Knob assembly and cooking apparatus having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking apparatus knobs, particularly push and turn knobs, pose safety risks due to accidental operation, such as unintentional pressing and rotation, which can lead to fires or burns, especially when used by users, including children, and lack a simple and effective locking mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A knob assembly with a locking button that requires a separate press action before axial movement, featuring a distinct movement direction for the locking button different from the knob's rotation, and a button holder that can be operated independently to restrict or release the locking button, minimizing part count and ensuring the knob is not exposed outward.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push and turn knob is used to operate the cooking apparatus, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to accidental operation
Solution Approach 1:
The operation of the knob is segmented into two distinct actions: pressing the locking button in a first direction, and then rotating the knob in a second direction. This segmentation ensures that accidental operations are prevented because both deliberate, sequential actions are required to activate the cooking apparatus, thereby maintaining ease of intentional operation while improving safety
2Reliability
If a locking button is added to prevent accidental operation, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking button and the knob body are merged into a single integrated assembly where the locking button is disposed on the knob body. This integration allows the locking mechanism to be incorporated without adding separate, complex components, thereby improving safety while minimizing increases in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The knob assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the operational control for the cooking apparatus and the locking mechanism simultaneously. The locking button integrated on the knob body provides both the unlocking function and the operational interface, reducing the need for additional separate components and simplifying the overall structure
3Device complexity
If the locking button moves in the axial direction like the knob, then the structure is simplified, but the safety deteriorates due to accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking button is designed with asymmetric movement characteristics: it moves in a first direction (pressing direction) that is different from the second direction (rotation direction) of the knob. This asymmetry ensures that accidental activation is prevented because the locking button's movement path does not align with the knob's operational path, thereby improving safety while maintaining structural simplicity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a knob assembly and a cooking apparatus having the same. The knob assembly includes a base portion (110) through which a driving shaft (71) passes. The knob assembly includes a knob body (NB) rotated about the driving shaft (71) and linearly movable in an axial direction of the driving shaft (71). The knob body (NB) includes a locking button (140) having an operating portion (143) exposed externally. The locking button (140) has a first position at which the locking button interferes with the base portion (110) and the axial movement is restricted, and a second position allowing the axial movement. Therefore, only when the user first presses the locking button (140), is the knob body (NB) pressed in the axial direction to operate the cooking apparatus, ssuch that arbitrary operation or error of the knob assembly can be prevented by the locking button (140).