High temperature control knob

#Technical Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to temperature control devices. More particularly the invention relates to temperature control devices for retrofitting appliances in order to prevent the temperature from exceeding a predetermined maximum temperature.

#Even more particularly, the invention pertains to a high temperature control knob which may be utilized on an existing appliance, such as a stove or oven, without the addition of additional electronic wiring to the appliance.

#For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

#FIG. 1 shows show a prospective view of a dial, an adapter, an alignment means, and a rear plate of one embodiment of the invention aligned with a control knob stem of an appliance that does not have a set of temperature markings that are observable;

#FIG. 2 show a prospective view of the dial, the adapter, and the alignment means of FIG. 1 aligned with the control knob stem on an appliance having the set of temperature markings on the face of the appliance;

#The invention is a high temperature control knob 10 for retrofitting an appliance 11, such as a stove, having at least one control knob stem 9 as shown in FIG. 1. The control knob stem 9 extends from a face 11a of the appliance 11 and the control knob stem 9 is movable (i.e., can be turned or rotated) about a longitudinal axis 9a of the control knob stem 9. As can best be seen by reference to FIG. 1 in one embodiment, the high temperature control knob 10 comprises: an alignment means 13 having a disc portion 13a and a raised portion 13b; a rear plate 15; a dial 18; and an adapter 18a. The disc portion 13a disposed generally perpendicular to the raised portion 13b. The rear plate 15 comprises a set of temperature markings 20 that may include a first temperature 21, a second temperature 22, a third temperature 23, and a fourth temperature 24, and may be used when the set of temperature markings 20 are not observable on the appliance 11 or will be covered after installing the alignment means 13. Looking to FIG. 2, where the set of temperature markings 20 is observable on the appliance 11, the rear plate 15 is not required. Looking to FIGS. 3 and 4, the dial 18 has an arm 12 and a rear face 18b. The rear face 18b has a depression 18c sized for the adapter 18a shown in FIG. 3. Referring again to FIG. 1, the disc portion 13a may comprise an adjusting means 17, such as at least a first slot 17a, or at least a second slot 17b. Although the first slot 17a as shown is elongated and curved, the first slot 17a could be a circular through aperture similar to a first rear slot 17aa of the rear plate 15. The alignment means 13 further may comprise a center slot 13c, generally centered in the disc portion 13a. The alignment means 13 fits around the control knob stem 9 of the appliance 11 by placing (i.e., inserting) the control knob stem 9 through center slot 13c. The disc portion 13a may have a diameter D between 1.5 and 3 inches, and a thickness T between 0.1 to 0.3 inches. The raised portion 13b may be attached circumferentially to the disc portion 13a as shown in FIG. 1 or may be mounted on (not shown) an outer face 37 of the disc portion 13a and may have a raised height RH between 0.25 to 1.00 inches, as measured perpendicular the disc portion 13a and may have a raised thickness RT between 0.1 and 0.2 inches. The raised portion 13b may have at least one stop 16 on one end and may also have an alternate stop 16a on an other end configured to contact the arm 12 on the dial 18 when the dial 18 is rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively. The raised portion 13b extends perpendicular to the outer face 37 of the disc portion 13a away the face 11a of the appliance 11.

#The adapter 18a may be similar to a type commonly known in the art as an adapter insert, such as the adapter insert with Electric Range Knobs under parts number PM3X84 and with Gas Ranges Knobs under parts number 3M3X88 by General Electric. Looking to FIG. 3, a first end 18d1 of the adapter 18a is inserted in a depression 18c (shown in FIG. 4) in the rear face 18b of the dial 18, and a second end 18d2 of the adapter 18a is attached to the control knob stem 9. Looking to FIG. 3, the depression 18c is sized to hold the adapter 18a. The adapter 18a may have an adapter diameter AD between ½ to ¾ inches, but generally ⅝ inches, and may have an adapter height AH between ¼ to ¾ inches high, but generally ⅜ inches, with generally ⅛ inches of the adapter extending out of the rear face 18b of the dial 18. The dial 18 is turned using the hand ridge 18e. The dial 18 may be generally of a configuration and composition similar to the range knobs is the art, such as the electric range knobs sold with the adapter inserts by General Electric under parts number PM3X84, except the dial 18 of the one embodiment of the invention has the arm 12. The arm 12 is configured to contact the at least one stop 16 when the dial 18 is mounted on the control knob stem 9. The arm 12 may have arm length AL sufficient to extend beyond the at least one stop 16 as shown in FIG. 5, and an arm width AW that may be between 0.18 to 0.25 inches, but could be greater. There are usually four or five such control knob stems 9 on the appliance 11 but for purposes of understanding the invention, it is only necessary to focus on one such control knob stem 9.

#Looking to FIG. 6, where a set of original temperature markings 20 is located on an original knob 18h, the rear plate 15 may be used. The set of original temperature markings 20a will be compatible with the set of temperature marking 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 1, the alignment means 13 is between the adapter 18a and the rear plate 15 when the rear plate 15 mounted to the face 11a of the appliance 11 along a longitudinal axis 9a of the control knob stem 9 in the one embodiment. Looking to FIG. 5, at least the one stop 16 may be adjustable about the arc 53. Increasing temperatures may be achieved by turning (i.e., rotating) the dial 18 and the arm 12 in a clockwise direction 53c, the alignment means 13 may be turned along an arc 53 in a counter clockwise direction 53cc relative to the rear plate 15 and the face 11a of the appliance 11 to align the at least one stop 16 to the predetermined maximum temperature, such as third temperature 23. Alternatively, where the increasing temperatures are achieved by turning (i.e., rotating) the dial 18 and the arm 12 in a counterclockwise direction 53cc, the alignment means may be turned in a clockwise direction 53c to align the alternate stop 16a. Looking again to FIG. 1, the rear plate 15 may be affixed to the face 11a of the appliance 11 by doubled sided tape (not shown), a rear plate screw (not shown), or an adhesive 42, such as glue.