Interchangeable display assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719815-B2
Application number	US-201414575222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A lighted display assembly for an appliance includes interchangeable display screens. Multiple light sources flash, turn on and turn off to indicate a status of the appliance by illuminating a selected one of the display screens. A display grid extends continuously between the light sources and the selected display screen and defines light passages that are each uniquely associated with one or more corresponding light sources. Light emitted by each light source is confined to a discrete area of the display screen by the corresponding light passage. The discrete areas of the interchangeable display screens may include any of a variety of markings, for example, markings in a different language. The assemblies may be tailored to the needs of a particular customer by selecting an appropriate display screen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display assembly for an appliance comprising:
a circuit board coupled to an electronic assembly;
at least two communication devices on the circuit board configured to indicate a status of the appliance;
an interchangeable display screen having at least one display, the interchangeable display screen engaging a shroud of the appliance; and
a one-piece display grid extending between the communication devices and the interchangeable display screen;
one or more light passages in the display grid, each light passage associated with one or more of said communication devices; and
at least one display marking aligned with at least one of said light passages
wherein said communication devices are visible through said interchangeable display screen and an opening in said shroud.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said display grid includes an upper surface and a lower surface and each of said light passages define a discrete channel extending completely through said display grid from said upper surface to said lower surface, each of said light passages extending between said communication device and said interchangeable display screen.

3. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said communication device is a light configured to indicate said status of the appliance.

4. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said communication device is an infrared sensor configured to communicate with an external device.

5. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of light passages are each uniquely sized or shaped.

6. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said interchangeable display screen includes retaining tabs to engage said shroud of the appliance.

7. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein a cover of the appliance houses the display assembly.

8. The display assembly of the claim 7 wherein said communication devices are concealed by said cover.

9. A display assembly for an appliance comprising:
a one-piece display grid including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, said display grid defining at least two separate light passages within said display grid and extending completely through said display grid from said lower surface to said upper surface, wherein each passage defines a channel, each of said passages having a sidewall extending continuously between a first end at the lower surface and a second end at said upper surface; and
a plurality of light sources mounted on a circuit board, one or more of said light sources associated with one of said light passages, each of said light sources positioned proximate said first end of said light passage with at least a portion of each of said light sources extending into one of said passages; and
an interchangeable display screen engaging said second ends of said at least two light passages, said interchangeable display screen mounted in an opening in a shroud of the appliance, wherein said light sources are visible through said interchangeable display screen and said opening in said shroud.

10. The display assembly of claim 9 including a screen frame adapted to engage said display grid, said interchangeable display screen attached to said screen frame.

11. The display assembly of claim 9 wherein said display grid provides structural support for said interchangeable display screen.

12. The display assembly of claim 10 wherein each light passage is uniquely sized or shaped.

13. The display assembly of claim 9 further comprising an infrared sensor coupled to said circuit board for communicating with an external device.

14. An appliance comprising:
a display assembly having at least two light sources on a circuit board, each light source indicating a status of the appliance;
an interchangeable display screen having at least one display marking; and
a one-piece display grid extending between said light sources and said interchangeable display screen;
one or more light passages in said display grid, each light passage associated with a corresponding one or more of said light sources and configured to selectively transmit light from each of said light sources;
a display marking aligned with at least one of said light passages; and
a cover over said display assembly, wherein said cover is a shroud that houses at least a portion of the appliance, wherein said light sources are visible through said shroud.

15. The appliance of claim 14 wherein each light source independently indicates said status of the appliance.

16. The appliance of claim 14 further comprising an infrared sensor coupled to said circuit board for communicating with an external device.

17. The appliance of claim 14 wherein said plurality of light passages are each uniquely sized or shaped.

Assignees

• Access Business Group Int Llc

Inventors

• Miles Michael E
• Lautzenheiser Terry L
• Vecziedins Karlis

Classifications

• G09F23/0058 Primary

  on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator · CPC title

• G09F3/202

  for labels being formed by a combination of interchangeable elements, e.g. price labels (G09F3/203 - G09F3/207 take precedence) · CPC title

• G09F2007/005

  Signs associated with a sensor · CPC title

• F21V33/0044

  Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• G09F13/04

  Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia · CPC title