Machine element or mechanism – Shaft operators – Preselected position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-14
2001-05-01
Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Shaft operators
Preselected position
C074S527000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223610
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dial operation device having a knob dial to be rotated for operation.
2. Technical Background
FIGS. 7 and 8
are views showing a conventional structure of the above dial operation device. In this structure, there is provided a printed wiring board
1
, onto which a support
2
a
of a knob base
2
is attached by screws. On an outer circumferential surface of the knob base
2
, a knob dial
3
is pivotally engaged. A knob body
4
is engaged on an inner circumferential surface of the knob dial
3
. Therefore, when the knob dial
3
is rotated for operation, the knob body
4
is rotated integrally with the knob dial
3
.
In the knob body
4
, there is formed a moderation surface
4
a
. Engaging pieces
5
,
5
are attached to the support
2
a
of the knob base
2
. Both engaging pieces
5
are pushed by a compression spring
6
. Therefore, both engaging pieces
5
can be engaged with recesses formed on the moderation surface
4
a
. Accordingly, when the knob dial
3
is rotated for operation, both engaging pieces
5
are pushed by protrusions formed on the moderation surface
4
a
and retracted into the support
2
a
. After that, they are protruded by a spring force of the compression spring
6
and engaged in the recesses on the moderation surface
4
a
. Due to the foregoing, a rotary position of the knob dial
3
can be regulated, and it is possible to provide a feeling of moderation in the rotary operation of the knob dial
3
.
However, in the above conventional structure, the direction of deflection of the compression spring
6
, that is, a moving direction of the engaging piece
5
is different from the pushing direction. Therefore, when both engaging pieces
5
are pushed into the supports
2
a
, it is necessary to rotate the knob dial
3
with a relatively strong force. Accordingly, there is a tendency that an operator feels high resistance in the operation of the knob dial
3
. Further, both engaging pieces
5
are kept in a condition in which they are pushed by the protrusions on the moderation surface
4
a
. Therefore, the operation feeling at an intermediate position of the knob dial
3
grows too heavy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dial operation device, the operation feeling of the knob dial of which is light.
A dial operation device described in claim 1 comprises: a knob dial to be rotated for operation; a moderation member to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the knob dial; and a spring member to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the knob dial, wherein a section of the moderation member is polygonal, and the spring member is composed of a leaf spring for regulating the rotation of the knob dial when the spring member is engaged with at least one surface of the moderation member.
According to the above means, when the knob dial is rotated for operation, the moderation member and the leaf spring are relatively rotated, and the leaf spring is pushed and deflected by a corner of the moderation member. After that, the leaf spring is engaged with a new surface. Due to the foregoing, a rotary position of the knob dial is regulated, and at the same time a feeling of moderation can be provided in the rotary operation. In this case, since the pushing direction of the leaf spring is the same as the deflecting direction, the rotary resistance of the knob dial can be reduced, and the operation feeling of the knob dial becomes light. Especially, it is possible to prevent a feeling of operation at an intermediate position from growing heavy.
A dial operation device described in claim 2 comprises: a knob dial to be rotated for operation;
a moderation member to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the knob dial; and
a spring member to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the knob dial, wherein a cross-section of the moderation member is polygonal, and the spring member is composed of a wire spring for regulating the rotation of the knob dial when the spring member is engaged with at least one surface of the moderation member.
According to the above means, when the knob dial is rotated for operation, the moderation member and the wire spring are relatively rotated, and the wire spring is pushed and deflected by a corner of the moderation member. After that, the wire spring is engaged with a new surface. Due to the foregoing, a rotary position of the knob dial is regulated, and at the same time a feeling of moderation can be provided in the rotary operation. In this case, since the pushing direction of the wire spring is the same as the deflecting direction, the feeling of operation of the knob dial becomes light. Especially, it is possible to prevent a feeling of operation at an intermediate position from growing heavy.
A dial operation device described in claim 3 comprises: a plurality of knob dials to be rotated for operation; a plurality of moderation members to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the plurality of knob dials; and a plurality of spring members to be relatively rotated in accordance with the rotation of the knob dials, wherein cross-sections of the plurality of moderation members are polygonal, and the plurality of spring members are composed of wire springs, the numbers of which are different from each other, for regulating the rotation of the knob dials when the spring members are engaged with at least one surface of the moderation members.
According to the above means, when each knob dial is rotated for operation, the moderation member and the wire spring in each set are relatively rotated, and each wire spring is pushed and deflected by a corner of the moderation member. After that, the wire spring is engaged with a new surface. Due to the foregoing, a rotary position of the knob dial is regulated, and at the same time a feeling of moderation can be provided in the rotary operation. In this case, since the pushing direction of the wire spring is the same as the deflecting direction, the feeling of operation of the knob dial becomes light. Especially, it is possible to prevent a feeling of operation at an intermediate position from growing heavy. Further, wire springs of different numbers are used for a plurality of knob dials, and operation forces of the plurality of knob dials are different from each other. Therefore, it is possible to easily distinguish between the plurality of knob dials by the difference in the operation feeling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2747037 (1956-05-01), Watson
patent: 3260805 (1966-07-01), Pihl
patent: 3952365 (1976-04-01), Grisebach
patent: 4613020 (1986-09-01), Deem et al.
patent: 5589671 (1996-12-01), Hackbarth et al.
patent: 59-63901 (1984-04-01), None
patent: 4-98725 (1992-03-01), None
Ishiguro Kazuyoshi
Naka Mitsuru
Herrmann Allan D.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
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