Patent Publication Number: US-7222979-B1

Title: Illuminated dial

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing illumination. More particularly, the present invention is directed to lighting systems and methods for providing illumination to a control mechanism, and in particular, to a dial for a barbeque or grill. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Presently, about 80% of families in the United States own and use a barbeque, also known as a grill. While once only a summertime activity confined to the daytime, barbequing is now done throughout the year, in all weather, and even after sunset. So they may be used even when ambient light is low or largely non-existent, many different types of apparatus and system in order to provide illumination to barbecues. 
   Some of the known lighting systems attach to or around the lids of the barbeque or are intended to be positioned on or around the barbeque. These known systems take up valuable space of the barbeque work surface and are vulnerable to physical damage during use of the barbeque. For example, one such lighting system includes a gooseneck-mounted lamp that is attachable to the barbeque by a clamp. 
   An important aspect of operating a barbeque grill is modulating the amount of heat generated at one or more cooking surfaces or areas of the barbeque. This is typically accomplished through the adjustment of one or more controls. The control is typically a knob, lever or a suitable hand control mechanism. In a gas grill, the control is attached to a valve that controls the flow of fuel, typically propane, delivered to burners underneath the cooking surface or surfaces. For example, during initial lighting of a gas barbeque grill the one or more control knob is typically turned to a position that permits full flow of fuel to the one or more burners to light them. After lighting, the flow of fuel is typically reduced to heat the grill to and maintain an optimal cooking temperature. After the desired temperature is reached, the flow of fuel may be further reduced to prevent overheating or burning of the food. 
   Despite the importance of the operation of the controls of a barbeque, the front vertical face of known barbeque grills are poorly illuminated. Known lighting systems throw light above but not generally perpendicular to the control panel. As a result, the controls are only partially lit while portions of the controls and control panel are in the shadow cast by the lights or not illuminated at all. 
   In a low light condition, it can be difficult to detect the setting of the control knob (or knobs where there are several individually controlled burners) or correlate a setting of the knob to a temperature of the grill. 
   Accordingly, there is a demand therefore for a simple, safe, and effective assembly that provides illumination to a control knob or control panel of a barbeque grill or any other application where illumination is needed of a control knob. The present invention satisfies the demand. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has a principal objective of providing illumination to at least one control knob. For purposes of this application, the control knob will mean a single control knob or a plurality control knobs that may be arranged as a control panel. The invention is useful in a variety of applications including to provide illumination to an otherwise conventional barbeque having at least one control knob. 
   One embodiment of the present invention provides an illuminated control knob or dial which includes a base. The base includes an annular track on an upper base surface of the base. A PC board is disposed in the track. The PC board includes a plurality of light sources disposed on an upper board surface of the board. A light transmitting plate is positioned over the PC board so as to transmit light therethrough from the light sources. A bezel is fitted over the light transmitting plate and includes gradated openings corresponding to different conditions of operation. The openings permit light to pass therethrough from the light transmitting plate and a knob is disposed adjacent the bezel. The knob includes a light pointer configured to receive and transmit light from the light transmitting plate. 
   These and other advantages, as well as the invention itself, will become apparent in the details of construction and operation as more fully described and claimed below. Moreover, it should be appreciated that several aspects of the invention can be used in other applications where illumination of a work surface or operation area would be desirable. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of an illuminated control knob assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of a base of the illuminated control knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of a PC board with light source portion of the illuminated control knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the PC board of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of a light-transmitting plate portion of the illuminated control knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the light-transmitting plate of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the PC board and light-transmitting plate fitted together; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of a bezel of the illuminated control knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the bezel of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a top perspective view of a knob and pointer assembly of the illuminated control knob of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of an assembled illuminated control knob according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   An illuminated control knob assembly according to the present invention is identified in the accompanying drawings at  20 . The assembly  20 , in the illustrated embodiments, includes six main parts, which of course, may be combined or rearranged, as is known in the art, to make more or less than six parts. The parts of the illustrated embodiment include a base  22 , which is sized and shaped to receive a printed circuit (“PC”) board  24 . The base  22  and PC board  24  are sized and shaped to receive a light-transmitting plate  26 . The combined base  22 , PC board  24  and light-transmitting plate  26  cooperate so that they may fasten to a bezel  28  and thereby form a dial  32 . A knob  30 , which may include a light-transmitting pointer  34 , may be sized and shaped to fit within the dial  32 . How each above part is configured, fits with the other parts and how each functions will be shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2–10  and discussed below. 
   The base or base plate  22 , in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is sized and shaped in the form of a flat ring  22 A. The base plate  22  includes an upper surface  36 , defining a track  38 , which is bordered by an inner wall  40  and an outer wall  42 . Both of the inner wall  40  and outer wall  42  are generally perpendicular to the plane  36 A in which the upper surface  36  lies and generally parallel to each other so they extend in the same upwardly direction. A plurality of raised stand off elements  44  are spaced about the track  38 . The stand off elements  44  function to generally separate the base  22  from the PC board  24 . 
   Interleaved with segments of the outer wall  42  is a plurality of base hooks  46 . The base hooks  46  are outward facing hooks which function to fasten the base  22  to the bezel  28 . The track  38  also includes a base alignment pin  48 , which serves to cooperate with and orient the PC board  24  in a correct configuration. The track  38  further includes an access port  50  that provides access to the interior  32 A of the dial  32  when fully assembled, by electrical wiring, a loom or plug, etc. (not shown). 
     FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  show a PC board  24 , which is in the form of a flattened ring to cooperate and fit with track  38  of the base  22  (see  FIG. 2 ). The PC board  24  includes an upper surface  52  about which a plurality of light sources,  54  e.g., light-emitting diodes  54 , may be spaced about the upper surface  52 . 
   A base alignment opening  56  is formed through the PC board  24 . The base alignment opening  56  cooperates with the base alignment pin  48  of the base  22  to position the PC board  24  on the base  22 . A pair of spaced cap alignment holes  58  may be formed though the PC board  24  which function to align the light-transmitting plate  26  on the PC board. 
     FIG. 4  shows a bottom view and the bottom surface  60  of the PC board  24 . The bottom surface  60  includes a socket  62 , which functions to receive an electrical connection to supply electricity (battery, A/C, solar, etc.) to one or more of the light sources  54  such as the one or more LEDs  54  on the top surface  52 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the light transmitting plate  26  in greater detail. In a preferred embodiment, the plate  26  is made entirely of a light transmitting material, such as a clear or more preferably translucent plastic. Of course, the plate  26  may be made of only some transparent or translucent material. The plate  26  may be a cylindrical body with a sidewall  64 . The sidewall  64  includes an inwardly extending first flange  66  at a lower edge thereof and an outwardly extending second flange  68  at a top edge thereof. Preferably, the material of the light transmitting plate  26  is colored to enhance visibility thereof. 
   The inner or first flange  66  includes at least a central wall  70  that forms a central opening  70 A therethrough. The outer or second flange  68  includes a plate top surface  76  including a single protrusion  72  at a first position and a set of graduated protrusions  74 . As will be shown below in more detail, the single protrusion  72  can be positioned through the bezel  28  to point to, identify or indicate one position such as an “off” position (that is, gas valve closed). The set of graduated protrusions  74  may be positioned through the bezel  28  at positions corresponding to varying rates of gas flow, i.e., low, medium and high, and so on. 
     FIG. 6 , shows an underside  80  of the plate  26  and the central opening  70 A formed in the inner flange  66 . A pair of plate alignment pins  78  is provided, which extends from the outer flange  68  to cooperate with the alignment holes  58  of the PC board  24  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     FIG. 7  shows the PC board  24  in a position relative to the underside  80  of plate  26 .  FIG. 8  shows the bezel  28 , which may be a frustoconical shape with a bezel opening  82  sized and shaped to receive knob  30  (see  FIG. 1 ). Spaced through the bezel  28  is a plurality of gradated bezel openings  84  positioned, sized and shaped to receive the graduated protrusions  74  (see  FIG. 5 ) of plate  26 . High and low markings  86 ,  88  are provided on the bezel  28  to indicate a range of adjustments gradating from high to low. Preferably, the size of the openings  84  gradate and correspond to high to low settings of a flow valve of a barbeque, or the like (not shown). An opening  88  is provided to receive the single protrusion  72 , which is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the single protrusion at a point indicating that a valve (not shown) to which the assembly  20  (See  FIG. 11 ) is attached is in an off position or condition. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the indents  90  of the bezel  28 , which are sized and shaped to receive the base hooks  46  of the base  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) when the assembly  32  is fastened together with the PC board  24  and plate  26  in between and properly oriented. 
     FIG. 10  shows the knob  30  including a light-transmitting pointer  34 , which permits light from the light sources  54  (see  FIG. 3 ) to indicate the position of the knob. The pointer may be made of a transparent or translucent clear or colored material  92 . 
     FIG. 11  shows assembly  20  with dial  32  and knob  30  being in position in the dial. The knob  30  includes light-transmitting pointer  34 . The bezel portion  28  of the dial  32  includes single protrusion  72  positioned through the bezel  28  to point to, identify or indicate an “off” position (gas valve closed) and the set of graduated protrusions  74  positioned through the bezel at positions corresponding to varying rates of gas flow, i.e., low, medium and high, and so on. 
   Whilst the above-described assembly is intended, in one embodiment to be used with a barbeque, it is to be realized that the assembly illustrated and described herein could be incorporated in other apparati with similar or equivalent benefits for illuminating any desired operation area. 
   Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicants claim protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. While the apparatus and method herein disclosed forms a preferred embodiment of this invention, this invention is not limited to that specific apparatus and method, and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention, which is defined in the appended claims.