Laundry treating apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725843-B2
Application number	US-201514691679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes control panel body that defines an opening with a circular perimeter and a diameter. The laundry treating apparatus further includes at least one light source. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a rotary knob that is configured to manipulate a rotary switch and that has an outer circumferential surface that is spaced apart from the circular perimeter of the opening to define a clearance between the rotary knob and the control panel body. The laundry treating apparatus includes further a knob decorative member that is located between the rotary knob and the circular perimeter of the opening. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a window that includes a light transmission portion through which light emitted from the at least one light source passes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
a control panel body that is provided with a circular opening in the control panel body;
at least one light source;
a rotary knob that is configured to manipulate a rotary switch and that has an outer circumferential surface that is spaced apart from the circular opening;
a knob decorative member that is located between the rotary knob and the circular opening and that defines a clearance between the rotary knob and the circular opening by having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the circular opening; and
a window that includes a light transmission portion through which light emitted from the at least one light source passes, the light transmission portion of the window surrounding the knob decorative member,
wherein the knob decorative member comprises:
an inner cylinder having an outer circumferential surface that faces an inner circumferential surface of the window;
an outer cylinder that has a larger diameter than a diameter of the inner cylinder and that has an outer circumferential surface facing an inner circumferential surface of the light transmission portion; and
a front annular portion connected between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmission portion has an annular exposed surface that is exposed to an outside of the laundry treating apparatus.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the annular exposed surface is continuous across the light transmission portion of the window.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the clearance and the light transmission portion both have an annular shape.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmission portion has an inner circumferential surface that faces the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder of the knob decorative member, and an outer circumferential surface that faces a perimeter of the circular opening.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmission portion has an internal diameter that is larger than an external diameter of the inner cylinder of the knob decorative member, and an external diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the circular opening.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the window has a stepped portion that contacts the control panel body.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a front of the stepped portion and a back of the stepped portion both contact the control panel body.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the knob decorative member and the control body have a same color.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the window comprises:
a window body that protrudes from the light transmission portion; and
a diffusion portion located at a rear surface of the window body, the diffusion portion including a first region that has a first light transmittance and a second region that has a second light transmittance that is greater than the first light transmittance,
wherein the second region at least partially faces the light transmission portion.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the diffusion portion comprises a diffusion sheet that is located at a rear surface of the window body and that is printed on or coats the diffusion portion.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first region of the diffusion portion is configured to block light from the at least one light source.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the knob decorative member is coupled to the window.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmission portion of the window surrounding the rotary knob is located in the clearance between the rotary knob and the control panel body.

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the inner cylinder of the knob decorative member is greater than a thickness of the outer cylinder of the knob decorative member, the thickness of the inner cylinder and the thickness of the outer cylinder being defined along an axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotary knob.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the annular portion is less than a thickness of the inner cylinder of the knob decorative member and thickness of the outer cylinder of the knob decorative member, the thickness of the annular portion being defined along an axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotary knob.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yang Jinho

Classifications

• F21V3/10

  characterised by coatings · CPC title

• F21V33/0044

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

• D06F39/005 Primary

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• F21V3/0472

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• D06F34/22 Primary

  Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity · CPC title