Appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12486987-B2
Application number	US-202217885390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2022
Priority date	Aug 11, 2021
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an appliance having an input switch that receives a knock input at the front of a main body, and a transfer member connecting to the input switch that transfers vibrations caused by the knock to a sensor disposed at the rear of the main body.

First claim

What claimed is:

1 . An appliance comprising:
a main body having an accommodation space; a door configured to open and close the accommodation space; and a sensing module configured to sense a vibration of the door, wherein the sensing module comprises: a transfer member installed on the main body to be movable in response to the vibration of the door; a sensor configured to sense the vibration from the transfer member; and a support assembly movably supporting the sensor on the main body, wherein the sensor is moved by the transfer member that moves in response to vibration of the door, and is configured to sense the vibration from the transfer member based on the sensor's positional change.

2 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprising:
a cavity forming an accommodation space therein; a rear panel disposed at a rear side of the cavity, and a cabinet to cover a side of the cavity on an outside thereof, wherein the transfer member is surrounded by the side of the cavity, the rear panel, and the cabinet.

3 . The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the support assembly is coupled to the rear panel or the cavity.

4 . The appliance of claim 2 , wherein:
the support assembly comprises a supporter to support the sensor and a supporter holder to support the supporter such that the supporter is changeable in posture, the supporter is connected to the transfer member, and the supporter holder is coupled to the rear panel or the cavity.

5 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises:
a supporter to support the sensor; and a supporter holder to support the supporter such that the supporter is changeable in posture, wherein a position of the sensor in a front-rear direction thereof changes in conjunction with a change in the posture of the supporter.

6 . The appliance of claim 5 , wherein the supporter holder comprises:
a holder main body coupled to a rear of the main body and disposed at a lower side of the supporter; and a plurality of rotation projection supports each protruding upward from the holder main body and configured to rotatably support the supporter.

7 . The appliance of claim 5 , wherein the supporter holder further comprises;
a holder main body coupled with the main body, the holder main body is disposed on a lower side of the supporter; and a front wall that protrudes upward from the holder main body and is disposed at a front side of the supporter.

8 . The appliance of claim 7 , wherein:
the supporter holder further comprises a load support part that protrudes from the front wall and is disposed along a moving path of the transfer member, and the transfer member is supported in the load support part such that it is movable.

9 . The appliance of claim 8 , wherein:
a passage hole is provided in the load support part and penetrates the load support part, and the transfer member passes through the passage hole.

10 . The appliance of claim 7 , wherein:
the sensing module further comprises a harness connected to the sensor, the supporter holder further comprises a harness support part to support the harness and to regulate positions of the harness in a lateral direction and an up-down direction thereof, and the harness is moveably supported in the harness support.

11 . The appliance of claim 10 , wherein the harness support part protrudes in a lateral direction thereof from the front wall and is disposed at a height that is higher than a height of the connection portion of the sensor and the harness.

12 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprising:
a cavity forming an accommodation space therein; a rear panel disposed at a rear side of the cavity, wherein the support assembly is disposed on the rear panel.

13 . The appliance of claim 12 , wherein the rear panel comprises:
a panel main body part that forms a plane parallel to a rear surface of the cavity; a first extension part that extends from an end of the panel main body part in a lateral direction thereof to a rear side thereof; and a second extension part that extends in a lateral direction thereof from an end of the first extension part on a rear side thereof and extends in a direction from the panel main body part, wherein the support assembly is surrounded by the first extension part and the second extension part.

14 . The appliance of claim 13 , wherein:
the support assembly comprises a supporter to support the sensor, and a supporter holder to support the supporter such that the supporter is changeable in posture, the supporter holder comprises a lateral projection that protrudes from the supporter holder to the first extension part, and at least a portion of the lateral projection is disposed between the first extension part and the supporter in a lateral direction of the supporter holder.

15 . The appliance of claim 13 , wherein:
the support assembly comprises a supporter to support the sensor, and a supporter holder to support the supporter such that the supporter is changeable in posture, and the supporter holder is coupled to the first extension part.

16 . The appliance of claim 15 , wherein:
a first fastening hole and a second fastening hole are provided in the first extension part each of the first and second fastening holes penetrating the first extension part back and forth, the supporter holder further comprises a fastening projection that protrudes from the holder main body to a rear side thereof, and whereby the fastening projection is received into the first extension part through the first fastening hole.

17 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprising:
a cavity forming an accommodation space therein; a front panel disposed between the cavity and the door to support the input member, wherein the front panel provides, in front of the cavity, a surface that closes the accommodation space and faces the door.

18 . The appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a contactor that includes at least a portion thereof that is disposed between the main body and the door, wherein the contactor receives the vibration input of the door.

19 . The appliance of claim 18 , further comprising a support body received in the contactor, wherein at least a portion of the contactor is disposed between the input member and the support body.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yeo Chan-Yong
• Lee Wanglim
• Kim Janghoon
• Shin Myeongsu

Classifications

• F24C7/085 Primary

  on baking ovens · CPC title

• F24C15/08

  Foundations or supports plates; Legs or pillars; Casings; Wheels (tops, e.g. hot plates F24C15/10) · CPC title

• F24C15/02

  Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges · CPC title

• F25D2700/04

  Sensors detecting the presence of a person · CPC title

• F25D29/005

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title