US3527200A

US3527200A - Range control panel assembly

Info

Publication number: US3527200A
Application number: US814911A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert L Baltz; Elmer E Voeke
Original assignee: Eagle Range and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Eagle Range and Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1969-04-10
Filing date: 1969-04-10
Publication date: 1970-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-08

Description

United States Patent inventors Albert L. Baltz Millstadt; Elmer E. Voeke, Belleville, Illinois Applt No. 814,911

Filed April 10, 1969 Patented Sept. 8, 1970 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 765,394, Oct. 7, 1968, pending.

Assignee Eagle Range 8: Manufacturing Company Belleville, Ill. a corporation of Illinois RANGE CONTROL PANEL ASSEMBLY 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 126/42, 126/214 lnt. Ci. iF24c 3/12 Field of Search 126/42,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,793 6/1949 Conterno 126/42 2,539,840 1/1951 Jones l26/42UX Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Attorney--Cohn and Powell ABSTRACT: The range control panel assembly includes an elongate control panel, and inner and outer covers mounted on the panel in telescopic relation to each other. The inner cover is frictionally held in place at one end of the control panel by a guide plate which overlaps seating lips provided on the inner cover. The outer cover is provided with tongues which are slidably engageable within compatible grooves provided on the control panel. End caps are attached to each end of the control panel and are adapted to mount the assembly to a range.

Patented Sept. 8, 1970 3,527,200

W JAN/510251185 70 44 55m 4. 54472 z: x. 1 54/1/56 5. V0566 RANGE CONTROL PANEL ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCETO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 765,394, filed October 7, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to gas and electric ranges and particularly to a cover assembly for the range control knobs.

The control knobs on gas and electric ranges are usually attached to burner control stems which project directly from the frame of the range. This arrangement discourages the provision of any form of cover for the control knobs because such a cover would, of necessity, require attachment directly to the range frame or the paneling of the range frame.

Attachment ofa cover directly to the range body is a disadvantage because it entails the expensive adaptation of the range to suit the control panel since the cover must include hinges or tracks connected directly to the range frame.

Ideally, efficient control panel covers can serve several purposes. Obviously, they provide concealment of the control knobs. Such concealment not only enhances the appearance of the range unit as a whole, but also protects the control knobs from becoming coated with grease in cooking, overflow matter and the like. At least as important, the covering of the control knobs includes unintentional actuation by inadvertent body contact when the range is not in use. In addition, children are discouraged from playing with the control knobs when they are concealed.

Covers which are hinged do not meet this ideal criteria because they project outwardly from the range unit in the open position, and this feature is obviously objectionable because of the likelihood that the cover itself will provide an obstruction extending beyond the defined limits of the range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The control panel covers of this device are attached to a detachable control panel which is mounted on the range (gas or electric) by means ofend closure caps.

The covers are disposed in telescopic relation to each other, one of the covers being essentially fixed yet removable without the necessity of disconnecting fasteners. The other cover is slidable, relative to the fixed cover to conceal the control knobs which are located on a different portion of the control panel. When the slidable cover is in the closed position, the control knobs are concealed from view and cannot be unintentionally actuated.

The control panel assembly includes a control knob panel having closure end caps attached thereto and adapted to mount the panel to the range. lnterfitting first and second substantially U-shaped covers are disposed over the panel, the second cover being movable relative to the first.

The control panel includes a downwardly depending leg, an inwardly projecting leg and an intermediate body portion therebetween, angularly related to said legs and integrally formed therewith. A pair of laterally spaced, longitudinal grooves is disposed at the juncture of the legs and body portion of the panel.

A guide plate extends laterally across the panel and is attached thereto, the guide plate including opposed peripheral elements spaced from the panel and providing laterally spaced longitudinal recesses.

The first cover includes inwardly projecting elongate lips. The second cover includes inwardly projecting elongate tongues. The lips of the first cover seal said cover on the control panel, and each of the peripheral elements of the guide plate overlap an associated lip to retain said cover in place. The tongues of the second cover are slidably received in the elongate grooves ofthe control panel.

The first and second covers have a compatible shape, and each includes opposed, downwardly depending legs. The lips and tongues of the first and second covers respectively are located at the remote end of the legs.

In one embodiment, the peripheral edges of the guide plate are spaced from the control panel so as to hold the lips of the first cover in frictional engagement against the face of the control panel. In another embodiment, the peripheral element of the guide plates include substantially parallel edge portions, longitudinally aligned with the first cover and spaced to operatively spring the legs of the first cover and provide frictional engagement between said edge portions and the legs of the first cover. Either of these arrangements, or a combination of both, suffices to hold the first cover in frictional engagement with the panel so that the cover is fixed, though not, fastener attached, to the control panel.

The junction between the inwardly projecting leg and the intermediate body portion of the panel includes a shoulder in which one groove is located. The downwardly depending leg of the panel provides a face in which the other elongate groove is located. The tongues of the second cover project inwardly, substantially horizontally, whereby to ride in the grooves.

The end caps include inner and outer portions interfitting with respect to each other to conceal the connection of the end caps both to the panel and to the range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the control panel assembly mounted on the range;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view as taken through the control panel assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partly exploded view of the control panel assembly, illustrating the cover guide plates and the end cap mounting;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa modified guide plate; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the interrelationship between the inner cover and the modified guide plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the control panel assembly, generally indicated by numeral 10, is mounted on a range 11. The range 11 may be of gas or electric type and may be of more or less conventional construction except for the control panel assembly 10.

As shown in the cross section, FIG. 2, taken through the principal parts of the control panel assembly 10, the assembly 10 includes a control panel 12 carried by end caps 13 and 14, which are mounted to the range 11. Inner and

outer covers

17 and 18, constituting first and second covers respectively, are disposed in sliding relation to each other to conceal the control knobs 16 disposed on the panel 12. The knobs 16 are connected by stems 15 to the burner controls generally indicated by numeral 19.

The control panel 12 includes a downwardly depending leg 20 and an inwardly projecting leg 21. An intermediate body portion 22 extends between and is angularly related to the

legs

20 and 21, the

legs

20 and 21 and the intermediate body portion 22 being integrally formed.

Parallel

elongate grooves

23 and 24 are formed in the con trol panel 12 at substantially the juncture of the

legs

20 and 21 with the intermediate body portion 22. A shoulder 25 is provided at the juncture of leg 21 and the body portion 22. The groove 23, which is substantially horizontal, is formed in the shoulder 25. The groove 24, also substantially horizontal, is formed in the outer face of the downwardly depending legs 20, the upper portion of which, at the juncture of the leg 20 and body portion 22 also constitutes a shoulder. The

grooves

23 and 24 run longitudinally of the length of the control panel 12.

The inner and

outer covers

17 and 18 have a substantially U-shaped configuration to facilitate the nested, telescopic relation thereof, and each includes opposed substantially vertical,

resilient legs

26, 27 and 28, 29 respectively. Each vertical leg of the inner cover 17 is provided with inwardly projecting lips at its remote end. Each vertical leg of the outer cover 18 is provided with inwardly projecting tongues at its remote end. The

inner cover lips

30 and 31 areangularly related and seat the inner cover 17 on the intermediate body portion 22 of the control panel 12.

A pair of guide plates 32, constituting guide means each extends laterally of and overlies the control panel 12. Each plate 32 includes a pair of opposed

peripheral elements

33 and 34 overlapping associated

lips

30 and 31 respectively. The

peripheral elements

33 and 34 include associated edge portions 35 and 36respectively. The plates 32 are attached to the intermediate body portion 22 by means of fasteners 37. A pair of dimples 40 is provided on the underside of each guide plate 32, the dimples 40 constituting spacer means. Thus spaced, the

peripheral elements

33 and 34 provide a pair of substantially parallel recesses disposed longitudinally of the panel 12. The size of the recesses may be adjusted by tightening the fastener 37 and spacing the peripheral elements 33 and 34 a sufficient distance from the body portion 22 so that the projecting

lips

30 and 31 of the inner cover 17 may be" received within the recesses in pressure engagement to seat said

lips

30 and 31 on the panel 12. The recesses may be initially slightly narrower than the width of the

lips

30 and 31 received therein, and the

peripheral elements

33 and 34 may be sprung to accommodate the

lips

30 and 31. With the bearing dimples 40 arranged centrally as shown, the guide plates 32 may also be tilted slightly to receive the

lips

30 and 31. As a practical matter, a slight distortion of the

lips

30 and 31 along their length will allow the

lips

30 and 31 to be fed into the recesses, yet be firmly held in place.

In the preferred embodiment, the

opposed edge portions

35 and 36 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit springing of the

inner cover legs

26 and 27. When the

edge portions

35 and 36 of the plate 32 are thus spaced apart a greater distance than the unsprung distance between the

U-shaped legs

26, 27 at the line of engagement between the guide plate 32 and the cover 17, the

legs

26, 27 are operatively held in pressure engagement with the

edge portions

35 and 36 and hence with the guide plate 32.

An alternative guide plate which provides this springing feature is indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this modification, a single guide plate 41 is provided, which includes a substantially flat intermediate seating portion 42 and opposed peripheral portions 43 angularly inclined relative to the seating portion 42. A pair of fasteners 44 attaches the guide plate 41 in overlying relation to the body portion 22 of the control panel 12. Preferably, the peripheral portions 43 are cut back to provide engaging edge portions 44 at each end of the guide plate 41, rather than having such edges running continuously along the length of the guide plate 41. In effect, the angular relationship between the peripheral portions 43 and the seating portion 42 results in the seating portion 42 becoming a substitute for the spacer dimples 40 in the other embodiment. It will be clear that the peripheral portions 43 might also be joggled to achieve substantially the same effect.

The guide plate or plates are intended to provide a means of holding the inner cover 17 by pressure contact, in a substantially fixed position relative to the control panel 12 without direct connection by fasteners.

The

outer cover tongues

50 and 51 are substantially horizontally disposed and slidably engage associated

horizontal grooves

23 and 24. The outer cover 18 is spaced slightly from the inner cover 17 and embracingly disposed in telescopic relation therewith. Because of the sliding engagement of the

tongues

50 and 51 within associated

grooves

23 and 24, the cover 18 may be pulled by means ofa pull-knob 52'selectively across the display area 46 to conceal the control panel completely in conjunction with the inner cover 17.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be understood that the control panel assembly includes a pair of end caps 13 and 14 constituting a mounting means. These caps 13 and 14 are substantially similar, but oppositely formed. A description of end cap 13 will therefore serve for the other end cap 14. End cap 13 provides a closure means for the control panel assembly 10 and, importantly, a means of mounting the assembly 10 to the '65 registrable with the open screw sockets 60. This arrangement permits the attachment of each cap portion 61 to the control panel 12. When each inner cap portion 61 has been secured to the panel 12, the outer cap portion 62 may be attached to the associated inner cap portion 61. When this attachment has been effectuated, the control panel assembly 10, including the end caps 13 and 14, may be mounted to the range support 30. This mounting is accomplished by placing the threaded apertures 66, provided in the far side of the inner portion 61 in register with enlarged associated apertures 67 in the far side of the outer cap portion 62, and then aligning these in-register apertures 66-67 with the apertures 68 provided on the range 11. Apertures 66 and 67 are brought into register by moving the outer cap portion 62 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3.

The downwardly depending leg 20 includes an elongate recess 70 which accommodates and receives a decorative plate 71. In the preferred embodiment, the control panel 12 is constructed of extruded aluminum.

It is thought that the functional advantages of this control panel cover assembly have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the installation of the assembly 10 will be briefly described.

The inner cover 17 and the outer cover 18 are preferably substantially the same length with a slight overlap longitudinally, so that no gap exists when these two covers are in the closed position. The guide plates 32 are attached to the body portion 22 of the panel 12 such that the plates 32 are located on the panel 12 within the length of the inner cover 17 in the installed position. When the guide plates 32 are attached to the control panel 12, there is a recess formed by the space between the peripheral edges 33 and the upper face of the control panel 12. This recess is such that the

lips

30 and 31 of the inner cover 17 may be received in frictional engagement within the recesses. The pressure engagement between these surfaces is such that an operator may, by using sufficient force, push the

lips

30 and 31 of the cover 17 under the guide plates 32 into an installed, substantially fixed position at the end of the panel 12. The width of the plates 32 between the

edges

35 and 36 is such that the inner cover 17 is sprung outwardly slightly, and the resilient nature of the sheet material forming the cover 17 is such that the length of the cover 17 engages the bearing edges 33 and 34 with sufficient force to provide pressure contact between the guide plates 32 and the cover 17 tending to frictionally retain the cover 17 on the control panel.

The outer cover 18 may be emplaced before or after the end caps 13 and 14 are fitted. If the end caps 13 and 14 are in place, the outer cover 18 may be sprung open over the inner cover 17 and the

elongate tongues

50 and 51 interfitted within the associated

grooves

23 and 24 provided for them on the control panel 12. If the end caps 13 and 14 are not in place, then the outer cover 18 may simply be threaded into position.

The end caps 13 are mounted by first interconnecting the inner cap portion 61 by means of threaded fasteners passing through the apertures 65 into the socket portions 60 disposed in the control panel 12. The outer fascia cap portion 62 may then be slipped into place and the assembly, as a whole, is ready for mounting on the range 11. This is accomplished by aligning the apertures 68 on the range with the corresponding. apertures 66 and 67 in the inner and

outer covers

17 and 18 respectively, and by means of threaded fasteners mounting the assembly as a whole to the range 11. It will be understood that the end caps 13 and 14 act as stops for the

covers

17 and 18.

With the arrangement as described, it is particularly easy to remove the

covers

17 and 18, even though the assembly as a whole is installed on a range. Such removal is accomplished by springing the leg of the outer cover 18 lifting it clear of the inner cover 17. By applying sufficient force, the inner cover 17 may be pulled longitudinally away from the guide plate 32.

When such movement is accomplished, the inner cover 17 may be simply lifted free of the range.

We claim:

1, A control panel cover assembly for a range, comprising:

a. a control panel including substantially parallel elongate grooves disposed longitudinally of the panel;

b. a first substantially U-shaped cover including inwardly projecting lips;

c. guide means attached to the panel and including at least one peripheral element spaced from the panel, the peripheral element overlapping an adjacent lip of the U- shaped cover to retain the cover on the panel, the guide means and the first cover having a pressure contact therebetween tending to retain said first cover on the panel;

d. a second substantially U-shaped cover disposed in lapped, movable relation to the first cover and including substantially parallel elongate tongues slidably engaging associated grooves on the panel; and mounting means mounting the panel to the range.

A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the guide means includes a plate extending laterally ofthe panel and providing a pair of opposed peripheral elements; and the peripheral elements are spaced outwardly from the panel to provide substantially parallel recesses disposed longitudinally of the panel, the recesses receiving the projecting lips of the first cover in pressure engagement between the peripheral elements and the panel to seat the lips on the panel,

. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the guide means includes a plate extending laterally ofthe control panel and providing a pair of opposed peripheral elements; the peripheral elements include associated edge portions engaging the legs ofthe first U-shaped cover; and

the edge portions of the plates being spaced apart a greater distance than the unsprung U-shaped legs at the engagement surface between the edge portions and the cover, whereby the legs are operatively disposed in pressure engagement with said edge portions.

A cover assembly as defined in claim 2, in which:

. the plate includes spacer means disposed inwardly of the peripheral elements and seating the plate on the control panel,

. A cover assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

. the plate includes a seating portion disposed between the peripheral elements and seating the plate on the panel; and

j. the peripheral elements are angularly inclined relative to the seating portion.

. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the panel includes a downwardly depending leg, an inwardly projecting leg and an intermediate body portion angularly related to said legs and integrally formed therewith; and

. the lips of the first cover overlie the body portion of the panel and seat the cover thereon.

. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

the panel includes spaced shoulders and an intermediate body portion between the shoulders, the body portion being angularly related to the shoulders;

g. the grooves are disposed transversely ol'the shoulders;

h. the first cover includes a pair ot'suhstantially vertical legs,

the inwardly projecting lips are provided substantially at r ng-n the remote end of the cover legs, the lips seating the cover on the body portion; and 1. the second cover includes a pair of substantially vertical legs, the tongues being provided at the remote ends ofthe last said legs.

8. A cover assembly as defined in claim 7, in which:

j. the panel includes a downwardly depending leg and an inwardly projecting leg;

k. the shoulders are provided at the junction of the inwardly projecting leg and the intermediate body portion of the panel; and

l. the grooves in the shoulders are substantially horizontal.

9. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

f. the mounting means includes a pair of opposed end caps carrying the panel and adapted to be attached to the range.

10. A control panel assembly for a range, comprising:

a. an elongate control panel including a downwardly depending leg, an inwardly projecting leg and an intermediate body portion therebetween angularly related to the legs and integrally formed therewith, the panel including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally aligned grooves;

. a first substantially Ushaped cover including a pair of opposed downwardly depending legs, each leg having an inwardly projecting lip at the remote end seating the cover on the panel to cover at least part of the body portion of the control panel;

c. guide means attached to the panel and including a guide plate overlying the body portion of the panel, the guide plate including a median portion attached to the body portion, and a pair of substantially parallel peripheral elements adjacent the median portion and substantially longitudinally aligned with the panel, each of the peripheral elements being spaced from the panel to operatively overlap an associated lip of the first cover, whereby to retain the cover in seated relation on the panel, pressure Contact between the peripheral elements and the legs of the cover tending to retain the cover in fixed relation to one portion of the panel;

d. a second substantially U-shaped cover having a compatible configuration with the first cover and being embracingly disposed in telescopic relation therewith, the second cover including a pair of substantially parallel elongate tongues slidably engaging associated grooves on the panel to selectively cover another portion of the panel; and

e. mounting means mounts the panel to the range.

11. A cover assembly as defined in claim 10, in which:

f. the peripheral elements of the plate include opposed substantially parallel edge portions longitudinally aligned with the first cover and spaced to operatively spring the legs of the first cover whereby to provide the pressure contact between the peripheral elements and the legs.

12. A cover assembly as defined in claim 10, in which:

f. the mounting means includes a pair of opposed end caps,

each end cap including inner and outer interfitting portions, the inner portion connecting the panel to the range and the outer portions concealing the connection and providing a closure.

l3. A cover assembly as defined in claim 10, in which:

f. the junction between the inwardly projecting leg and the body portion of the panel includes a shoulder incorporating one of said grooves;

g. the downwardly depending leg of the panel provides a second shoulder incorporating the other of said grooves; and

h. each of said grooves being substantially horizontally disposed within said shoulders and the elongate tongues being substantially horizontal to seat the second cover in said grooves.