Patent ID: 7230209
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: F24C,H05B

Abstract:
1. A cooking appliance comprising: a cooktop; a heating zone arranged on the cooktop, said heating zone including a heating element; means for establishing first and second voltage levels for operation of the heating element, with the second voltage level being higher than the first voltage level; and a control element operatively connected to the heating element and movable from a home position through a temperature adjustment zone, wherein movement of the control element from the home position in a first direction activates the heating element with the first voltage level, and movement of the control element from the home position in a second direction activates the heating element with the second voltage level, said control element being movable through the entire temperature adjustment zone, while operating at a selected one of the first and second voltage levels, to regulate an amount of power supplied to the heating element in order to provide a wide range of temperature settings for the heating element in both the first and second directions.