Selector switch having an easily removable knob
AssigneeAllen-Bradley Company, Inc.
InventorsBarry S. Simon, Ismael Garcia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A selector switch includes a knob, a bezel and a retaining clip. The retaining clip is mounted on the knob and secures the knob to the bezel. The retaining clip is C-shaped and has a tab centrally disposed on the retaining clip. When the tab is pressed by a tool, the retaining clip contracts and the knob may be detached from the bezel. The tab can be accessed through a slot between the bezel and the knob by a screwdriver. The knob, bezel and retaining clip can be made of plastic.
Claims20
A selector switch comprising:
- a bezel having an interior cylindrical surface;
- a knob mounted on the bezel, the knob having a selection indicator and a lower cylindrical portion, wherein the lower cylindrical portion fits inside the interior cylindrical surface of the bezel when the knob is mounted on the bezel;
- and
- a retaining clip mounted around the lower cylindrical portion of the knob, the retaining clip having a tab and being configured to secure the knob onto the bezel, wherein a slot is disposed between the knob and the bezel, the slot being configured to provide access to the tab of the retaining clip.
A selector switch comprising:
- a bezel having an interior cylindrical surface;
- a knob mounted on the bezel, the knob having a selection indicator and a lower cylindrical portion, wherein the lower cylindrical portion fits inside the interior cylindrical surface of the bezel when the knob is mounted on the bezel;
- and
- a retaining clip including a C-shaped ring having two ends mounted around the lower cylindrical portion of the knob to secure the knob onto the bezel, and a tab mounted at a middle portion of the C-shaped ring between the two ends, wherein a slot is disposed between the knob and the bezel, the slot being configured to provide access to the tab of the retaining clip.
In a selector switch having a knob, a bezel and a retaining clip, a method of removing the knob from the bezel, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a tool into a slot, the slot providing access to a tab mounted on the retaining clip;
- pressing the tool against the tab, the tab causing the retaining clip to contract to a diameter smaller than a diameter of a rim of the bezel;
- and
- removing knob from the bezel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.