Appliance fascia and mounting therefore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9339993-B2
Application number	US-201113822132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2011
Priority date	Sep 14, 2010
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the compressive stress (CS) at a surface of the glass sheet is greater than about 400 MPa.

3. The appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the compressive stress (CS) at the surface of the glass sheet is greater than about 600 MPa.

4. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein a composition of the glass sheet includes at least one of (a) 6 wt. % aluminum oxide; and (b) one or more alkaline earth oxides, such that a content of alkaline earth oxides is at least 5 wt. %.

5. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has an area greater than 1 m 2 .

6. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the central portion of the glass sheet is adhered to at least two mounting rails, with a mounting rail located adjacent each side edge of the central portion of the glass sheet, such that a space is provided between the inner surface of the central portion of the glass sheet and the outer surface of the appliance; and
wherein the backer sheet substantially spans a distance between the at least two mounting rails.

7. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the backer sheet extends beyond at least the side edges of the glass sheet to protect the edges of the glass sheet from impacts.

8. The appliance according to claim 7 , wherein an inner surface backer sheet is adhered to at least two mounting rails, with a mounting rail located adjacent each side edge of the central portion of the glass sheet, such that a space is provided between the inner surface of the backer sheet and the outer surface of the appliance.

9. The appliance according to claim 6 , wherein the side portions of the glass sheet extend rearward from the central portion of the glass sheet a distance sufficient to conceal the mounting rails.

10. The appliance according to claim 9 , where the side portions of the glass sheet extend rearward from the central portion of the glass sheet a distance sufficient to conceal the mounting rails and at least a portion of sides of the appliance with a seamless decorative glass sheet.

11. The appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the appliance has one of a door and a lid, the glass sheet is mounted on an outer surface of the one of a door and a lid, and the side portions of the glass sheet extend rearward from the central portion of the glass sheet a distance sufficient to cover the mounting rails and at least a portion of sides of the door.

12. The appliance according to claim 11 , wherein the glass sheet seamlessly covers substantially the entire outer surface of the door or lid.

13. The appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a display panel or control panel located in the space between an inner surface of the glass sheet and the outer surface of the appliance for at least one of viewing or activating the panel through the glass sheet.

14. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness of about 1 mm or less.

15. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness of about 0.7 mm or less.

16. The appliance according to claim 15 , wherein a bend in the glass fascia has a radius of curvature of 10 mm or less.

17. The appliance according to claim 15 , wherein a bend in the glass sheet has a radius of curvature of 5 mm or less.

18. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein compressive stress (CS) (in MPa) in the near surface region of the glass sheet extends from a surface of the first glass sheet to a depth of layer (in μm) of at least 65-0.06(CS) on a plot of depth of layer on the x-axis and CS on the y-axis.

19. 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.

20. The appliance according to claim 19 , wherein the appliance is one of a kitchen appliance and a laundry appliance having one of a door and a lid, and the glass sheet is mounted on the one of a door and a lid.

21. The appliance according to claim 19 , wherein the glass sheet is a chemically-strengthened glass sheet having a near-surface region under a compressive stress (CS), wherein the CS at a surface of the first glass sheet is greater than 300 MPa.

22. The appliance according to claim 21 , wherein the CS wherein the CS in the near surface region extends from a surface of the glass sheet to a depth of layer of at least 20 μm.

23. The appliance according to claim 19 , wherein the glass sheet is chemically-strengthened and has a near-surface region under a compressive stress (CS) (in MPa), wherein the CS in the near surface region extends from a surface of the first glass sheet to a depth of layer (in μm) of at least 65-0.06(CS).

24. The appliance according to claim 23 , wherein the CS at the near-surface region of the glass sheet is greater than 300 MPa.

25. 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 s

Assignees

• Cites Jeffrey Scott
• Rosenblum Steven S
• Wildeman George Francis
• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Cites Jeffrey Scott
• Rosenblum Steven S
• Wildeman George Francis

Classifications

• Y10T428/266

  of base or substrate · CPC title

• Y10T428/24628

  Nonplanar uniform thickness material · CPC title

• Y10T428/23

  Sheet including cover or casing · CPC title

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• C03C21/00 Primary

  Treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by diffusing ions or metals in the surface · CPC title