The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1998
Robert J Alvord, Elmwood Park, IL (US);
Jeffery M Huffington, Geneva, IL (US);
Thomas F Glennon, Darien, IL (US);
Larry Motyka, Batavia, IL (US);
Ranco Incorporated of Delaware, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
In an appliance such as an oven for cooking food, the invention contemplates a user rotatable, single knob oven control device which provides both discrete and continuous control signals to the appliance controller. The discrete outputs indicate selection of oven features, and the continuous output the desired baking temperature. These inputs are selected by a user in response to rotation of a user interface knob mounted on a control panel. The control panel provides visual indication of oven cooking temperature selections through a first arc around the knob, and user selectable oven features (such as, e.g., OFF/CANCEL, BROIL, and CLEAN) in a second arc around the knob. The control device comprises a hub having a portion adapted to be drivably coupled to the user interface knob. The hub also includes a flange which has at least one cam. The device also includes a variable resistance element having a rotatable shaft in driving engagement with the hub. This element provides a variable resistance output in response to rotation of the shaft through the first arc. Additionally, the device includes a push button switch which is located external to the variable resistance element. The switch is also located in proximity with the flange such that rotation of the hub will bring the cam in contact with the switch to actuate it. This switch provides a discrete output when actuated by the cam to indicate a selection of one of the oven features.