[0001] The present invention refers generally to appliances and more particularly to electronic control assemblies for appliances.

[0002] Patent application EP 3709780 Al discloses a control panel comprising at least one front panel including at least one cut-out, said control panel comprising at least one inner panel including a peripheral rabbet. Said peripheral rabbet encloses at least partially the circumference of the inner panel, so that a smaller flat front portion and a bigger flat rear portion of said inner panel are formed. The control panel comprises at least one support frame including at least one recess at its front side. The support frame is connected or connectable to the rear side of the front panel. The inner panel is arranged or arrangeable between the front panel and the support frame, so that the flat front portion of the inner panel is received or receivable by the cut-out of the front panel, while the flat rear portion of the inner panel is received or receivable by the recess of the support frame.

[0003] Furthermore, a document US 9982894 Bl discloses an electronic control assembly comprising a control panel having a front side and a rear side and defining a panel opening there-through, the control panel extending between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction. The control panel further comprises a top wall projecting rearward along the transverse direction from the top of the control panel, the top wall having a top flange projecting therefrom along the vertical direction and extending along the lateral direction, the top flange defining a first slot and a second slot; a bottom wall projecting rearward along the transverse direction from the bottom of the control panel, the bottom wall having a bottom flange projecting therefrom along the vertical direction and extending along the lateral direction, the bottom flange defining a first bottom flange opening and a second bottom flange opening; a pair of brackets including a first bracket and a second bracket, each bracket positioned on the rear side of the control panel and on opposite sides of the panel opening. Each bracket comprises a body extending between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction and including a body tab; a top arm extending from the top of the body and including a tab insertable into one of the slots of the top flange for securing the top arm to the control panel; and a bottom arm extending from the bottom of the body and insertable into one of the flange openings. At least one of the bottom arm of the first bracket and the bottom flange includes a securing mechanism for securing the bottom of the first bracket to the control panel when the first bracket is slid in the lateral direction and wherein at least one of the bottom arm of the second bracket and the bottom flange includes a securing mechanism for securing the bottom of the second bracket to the control panel when the second bracket is slid in the lateral direction; a control board sized to fit the panel opening and to overlap each of the brackets, wherein the control board is secured to the brackets at least in part by the body tabs of each bracket, and one or more fasteners for further securing the control board in engagement with each of the brackets.

[0004] Furthermore, a document EP 3164537 Bl discloses a control panel assembly for a household appliance comprising an outer control panel with a convex form comprising a touch input device, an output/display device, a control panel frame enclosing the outer control panel and, a flexible circuit board attachable on the interior of the control panel frame. A support plate is provided, mountable behind the electronic flexible circuit board to secure the same on the interior of the control panel frame.

[0005] Furthermore, a document US 9513013 B2 discloses a manifold assembly having a plurality of controls for a domestic kitchen appliance. The assembly includes a structural frame; an aesthetic skin fixed to the structural frame; at least one clamp; and a control panel including the plurality of controls. The control panel is replaceable removable clamped to the structural frame by the at least one clamp. The structural frame provides structural support for the skin and the control panel, and the structural frame includes control panel locating features that locate the control panel relative to the skin.

[0006] Furthermore, a document EP 2360308 Bl discloses a control panel for a household appliance comprising an outer part and at least one inner part. The outer part includes a substantially closed front side and an open rear side. The inner part is inserted in or insertable into the outer part through the open rear side. The inner part is moveable for a distance within the outer part along a predetermined direction extending parallel to the front side of the outer part. The inner part includes a number of holding elements arranged on at least one side of the inner part. The holding elements are engaged or can be engaged with corresponding elements of the outer part by a motion of the inner part along the predetermined direction, so that the inner part is pressed against the front side of the outer part.

[0007] Furthermore, a document DE 102007041059 B3 discloses a washing machine blender for a washing machine, washer-drier, or dish washer including a hood and housing as carrier for the washing element and an indicator element where the hood has at least one opening through which the washing element can be accessed from outside the machine and/or the indicator element can be inspected. At least one spring element is provided with which presses the carrier-housing against the inner side of the hood.

[0008] Furthermore, a document DE 19950829 B4 discloses a fixing device used in domestic appliance, said fixing device comprises a holder for securing a module at a given distance behind an appliance front panel, provided with a panel front surface and lipped edges directed rearwards. The holder is provided by a rectangular frame with a hanging surface at the rear of at least one side edge, cooperating with a corresponding surface of one front panel lipped edge, the opposite side edge of the holder and lipped edge of the front panel having cooperating locking elements.

[0009] Furthermore, a document US 5653221 A discloses an appliance splashback assembly that includes a cover with a face having an opening for viewing and setting a clock. Top and bottom walls extend rearward of the face. An upper rear wall projects downward from the top wall and a lower rear wall projects upward from the bottom wall. A pair of mounting clips are positioned in the splashback on each side of the opening. Each clip has a base extending vertically along the face, with a top arm and a bottom arm extending rearward along the top and bottom walls respectively. The clock includes a housing sized to overlie the opening and overlap the clips. Threaded connectors mount the clock housing to the clips and flex the clips to cause the clip bases to firmly engage the cover face and the top and bottom arms to firmly engage the top and bottom walls. The top arms include distal ends which engage the upper rear wall and the bottom arms include distal ends received in slots in the lower rear wall. [0010] It is the object of the present invention to create a microwave oven in which leakage of microwaves is prevented along an axis of each element penetrating walls of the baking chamber, thus, eliminating drawbacks of the known solution.

[0011] According to the present invention, the object as set above is solved by features set forth in the characterising part of claim 1. Detail of the invention is disclosed in respective subclaims.

[0012] The essence of the invention is to create an electronic control assembly by attaching a user interface assembly to a front control panel without using adhesive means such as glue, for example. Said user interface assembly consists of a control panel, a plastic user interface holding cover or blend, a fastening cover and an U- shaped section. Said user interface holding cover is made of plastic material to cover the entire front control panel user interface area. The essential feature of the front control panel is a transversal cross section having a chamfered D shape. The chamfered side is the area where the user interface is located and angled with regard to the cook-top plane, for example angled for about 67°. However, different angles are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Such front control panel design does not allow the user interface assembly to be formed with one holder to obtain a reliable construction and aesthetics form. Attaching the user interface cover to the front control panel is provided by means of the fastening cover and said U-shaped section using suitable screws. If the user interface cover assembly is not satisfying, a gap can appear between the control panel and a blend that may result in a poor appliance functionality, since a gap may be a source of an electrical discharge. The user interface is rather long (280 mm for example) comparing to the entire control panel width (758 mm for example), and in order to obtain a satisfactory solution the cover must be pressed against the control panel along the entire user interface width. Thus, said U-shaped form is rather a rigid form that can also be used for several diverse applications, such as gluing. In addition, a fastening cover also holds the entire appliance power board.

[0013] The invention is further described in detail by way of non-limiting embodiment, and with a reference to the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an oven range appliance,

Fig. 2 shows a front perspective view of an electronic control assembly of the appliance of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a side, cross-sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of the electronic control assembly of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 shows a side cross-sectional exploded view of the electronic control assembly of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows a side, cross-sectional view along the line V-V of the electronic control assembly of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 shows a frame for holding a user interface assembly in position,

Fig. 7 shows a U-shaped section for securing the frame and the user interface assembly in position,

Fig. 8 shows U-shaped section of Fig. 7 from below in direction of an arrow VIII.

[0014] Throughout the description of the invention the following notations applies. A three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (cf. Fig. 1) is used where the X axis refers to the length, the Y axis refers to the width, and the Z axis refers to the height of an oven range appliance. Furthermore, the XY plane refers to the horizontal plane and, respectively, to top or bottom, the XZ plane refers to the first vertical plane and, respectively, to side, and the YZ plane refers to the second vertical plane and, respectively, to front or back.

[0015] In the following description a preferred embodiment is disclosed, whereby different variants are possible for the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0016] Fig. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven range appliance 1 according to exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Said appliance 1 generally comprises a cabinet 2, a cooking chamber 3 that can be closed by a door 4, a cook-top 5 and an electronic control assembly 6 to control said appliance 1.

[0017] Said electronic control assembly 6 of range appliance 1 is positioned either at top portion and back portion of said cabinet 2, as shown in Fig. 1, or at front portion of said cabinet 2 whereby the top of the electronic control assembly 6 is preferably aligned with the top of the cook-top 5. Said control panel assembly 6 includes user inputs 7, such as buttons, knobs, touch pads, touch areas etc. Control panel assembly 6 provides selections for user manipulation of the operation of range appliance 1. For instance, a user can touch one of user inputs 7 to trigger operation of range appliance

I. In response to user manipulation of user inputs 7, various components of range appliance 1, such as a heating element, can be operated.

[0018] Said electronic control assembly 6 comprises at least a front panel 8 and a user interface assembly 8a. The front panel 8 preferably extends along the entire width of the range appliance 1 and is formed with at least one window 9 where said user inputs 7 can be located. Furthermore, said front panel 8 resembles in a transversal cross section (that is in a first vertical plane) an approximate D form, and is comprised of a front side 10 extending at least partially in said second vertical plane, lateral sides

II, 12 lying in said first vertical plane, a bottom side 13 and a top side 14 lying in said horizontal plane, whereas the rear side of said panel 8 is omitted. The front side 10 of said front panel 8 is at least partially slanted towards the rear side of said panel 8. Said top side 14 ends with a vertical back section 14a directed towards the bottom side 13. Said back section 14a which extends at least partially along the rear side can be formed as a bend integral with the top side 14, or as an L shaped section attached to the top side 14 by welding, screwing, riveting, or similar.

[0019] In addition, the bottom side 13 is formed in vicinity of the front side 10 with a plurality of horizontally spaced fixing bulges 15 each comprising a through hole 16 provided to receive fixing means in order to secure said user interface assembly 8a to said front panel 8. A set of positioning bulges 17 is further formed approximately in between and in line with said fixing bulges 15 in order to position in place the user interface assembly 8a when placed into the front panel 8.

[0020] Furthermore, a plurality of additional bulges 19 each formed with a through hole is located along the back side of the bottom side 13. Said additional bulges 19 are provided to receive fixing means in order to secure said electronic control assembly 6 to the cabinet 2 of the range appliance 1.

[0021] Fig. 3 and, respectively, Fig. 4 provides a side cross-sectional view of the electronic control assembly 6 with said user interface assembly 8a fixed to said front panel 8 and, respectively, a side cross-sectional exploded view of the electronic control assembly 6. The user interface assembly 8a is comprised of the following: a front cover 18 positioned in the area of the window 9 of said front panel 8; the user input 7 facing said front cover 18 positioned over and pressed against the latter, wherein said user input 7 extending over the entire area of said window 9; a first printed circuit board 23a to control said user input 7 positioned close to the latter; a frame 20 pressing the front cover 18, a group 7; 23a of the user input 7 and the first printed circuit board 23a against the front side 10, said frame 20 provided with a plurality of holding means 21; a U-shaped section 22 for fixing the frame 20 in a position, and a second printed circuit board 23b held spaced from the latter by means of said holding means 21.

[0022] Said front cover 18 is provided in the area of the outer circumference thereof with positioning means and receiving means not shown in details and known per se to receive and accommodate said user input 7 and said first printed circuit board 23a. According to the present invention, it is possible for the user input 7 and the first printed circuit board 23a to be placed in their position one at the time or pre-assembled as a user interface group 7; 23a.

[0023] Said frame 20 pressing the front cover 18 and the user interface group 7; 23a against the front side 10 comprises an upper side 20a, a bottom side 20b and lateral sides 20c, 20d. Said upper side 20a comprises a plurality of mutually spaced horizontal extensions 20e each having a bend 20f directed towards the bottom side 20b. Said bends 20f are intended to receive and accommodate said holding means 21. Additionally, said upper side 20a of said frame 20 is formed in direction facing away from the bottom side 20b with a lip 20g intended for cooperation with the vertical back section 14a of the top side 14 of the front panel 8. Said lip 20g extends at least over the part of the width of the frame 20. Said lip 20g ends up at the free end thereof with an extension 20h inclined in direction towards said rear side. Since the frame 20 is made of relatively thin metal sheet or plastic material, said lip 20g and, respectively, said extension 20h comprises relatively elastic features.

[0024] Said bottom side 20b of the frame 20 comprises a lower section 20i extending either vertically or slanted and a horizontal section 20j which ends with a vertical section 20k directed away from said upper side 20a. Furthermore, said lower section 20i comprises a plurality of cut-outs 20m spaced apart in the horizontal direction.

[0025] In addition, the frame 20 comprises in the area of each bottom corners an L- shaped fastener 20n in order to fix said second printed circuit board 23b in place.

[0026] Said U-shaped section 22 for fixing the frame 20 in a position comprises a web 22a and flanges 22b, 22c, wherein said web 22a facing away from the frame 20. The upper flange 22b is formed at the side facing the frame 20 with a plurality of tongue like extensions 22d spaced apart in the horizontal direction. Said tongue like extensions 22d being formed opposite to said cut-outs 20m of the frame 20 and intended for cooperation therewith. Additionally, the upper flange 22d is formed with a plurality of through holes 22e.

[0027] Furthermore, the bottom flange 22c is formed with a plurality of additional through holes 22f for receiving and accommodating the fixing means in order to secure said user interface assembly 8a to said front panel 8. Additionally, the bottom flange 22c is formed with a plurality of through holes 22g which, when said U-shaped section 22 is placed in its final position, are aligned with said positioning bulges 17 of the front panel 8. Thus, a positive joint exists between said positioning bulges 17 and the through holes 22g when said U-shaped section 22 is placed in its final position. In this manner the user interface assembly 8a is locked in position relative to the front panel 8 and prepared to be fixed by means of fixing means, such a screws for example.

[0028] When assembling the electronic control assembly 6 of the appliance 1 the following steps are taken: inserting front cover 18 from the back side of the front panel 8 to the area of the window 9 of said front panel 8; positioning the group 7; 23a of the user input and the first printed circuit board over the front cover 18, wherein said user input 7 extending over the entire area of said window 9; inserting the frame 20 provided with a plurality of holding means 21, said frame 20 pressing against the front cover 18 and said group 7; 23a, by forcing the inclined extension 20h of the lip 20g of the frame 20 to engage the area of the interior angle where the top side 14 of the front panel 8 meets the vertical back section 14a, thus a positive-locking fit and/or a non-positive locking fit is obtained therewith; forcing the U-shaped section 22 to slip over the horizontal section 20j of the frame 20, wherein said vertical section 20k abuts on said web 22a and the tongue like extensions 22d of the upper flange 22b mate with the cut-outs 20m of the frame 20, and wherein said U-shaped section 22 is positioned by means of said positive joint existing between said positioning bulges 17 and the through holes 22g and coupled with the front panel 8 by means of the fixing means inserted into the through holes 16 in the bottom side 13 of the front panel 8 and received and accommodated in the through holes 22f in the bottom flange 22c of the U-shaped section 22; and positioning the second printed circuit board 23b onto the holding means 21 and fixed by means of the L-shaped fastener 20n.