Knob assembly
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsTzeitel Adriana Hernandez, Satish Janardhan Kathar, Yokesh S
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knob assembly includes a first housing with a sidewall extending from a base and a retention member inwardly extends from the sidewall. An operable second housing includes a selective stopper selectively movable between a first position and a second position relative to the retention member. The operable second housing is further axially operable between a compressed position and an extended position relative to the first housing, and the operable second housing includes a biasing member.
Claims15
An appliance, comprising:
- a front panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- a knob assembly rotationally coupled to the front panel, the knob assembly including:
- a first housing having a sidewall and a retention member inwardly extending from the sidewall;
- an operable second housing rotationally operable and axially operable relative the first housing and having a body and a selective stopper disposed on a surface of the body, wherein the selective stopper is selectively movable between a first position and a second position relative to the retention member;
- and
- an axial biasing member disposed between the first housing and the operable second housing, wherein the axial biasing member is integral with the operable second housing, and wherein the operable second housing includes:
- a support member that biases against a base of the first housing;
- and
- compression portions extending between the body and the support member.
A knob assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a first housing including a sidewall defining a cavity and a retention member;
- an operable second housing including a body and a selective stopper disposed on a surface of the body, wherein the selective stopper is selectively movable between a first position and a plurality of second positions relative to the retention member;
- and
- a biasing member disposed between the first housing and the operable second housing that defines a compressed position and an extended position of the operable second housing, wherein the retention member defines a guide slot having a first groove and a second groove, and wherein the selective stopper is retained by the first groove of the guide slot in the first position.
A knob assembly, comprising:
- a first housing including a sidewall extending from a base and a retention member inwardly extending from the sidewall;
- and
- an operable second housing including a selective stopper selectively movable between a first position and a second position relative to the retention member;
- wherein,
- the operable second housing is further axially operable between a compressed position and an extended position relative to the first housing, and wherein the operable second housing includes a biasing member, wherein the biasing member is a leaf spring positioned in a gap defined between the first housing and the operable second housing;
- and wherein,
- an unlocked position is defined by the selective stopper disposed outside the retention member in the second position, and wherein the operable second housing is rotationally and axially operable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.