Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to control panels and, more particularly, to control panels end caps that are designed to facilitate mounting the control panel in one of a plurality of orientations relative to a host machine.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In order to provide product differentiation while maintaining or reducing costs, it has been proposed to build a commercial appliance control panel that is positionable in one of a pair of orientations. A first orientation has the face of the control panel at a relatively steep slope or orientation relative to the surface of the machine. A second orientation, in which the face is rotated 180°, disposes the face at a relatively less steep angular orientation. Such a structure is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,424.  
           [0005]    However, the assemblies known in the art do not include means to temporarily secure the control panel to the main body of the appliance. Accordingly, it has proven difficult for one person to handle the control panel during the assembly process.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method and device for preliminarily securing the control panel to the appliance main body during assembly. Moreover, there exists a need in the art for a preliminary securement device that is operable regardless of the orientation of the multi-position control panel.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed toward a method and device for preliminarily securing the control panel to the appliance main body during assembly. The present invention is further directed toward a preliminary securement device that is operable regardless of the orientation of the control panel.  
           [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, an end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the body and are adapted for securement to said appliance main body.  
           [0009]    In further accordance with the present invention, each of said supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    These and further features of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an appliance incorporating the present invention with the control panel in a first orientation;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 1 with the control panel in a second orientation; and,  
         [0013]    FIGS.  3 - 7  are perspective views of different embodiments of the end cap according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    It should be noted that in the detailed description which follows, identical components have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present invention. It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely disclose the present invention, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown in somewhat schematic form. It is also noted that although the invention is shown and described herein as it relates to a washing machine, it is contemplated that the preliminary attachment technique taught herein can be used on other appliances.  
         [0015]    With reference to FIG. 1, a control panel  10  is shown spaced from a top surface  12  of a washing machine  14 . The washing machine top surface  12  includes mounting openings  17  through which tabs from an end cap  16 , to be discussed hereinafter, extend. The control panel  10  is shown in a first orientation wherein it is at a relatively steep angle. The same control panel  10  is in a second orientation in FIG. 2, the second orientation being at a relatively shallow angle.  
         [0016]    The control panel  10  includes a body  18  that extends between end caps  16  and is covered by a faceplate  20 . The faceplate  20  includes graphics or writing to assist the user in operating the conventional controls (not shown) mounted thereto. The control panel body  18  and faceplate  20 , as well as the general structure and operation of the washing machine  14  are unaffected by the present invention and will not be discussed further hereinafter.  
         [0017]    With reference to FIGS.  3 - 7 , the end caps  16  include a front surface  22  and first and second support surfaces  24 ,  26 . The front surface  22  is preferably curved, and includes first and second edges  28 ,  30 . The first edge  28  is located at the intersection of the front surface  22  and the first support surface  24 . The second edge  30  is located at the intersection of the front surface  22  and the second support surface  26 .  
         [0018]    When the control panel  10  is in the first orientation (FIG. 1), the end cap  16  is generally as shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 . In other words, the first support surface  24  is in abutting contact with the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 , and the second support surface  26  is facing rearwardly relative to the washing machine  14  (and may have a rear cover plate secured thereto). The first edge  28  is adjacent the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 , and the second edge  30  is remote from the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 .  
         [0019]    Alternatively, when the control panel  10  is rotated such that it is in the second orientation (FIG. 2), the second support surface  26  is in abutting contact with the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 , and the first support surface  24  is facing rearwardly relative to the washing machine  14  (and may have a rear cover plate secured thereto). The second edge  30  is adjacent the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 , and the first edge  28  is remote from the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14 .  
         [0020]    With reference to the end cap  16  first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first support surface  24  and the second support surface  26  each have a pair of L-shaped tabs  32  extending therefrom. The tabs  32  have a first leg  34  that extends generally perpendicular to the associated support surface  24 ,  26  and a second wedge-shaped leg  36  that extends from the first leg  34 . The face  38  of the second leg  36  facing the support surface  24 ,  26  is angled, and the second leg  36  becomes gradually narrower as it extends away from the first leg  34 . Accordingly, the spacing between the second leg  36  and the support surface  24 ,  26  gradually decreases as one moves from the distal end of the second leg toward the proximal end of the second leg (i.e., toward the first leg).  
         [0021]    The end caps  16 , and hence the control panel  10 , may be preliminarily or temporarily mounted to the washing machine  14  by inserting the second legs  36  of the end cap  16  through the holes  17  in the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14  and then pushing the control panel  10  forwardly to trap the washing machine top surface  12  between the support surface  24 ,  26  and the second leg face  38 . Accordingly, the control panel  10  is secured at each end to the washing machine. Moreover, the control panel  10  is positively positioned and in place for more permanent affixation and assembly.  
         [0022]    With reference to FIG. 4, a second preferred embodiment of the end cap  16  is illustrated. The end cap  16  differs from the end cap  16  of FIG. 3 discussed hereinbefore in the structure and arrangement of the tabs  132 . The tabs  132  according to the second embodiment include a resilient retainer  134 , a locator pin  136 , and an L-shaped leg  138 . The resilient retainer  134  includes a web  140  that secures the retainer  134  to the associated support surface  24 ,  26 , and a half-moon-shaped member  142  that extends from the web  140 . Naturally, in this case the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14  will have three holes  17  to receive the tabs  132  extending from the end caps  16 . The end caps  16  are secured by inserting the tabs  134 ,  136 ,  138  into the holes  17  in the washing machine top surface  12 , and then sliding the end caps  16  rearwardly such that the member  142  and the leg  138  are received under the washing machine top surface  12 .  
         [0023]    With reference to FIG. 5, a third preferred embodiment of the end cap  16  is shown to include a pair of L-shaped tabs  232 . The tabs  232  include a first leg  234  that extends away from the associated support surface  24 ,  26  and a second leg  236  that extends rearwardly from the first leg  234  and generally parallel to the support surface  24 ,  26 . The end cap  16  is secured by inserting the tabs  232  through the holes  17  provided in the top surface  12  of the washing machine  14  and then pushing the control panel  10  and end caps  16  rearwardly so that a portion of the top surface  12  is received between the support surface  24 ,  26  and the second leg  235  of the L-shaped tabs.  
         [0024]    With reference to FIG. 6, a fourth preferred embodiment of the end cap  16  is shown to include an L-shaped tab  332  and a J-shaped tab  334 . The L-shaped tab  332  includes a first leg  336  extending away from the associated support surface  24 ,  26  and a second leg  338  extending forwardly from the first leg  336 . A side  340  of the second leg  338  facing the support surface  24 ,  26  is angled such that the second leg  338  adjacent the first leg  336  is closer to the support surface  24 ,  26  than the end of the second leg  338  remote or distal from the first leg  336 . The J-shaped leg  334  has a proximal end  342  attached to the associated support surface  24 ,  26  and a distal end  344  spaced from the support surface  24 ,  26  to define a gap therebetween. The distal end  344  includes a surface facing the support surface  24 ,  26 . The end cap  16  is attached to the washing machine  14  by inserting the tabs  332 ,  334  through the holes  17  and then moving the control panel  10  and end caps  16  forwardly so that portions of the washing machine top surface  12  are trapped between the support surface  24 ,  26  and the first tab  332  (i.e., the side  340  of the second leg  338 ) and between the support surface  24 ,  26  and the second tab  334  (i.e., the surface of the distal end  344 ).  
         [0025]    With reference to FIG. 7, a fifth preferred embodiment of the end cap  16  includes a first tab  432  and a second tab  434 . The first tab  432  is L-shaped and defines a short ledge-like surface  436  facing the associated support surface  24 ,  26 . The second tab  434  includes a ramping or camming surface  438  facing toward the support surface  24 ,  26 . The end cap  16  of the fifth embodiment is attached to the washing machine  14  by inserting the tabs  432 ,  434  through the holes  17  in the washing machine top surface  12  and then sliding the control panel  10  and end caps  16  forwardly until the top surface  12  is trapped between the support surface  24 ,  26  and the ledge-like surface  436  of the first tab.  
         [0026]    In each of the preferred embodiments described hereinbefore, for purposes of clarity and completeness, the end cap  16  is shown with tabs permitting it to be secured in either of the two desired orientations. However, only one set of tabs are necessary to hold the control panel  10  to the appliance. Therefore, the end caps will preferably be manufactured with only the tabs that are to be used to hold the control panel I  0  to the washing machine. The die used to mold or manufacture the end caps preferably accommodates inserts to selectively block the formation of the non-necessary tabs, as is well known in the plastic injection art. As such, end caps having tabs adapted for either of the desired orientations can be easily manufactured from a single mold, reducing manufacturing costs.  
         [0027]    The present invention has been described herein with particularity, but it is noted that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the present invention is considered to be possible of numerous modifications, alterations, and combinations of parts and, therefore, is only defined by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 6