LOW PROFILE AUTO-LOCKING PINCH/TURN ADJUSTMENT KNOB
First Claim
1. An adjustment knob for adjusting an optical, mechanical, or electronic device, comprising:
- a spindle supported on the device for rotation about an axis, the spindle operatively associated with an adjustment mechanism that controls a setting of the device; and
a releasable lock mechanism supported on the spindle for rotation therewith, the lock mechanism including;
a button manually depressible in a generally radial direction from a radially outward locked position at which the lock mechanism constrains the spindle to prevent it from rotating relative to the device, to a radially inward unlocked position that releases the lock mechanism and allows the spindle to be rotated, andan actuator shaft connected to the button and extending radially inward through a drive hole in an outer side wall of the spindle, the actuator shaft transmitting a force applied to the button to drive the lock mechanism and to rotate the spindle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact adjustment knob for an optical, mechanical, or electronic device includes a spindle supported on the device for rotation about an axis to control a setting of the device, and a releasable automatically locking lock mechanism supported on the spindle for rotation therewith. The lock mechanism includes at least one manually depressible button accessible on an outer surface of the adjustment knob and connected to an actuator shaft that extends inwardly through a drive hole in an outer side wall of the spindle so that a force manually applied to the button is transmitted by the actuator shaft to drive the lock mechanism and rotate the spindle. The lock mechanism may include a lock sleeve that is biased to a normally locked position and driven along the axis by the actuator shaft when the button is depressed.
20 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An adjustment knob for adjusting an optical, mechanical, or electronic device, comprising:
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a spindle supported on the device for rotation about an axis, the spindle operatively associated with an adjustment mechanism that controls a setting of the device; and a releasable lock mechanism supported on the spindle for rotation therewith, the lock mechanism including; a button manually depressible in a generally radial direction from a radially outward locked position at which the lock mechanism constrains the spindle to prevent it from rotating relative to the device, to a radially inward unlocked position that releases the lock mechanism and allows the spindle to be rotated, and an actuator shaft connected to the button and extending radially inward through a drive hole in an outer side wall of the spindle, the actuator shaft transmitting a force applied to the button to drive the lock mechanism and to rotate the spindle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification