Safety control lockout knob

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10976767-B2
Application number	US-201916595403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

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 comprising:
a rotatable knob body having a longitudinal axis,
a locking element comprising a lever portion extending therefrom, said lever portion extending in a generally longitudinal direction and being pivotable about an axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said knob body, and
a spring biasing said locking element into a first position wherein a distal end of said lever portion extends to a forward position relative to said knob body, said distal end dimensioned to engage a notch in an appliance to lock said control knob in a predetermined rotational position when said locking element is in said first position, said lever portion being generally coplanar with an outer surface of said knob body in said first position and pivotable against a biasing force of said spring into a second position wherein said distal end of said lever portion is withdrawn from said forward position.

2. The control knob of claim 1 , said spring being a torsional spring.

3. The control knob of claim 1 , said forward position being spaced from a rear end of said knob body.

4. The control knob of claim 1 , said locking element further comprising a pressing portion, said pressing portion being disposed and accessible adjacent the outer surface of said knob body, such that movement of said pressing portion correspondingly pivots said lever portion into said second position against said biasing force.

5. The control knob of claim 4 , said pressing portion projecting from said outer surface of said knob body when said locking element is in said first position.

6. The control knob of claim 4 , said spring being a compression spring disposed between said pressing portion and said outer surface of said knob body.

7. The control knob of claim 4 , said pressing portion pivotable about said axis.

8. The control knob of claim 4 , a pin extending into said knob body defining said axis.

9. The control knob of claim 1 , wherein:
said locking element comprises a pressing portion configured to be directly touched by a user,
said forward position of said locking element relative to said knob body being disposed along the longitudinal axis of the knob body, said second position of said locking body being recessed from said forward position along the longitudinal axis of said knob body, and said pressing portion being generally coplanar with said outer surface of said rotatable knob body when said locking element is in the second position.

10. The control knob of claim 9 , said pressing portion being disposed and accessible adjacent the outer surface of said knob body, such that movement of said pressing portion correspondingly pivots said lever portion into said second position against said biasing force.

11. The control knob of claim 9 , said pressing portion projecting from said outer surface of said knob body when said locking element is in said first position.

12. The control knob of claim 9 , said forward position being spaced from a rear end of said knob body.

13. 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 lever portion pivotable relative to said body, said lever portion having a distal end dimensioned to engage said notch in said appliance when said body is in said at least one rotational position and said locking element is in said first position, said lever portion generally coplanar with an outer surface of said knob body when said locking element is in said first position.

14. The control knob of claim 13 , said locking element being pivotable about an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said body.

15. The control knob of claim 13 , said distal end of said locking element being dimensioned to slide along a surface of said appliance as said body rotates.

16. The control knob of claim 15 , said surface of said appliance being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rotatable rod.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16K35/025 Primary

  said actuating element being operated manually (e.g. a push-button located in the valve actuator) · CPC title

• G05G1/082

  having safety devices, e.g. means for disengaging the control member from the actuated member · CPC title

• F24C3/126

  on ranges · CPC title

• G05G1/08

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

• F24C7/082

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