Patent ID: 8136517

Claim:
A gas cooking range comprising: a lower frame having a number of downwardly extending legs configured to contact a floor, a gas burner, an upper panel including a control interface operable to control the operation of the gas burner, a housing extending from the lower frame to the upper panel, the housing divided into an upper half section and a lower half section by a laterally extending imaginary bisecting line, a gas control valve mounted to the lower half section of the housing, the gas control valve being operable to control the flow of gas to the gas burner, and a handle assembly operable to control the gas control valve, the handle assembly comprising (i) a lever positioned below the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line, the lever being pivotally coupled to the gas control valve and movable between a first position in which the gas control valve is positioned in a closed valve position and a second position in which the gas control valve is positioned in an open valve position, and (ii) a shaft having a first end positioned above the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line and a second end positioned below the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line, the second end of the shaft being pivotally coupled to the lever such that vertical movement of the shaft causes the lever to move between the first position and the second position wherein the lever is coupled to a valve actuator rod of the gas control valve such that the movement of the lever causes the valve actuator rod to extend or retract substantially horizontally to control the flow of gas.