Joints and connections – Biased catch or latch – Leaf spring
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-02
2004-03-23
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Biased catch or latch
Leaf spring
C403S014000, C403S013000, C403S017000, C403S112000, C016S441000, C074S553000, C074S558000, C074S558500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06709188
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fitting structure for knobs particularly suitable for fitting to shaft members of rotation drive members of motors and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To describe a fitting structure for knobs according to the prior art with reference to a drawing,
FIG. 6
shows an exploded perspective view of a fitting structure for knobs according to the prior art.
A rotation drive member
51
consisting of an electric motor has a substantially cylindrical body
51
a
and a columnar shaft member
51
b
, such as a rotation shaft or the like, protruding outward from the tip of the body
51
a
. This shaft member
51
b
is rotated as prescribed by supplying electric power to the body
51
a
from a terminal (not shown) and, when no power is supplied to the body
51
a
, the shaft member
51
b
has a prescribed revolving torque in either the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction.
A fitting member
52
consisting of a synthetic resin member and formed by molding; a base
53
; an annular first fitting portion
54
provided on the same circle as the base
53
sharing the center; and a second fitting portion
55
concentric with and having a greater diameter than the first fitting portion
54
. The first fitting portion
54
and the second fitting portion
55
are formed in a collar shape, some protruding outward from the center axis of the base
53
.
The base
53
has a front wall
53
a
formed to be a substantially flat face, and a cylindrical side wall
53
b
extending backward from the circumference of the front wall
53
a
. The annular first fitting portion
54
and the second fitting portion
55
are arranged protruding outward from the rear end of the cylindrical side wall
53
b.
The front wall
53
a
of the base
53
has a round through holes
53
c
positioned at the center of the front wall
53
a.
A cylindrical member
53
d
consisting of a metallic material and integrated by insert molding is arranged within the through holes
53
c.
Into the cylindrical member
53
d
is inserted the shaft member
51
b
of the rotation drive member
51
, and the cylindrical member
53
d
is fitted to the shaft member
51
b
with a suitable means such as a screw (not shown). This fitting integrates the fitting member
52
with the shaft member
51
b
to enable the fitting member
52
to rotate together with the shaft member
51
b.
A knob
56
consisting of a synthetic resin material and formed by molding has a disk-shaped front wall
56
a
, a cylindrical side wall
56
b
extending backward from the circumference of the front wall
56
a
, a plurality (e.g. four) of hooks
57
protruding inward in the cylindrical side wall
56
b
and positioned on the same circle, and a plurality (e.g. four) of keep pieces
58
protruding inward within the cylindrical side wall
56
b
and positioned on the same circle. The hooks
57
and the keep pieces
58
are also positioned on the same circle.
In a state in which this knob
56
is arranged in front of and to concentrically cover the fitting member
52
, each of the hooks
57
of the knob
56
is engaged with the annular first fitting portion
54
, and each of the keep pieces
58
is kept in contact with and over the second fitting portion
55
to couple the knob
56
and the fitting member
52
.
This coupling results in arrangement of the side wall
53
a
of the fitting member
52
within the side wall
56
b
of the knob
56
.
Next will be described how the conventional knob fitting structure described above is assembled.
First, the cylindrical member
53
d
integrated with the fitting member
52
is fitted to the shaft member
51
b
of the rotation drive member
51
.
Then, the front wall
56
a
of the knob
56
is arranged over and opposite the front wall
53
a
of the fitting member
52
to cover the front wall
53
a
so as to position the side wall
53
b
of the fitting member
52
within the side wall
56
b
of the knob
56
.
When the knob
56
in this state is pressed in the direction of the axis of the shaft member
51
b
, the hooks
57
ride over the top of the first fitting portion
54
and are engaged with the first fitting portion
54
, and the keep pieces
58
are arranged in contact with and over the second fitting portion
55
.
The engaging of the hooks
57
with the first fitting portion
54
and the contact of the keep pieces
58
with the second fitting portion
55
cause the knob
56
to be fitted onto the fitting member
52
.
However, the knob fitting structure described above involves the problem that, when the knob
56
is to fitted to the fitting member
52
by pressing in, if the knob
56
is pressed in a state of being inclined relative to the fitting member
52
, the fitting member
52
is shaken to make the knob
56
difficult to be fitted and to make the hooks of the knob
56
to be engaged at the same time, adding to the difficulty of fitting.
Also the fitting of the knob
56
in a state of being only hooked onto the fitting member
52
invites the problem that the knob
56
slips relative to the fitting member
52
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems noted above, and provide a fitting structure for knobs that facilitates fitting of the knob to its fitting member.
A fitting structure for knobs according to the invention is provided with a fitting member fitted to a shaft member and a knob arranged concentrically with the fitting member and fitted to a front face of the fitting member, wherein the fitting member has a base having a flat portion, a stopper protruding forward from the base, and a through hole provided in the flat portion, the knob has a plurality of projections positioned on the same circle, and in fitting the knob to the fitting member, when the knob is rotated while being pressed backward in a state in which the projections are kept in contact with the flat portion, the projections slide on and in contact with the flat portion and when the projections hit against the stopper and the rotation of the knob is stopped, the projections and the through hole become opposite each other to enable the knob and the fitting member to be coupled to each other after the projections are fitted into the through hole.
As this configuration enables the knob to be readily and reliably positioned relative to the fitting member, the fitting is simplified, resulting in a knob fitting structure in which, even if the knob is pressed in a state in which it is inclined relative to the fitting member, the projections enable the knob to be kept in a normal state by the flat portion and reliable coupling of the knob and the fitting member with no fear of slipping of the knob can be ensured.
In the fitting structure for knobs according to the invention, the base has a cylinder protruding forward in its central part, and the projections perform rotary actions with the cylinder as a guide.
This configuration, in which rotary actions are performed with the cylinder as a guide, can provide a knob fitting structure enabling the knob and the fitting member to be reliably coupled while the knob is maintained in an even more normal state.
In the fitting structure for knobs according to the invention, the through hole is formed adjacent to the stopper.
This configuration can provide a knob fitting structure ensuring reliable and easy positioning of the knob, simple and inexpensive assembling, and freedom from slips and excess play of the knob.
In the fitting structure for knobs according to the invention, a plurality of the stoppers and the through holes are provided.
This configuration can provide a knob fitting structure ensuring well balanced, stable and reliable fitting of the knob to the fitting member.
In the fitting structure for knobs according to the invention, the base of the fitting member has an annular fitting portion on the same circle, the knob has a plurality of hooks on the same circle, and the hooks of the knob are engaged with the fitting portion of the fitting member to couple the knob and the
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Garcia Ernesto
Knight Anthony
LandOfFree
Fitting structure for knobs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fitting structure for knobs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fitting structure for knobs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3263642