Knob assembly for cook top

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11635782-B2
Application number	US-202217727730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2022
Priority date	Feb 17, 2017
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A knob assembly for a home appliance, the knob assembly comprising:
a panel that forms a surface of the home appliance;
a fixed pipe disposed inside of the home appliance and affixed to the panel,
a knob arranged on a front of the panel and configured to be pushed and rotated according to an operation of a user;
a first shaft that is connected to the knob, that is passing through the panel;
a control assembly fixed inside of the home appliance and controlled by the knob;
a second shaft connected to the control assembly and configured to be pushed and rotated by the first shaft; and
a joint disposed between the first shaft and the second shaft, the joint transmitting a rotational motion about a longitudinal direction of the first shaft and the second shaft and an axial motion along the longitudinal direction from one of the first shaft or the second shaft to the other of the first shaft or the second shaft,
wherein the fixed pipe supports the joint.

2. The knob assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixed pipe supports a rotational movement and an axial movement of the first shaft.

3. The knob assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fixed pipe defines a position of the knob with respect to the panel.

4. The knob assembly of claim 1 , wherein the joint comprises:
a first shaft connecting portion connected to the first shaft;
a second shaft connecting portion connected to the second shaft; and
a joint portion connected to the first shaft connecting portion and to the second shaft connecting portion.

5. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fixed pipe supports a rotational movement and an axial movement of the first shaft connecting portion.

6. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the joint further comprises a spring that elastically supports the first shaft connecting portion in a forward direction.

7. The knob assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fixed pipe limits a foremost position of the first shaft connecting portion by interfering with the first shaft connecting portion.

8. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fixed pipe defines a minimum distance between the panel and the first shaft connecting portion.

9. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the joint further comprises a spring that elastically supports the first shaft connecting portion and the second shaft connecting portion in a direction in which the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are spaced apart from each other.

10. The knob assembly of claim 9 , wherein the spring is disposed between the first shaft connecting portion and the second shaft connecting portion.

11. The knob assembly of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first shaft connecting portion or the second shaft connecting portion is slidably connected to the joint portion so that a distance between the first shaft connecting portion and the second shaft connecting portion is changeable.

12. The knob assembly of claim 11 , wherein a distance deviation between the panel and the control assembly is absorbed by the spring.

13. The knob assembly of claim 11 , wherein a distance deviation between the first shaft and the second shaft is absorbed by the spring.

14. The knob assembly of claim 11 , wherein the joint portion defines a maximum distance between the first shaft connecting portion and the second shaft connecting portion.

15. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the axial motion is transmitted by direct contact between the first knob shaft connecting portion and the second shaft connecting portion.

16. The knob assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second shaft is elastically supported by the control assembly in a direction in which the second shaft moves away from the control assembly.

17. A home appliance including a knob assembly to control a control assembly, comprising:
a panel that forms a surface of the home appliance;
a fixed pipe disposed inside of the home appliance and affixed to the panel,
a knob arranged on a front of the panel and configured to be pushed and rotated according to an operation of a user;
a first shaft that is connected to the knob, that is passing through the panel;
the control assembly fixed inside of the cooking appliance and controlled by the knob;
a second shaft connected to the control assembly and configured to be pushed and rotated by the first shaft; and
a joint disposed between the first shaft and the second shaft, the joint transmitting a rotational motion about a longitudinal direction of the first shaft and the second shaft and an axial motion along the longitudinal direction from one of the first shaft or the second shaft to the other of the first shaft or the second shaft,
wherein the fixed pipe supports the joint.

18. The home appliance of claim 17 , wherein the fixed pipe defines a minimum distance between the panel and the joint.

19. The home appliance of claim 17 , wherein the joint comprises:
a first shaft connecting portion connected to the first shaft;
a second shaft connecting portion connected to the second shaft;
a joint portion connected to the first shaft connecting portion and to the second shaft connecting portion; and
a spring that elastically supports the first shaft connecting portion in a forward direction,
wherein the fixed pipe limits a foremost position of the first shaft connecting portion by interfering with the first shaft connecting portion.

20. The home appliance of claim 19 , wherein the fixed pipe supports a rotational movement and an axial movement of the first shaft connecting portion.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ha Yeonsik

Classifications

• G05G5/28

  for preventing unauthorised access to the controlling member or its movement to a command position · CPC title

• G05G1/08

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

• F24C3/126

  on ranges · CPC title

• G05G1/10

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

• G05G1/12 Primary

  Means for securing the members on rotatable spindles or the like · CPC title