# US 2014/0151930 A1 · Rotary knob assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151930 A1 - Document ID: US20140151930A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/173,946 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-15 - Assignees: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Vistech Global Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Daren Lee Harris; Sabin Oana; James Joseph Kornacki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151930A1 ## CPC - B29C 45/2673: {with exchangeable mould parts, e.g. cassette moulds (B29C45/1756 takes precedence)} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels - H01H 19/11: with indexing means - H01H 19/14: Operating parts, e.g. turn knob - B60K 35/25: using haptic output - B60K 2360/126: Rotatable input devices for instruments - G05G 5/03: Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A rotary knob assembly and methods for forming and controlling friction effecting features of the knob assembly are disclosed. The knob assembly includes a mounting structure and a knob. The knob is rotatably coupled to a bezel of the mounting structure. The knob includes a stabilizer, a guide member, and a retainer having a patterned surface. At least a portion of the stabilizer is disposed between the bezel and the retainer to maintain an axial position and a radial position of the knob. A detent formed on the guide member cooperates with a patterned surface of the retainer to provide a haptic feedback to a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a knob assembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cavity insert for a mold assembly; (b) providing an inner core insert for the mold assembly; (c) providing an outer core insert for the mold assembly; (d) positioning the cavity insert, the inner core insert, and the outer core insert to form a mold cavity within the mold assembly for receiving a molten material therein; and (e) introducing the molten material into the mold cavity, wherein at least one of the cavity insert, the inner core insert, and the outer core insert is at least one of modifiable and replaceable, and wherein the cavity insert, the inner core insert, and the outer core insert form friction effecting features of the knob assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mold cavity forms a stabilizer of the knob assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the stabilizer is configured to include an inner track, an outer track, and a plurality of ball bearings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the friction effecting features are at least one of a plurality of tabs formed on an outer surface of the stabilizer and a plurality of openings formed in the stabilizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a haptic feedback insert for the mold assembly prior to step (d), wherein the haptic feedback insert is at least one of modifiable and replaceable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the mold cavity forms a retainer of the knob assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the friction effecting features are at least one of a plurality of grooved landings formed in the retainer and an inner surface of an end of the retainer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the retainer includes at least one grooved landing formed therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the stabilizer includes at least one opening formed therein to control an axial load on the retainer which determines a torque required to rotate a knob of the knob assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the retainer forms the outer track of the stabilizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of providing a guide member disposed between a mounting structure of the knob assembly and a knob of the knob assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the retainer includes a patterned surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein a detent is formed on the guide member which cooperates with the patterned surface of the retainer to produce a desired haptic feedback. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein a raised portion of the guide member cooperates with the retainer to maintain a radial position of the knob. ### Claim 15 A method for tuning a knob assembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of inserts to form a mold cavity for a mold assembly, wherein at least one of the inserts is at least one of modifiable and replaceable; (b) selecting at least one of the inserts to be at least one of modified and replaced; and (c) at least one of modifying and replacing the at least one of the inserts to control friction effecting features of the knob assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the mold cavity forms a retainer of the knob assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one of the inserts is tuned to control a pattern surface of the retainer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the mold cavity forms a shape of a stabilizer of the knob assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the at least one of the inserts is tuned to control a concentricity of the stabilizer and a size and shape of a plurality of openings formed in the stabilizer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the inserts are at least one of an inner cavity insert, an outer cavity insert, an inner core insert, an outer core insert, and a haptic feedback insert.