Retractable rotary knob for switch including latch mechanism

• US 6,410,871 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Rarbach, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US09/595,408
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 200/520-525, 200/564, 200/566, 200/318-327, 200/336
• US Class Current: 200/336
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/087 retractable; Flush control knobs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/085 Retractable turn knobs, e.g. flush mounted

Abstract

A simplified retractable knob in which an actuating element can be displaced axially with respect to a bearing element with or counter to the force of a coiled spring. A latching element is integrated into the coil spring, which is guided in a guideway having at least a rest position and an actuating position of the actuating element.

Claims

1. A rotary knob which can be retracted in a control unit, the knob comprising a bearing element and an actuating element which can be displaced axially in the bearing element, the bearing element and the actuating element being connected to each other via a spring element for exerting an axial force on the actuating element, and the bearing element having a guideway with two end positions for a latching element, which end positions are essentially arranged axially one behind the other and determine an actuating position and a rest position, offset axially with respect to the actuating position, of the actuating element, wherein the latching element is integrated in the spring element.

2. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring element is a coiled spring.

3. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coiled spring is connected to the actuating element at a first end which is bent over in the axial direction into the interior of the coiled spring and subsequently is bent over approximately at right angles with respect to the axis of the coiled spring to form the latching element.

4. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element has a guide groove for the latching element.

5. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary knob is part of a rotary regulator of a motor-vehicle control part.

6. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotary knob is a control element of audio equipment.

7. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotary knob is a control element of a motor-vehicle air-conditioning unit.

8. The retractable rotary knob as claimed in claim 7, wherein it is a control element for a climate control.

9. The retractable knob as claimed in claim 2, wherein the knob also has a rotary control function.

10. The retractable knob as claimed in claim 3, wherein the knob also has a rotary control function.