US 4,131,033 AGranted

Push-pull and rotating knob

AssigneeRockwell International Corporation

InventorsNorman Z. Wright, Davey L. Printy

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A knob adapted for mounting on a control shaft of a control device permits push-pull and rotary functions of the device to be selected. A rotatable skirt section through which the shaft extends covers unselected indicia on a display panel. A window on a portion of the skirt permits only a selected indicia to be seen. Upwardly extending arm members are attached to the skirt section, and are slidably received within channels of an overlying knob section. The overlying knob section is slidable upwardly and downwardly upon the upstanding arm members, but engages the arm members when the knob is rotated to facilitate rotational selection of the control functions. A spring biasing means is provided to maintain the skirt portion in a position adjacent the display panel to reduce the escape angle from under the skirt of light which may be provided within the display panel to illuminate the indicia, and to reduce paralax in viewing the selected indicia.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A knob adapted for mounting upon a shaft of a control device presenting push-pull and rotary selectable functions upon an associated panel of the type having indicia through which light may pass from a light source behind said panel for enabling night viewing, located at rotationally selectable positions, comprising:

a skirt slideably positionable on said shaft adjacent said panel to cover said indicia, said skirt having a window portion for disclosing selected indicia;
said skirt being located over said indicia to restrict them from view over an angle away from an axis along said shaft;
a plurality of arms attached to said skirt parallel to said shaft;
and an overlying knob attachable to said shaft, including therein longitudinal channel walls for axially slideably receiving said arms to facilitate the push-pull function selection and for engaging said arms when said overlying knob is rotated to rotate said skirt, said angle over which said indicia can be viewed being unaffected by by push-pull and rotation operations of said overlying knob.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/769,979Filed 18 Feb 1977
Granted: 26 Dec 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G05G 1/02
Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members: controlling members…
G05G 1/10
Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels: details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles
H01H 9/182
Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks:…
H01H 25/06
Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part: operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear…