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:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1999
James E. Pearson, Downers Grove, IL (US);
Ronald S. Joyce, Elk Grove Village, IL (US);
Paul H. Tuma, Lombard, IL (US);
Ranco Incorporated of Delaware, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
An appliance controller and its control shaft as well as a method for attaching a control knob to a control shaft are presented. The controller includes a control shaft body having a central bore and including at its forward end two cantilevers having outwardly facing detents. These detents are adapted to engage an engagement slot of a control knob. The control shaft body also includes at its rearward end two slots forming rear cantilevers having positioning detents. A locking rod is positioned within the bore of the control shaft body. It has a forward end adapted to prevent inward deflection of the forward cantilevers when it is in a locked position. This forward end is further adapted to preclude outward deflection of these cantilevers during insertion. The rearward end of the locking rod includes radially extending tabs which prevent the locking rod from being removed from the housing of the controller. This configuration allows for the securing of the control knob on the shaft from the front of the appliance by simply inserting the knob on the end of the shaft, and pushing the shaft to its retracted position. The positioning detents are then forced to engage the radially extending tabs to lock the rod in the locked position, preventing subsequent removal of the knob.