Electrical resistors – Mechanically variable – Movable contact electrically adjustable over length of...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-27
2001-10-30
Easthom, Karl D. (Department: 2832)
Electrical resistors
Mechanically variable
Movable contact electrically adjustable over length of...
C338S190000, C200S0110TC, C200S0110TC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary electric part with click for use in a vehicular air conditioner for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The structure of a conventional rotary electric part with click will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 32 and 33
. A rotary electric part
21
has a rotary shaft
22
with a knob (not shown) attached to one end thereof and which causes the rotary electric part
21
to rotate, a metallic bearing
23
which supports the rotary shaft
22
rotatably, and a click mechanism
24
disposed within the bearing
23
to impart a click feeling to the rotary shaft
22
.
The click mechanism
24
is formed in a generally disc shape and is made up of a rotary disc
25
which is rotatable together with the rotary shaft
22
, a click member
26
which engages an outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
, and a metallic spring plate
27
supported at both ends thereof by the bearing
23
and which imparts an elastic force to the click member
26
, the elastic force acting toward the rotary disc
25
.
On the outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
are formed a plurality of concaves and convexes
25
a
continuously at predetermined spaced positions, and on one side of the rotary disc
25
are formed a plurality of patterns
25
b
which are arranged in synchronism with the concaves and convexes
25
a.
The click member
26
is integrally formed centrally of the spring plate
27
by outsert molding of a synthetic resin and has a semi-cylindrical portion
26
a
which comes into abutment with the concaves and convexes
25
a
formed on the outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
.
Both end portions
27
a
and
27
b
of the spring plate
27
come into abutment against shoulder portions
23
b
of a recess
23
a
formed in the bearing
23
to urge the click member
26
elastically in a direction in which the click member is put in pressure contact with the outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
. The click member
26
is positioned within a concave portion
23
c
formed in the bearing
23
and is adapted to move while being guided by a pair of side walls of the concave portion
23
c.
In the rotary electric part
21
having such a construction, when an operator operates the rotary shaft
22
for rotation, the rotary disc
25
rotates integrally with the rotary shaft and the semi-cylindrical portion
26
a
of the click member
26
slides on the outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
.
At this time, since the click member
26
is urged elastically by the spring plate
27
in a direction in which it comes into pressure contact with the outer circumference portion of the rotary disc
25
, the operating force required for rotation of the rotary shaft
22
varies as the semicylindrical portion
26
a
engages and disengages from the concaves and convexes
25
a
successively, whereby the operator comes to have a click feeling through the rotary shaft
22
.
While the click member
26
moves following the concaves and convexes
25
a
, the spring plate
27
repeats deflection, so that both end portions
27
a
and
27
b
of the spring plate slide on the shoulder portions
23
b
of the metallic bearing
23
and induce a vibrational shock between them and the shoulder portions, generating a loud noise.
With rotation of the rotary disc
25
, the patterns
25
b
come into sliding contact with fixed contact pieces (not shown) to effect change-over of contacts.
In the conventional rotary electric part, since the click member
26
and the spring plate
27
are formed integrally by a forming work, the resilience of the spring plate
27
may be impaired due to heat generated during the formation or the length of the click member
26
obstructs taking a long spring span of the spring plate
27
.
Moreover, since the click member
26
is guided by only a pair of side walls of the concave portion
23
c
, the click member
26
wobbles largely in the rotational direction of the rotary disc
25
at the time of engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes
25
a
, thus resulting in that the click feeling becomes worse.
Further, since both end portions
27
a
and
27
b
of the spring plate
27
with the click members
26
secured thereto for engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes
25
a
come into abutment against the shoulder portions
23
b
of the metallic bearing
23
, the spring plate
27
repeats deflection while the click member
26
moves following the concaves and convexes
25
a
. Consequently, both end portions
27
a
and
27
b
of the spring plate
27
slide on the shoulder portions
23
b
of the metallic bearing
23
and induce a vibrational shock between them and the shoulder portions
23
b
, producing a loud noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary electric part capable of withstanding a long-term use without impairment in the resilience of a biasing member used, affording a good click feeling, and reduced in noise.
According to the first means adopted by the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems there is provided a rotary electric part comprising a rotary member having a plurality of concaves and convexes, a click member for engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes, a biasing member for urging the click member elastically in a direction in which the click member comes into pressure contact with the concaves and convexes, and a holding member for holding the biasing member, the click member coming into engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes with rotation of the rotary member and creating a click feeling, wherein the click member and the biasing member are formed as separate members, the click member has a body for engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes and also has a convex portion which is integral with the body in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the body, the body of the click member is guided by side walls of a concave portion formed in the holding member, and the convex portion is guided by a concave groove.
According to the second means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein the convex portion of the click member is formed at a rear portion of the body on the side opposite to a front portion of the body which comes into engagement with and disengagement from the concaves and convexes.
According to the third means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the second means, a rotary electric part wherein the convex portion of the click member is formed so as to project at least partially from an end of the rear portion of the body.
According to the fourth means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein the front portion of the body of the click member is formed to have a width larger than the width of the rear portion of the body and is guided by the side walls of the concave portion, and an end of the rear portion smaller in width is urged by the biasing member.
According to the fifth means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the fourth means, a rotary electric part wherein an end of the front portion of the body in the click member is formed as an arcuate surface having a radius larger than that of the rear portion of the body, while an end of the rear portion is formed as an arcuate surface having a radius smaller than that of the front portion.
According to the sixth means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein the click member and the holding member are formed of synthetic resin.
According to the seventh means for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Easthom Karl D.
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