US2171933A - Stove - Google Patents

Description

B. B. KAHN Sept. 5, 1939.

STOVE Filed Sept. 23, 1935 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOVE corporation of Ohio Application September 23, 1935, Serial No. 41,694

8 Claims.

This invention relates to stoves.

Various more or less complicated constructions have heretofore been resorted to in avoidving the hazards incidental to exposed and freely accessible valve handles on stoves. The usual remedial method` involves the use of some form of closure which'is movable to a position in which the valve handles are concealed so that they may not be accidentally moved.

Such devices, even in their simplest form, represent an appreciable item of expense in the cost of a stove, and are additionally objectionable in that unless the construction is complicated to a degree that the closure member may move to a concealed position during intervals that the stove is in service the closure stands as an obstruction to the convenient use of the stove. Further complications obtain in that in stoves incorporation such constructions the handles are concealed during the interval that the stove is not in service and this in turn introduces the need of providing such closure devices with means to prevent movement to the closed position unless the valve handles are in the off position, or the provision of mechanism such that the valves are automatically closed by movement of the closure member to valve concealing position. Another purpose of such devices is to improve the appearance of the stove structure by concealing the projecting valve parts when the stove is out of service.

Although such devices perform the functions intended, there are objections to their use because they represent a material item in the cost of the stove, their use necessitates a manual act in order to make the handles accessible for operation, and they are usually cumbersome and unwieldy.

This invention contemplates a simple arrangement in a stove affording all of the advantages of the usual closure structure at but a fraction of the cost of such devices and incorporating additional advantages in that the valve handles are always exposed and freely accessible. An additional advantage obtains in that the part of the stove structure that cooperates with the valve handles has further utility. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the invention to provide simple and effective means in a stove for promoting safe operation and involving a cooperating interfltting relationship between an exposed and freely accessible fuel control handle and a housing portion of the stove.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a stove of an exposed and accessible fuel control handlewhich normally stands within the confines of an opening in a housing portion of the stove; the opening being of such contour as to prevent unintentional displacement of the handle.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a stove of a control handle having an operating range of travel for performing its normal function of control and having an additional range cf movement including a position in which the handlestands flush with a housing portion of lthe stove and within the confines of an opening in the housing portion. l Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims. v

In the drawing, which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is an elevational View of a stove constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig- 2 is a fragmentary sectional view as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig- 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken similarly to Fig. 2 and showing the valve operating handle in the position of use;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modified form of the invention; l

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a furthermodication of the valve handle structure.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, there is illustrated a stove having a cooking top Ill which overlies a compartment II having a bottom wall I 2. The compartment II serves as a housing for the cooking top burners of which one is shown and is designated by the numeral I3. The burner I3 has a control valve I4 communicating with a fuel supply manifold I5 which is shown as extending Within the compartment and which serves all of the cooking top burners. These burners, which may be arranged in any desired positioning, are preferably so related that the valves therefor stand in alignment with the valve stems and handles similarly related. A drip pan I6 is provided within the compartment. It rests on the compartment wall I2 and stands beneath the cooking top burners.

The burner valve I4 has a rotatable operating stem i8 which is shown extending horizontally toward the front face of the stove and terminating at substantially the plane of a closure member 2!! which serves as a housing portion for the compartment H. As the burner arrangement, described briey above, follows conventional practice it is thought that a clear understanding of the invention may be had without illustrating all of the burners and by giving the valve handles for the diiferent burners a common designating numeral 22.

The handle 22 that controls the supply of fuel to the burner i3 is mo-vably attached to the valve stem i8 so that it has a range of movement in addition to the operating range of travel. As shown, the handle 22 is pivotally attached as indicated at 23 so that the valve handle may swing on an axis perpendicularly related to the axis of rotation of the valve stern. The handle, as shown, is of the pendant type in that the portion depending from the point of attachment to the stem is of greater length than the portion projecting upwardly from this part of the handle. Also, in the form of handle illustrated the width is increased somewhat adjacent the point of attachment to the stem and, as shown, this portion of the handle is of generally circular contour.

The arrangement of the valve and the handle is such that the handle stands vertically in the off position of the valve and swings upon a horizontal axis during movement through the operating range of travel. The additional range of movement aiorded by the pivotal connection of the handle to the stem is such that the handle may stand perpendicularly to the stem axis and may be moved to an inclined position with respect to the stem axis. It is this latter movement which provides for an interlocking relationship with the closure member 20 whereby accidental valve movement is prevented.

The closure member 20, which is preferably constructed of sheet metal, extends for substantially the full depth of the compartment Il and is supported in such manner that it may readily swing to an open position to afford access to the interior of the compartment. As shown, the upper portion of the closure member 20 has a reverse bend as indicated at 24 for attachment to a similarly formed part 25 of the stove structure.

' The interrlt of these parts is such that the member 2i] may be pivotally swung outwardly from its normal vertical position for inspection or removal of the burners and for withdrawal of the drip pan. The member 20 has openings 26 therein corresponding in positioning to the handles for the cooking top burner valves and having coniiguration corresponding to the contour of said valve handles. The member 20 and handles v22 have a related positioning such that when the handles are in the off position and are standing in perpendicular relationship to the valve stems they lie in the plane of the member 2D so that the handles are confined within the openings 26 of the housing member. Further, when in this position the faces of the handlesare substantially iiush with the face of the housing member.

Such a relationship of parts permits the construction of a stove wherein the housing portion adjacent the cooking top burners may have a smooth and pleasing appearance. This desirable characteristic exists in a construction having the further advantage of handles that are continually exposed and freely accessible thus eliminating the need for the operator to perform a manual act in order to render the valve handles accessible for use. Although the handles in their normal position are prevented from being accidentally displaced due to the fact that they stand within the coniines of the housing openings which closely follow the conguration of the handles, they are readily actuated by merely moving the handles to an inclined position in which they may be turned through the operating range of travel.

To actuate a valve the operator merely pushes inwardly on the upper portion of the handle which causes the lower or actuating part to move outwardly to a position in which it may be readily grasped for control of the burner. As soon as the handle moves away from its normal closed position the upper handle portion 21 underlies the housing member 20 so that the handle is retained in the inclined position of use until returned to the oir position wherein it may move to a ush relationship with the housing member 20.

To facilitate operation of the handle'and to maintain it during its operating range of travel at an angle in which it may be readily grasped, means may be provided to maintain the angular relationship of handle to stem. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rearward side of the member 20 is provided with a curved cam member 29 that lies within the path of movement traversed by the upper portion 21 of the handle. One end of the cam terminates in an inclined portion 30 closely adjacent the member opening 25 so that upon moving the handle to the inclined operating position and upon starting the handle movement through its operating range of travel the cam will engage and will hold the upper portion of the handle depressed so that the lower operating portion remains in an accessible operating position.

If desired, means may be provided to yieldingly hold the handle both in its perpendicular position as well as in the position occupied during the operating range of travel. As shown in Fig. 6, a valve stem I8 may be provided having a rounded end portion 32 provided with spaced detent notches 33 and 34 for reception of a spring pressed ball 35 which stands within a recess 36 of the handle 22 and is urged toward detent engagement by a spring 31.. The detent notches 33 and 34 correspond in positioning to the two angular positionings of the handle. The detent structure therefore serves as a simple means of yieldingly maintaining the handle in either of its positions.

In order to further carry out the pleasing smooth and unbroken appearance of the stove front the stove structure is arranged so that the housing member 2U which serves as a closure for the compartment front may be readily moved to expose the interior of the compartment Without resorting to an exposed handle. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention an oven is provided beneath the burner compartment having a door 4I which is arranged to swing downwardly from a closed position in which the upper portion of the door closes againstthe compartment bottom wall I2. 'I'he compartment wall I2 along its front edge and adjacent the midportion of the compartment is provided with a notch 42 through which the operator may reach to pull forwardly on the housing member 20. To retain the member 20 in its normal closed position suitable latching means of any desired character may be provided. As shown, spring ngers 44 are provided at each side of the member 2U adjacent the lower edgethereof and are arranged to engage the stove structure to frictionally retain the member in the position of use.

Through utilization of the construction described simple means are afforded having the desirable safety characteristics which prevent unintentional valve actuation Without resorting to the cumbersome and expensive structures heretofore used, While retaining all of the advantages of such structures in that a smooth and pleasing frontal appearance obtains with the additional advantage of having the valve handles alvvaysI exposed and freely accessible. Such an arrangement likewise affords ready access to the burner compartment in that at times when the burner handles are in the off position the simple sheet metal housing member Which functions in interlocking relationship with the handles may be readily lifted to expose the interior of the compartment as for the withdrawal of the burners or the drip pan.

W'hile the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a stove, a fuel valve, and a rotatable valve handle therefor having a non-circular contour and having a valve operating movement, a housing Wall having a handle receiving opening, said Wall being positioned so that the handle stands normally within the opening and in flush relationship with the Wall, the Wall opening being shaped to the contour of the handle and to close- 1y receive the handle to normally prevent operating movement of the handle, said handle being movable from flush relationship in a different direction than that of the operating movement to a position out of flush relationship with the Wall in which valve operating movement is permitted.

2. In a stove, a fuel control comprising a rotatable valve stem and an operating handle therefor having a non-circular contour and having an operating range of travel, means pivotally connecting the handle to the valve stem for movement of the valve stem and for pivotal movement of the handle on the stem on an axis perpendicularly related to the axis of rotation of the valve stem, a housing member having an opening shapedto the configuration of said handle and adapted in one position of the handle to closely receive the handle Within the connes of the housing opening to restrain movement in the operating range of travel, the handle and housing cooperating to prevent valve movement When the flush relationship exists and permitting valve movement upon pivotal movement of the handle from flush relationship.

3. In a stove, a fuel control comprising a rotatable valve stem, a valve stem handle rotatable therewith and having a non-circular contour, a housing member having an opening shaped to the conguration of said handle adapted to close-.

ly receive said handle in flush relationship, means pivotally attaching the handle intermediate its ends to the valve stem adjacent the stem end for swinging movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stem from a position in which the handle stands within the ccnines of the member opening and is restrained in the operating range of travel to a position inclined with respect to the member and affording free movement in the operating range of travel.

4. In a stove having a pivotally mounted housing Wall Which normally assumes an upright position, a rotatable and tiltab-le fuel valve handle, a valve operated by rotational movement of said handle, said 'housing wall having an opening normally receiving said handle substantially flush with said Wall when the handle is in valve off position, the opening and handle having similar non-circular form and interlocking in the normal inoperative position of the handle so that tilting movement of the handle from its normal position is required before it can be rotated to control the valve, said handle when moved from valve oiT position to valve on position interlocking with the housing Wall to prevent pivotal movement of the housing Wall from its normal upright position.

5. In a stove, a fuel control comprising a valve handle rotatable about an axis during control movement and rockable to a tilted operating position with respect to said axis, said handle having a length exceeding its Width and simulating a bar-like form, a valve stem pivotally connecting to said handle on an axis extending transversely of the long dimension of the handle and affording an elongated portion at one side of the pivot axis that may be readily grasped when the handle is in its tilted position, a housing member having an opening therein substantially corresponding in configuration to the contour of the handle and positioned to receive the handle in one position to restrain movement thereof about said axis, said handle when rocked to its tilted position being inclined With respect to said member and unrestrained thereby, and means to hold the valve handle in its tilted position.

6. In a stove, a fuel control comprising a valve handle of non-circular contour rotatable through an operating range of travel and rockable to a tilted position with respect to its axis of rotation, a panel having a non-circular opening therein for intertting reception of the handle in one position to restrain movement thereof in the operating range of travel, said handle being movable through the operating range of travel when rocked to its tilted position with respect to the panel, and means to yieldably hold the handle in the position in which operating travel is restrained and to also yieldingly hold the handle in its tilted position.

7. In a stove having a burner, a burner valve, and a burner compartment in which the burner and burner valve are located, a rockable front panel for said compartment movable from a normal upright position to an open position for access to the compartment from the front thereof, a valve control pendant handle rotatable from a normal valve olf position about an axis perpendicular lto the normal position of the panel to control thev burner valve, said panel having an opening therein conforming in shape to the handle and adapted to interlock With the handle in one position in which movement of the handie about said axis is prevented, said handle being operable in a different direction than about said axis to a position released from its said interlock with the panel so that when the handle isv turned from its normal valve olf position it Will hold the panel against rocking movement from its no-rmal upright position.

8. In a stove having burners, a series of burner valves, and a. burner compartment in which the burners and burner valves are located, a

close fitting relationship vin one position of the panel in'which movementsI vof the handles about their said axes are prevented, said handles being individually movable in a different direction than that Vof the operating movements thereof to release the same from their close-fitting relationship with the panel, said handles and panel interlocking to prevent opening movement of the panel when a handle is turned about its said axis from its normal position.

BERTRAND B. KAI-IN.

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