A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

A knob assembly with a display that displays information such as power level and a timer time, and a cooking apparatus including a knob assembly are provided. The knob assembly may include a knob coupled to an adjustment shaft configured to adjust power level and a knob ring configured to surround a periphery of the knob, configured to be rotatable independent of the knob, and provided with a display. The display may be provided at the knob ring, and information may be displayed on the display so that a user may easily manipulate the knob assembly.

A mechanism to prevent an adjustment knob associated with a piece of equipment (e.g. musical instrument or amplifier) from being moved accidentally includes an inner hub held in place on an adjustable shaft. An knob body fits concentrically over the inner hub, and is biased into position over the hub. The bottom of the knob body has locking structure which lockingly but releasingly cooperates with locking structure associated with the piece of equipment to which the shaft is affixed. A biasing structure such as a spring retains the knob body in a first, locked, position, in which the knob body is prevented from rotating, which in turn prevents rotation of the adjustable shaft. However, when the knob body is pulled away from the locking structure against the spring force, the knob body can be rotated, which in turn rotates the hub and shaft shaft. Releasing the knob body allows the biasing structure to urge the knob body back into engagement with the locking structure.

A mechanism to prevent an adjustment knob associated with a piece of equipment (e.g. musical instrument or amplifier) from being moved accidentally includes an inner hub held in place on an adjustable shaft. An knob body fits concentrically over the inner hub, and is biased into position over the hub. The bottom of the knob body has locking structure which lockingly but releasingly cooperates with locking structure associated with the piece of equipment to which the shaft is affixed. A biasing structure such as a spring retains the knob body in a first, locked, position, in which the knob body is prevented from rotating, which in turn prevents rotation of the adjustable shaft. However, when the knob body is pulled away from the locking structure against the spring force, the knob body can be rotated, which in turn rotates the hub and shaft shaft. Releasing the knob body allows the biasing structure to urge the knob body back into engagement with the locking structure.

Lockable knobs for a rotary control of a device are described, wherein the control may be set at a specific setting via the knob without being susceptible to accidental disruption of the setting during use or transport of the device. Generally the device features: a spindle that is coupled to the rotary control via a set screw; a locking base with teeth that is stationary coupled adjacent to the spindle; and, a locking nut that may be positioned over the spindle, wherein the nut is configured to electively interact with the teeth of the base to prevent or allow rotation of the spindle.

Lockable knobs for a rotary control of a device are described, wherein the control may be set at a specific setting via the knob without being susceptible to accidental disruption of the setting during use or transport of the device. Generally the device features: a spindle that is coupled to the rotary control via a set screw; a locking base with teeth that is stationary coupled adjacent to the spindle; and, a locking nut that may be positioned over the spindle, wherein the nut is configured to electively interact with the teeth of the base to prevent or allow rotation of the spindle.

A knob assembly includes a knob, a light assembly, a light socket, and a receptacle. The light assembly includes a light diffuser, a light source, and a light connector prong. Light from the light source is transmitted through the light diffuser. The light connector prong is electrically connected to the light source to provide power to the light source when the knob is rotated. The light socket includes a socket housing, a light connector aperture wall, an electrical connector aperture wall, and an internal conductor. The light connector prong is mounted within the light connector aperture wall. A power connector prong connectable to a power source is mounted within the electrical connector aperture wall. The connector housing of the receptacle is configured to house the light socket. The light connector prong is inserted into the light connector aperture wall through a first wall of the device.

A method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device using a rotary control. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor from an inductance sensor, a first inductance. The method further includes comparing, by the electronic processor, the first inductance to a first threshold. The method further includes, determining, by the electronic processor, a location for the rotary control when the first inductance exceeds the first threshold, the method further includes activating, by the electronic processor, a control function based on the location. The method further includes receiving, by the electronic processor from the inductance sensor, a second inductance. The method further includes determining, by the electronic processor, a delta based on the first inductance and the second inductance. The method further includes adjusting, by the electronic processor, the control function based on the delta.

A method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device using a rotary control. The method includes receiving, by an electronic processor from an inductance sensor, a first inductance. The method further includes comparing, by the electronic processor, the first inductance to a first threshold. The method further includes, determining, by the electronic processor, a location for the rotary control when the first inductance exceeds the first threshold, the method further includes activating, by the electronic processor, a control function based on the location. The method further includes receiving, by the electronic processor from the inductance sensor, a second inductance. The method further includes determining, by the electronic processor, a delta based on the first inductance and the second inductance. The method further includes adjusting, by the electronic processor, the control function based on the delta.

A locking mechanism for a control device which utilizes rotation motion of a shaft as a means of actuation, such as a potentiometer. The locking mechanism includes a tubular body, an actuation shaft, a plurality of splines, a plurality of spline-receiving cavities, and a push-lock mechanism. The actuation shaft transfers rotation motion from a user to the control device and is slidably and rotatably positioned within the tubular body. The splines are radially distributed about the actuation shaft to interlock with the plurality of spline-receiving cavities. The spline-receiving cavities are radially positioned around the tubular body with each cavity traversing into the tubular body from an inner surface. The push-lock mechanism locks the actuation shaft relative to the tubular body and is mounted offset to a second end of the tubular body. An output coupling end of the actuation shaft is bistably coupled to the push-lock mechanism.