Domestic appliance comprising a moveable control panel

Abstract

A domestic appliance includes a front control panel sized to conceal a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component, and a movement mechanism which includes a motorized drive and configured to move the control panel for opening and closing the holding chamber. The control panel is hereby moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two end positions of a total travel path, and moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two end positions of the total travel path.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A domestic appliance, comprising:
 a front control panel sized to conceal a holding chamber arranged therebehind for a domestic appliance component, and   a movement mechanism including a motorized drive and configured to move the control panel for opening and closing the holding chamber,   said control panel being moved by the motorized drive on a first partial travel path between two end positions of a total travel path, and moved by a user on a second partial travel path between the two end positions of the total travel path.   
     
     
         17 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first partial travel path is dimensioned to extend between a closed position of the control panel and an intermediate position. 
     
     
         18 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the second partial travel path is dimensioned to extend between an intermediate position and an opened position of the control panel. 
     
     
         19 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first partial travel path has a length between 25 mm and 35 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first partial travel path has a length of 30 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one multilink hinge, which is connected to the control panel over the total travel path of the control panel. 
     
     
         22 . The domestic appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the multilink hinge comprises at least one spring, which compresses and expands on the total travel path, said at least one spring having a length of maximum compression at a first end of the first partial travel path, which end is further away from a closed position of the control panel, when viewed on the total travel path from the closed position to an opened position of the control panel. 
     
     
         23 . The domestic appliance of  claim 22 , wherein the multilink hinge includes hinge elements connected to the spring, said multilink hinge being configured such that the spring expands from a transition point of maximum compression at the first end on the second partial travel path, as the multilink hinge continues to move on the second partial travel path, with the spring thereby assisting a movement initiated by the user on the second partial travel path. 
     
     
         24 . The domestic appliance of  claim 22 , wherein the multilink hinge includes hinge elements connected to the spring, said multilink hinge being configured such that the spring, when moving from the opened position of the control panel to the closed position, expands, after reaching the transition point of maximum compression, on the first partial travel path that then follows, thereby forming an automatic self-retraction of the control panel. 
     
     
         25 . The domestic appliance of  claim 22 , wherein the multilink hinge comprises a latching mechanism configured to lock the multilink hinge in the opened position of the control panel. 
     
     
         26 . The domestic appliance of  claim 25 , wherein the latching mechanism is configured to enable the user to lock and release the multilink hinge in the opened position of the control panel. 
     
     
         27 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises two multilink hinges, and a connecting rod connecting the two multilink hinges so as to establish a synchronized movement of the two multilink hinges. 
     
     
         28 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises a position detector configured to detect a position of the control panel. 
     
     
         29 . The domestic appliance of  claim 28 , wherein the position detector comprises an electronic switch for detecting the position of the control panel. 
     
     
         30 . The domestic appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one multilink hinge, which is connected to the control panel over the total travel path of the control panel, said electronic switch being arranged on the multilink hinge. 
     
     
         31 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the motorized drive is active on a movement path in a direction of the first partial travel path from a closed position up to an intermediate position. 
     
     
         32 . The domestic appliance of  claim 31 , wherein the motorized drive is active only on the first partial travel path and only in said direction of movement. 
     
     
         33 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the motorized drive comprises a worm gear, which is dynamically coupled to the control panel. 
     
     
         34 . The domestic appliance of  claim 33 , wherein the worm gear is configured such that one turn of the worm gear implements a movement along the first partial travel path in its entirety. 
     
     
         35 . The domestic appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the motorized drive comprises an electric motor having a spur gear to effect a force transmission via a lever or a cam plate onto a motor shaft.