Backguard panel with integrated proud glass control mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016187003-A1
Application number	US-201414585913-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a backguard panel for an appliance with an integrated front-mounted proud-glass control unit. An opening is defined within the front wall of the backguard panel has for receiving the control unit. A recessed seat, configured to receive a sealing gasket for sealing the space between the control unit and the backguard panel, surrounds the opening. The control unit has a housing suspended from a proud glass pane that protrudes forward of the front wall of the backguard panel when the housing is fully inserted into the opening. Rearwardly projecting brackets establish a friction fit to temporarily hold the control unit in place until fasteners can be installed to apply a compressive force on the sealing gasket between the glass pane and the backguard panel. A cooking appliance with a backguard panel with an integrated front-mounted proud-glass control unit is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A backguard panel for a cooking appliance comprising:
a front wall comprising an outward-facing surface that is to be observed by a user of the cooking appliance and an inward-facing surface that defines an interior of the backguard panel; an aperture defined by the front wall adapted to receive a control unit for the cooking appliance; and one or a plurality of brackets extending from the inward-facing surface of the front wall for temporarily coupling the control unit to the backguard panel until a separate fastener is installed to secure the control unit in place.

2 . The backguard panel according to claim 1 , further comprising a recessed seat surrounding the opening, wherein the recessed seat is configured to receive a sealing gasket for sealing a space between the control unit and a surrounding portion of the front wall.

3 . The backguard panel according to claim 1 , wherein the one or a plurality of brackets are integrally formed as a monolithic unit as part of the backguard panel.

4 . The backguard panel according to claim 3 , wherein each of the one or a plurality of brackets comprises an inward-extending flange defining an aperture adapted to receive a fastener for securing the control unit to the backguard panel.

5 . The backguard panel according to claim 4 , wherein the aperture of the inward-extending flange is arranged to be aligned with a bore formed in a housing of the control unit when the control unit is inserted from a front of the backguard panel through said aperture defined by the front wall and into said interior of the backguard panel.

6 . The backguard panel according to claim 1 further comprising the control unit, wherein the control unit comprises a housing with exterior dimensions that closely approximate inside dimensions of the aperture defined by the front wall.

7 . The backguard panel according to claim 6 , said control unit further comprising a transparent pane that extends entirely over the aperture and comprises a flanged region that abuts against the outward-facing surface of the front wall.

8 . A cooking appliance comprising:
a cabinet housing an oven cavity and a cooktop that are operable to heat food items; and a backguard panel comprising:
a front wall supporting an input device for controlling a cooking operation utilizing at least one of the oven cavity and the cooktop, the front wall comprising an outward-facing surface that is viewed from in front of the cooking appliance and a rearward-facing surface;
an aperture defined by the front wall,
a control unit that extends into the opening and is operatively connected to the input device for receiving a control signal from the input device, and
one or a plurality of brackets extending from the inward-facing surface of the front wall that temporarily couple the control unit to the backguard panel, and
separate fasteners in communication with the plurality of brackets and the control unit to secure the control to the backguard panel.

9 . The cooking appliance of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or a plurality of brackets is integrally formed as a monolithic unit with the rearward-facing surface of the front wall.

10 . The cooking appliance of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or a plurality of brackets comprises an inward-extending flange defining an aperture that receives the separate fastener for securing the control unit to the backguard panel.

11 . The cooking appliance of claim 8 further comprising:
a recessed seat formed in a region of the front wall surrounding the opening; and
a sealing gasket received within the recessed seat and encircling the control unit for sealing a space between the control unit and a surrounding portion of the front wall.

12 . The cooking appliance of claim 8 further comprising a glass pane that extends entirely over the opening to conceal the control unit, wherein the glass pane comprises a flanged region that abuts against the outward-facing surface of the front wall.

13 . The cooking appliance of claim 12 , wherein the glass pane is coupled to a housing of the control unit extending into the opening and the flanged portion of the glass pane extends outwardly beyond a periphery of the housing.

14 . The cooking appliance of claim 13 , wherein the glass pane comprises an exposed surface that protrudes forward of the outward-facing surface of the front wall.

15 . A method of assembling a cooking appliance comprising:
inserting, from a front side of a backguard panel, a housing of a control unit into an aperture formed in the backguard panel; urging the control unit into the opening until the control unit is temporarily held in place by a friction fit between the control unit and one or a plurality of brackets extending from a rearward-facing surface of the backguard panel; and while the control unit is being temporarily held in place by the one or a plurality of brackets, installing a separate fastener to secure the control unit to the backguard panel.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising installing a gasket to be disposed between the control unit and a surrounding portion of the backguard panel.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said urging the control unit into the opening comprises inserting the control unit until a flanged portion of a glass pane coupled to the control unit abuts against an outward-facing surface of the backguard panel.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said installing the separate fastener comprises inserting a threaded fastener into aligned apertures formed in the housing of the control unit and in the brackets.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Wojcik Aaron
• Hill Daniel
• Speck Scott
• Howard Michael Anthony

Classifications

• G05G25/04

  Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like {(in selector apparatus for gearings, F16H59/0213)} · CPC title

• F24C15/007

  Removable panels · CPC title

• F24C5/16

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24C3/124

  Control panels · CPC title

• A47J37/1271

  Accessories · CPC title