Selector device for a domestic appliance, and domestic appliance comprising said selector device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11073813-B2
Application number	US-201816611184-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2018
Priority date	May 5, 2017
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A selector device for a domestic appliance includes selection means to select a determinate program and/or function of the domestic appliance; drive means able to switch the domestic appliance on or off and positioned in the selection means; and lighting means, suitable to signal that the apparatus is switched on or off and associated with the selection means and with the drive means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A selector device for a domestic appliance, comprising: selection means to select a determinate program and/or function of the domestic appliance; drive means able to switch the domestic appliance on or off and positioned in said selection means; and lighting means, suitable to signal that the appliance is switched on or off and associated with said selection means and with said drive means, wherein said selection means comprise at least a rotatable knob which can be rotated around an axis to select a function and/or functioning program of the domestic appliance; said drive means comprise at least a drive button of the domestic appliance positioned in the knob which can rise and lower along said axis from at least a first active position to at least a second inactive position while said knob remains fixed; the selector device also comprising at least a light guide ring positioned between the button and the knob and configured to deliver a light beam emitted by said lighting means so as to form a luminous crown at least between said knob and said button when said button is activated or de-activated, wherein said light guide ring is housed inside a seating made in the knob and comprises a shank adapted to pass through a hole made at the base of said seating of the knob and configured to drive a button for starting the domestic appliance and switching on said lighting means and wherein said lighting means are positioned on said axis in a centered position with respect to the light guide ring so as to form a uniform and well-diffused light ring through said light guide ring.

2. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said light guide ring is coaxial to said knob.

3. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said button can be translated upward or downward and positioned coaxially to said knob.

4. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said light guide ring comprises a light guide block positioned around said shank and adapted to cooperate with said button for starting the domestic appliance and switching on said lighting means.

5. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said drive button comprises at least a lid positionable on a peripheral seating of said light guide ring, said lid being made of chromed plastic, steel or other metal or non-metal material suitable to reflect the light emitted by said lighting means.

6. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said lighting means comprise at least a LED.

7. A domestic appliance, comprising the selector device of claim 1 .

Assignees

• De Longhi Appliances Srl

Inventors

• De' Longhi Giuseppe
• Scian Luciano

Classifications

• G05G1/02

  Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons · CPC title

• G05G1/105

  comprising arrangements for illumination · CPC title

• A47J42/44

  Automatic starting or stopping devices (bag clamps with means for actuating switches A47J42/40); Warning devices · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• G05B19/10 Primary

  using selector switches · CPC title