EP3505829A1

EP3505829A1 - A cooking appliance having a control knob

Info

Publication number: EP3505829A1
Application number: EP18210970.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nizami Es; Emre Yunus; Mustafa Mert; Serhat Yavuz
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2017-12-27
Filing date: 2018-12-07
Publication date: 2019-07-03
Also published as: TR201722040A2

Abstract

The present invention proposes a cooking appliance (100) comprising a body (40), a control panel (50), an electrical element (60) for adjusting a power level of a heat source, the electrical element (60) comprises a shaft (70) extending through the control panel (50) and a control knob (80) is connected to the shaft (70) for rotating the shaft, wherein said control knob (80) comprises an essentially hollow outer body (1) having an inner face (15), and an inner body (2) which is at least partly positioned inside the outer body (1). As an improvement, the outer body (1) is provided with at least one protrusion (12), a wall element (3), fixed to the control panel (50), is provided with at least one recess (31) and both of the protrusion (12) and the recess (31) are being sized and shaped to engage each other at a locked position so that the outer body (1) is not to be rotated.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance according to the preamble of claim 1. In particular, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance with a control knob connected to a shaft of an electrical element.

Background of the invention

Child safety is a highly important issue in arrangement of technical features at designing cooking appliances. Status of an ordinary cooking appliance can be easily altered merely by rotating a control knob controlling the appliance. Cooking appliances with basic push-to-engage control knobs are also available in the market, yet generally they can be easily manipulated merely by pushing the control knob and then rotating it. By being not complicated, this procedure can be mimicked and learned by young children and therefore such cooking appliances still cannot guarantee the safety in the sense introduced above. In the known state of the art, it can be reached to child safety embodiments applied to a switch or electrical elements of the cooking appliances. However, these solutions are expensive and the outer appearances of the control knobs are redesigned in these solutions.
Hence, it is desirable to improve cooking appliances considering the abovementioned shortcomings.
In the patent application numbered DE102005032509 A1 , the device has a grip part connected with a servo-spindle in a movably transferable manner. The grip part is pivotable around a rotation axis in and from a position locked by a locking device. An integrated pressable-rotary mechanism loosens the locking device by an actuating movement of the grip part. The locking device has two resting units that are movable relative to each other with the grip part.

Objects of the invention

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance with enhanced safety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance with enhanced child safety at each power level of the heat source indicated visually on the control knob.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance with facilitated use without compromising the safety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance with cost-effective safety solution without compromising esthetic appearance of the control knob.

Summary of the invention

The present invention proposes a cooking appliance comprising a body, a control panel, an electrical element for adjusting a power level of a heat source, the electrical element comprises a shaft extending through the control panel and a control knob is connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft, wherein said control knob comprises an essentially hollow outer body having an inner face, and an inner body which is at least partly positioned inside the outer body. As an improvement, the outer body is provided with at least one protrusion, a wall element, fixed to the control panel, is provided with at least one recess and both of the protrusion and the recess are being sized and shaped to engage each other at a locked position so that the outer body is not to be rotated. Thus, the enhanced safety for the control knob of the cooking appliance is provided. Said enhanced safety of the control knob can be provided for one or more power level of the heat source. In other words, the child safety can be provided for one or more rotation positions of the control knob. Thus, the numbers of the protrusions and recesses can be arranged according to child safety positions of the control knob. On the other hand, the users can sense a tactile effect of the control knob and select the correct power level of the heat source easily from the control knob. Here, the feature "the unlocked position" means that the outer body can be rotated and the power level of the heat source can be adjusted according to the rotation of the control knob and conversely, the feature "the locked position" means that the outer body cannot be rotated and the power level of the heat source cannot be adjusted according to the rotation of the control knob. Here, said electrical element can be any kind of electrical element such as a switch for adjusting the power level of the heat source.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the inner face of the outer body being provided with one or more coupling means and the inner body being provided with one or more guides shaped and sized to engage with and guide the coupling means at an unlocked position so that they rotate together, when the outer body is pushed and rotated. Thus, the desired power level of the heat source is adjusted.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is provided on the inner face of an end of the outer body, wherein the recess is provided on a periphery of the wall element and wherein the wall element is at least partly positioned inside the outer body and thus the protrusion corresponds the recess when the control knob is at the locked position. Thus, a cheap child safety solution is provided over the control knob. Moreover, the recesses and protrusions are not seen from outside of the control knob. Therefore, the cost-effective child safety solution without compromising esthetic appearance of the control knob is provided. Here, the feature "at least partly" means that a part of a wall element can be positioned inside the outer body and a remaining part of the wall element can be positioned outside of the outer body or the wall element can be fully positioned inside the outer body.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the wall element has a step providing a hollow space between the control panel and the wall element; and wherein the protrusion locates at said hollow space when the outer body is pushed towards the control panel and then said outer body is rotated for transitioning the control knob from the locked position to the unlocked position. Thus, transition of the control knob from the locked position to the unlocked position is provided.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the wall element has at least one first hole, the control panel has at least one first corresponding hole and wherein a mounting element passes through said first hole and first corresponding hole in order to fix the wall element to the control panel. Thus, the wall element is statically fixed to the control panel for not to move when the control knob is rotated. The mounting element is preferably a screw.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the wall element has a second hole, the control panel has a second corresponding hole and wherein the shaft passes through said second hole and second corresponding hole. Thus, the shaft extends from the rear side to the front side of the control panel. Therefore, an end of the shaft, wherein the control knob is connected to the end of the shaft, is provided at the front side of the control panel.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, a first spring element is provided between the outer body and inner body. Thus, an axial movement of the outer body relative to the inner body is provided by the spring force of the first spring element in response to the eliminated pushing force. Here, the first spring element can be a helical spring that compresses when an external force is applied on it.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the outer body is provided with at least one blocking means that blocks an axial movement of the outer body in a direction away from the control panel. Thus, a potential separation of the outer body and the inner body is eliminated, when the outer body moved in the direction away from the control panel.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the inner body has a slot, which corresponds with the blocking means in order to guide said blocking means. Thus, the slot guides the blocking means when the outer body rotates together with the inner body. Also, said slot guides the blocking means when the outer body is pushed towards the control panel.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the inner body has a shaft connection housing and wherein a second spring element is positioned inside said shaft connection housing for fixing the shaft to the shaft connection housing in a tightened manner. Thus, a potential separation of the shaft and the control knob is eliminated. Here, the second spring element can be a leaf spring.
In a probable embodiment of the invention, the cooking appliance is a domestic oven and the electrical element is a switch of said domestic oven.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying the invention whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in detail hereinafter:

Fig.1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary cooking appliance according to the present invention.
Fig.2 demonstrates an exploded view of an exemplary control knob embodiment in the cooking appliance according to the present invention.
Fig.3 demonstrates a longitudinal section view of the control knob and the wall element fixed to the control panel of the cooking appliance according to the present invention.
Fig.4 demonstrates a perspective view of the control knob and the wall element according to the present invention.
Fig.5 demonstrates a rear view of the outer body of the control knob according to the present invention.
Fig.6 demonstrates a perspective view of the wall element of the cooking appliance in a second embodiment according to the present invention.
Fig.7 demonstrates a rear view of the wall element of Fig.6
Fig.8 demonstrates a perspective view of the control knob and the wall element when the control knob is at the locked position.
Fig.9 demonstrates a longitudinal section view of the control knob connected to the shaft when the control knob is at the locked position.
Fig.10 demonstrates a perspective view of the control knob and the wall element when the control knob is at the unlocked position.
Fig.11 demonstrates a longitudinal section view of the control knob connected to the shaft when the control knob is at the unlocked position.

Detailed description of the Figures

Referring to Fig.1 and 2, a cooking appliance (100) according to the present invention comprising a body (40), a control panel (50), an electrical element (60) for adjusting a power level of a heat source, said electrical element (60) comprising a shaft (70) extending through a second corresponding hole (503) the control panel (50) and a control knob (80) connected to the shaft (70) for rotating the shaft (70). In a possible embodiment of the invention, said control knob (80) is a push-to-engage type control knob.
Referring to Fig.2 and 3, the control knob (80) comprises an essentially hollow outer body (1) having an inner face (15) and an inner body (2) which is at least partly positioned inside said outer body (1). The outer body (1) is essentially provided in a hollow cylindrical shape. There is a first spring element (4) positioned between the outer body (1) and inner body (2). In a possible embodiment of the invention, said first spring element (4) is a helical spring that compresses when an external force is applied on it. There is a wall element (3) fixed to the control panel (50). The wall element (3) is essentially provided in a circular shape. Said wall element (3) has at least one first hole (32) and a front wall (501) of the control panel (50) has at least one first corresponding hole (502) corresponding said first hole (32). A mounting element (e.g. a screw) passes through said first hole (32) and first corresponding hole (502) in order to fix the wall element (3) to the control panel (50). Furthermore, the wall element (3) has a second hole (33) and the control panel (50) has the second corresponding hole (503) corresponding to said second hole (33). The shaft (70) of the electrical element (60) passes through said second hole (33) and second corresponding hole (503). The inner body (2) has a shaft connection housing (22) extending towards the control panel (50). A second spring element (5) is positioned inside the shaft connection housing (22) for fixing the shaft (70) to said shaft connection housing (22) in a tightened manner. In a possible embodiment of the invention, said second spring element (5) is a leaf spring. The wall element (3) is at least partly positioned inside the outer body (1), when the control knob (80) is connected to the shaft (70). In a possible embodiment, the front wall (501) has a deepening (504) corresponding to the outer body (1). Said deepening (504) shaped and sized according to the outer body (1). The wall element (3) is at least partly located inside said deepening (504) and the corresponding holes (502, 503) are embodied on a face of said deepening (504). Referring to Fig.2-5, the inner face (15) of the outer body (1) is being provided with one or more coupling means (11). The inner body (2) is being provided with one or more guides (24) shaped and sized to engage with and guide said coupling means (11) at an unlocked position of the control knob (80). Said unlocked position means that the outer body (1) can be rotated around a primary axis (A) and the power level of the heat source can be adjusted according to the rotation of the control knob (80). Furthermore, the outer body (1) is provided with at least one blocking means (13) extending from the inner face (15) towards the inner body (2). Moreover, the outer body (1) is provided with one or more protrusion (12). In a possible embodiment, the protrusions (12) are provided on the inner face (15) of an end of the outer body (1). Said end of the outer body (1) is placed close to the control panel (50), when the control knob (80) is connected to the shaft (70).
Referring to Fig.6 and 7, the wall element (3) of a second embodiment in a present invention, which is fixed to the control panel (50), is provided with one or more recess (31). Said recesses (31) are provided on a periphery of the wall element (3) at regular intervals. The first holes (32) of the wall element (3) can meet with the recesses (31) as shown in Fig.7. In a possible embodiment, the wall element (3) has two first holes (32) and these first holes (32) meet with the corresponding recesses. The wall element (3) can be made of any plastic and/or metal material having a high hardness value.
Referring to Fig.8 and 9, the control knob (80) is connected to the shaft (70) of the electrical element (60). In more details, the shaft (70) is fixed inside the shaft connection housing in a tightened manner by the second spring element (5). The blocking means (13) is positioned inside a slot (21) of the inner body (2). In a locked position of the control knob (80), said blocking means (13) abuts to an inner wall (23) of the inner body (2). In more details, said blocking means (13) abuts to the inner wall (23) at an end position in the direction away from the control panel (50). The first spring element (4) is not compressed, when the control knob (80) is at the locked position. Furthermore, the protrusions (12) and the corresponding recesses (31) are engaged with each other when the control knob (80) is at the locked position. Said locked position means that the outer body (1) cannot to be rotated around the primary axis (A) and thus the power level of the heat source cannot be adjusted.
Referring to Fig.10 and 11, the wall element (3) has a step (34) providing a hollow space between the control panel (50) and wall element (3). The protrusion (12) locates at said hollow space, when the outer body (1) is pushed towards the control panel (50) and rotated to transition the control knob (80) from the locked position to the unlocked position. Said hollow space guides the protrusions (12). In more details, the protrusions (12) engage with the recesses (31) at the locked position and, disengage from the recesses (31) at the unlocked position. The first spring element (4) is compressed, when the control knob (80) is at the unlocked position.
In the present invention, the control knob (80) is at the locked position when it is connected to the shaft (70). In the locked position, the blocking means (13) abut to the inner wall (23). Thus, a possible separation of the outer body (1) from the inner body (2) is prevented. Furthermore, the protrusions (12) engage with the corresponding recesses (31). Thus, the outer body (1) cannot be rotated around the primary axis (A). The control knob (80) is at the unlocked position, when the outer body (1) is pushed towards the control panel (50) in an axial direction and rotated around the primary axis (A) after a pushing action. In other words, the outer body (1) moves in the axial direction relative to the inner body (2) and rotates together with the inner body (2). In more details, the coupling means (11) engage with the corresponding guides (24) and also the blocking means (13) move inside the slots (21), when the outer body (1) is pushed. The outer body (1) can be rotated together with the inner body (2) after the pushing action. The protrusions (12) disengage from the recesses (31) and locate inside the hollow space provided between the wall element (3) and the control panel (50) after the pushing action. Afterwards, each protrusion (12) engages with a next recess (31), when the outer body (1) is rotated around the primary axis (A) at a certain amount. A user can sense a tactile effect when the protrusions (12) engage with the next recesses (31). The outer body (1) moves in the axial direction away from the control panel (50), when each protrusion (12) engages with the next recesses (31). Thus, a further locked position for the control knob (80) is provided. Said locked positions can be provided at any engaging position of the protrusions (12) and recesses (31) according to the amount of the rotation of the control knob (80). The axial movement is provided by the first spring element (4) which is compressed when a pushing force is applied to the outer body (1). In more details, said first spring element (4) provides a spring force in response to an elimination of the pushing force, which moves inner body (2) and outer body (1) in direction of the primary axis (A) away from each other. The blocking means (13) abut to the inner wall (23) again in order to block said axial movement of the outer body (1) and prevent a possible separation of the outer body (1) from the inner body (2).
In a possible embodiment the invention, each recess (31) of the wall element (3) refers to the power levels of the heat source and the number of the protrusions (12) and the recesses (31) can be provided according to the number of power levels of the heat source of the cooking appliance.

List of reference numbers

1.: Outer body
11. Coupling means
12. Protrusion
13. Blocking means
15. Inner face
2.: Inner body
21. Slot
22. Shaft connection housing
23. Inner wall
24. Guide
3.: Wall element
31. Recess
32. First hole
33. Second hole
34. Step
4.: First spring element
5.: Second spring element
40.: Body
50.: Control panel
501. Front wall
502. First corresponding hole
503. Second corresponding hole
504. Deepening
60.: Electrical element
70.: Shaft
80.: Control knob
100.: Cooking appliance
A.: Primary axis

Claims

A cooking appliance (100) comprising a body (40), a control panel (50), an electrical element (60) for adjusting a power level of a heat source, the electrical element (60) comprises a shaft (70) extending through the control panel (50) and a control knob (80) is connected to the shaft (70) for rotating the shaft, wherein said control knob (80) comprises an essentially hollow outer body (1) having an inner face (15), and an inner body (2) which is at least partly positioned inside the outer body (1); characterized in that the outer body (1) is provided with at least one protrusion (12), a wall element (3), fixed to the control panel (50), is provided with at least one recess (31) and both of the protrusion (12) and the recess (31) are being sized and shaped to engage each other at a locked position so that the outer body (1) is not to be rotated.
The cooking appliance (100) according to the Claim 1, wherein the inner face (15) of the outer body (1) being provided with one or more coupling means (11) and the inner body (2) being provided with one or more guides (24) shaped and sized to engage with and guide the coupling means (11) at an unlocked position so that they rotate together, when the outer body (1) is pushed and rotated.
The cooking appliance (100) according to the Claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion (12) is provided on the inner face (15) of an end of the outer body (1), wherein the recess (31) is provided on a periphery of the wall element (3) and wherein the wall element (3) is at least partly positioned inside the outer body (1) and thus the protrusion (12) corresponds the recess (31) when the control knob (80) is at the locked position.
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall element (3) has a step (34) providing a hollow space between the control panel (50) and the wall element (3); and wherein the protrusion (12) locates at said hollow space when the outer body (1) is pushed towards the control panel (50) and rotated to be transitioned the control knob (80) from the locked position to the unlocked position.
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall element (3) has at least one first hole (32), the control panel (50) has at least one first corresponding hole (502) and wherein a mounting element passes through said first hole (32) and first corresponding hole (502) in order to fix the wall element (3) to the control panel (50).
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall element (3) has a second hole (33), the control panel (50) has a second corresponding hole (503) and wherein the shaft (70) passes through said second hole (33) and second corresponding hole (503).
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first spring element (4) is provided between the outer body (1) and inner body (2).
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer body (1) is provided with at least one blocking means (13) that blocks an axial movement of the outer body (1), in a direction away from the control panel (50).
The cooking appliance (100) according to Claim 8, wherein the inner body (2) has a slot (21) which corresponds with the blocking means (13) in order to guide said blocking means (13).
The cooking appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner body (2) has a shaft connection housing (22) and wherein a second spring element (5) is positioned inside said shaft connection housing (22) for fixing the shaft (70) to the shaft connection housing (22) in a tightened manner.
The cooking appliance (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the cooking appliance is a domestic oven and the electrical element (60) is a switch of said domestic oven.