초록 ▼

A gas appliance including a frame and a control knob assembly connected to the frame, the control knob assembly including a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint. The valve restraint is substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinal

A gas appliance including a frame and a control knob assembly connected to the frame, the control knob assembly including a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint. The valve restraint is substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinally disposed substantially between the gas valve and control knob, and is configured to limit lateral movement of the valve stem.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A gas appliance comprising: a frame including an aperture; anda control knob assembly comprising a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinally disposed in the aperture of the frame subst

1. A gas appliance comprising: a frame including an aperture; anda control knob assembly comprising a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinally disposed in the aperture of the frame substantially between the gas valve and the control knob, wherein the valve restraint comprises: a flange engaging the frame around the aperture; anda fastening device engaging the frame around the aperture opposite the flange and cooperating with the flange to form a channel, an edge of the aperture engaging the channel to secure the valve restraint within the aperture of the frame;the valve restraint including an aperture through which the valve stem passes, the valve restraint aperture being tapered from a first diameter at each end of the valve restraint to a smaller second diameter between the ends of the valve restraint, the valve restraint being configured to limit lateral movement of the valve stem. 2. The gas appliance of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the control knob extends through the valve restraint for limiting the lateral movement of the valve stem and the control knob. 3. The gas appliance of claim 1, further comprising a bezel mounted to the frame and disposed between the gas valve and the control knob. 4. The gas appliance of claim 3, wherein the valve restraint is formed by a flared aperture of the bezel or inserted into an aperture of the bezel. 5. The gas appliance of claim 3, wherein at least one of the bezel and the control knob includes a bushing contact surface and wherein the valve restraint conforms to a shape of the bushing contact surface of the at least one of the bezel and the control knob. 6. The gas appliance of claim 3, wherein the control knob assembly further comprises a valve stem cap, a cap interface and a cap interface housing, wherein the valve stem cap is disposed on an end of the valve stem, the cap interface is disposed over the valve stem cap and the cap interface housing is disposed over the cap interface, the cap interface housing being configured to interface with the valve restraint for limiting the lateral movement of the valve stem and the control knob. 7. The gas appliance of claim 3, wherein the bezel includes a light guide configured to illuminate at least a portion of the control knob for indicating a setting of the gas appliance. 8. The gas appliance of claim 1, wherein the control knob assembly is mounted to a control panel of the frame such that the control knob and the valve restraint are disposed on opposing surfaces of a wall of the control panel. 9. The gas appliance of claim 1, wherein the control knob includes a light guide for indicating a setting of the gas appliance. 10. The gas appliance of claim 1, wherein the control knob assembly is mounted to a control panel of the frame, at least a portion of the control knob assembly is adjustably connected to the frame to allow for misalignment between the gas valve and a corresponding aperture of the control panel of the frame. 11. The gas appliance of claim 1, wherein at least the valve restraint comprises a self lubricating material. 12. A control knob assembly for a gas cooking appliance, the gas cooking appliance having a control panel with at least one wall, the control knob assembly comprising: a gas valve including a valve stem having a longitudinal axis, the gas valve being disposed on a first side of the wall;a control knob non-rotatably connected to the valve stem, the control knob being disposed at least partly on a second side of the wall; anda bushing disposed along the longitudinal axis and in an aperture of the wall between the gas valve and the control knob, the bushing including an aperture through which the valve stem passes, the aperture of the bushing being tapered from a first diameter at each end of the bushing to a smaller second diameter between the ends of the bushing, the bushing being configured to limit lateral movement of the valve stem and the control knob;the bushing being substantially fixed relative to the wall and longitudinally disposed in the aperture of the wall, wherein the bushing comprises: a flange on a first side of the bushing and disposed on the second side of the wall; anda fastening device on a second side of the bushing opposite the flange, the fastening device cooperating with the flange to form a channel configured to receive a frame around the aperture and secure the bushing within the frame. 13. The control knob assembly of claim 12, wherein the-control knob assembly further comprises a bezel adjacent the control knob, the bushing being inserted into an aperture in the bezel. 14. A gas cooking appliance comprising: a control panel having at least one wall; anda control knob assembly mounted directly to the at least one wall, the control knob assembly including a gas valve with a valve stem, a bushing and a control knob, the valve stem and the control knob being connected to each other for simultaneous rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bushing including an aperture through which the valve stem passes, the aperture of the bushing being tapered from a first diameter at each end of the bushing to a smaller second diameter between the ends of the bushing, the bushing being configured to interface with one or more of the valve stem and the control knob for limiting lateral movement of the valve stem and the control knob,wherein the bushing comprises: a flange on a first side of the bushing and disposed on one side of the at least one wall; anda fastening device on a second side of the bushing opposite the flange, the fastening device cooperating with the flange to form a channel, the bushing being secured within an aperture of the at least one wall between the control knob and the gas valve by engagement of a wall portion surrounding the aperture of the at least one wall within the channel. 15. The gas cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the bushing is formed in the at least one wall or mounted to a side of the at least one wall. 16. The gas cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the control knob assembly further comprises a bezel disposed at least partially between at least part of the control knob and the at least one wall, the bezel forming the wall portion that surrounds the aperture of the at least one wall and the bushing being formed in the bezel or inserted into the bezel.