Dial device

A dial device adapted to be mounted on a base plate, said dial device comprising:

• a hollow base mountable on said base plate;
• a cylindrical shaft, mounted to said base and projecting forwardly from said base, said cylindrical shaft having a through-hole therein extending in the axial direction thereof, a front end of said through-hole being open at a front surface of said shaft, and a back end of said through-hole opening into a space extending inside of said hollow base;
• a dial knob, rotatably supported by said shaft, said dial knob having a front surface which has an opening therein;
• means coupled to said dial knob for converting a rotated amount of said dial knob into an electrical signal;
• at least one switch mounted in the space inside of said hollow base;
• and
• at least one key top, said at least one key top including a shaft portion freely slidably passing through said through-hole of said shaft, a back end of said shaft portion of said key top being mechanically connected to said at least one switch so as to operate said at least one switch via said shaft portion of said at least one key top, a front end of said shaft portion projecting forwardly from said cylindrical shaft and having a front plate thereon, said front plate being exposed through said opening of said dial knob;
• said at least one switch being operable by depressing said front plate of said at least one key top so that said shaft portion of said at least one key top slides rearwardly relative to said cylindrical shaft to operate said at least one switch.