Method and apparatus for push-button control
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorMircea Badescu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A push-button control knob having rotational and axial degrees of freedom includes a housing having a first end, a second end, and an integrally arranged hub and rim disposed between said first and second ends. The hub has a first central hole and the rim has a plurality of through-holes. An actuator assembly is disposed within the housing, and a bias spring is disposed between the housing and the actuator assembly for biasing the actuator assembly in a first direction.
Claims24
A push-button control knob having rotational and axial degrees of freedom, comprising:
- a housing having a first end, a second end, and a hub and rim disposed between said first and second ends, said hub comprising a first central hole, and said rim comprising a plurality of through-holes;
- an actuator assembly disposed within said housing;
- and
- a bias spring disposed between said housing and said actuator assembly for biasing said actuator assembly in a first direction.
A method for assembling a push-button control knob having rotational and axial degrees of freedom, comprising:
- selecting a first actuator plate;
- grounding the first actuator plate in an orientation in preparation for assembly;
- selecting a housing having a first central hole in an orientation in preparation for assembly;
- aligning the axes of the housing and the first actuator plate;
- assembling the housing onto the first actuator plate;
- selecting a bias spring in an orientation in preparation for assembly;
- aligning the axes of the bias spring and the housing;
- assembling the bias spring onto the housing;
- selecting a second actuator plate in an orientation in preparation for assembly;
- aligning the axes of the second actuator plate and the first actuator plate;
- assembling the second actuator plate onto the first actuator plate, wherein the bias spring is captured between the housing and the second actuator plate, and wherein the first and second actuator plates are coupled together.
A push-button control knob having rotational and axial degrees of freedom, comprising:
- a housing grounded to a shaft and having a rotational degree of freedom;
- an actuator assembly disposed within said housing and having an axial degree of freedom;
- and
- a bias spring disposed between said housing and said actuator assembly for biasing said actuator assembly in a first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.