Cooking appliance and knob assembly thereof

1 . A knob assembly for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance comprising a cooktop, a heating element mounted to the cooktop, a surface panel mounted to the cooktop forward from the heating element, the surface panel comprising a forward face and a rearward face, the surface panel defining a central axis extending from the rearward face to the forward face, the knob assembly comprising:

a control knob mountable to the cooking appliance at the surface panel, the control knob comprising:

an adjustable body comprising a push body and a center projection defining a body opening, the push body comprising a push surface and an outer skirt extending from a perimeter of the push surface, the outer skirt defining a plurality of slots therethrough,

a static body disposed within the body opening of the center projection, and

a support plate secured to the adjustable body and positioned in front of the forward face, the support plate comprising a plurality of extensions extending from a perimeter of the support plate,

wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions is positioned within a slot of the plurality of slots, and

wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions is coradial with the outer skirt.

2 . The knob assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support plate further comprises a front surface, a rear surface, and a projection defining a center hole of the support plate,

wherein the projection comprises a first portion extended from the front surface, and

wherein the projection comprises a second portion extending from the rear surface.

3 . The knob assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second portion is interfaced with the forward face of the surface panel,

wherein the rear surface of the support plate and the forward face of the surface panel define an air gap therebetween, and

wherein a size of the air gap is defined by the second portion.

4 . The knob assembly of claim 2 , wherein the control knob further comprises

an external spring being interfaced with a spring surface of the first portion and a spring surface of the adjustable body, and

wherein the adjustable body is in forward-biased mechanical communication with the external spring.

5 . The knob assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a knob switch being disposed behind the surface panel, the knob switch comprising a slidable stem extending through the central axis.

6 . The knob assembly of claim 5 , wherein the adjustable body comprises a center cylinder positioned radially inward from the push body and behind at least a portion of the static body, and

wherein the adjustable body is mounted to the slidable stem at the center projection.

7 . The knob assembly of claim 6 , wherein the center cylinder defines a slot matched to the slidable stem to be rotated thereby, and

wherein the slidable stem is received within the slot.

8 . The knob assembly of claim 1 , wherein the static body comprises a head portion and a plurality of mount feet,

wherein the plurality of mount feet each extend from the head portion toward the surface panel, and

wherein the plurality of mount feet are positioned within feet apertures defined through the push body.

9 . The knob assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of mount feet are secured to the support plate via one or more mechanical fasteners.

10 . The knob assembly of claim 1 , wherein the static body comprises a stop surface that is axially fixed,

wherein the stop surface is flush to proud with a distal edge of the center projection relative to the central axis in a static state of the control knob, and

wherein the stop surface is forward of the distal edge of the center projection relative to the central axis in an adjustable state of the control knob.

11 . A cooking appliance comprising:

a cooktop;

a heating element mounted to the cooktop;

a surface panel mounted to the cooktop forward from the heating element, the surface panel comprising a forward face and a rearward face, the surface panel defining a central axis extending from the rearward face to the forward face; and

a control knob mounted to the cooking appliance at the surface panel, the control knob comprising:

an adjustable body comprising a push body and a center projection defining a body opening, the push body comprising a push surface and an outer skirt extending from a perimeter of the push surface, the outer skirt defining a plurality of slots therethrough,

a static body disposed within the body opening of the center projection, and

a support plate secured to the adjustable body and positioned in front of the forward face, the support plate comprising a plurality of extensions extending from a perimeter of the support plate,

wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions is positioned within a slot of the plurality of slots, and

wherein each extension of the plurality of extensions is coradial with the outer skirt.

12 . The cooking appliance of claim 11 , wherein the support plate further comprises a front surface, a rear surface, and a projection defining a center hole of the support plate,

wherein the projection comprises a first portion extended from the front surface, and

wherein the projection comprises a second portion extending from the rear surface.

13 . The cooking appliance of claim 12 , wherein the second portion is interfaced with the forward face of the surface panel,

wherein the rear surface of the support plate and the forward face of the surface panel define an air gap therebetween, and

wherein a size of the air gap is defined by the second portion.

14 . The cooking appliance of claim 12 , wherein the control knob further comprises

an external spring being interfaced with a spring surface of the first portion and a spring surface of the adjustable body, and

wherein the adjustable body is in forward-biased mechanical communication with the external spring.

15 . The cooking appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:

a knob switch being disposed behind the surface panel, the knob switch comprising a slidable stem extending through the central axis.

16 . The cooking appliance of claim 15 , wherein the adjustable body comprises a center cylinder positioned radially inward from the push body and behind at least a portion of the static body, and

wherein the adjustable body is mounted to the slidable stem at the center projection.

17 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the center cylinder defines a slot matched to the slidable stem to be rotated thereby, and

wherein the slidable stem is received within the slot.

18 . The cooking appliance of claim 11 , wherein the static body comprises a head portion and a plurality of mount feet,

wherein the plurality of mount feet each extend from the head portion toward the surface panel, and

wherein the plurality of mount feet are positioned within feet apertures defined through the push body.

19 . The cooking appliance of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of mount feet are secured to the support plate via one or more mechanical fasteners.

20 . The cooking appliance of claim 11 , wherein the static body comprises a stop surface that is axially fixed,

wherein the stop surface is flush to proud with a distal edge of the center projection relative to the central axis in a static state of the control knob, and

wherein the stop surface is forward of the distal edge of the center projection relative to the central axis in an adjustable state of the control knob.