Supports: cabinet structure – For particular electrical device or component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-10-23
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
For particular electrical device or component
C049S213000, C312S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305765
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for opening and closing a slide door for a control box, and more particularly, to a slide opening and closing door apparatus for a control box in which the cover of the slide door is positioned on the same vertical surface as that of a front panel without any step difference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A control box can be positioned in the front panel of a consumer electronics product such as air-conditioners. In the case of this type of consumer electronics products, a button portion in which a number of buttons are collected in the control box is opened and closed by a slide door so that the number of buttons are to be manipulated from the front side. As shown in
FIG. 2
, a conventional slide door employs a vertical movement structure using an electric motor in which a step difference &agr; occurs between the slide door and the cover portion. The step difference becomes a critical problem in the consumer electronics products requiring a more elegant external design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control box slide opening and closing door apparatus in which a button portion where a number of buttons are positioned in a control box is covered by a door during closing without any step difference with respect to a front panel and the door is hidden behind the cover of the control box during opening.
To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a slide door opening and closing apparatus for a control box comprising a control box having a button portion on which a number of buttons are positioned and a cover for covering the inner space of the control box, a door member which moves up and down from the inner side of the cover, for opening and closing the button portion on the control box, and a power transmission unit for providing power to the door member to be moved up and down.
A guide elongate hole is formed at the inner wall in each side of the control box. The door member is guided along the guide elongate holes. Here, the button portion forms a sliding surface at each side thereof. A guide elongate hole is slanted at a predetermined interval. The door member can be configured by comprising a cover portion which moves up and down from the rear end of the cover of the control box for opening and closing the button portion and a transfer unit for receiving power and performing a transferring operation.
The door member according to the present invention is sectioned into a door and a transfer unit both of which independently operate.
Here, the control box forms a space which is covered in the front surface of the lower side thereof and a button portion which is exposed in the upper side thereof. A guide elongate hole is formed at the inner wall in each side thereof. The button portion forms a sliding surface at each side thereof.
In particular, the guide elongate holes are slanted at a predetermined interval so that a door member can proceed without any step difference. The door member forms a guide protrusion at each side thereof so that the door member can move up and down from the rear end of the cover of the control box in order to open and close the button portion. The door member forms connection units at its rear side and a support plate which has a step difference and extends at a low posture at its lower side thereof.
The transfer unit comprises connection units which are flexibly connected with the door member, guide pieces which move up and down along the guide elongate holes, and rack gears which connect with pinion gears of the power transfer unit. The door member and the transfer unit form connection units facing each other, respectively. Links are connected between the connection units. Also, the transfer unit descends and ascends in balance during contacting the door member and further comprises elastic members for supporting the bottom surfaces of the support plates elastically. The door member forms contact protrusions which contact the slide surfaces of the button portions at its rear surface.
The power transmission unit is configured by connecting a motor to a worm which is formed on the rotational shaft of the motor, worm gears which are engaged to the worm interposed therebetween, and idle gears and pinion gears which are engaged with the worm gears and the rack gears of the transfer unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5271181 (1993-12-01), Pietro
patent: 5924780 (1999-07-01), Ammon et al.
patent: 6062663 (2000-05-01), You et al.
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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