Auto-alignable knob
First Claim
1. An auto-alignable knob assembly for a home appliance comprising:
- an offspring box including a furrow configured to receive a shaft of a valve;
a mobile box, wherein one face of the mobile box is open, wherein each lateral face of the mobile box has a pin, wherein the mobile box receives the offspring box through the open face and wherein the offspring box and the mobile box have a free movement relative to one another along a first axis;
a fixed box having a face that defines an hexahedron and a front face positioned mutually opposite to the face with the hexahedron, the front face having at least one extension, wherein each lateral side of the hexahedron includes an indentation and a groove that provides access to the indentation, wherein the mobile box is insertable to the fixed box by insertion of the respective pins of each lateral face through corresponding grooves, and wherein the pins of the mobile box provide a respective free movement to the mobile box relative to the indentations of the fixed box along at least a second axis orthogonal to the first axis;
a knob including at least one notch configured to receive the at least one extension of the front face of the fixed box and further including a lever;
a biasing member configured to bias the knob relative to the fixed box;
a housing arranged to house the offspring box, the mobile box, the fixed box and at least part of the knob; and
a cap arranged to enclose the housing and the boxes housed by the housing, and having contact with an end of the biasing member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An auto-alignable knob for a home appliance includes an offspring box self-connectable with a valve shaft. A mobile box has at least one lateral face including a pin. The mobile box is coupled to the offspring box to allow a free movement relative to one another along a first axis. A fixed box includes an indentation and a groove. The mobile box is insertable to the fixed box by insertion of the pin of the lateral face through the groove. The pin of the mobile box provides a respective degree of freedom to the mobile box relative to the indentation of the fixed box along at least a second axis normal to the first axis. A mechanical coupling established between the indentation of the fixed box and the pin of the mobile box is configured to provide a degree of rotational freedom about one of the axes, and a combined mechanical coupling established between the offspring box, the mobile box and the fixed box is configured to provide a respective degree of freedom along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An auto-alignable knob assembly for a home appliance comprising:
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an offspring box including a furrow configured to receive a shaft of a valve; a mobile box, wherein one face of the mobile box is open, wherein each lateral face of the mobile box has a pin, wherein the mobile box receives the offspring box through the open face and wherein the offspring box and the mobile box have a free movement relative to one another along a first axis; a fixed box having a face that defines an hexahedron and a front face positioned mutually opposite to the face with the hexahedron, the front face having at least one extension, wherein each lateral side of the hexahedron includes an indentation and a groove that provides access to the indentation, wherein the mobile box is insertable to the fixed box by insertion of the respective pins of each lateral face through corresponding grooves, and wherein the pins of the mobile box provide a respective free movement to the mobile box relative to the indentations of the fixed box along at least a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; a knob including at least one notch configured to receive the at least one extension of the front face of the fixed box and further including a lever; a biasing member configured to bias the knob relative to the fixed box; a housing arranged to house the offspring box, the mobile box, the fixed box and at least part of the knob; and a cap arranged to enclose the housing and the boxes housed by the housing, and having contact with an end of the biasing member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An auto-alignable knob for a home appliance comprising:
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an offspring box connected to a valve shaft; a mobile box having at least one lateral face and including a pin in the lateral face, wherein the mobile box is coupled to the offspring box to allow a free movement relative to one another along a first axis; a fixed box including an indentation and a groove, wherein the mobile box is insertable to the fixed box by insertion of the pin of the lateral face through the groove, and wherein the pin of the mobile box provides a respective degree of freedom to the mobile box relative to the indentation of the fixed box along at least a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; a knob including a lever; a biasing member arranged to bias the knob relative to the fixed box; a housing arranged to house the offspring box, the mobile box, the fixed box and at least part of the knob; and a cap arranged to enclose the housing, and having contact with an end of the biasing member. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification