Apparatus for removing a joystick grip
AssigneeSensata Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael Stoffers, Uwe Gillmann, Henning Koschke, Joachim Meyer-Quade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A joystick includes a mechanism for facilitating the changing of a grip assembly. An actuation mechanism moves a ram into a position where the operator can press down on a locking pin to release the grip assembly. The ram will be in a default position that does not interfere with the operations of the joystick during normal operation. A relatively low amount of force is used to place the ram into position as the force needed to press down on the locking pin comes from the operator. A small electromagnetic that does not interfere with the joystick operations can be used in the actuation mechanism.
Claims17
A joystick apparatus, comprising:
- a ram;
- and
- a positioning mechanism, coupled to the ram, configured to move the ram from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position,
- wherein the second predetermined position is selected such that a spring-loaded locking pin extending from within a grip column of a grip assembly mounted on a receiving column can be depressed against a surface of the ram and decoupled from a locking pin opening of the receiving column.
-12. (canceled)
A joystick apparatus, comprising:
- a joystick base, comprising:
- a receiving column having a groove and a locking pin opening defined therein;
- a grip assembly, disposed in the receiving column, comprising:
- a grip column;
- a guide post disposed on, and extending from, a surface of the grip column;
- and
- a spring-loaded locking pin extending from within the grip column,
- wherein the spring-loaded locking pin is releasably coupled with the locking pin opening and the guide post is disposed in the groove of the receiving column;
- a ram;
- and
- a positioning mechanism, coupled to the ram, configured to move the ram from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position,
- wherein the second predetermined position is selected such that the spring-loaded locking pin can be depressed against a surface of the ram and decoupled from the locking pin opening of the receiving column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.