TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a range hood with a control panel assembly to which switching elements are adapted to set the operating parameters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A control unit comprising switches arranged sequentially on a panel is utilized to adjust the operation modes of the functions of the range hood such as fan suction and lighting. The control unit has sequential switches mounted on the panel so as to be accessible externally. There is a mechanical push button on each of the switches. An integrated module in which switches having mechanical buttons are located, for mounting the control unit to the range hood is supported against the application of force in the direction of pressing the mechanical buttons that extend from the inside to the outside by being fixed in a mounting opening on the panel. Thus, the adjustment parameters provided from the switches are entered on a controller to which the switches are connected on the control unit or to the drivers on the functional elements to be directly controlled.

CN109838823A discloses the snap-fit connection for mounting the control panel to the range hood body. Accordingly, control panel assembly comprises a housing; a printed circuit board inside the housing; a switch film which is formed integrally into a transparent cover mounted for covering the front portion of the housing and for conductivity; a conductive layer provided on thereof with a bolt located on the front face of the printed circuit board; and male and female coupling parts to couple the housing to the transparent cover. In a control panel assembly of such type, the housing defines the exterior appearance and a plurality of support extensions extend from the inside out. The support extension is fitted by securing the printed circuit board by means of the connection elements such as fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to allow direct mounting of the mechanical switches of the control assembly to the glass panel of the range hood. In order to achieve abovementioned object, the invention provides a range hood comprising a glass panel arranged on a body in an externally accessible manner wherein the body is reaching to an exhaust chimney and is confining an interior chamber; an opening provided on the glass panel so that reaching to the interior chamber; a plurality of movable push button next to each other extending through the opening; and a control assembly having a casing holding the buttons such providing support from behind and mounted to the glass panel by the inner wall thereof. The range hood is also comprising a cover having corresponding holes that are attached to the outer wall of the glass panel along a shielding portion from the rear side and arranged to surround each button without preventing the movement of travelling. When the external pressing force is exerted to each button on the glass panel, the button moves from the opening in the axial direction through the cover hole towards the interior chamber and reaches a corresponding switch equipped in the body, activating it in a triggering manner. Thus, various functions (suction, lighting) of the range hood are activated or deactivated by pressing the button. Since the cover hide the opening, it prevents a foreign substance from accessing the interior chamber from the outside. Further, the cover is mounted or removed for service by easily aligning the outer wall of the glass panel to the buttons that are mounted on the glass panel from the inner wall and extending from the opening to the outside. The cover can preferably comprise plastic, glass or metal material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a support plate is engaged to the opening through an intake portion and a holding element is extending between the support plate and the cover such that directly secure the cover on the support plate. The support plate provides a screwless mounting area for the cover in the glass panel when disposed in the opening, and the holding element allows the cover to be easily mounted on the glass panel by resting against the panel externally. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, the support plate includes a mounting portion that allows the casing being mounted on the glass panel from the rear wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding element is in the form of a pin extending from the rear wall of the cover so as to shrink fit into a slot provided on the support plate. In this case, with the alignment of the pins to the slot, the cover is closed by covering the outer wall of the glass panel, allowing the cover to be directly mounted on the support plate over the opening. The pin can be formed on the cover to extend towards the support plate as well as in a possible embodiment, it can also be arranged to extend from the support plate towards the cover. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, pins the holding element disposed on the shielding portion wherein the pins are integrated are extending into the corresponding slots between the holes in a fitting manner. In other words, the pins extend through the holes in the cover. Thereby, providing the thin pins at intervals on the cover is sufficient to provide a fixing force to the cover.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support plate comprises a plurality of alignment opening which are opened thereon and arranged to be adjacent to the rear side, each aligned with a corresponding hole. In this case, the push button passes from the casing to the alignment opening and reaches the hole therefrom and extends out of the cover.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the width of each alignment opening is arranged substantially equal to the corresponding hole. In this case, it is ensured that the buttons are guided in the support plate and move along their axes without deviation during pressing, especially when the widths of the alignment opening, and the hole are equal.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hole, alignment opening and button are aligned coaxially to each other, respectively. When the button is pressed, it travels straight in the axial direction and all the applied force is transmitted towards the casing. Switches are mounted in the casing to be placed behind each button. Thereby, the force applied by the axially travelling button directly reaches the switch.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover is in the form of a flat plate resting against the outer wall longitudinally. Thus, opening is sealed. Further, the cover extends in the same axis with the glass panel and the cleaning thereof is simplified.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a compression spring is provided between each button and the casing. In this case, when force is applied to the buttons externally, the compressive force of the compression spring is overcome and the button moves towards the casing from its rear end and when it is released, the button is pushed back towards its first position by the spring.

In a preferred embodiment, a retaining strip is fixed adjacent to the back of each button and arranged larger than the hole such that rests against the inner wall by the compressive force of the compression spring when no external force is applied to the button. The retaining strip ensures that the space between the hole and the button is covered with the compression spring resting against the inner wall and supports the sealing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an extension shaft is secured from one end to the casing and from the other end to the button such that each adapted button extends from the hole by passing through corresponding alignment opening. The extension shaft helps to extend the button out of the casing from the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of a range hood having the control panel assembly according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded front perspective view of a representative embodiment of the control panel assembly.

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the control panel assembly shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a representative embodiment of the control panel assembly in the assembled state.

Figure 5 is the enlarged view of detail A shown in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the development of the invention has been described without any limitation and only with reference to the examples for a better explanation of the subject.

In Figure 1 , a chimney (2) adapted to an air outlet (not shown) of a kitchen and a range hood comprising a body (1) with a structure expanding at the lower end thereof and surrounding an interior chamber (3) are shown in perspective view. On the outer portion of the body (1), there is a wide rectangular flat glass panel (10) positioned to be inclined facing down. A cover (40) is mounted on to the lower edge of the glass panel (10) in parallel.

In Figure 2, a control assembly (30) mounted on the glass panel (10) of the range hood is shown in perspective and disassembled view. A rectangular opening (12) is provided that extends transversely inside the glass panel (10) parallel to its circumferential edges (11). The opening (12) has a cut-out structure on the glass panel (10). A support plate (20) is engaged to the opening (12) from the intake portion (13) of the opening (12) by shrink fit. A plurality of alignment openings (22) on the support plate (20) are arranged at a distance from each other, aligned on the same axis, so as to provide a grid structure placed in the opening (12).

The cover (40) is in the form of a rectangular plate wider than the opening (12) and of a higher dimension. The cover (40) surrounds the circumferential edge (41) of the opening (12) at a distance. Holes (42) are drilled on the cover (40) in line with the alignment openings (22) and in equal numbers. The alignment openings (22) have equal size and coaxially aligned with the holes (42). A display portion (46) is defined on the front portion (44) of the cover (40) such that there is a mark or alphanumeric character aligned with each hole on the lower edge of the holes (42). The signs and characters on the display portion (46) are printed on the cover (40) by screen printing.

Behind the glass panel (10), the control panel (30) is located in the interior chamber (3). The control panel (30) comprises buttons (32) arranged at a distance from each other on a wide casing (34). Each button (32) presses a switch (not shown) in the casing (34) from its rear end. The buttons (32) have a prismatic structure and a flange-like retaining strip (33) is mounted outwards from the back. The portion of the casing (34) facing the buttons (32) is planar and a side extension (36) is formed by expanding on two opposite sides.

In Figure 3, the glass panel (10) is shown from behind with the support plate (20) attached, with the control assembly (30) not assembled. The cover (40) has a shielding portion (45) at its rear side (48), whose border line is drawn in the form of a protrusion. The shielding portion (45) has a rectangular-like border line and surrounds the opening (12) adjacently when the cover (40) is closed. Holes (42) are sequentially provided within the shielding portion (45), and the holes (42) form a grid structure with spacing between them. A holding element (43) comprising a short and thin pin structure at a distance between both adjacent holes (42) extends vertically at the rear side (48). On the other hand, a similarly structured grid form is formed between the alignment openings (22) on the support plate (20). Thus, a slot (23) in a hole-like structure is formed between both alignment openings (22). When the cover (40) is covered such that the holes (42) are aligned with the corresponding alignment openings (22), the pins of the holding element (43) shrink fit into the slots (23) in the support plate (20). Thus, along a line where the holes (42) are disposed, the holding element (43) in the protrusion structure holds the holes (42) from both sides and fixes them in a removable manner by pulling into the slots (23). The transverse extending axis of the holding element (43) at the rear side (48) of the cover (40) is the axis passing through the center of the holes (42). Thus, each hole (42) adheres to its edges directly adjacent to the corresponding alignment opening (22).

The portion of the side edges of the support plate (20) resting on the inner wall (16) defines a flange (21). A prismatic mounting wedge (25) is formed on the flange (21) extending inward. The mounting wedge (25) is adjacent to the outermost alignment openings (22) in an integrated manner with the flanges (21) on two opposite side edges. One screw hole (26) is drilled on each mounting wedge (25). Screw holes (26) provide the mounting of the casing (34) from the side extensions (36) to the support plate (20) over the flange (21) by means of a screw. In order to achieve this, a screw hole (37) is drilled in the center of the side extensions (36) in line with the screw holes (26) of the support plate (26). Behind each button (32) there is an extension shaft (39) fixed along the extension axis. The extension shaft (39) provides the button (32) access to the casing (34). On each extension shaft (39), a compression spring (38) is placed on one side to the retaining strip (33) and on the other side to the casing (34).

In Figure 4, the control assembly (30) is shown in cross-section when mounted on the support plate (20). The support plate (20) has a staggered portion (28) placed from the inner wall (16) to the opening (12) from the intake portion (13). The staggered portion (28) is shrunk fit to the intake portion (13) of the opening (12) from the forehead face. The distance of the staggered portion (28) is equal to the opening (12) cross section thickness, i.e. , the glass panel (10) cross section thickness. When the staggered portion (28) is placed in the opening (12) such that it reaches the outer wall (14), the flange (21) rests against the inner wall (16). Thus, when the support plate (20) is mounted in the opening (12) by pushing it from the inner wall (16) of the glass panel (10) towards the opening (12), the flange (21) prevents the support plate (20) from coming out of the opening (12) by limiting its movement by resting against the inner wall (16). When the support plate (20) is mounted to the glass panel (10), the control assembly (30) is attached to the support plate (20) over the mounting wedge (25). In this case, each button (32) is first guided through its corresponding and coaxial alignment opening (22). After the screw passes through the screw hole (37, 26) and fixes the casing (34) to the mounting wedge (25) from its side extension (36), the cover (40) is placed on the outer wall (14). For this purpose, the holes (42) are aligned with the corresponding buttons (32) so that each button (32) is passed through the holes (42). Then, the rear side (48) is rested against the front wall (24) and force is applied in the direction of pressure, and the pins of the holding element (43) are mounted to the corresponding slots (23) in the support plate (20) with shrink fit. After the cover (40) is mounted, the rear side (48) contacts the front wall (24) face to face, and the holding element (43) is placed in the slot (23). This is shown more closely in Figure 5, with the detail thereof is enlarged. After the cover (40) is mounted, a front edge (321) of the button (32) is made externally accessible, parallel to the outer wall (14). On the other hand, on an opposite rear edge (322) of the button 32, the flange-like rectangular retaining strip (34) is fixed adjacently. The compression spring (38) is wrapped helically on the extension shaft (39), resting against the casing (34) from one end and pushing the retaining strip (33) at the rear edge (322) outwards from the other end when it is stretched. Thus, the retaining strip (34) fits into the staggered portion (28) from the inside, limiting the outward movement of the button (32).

The holding element (43) is arranged such that it does not contact the retaining strip (33) when it passes through the grid-like intervals of the holes (42) to the slot (23). For this, the width of the retaining strip (33) is maintained to be shorter than the width of the two adjacent slots (23). In this case, the compression spring (38) is pushed stably outwards from the alignment opening (22) and from the hole (42) in which the button (32) is guided by applying constant tension. The user simply presses the button (32) that extends through the holes (42) in the shielding portion (45) of the cover (40), allowing the button (32) to overcome the compression spring (38) force. Thus, by moving towards the interior chamber (3) in the axial direction as guided in the alignment opening (22), the button (32) enables the extension shaft

(39) to press the switch on the casing (34) from the rear side and to activate the function assigned to the button (32). Then, the user releases the button (32) and pushes the compressed compression spring (38) from the retaining strip (33) to return the button (32) to its initial position.

For cleaning or maintenance reasons, the cover (40) can be removed by simply pulling out. In the case of being pulled from its peripheral edge (41), the pins of the holding element (43) are individually removed from the slots (23) in which they are squeezed. With the alignment of the housings (23) between the alignment openings (22), disassembly is performed by applying a force sufficient to remove a pair of pins of each slot (23), respectively, to the cover

(40) removed by being pulled from one side. In total, the holding force of the cover (40) on the support plate (20) is equal to the total holding force of the holding element (43) and all corresponding slots (23). REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Body 30 Control assembly

2 Chimney 32 Button

3 Interior chamber 321 Front edge

10 Glass panel 322 Rear edge

11 Circumferential edge 33 Retaining strip

12 Opening 34 Casing

13 intake portion 36 Side extension

14 Outer wall 37 Screw hole 16 Inner wall 38 Compression spring

20 Support plate 39 Extension shaft

21 Flange 40 Cover

22 Alignment opening 41 Circumferential edge

23 Slot 42 Hole

24 Front wall 43 Holding element

25 Mounting wedge 44 Front portion

26 Screw hole 45 Shielding portion

28 Staggered portion 46 Display portion 48 Rear side