Self-locking knob for adjustable control mechanism
First Claim
1. In a mechanism having an adjustable control, and movable means for adjusting the control, the improvement comprising:
- manipulating means connected to said movable means and defining a graspable portion for effecting manual movement of said movable means;
resiliently outwardly biased locking means associated with said graspable portion of the manipulating means for locking said manipulating means against manual movement; and
means responsive solely to grasping of said graspable portion of the manipulating means with sufficient inward grasping force to overcome the biasing of said locking means for concurrently releasing said locking means and permitting movement of said manipulating means to adjust said control, said biasing means comprising means for automatically relocking the manipulating means upon removal of said grasping force with the control retained in the adjusted disposition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control mechanism having a dial and cooperating structure for selectively locking the dial in any one of a plurality of angularly related positions. The locking mechanism is configured to provide a force or manipulating characteristic precluding operation thereof by accident or by young children, such as infants, thereby effectively precluding undesired resetting of the associated control mechanism. The locking structure is formed integrally with the respective relatively movable parts of the mechanism, including the structure for providing the biasing of the locking mechanism to the locking disposition. The locking mechanism is resiliently biased and includes a graspable portion which when grasped to effect movement of the control overcomes the resilient biasing. The biasing structure automatically relocks the dial upon release of the graspable portion.
27 Citations
7 Claims
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1. In a mechanism having an adjustable control, and movable means for adjusting the control, the improvement comprising:
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manipulating means connected to said movable means and defining a graspable portion for effecting manual movement of said movable means; resiliently outwardly biased locking means associated with said graspable portion of the manipulating means for locking said manipulating means against manual movement; and means responsive solely to grasping of said graspable portion of the manipulating means with sufficient inward grasping force to overcome the biasing of said locking means for concurrently releasing said locking means and permitting movement of said manipulating means to adjust said control, said biasing means comprising means for automatically relocking the manipulating means upon removal of said grasping force with the control retained in the adjusted disposition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification