Cooktop appliance with alignment bracket

Abstract

A cooktop appliance includes a panel defining a plurality of openings. Alignment slots defined in the panel and are positioned adjacent one opening of the plurality of openings. The cooktop appliance also includes a plurality of control valves mounted to the panel, each including a spark switch and a stem. The stem of each control valve extends through the panel at one corresponding opening. The cooktop appliance further includes a plurality of knobs, each knob mounted to a respective one control valve. The cooktop appliance also includes an alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve and the panel. The alignment bracket includes a plurality of protrusions. Each protrusion extends through a respective one of the plurality of alignment slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
 a panel defining a plurality of openings;   a plurality of alignment slots defined in the panel, the plurality of alignment slots positioned adjacent one opening of the plurality of openings;   a plurality of control valves mounted to the panel, each control valve of the plurality of control valves comprising a spark switch and a stem, the stem of each control valve extending through the panel at one corresponding opening of the plurality of openings of the panel;   a plurality of knobs, each knob mounted to the stem of a respective one control valve of the plurality of control valves and positioned opposite the spark switch of the respective one control valve about the panel; and   an alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel, the alignment bracket comprising an aperture, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion positioned opposite the first protrusion about the aperture, the stem of the one control valve extending through the aperture, the first protrusion of the alignment bracket extending through a first alignment slot of the plurality of alignment slots, and the second protrusion of the alignment bracket extending through a second alignment slot of the plurality of alignment slots.   
     
     
         2 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control valves are coupled to a single manifold pipe, the plurality of control valves comprising a first plurality of control valves coupled to the single manifold pipe at a first end of the single manifold pipe and a second plurality of control valves coupled to the single manifold pipe at a second end of the single manifold pipe, wherein the alignment bracket is a first alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the first plurality of control valves and the panel, further comprising a second alignment bracket between the spark switch of one control valve of the second plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         3 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control valves comprises a first plurality of control valves coupled to a first manifold pipe and a second plurality of control valves coupled to a second manifold pipe, the first manifold pipe coupled to a connecting pipe by a first fitting at a first end of the connecting pipe, the second manifold pipe coupled to the connecting pipe by a second fitting at a second end of the connecting pipe, wherein the alignment bracket is a first alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the first plurality of control valves and the panel, further comprising a second alignment bracket between the spark switch of one control valve of the second plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         4 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is a lateral protrusion and the other of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is a vertical protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment bracket further comprises a third protrusion, the third protrusion positioned opposite the first protrusion about the aperture, and wherein the first protrusion and the third protrusion are each oriented along a first direction, and the second protrusion is oriented along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the second protrusion is positioned between the first protrusion and the third protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the aperture is a first aperture, wherein the alignment bracket further comprises a second aperture, wherein the third protrusion is positioned opposite the second protrusion about the second aperture, wherein the one control valve of the plurality of control valves is a first control valve of the plurality of control valves, wherein the alignment bracket is positioned between the spark switch of the first control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel and between the spark switch of a second control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment bracket comprises a top flange and a front panel, and wherein the aperture is defined in the front panel of the alignment bracket. 
     
     
         9 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
 a panel defining a plurality of openings;   a plurality of alignment slots defined in the panel, the plurality of alignment slots positioned adjacent one opening of the plurality of openings;   a plurality of control valves mounted to the panel, each control valve of the plurality of control valves comprising a spark switch and a stem, the stem of each control valve extending through the panel at one corresponding opening of the plurality of openings of the panel;   a plurality of knobs, each knob mounted to the stem of a respective one control valve of the plurality of control valves and positioned opposite the spark switch of the respective one control valve about the panel; and   an alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel, the alignment bracket comprising a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions of the alignment bracket extending through a respective one of the plurality of alignment slots.   
     
     
         10 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises a first protrusion extending through a first alignment slot of the plurality of alignment slots and a second protrusion extending through a second alignment slot of the plurality of alignment slots. 
     
     
         11 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment bracket further comprises an aperture, the stem of the one control valve extending through the aperture, and the second protrusion positioned opposite the first protrusion about the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of protrusions further comprises a third protrusion, the third protrusion positioned opposite the first protrusion about the aperture, and wherein the first protrusion and the third protrusion are each oriented along a first direction, and the second protrusion is oriented along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the second protrusion is positioned between the first protrusion and the third protrusion. 
     
     
         14 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture is a first aperture, wherein the alignment bracket further comprises a second aperture, wherein the third protrusion is positioned opposite the second protrusion about the second aperture, wherein the one control valve of the plurality of control valves is a first control valve of the plurality of control valves, wherein the alignment bracket is positioned between the spark switch of the first control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel and between the spark switch of a second control valve of the plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of control valves are coupled to a single manifold pipe, the plurality of control valves comprising a first plurality of control valves coupled to the single manifold pipe at a first end of the single manifold pipe and a second plurality of control valves coupled to the single manifold pipe at a second end of the single manifold pipe, wherein the alignment bracket is a first alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the first plurality of control valves and the panel, further comprising a second alignment bracket between the spark switch of one control valve of the second plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of control valves comprises a first plurality of control valves coupled to a first manifold pipe and a second plurality of control valves coupled to a second manifold pipe, the first manifold pipe coupled to a connecting pipe by a first fitting at a first end of the connecting pipe, the second manifold pipe coupled to the connecting pipe by a second fitting at a second end of the connecting pipe, wherein the alignment bracket is a first alignment bracket positioned between the spark switch of one control valve of the first plurality of control valves and the panel, further comprising a second alignment bracket between the spark switch of one control valve of the second plurality of control valves and the panel. 
     
     
         17 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protrusions of the alignment bracket comprises a lateral protrusion and a vertical protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment bracket comprises a top flange and a front panel, and wherein an aperture is defined in the front panel of the alignment bracket.