Control knob and control panel

• US 7,285,738 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: DeRuiter, Phillip Henry, Lavigne, Kim Cyril
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/354,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 200/336, 200/566, 200/4, 200/18
• US Class Current: 200/4
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/08 Turn knobs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/20 wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling

Abstract

A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly. The control knob has a cap and a skirt. The cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, and the skirt is coupled with the stem for axial movement therewith. The skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap. An axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.

Claims

1. A control panel assembly comprising:

a panel;

a push-and-turn switch assembly mounted to the panel and having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly;

a control knob comprising a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt comprising an end wall having a depending collar in which a portion of the stem is slidably received to mount the skirt to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.

2. The control panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cap is operably coupled with the skirt such that the skirt and the cap rotate together.

3. The control panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the skirt is axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate.

4. The control panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cap comprises a portion in abutting relationship with the panel to axially immobilize the cap.

5. The control panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cap comprises a disc from which depends at least one leg, with the disc overlying the end wall of the skirt and the at least one leg extending through an opening in the end wall and in abutting relationship with the panel.

6. The control panel assembly according to claim 5, and further comprising a spring operably coupled to the skirt to bias the end wall of the skirt against the disc of the cap.

7. The control panel assembly according to claim 6, and further comprising a retainer mounted to the at least one leg, and the spring extends between the end wall and the retainer.

8. A control panel assembly comprising:

a panel;

a push-and-turn switch assembly mounted to the panel and having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly;

a control knob comprising a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt is coupled to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, the skirt axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate, and whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem; and

a biasing device to bias the skirt into the first position.

9. A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly, the control knob comprising

a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt comprising an end wall having a depending collar, a portion of which is adapted to slidably receive the stem for mounting the skirt to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.

10. The control knob according to claim 9 wherein the cap is operably coupled with the skirt such that the skirt and the cap rotate together.

11. The control knob according to claim 9 wherein the skirt is axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate.

12. The control knob according to claim 9 wherein the cap comprises a portion adapted for abutting relationship with the panel for axial immobilization of the cap.

13. The control knob according to claim 9 wherein the cap comprises a disc from which depends at least one leg, with the disc overlying the end wall of the skirt and the at least one leg extending through an opening in the end wall and adapted for abutting relationship with the panel.

14. The control knob according to claim 13, and further comprising a spring operably coupled to the skirt to bias the end wall of the skirt against the disc of the cap.

15. The control knob according to claim 14, and further comprising a retainer mounted to the at least one leg, and the spring extends between the end wall and the retainer.

16. A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly, the control knob comprising:

a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt is coupled with the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, the skirt axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate, and whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem; and

a biasing device to bias the skirt into the first position.