Cooking appliances such as cooktops, ovens and ranges may be powered by various types of cooking elements, with electrical heating elements and gas burners being among the most common. In particular, gas burners generally use as an energy source a combustible gas such as natural gas or liquified petroleum (LP) gas (also referred to as propane), and generate heat by combusting and burning the gas. The output levels of gas burners are generally controlled by valves, which regulate gas flow to the gas burners, and which in some instances are coupled mechanically to associated user controls, e.g., knobs that are rotatable by a user to control gas flow rates through the valves. Gas burners also generally require some manner of igniting the burners, and many gas cooktop burners utilize spark igniters that are also activated based upon the positions of the associated user controls for the gas burners.
One risk associated with conventional burners is associated with unintentional movement of the associated user controls from off positions, e.g., as a result of being bumped into by humans or pets, or being played with by children. In some instances, for example, unintentional rotation of a knob may open a gas valve to an extent that uncombusted gas flows into a room through the gas burner. In other instances, the unintentional rotation may be sufficient to also activate an igniter and cause the gas burner to ignite. In addition, even with electrical cooking elements, unintentional rotation of a knob may cause a cooking element to activate, resulting in a hot surface that may not be readily apparent to those in the vicinity of the cooking appliance. Conventional approaches to reducing the incidents of unintentional knob rotation mainly focus on requiring some two-step activation sequence, e.g., requiring a knob to be pushed in before turning to an active position. Nonetheless, it is still possible in some circumstances for a knob to be hit in such a manner that the knob is both pushed in and turned, resulting in an unintentional activation of the burner or cooking element.
Therefore, a need continues to exist in the art for a manner of reducing incidents of unintentional activation of a cooking element.
The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by providing a cooking appliance and self-closing user control therefor that is capable of automatically returning to an off position whenever it is released by a user in a portion of the movable range of positions for the self-closing user control, yet also is capable of maintaining its position in another portion of the movable range of positions for the self-closing user control.
Therefore, consistent with one aspect of the invention, a cooking appliance may include a cooking element, and a self-closing user control configured to activate the cooking element and control an output level of the cooking element, where the self-closing user control is movable by a user within a range of positions, and the range of positions includes an off position at which the cooking element is inactive, a biased subrange of positions within which the self-closing user control is biased to the off position such that the self-closing user control automatically returns to the off position when released by the user, and an unbiased subrange of positions within which the self-closing user control is unbiased such that the self-closing user control maintains its position when released by the user.
In some embodiments, the cooking element is a gas burner, the cooking appliance includes a gas valve configured to regulate gas flow to the gas burner, and the self-closing user control is mechanically coupled to the gas valve. Also, in some embodiments, the cooking appliance further includes an igniter configured to ignite the gas burner when gas flow is supplied to the gas burner by the gas valve and the self-closing user control is in an ignition subrange of positions.
Further, in some embodiments, the biased subrange of positions at least partially overlaps the ignition subrange of positions. In some embodiments, the ignition subrange of positions is intermediate the off position and the unbiased subrange of positions. In addition, in some embodiments, the unbiased subrange of positions at least partially overlaps an operating subrange of positions.
In some embodiments, the self-closing user control includes a knob that rotates about an axis of rotation, the range of positions corresponds to a range of angular positions about the axis of rotation, the biased subrange of positions corresponds to a biased subrange of angular positions about the axis of rotation and the unbiased subrange of positions corresponds to an unbiased subrange of angular positions about the axis of rotation. In addition, in some embodiments, the biased subrange of angular positions extends at least about 80 degrees from an off angular position corresponding to the off position and the unbiased subrange of angular positions extends at least from about 90 degrees from the off angular position.
In addition, some embodiments may further include a closure mechanism that biases the self-closing user control to the off angular position when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions. In some embodiments, the closure mechanism includes rotatable and fixed closure members, the rotatable closure member being rotatable about the axis of rotation and mechanically coupled to the knob for rotation therewith, and the fixed closure member being non-rotatable about the axis of rotation, a spring coupled between the rotatable and fixed closure members and configured to be loaded in response to rotation of the knob away from the off position, and a transfer mechanism coupled to the spring and configured to transfer the load of the spring from the rotatable closure member to the fixed closure member when the self-closing user control transitions from the biased subrange of angular positions to the unbiased subrange of angular positions.
Moreover, in some embodiments, each of the rotatable and fixed closure members includes a pin recess, the spring includes a torsion spring having first and second legs extending generally radially from the axis of rotation, the first leg of the torsion spring is coupled to one of the rotatable and fixed closure members, and the transfer mechanism includes a pin coupled to the second leg of the torsion spring and configured to engage the pin recess of the rotatable closure member when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions and to engage the pin recess of the fixed closure member when the self-closing user control is in the unbiased subrange of angular positions. In some embodiments, the second leg of the torsion spring defines a second axis of rotation, the pin is rotatable about the second axis of rotation, the pin includes first and second radial members extending generally radially from the second axis of rotation and angularly offset from one another about the second axis of rotation, the first radial member is configured to engage the pin recess of the rotatable closure member when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions, the second radial member is configured to engage the pin recess of the fixed closure member when the self-closing user control is in the unbiased subrange of angular positions, and the pin is configured to rotate about the second axis of rotation to disengage the first radial member from the pin recess of the rotatable closure member and engage the second radial member with the pin recess of the fixed closure member when the self-closing user control transitions from the biased subrange of angular positions to the unbiased subrange of angular positions. In addition, in some embodiments, the first and second radial members extend generally perpendicularly from the second axis of rotation and are angularly offset from one another by about 90 degrees, the rotatable and fixed closure members are separated from one another by an annular track, the second radial member is positioned within the track when the first radial member engages the pin recess of the rotatable closure member, and the first radial member is positioned within the track when the second radial member engages the pin recess of the fixed closure member.
In some embodiments, at least a portion of the closure mechanism is integrated into one of a control actuator, a gas valve, a bezel or a switch. Moreover, in some embodiments, the closure mechanism includes rotatable and fixed closure members, the rotatable closure member being rotatable about the axis of rotation and mechanically coupled to the knob for rotation therewith, and the fixed closure member being non-rotatable about the axis of rotation, a first track disposed in one of the rotatable and fixed closure members, a second track disposed in the other of the rotatable and fixed closure members and facing the first track, and a spring-loaded cam follower configured to concurrently engage each of the first and second tracks, where the first track includes a substantially radial portion and a substantially annular portion, the spring-loaded cam follower engages the substantially radial portion of the first track when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions, and the spring-loaded cam follower engages the substantially annular portion of the first track when the self-closing user control is in the unbiased subrange of angular positions.
Also, in some embodiments, the closure mechanism includes a cam being rotatable about the axis of rotation and mechanically coupled to the knob for rotation therewith, the cam including a substantially radial portion and a substantially annular portion, and a spring-loaded cam follower configured to engage the substantially radial portion of the cam when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions, and to engage the substantially annular portion of the cam when the self-closing user control is in the unbiased subrange of angular positions. In some embodiments, the closure mechanism includes a clutch assembly including first and second opposing clutch members configured for relative rotation therebetween about the axis of rotation, one of the first and second clutch members being rotatable about the axis of rotation and mechanically coupled to the knob for rotation therewith. In addition, in some embodiments, the self-closing user control further includes a damping mechanism configured to dampen return of the self-closing user control to the off position when released by the user.
Consistent with another aspect of the invention, a self-closing user control for activating and controlling an output level of a cooking element of a cooking appliance may include a base, and a control actuator mounted to the base and movable by a user within a range of positions, where the range of positions includes an off position at which the cooking element is inactive, a biased subrange of positions within which the self-closing user control is biased to the off position such that the control actuator automatically returns to the off position when released by the user, and an unbiased subrange of positions within which the control actuator is unbiased such that the control actuator maintains its position when released by the user.
Consistent with another aspect of the invention, a cooking appliance may include a gas burner, a gas valve configured to supply gas to the gas burner, and a self-closing user control mechanically coupled to the gas valve and configured to control a rate of gas flow through the gas valve, where the self-closing user control includes a knob that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation by a user from within a range of angular positions that includes an off position at which the cooking element is inactive, rotatable and fixed closure members, the rotatable closure member being rotatable about the first axis of rotation and mechanically coupled to the knob for rotation therewith, the fixed closure member being non-rotatable about the first axis of rotation, and each of the rotatable and fixed closure members including a pin recess, a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable and fixed closure members and configured to be loaded in response to rotation of the knob away from the off position, the torsion spring having first and second legs extending generally radially from the axis of rotation, the first leg of the torsion spring coupled to one of the rotatable and fixed closure members, and the second leg defining a second axis of rotation, and a pin coupled to the second leg of the torsion spring and rotatable about the second axis of rotation, the pin including first and second radial members extending generally radially from the second axis of rotation and angularly offset from one another about the second axis of rotation, the first radial member configured to engage the pin recess of the rotatable closure member when the knob is in a first subrange of angular positions, the second radial member configured to engage the pin recess of the fixed closure member when the knob is in a second subrange of angular positions, and the pin configured to rotate about the second axis of rotation to disengage the first radial member from the pin recess of the rotatable closure member and engage the second radial member with the pin recess of the fixed closure member when the knob transitions from the first subrange of angular positions to the second subrange of angular positions.
These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In the embodiments discussed hereinafter, a gas cooking appliance may include a self-closing user control for a cooking element that is biased to an off position when in a first range of positions such that the user control automatically returns to an off position when released by a user, and that is unbiased when in a second range of positions such that the user control maintains its position when released by the user, as such, should the user control be unintentionally moved to a position within the first range of positions, the user control will automatically return to the off position rather than remaining in the position to which it has been moved.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,
Cooking appliance 10 may also include various user interface devices, including, for example, a control panel 26 incorporating a plurality of rotary burner controls (e.g., a self-closing user control 28) and a user interface or display 30 for providing visual feedback as to the activation state of the cooking appliance. It will be appreciated that cooking appliance 10 may include various types of user controls in other embodiments, including various combinations of switches, buttons, knobs and/or sliders, typically disposed at the rear or front (or both) of the cooking appliance. Further, in some embodiments, one or more touch screens may be employed for interaction with a user. As such, in some embodiments, display 30 may be touch sensitive to receive user input in addition to displaying status information and/or otherwise interacting with a user.
As noted above, cooking appliance 10 of
Numerous variations and modifications to the cooking appliance illustrated in
As noted above, embodiments consistent with the invention may utilize a self-closing user control for a cooking element that is biased to an off position when in a first range of positions such that the user control automatically returns to an off position when released by a user, and that is unbiased when in a second range of positions such that the user control maintains its position when released by the user.
A self-closing user control consistent with the invention may be configured to incorporate a biased subrange of positions and an unbiased subrange of positions, with the former configured to bias the self-closing user control to the off position such that when the control actuator of the self-closing user control is released when in this subrange of positions, the control actuator may automatically return to the off position and thereby deactivate the cooking element. The latter is configured to allow the control actuator of the self-closing user control to maintain its position when released, such that the user may set an output level of the associated cooking element and otherwise operate the cooking element in a normal manner.
In the embodiment of
In addition, while in some embodiments the biased and unbiased subranges of positions 46, 48 may be adjacent one another, in the embodiment of
As such, when a user is intentionally attempting to energize a cooking element, the user may move the self-closing user control completely through the biased subrange of positions and into the unbiased subrange of positions, the self-closing user control will generally maintain its current setting upon being released, thereby enabling the user to, for example, set the output level of the cooking element by adjusting the position of the user control within the unbiased subrange of positions. In contrast, the likelihood of an unintended energization of a cooking element is minimized, such that if the self-closing user control is bumped into by a user, child or pet and only moved into the biased subrange of positions from the off position, the self-closing user control will return automatically to the off position. In addition, it will be appreciated that a self-closing user control consistent with the invention may also be configured to operate using a two-step activation sequence (e.g., requiring a knob to be pushed in prior to turning) to further reduce the likelihood of unintentional energization of a cooking element.
User control 52 generally includes a movable control actuator 66 coupled to a fixed base 68, as well as a closure mechanism 70 that provides the self-closing functionality capable of automatically returning the control actuator 66 to the off position when released in a biased subrange of positions. Control actuator 66 may take various forms, e.g., a rotary control actuator such as a knob or wheel, a linear control actuator such as a lever or slider, etc., and it will be appreciated that the various components of closure mechanism 70 may be incorporated into control actuator 66 and/or base 68 in different embodiments. Indeed, one or more components of closure mechanism 70 may be implemented within various other components in a cooking appliance in some embodiments, e.g., a switch (e.g., infinite switch 56 or ignitor switch 62), gas valve 60, a bezel 72, a housing, etc.
Closure mechanism 70 generally biases control actuator 66 of self-closing user control 52 to the off angular position when the control actuator of the self-closing user control is in a biased subrange of angular positions, but not when the control actuator is in an unbiased subrange of angular positions. As such, in some embodiments closure mechanism 70 may include a bias mechanism 74, e.g., a spring, a magnet, etc., that is capable of biasing the control actuator to the off position, coupled with a transfer mechanism that is capable of transferring a load of the bias mechanism between the control actuator 66 and a fixed portion of the self-closing user control 52 (e.g., base 68).
In addition, in some embodiments it may also be desirable to incorporate a damping mechanism 78, e.g., a pneumatic or hydraulic dashpot, a cushion, etc., in order to dampen return of the self-closing user control to the off position, e.g., to inhibit the control actuator or another component of the self-closing user control from rapidly springing back to the off position, which might otherwise generate undesirable noises and/or lead to increased wear. In other embodiments, however, a damping mechanism may be omitted.
Now turning to
Self-closing user control 102 in this embodiment is a self-contained unit that is received in a bezel 110 having a pair of posts 112 that anchor a fixed portion of the user control. A closure mechanism 114 is disposed intermediate a rotary control actuator or knob 116 and a retaining ring 118 and includes a rotatable closure member 120 that is rotatable about axis of rotation A with knob 116, a fixed closure member 122 that is non-rotatable about axis of rotation A, and a bias mechanism, here a torsion spring 124, disposed therebetween and configured to be loaded in response to rotation of knob 116 away from the off position.
Torsion spring 124 includes first and second legs 126, 128, with leg 126 being received in a recess 130 of fixed closure member 122. The second leg 128 includes a transfer mechanism, here a pin 132, that is rotatable about an axis rotation B defined by second leg 128, and that as will be described in greater detail below, selectively engages one of a pair of pin recesses 134, 136 defined in rotatable and fixed closure members 120, 122 to transfer the load of spring 124 to either of rotatable and fixed closure members 120, 122 depending upon whether knob 116 is in the biased or unbiased subrange of positions. Each pin recess 134, 136 may extend completely through its respective closure member, or may simply extend through only a portion of the thickness of the closure member, and in some embodiments, each pin recess 134, 136 may be teardrop shaped to facilitate engagement with pin 132.
Pin 132 includes a pair of radial members 138, 140 that extend generally radially from axis of rotation B and are angularly offset from one another about axis of rotation B. In some embodiments, the radial members 138, 140 extend generally perpendicularly from axis of rotation B and are about 90 degrees offset from one another, although the invention is not so limited. Radial member 138 is configured to engage pin recess 134 of rotatable closure member 120 when the self-closing user control is in the biased subrange of angular positions, and radial member 140 is configured to engage pin recess 136 of fixed closure member 122 when the self-closing user control is in the unbiased subrange of angular positions. Furthermore, pin 132 is configured to rotate about axis of rotation B to disengage radial member 138 from pin recess 134 and engage radial member 140 with pin recess 136 when the self-closing user control transitions from the biased subrange of angular positions to the unbiased subrange of angular positions, as will be described in greater detail below.
For installation, fixed closure member 122 includes a pair of apertures 142 that receive posts 112 of bezel 110, while rotatable closure member 120, which is fixed to knob 116, includes a keyed aperture 144 that receives a valve stem 146 of gas valve 104.
Now turning to
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Various alternative designs may be used to implement a self-closing user control in other embodiments.
In addition, closure mechanism 242 additionally includes a damping mechanism 254, e.g., a viscous dashpot, that operates as a “soft close” device such that when the knob is released in the biased subrange of positions, or when the clutch members 244, 246 separates during a transition to the unbiased subrange of positions, clutch member 246 will return to the off position in a relatively controlled and quiet manner.
Various modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be appreciated, for example, that while certain structures are disclosed as being disposed in a rotatable or fixed closure member, in many instances the positioning of such structures may be reversed, such that a component that is illustrated as part of a rotatable closure member may be instead incorporated into a fixed closure member, and vice versa. Moreover, such components may, in other embodiments, be incorporated into other structures, including other parts of a self-closing user control and/or other surrounding structures on the housing of the cooking appliance. It will also be appreciated that the contours and shapes of the various tracks and cam surfaces disclosed herein may be varied in different embodiments to control the positions and/or sizes of the biased and unbiased subranges and positions, the transitions therebetween, and/or the amount of closing force applied by the user control.
Other modifications may be made to the embodiments discussed herein, and a number of the concepts disclosed herein may be used in combination with one another or may be used separately. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.
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20230213199 A1 | Jul 2023 | US |