Knob mechanism for gas cooktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12411515-B2
Application number	US-202217868064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2022
Priority date	Jul 19, 2022
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

A locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent gas flow for a knob for a gas cooktop may include a stem configured to abut the knob in the resting position to prevent actuation of the knob, a locking mechanism movable between a locked position preventing translation of the stem to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob, and a released position allowing translation of the stem and thus activation of the flow of gas from the burner, the locking mechanism including a rotatable mechanism wherein rotation of the rotatable mechanism moves the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position, and a button arranged spaced and separate from the knob and attached to a rod extending downward from the button to engage the rotatable mechanism where the rod rotates the rotatable mechanism to translate the locking mechanism to the released position to allow the knob to be depressed in response to actuation of the button and the knob to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A knob assembly for a gas cooktop, comprising:
a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at a resting position;
a stem configured to abut the knob in the resting position to prevent actuation of the knob;
a locking mechanism having a locked position preventing translation of the stem and unintentional rotation of the knob and a released position allowing translation of the stem and thus activation of the flow of gas from the burner, the locking mechanism cooperating with a rotatable mechanism, wherein rotation of the rotatable mechanism translates the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position; and
a button arranged spaced and separate from the knob and attached to a rod extending downward from the button to engage the rotatable mechanism, where the rod rotates the rotatable mechanism to move the locking mechanism to the released position to allow the knob to be depressed in response to actuation of the button and the knob to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob, where the locking mechanism is moved laterally away from the stem and towards the rod in response to rotation of the rotatable mechanism by the rod.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring arranged at the stem to bias the knob in the resting position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a lever extending perpendicular to the stem.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable mechanism is a wheel arranged coplanar with the rod such that the wheel moves with actuation of the rod and pulls the locking mechanism away from the stem.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism creates a stop and blocks the stem from translation from the locked position.

6. A knob assembly to prevent inadvertent gas flow for a knob for a gas cooktop, comprising:
a knob;
a stem configured to abut the knob in a resting position to prevent actuation of the knob;
a locking mechanism movable between a locked position preventing translation of the stem to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob, and a released position allowing translation of the stem and thus activation of the flow of gas from the burner, the locking mechanism cooperating with a rotatable mechanism wherein rotation of the rotatable mechanism translates the locking mechanism from the locked position to the released position; and
a button arranged spaced and separate from the knob and attached to a rod extending from the button to engage the rotatable mechanism, where the rod rotates the rotatable mechanism to move the locking mechanism to the released position to allow the knob to be depressed in response to actuation of the button and the knob to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob, where the locking mechanism is laterally movable away from the stem and towards the rod in response to rotation of the rotatable mechanism by the rod.

7. The knob assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a spring arranged at the rod to bias the stem to the resting position.

8. The knob assembly of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism is a lever extending perpendicular to the stem.

9. The knob assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable mechanism is a wheel arranged coplanar with the rod such that the wheel moves with actuation of the rod and pulls the locking mechanism away from the stem.

10. The knob assembly of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism creates a stop and blocks the stem from translation from the locked position.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Ponick Matheus
• Schultz Rodrigo

Classifications

• G05G1/10

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

• G05G1/02

  Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons · CPC title

• F24C3/12

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• G05G5/005 Primary

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