Bi-directional operating mechanism

Claim 2

In combination with a broadcast receiver having panel means overlying the same, a volume control device including: key means carried by said panel means and adapted to be moved in response to force applied to spaced portions of said key means; and drive means so interconnecting said device and said key means that progressive increase in volume is effected by repeatedly depressing one of said spaced portions of said key means, and progressive decrease in volume is effected by repeatedly depressing the other of said spaced portions of said key means.

Claim 3

A combination in accordance with claim 1, and further characterized in that: said key means is of bar-like configuration and is mounted to lie in the general plane of said panel means, and said key means has support means, intermediate its ends, accommodating displacement of said key means out of said normal position in response to force applied toward either end portion thereof.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and in which said drive means comprises: a pair of ratchet means having teeth arranged in opposite directions; and a pair of pawls one of which is associated with one of said spaced portions of said key means and is adapted to drive one of said ratchet means, and the other of which is associated with the other of said spaced portions of said key means and is adapted to drive the other of said ratchet means.

Claim 5

In a television receiver including a cabinet, means for controlling a function of said receiver, comprising: a function-control potentiometer; ratchet means drivingly coupled to said potentiometer; and manually operable key means so mounted upon said receiver as normally to be substantially co-planar with a wall of the cabinet, said key means being depressible with respect to said wall of the cabinet, by force applied to either of two spaced portions of said key means; and means so interconnecting said key means and said ratchet means that said function may be adjusted progressively in one sense, by repeated depression of one spaced portion of said key means, and may be adjusted progressively in an opposite sense, by repeated depression of the other spaced portion of said key means.

Claim 6

In a television receiver including a cabinet, means for controlling a function of said receiver, comprising: a function-control potentiometer; ratchet means drivingly coupled to said potentiometer; and manually operable key means so mounted upon said receiver as normally to be substantially co-planar with a wall of the cabinet, said key means being depressible with respect to said wall of the cabinet, by force applied to either of two spaced portions of said key means; and means so interconnecting said key means and said ratchet means that said function may be adjusted progressively in one sense, by repeated depression of one spaced portion of said key means, and may be adjusted progressively in an opposite sense, by repeated depression of the other spaced portion of said key means.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and in which said ratchet means comprises a pair of ratchet wheels having teeth arranged in opposed directions whereby turning of said wheels actuates said potentiometer in opposite senses, and said interconnecting means comprises a pair of pawls each associated with a corresponding one of said two spaced portions of said key means and each disposed to drive a corresponding one of said ratchet wheels.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which the spaced portions of said key meaNs comprise resilient cantilever extensions of an intermediate portion of said key means which is carried by said wall of the cabinet.