Whirlpool Corporation

Thomas Ponick

Ledimara Mascarello

Rodrigo Tamanini

Sergio Ricardo Jager

Eduardo Sant'anna Martins

A knob assembly for a gas cooktop may include a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at an off position, a knob mechanism arranged between the knob and the cooktop, the knob mechanism including a first part arranged below an underside of the knob, and a second part connected to the first part via a spring mechanism, where the first part is fixed to the knob and configured to rotate with the knob and the spring mechanism is configured to bias against the rotation.

Knob mechanism for gas cooktop

A top panel of an appliance defines an appliance profile. A hinge assembly coupled to the appliance and an appliance lid allows the lid to pivot relative to the appliance between a lowered position in which the appliance lid rests horizontally above the appliance and a raised position in which the appliance lid defines a non-horizontal plane away from the appliance allowing access to at least a portion of the appliance. The hinge assembly includes one or more snap fit portions to engage the appliance profile of the appliance, such that the appliance operates as a cam and the one or more snap fit portions operates as a follower when in contact with the cam, thereby slowing the descent of the lid from the raised position to the lowered position by travel of the follower along the cam.

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Joinville, Brazil

Thomas Ponick