EP1278015A2

EP1278015A2 - A control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements

Info

Publication number: EP1278015A2
Application number: EP02015431A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emilio Miglio
Original assignee: Miglio Emilio Srl
Current assignee: Miglio Emilio Srl
Priority date: 2001-07-18
Filing date: 2002-07-11
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Also published as: EP1278015A3; ITMI20011531A1; ITMI20011531A0

Abstract

A control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements or planes, comprises a telescopic rod (2,3), including at least a first bar (2) and a second bar (3) which can slide inside the first bar, and coupling a controlling knob (8) to a faucet (6), the second bar (3) comprising a locking means for locking the second bar with respect to the first, said locking means comprising a small block (14) sliding on the second bar in a single direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements or planes.
In conventional cooking implements and gas ovens, the control panel for controlling the burners is arranged on the front of the implement, and the burner faucets are arranged at a remote position with respect to the control knobs.
The latter, in particular, are arranged on the front panel of the cabinet supporting the cooking plane or surface and, at the bottom, the oven.
Accordingly, it is necessary to properly connect the control knobs to the faucets.
A prior solution for performing this connection is that of using control or driving rods including two cardanic couplings.
At present, some regulations, for example the CEE Regulations, provide that, for safety reasons, the opening of the faucet by a rotary movement of their control knobs be possible exclusively upon exerting an axially directed pressing force on the control knob.
Thus, it is necessary to use control rods having an adjustable length, thereby to fit said control rods to the different size of the kitchen cabinets and to allow to provide an axial pushing or pressing force from the control knob to the faucet.
Said control rods have a conventional telescopic construction and must be provided with locking elements comprising ring nuts or clamps.
The locking elements used in control devices of the prior art, however, require very complex assembling operations, since they are usually arranged at an inaccessible region of the implement cabinet, which is delimited, at the top, by the cooking plane and, at the bottom, by the oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a control device for controlling faucets, for cooking implements, which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the disclosed prior art.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a control device which can be quickly and easily installed, without the need of using specifically designed tools or means.
Another object is to provide such a control device which is very advantageous from a mere economic construction standpoint.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a control device which is very flexible in operation and can be used in several types of cooking implements.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements, characterized in that said control device comprises a telescopic rod, including at least a first bar and a second bar sliding within the first bar, and coupling a control knob to a faucet, said second bar including locking means for locking said second bar with respect to said first bar, said locking means comprising a sliding block which can slide on the second bar in a direction only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view, in cross-section, of the control device according to the present invention, applied to a cooking implement or plane, to be installed in a kitchen cabinet;
Figure 2 is a side view of the control device according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded view, on an enlarged scale, showing the locking means;
Figure 4 is a view, similar to the preceding view, of the locking means, being shown in an assembled condition;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view, as partially cross-sectioned, of the control device, shown in its starting condition, before the locking thereof; and
Figure 6 is a view, similar to the preceding view, but showing the subject control device in its starting locking position in which the bars are locked by the locking means according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the control device, according to the present invention, which is generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a telescopic rod, including a first bar 2 and a second sliding bar 3 which can slide, at least partially, in said first bar 2.
The free end portions of the bars comprise each a cardanic coupling, 4 and 5, being respectively coupled to a faucet 6 and a control assembly 7, operated or driven by a control knob 8.
The control assembly 7 and knob 8 are associated with a front panel 9 of a cabinet 10 comprising, at the top, a cooking plane or surface 11 supporting burners 12, including respective burner faucets 6, of which, for clearness, only one has been shown in the drawings.
Under the cooking plane 11 an oven 13 is arranged, in a per se known manner, thereby, for assembling the cabinet, the first bar is usually coupled to the first faucet 6, before assembling the cooking plane 11, whereas the second bar 3 is fixed to the control assembly 7 including said control knob, 8 before clamping the front panel 9 to the cabinet frame.
Thus, as said bars are mutually slidably driven, the length of the telescopic rod is automatically adjusted, based on the distance existing between the control assembly 7, on the front panel 9 and the faucet 6.
However, since, for driving the faucet 6 by the control knob 8 is necessary to apply an axially directed pressing force, before performing the rotary movement of the knob, the mutual sliding of the two bars 2 and 3 must be prevented or locked.
To that end, according to the present invention, is provided a means for locking the second bar with respect to the first, said means comprising a small block 14 which can slide unidirectionally on the second bar.
The block 14 comprises, to that end, an interference means, including a spring 15, having opposite fins 16, for interfering against the bar 3 to allow said bar 3 to slide unidirectionally, and, more precisely, in the extension direction of the telescopic rod, but not in the opposite direction.
More specifically, the small block 14 comprises a longitudinally extending recess 17 in which said bar 3 slides, and an annular recess 18, in which said spring 15 is engaged.
The latter can comprise two opposite fins or wings 16, as in the shown embodiment, or a different number of wings, depending on requirements, provided that said wings allow, owing to their slanting, the bar 3 to slide in the telescopic rod extension direction.
Thus, the small block 14 allows to lock the telescopic rod, constituted by the bars 2 and 3, at the desired length thereof, after having automatically adjusted the length of telescopic rod by mutually causing the bars to slide with respect to one another, based on the distance or spacing existing between the control knob assembly 7, on the front panel 9, and the faucet 6.
The locking of the telescopic rod can be performed through an opening on the front panel by operating, by a screwdriver or other elongated tool, on the block 14 which can be pushed, by causing it to slide along the bar 3, so as to abut against the end portion of the bar 2.
In this position, the wings 16 will prevent, by abutting, any further rightward sliding of the block 14, as shown in the figures.
Accordingly, as the bar 3 is axially pressed, leftward with respect to the figures, then this pressing force will be transferred, through the block 14, to the bar 2 and accordingly to the faucet 6.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention provides a control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements or planes, which can be installed in a much more quick and easy manner than in prior devices, and without using specifically designed tools or instruments.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements and the status of the art.

Claims

A control device for controlling faucets for cooking implements, characterized in that said control device comprises a telescopic rod, including at least a first bar and a second bar sliding within the first bar, and coupling a control knob to a faucet, said second bar including locking means for locking said second bar with respect to said first bar, said locking means comprising a sliding block which can slide on the second bar in a direction only.
A control device, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said block comprises interference means including a spring having opposite wings for interfering against said second bar, thereby allowing said second bar to slide unidirectionally, i.e. in the extension direction of the telescopic rod, but not in the opposite direction.
A control device, according to Claim 2, characterized in that said block comprises a longitudinal recess in which said second bar slides, and an annular recess in which said spring is engaged.
A control device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spring comprises at least two opposite and inclined wings, thereby said bar can slide only in the extension direction of said telescopic rod, i.e. in the withdrawing direction of the second bar from said first bar, thereby said block can apply an axial pushing force, in a direction opposite to the extension direction, from the second bar to the first bar.
A control device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bars, forming said telescopic rod, have free end portions comprising cardanic couplings respectively connected to a faucet and to a control assembly controlled by a control knob.
A control device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control device comprises one or more of the disclosed and/or illustrated characteristics.