Safety control lockout knob

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10437278-B2
Application number	US-201816137704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A control knob for controlling the operation of a component of a household appliance is disclosed. The control knob includes a body configured to be attached to a rotatable rod extending from the appliance. A locking element reversibly secures the body in at least one rotational position. The locking element is movable between a first position and a second position. The locking element is configured to engage with a notch to rotatably secure the body in the at least one rotational position when the locking element is in the first position, and to disengage from the notch to permit the body to be rotated when the locking element is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control knob for controlling the operation of a component of a household appliance, said control knob comprising:
a body configured to be attached to a rotatable rod extending from said appliance, and
a locking element for reversibly securing said body in at least one rotational position, said locking element movable between a first position and a second position,
said locking element being configured to engage with a notch in said appliance to rotatably secure said body in said at least one rotational position when said locking element is in said first position, and to disengage from said notch to permit said body to be rotated when said locking element is in said second position,
said locking element comprising a flexible leg radially compressible relative to said body from said first position to said second position in order to reversibly disengage said locking element from said notch to thereby permit said rotation of said body,
wherein the flexible leg comprises an angled, substantially L-shaped tab that extends radially from a distal end thereof.

2. The control knob of claim 1 , said tab dimensioned to engage said notch when said body is in said at least one rotational position and said locking element is in said first position.

3. A control knob comprising:
a rotatable knob body having a longitudinal, rotational axis, and
a locking element for reversibly securing said body in at least one rotational position, said locking element comprising at least one leg extending in a generally longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one leg comprises an angled, substantially L-shaped tab that extends radially from a distal end thereof,
said at least one leg having a first, relaxed position wherein a distal end thereof is spaced from said longitudinal, rotational axis, and said at least one leg being resiliently deflectable into a second, deflected position wherein said distal end is deflected toward said longitudinal axis.

4. The control knob of claim 3 , said first, relaxed position being a first radial distance from said longitudinal axis, said second, deflected position being a second radial distance from said longitudinal axis and said second radial distance being smaller than said first radial distance.

5. The control knob of claim 3 , said locking element being a U-shaped element.

6. The control knob of claim 3 , said tab being dimensioned to engage a notch in an appliance when said body is in said at least one rotational position and said locking element is in said first, relaxed position.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Swayne Steven
• Lewis Desirea
• Worley Andrew
• Mcginnis Brendan

Classifications

• G05G5/005

  for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05G5/06 Primary

  for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only ({G05G5/005}, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05G1/08

  Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels · CPC title

• G05G1/10

  Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F24C7/082

  on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination · CPC title