US2797592A - Appliance knobs - Google Patents

Description

-July 2, 1957 M, w. MARRAPESE 2,797,592

APPLIANCE KNOBS Filed Sept. :5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j 5 j I 0 L.f Marl us Marrapese ATTORNEY M. w. MARRAPESE 2,797,592

APPLIANCE mons Filed sept. s. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Marra/Dese BY-@Tglw Manus July 2, 1957 ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPLIANCE KNOBS Marius W. Marrapese, Bedford, Ohio, assignor to l`he Patent Button Company of Tennessee, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application September 3, 1952, Serial No. 307,617

16 Claims. (Cl. 74-548) This invention relates to improvements in appliance knobs, and more particularly to the control knobs for gas and electric stoves and other appliances.

It is well known that young children tend to turn on electric and gas appliances, which often create real hazards and sometimes serious injury. Various attempts have been proposed heretofore to provide knobs which will prevent accidental operation of such appliances, or manipulation thereof by small children, but these have depended on threaded connections between the parts, or other objectionable characteristics thereof, which have not been satisfactory for efficient manufacture and use.

One object of this invention is to overcome these objections and to improve the construction of knobs for controlling gas, electric, and other appliances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained knob for gas and electric stoves, and other appliances, that will prevent operation of the valve or switch thereof by young children, and also prevent accidental operation by unintended body contact with the valve or switch, and which will be practical for manufacture and use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a controlknob for gas and electric stoves and other appliances, which is entirely self-contained, without depending'upon ,any special construction of the valve stem or electric switch shaft to operate these devices.

These objects may' be accomplished by providing a ribbed body, with a hub that is rotatably mounted on a central post, which latter has a back plate fixed thereto. These parts may be molded, of plastic or other suitable material, or otherwise formed, in the desired shape. A spring is interposed between the respective partys, normally tending to separate them, and they are mounted for relative axial movement against the tension of the spring for engagement of the teeth, friction surfaces, or other clutch means provided therebetween upon said relative movement, The knob itself, which is rotatable on the post, being formed of a body (having ribs or other surface suitablefor gripping) with its hub, normally turns free of the post and independent of the latter until it is shifted axially to cause engagement of the clutch means, when rotation of the knob will also cause turning movement of the post and also of the appliance control means connected therewith, either a valve stem or a switch shaft, or other control device. These parts of the appliance knob are entirely self-contained without requiring a special threaded connection of the 'appliance device and are so made as to be manufactured and used in a practical form.

The invention is illustrated in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the appliance knob embodying this invention; K n

Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough, with the knob disengaged;

Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing the knob engaged; andl Figs. 4 to 12, are cross-,sections through modified forms of the appliance knob. Y

This appliance knob may be used for controlling the valve of a gas stove or the electric switch of an electric stove, or other electric appliance that will prevent operation of the valve or switch by young children, or accidental or unintended operation thereof by bodily contact with the valve or switch. I have shown a portion of the appliance control, either a valve stem or an electric switch shaft, generally by the numeral 1, and it will be understood that this is intended ymerely as an example of the control means for the appliance to which the invention may be applied.

The appliance knob includes a central post generally designated at 2, which is tubular and has a suitable provision for connection with the shaft 1, such as a split D-shaft that will provide a press-lit or other connection between thepost 2 and the shaft 1 or other control means. Thepost 2 is partially closed at its upper end by an inturnedflange 3, provided with acentral hub 4 therein, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

At its lower end, thepost 2 is provided with a radially extendingback plate 5, which projects outwardly there-v from and has a surrounding rim 6 thereon that may be shaped in any suitable or desired ornamental form. This rim preferably is made with anindicator element 7, to show the position of the appliance control means, as for instance the off position thereof.

A knob is provided on thepost 2 and comprises abody 8 having radial ribs 9 on the periphery thereof to facilitate grasping and turning of the knob. Thebody 8 has anoutturned flange 10 on the lower edge thereof in the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 3, which is spaced inwardly from, and surrounded by the rim 6, on theback plate 5.

Thebody 8 carries ahub 11, spaced inwardly therefrom by an interposed radially extendingweb 12, whichhub 11 is journalled on thepost 2 and free for sliding movement axially relative thereto.

The sliding movement of the knob relative to thepost 2 is yieldable by a coiledcompression spring 13 interposed between theweb 12 and theback plate 5, being sleeved over the lower end portion of thehub 11. The sliding movement of the knob in the opposite direction is limited by a cap plate 14, which extends over the upper end of thepost 2, and overlaps the adjacent end of thehub 11. The cap plate 14 is confined by a rivet 15, which is inserted through the cap plate 14 and through thehole 4 in theflange 3, having is lower end turned over to con-v fine these parts in the relation shown.

Acover plate 16 extends over the upper end of the knob, engaging at its periphery in aseat 17, formed in the upper end of thebody 8, closing the latter and forming an ornamental top to the knob. Thecover plate 16 has a plurality ofspring lingers 18 that extend downward in frictional engagement with the inner wall of thebody 8 yieldably holding the cover plate in place'.

Provision is made for a clutch connection between the spinning knob and thepost 2 to permit free turning movement of the knob relative thereto in one position,-

and yet upon axial shifting movement of the knob, the post is turned thereby to shift the position of the appliance control l to an olf or other position. One eX- ample of this clutch connection is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and other examples are shown in Figs. 4 to l2.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the clutch connection is provided bylinterengaged teeth 19 and 20 formed respectively on the 'back plate 5 and on the lower edge of the body t3, the teeth being spaced yapart circumferentially in each row and 4so disposed as to interengage with each other to form `a positive jaw clutch. In thisforrnvthe teeth 19 and 20 extend radially of the appliance knob and are spaced apart circumferentially. l

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, thespinning knob 21 is` provided with axially'elongatedteeth 22, in posi'- v Patented. July 2, 1957V tion to engage substantiallyparallel teeth 23, extending along the length of thepost 24. Theseteeth 22 and 23 thus form a splined connection between thebody 21 and the `post 24, which may be disengaged from each other upon axial shifting movement of the body relative to the post under the influence of the coiled spring 2S. A further modification is shown in Fig. 5, in which thespinning knob 26 hasteeth 27 in position for coacting clutch engagement withteeth 28, formed on thepost 29. In this example, theteeth 27 and `28 are sloped upward and inward from the outer edge of theknob 26, toward the center, which relation, however, may be reversed as indicated at 30 and 31 in Fig. 6. In the latter form, the teeth slope outward and upward from the center.

In the examples shown in Figs. l to 6, the teeth are shown as formed on the body of the spinning knob. However, if desired, the teeth maybe formed on the hub thereof, as illustrated at 32 and 33 `in Fig. 7, in which event they slope inward and upward toward the center.

It is also possible to use friction clutch connections between the spinning knob and the post, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. ln Fig. 8, the coiled spring lis replaced 'by a spring clutch generally indicated at 34, having radially extending fingers thereon that bear against theback plate 35, while the base of the spring clutch bears against the lower face of theknob 36. This forms a friction drive therebetween and upon downward pressure on the knob, the frictional contact will be increased to the point where the post that is connected with theback plate 35 will be turned to shift the appliance connection.

Another form of friction clutch connection is shown in Fig. 9, in which an O-ring 37 is supported by theback plate 38 in position rfor frictional engagement by theknob 39. Otherwise this form will function substantially as described with respect to the form shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. l0, I have shown a pull type of connection between theknob 40 and thepost 41, provided 'by a normal separati-on thereof by laspring 42, A jaw clutch is shown at 43-'44 which will be engaged upon outward pulling movement imparted to theknob 40 axially thereof.

Another form of pull connection is shown in Fig. 1l, in which the knob is shown at 45, separate from thehub portion 46, that is fixed to thepost 47. A jaw clutch is shown at 4849 upon axial shifting -of the knob 45 relative thereto.

An example of an application of this invention to Ia gas valve or an electric switch is shown in Fig. l2 in which the post that is adapted to be connected with the valve or switch is illustrated at 50 and is secured to theback plate 51 by one ormore drive screws 52 inserted therethrough. Theknob 53 normally is disconnected from theback plate 51 but capable of engagement and actuation thereof by any of the forms set forth and described above. The construction illustrated in Fig. l2 provides for a cover plate that will remain in a fixed position with relation to the valve or switch stem, thus enabling any legend inscribed on the cover plate to remain in a correct reading position when the back plate shows ofi It will be apparent that the invention may be applied to the valve stem or shaft of an electric switch for la stove or other appliance so that manual adjustment thereof may be accomplished, when desired, but normally the parts are disconnected so that shifting of the knob by children or accidentally will not cause a shifting of the valve or switch. At the same time, the parts are entirely self-contained, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, 'and may be applied readily to the device to be controlled thereby.

Normally the parts of the knob are in the relation shown in Fig. 2 in which therotatable knob 8 lis shifted outwardly on thepost 2 by thespring 13, with'the clutch means disengaged. Theknob 8 is thus free to rotate relative to the appliance control without turning the latter.

The cap plate 14. limits the1 outward `movement of the knob.

8 relative to the post but is free to allow rotation and also to limit relative movement in the opposite direction.

All of these parts are confined in the rotatable knob, without requiring threaded connections between the parts. Thus a practical unitary structure is provided, with the parts fully enclosed, and without danger of disconnection. At the same time, this structure provides effective control of the appliance.

While the invention has been illustrated yand described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be -made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob .having a hub portion journaled on the central post, means form-ing an engageable clutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, spring means surrounding the post normally tending to hold `the clutch means disengaged, said hubA portion being slidable axially relative to the post for engagement of the clutch means, and means for limiting said axial sliding movement of the hub portion, said limiting means including a cap plate extending over the end of the hub portion, a fastening member connected with the cap plate and extending into the central post, and means for confining an end of the fastening member in the central post.

2. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled `on the cen tral post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob, means forming ian engageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tending to move the rotatable knob axially relative to the post to disengage the clutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the opposite end of the central post, a cap plate mounted within the rotatable knob overlying the hub portion and extending over the last-mentioned end of the central post, and a fastening connecting the cap plate with said end of the central post.

3. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tending to move the rotatable knob axially relative to thepost to disengage the clutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the opposite end of the central post, a cap plate mounted within the rotatable knob overlying the hub portion and extending over the last-mentioned end of the central post, and a fastening connecting the cap plate with said end of the central post, said cap plate being unconnected with the rotatable knob for bodily shifting movement of said knob in one direction relative to the post and for limiting the sliding movement in the opposite direction relative thereto by abutment with an end of the hub portion.

4. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tending to move the rotatable knob axially relative to the post to disengage the clutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the end portion of the central post opposite the back plate, a cap plate mounted within the rotatable knob overlying' the hub portion and extending. over the last-mentioned end4 of the central post, and a fastening connecting the cap platewith4 said end of the central post, said cap plate being unconnected with the rotatable knob for bodily shifting movement of saidknob in one direction relative to the post and for limiting the sliding movement in the opposite direction relative thereto by abutment With an end of the hub portion, and a cover plate detachably mounted in the rotatable knob over the cap plate and closing the end of the rotatable knob.

5. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, a back plate xed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the Ihub portion of the knob, means forming an axially engageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and the rotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, a separate member overlying outer end portions` of the central post and the hub portion of the knob, and a fastening device connected with said member and extending into the post and securing the separate member thereto.

6. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axially engageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and the rotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, a plate separate from the knob and post and overlapping adjacent outer end portions thereof, a fastening member connected with the plate and extending into the post holding the plate and the knob thereon, said knob having an axially projecting wall portion surrounding the plate and fastening member, a cover plate seated Within said wall portion overlying the first-mentioned plate and enclosing the latter, and means for securing the cover plate to the knob.

7. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axially engageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and the rotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, said knob having a surrounding wall portion spaced from the hub portion and having a radially extending web therebetween, and yieldable means interposed between said web and the back plate normally urging the |knob outwardly relative to the post.

8. An applianceknob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, a back plate xed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the lhub portion of the knob, means forming an axially engageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and the rotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, said knob having a surrounding wall portion spaced from the hub portion and having a radially extending web therebetween, and a coiled spring sleeved over the hub portion on the post and interposed between the web and the back plate normally urging the knob outwardly relative to the post.

9. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portion journaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radially over an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axially engageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and the rotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, said knob having a surrounding wall portion spacedfrom the hub portion and having a radially extending web therebetween, a coiled spring sleeved over a portion of the hub surrounding the post and interposed between the web and the back plate normally urging the knob outwardly relative to the post, a plate separate from the knob and post and overlapping adjacent outer end portions thereof for confining the knob on the post, and a fastening member extending through adjacent portions of the plate and post with heads on opposite'ends thereof confining the plate -to the post.

l0. An appliance knob comprising a center post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a control knob mounted on the center post for rotary and axial movement relative thereto means forming an engageable clutch between the center post and control knob, said control knob having a hub portion journaled on the center post and having an annular recess therein surrounding the hub portion, and a coiled spring surrounding the center post and having one end seated in said recess and permanent means fixed to the post to limit the outward travel of the knob. l

1l. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to the central post at a Zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged.

l2. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tending to move the rotatable knob axially relative to the post to disengage the clutch means.

13. An appliance knob comprising a central post having a recess therein adapted to receive therein an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, spring means surrounding the hub portion normally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged, said clutch means comprising a row of clutch teeth extending continuously around the central post and fixed thereto, and a second row of clutch teeth in position for engagement therewith and extending continuously around the axis of the rotatable knob and fixed thereto.

14. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to the central post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, spring means surrounding the post normally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged, said clutch means comprising a row of clutch teeth formed on the back plate and extending continuously around the central post, and a second row of clutch teeth in position for engagement end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate tixed to the central post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the central post and rotatable knob, spring means surrounding the hub portion normally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged, said clutch means comprising frictional engaging means between the rotatable knob and the central post.`

16. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connected with an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post nor- 2 mally tending to move the rotatable knob axially relative tothe post to disengage the clutch members, and a cover plate extending over the outer end of the post and adjacent portion of the rotatable knob.

Y References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,443 Sharp Oct. 14,1902 893,184 Mercer July 14, 1908 1,113,613 Goozey Oct. 13, 1914 1,444,212 Seiss Feb. 6, 1923 1,622,783 Heyman Mar. 29, 1927 2,341,647 Parkhurst Feb. 15, 1944 2,501,008 Schramm Mar. 21, 1950 2,502,915 Atkins et al. Apr. 4, 1950 2,516,771 Herscher et al. July 25, 1950 2,590,263 Mead et al Mar. 25, 1952 2,602,351 Ringler et al. July 8, 1952 2,742,127 Mumford et al. Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,680 Great Britain July 17, 1899 of 1899 159,563 Germany Apr. 11, 1905 477,898 France Nov. 12, 1915 t 867,622 France Aug. 18, 1941

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