Control knob assembly

Abstract

A control knob assembly comprises a knob housing, a gripping portion, and a control valve interface portion, wherein the control valve interface portion is positionable in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the knob housing, and wherein the control valve interface portion is configured to be coupled to the gripping portion.

1 . A control knob, comprising: 
 a knob housing having an outer surface, an inner surface, and one or more side portions, the one or more side portions defining one or more openings between the outer surface and the inner surface of the knob housing;    one or more gripping portions having one or more gripping surfaces and one or more connectors, the gripping portions configured to be coupled with the outer surface of the knob housing at the one or more side portions, the one or more connectors configured to be positioned within the one or more openings defined in the side portions of the knob housing; and    a control valve interface portion comprising a core forming an elongated opening for receiving at least a portion of a control valve stem, the control valve interface portion configured to be coupled with the inner surface of the knob housing and with the one or more connectors of the one or more gripping portions.    
   
   
       2 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the control knob is configured to be coupled with a control valve of a cooking appliance.  
   
   
       3 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more side surfaces comprise first and second generally concave opposing surfaces.  
   
   
       4 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the control valve interface portion can be coupled with the knob housing in any one of a plurality of configurations.  
   
   
       5 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the knob housing defines one or more slots or grooves.  
   
   
       6 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the connectors comprise one or more elongate pegs.  
   
   
       7 . The control knob of  claim 1 , wherein the control valve interface portion comprises a base plate and a peripheral flange.  
   
   
       8 . The control knob of  claim 7 , wherein the base plate comprises one or more connectors for coupling the control valve interface portion with the knob housing.  
   
   
       9 . The control knob of  claim 7 , wherein the base plate comprises one or more openings arranged such that the pegs of the gripping portions can be coupled with at least some of the openings of the base plate when the control valve interface portion is positioned in one or more orientations relative to the knob housing.  
   
   
       10 . The control knob of  claim 7 , wherein the peripheral flange of the control valve interface portion extends from an outer portion of the base plate and away from the knob housing when the base plate is coupled with the knob housing.  
   
   
       11 . A control knob, comprising: 
 a knob housing having a first surface and a second surface;    a gripping portion configured to be coupled with the first surface of the knob housing; and    a control valve interface portion comprising a core forming an elongated opening for receiving at least a portion of a control valve stem, the elongated opening being defined by one or more inner surfaces of the central core, at least a portion of one inner surface being generally flat, the control valve interface portion configured to be coupled with the knob housing in any one of a plurality of positions, the orientation of the core relative to the knob housing in a first position being different than the orientation of the core relative to the knob housing in a second position, the control valve interface portion configured to be coupled with the gripping portion in any one of the plurality of positions.    
   
   
       12 . The control knob of  claim 11 , wherein the control knob is configured to be coupled with a control valve of a cooking appliance.  
   
   
       13 . The control knob of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping portion comprises one or more elongate pegs.  
   
   
       14 . The control knob of  claim 13 , wherein the control valve interface portion comprises one or more openings arranged such that the one or more pegs of the gripping portion can be coupled with at least some of the openings when the control valve interface portion is positioned in one or more of the plurality of positions relative to the knob housing.  
   
   
       15 . The control knob of  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the knob housing defines one or more slots or grooves.  
   
   
       16 . The control knob of  claim 15 , wherein the control valve interface portion comprises a one or more pegs for coupling the control valve interface portion with the one or more slots or grooves of the knob housing, in one of the plurality of positions.  
   
   
       17 . A cooking appliance, comprising: 
 a fuel source,    a cooking apparatus,    a control valve having a control valve stem, the control valve positioned between the fuel source and the cooking apparatus; and    one or more control knobs, comprising: 
 a knob housing;  
 one or more gripping portions coupled with the knob housing; and  
 a control valve interface portion coupled with the knob housing, the control valve interface portion comprising a core forming an elongated opening, the core coupled with at least a portion of the control valve stem, at least one of the one or more gripping portions coupled directly to the control valve interface portion.  
   
   
   
       18 . The cooking appliance of  claim 17 , additionally comprising one or more bezels, the bezel having a base portion, an outer rim portion, and an inner generally cylindrical flange portion.  
   
   
       19 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the outer rim portion and the inner generally cylindrical flange portion of the bezel define a space for receiving at least a portion of a peripheral flange extending from the control knob.