Method of assembling a calibratable knob and skirt and a product thereof

• US 5,459,919 A
• Filed: 06/22/1994
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
• Original Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
• Inventors: Howie, Robert K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorski, Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US08/263,813
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 29/423, 29/437, 29/438, 29/464, 29/513, 156/155, 156/308.2, 156/308.4
• US Class Current: 29/437
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4981 Utilizing transitory attached element or associated separate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49845 by deforming interlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49922 by bending over projecting prongs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A knob and skirt assembly having a dial which can be calibrated relative to a control shaft and easily assembled in the proper position of alignment. The assembly includes a knob having a handle portion and hub portion. The knob portion has a control shaft receiving socket at the outer end thereof. The handle portion has an axially facing annular rim. At least one arcuate segment of teeth is formed on the annular rim. A disk shaped skirt has a central opening which fits over and receives the hub of the knob. A shallow well is formed in the skirt surrounding the central opening. Teeth formed in at least one arcuate segment are positioned in the well to mesh with the teeth on the annular rim. Ribs on the knob are heated and bent over against the skirt to fasten the knob to the skirt and to frictionally resist rotation of the hub and the skirt relative to each other until a predetermined rotational force is applied. An indexing notch is formed in the central opening of the skirt at the peripheral edge thereof. An indexing post is formed on the handle and extends through the indexing notch when the handle and skirt are assembled to align the skirt and the handle. The indexing post is removed from the notch when the ribs are bent over the skirt.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a calibratable knob and skirt in only one predetermined, angular position of the knob relative to the skirt, said method including the steps of:

forming a knob having a handle and a hub with said hub having a plurality of axially extending ribs and an indexing post formed on said handle,

forming a disk shaped skirt having a central opening and an indexing notch,

positioning said central opening of said skirt over said hub with said indexing post extending through said indexing notch,

bending said ribs against said skirt thereby rotationally securing said skirt to said handle, and

removing said indexing post from said indexing notch by softening and remolding it permitting said knob to be rotated relative to said skirt.

2. The method of claim 1 including heating said ribs and said indexing post for bending and removal, respectively.

3. The method of claim 2 including preforming said heating, bending and removing simultaneously.