US 10,379,569 B2 · Multi-function appliance knob incorporating multiple rotation modulating mechanisms

Abstract

A control knob for an appliance includes an outer control ring, a stationary hub, a rotation modulating mechanism coupled to the outer control ring and engaged with an outer surface of the stationary hub, wherein the outer control ring is rotationally operable about the stationary hub at a first rate, an indicial ring positioned around the stationary hub, wherein the indicial ring engages a portion of the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein rotation of the outer control ring at the first rate causes the rotation modulating mechanism to rotate the indicial ring about the stationary hub at a second rate, the second rate being different than the first rate and an encoder shaft positioned within the stationary hub, wherein an inner gearing mechanism extends between an exterior surface of the encoder shaft and one of the outer control ring and the indicial ring.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A control knob for an appliance, the control knob comprising:

an outer ring;
a hub;
a rotational reduction mechanism that extends between an outer surface of the hub and an inner surface of the outer ring, wherein the outer ring is rotationally operable about the hub;
and
an encoder shaft disposed within the hub, wherein the encoder shaft is rotationally operable within the rotational reduction mechanism, and the rotational reduction mechanism places the outer ring in operable communication with the encoder shaft.

2 more elements

A control knob for an appliance, the control knob comprising:

a rotational reduction mechanism having an external portion that is rotationally coupled with an internal portions;
and
a transfer mechanisms rotationally coupled with an encoder shaft for an appliance control, wherein the transfer mechanism rotationally engages the internal portion of the rotational reduction mechanism to place the external portion of the rotational reduction mechanism in communication with an appliance control via the transfer mechanism and the encoder shaft, and wherein a rotation of the external portion in a first direction causes a rotation of the encoder shaft in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

An appliance control knob comprising:

a hub extending from a wall of an appliance, the hub having an outer surface that defines a structural flange;
a rotational reduction mechanism in rotational engagement with the outer surface of the hub;
an encoder shaft disposed within an interior volume of the hub;
and
a transfer mechanism engaging the encoder shaft and the rotational reduction mechanism, wherein the transfer mechanism places the encoder shaft in communication with the rotational reduction mechanism, and wherein the structural flange positions the rotational reduction mechanism at a predetermined distance from the wall of the appliance.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/388,611Filed 22 Dec 2016 · continuation

Priority

13 May 2015

Published

US 2017/0102728 A113 Apr 2017

Granted

13 Aug 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G05G 1/10
Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels: details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles
F16H 19/001
Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion: for…
G05G 1/00
Controlling members
G05G 1/08
Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members: controlling members…

Family

Application14/710,999Parent of this continuation · filed 13 May 2015

US 2017/0102728 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Apr 2017

US 9,556,939 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2016/0333991 A1Published application

US 10,379,569 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Multi-function appliance knob incorporating multiple rotation modulating mechanisms

Life of this patent

Multi-function appliance knob incorporating multiple rotation modulating mechanisms

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20