light (19) belonging to different operating states is provided.
23. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that optical waveguides (28, 30) of different colours are provided for indication of different operating states.
24. Domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the domestic appliance (1) is a dishwasher or a cooling appliance.

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