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EP-4736732-A1 - A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN IMPROVED DISPLAY

EP4736732A1EP 4736732 A1EP4736732 A1EP 4736732A1EP-4736732-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a processing chamber (3) which is disposed in the body (2); a door (4) which isolates the processing chamber (3) from the external environment; and a panel (6) having a display surface (5) arranged on the surface of the door (4).

Inventors

  • BASARAN, Alper
  • CETINKAYA, Cagatay
  • DURSUN, ABDURRAHMAN

Assignees

  • Arçelik Anonim Sirketi

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250730

Claims (10)

  1. A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a processing chamber (3) which is disposed in the body (2); a door (4) which isolates the processing chamber (3) from the external environment; and a panel (6) having a display surface (5) arranged on the surface of the door (4), characterized by a light source (7) which is provided on the panel so as to align with the upper edge of the display surface (5) and which is configured to project light onto the display surface (5).
  2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the display surface (5) the lower edge of which is positioned on the front surface of the door (4) so as to be flush with the surface of the door (4) and the upper edge of which is inclined into the door (4) so as to form a recess (8).
  3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the light source (7) which is provided on the panel (6) and a lens (9) which focuses the light from the light source (7) to be projected onto the display surface (5).
  4. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a holding member (10) which is provided on the panel (6) and which enables the light source (7) to be fixed.
  5. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the panel (6) having the recess (8) which is used as a handle.
  6. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the light source (7) which is a projection module.
  7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.
  8. A household appliance (1) as in any one of Claim 1 to 6, which is a washing machine.
  9. A household appliance (1) as in any one of Claim 1 to 6, which is a refrigerator.
  10. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 6, which is a cooking device.

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising an improved display. In household appliances, there are panels displaying the operating program information. Through the panel, the user is informed about program details, duration, and various warnings. The panels are designed for each appliance and model in accordance with the need. It is important for the user that the panels are simple and easy to understand. A clear and explicit display of the program information ensures user satisfaction. The presence of excessive components, information, and buttons on the panel makes the usage difficult. Therefore, using fewer components on the panel provides ease of production and increases the product's desirability. The panels are manufactured by using various light sources, buttons, and displays and are attached onto the household appliance. In particular, various techniques are developed to ensure that lights are shown clearly and without dispersion. Thus, it is ensured that light is visible only at the necessary area and does not interfere with the buttons. However, each component used for the panel increases the production cost. Moreover, in order to ensure that household appliances have a simpler and more comprehensible appearance, the use of displays has recently not been preferred. Thanks to technological advancements, internet-connected household appliances can be controlled via mobile devices; however, for appliances that are not internet-connected, the need for a panel remains. In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP0691100, a dishwasher is disclosed, wherein the program information is communicated to the user by illumination. The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance which informs the user by means of the illumination member. The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; a processing chamber which is disposed in the body, and a door which isolates the processing chamber from the outer environment. On the door, a display surface is provided, which communicates the program information to the user. The household appliance of the present invention comprises a light source which is provided on the upper edge of the display surface and which is configured to project light onto the display surface. The display surface is a dark-colored, preferably matte surface with properties which allow the projected light to be visible. Thus, the reflected light is enabled to be seen as it is. By means of the reflected light source, all necessary information related to the program can be communicated to the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the display surface having a recess the lower edge of which is positioned on the front surface of the door and the upper edge of which is inclined inward. The upper edge of the display surface has the recess extending into the door. Thus, the light transmitted from the upper edge is reflected onto the display surface. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a lens which is provided on the upper edge of the display surface and which focuses the light source. Thus, the light is enabled to be delivered to the display surface without scattering. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a holding member which enables the light source to be fixed. The holding member provided on the upper edge of the display surface ensures that the light source is fixed in the correct position. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the display surface having the upper edge which also serves as a handle. Thus, the display surface is enabled to function both as a display and a handle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises the light source which is a projection module. By means of the light source, any type of information is projected onto the display surface. The use of the projection module facilitates the transmission of the image. By means of the present invention, a household appliance is realized, having a display surface which enables the user to be informed thanks to the reflected light. A household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the household appliance.Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional view of the panel. The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows. 1- Household appliance2- Body3- Processing chamber4- Door5- Display surface6- Panel7- Light source8- Recess9- Lens10- Holding member The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2); a processing chamber (3) which is disposed in the body (2); a door (4) which isolates the processing chamber (3) from the external environment; and a pane