COVER PANEL FOR AN APPLIANCE

Abstract

A cover assembly for an appliance includes a glass panel having an outer surface and an inner surface. The glass panel has a side perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass panel and extending between the inner surface and a rounded outer perimeter edge of the glass panel. The rounded outer perimeter edge of the glass panel is exposed when the cover assembly is normally mounted at an appliance. The rounded outer perimeter edge of the glass panel comprises a rounded surface established between the outer surface and the side perimeter edge. At least one attachment element is configured for engaging a corresponding structure of the appliance when the cover assembly is disposed at the appliance.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/729,113, filed Nov. 21, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to doors or covers or panels for appliances, such as for washing machines or clothes dryers or dishwashers and/or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional appliances, such as washing machines and dryers and the like, typically comprise a metal housing or casing with a metal door hingedly attached to the casing via one or more hinge elements fastened to the door and casing, such as via fasteners. It is known to provide a glass panel, such as for a front loading washing machine or the like, with the glass panel having a metal frame or encasement around its periphery and with the metal frame hingedly attached to the casing, such as via a hinge element fastened to the frame and casing, such as via fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lid or cover or door assembly for an appliance (such as a washing machine or dryer or the like), with the lid or cover or door assembly comprising a glass panel or lid or cover panel and at least one hardware element, such as a hinge attachment element and/or a latch element single-sided bonded to the glass panel (or otherwise disposed at an inner surface area of the panel) so that the hardware element or elements are not exposed on an opposite or outside surface of the glass panel. The cover panel has a curved or rounded outer or exposed perimeter edge about its periphery.

Optionally, the cover panel may include a perimeter frame molded or adhered or bonded at an inner surface of the perimeter edge region of the glass panel, and/or may include an opaque layer (such as a frit layer or the like) established at the inner surface of the perimeter edge region of the glass panel and along the bonded region of the hardware elements to provide an enhanced appearance to the cover assembly.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of an appliance and cover assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cover assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view of the cover assembly of FIG. 1, shown in a closed position relative to a appliance;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention, shown in a closed position similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is another sectional view of the cover assembly of FIG. 1, shown in a closed position relative to a appliance;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another cover assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another cover assembly of the present invention, when attached at and closed at an appliance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a cover assembly 10 for an appliance 11, such as a top loading washing machine or dryer or a front loading washing machine or dryer or dishwasher or refrigerator or the like, includes a substantially transparent glass lid or cover panel 12 that has a rounded or curved outer perimeter edge 12a about its periphery (FIGS. 1 and 2). The cover assembly 10 may include a perimeter frame portion 14 established at least partially along the inner surface or interior surface 12b at the perimeter regions 12c of glass panel 12. At least one metallic hardware element or mounting hardware may be bonded at the interior or inner surface 12b of the glass panel 12 and thus, when viewed from the outside of the cover or lid, the bonded hardware is not exposed at the outer surface of the glass panel. The mounting hardware includes one or more hinge attachment elements or plates or brackets 16 and may include a latch element 18. The hinge and latch elements and the panel or cover may utilize aspects of the assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,409, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the illustrated embodiment, the glass panel or cover 12 comprises a generally planar (or curved or non-planar depending on its application) panel that is formed to fit at or in or over a recess and opening of its associated appliance. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the glass cover may, when in its closed position or state, be partially recessed in an opening 11a of the appliance 11, such that the outer surface 12d of the glass panel and its outer rounded perimeter edges 12a are proud of the outer surface 11b of the appliance 11. Optionally, for example, and as shown in FIG. 4, the glass cover may, when in its closed position or state, be fully or substantially recessed in the opening 11a of the appliance 11, such that the outer surface 12d of the glass panel and its outer rounded perimeter edges 12a are generally flush with the outer surface 11b of the appliance 11. Optionally, other configurations may be contemplated, such as where the cover panel may have larger cross dimensions than the appliance opening so that the cover, when in its closed position or state, rests on the outer surface of the glass panel, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 3A, the cover assembly 10″ may include a perimeter seal 22 (such as a bulb seal or Y-seal or the like) may be disposed about the perimeter edge 12e of the glass panel (and may be adhered thereto or molded thereat) to substantially seal at the appliance 11 when the cover is moved to its closed position. Although shown as comprising a bulb seal that seals between the perimeter edge 12e of the glass panel 12 and the appliance 11, clearly other sealing means may be provided to substantially seal the cover assembly relative to the appliance when the cover is closed.

As shown in FIG. 1, glass panel 12 may comprise a generally rectangular-shaped cover or lid and may have rounded front and/or rear corners, or may comprise any other suitable shapes (such as round or circular or oval or the like) depending on the particular application of the cover assembly and appliance. The glass panel 12 has an inner surface 12b and an outer surface 12d and perimeter edges 12a, and may include an opaque coating or frit layer (discussed below) at its surface (and generally along the perimeter regions 12c) to conceal or render covert the presence of the portion of the frame 14 that is at the inner surface 12b of the glass panel and/or the hinge attachment brackets and/or latch element 16 when the cover assembly is closed and is viewed from outside the appliance. Glass panel 12 may comprise any type of glass panel, and preferably comprises a substantially transparent strengthened glass panel, such as a tempered or toughened glass panel, suitable for use as a door or cover panel or lid for an appliance such as a washing machine or dryer. Optionally, the glass panel may comprise a frosted or translucent glass panel, depending on the particular application of the cover assembly.

The glass panel 12 includes rounded or curved outer perimeter edges 12a, which provide a curved or smooth transition between the front or outer surface 12d and the side perimeter edge 12e of the formed glass panel. The rounded or curved outer perimeter edges may be formed via any suitable forming process, such as via grinding/ablating and polishing or the like, or may be formed via a glass molding process, so as to provide a smooth, polished, water-clear, optically clear, optically transparent, rounded/beveled/curved outer edge about the periphery of the glass cover panel. The radius of curvature of the rounded outer edge is preferably at least about 2.5 mm or thereabouts or more. The curved or rounded outer edge of the glass panel may be similar to or may be formed in a similar manner as the rounded edges of the glass substrates described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2012/064398, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and published May 16, 2013 as International Publication No. WO 2013/071070, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/056295, filed Oct. 14, 2011 and published Apr. 19, 2012 as International Publication No. WO 2012/051500, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 as International Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 as International Publication No. WO 2011/044312, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,253,723 and/or 8,154,418, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the rounded or curved outer perimeter edges 12a are established on a shape-cut (such as a circular shape or rectangular shape or any suitable or appropriate shape for the intended appliance) panel of transparent or translucent annealed glass. After grinding and then polishing to a smooth, water clear curved or rounded surface around its outer perimeter, the panel is then strengthened, such as by thermal tempering or by chemical tempering or the like. Alternatively, the panel may be laminated to a second or inner or rear glass panel (of similar shape and dimension) using a laminating interlayer, such as plasticized polyvinylbutyral (PVB), typically in an autoclave laminating process. To reduce the weight of the cover panel and cover assembly, the second panel may be made of a transparent plastic material, such as polycarbonate or the like.

The perimeter frame portion 14 of the cover assembly 10 is disposed at the inner surface 12b and along the perimeter regions 12c of glass panel 12 and does not overlap or encompass the perimeter edges 12e and does not overlap or encompass the outer curved or rounded perimeter edge 12a of glass panel 12. Thus, the outer curved or rounded perimeter edge 12a (and at least a portion or all of the cut perimeter edge 12e) of the glass panel 12 is exposed to, is contactable/touchable by, and is viewable by a person viewing the appliance. Perimeter frame portion 14 provides a plastic or polymeric encapsulation (such as a flexible PVC encapsulation or RIM urethane encapsulation or thermoplastic urethane or thermoplastic elastomer or the like) along and around the perimeter regions 12c of the inner surface 12b, and does not encompass or overlap the perimeter regions of the glass panel or the outer surface 12d of glass panel 12. Optionally, the frame portion may include a forward lip or grasping portion 14b that protrudes forwardly and/or downwardly from the forward edge of the glass panel 12 to allow the user of the appliance to grasp the forward edge region of the cover assembly to open and close the cover of the appliance.

The frame portion 14 may be molded (such as by plastic injection molding, such as, for example, reaction injection molding as known in the molding arts) at the perimeter edge region 12c at the inner surface 12b of the glass panel 12. For example, the glass panel 12 may have the hardware elements 16 bonded to its inner surface and then may be placed in a mold cavity, where the perimeter frame or encapsulation is molded over (such as via injection molding or the like) and around and along the inner perimeter edge regions of the glass panel. Optionally, the frame portion may be adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel at the inner perimeter edge regions of the glass panel.

In the illustrated embodiment, cover assembly 10 includes a pair of hinge attachment elements or brackets 16 adhesively bonded at and spaced apart along the perimeter region of the inner or lower or inner surface 12b of glass panel 12. The hinge attachment elements or brackets 16 (only one is shown in FIG. 2, but typically two or more hinge elements may be attached in a spaced apart configuration along a perimeter region of the glass panel to hingedly attach the glass panel at the appliance) are configured to attach to one or more hinge structures of the appliance 11 (such as flexible brackets or pivotable brackets or hinges or the like) to attach the cover assembly at the appliance 11. The latch element 18 of the cover assembly is adhesively bonded at the inner glass surface 12b of glass panel 12 for engaging a corresponding latch element 11c (FIG. 1) at the appliance 11 to retain the cover panel in its closed position when the cover assembly is normally mounted at the appliance and to limit or resist unintentional opening of the cover panel during use of the appliance. The attachment elements may be bonded at the inner glass surface 12b of the glass panel 12 (such as shown in FIGS. 2-4), or (and such as shown in FIG. 5) the attachment elements 16′ (such as the hinge elements and/or the latch element) may be disposed at or attached to or incorporated in/at the frame 14′ at a glass cover panel 12′ of a cover assembly 10′, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, each hinge attachment bracket 16 includes a base plate 16a and a pair of fasteners or bolts or studs 16b that protrude from base plate 16a for fastening or attaching to a hinge element of the appliance. Base plate 16a comprises a mounting flange or generally planar plate or flange around a bolt mounting portion, with a plurality of projections or protrusions or standoffs (such as three or more non-linearly arranged standoffs or embossments disposed inboard of the perimeter edges of the mounting flange) protruding therefrom for spacing the bonding surface of the mounting flange 16a from the glass surface 12b for establishing the desired or appropriate bond line thickness of the layer of adhesive 20 that bonds the base plate 16a to the glass panel 12. Base plate 16a of hinge attachment bracket 16 may comprise any suitable material, such as a metallic material (such as steel, such as 1008/1010 cold rolled steel, and optionally such as E-coated steel that is E-coated with a cathodic electro deposition epoxy resin zinc phosphate or the like) or the like. Optionally, base plate may include a racking hole or aperture to assist in holding or racking the base plate during the E-coat process and/or other coating or painting processes.

The cover assembly may also include latch element 18, which may comprise any suitable latch element, and may comprise a metallic tab that flexes when it engages a corresponding slot or tab at the appliance to secure the cover panel in its closed position. Latch element 18 may be adhesively bonded at glass surface 12b and may include an attaching or bonding surface with a plurality of projections extending therefrom, such as in a similar manner as base plate 16a, discussed above. Optionally, the latch element may be attached or secured to or received in or incorporated in or integrally formed or molded with the perimeter frame portion 14, depending on the particular application of the cover assembly. The attachment elements (hinge elements and latch elements) may comprise elements and/or aspects similar to the attachment elements (hinge elements and latch elements) described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,276,409; 8,262,177; 5,853,895 and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Thus, the present invention provides a glass cover assembly for hingedly or movably mounting at an appliance (such as a clothes washer or clothes dryer or dishwasher or refrigerator or the like), with the glass cover assembly having a rounded or curved outer exposed perimeter edge. The cover assembly may have attachment elements attached thereto or thereat, such as via an adhesive that bonds the attachment elements at the inner glass surface of the cover panel, and may or may not include a frame portion attached or bonded or molded to the inner glass surface of the cover panel and at least substantially along the perimeter edge regions of the inner glass surface of the cover panel.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, the outer surface 12d of the glass panel 12 is generally planar. However, other glass panel constructions are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, and with reference to FIG. 6, the glass panel 112 of a cover assembly 110 may have a curved or non-planar outer surface 112d. The rounded exposed outer perimeter edges 112a are curved or rounded or formed to provide a smooth transition between the curved outer surface 112d at the perimeter regions and the side or perimeter edges 112e of the glass panel. Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 7, the glass panel 112′ of a cover assembly 110′ may be formed with different curvatures at the junction of the rounded perimeter edges 112a′ and the outer curved surface 112d′. Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 8, the glass cover panel 112″ of a cover assembly 110″ may comprise a curved or bent glass cover panel. Thus, the outer surface 112d″ and the inner surface 112b″ of the glass panel 112″ are curved or bent, with the outer exposed rounded edges 112a″ providing a generally smooth transition between the side perimeter edges 112e″ and the curvature of the curved outer surface 112d″ at the perimeter regions of the glass panel 112″. In such an embodiment, the attachment element or elements 116″ may be configured to have a curved attaching plate or may otherwise be configured or adapted to attach at the curved inner surface of the glass panel 112″. The glass panels 112, 112′, 112″ may be ground to the desired shape and curvatures or may be molded or bent or otherwise formed. The cover panel assembly 110, 110′, 110″ may otherwise be substantially similar to cover assembly 10, discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the cover assemblies need not be repeated herein.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the frame portion 14 may be established entirely at the inner surface 12b of the glass panel 12, with no portion of the frame encompassing the perimeter edge 12e of the glass panel 12. However, other frame and glass panel constructions may be contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 9, the frame 214 may be formed to partially encompass the perimeter edge 212e of the glass panel 212 to provide a side frame portion about the periphery of the cover assembly 210. The frame 214 thus has a rear or inner portion 214a disposed at the inner surface 212b of the glass panel 212 and a side portion 214b disposed at the side perimeter edge 212e of glass panel 212. Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 10, the glass cover panel 212′ of a cover assembly 210′ may be notched at its perimeter edge to provide a recessed edge 212e′ behind the rounded outer exposed perimeter edge 212a′ of the cover panel 212′. As shown in FIG. 10, the frame 214′ is formed or molded or bonded at the rear of the glass panel and has a rear portion 214a′ disposed at the perimeter region 212c′ of the inner surface 212b′ and a side portion 214b′ disposed at the recessed edge 212e′. When so established, the frame 214′ encompasses the side perimeter edge of the glass panel and the rounded outer exposed perimeter edge 212a′ provides a smooth transition between an outer surface 214c′ of the frame 214′ and the outer surface 212d′ of the glass panel 212.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 11, a cover assembly 310 of the present invention may include one or more user inputs 324 established at the glass panel 312 of the cover assembly. For example, the user inputs 324 may preferably comprise touch sensitive or touch activated inputs or sensors (preferably projected capacitance touch inputs/sensors or resistive touch inputs/sensors or other suitable touch or proximity sensors) established at the glass panel 312. Preferably, one or more user inputs or sensors 324 may be provided, with one or more appropriate icons 326 established (such as via etching or masking or screen printing or the like) at or near the inputs/sensors to indicate to the user the function associated with each input/sensor (such as to actuate or control various features or functions of the appliance at which the cover panel is mounted). The user inputs/sensors and/or the icons may be illuminated or backlit via one or more illumination sources disposed at the rear or inner surface of the cover panel. Thus, a consumer using the appliance can readily see and discern the functionality of the user inputs/sensors and may readily actuate or control the appliance via touching the appropriate area or areas at the glass panel of the cover assembly of the appliance. The user inputs/sensors and/or the icons may utilize aspects of the sensors and inputs described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,154,418; 7,360,932; 7,253,723 and/or 7,224,324, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 as International Publication No. WO 2011/044312, PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/056295, filed Oct. 14, 2011 and published Apr. 19, 2012 as International Publication No. WO 2012/051500, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2012/064398, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and published May 16, 2013 as International Publication No. WO 2013/071070, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 as International Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/or U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008 and published Jan. 15, 2009 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2009-0015736; Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005 and published Jun. 15, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0125919; and/or Ser. No. 12/576,550, filed Oct. 9, 2009 and published Apr. 15, 2010 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2010-0091394, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 11, the cover assembly 310 may also or otherwise include a display 328 that may be operable to display information (such as a clock or cycle status or the like) at the cover panel 312. The display may comprise a reconfigurable display that is reconfigurable to display the desired or appropriate or selected information (that may include video information). The display 328 may comprise any suitable display or display screen, such as a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or a thin film transistor (TFT) display screen or the like, and may utilize aspects of the displays described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 7,046,448; 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or 6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018; and/or Ser. No. 12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1564), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The glass cover panel may comprise a single glass substrate with the user input/sensor circuitry and display circuitry disposed at the inner or rear side of the panel and with the circuitry sealed within a backing structure or housing at the rear side of the panel, or the cover panel may comprise a laminate structure having an outer or front glass panel (with the exposed rounded edge) and an inner or rear glass panel laminated thereto (such as via plasticized polyvinylbutyral or another transparent laminating interlayer), and with the electrical components or circuitry or accessories disposed within and sealed within an interpane cavity of the glass panel.

Optionally, and desirably, the cover assembly may include a partially light absorbing and partially light transmitting coating or layer disposed at least at the touch areas and/or icon areas and/or display areas. Thus, when the illumination source or illumination sources or display device is/are deactivated, the inputs and/or icons and/or display are not readily viewable and discernible through the cover panel to a person viewing the appliance, and when the illumination source or illumination sources or display device is/are activated, the inputs and/or icons and/or display are viewable and discernible through the partially light absorbing and partially light transmitting coating or layer (and thus provide a display-on-demand function for the inputs/sensors and/or icons and/or display). The coating or layer may comprise a partially reflective coating or other partially light absorbing or partially non-light transmitting coating or layer. The coating or layer may utilize aspects of the transflective coatings or layers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the perimeter regions of the interior surface of the glass panel may have a non-transparent or opaque coating or frit layer or paint or ink or the like disposed thereon, so as to substantially conceal the frame that is disposed at and along the inner surface of the glass panel and/or the hinge attachment brackets and/or latch element and limit viewing of the inner portion of the frame and the bonded hardware elements and adhesive through the glass panel from the exterior side of the glass panel. The frit layer may be disposed along the perimeter region of the glass panel to conceal or render covert the frame, and a frit layer portion may be disposed at the mounting areas of the hinge attachment brackets 16 to conceal or render cover the bonded hardware elements that are bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel inboard of the frit coated perimeter regions. Optionally, the frit layer may be wide enough to encompass the hardware bonding areas to provide a more uniform width band along the rear or hinged portion of the glass panel.

Optionally, the frit or paint or ink layer or coating may be disposed or screened onto the inner surface of the glass panel after forming the glass panel. In applications where an opaque or non-transparent frit layer or other pattern or the like may be disposed at the surface of the glass panel, the adhesive may comprise a substantially non-transparent adhesive. The opaque layer or frit layer may comprise a ceramic frit layer and may function to facilitate adhering or bonding of the hardware elements and/or perimeter frame to the glass panel. The frit layer may be substantially opaque, and thus may improve the overall appearance of the cover assembly, since the bonding surfaces are not readily discernible or viewable through the glass panel and the frit layer. Examples of such frit layers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The frit layer may comprise a black or substantially opaque layer, or may comprise a white layer or other color as desired, such as to match a color scheme of the perimeter frame or appliance at which the cover assembly is mounted. The frit layer may be disposed onto the surface of the glass panel in any desired pattern, such as stripes, dots, wave pattern or the like, to provide the desired appearance to the cover or lid, depending on the particular application of the cover assembly.

Optionally, the frit layer may be disposed or deposited on and bonded to the surface of glass panel as an opaque frit layer or coating covering and concealing a region of the surface from a peripheral edge region of the glass panel inward a desired or appropriate amount, so as to establish a border coating around the perimeter of the glass panel (such as via an opaque or light absorbing coating or layer that renders the glass panel substantially or entirely non transmitting of visible light such that essentially no visible light passes therethrough). The glass panel, which may be initially in an unstrengthened or untempered condition after cutting and sizing to its desired shape, can be painted, such as by screen coating or other techniques, with a coating of ceramic paint on its inner surface and along the perimeter regions thereof. Thereafter, the glass panel may be heated, followed by strengthening, such as tempering, to strengthen the glass. Such heating and tempering operations cause the ceramic paint to become fused to the surface of the glass panel. Thus, although starting as a layer of paint containing ceramic particles and pigment, the coating ends up as a thin frit layer of ceramic material, which is fused to the surface of the glass panel. Since the ceramic frit coating includes a pigment of a desired color (such as a color that matches or substantially matches the color of the perimeter frame or encapsulation), the layer results in a permanent surface coloration of the glass panel. However, the bonded hardware elements and/or perimeter frame may optionally be bonded to the surface of the glass panel without any frit layer on the glass surface, depending on the particular application and desired appearance of the cover assembly and appliance.

Optionally, the glass cover panel of the cover assembly of the present invention may include a perimeter coating or band or hiding layer disposed about the periphery of the inner or outer surface of the glass cover panel. Optionally, the perimeter band may comprise any suitable material, and may provide a desired appearance or color and/or may be reflective or non-reflective or the like. The perimeter band may utilize aspects of the perimeter bands and mirror constructions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,112; 7,626,749; 7,360,932; 7,274,501; 7,184,190; and/or 7,255,451, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/032017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published Oct. 28, 2010 as International Publication No. WO 2010/124064, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 and published Apr. 14, 2011 as International Publication No. WO 2011/044312, and/or U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0061008, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Thus, the cover assembly may include metallic hinge attachment brackets and optionally a metallic latch element bonded to the glass surface of the glass panel and a plastic or polymeric frame portion molded at and/or bonded to the glass surface of the glass panel. The metallic hardware elements may be bonded at the glass surface via any suitable adhesive or bonding means (for example, and preferably, a rapid cure, rapid set BETAMATE® two part urethane adhesive), such as via curing of a bonding or adhesive material and utilizing bonding processes of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the metallic hardware may be bonded to the glass surface via a two component urethane adhesive, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,332,225; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,068,719; and 5,853,895, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties (such as a two component urethane adhesive having an isocyanate component and a polyol component with the polyol component including at least one plural amine compound). Optionally, an adhesion promoting primer may be disposed at the metallic hardware and/or the glass surface prior to joining the hardware to the glass surface, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in the above incorporated U.S. patents. Alternatively, a water activated 1K urethane, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,197, incorporated above, may be used. Alternatively, a modified epoxy, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,236 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), may be used. For example, epoxy-based structural bonding tapes, such as 9214 SBT or 9263 SBT or 9270 SBT (commercially available from 3M of Minneapolis, Minn.) may be used, or a silicone adhesive (such as Dow Corning 995 Structural Adhesive (available from Dow Corning of Midland, Mich.) may be used.

Likewise, the plastic or polymeric perimeter frame may be molded at the glass panel via any suitable molding techniques or may be bonded to the glass panel via any suitable adhesive, such as via curing of a bonding or adhesive material and utilizing bonding processes of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the plastic frame may be bonded to the glass surface via a one component urethane adhesive, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 6,871,450; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 5,966,874; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, an adhesion promoting primer may be disposed at the frame portion and/or the glass surface prior to joining the frame portion to the glass surface, such as by utilizing aspects of the bonding processes described in the above incorporated U.S. patents.

Optionally, and such as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the glass panel may include a frit layer established along the inner surface and along the perimeter regions of the glass panel to substantially conceal the bonded hardware and/or frame portions along the perimeter regions so that the hardware and/or frame portions are not readily viewable through the glass panel from outside the glass panel or cover or lid. Optionally, however, the glass panel may not include a frit layer, and the hardware and frame portion may be bonded directly to the inner surface of the glass panel. Optionally, the hardware and frame portion may be bonded to the glass panel via other suitable adhesives, such as via a UV cured adhesive or the other type of cured adhesive or bonding adhesive or the like, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Optionally, the bonding adhesive may be selected from a number of adhesive types or classes including moisture-activated urethanes, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,521, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, moisture-activated silicones, moisture-curable activated urethanes, chemically-activated adhesives, and thermally-activated adhesives, and/or the like. Other adhesives, such as aerobically-cured, anaerobically-cured, and radiation-cured adhesives can also be used, without affecting the scope of the present invention. When cured, the bond-line thickness may be in the range of about 1 micron to 10 mm, preferably about 5 microns to 5 mm, and most preferably about 25 microns to 1 mm, such as, for example, on the order of about 1 mm (with the preferred bond-line thickness for the bonded hardware and adhesive used thereat being established by the projections or standoffs of the mounting flanges). The adhesive may be a moisture-activated adhesive, a chemically activated adhesive, a heat or radiation or ultraviolet or microwave radiation activated adhesive or the like, and the glass panel and hardware or frame portions may be exposed to the appropriate conditions or elements or radiation to cure the adhesive and bond the hardware and frame portions to the glass panel, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 5,966,874; 5,704,173; and 5,551,197; and 5,331,784, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, a temporary fixturing adhesive may also be provided, such as a hot-melt thermoplastic, which temporarily locates or fixtures the hardware and/or frame portion against the glass panel or frit layer, while the bonding adhesive cures and forms the permanent primary bond. The temporary fixturing adhesive may secure or hold the hardware and/or frame portion to the glass panel until the bonding process is complete and the bonding adhesive has cured and formed the permanent bond. Optionally, to improve and promote the bonding characteristics of the bonding adhesive, the glass surface (or frit layer if applicable) and/or the hardware and/or the frame portions, may be coated with an adhesion-promoting compound or primer, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,360,338; 7,332,225; 6,871,450; 6,846,039; 6,319,344; 6,298,606; 6,128,860; 6,068,719; 5,966,874; 5,853,895; 5,704,173; and/or 5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The frame portions and/or hardware elements thus may be readily adhered to or bonded to the glass panel, such as via a bead of adhesive or the like. Desirably, the adhesive may comprise a transparent adhesive, such as a transparent or substantially transparent epoxy or acrylate or the like. Optionally, the adhesive may comprise a UV curable adhesive, such as a UV curable acrylate or epoxy or a UV curable optically matching adhesive, such as the optical adhesives of the types commercially available from Norland Products of Cranbury, N.J., or other suitable transparent or substantially transparent adhesive. Such UV curable adhesives provide rapid curing or bonding of the glass panel to the hardware elements after the hardware elements are pressed against the surface of the panel with the adhesive therebetween. Optionally, and desirably, the adhesive may be selected to be at least partially to substantially space filling so that any tolerances or gaps between the mounting flanges and the glass panel are filled in or taken up by the adhesive. Optionally, beads, such as index matching beads, such as glass beads or fibers or polymeric beads or fibers or the like, may be provided so that the adhesive has an enhanced space filling function between the hardware and/or frame portions and the glass panel.

Thus, the transparent glass cover assembly of the present invention may consist of a piece of glass or glass panel that may have a ceramic paint applied around its perimeter regions, with one or more (such as a pair of) hinge mounting brackets and a latch element mounted to or bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel. These components may be mounted to the glass utilizing a two component urethane adhesive and associated primers, as discussed above. The plastic or polymeric perimeter frame may be molded at the inner surface at the perimeter edge regions of the glass panel and/or may be bonded to the glass panel (and over and/or around the already bonded hardware or brackets), such as by utilizing a one component urethane adhesive and associated primers. The outer exposed perimeter edge of the glass panel is curved or rounded to provide an enhanced aesthetic appearance to the cover panel.

As compared to prior art assemblies, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.

8,276,409, incorporated above, there are several advantages and improvements provided by the present invention. For example, the outer glass panel surface presented to the consumer in the likes of a door of a washing machine or dryer or refrigerator or dishwasher or other consumer appliance may be more readily wiped and cleaned without concern of accumulation of debris or dirt at a glass-to-plastic frame molding joint. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the glass cover panel has an enhanced wipe-clean functionality when utilized in consumer appliances. Also, by incorporation of the likes of touch inputs/sensors and associated illuminatable indicia/icons/displays, information and utility can be provided to the consumer through the glass cover panel itself.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for an appliance, said cover assembly comprising:

a glass panel having an outer surface and an inner surface;

wherein said glass panel has a side perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass panel and extending between said inner surface and a rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel is exposed when said cover assembly is normally mounted at an appliance;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel comprises a rounded surface established between said outer surface and said side perimeter edge; and

at least one attachment element configured for engaging a corresponding structure of the appliance when said cover assembly is disposed at the appliance.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1, comprising a perimeter frame established at said inner surface of said glass panel and at least partially along the periphery of said glass panel.

3. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein said perimeter frame is established along the periphery of said inner surface of said glass panel by molding.

4. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein said perimeter frame is separately formed and is thereafter bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive.

5. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one attachment element is bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive.

6. The cover assembly of claim 1, further comprising an opaque coating established at least at a mounting area of said glass panel at which said at least one attachment element is disposed.

7. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass panel comprises a substantially transparent glass panel.

8. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass panel comprises a substantially transparent strengthened glass panel.

9. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said glass panel comprises a tempered glass panel.

10. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover assembly comprises an openable panel for at least one of (i) a clothes washing machine, (ii) a clothes dryer, (iii) a refrigerator and (iv) a dishwasher.

11. The cover assembly of claim 1, comprising at least one display element and at least one touch sensitive input at said glass panel.

12. A cover assembly for an appliance, said cover assembly comprising:

a glass panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein said glass panel comprises a substantially transparent glass panel;

wherein said glass panel has a side perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass panel and extending between said inner surface and a rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel is exposed when said cover assembly is normally mounted at an appliance;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel comprises a rounded surface established between said outer surface and said side perimeter edge; and

at least one attachment element configured for engaging a corresponding structure of the appliance when said cover assembly is disposed at the appliance, and wherein said cover assembly comprises an openable panel for at least one of (i) a clothes washing machine, (ii) a clothes dryer, (iii) a refrigerator and (iv) a dishwasher.

13. The cover assembly of claim 12, comprising a perimeter frame established at said inner surface of said glass panel and at least partially along the periphery of said glass panel.

14. The cover assembly of claim 13, wherein said perimeter frame is established along the periphery of said inner surface of said glass panel by molding.

15. The cover assembly of claim 13, wherein said perimeter frame is separately formed and is thereafter bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive.

16. The cover assembly of claim 12, further comprising an opaque coating established at least at a mounting area of said glass panel at which said at least one attachment element is disposed.

17. The cover assembly of claim 12, comprising at least one display element and at least one touch sensitive input at said glass panel.

18. A cover assembly for an appliance, said cover assembly comprising:

a glass panel having an outer surface and an inner surface;

wherein said glass panel has a side perimeter edge about a periphery of said glass panel and extending between said inner surface and a rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel;

a perimeter frame established at said inner surface of said glass panel and at least partially along the periphery of said glass panel;

wherein one of (i) said perimeter frame is established along the periphery of said inner surface of said glass panel by molding and (ii) said perimeter frame is separately formed and is thereafter bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel is exposed when said cover assembly is normally mounted at an appliance;

wherein said rounded outer perimeter edge of said glass panel comprises a rounded surface established between said outer surface and said side perimeter edge; and

at least one attachment element configured for engaging a corresponding structure of the appliance when said cover assembly is disposed at the appliance, and wherein said at least one attachment element is bonded at said inner surface of said glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive.

19. The cover assembly of claim 18, further comprising an opaque coating established at least at a mounting area of said glass panel at which said at least one attachment element is disposed.

20. The cover assembly of claim 18, wherein said cover assembly comprises an openable panel for at least one of (i) a clothes washing machine, (ii) a clothes dryer, (iii) a refrigerator and (iv) a dishwasher, and wherein said cover assembly comprises at least one display element and at least one touch sensitive input at said glass panel.