Kitchen Appliance Configured to Allow Variation of Aesthetic Appearance Thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a kitchen appliance having a front portion ( 26 ), and a front panel assembly ( 22 ) removably attached to the front portion ( 26 ). In one embodiment, the front panel assembly ( 22 ) comprises a transparent panel ( 30 ) and a colored member ( 32 ) positioned between the transparent panel ( 30 ) and the front portion ( 26 ) of the kitchen appliance wherein the colored member ( 32 ) is visible through the transparent panel ( 30 ).

1 . An appliance comprising:
 a housing having a front portion;   a front panel assembly exhibiting a pre-selected color and having a size sufficient for covering the front portion of the housing; and   means for attaching the front panel assembly to the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the attaching means is configured to removably attach the front panel assembly to the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the front panel assembly comprises a substantially transparent panel, the substantially transparent panel having an interior side that confronts the front portion of the housing, and an exterior side opposite the exterior side. 
   
   
       4 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the front panel assembly comprises a single panel configured to have the pre-selected color. 
   
   
       5 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the front panel assembly comprises a substantially transparent panel which is configured to have a shape that provides a space between the front portion of the housing and the substantially transparent panel, the space being of sufficient size to receive a decorative item. 
   
   
       6 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein front panel assembly comprises:
 a substantially transparent panel;   a colored member configured to have the pre-selected color; and   wherein when front panel assembly is removably attached to the housing of the appliance, the colored member is between the front portion of the housing and the substantially transparent panel, and the pre-selected color is visible through the substantially transparent panel.   
   
   
       7 . The appliance according to  claim 6  wherein the colored member is flexible. 
   
   
       8 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the front panel assembly comprises a fabric having the pre-selected color. 
   
   
       9 . The appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the front panel assembly further comprises a support panel, the fabric being attached to the support panel and the support panel being attached to the front portion of the housing. 
   
   
       10 . A front panel assembly configured to be removably attached to a front portion of an appliance, the front panel assembly exhibiting a pre-selected decorative scheme and being sized to cover at least a portion of the front portion of the appliance. 
   
   
       11 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the front panel assembly is sized to cover substantially the entire front portion of the appliance. 
   
   
       12 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the front panel assembly comprises a single panel configured to have a pre-selected color. 
   
   
       13 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein front panel assembly comprises:
 a substantially transparent panel;   a colored member configured to have a pre-selected color; and   wherein when front panel assembly is removably attached to the housing of the appliance, the colored member is between the front portion of the housing and the substantially transparent panel such that the pre-selected color is visible through the substantially transparent panel thereby providing the appliance with a desired color scheme.   
   
   
       14 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the colored member is flexible. 
   
   
       15 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein front panel assembly comprises a substantially transparent panel which is configured to have a shape that provides a space between the substantially transparent panel and the front portion of the housing when the front panel assembly is attached to the appliance housing, the space being of sufficient size to receive a decorative member. 
   
   
       16 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the front panel assembly comprises:
 a support panel configured to be attached to the front portion of the housing; and   a material attached to the support panel, the material exhibiting a pre-selected color and texture.   
   
   
       17 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 16  wherein material is a fabric. 
   
   
       18 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the material is chosen from the group consisting of leather and synthetic leather. 
   
   
       19 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 10  wherein front panel assembly comprises:
 a substantially transparent panel having an interior side facing the front portion;   a decorative member positioned beside the interior side of the substantially transparent panel; and   wherein when front panel assembly is removably attached to the front portion of the housing, the decorative member is between the front portion and the substantially transparent panel such that the decorative member is visible through the substantially transparent panel.   
   
   
       20 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the decorative member is a photograph. 
   
   
       21 . The front panel assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the decorative member is a color panel having a pre-selected color. 
   
   
       22 . A kitchen appliance comprising:
 a housing having a front portion; and   a front panel assembly removably attached to the housing so as to confront the front portion of the housing, the front panel assembly comprising a substantially transparent panel, and a decorative member positioned between the substantially transparent panel and the front portion, the decorative item exhibiting a pre-selected color and texture.   
   
   
       23 . An appliance comprising:
 a housing having an exterior surface; and   a front panel assembly removably attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the housing, the front panel assembly exhibiting a pre-selected color.   
   
   
       24 . An appliance comprising:
 a housing having an exterior surface; and   a front panel assembly removably attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the housing, the front panel assembly comprising a substantially transparent panel, and a decorative member positioned between the substantially transparent panel and the at least a portion of the exterior surface of the housing, the decorative item exhibiting a pre-selected color and texture.