U.S. patent application number 11/270117 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for illuminated dial.
Invention is credited to David J. Popowich, Kerwyn Prescod, Christopher J. Reis, Simon Treadwell.
Application Number | 20070103884 11/270117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38003525 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070103884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Popowich; David J. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2007 |
ILLUMINATED DIAL
Abstract
An illuminated knob assembly includes a base. The base includes
an annular track on an upper base surface of the base. A PC board
is disposed in the track. The PC board includes a plurality of
light sources disposed on an upper board surface of the board. A
light transmitting plate is positioned over the PC board so as to
transmit light therethrough from the light sources. A bezel is
fitted over the light transmitting plate and includes gradated
openings corresponding to different conditions of operation. The
openings permit light to pass therethrough from the light
transmitting plate and a knob is disposed adjacent the bezel. The
knob includes a light pointer configured to receive and transmit
light from the light transmitting plate.
Inventors: |
Popowich; David J.;
(Brampton, CA) ; Treadwell; Simon; (Toronto,
CA) ; Prescod; Kerwyn; (US) ; Reis;
Christopher J.; (Brampton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles C. Valauskas;BANIAK PINE & GANNON
Suite 1200
150 N. Wacker Drive
Chicago
IL
60201
US
|
Family ID: |
38003525 |
Appl. No.: |
11/270117 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/23.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 19/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/029 |
International
Class: |
G01D 11/28 20060101
G01D011/28 |
Claims
1. An illuminated knob assembly, comprising: a base, said base
including an annular track on an upper base surface thereof; a PC
board disposed in said annular track, said PC board including one
or more light sources disposed on an upper board surface thereof; a
light transmitting plate positioned over said PC board so as to
transmit light therethrough from said one or more light sources; a
bezel fitted over said light transmitting plate and including
gradated openings corresponding to different conditions of
operation, said openings permitting light to pass therethrough from
said light transmitting plate; and a knob disposed adjacent said
bezel; said knob including a light pointer configured to receive
and transmit the light from said one or more light source.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is a flat ring
shape.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said base includes an inner
wall at an inner periphery thereof and an outer wall at an outer
periphery thereof.
4. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of spaced
stand off elements disposed in said track to separate said PC board
from said base.
5. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of spaced
base hooks, each of said plurality of spaced base hooks being
shaped and sized to engage a corresponding indent formed on an
inside of said bezel.
6. The assembly of claim 1, further including a base alignment pin
for orienting said PC board.
7. The assembly of claim 1, further including an access port formed
through said track portion of said base.
8. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said PC board is shaped and
sized to fit on said track between said inner wall and said outer
wall.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more light sources
is one or more light emitting diodes.
10. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said PC board further includes
a base alignment opening which cooperates with said base alignment
pin to orient said PC board on said base.
11. The assembly of claim 1, further including a pair of cap
alignment holes formed through said PC board for orienting said
light transmitting plate thereon.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting plate
includes a generally cylindrical portion with an outwardly
extending flange extending from said cylindrical portion.
13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said outwardly extending
flange includes a plurality of protrusions.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of protrusions
are gradated.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of protrusions
are gradated and correspond to indicate different settings of said
knob assembly.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said outwardly extending
flange further includes a single protrusion which corresponds to an
off position of said knob.
17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said bezel includes a central
opening sized and shaped to receive said knob.
18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said bezel includes bezel
openings sized and shaped to receive said plurality of protrusions
and said single protrusion.
19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting plate
and said light pointer are adapted to be in communication with said
one or more light source.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for
providing illumination. More particularly, the present invention is
directed to lighting systems and methods for providing illumination
to a control mechanism, and in particular, to a dial for a barbeque
or grill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Presently, about 80% of families in the United States own
and use a barbeque, also known as a grill. While once only a
summertime activity confined to the daytime, barbequing is now done
throughout the year, in all weather, and even after sunset. So they
may be used even when ambient light is low or largely non-existent,
many different types of apparatus and system in order to provide
illumination to barbeques.
[0003] Some of the known lighting systems attach to or around the
lids of the barbeque or are intended to be positioned on or around
the barbeque. These known systems take up valuable space of the
barbeque work surface and are vulnerable to physical damage during
use of the barbeque. For example, one such lighting system includes
a gooseneck-mounted lamp that is attachable to the barbeque by a
clamp.
[0004] An important aspect of operating a barbeque grill is
modulating the amount of heat generated at one or more cooking
surfaces or areas of the barbeque. This is typically accomplished
through the adjustment of one or more controls. The control is
typically a knob, lever or a suitable hand control mechanism. In a
gas grill, the control is attached to a valve that controls the
flow of fuel, typically propane, delivered to burners underneath
the cooking surface or surfaces. For example, during initial
lighting of a gas barbeque grill the one or more control knob is
typically turned to a position that permits full flow of fuel to
the one or more burners to light them. After lighting, the flow of
fuel is typically reduced to heat the grill to and maintain an
optimal cooking temperature. After the desired temperature is
reached, the flow of fuel may be further reduced to prevent
overheating or burning of the food.
[0005] Despite the importance of the operation of the controls of a
barbeque, the front vertical face of known barbeque grills are
poorly illuminated. Known lighting systems throw light above but
not generally perpendicular to the control panel. As a result, the
controls are only partially lit while portions of the controls and
control panel are in the shadow cast by the lights or not
illuminated at all.
[0006] In a low light condition, it can be difficult to detect the
setting of the control knob (or knobs where there are several
individually controlled burners) or correlate a setting of the knob
to a temperature of the grill.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a demand therefore for a simple, safe,
and effective assembly that provides illumination to a control knob
or control panel of a barbeque grill or any other application where
illumination is needed of a control knob. The present invention
satisfies the demand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has a principal objective of providing
illumination to at least one control knob. For purposes of this
application, the control knob will mean a single control knob or a
plurality control knobs that may be arranged as a control panel.
The invention is useful in a variety of applications including to
provide illumination to an otherwise conventional barbeque having
at least one control knob.
[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides an
illuminated control knob or dial which includes a base. The base
includes an annular track on an upper base surface of the base. A
PC board is disposed in the track. The PC board includes a
plurality of light sources disposed on an upper board surface of
the board. A light transmitting plate is positioned over the PC
board so as to transmit light therethrough from the light sources.
A bezel is fitted over the light transmitting plate and includes
gradated openings corresponding to different conditions of
operation. The openings permit light to pass therethrough from the
light transmitting plate and a knob is disposed adjacent the bezel.
The knob includes a light pointer configured to receive and
transmit light from the light transmitting plate.
[0010] These and other advantages, as well as the invention itself,
will become apparent in the details of construction and operation
as more fully described and claimed below. Moreover, it should be
appreciated that several aspects of the invention can be used in
other applications where illumination of a work surface or
operation area would be desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an illuminated
control knob assembly according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a base of the
illuminated control knob of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a PC board with
light source portion of the illuminated control knob of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the PC board
of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of a
light-transmitting plate portion of the illuminated control knob of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the
light-transmitting plate of FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the PC board
and light-transmitting plate fitted together;
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective view of a bezel of the
illuminated control knob of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the bezel of
FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a top perspective view of a knob and
pointer assembly of the illuminated control knob of FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of an assembled
illuminated control knob according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] An illuminated control knob assembly according to the
present invention is identified in the accompanying drawings at 20.
The assembly 20, in the illustrated embodiments, includes six main
parts, which of course, may be combined or rearranged, as is known
in the art, to make more or less than six parts. The parts of the
illustrated embodiment include a base 22, which is sized and shaped
to receive a printed circuit ("PC") board 24. The base 22 and PC
board 24 are sized and shaped to receive a light-transmitting plate
26. The combined base 22, PC board 24 and light-transmitting plate
26 cooperate so that they may fasten to a bezel 28 and thereby form
a dial 32. A knob 30, which may include a light-transmitting
pointer 34, may be sized and shaped to fit within the dial 32. How
each above part is configured, fits with the other parts and how
each functions will be shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-10 and
discussed below.
[0023] The base or base plate 22, in the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 is sized and shaped in the form of a flat ring 22A.
The base plate 22 includes an upper surface 36, defining a track
38, which is bordered by an inner wall 40 and an outer wall 42.
Both of the inner wall 40 and outer wall 42 are generally
perpendicular to the plane 36A in which the upper surface 36 lies
and generally parallel to each other so they extend in the same
upwardly direction. A plurality of raised stand off elements 44 are
spaced about the track 38. The stand off elements 44 function to
generally separate the base 22 from the PC board 24.
[0024] Interleaved with segments of the outer wall 42 is a
plurality of base hooks 46. The base hooks 46 are outward facing
hooks which function to fasten the base 22 to the bezel 28. The
track 38 also includes a base alignment pin 48, which serves to
cooperate with and orient the PC board 24 in a correct
configuration. The track 38 further includes an access port 50 that
provides access to the interior 32A of the dial 32 when fully
assembled, by electrical wiring, a loom or plug, etc. (not
shown).
[0025] FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 show a PC board 24, which is in the form of
a flattened ring to cooperate and fit with track 38 of the base 22
(see FIG. 2). The PC board 24 includes an upper surface 52 about
which a plurality of light sources, 54 e.g., light-emitting diodes
54, may be spaced about the upper surface 52.
[0026] A base alignment opening 56 is formed through the PC board
24. The base alignment opening 56 cooperates with the base
alignment pin 48 of the base 22 to position the PC board 24 on the
base 22. A pair of spaced cap alignment holes 58 may be formed
though the PC board 24 which function to align the
light-transmitting plate 26 on the PC board.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view and the bottom surface 60 of the
PC board 24. The bottom surface 60 includes a socket 62, which
functions to receive an electrical connection to supply electricity
(battery, A/C, solar, etc.) to one or more of the light sources 54
such as the one or more LEDs 54 on the top surface 52.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows the light transmitting plate 26 in greater
detail. In a preferred embodiment, the plate 26 is made entirely of
a light transmitting material, such as a clear or more preferably
translucent plastic. Of course, the plate 26 may be made of only
some transparent or translucent material. The plate 26 may be a
cylindrical body with a sidewall 64. The sidewall 64 includes an
inwardly extending first flange 66 at a lower edge thereof and an
outwardly extending second flange 68 at a top edge thereof.
Preferably, the material of the light transmitting plate 26 is
colored to enhance visibility thereof.
[0029] The inner or first flange 66 includes at least a central
wall 70 that forms a central opening 70A therethrough. The outer or
second flange 68 includes a plate top surface 76 including a single
protrusion 72 at a first position and a set of graduated
protrusions 74. As will be shown below in more detail, the single
protrusion 72 can be positioned through the bezel 28 to point to,
identify or indicate one position such as an "off" position (that
is, gas valve closed). The set of graduated protrusions 74 may be
positioned through the bezel 28 at positions corresponding to
varying rates of gas flow, i.e., low, medium and high, and so
on.
[0030] FIG. 6, shows an underside 80 of the plate 26 and the
central opening 70A formed in the inner flange 66. A pair of plate
alignment pins 78 is provided, which extends from the outer flange
68 to cooperate with the alignment holes 58 of the PC board 24 (see
FIG. 3).
[0031] FIG. 7 shows the PC board 24 in a position relative to the
underside 80 of plate 26. FIG. 8 shows the bezel 28, which may be a
frustoconical shape with a bezel opening 82 sized and shaped to
receive knob 30 (see FIG. 1). Spaced through the bezel 28 is a
plurality of gradated bezel openings 84 positioned, sized and
shaped to receive the graduated protrusions 74 (see FIG. 5) of
plate 26. High and low markings 86, 88 are provided on the bezel 28
to indicate a range of adjustments gradating from high to low.
Preferably, the size of the openings 84 gradate and correspond to
high to low settings of a flow valve of a barbeque, or the like
(not shown). An opening 88 is provided to receive the single
protrusion 72, which is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the
single protrusion at a point indicating that a valve (not shown) to
which the assembly 20 (See FIG. 11) is attached is in an off
position or condition.
[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates the indents 90 of the bezel 28, which are
sized and shaped to receive the base hooks 46 of the base 22 (see
FIG. 2) when the assembly 32 is fastened together with the PC board
24 and plate 26 in between and properly oriented.
[0033] FIG. 10 shows the knob 30 including a light-transmitting
pointer 34, which permits light from the light sources 54 (see FIG.
3) to indicate the position of the knob. The pointer may be made of
a transparent or translucent clear or colored material 92.
[0034] FIG. 11 shows assembly 20 with dial 32 and knob 30 being in
position in the dial. The knob 30 includes light-transmitting
pointer 34. The bezel portion 28 of the dial 32 includes single
protrusion 72 positioned through the bezel 28 to point to, identify
or indicate an "off" position (gas valve closed) and the set of
graduated protrusions 74 positioned through the bezel at positions
corresponding to varying rates of gas flow, i.e., low, medium and
high, and so on.
[0035] Whilst the above-described assembly is intended, in one
embodiment to be used with a barbeque, it is to be realized that
the assembly illustrated and described herein could be incorporated
in other apparati with similar or equivalent benefits for
illuminating any desired operation area.
[0036] Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw
attention to those features of the invention believed to be of
particular importance it should be understood that the Applicants
claim protection in respect of any patentable feature or
combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in
the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed
thereon. While the apparatus and method herein disclosed forms a
preferred embodiment of this invention, this invention is not
limited to that specific apparatus and method, and changes can be
made therein without departing from the scope of this invention,
which is defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *