Appliance Knob Stabilization Bushing and Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern home appliances experience lateral movement or 'wiggle' of appliance knobs due to oversized holes in panels and lengthy shafts, leading to reduced usability, stability, and ergonomics during control operations.
Innovation Solution
An appliance knob stabilization device comprising a bushing with a first passage for the knob shaft and a flange with a second passage for the actuatable component shaft, forming a continuous passage to securely engage the knob shaft with the component shaft, reducing lateral movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an oversized hole in the panel is used to allow the appliance knob shaft to align with and engage the appliance shaft, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the appliance knob deteriorates due to lateral movement or 'wiggle' of up to approximately 0.635 centimeters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stabilization device as an intermediary component between the appliance knob shaft and the appliance shaft. This device includes a bushing with a first passage that receives the appliance knob shaft, and a flange with a second passage that receives the appliance shaft. The flange is mounted behind the front panel, and the two passages cooperatively form a continuous passage that guides both shafts, thereby reducing lateral movement while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a lengthy appliance shaft is used to reach the actuatable component disposed in spaced apart relation, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability of the appliance knob deteriorates due to increased lateral movement
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device serves as a mediator that supports the lengthy appliance shaft while it extends through the front panel to reach the actuatable component. The flange portion of the device is mounted behind the panel and provides support at the location where the shaft connects to the actuatable component, thereby reducing lateral movement along the entire length of the shaft while maintaining the necessary adaptability for spaced apart components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the appliance knob shaft is received within the bushing's first passage, and the appliance shaft is received within the flange's second passage. The two passages cooperatively form a continuous passage, creating a nested arrangement that stabilizes both shafts while allowing them to maintain their respective functions and lengths.
3Ease of manufacture
If the appliance knob shaft is allowed to move laterally to accommodate misalignment, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of the control operation deteriorates due to reduced precision
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device acts as an intermediary that maintains reliable control operation despite the oversized hole in the panel. The bushing and flange with their precisely fitted passages ensure that the appliance knob shaft and appliance shaft remain properly aligned throughout operation, preventing lateral movement that would compromise control precision while still allowing for ease of manufacture with the oversized panel hole.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance knob stabilization device includes a bushing defining a first passage receiving an appliance knob shaft of an appliance knob therein. The device includes a flange having a radially extending first surface with the bushing being integral therewith and extending axially therefrom. The first surface of the flange is mountable behind a front panel of an appliance such that the bushing extends outwardly through an opening defined in the front panel. The flange defines a second passage receiving an appliance shaft operably engaged with an actuatable component in the appliance. The first passage and the second passage cooperate to form a continuous passage. The appliance knob shaft engages the appliance shaft along the continuous passage to reduce lateral movement of the appliance knob perpendicularly to the appliance shaft during rotational actuation of the actuatable component by the appliance knob. An associated method is also provided.