Gas-fired cooking griddle

Abstract

A cooking griddle has a burner with a valve controlling gas flow to the burner. The valve is rotatable through an increased arc for controlling flow of gas to the burner. A knob for rotating the valve includes indicia for indicating a relative position of the valve.

1 . A cooking appliance comprising: 
 an appliance body;    a griddle top having a cooking surface, said griddle top being disposed on and supported by said appliance body;    a substantially enclosed space beneath said griddle top, said space having limited viewing access thereto;    a burner disposed in said substantially enclosed space;    a gas manifold in fuel flow communication with said burner;    a valve for controlling fuel flow from said manifold to said burner, said valve including a valve body and a rotatable stem, said stem being rotatable through a range of greater than about 180° for adjusting fuel flow from said manifold through said valve and to said burner; and    a knob on said stem exposed on a viewable surface of said appliance body, with at least one of said knob and said appliance body including indicia for indicating a relative position of said knob.    
   
   
       2 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.  
   
   
       3 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , including at least one open burner defining a cooking location different from said griddle, said open burner being in fuel flow communication with said gas manifold.  
   
   
       4 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , said indicia being at least on said knob.  
   
   
       5 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , said indicia including visually apparent markings on each said knob and said appliance body.  
   
   
       6 . The cooking appliance of  claim 5 , said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.  
   
   
       7 . The cooking appliance of  claim 5 , including at least one open burner defining a cooking location different from said griddle, said open burner being in fuel flow communication with said gas manifold.  
   
   
       8 . The cooking appliance of  claim 7 , said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.  
   
   
       9 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1 , said stem being rotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.  
   
   
       10 . A gas cook top, comprising: 
 at least one open burner providing an open flame cooking location;    a griddle area having a griddle top and a substantially enclosed griddle burner with limited viewing access to said griddle burner beneath said griddle top;    a gas manifold in fuel flow communication with said open burner and with said griddle burner; and    a griddle valve having a valve body and a valve stem rotatable in said valve body for controlling flow of gas from said manifold through said valve and to said griddle burner, said stem being rotatable through a range of rotation greater than 180° for adjusting fuel flow through said valve.    
   
   
       11 . The gas cook top of  claim 10 , including a knob on said stem and indicia on said knob for indicating a relative position of said knob throughout said range of rotation.  
   
   
       12 . The gas cook top of  claim 10 , said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.  
   
   
       13 . The gas cook top of  claim 12 , said stem being rotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.  
   
   
       14 . The gas cook top of  claim 13 , including a knob on said stem and indicia on said knob for indicating a relative position of said knob throughout said range of rotation.  
   
   
       15 . The gas cook top of  claim 10 , said stem being rotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.  
   
   
       16 . The gas cook top of  claim 15 , including a knob on said stem and indicia on said knob for indicating a relative position of said knob throughout said range of rotation.  
   
   
       17 . A gas cook top, comprising: 
 at least one open burner providing an open flame cooking location;    a griddle area having a griddle top and a substantially enclosed griddle burner with limited viewing access to said griddle burner beneath said griddle top;    a gas manifold in fuel flow communication with said open burner and with said griddle burner; and    a griddle valve having a valve body and a valve stem rotatable in said valve body for controlling flow of gas from said manifold through said valve and to said griddle burner; and    a knob on said stem exposed and viewable on a surface of said appliance body, with indicia on said knob indicating a relative position of said knob including a fully opened position, a fully closed position and at least one intermediate position between said fully opened position and said fully closed position.    
   
   
       18 . The gas cook top of  claim 17 , said stem being rotatable through a range of greater than at least about 180° for adjusting fuel flow from said valve.  
   
   
       19 . The gas cook top of  claim 17 , said stem being rotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.  
   
   
       20 . The gas cook top of  claim 17 , said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.