IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,302,496
Granted Patent B2
US 11,302,496 · App. 16/826,351 · Granted Apr 12, 2022

Drainage assembly

Inventors: Brianne Nicole Anderson (St. Joseph, MI); Homprakash Hariharan (Maharashtra, IN); Sadasivam Narayanan (Maharashtra, IN); Ganesan Ravi (Tamil Nadu, IN)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
H01H19/06G05G1/10G05G1/12G05G25/00H01H19/54H01H2231/012
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,302,496
App. No.
16/826,351
Granted
Apr 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user interface includes a front panel that has an exterior surface and an interior surface. A flange outwardly extends from the exterior surface and defines a notch. A receiving body extends from the interior surface of the front panel that is proximate the flange. A receiving body has an angled edge and defines a drainage channel that extends through a portion of the notch that is defined by the flange.

Claims (35)

1. An appliance comprising:

a user interface having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

a flange outwardly extending from the first surface;

a receiving body extending from the opposing second surface and defining an encoder opening, a drainage channel, and a drip edge proximate to the drainage channel;

an electromechanical switch having an encoder that extends through the encoder opening defined by the receiving body, wherein the drip edge extends beyond a surface of the electromechanical switch and is configured to minimize fluid contact with the electromechanical switch;

a knob operably coupled to the electromechanical switch via the encoder, the knob defining a receiving cavity; and

a locking feature disposed within the receiving cavity and securing the knob to the encoder.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the drip edge is angled and directs a fluid from the receiving body away from the electromechanical switch.

3. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the drip edge is disposed below the encoder opening and extends beyond the surface of the electromechanical switch.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the flange defines a notch having a crest configured to direct a fluid toward the drainage channel away from the electromechanical switch.

5. The appliance of claim 4 , further comprising:

an adhesive disposed on a planar surface of the locking feature, the adhesive configured to couple the knob to the encoder.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the flange directs a fluid from the first surface toward the drainage channel of the receiving body.

7. A user interface, comprising:

a front panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface;

a flange outwardly extending from the exterior surface and defining a notch; and

a receiving body extending from the interior surface of the front panel proximate the flange, the receiving body having an angled edge and defining a drainage channel that extends through a portion of the notch defined by the flange, wherein the angled edge directs a fluid away from the receiving body.

8. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein the notch directs the fluid into the drainage channel of the receiving body.

9. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein the angled edge is a drip edge disposed within the drainage channel.

10. The user interface of claim 7 , further comprising:

an electromechanical switch coupled to the receiving body, wherein the drainage channel and the angled edge extend past the electromechanical switch and directs a fluid away from the electromechanical switch.

11. The user interface of claim 10 , wherein a knob encircles the flange and has a stem that includes a locking feature.

12. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein the flange and the receiving body are integrally formed to define a drainage assembly, the drainage assembly having a circumferential sidewall that defines the flange and the receiving body.

13. The user interface of claim 12 , wherein the circumferential sidewall defines a passage that extends to the drainage channel.

14. A user interface for an appliance, comprising:

a panel having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

a drainage assembly coupled to the panel and extending from the first surface and the opposing second surface, the drainage assembly including a receiving body that defines an opening and an angled drip edge that directs a fluid away from the receiving body;

an encoder extending through the opening of the drainage assembly; and

a knob operably coupled to the encoder and having a cavity, and a locking feature disposed within the cavity.

15. The user interface of claim 14 , wherein the locking feature has a planar surface and an arcuate surface defined by first and second rims, and wherein the locking feature is configured to receive the encoder.

16. The user interface of claim 15 , further comprising:

an adhesive disposed on the planar surface of the locking feature and configured to couple the encoder to the knob.

17. The user interface of claim 14 , wherein the drainage assembly further includes a flange outwardly extending from the first surface.

18. The user interface of claim 17 , wherein the knob is disposed around the flange to define a barrier around the encoder.

19. The user interface of claim 14 , wherein the receiving body of the drainage assembly defines a notch that extends to the angled drip edge to define a drainage channel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2020
From: ANDERSON, BRIANNE NICOLE; HARIHARAN, HOMPRAKASH; NARAVANAN, SADASIVAM; RAVI, GANESAN
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052189/0048 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210296064A1 · Sep 23, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,392,073