Ignition switch assembly for a cooktop appliance

Abstract

An ignition switch assembly includes an electronics compartment defined by a lower housing and an upper housing for receiving an ignition switch. A cam actuator is coupled to a gas control shaft and is positioned at least partially within the electronics compartment for selectively engaging the ignition switch. The cam actuator includes a center hub that extends through a top aperture defined in the upper housing and an outer hub positioned around the center hub and having an outer hub diameter that is larger than the top aperture. A connecting wall extends between the center hub and the outer hub to define a circumferential groove for collecting spilled fluid and directing it toward a drain port defined in the lower housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ignition switch assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the ignition switch assembly comprising:
 a lower housing defining a drain port;   an upper housing positioned over the lower housing to define an electronics compartment therebetween, the upper housing defining a top aperture having a top aperture diameter; and   a cam actuator positioned at least partially within the electronics compartment, the cam actuator comprising:
 a center hub that extends along the axial direction and defines a center hub diameter that is less than or equal to the top aperture diameter; 
 an outer hub positioned around the center hub and defining an outer hub diameter that is greater than the top aperture diameter; and 
 a connecting wall extending substantially along the radial direction between the center hub and the outer hub, wherein the center hub, the outer hub, and the connecting wall define a circumferential groove for collecting spilled fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing defines a circumferential flange around the top aperture that extends at least partially into the circumferential groove. 
     
     
         3 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the circumferential flange extends substantially along the axial direction and has a flange diameter that is substantially equivalent to the center hub diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a collection gap is defined between bottom edge of the circumferential flange and the connecting wall. 
     
     
         5 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the collection gap is greater than 0.025 inches measured along the axial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a top edge of the outer hub is positioned proximate the upper housing to form a fluid seal therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a circular seal is positioned between the top edge of the outer hub and the upper housing to prevent an overflow of the spilled fluid from passing into the electronics compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the center hub defines one or more axially extending slots opening up at least partially into the circumferential groove, wherein the slots and circumferential groove provide a flow path for directing the spilled fluid toward the drain port of the lower housing. 
     
     
         9 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing has an upper surface that slopes downward from the top aperture relative to the radial direction. 
     
     
         10 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the center hub of the cam actuator defines a keyed aperture for receiving a gas control shaft, the gas control shaft being rotatable about the axial direction and rotationally fixed relative to the cam actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 10 , comprising:
 an ignition switch mounted within the electronics compartment, the cam actuator being configured for actuating an electrical contact of the ignition switch.   
     
     
         12 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a control knob is mounted onto the gas control shaft for regulating a position of a gas control valve. 
     
     
         13 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a cylindrical shield positioned around the gas control shaft and extending along the axial direction at least partially between the upper housing and the control knob.   
     
     
         14 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical shield is defined by upper housing and extends toward the control knob along the axial direction. 
     
     
         15 . The ignition switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical shield is defined by the control knob and extends toward the upper housing along the axial direction. 
     
     
         16 . A control knob assembly for regulating a power level of a heating element of a cooktop appliance, the control knob assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the control knob assembly comprising:
 a control knob rotatable about the axial direction;   a gas control valve for regulating a flow of fuel to the heating element;   a gas control shaft extending between and operably coupling the control knob and the gas control valve; and   an ignition switch assembly operably coupled to the gas control shaft, the ignition switch assembly comprising:
 a lower housing defining a drain port; 
 an upper housing positioned over the lower housing to define an electronics compartment therebetween, the upper housing defining a top aperture having a top aperture diameter; and 
 a cam actuator positioned at least partially within the electronics compartment, the cam actuator comprising a center hub that extends along the axial direction and defines a center hub diameter that is less than or equal to the top aperture diameter; an outer hub positioned around the center hub and defining an outer hub diameter that is greater than the top aperture diameter; and a connecting wall extending substantially along the radial direction between the center hub and the outer hub, wherein the center hub, the outer hub, and the connecting wall define a circumferential groove for collecting spilled fluid. 
   
     
     
         17 . The control knob assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the upper housing defines a circumferential flange around the top aperture that extends at least partially into the circumferential groove. 
     
     
         18 . The control knob assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the circumferential flange extends substantially along the axial direction and has a flange diameter that is substantially equivalent to the center hub diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The control knob assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a collection gap is defined between bottom edge of the circumferential flange and the connecting wall. 
     
     
         20 . The control knob assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the center hub defines one or more axially extending slots opening up at least partially into the circumferential groove, wherein the slots and circumferential groove provide a flow path for directing the spilled fluid toward the drain port of the lower housing.