Control knob and control panel
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKim Cyril Lavigne, Phillip Henry DeRuiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly. The control knob has a cap and a skirt. The cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, and the skirt is coupled with the stem for axial movement therewith. The skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap. An axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.
Claims16
A control panel assembly comprising:
- a panel;
- a push-and-turn switch assembly mounted to the panel and having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly;
- a control knob comprising a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt comprising an end wall having a depending collar in which a portion of the stem is slidably received to mount the skirt to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.
A control panel assembly comprising:
- a panel;
- a push-and-turn switch assembly mounted to the panel and having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly;
- a control knob comprising a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt is coupled to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, the skirt axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate, and whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem;
- and
- a biasing device to bias the skirt into the first position.
A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly, the control knob comprising
- a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt comprising an end wall having a depending collar, a portion of which is adapted to slidably receive the stem for mounting the skirt to the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem.
A control knob for a control panel assembly having a panel to which a push-and-turn switch assembly is mounted, with the switch assembly having a stem axially movable and rotatable to effect actuation of the switch assembly, the control knob comprising:
- a cap and a skirt, the cap is axially immobile relative to the stem, the skirt is coupled with the stem for axial movement therewith, and the skirt is axially moveable relative to the cap, the skirt axially moveable between a first position, where the stem is not free to rotate, and a second position, where the stem is free to rotate, and whereby an axial force acting on the cap is not transferred to the stem and an axial force acting on the skirt will cause axial movement of the stem;
- and
- a biasing device to bias the skirt into the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.