Electrical connectors – Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use – Movement about axis
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-27
2003-02-04
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use
Movement about axis
Reexamination Certificate
active
06514087
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a click structure of a rotary electric part used in a vehicular air conditioner for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional rotary electric part will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 32 and 33
. A case
21
, which is formed by molding a synthetic resin, comprises a square base portion
21
b
having a ring-like recess
21
a
and a cylindrical support portion
21
d
having a central through hole
21
c.
Plural contact pieces
22
are embedded in the base portion
21
b
of the case
21
.
A shaft member
23
, which is also formed by molding a synthetic resin, comprises a shaft portion
23
b
having a central through hole
23
a
and a ring-like rotary member
23
c
provided at a lower end of the shaft portion
23
b.
The shaft portion
23
b
and the rotary member
23
c
are formed integrally by molding and the shaft portion
23
b
is formed in the shape of a straight cylinder almost equal in diameter throughout the whole thereof.
A conductive pattern
24
as a code pattern is formed on the underside of the rotary member
23
c.
In the shaft member
23
provided with the conductive pattern
24
, the support portion
21
d
is inserted through the through hole
23
a
and the rotary member
23
c
is received into the recess
21
a,
whereby the shaft member
23
is secured to the case
21
rotatably.
A mounting plate
25
, which is a metallic plate, comprises a flat plate portion
25
b
having a hole
25
a,
a pair of leg portions
25
c
bent at a right angle from the flat plate portion
25
b,
and plural mounting portions
25
d
also bent at a right angle from the flat plate portion
25
b.
The shaft portion
23
b
and the support portion
21
d
are inserted from their front end portions into the hole
25
a,
allowing one side of the rotary member
23
c
to be covered with the flat plate portion
25
b,
and lower ends of the leg portions
25
c
are bent toward the underside of the case
21
to mount the case
21
and the shaft member
23
with each other. Thus, the mounting plate
25
functions as both a mounting means and a housing.
In the rotary electric part thus constructed, when the shaft portion
23
b
of the shaft member
23
is rotated, both rotary member
23
c
and conductive pattern
24
rotate and the contact pieces
22
come into sliding contact with the conductive pattern
24
, producing a pulse signal.
In such a rotary electric part, a knob (not shown) can be attached to a front part of the shaft portion
23
b.
In this case, since there are knobs of various shapes and constructions, it is necessary to provide a variety of knobs
23
b
for conformity with such various shapes and constructions. Also as to the conductive pattern
24
it has so far been necessary to provide a variety of conductive patterns.
In the conventional shaft member
23
, since the shaft portion
23
b
and the rotary member
23
c
having the conductive patterns
24
are formed integrally with each other, it is necessary to provide a different mold each time one of the shaft portion
23
b
and the conductive pattern
24
is different. This results in not only an increase of cost but also the necessity of providing various shaft members
23
.
In the conventional mounting plate
25
, at every change in diameter of the shaft portion
23
b
to which a knob is to be attached, it is necessary to provide a mounting plate
25
of a different hole
25
a,
thus requiring the provision of various mounting plates
25
, which leads to an increase of cost.
Such a rotary electric part is mounted to a printed circuit board (not shown) and, as shown in
FIG. 32
, a push-button switch
26
is disposed on the printed circuit board which is positioned within the through hole
21
c,
to operate the electric part.
Since the support portion
21
d
of the case
21
and the shaft
23
b
of the shaft member
23
are cylindrical, the rotary electric part is superior in space factor, permitting another electric part to be disposed in the central space.
In the shaft member
23
of the conventional rotary electric part, since the shaft portion
23
b
and the rotary member
23
c
having the conductive pattern
24
are integrally formed by molding, it is required to provide a different mold each time either the shaft portion
23
b
or the conductive pattern
24
is different, thus giving rise to the problem that not only the cost increases but also various shaft members
23
must be provided.
In the conventional mounting plate
25
, moreover, a mounting plate
25
of a different hole
25
a
must be provided at every change in diameter of the shaft portion
23
b
to which a knob is to be attached, thus giving rise to the problem that various mounting plates
25
are needed and the cost increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary electric part which permits standardization of components and which is inexpensive.
According to the first embodiment adopted by the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems there is provided a rotary electric part comprising a case having a wall portion and a cylindrical support portion, the cylindrical support portion extending upright from the wall portion and having a through hole at its center, a cylindrical, rotatable shaft member fitted on the support portion of the case, a rotary member which is mounted on the shaft member and which can be rotated with rotation of the shaft member, contact pieces provided on either the case side or the rotary member side, and a conductive pattern provided on either the case side or the rotary member side, wherein the shaft member and the rotary member are formed as separate members, the shaft member is provided with a first snap leg portion, and the rotary member is mounted to the shaft member by the first snap leg portion.
According to the second embodiment for solution adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part further including a housing covering at least one side of the rotary member, and wherein the shaft member is inserted into a through hole formed centrally of the housing.
According to the third embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein the shaft member has a stepped portion and the rotary member is engaged with the stepped portion and is held grippingly by both the stepped portion and the first snap leg portion.
According to the fourth embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first embodiment, a rotary electric part wherein the first snap leg portion extends axially and is opposed in proximity to an outer peripheral surface of the support portion of the case.
According to the fifth embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein an outer periphery of the shaft member is formed with a radially extending shoulder portion, and the first snap leg portion extends to one side in the axial direction with the shoulder portion as a boundary.
According to the six embodiment there is provided, in combination with the first means, a rotary electric part wherein the first snap leg portion is provided three or more.
According to the seventh embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the fifth means, a rotary electric part wherein the shaft member is provided with a second snap leg portion, the second snap leg portion extending to the opposite side in the axial direction with the shoulder portion as a boundary.
According to the eighth embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the fifth means, a rotary electric part wherein the rotary member and the housing are fitted on the shaft portion of the shaft member on the side where the first snap leg portion is provided.
According to the ninth embodiment adopted by the invention there is provided, in combination with the first means
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Patel Tulsidas
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