Adjustable Knob Lock Bar for Gas Range Ignition Blocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas ranges pose a risk of accidental ignition due to unintentional activation of gas control knobs, particularly from bumps or unauthorized operation by children, leading to potential gas leaks and fires.
Innovation Solution
A detachable cross bar with individual knob locks that span the control width of the gas range, featuring adjustable slots and set screws to secure each gas control knob handle, preventing the knobs from being turned from the off to the on position when the security device is engaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas control knobs are made accessible for normal operation, then ease of operation is improved, but safety risk increases due to accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
A cross bar with knob locks is introduced as an intermediary device between the user and the gas control knobs. The cross bar can be positioned to block the knobs, requiring intentional removal or displacement of the cross bar to access the knobs for operation. This mediator prevents accidental activation while allowing deliberate operation when needed.
2Reliability
If a security device blocks gas control knobs to prevent accidental ignition, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when cooking is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The cross bar security device is designed to be dynamically repositionable and removable. It can be easily taken off or moved aside to allow access to the gas control knobs when cooking operations are required. This dynamic characteristic ensures that while safety is maintained during storage or non-use periods, operational accessibility is restored when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas off security device for a gas range, which includes a cross bar sized to span a control width of the gas range, is connected to the gas range via a left mount and a right mount. Each of a plurality of knob locks are slidably mounted on the cross bar and are used to define a slot sized to receive a handle portion of one gas control knob. The knob locks can be adjusted for different gas ranges via set screws that allow the knob lock to be set at a selected location along the length of the cross bar. The gas control knob is blocked from being turned from an off position to an on position when the cross bar is mounted to the gas range and the handle portion of the control knob is received in the slot of one of the knob locks.