US 12,366,362 B2
Knob mechanism for gas cooktop
Sergio Ricardo Jager, Rio Claro (BR); Ledimara Mascarello, Joinville (BR); and Thomas Ponick, Joinville (BR)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,914.
Prior Publication US 2023/0235889 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. F24C 3/12 (2006.01); G05G 1/08 (2006.01); G05G 5/03 (2008.04)
CPC F24C 3/126 (2013.01) [G05G 1/08 (2013.01); G05G 5/03 (2013.01); G05G 2505/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 an off position; and
a knob mechanism arranged between the knob and the cooktop, the knob mechanism including a first part arranged below an underside of the knob, and a second part connected to the first part via a spring mechanism, where the first part is fixed to the knob to provide for rotation with the knob and the spring mechanism is configured to bias against the rotation of the knob,
wherein the spring mechanism has a first end attached to the first part and a second end attached to the second part, the first end is received by a notch defined by the first part and an elongated channel defined by the second part such that as the first part rotates with respect to the second part, the second end travels through the channel to impart resistance against the rotation of the knob due to the bias between the first end and second end of the spring mechanism.