Method of calibrating a knob for use with an adjustable control device and a knob calibrated thereby

• US 8,292,494 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Garland Commercial Industries LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: Garland Commercial Industries LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Rosa, Paulo Jorge, Popowich, David, Scheuring, Joseph Felix III
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US12/287,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 374/1, 745/33, 116/230, 116/292, 116/294, 116/DIG.21, 116/DIG.23, 403/362, D8D/IG.2
• US Class Current: 374/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/015 Arrangements for indicating the position of a controlling member means for continuously detecting pedal position G05G1/38; means for detecting position through tactile feedback G05G5/03
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/12 Means for securing the members on rotatable spindles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A method of calibrating an adjustable control device using a knob assembly with adjustable temperature scale. A knob and a bezel that bears the temperature scale are assembled and the temperature scale is calibrated without physically changing any internals within the adjustable control device. The knob and bezel are secured to the adjustable control device so that the knob and bezel assembly can transmit an input load from a user through to the adjustable control device and so that the bezel can be rotated relative to the knob which remains fixed to an input shaft of the control for calibration purposes.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a knob and a temperature scale with an adjustable control device that controls heating of a cooking appliance, said method comprising:

securing said knob and said temperature scale to a rotatable element of said adjustable control device so that moving said knob also moves said temperature scale and said rotatable element;

setting said knob and temperature scale to a predetermined temperature;

then heating said cooking appliance;

measuring a temperature of said cooking appliance;

when said measured temperature reaches a steady state temperature, determining if said steady state temperature is equal to said predetermined temperature;

if said steady state temperature is not equal to said predetermined temperature, moving said knob and temperature scale to heat or cool said cooking appliance until said steady temperature is equal to said predetermined temperature; and

moving one of said temperature scale and said knob relative to the other to said predetermined temperature on said temperature scale.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said knob and temperature scale are moved by an amount about equal to a difference between said steady state temperature and said predetermined temperature to heat or cool said cooking appliance.

3. The method claim 1, further comprising loosening said temperature scale relative to said knob before said moving step;

and

securing said knob and said temperature scale to one another after said moving step.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising an indicator that is fixed relative to said knob and said temperature scale and said adjustable control device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator is located on said adjustable control device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said temperature scale is located on an annular disc and one of said knob and said annular disc is rotatable relative to the other when loosened, and wherein said knob and annular disc are rotatable together when secured to one another.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said temperature scale has an amount of angular rotation in a range from about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising turning said cooking appliance on so that said adjustable control device controls a heating system of said cooking appliance to heat and cool said cooking appliance.

9. A knob assembly comprising:

a knob comprising a handle portion and a hub portion, wherein said hub portion comprises a control element receiving socket at an outer end of said knob capable of transmitting an applied load, and wherein said handle portion comprises a cylindrical base and an indented blade portion capable of receiving said applied load;

a member coupled to said knob, wherein one of said knob and said member is movable relative to the other; and

a temperature scale that is located on a surface of said member, that has a temperature range and that is movable with respect to a reference marker to calibrate said temperature range.

10. The knob assembly of claim 9, wherein said member is an annular disc.

11. The knob assembly of claim 10, further comprising at least one curvilinear slot that faces said outer end and at least one screw that extends through said curvilinear slot to lock and unlock said annular disc to said knob, wherein said annular disc when unlocked is rotatable with respect to said knob in an angular range determined by a size of said curvilinear slot.

12. The knob assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one additional curvilinear slot that faces said outer end and at least one additional screw that extends through said additional curvilinear slot, wherein said one screw and said additional screw lock and unlock said annular disc to said knob.

13. The knob assembly of claim 10, wherein said surface of said annular disc comprises a bezel.

14. The knob assembly of claim 13, wherein the bezel is manufactured from cast aluminum.

15. The knob assembly of claim 9, wherein the handle portion is manufactured from phenolic.

16. The knob assembly of claim 9, further comprising an adjustable control device that includes a control element that is a force transmitting element;

and a set screw that positively locks said knob to said control element of said adjustable control device.

17. The knob assembly of claim 16, wherein said control element comprises a knob that is locked to a rotatable stem of said adjustable control device.

18. The knob assembly of claim 9, wherein said reference marker is located on one of an associated cooking appliance and said knob.