No/low-wear bearing arrangement for a knob system
US10847330B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 2018 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2229/064
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to knob systems and methods to permit a smooth turning user input device that minimizes unintended horizontal displacement, along the X- or Y-axis, or unintended vertical displacement, along the Z-axis. The disclosed knob system may achieve this goal through the use of a back plate, a knob and a main housing extending through the knob and the back plate, the back plate comprises a plurality of Z-stop bearings, comprising a plurality of Z-stop balls and a plurality of Z-support springs, wherein the Z-stop bearings are in contact with the back plate and are configured to separate the knob from the back plate when the main housing is depressed in a vertical direction and wherein each of the plurality of Z-stop balls are attached to one of the plurality of Z-support springs, the Z-support springs bias the Z-stop ball against the knob.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.