Joystick for mounting on dual-width panels

• US 5,068,498 A
• Filed: 08/14/1990
• Issued: 11/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wico LLC
• Original Assignee: WICO Distribution Company LP
• Inventors: Engel, Raul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Jick
• Application Number:
  US07/566,774
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 340/709, 74/471 XY, 200/6 A, 273/148 B, 29/234
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04729 melastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

The joystick can be mounted on a thin panel or a thick panel. The joystick comprises a frame and a shaft extending through the frame. The shaft has a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. A handle is mounted on the free end of the large diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion is pivotally mounted to the frame. Actuating means on the smaller diameter portion selectively engages microswitches. A bushing is located on the free end of the small-diameter portion when the joystick is mounted on a thin panel and is mounted on the other end when the joystick is mounted on a thick panel.

Claims

1. A joystick adapted to be mounted on a first panel of a given thickness or a second panel of greater thickness, said joystick comprising a frame for mounting beneath and to a selected panel, a shaft extending through said frame and having a larger-diameter first shaft portion and a smaller-diameter second shaft portion, each of said shaft portions having a free end, means pivotally mounting said second shaft portion to said frame, a handle on the free end of said first shaft portion, actuating means on said second shaft portion, switch means mounted on said frame and being positioned and arranged to be selectively engaged by said actuating means as said shaft is pivoted, a bushing having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said second shaft portion, said bushing being located on said second shaft portion adjacent to the free end thereof when said joystick is mounted on a first panel, said bushing being located on said second shaft portion at the other end thereof when said joystick is mounted on a second panel.

2. The joystick of claim 1, wherein the length of said bushing is slightly less than the difference in thicknesses of the first and second panels.

3. The joystick of claim 1, and further comprising retaining means on said second shaft portion and disposed against said bushing when located adjacent to the free end thereof.

4. The joystick of claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a separate element slid onto said second shaft portion.

5. The joystick of claim 1, wherein said shaft further includes a shoulder at the intersection of said first and second shaft portions, said pivotal mounting means including a flexible hinge and a central journal, said shoulder resting on said journal.

6. The joystick of claim 1, wherein said switch means includes four separate switches respectively located 90°

apart.

7. The joystick of claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes inner and outer portions defining an annulus therebetween, said second shaft portion extending through said inner portion, said outer portion selectively engaging said switch means.

8. The joystick of claim 7, and further comprising spring means in said annulus urging the free end of said second shaft portion away from said frame.

9. A joystick adapted to be mounted on a first panel of a given thickness or a second panel of greater thickness, said joystick comprising a frame for mounting beneath and to a selected panel, a shaft extending through said frame and having a larger-diameter means and a smaller-diameter means, each of said means having a free end, said shaft being pivotally mounted on said frame, a handle on said larger-diameter means, actuating means on said smaller-diameter means, switch means mounted on said frame and being positioned and arranged to be selectively engraved by said actuating means as said shaft is pivoted, and a bushing having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said smaller-diameter means and less than the diameter of said larger-diameter means, said bushing being located on said smaller-diameter means near the free end thereof when said joystick is mounted on a first panel, said bushing being located on said shaft adjacent to said larger-diameter means when said joystick is mounted on a second panel.

10. The joystick of claim 9, wherein said smaller-diameter said larger-diameter means are made of metal.

11. The joystick of claim 9, wherein said handle is separate from and applied to said larger-diameter means.

12. The joystick of claim 9, wherein said actuating means is a separate element on said shaft.

13. The joystick of claim 12, and further comprising retaining means on said shaft, said bushing being positioned between said actuating means and said retaining means.

14. The joystick of claim 9, wherein said actuating means includes inner and outer portions defining an annulus therebetween, said shaft extending through said inner portion, said outer portion selectively engaging said switch means.