Gas Tap for a Cooking Appliance

A gas tap for a cooking appliance comprising:

• a tap body with an internal housing,
• a rotational gas flow regulating member located in the internal housing for regulating the flow of a gas through the gas tap,
• a manually-operated rotary shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the rotary shaft coupled to the gas flow regulating member at or near its second end, the flow regulating member being rotatable with the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft being moveable between a first axial position where its rotation is prevented and a second axial position whereupon its rotation is permitted,
• a return spring located in the internal housing of the gas tap, the return spring arranged to directly or indirectly act upon the rotary shaft to resist against an axial movement of the rotary shaft from the first axial position to the second axial position;
• and
• a resistance element other than the return spring that is also arranged to directly or indirectly act upon the rotary shaft to resist against an axial movement of the rotary shaft from the first axial position to the second.