Single actuator for effecting multiple controls

Claim 2

A control actuator comprising: a. an operating member; b. suspension means mounting said operating member: 1. for longitudinal sliding movement along a predetermined axis passing through said operating member; 2. for rotational movement about said predetermined axis; and 3. for displacement with respect to said predetermined axis; c. first control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during sliding movement thereof; d. second control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during rotational movement thereof; e. third control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during displacement thereof with respect to said predetermined axis; f. said operating member being capable of longitudinal sliding movement, rotational movement, and displacement with respect to said predetermined axis at the same time.

Claim 3

for rotational movement about said predetermined axis; and

Claim 4

for rotational movement about said predetermined axis; and

Claim 5

The control actuator of claim 1 wherein said suspension means includes a gimbal type mounting for said operating member by which said displacement with respect to said predetermined axis places said operating member in an inclined position and so as to pass through a point on said predetermined axis.

Claim 6

The control actuator of claim 1 wherein said suspension means includes a control plate substantially freely moveable between two spaced plates disposed proximate upper and lower surfaces of said control plate by which said displacement with respect to said predetermined axis places said operating member in positions where it is parallel but spaced from said original position of said predetermined axis.

Claim 7

for displacement with respect to said predetermined axis; c. first control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during sliding movement thereof; d. second control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during rotational movement thereof; e. third control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during displacement thereof with respect to said predetermined axis; f. said operating member being capable of longitudinal sliding movement, rotational movement, and displacement with respect to said predetermined axis at the same time.

Claim 8

for displacement with respect to said predetermined axis; c. first control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during sliding movement thereof; d. second control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during rotational movement thereof; e. third control setting means carried by said operating member operative only during displacement thereof with respect to said predetermined axis; f. said operating member being capable of longitudinal sliding movement, rotational movement, and displacement with respect to said predetermined axis at the same time.

Claim 9

The control actuator of claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of electrical control means coacting with said operating member to be operated thereby during movement and displacement thereof.

Claim 10

The control actuator of claim 4 wherein: a. a first one of said electrical control means is operated by said operating member during said rotational movement thereof; b. a second one of said electrical control means is operated by said operating member during said longitudinal sliding movement thereof; and c. a third one of said electrical control means is operated by saiD operating member during said displacement thereof.

Claim 11

The control actuator of claim 5 wherein said electrical control means includes variable potentiometer means interconnected in a circuit to control multiple speakers in a stereo high fidelity sound system.

Claim 12

A control actuator comprising: a. a plurality of control means each effective to attain a predetermined objective; b. operating means having a plurality of modes of operation; c. said operating means being operable during a first predetermined mode of operation to coact with a first predetermined one of said control means to operate same; d. said operating means being operable during a second predetermined mode of operation to coact with a second predetermined one of said control means to operate same; e. said operating means being operable during a third predetermined mode of operation to coact with a third predetermined one of said control means to operate same; f. said operating means is adapted to slide longitudinally along a predetermined axis when displaced during said first mode of operation; g. said operating means is adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis when displaced during said second mode of operation; and h. said operating means adapted for angular movement in at least two transverse directions with respect to said predetermined axis, when displaced during the third mode of operation.

Claim 13

A control actuator comprising: a. a plurality of control means each effective to attain a predetermined objective; b. operating means having a plurality of modes of operation; c. said operating means being operable during a first predetermined mode of operation to coact with a first predetermined one of said control means to operate same; d. said operating means being operable during a second predetermined mode of operation to coact with a second predetermined one of said control means to operate same; e. said operating means being operable during a third predetermined mode of operation to coact with a third predetermined one of said control means to operate same; f. said operating means is adapted to slide longitudinally along a predetermined axis when displaced during said first mode of operation; g. said operating means is adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis when displaced during said second mode of operation; and h. said operating means adapted for angular movement in at least two transverse directions with respect to said predetermined axis, when displaced during the third mode of operation.

Claim 14

The control actuator of claim 7 wherein: said operating means is stick like and is mounted and constructed so as to be displaceable in said first, second, and third predetermined manners.

Claim 15

The control actuators of claims 7, wherein said plurality of control means include a plurality of variable potentiometer means electrically interconnected to control sound, volume and stereo image or balance in a multiple speaker high fidelity sound system.

Claim 16

A control actuator comprising: a. a plurality of control means each effective to attain a predetermined objective; b. operating means having a plurality of modes of operation; c. said operating means being operable during a first predetermined mode of operation to coact with a first predetermined one of said control means to operate same; d. said operating means being operable during a second predetermined mode of operation to coact with a second predetermined one of said control means to operate same; e. said operating means being operable during a third predetermined mode of operation to coact with a third predetermined one of said control means to operate same; f. said operating means is adapted to slide longitudinally along a predetermined axis when displaced during said first mode of operation; g. said operating means is adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis when displaced during said second mode of operation; and h. said operating means is adapted to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions parallel to said predetermined axis when displaced in a third predetermined manner.

Claim 17

A control actuator comprising: a. a plurality of control means each effective to attain a predetermined objective; b. operating means having a plurality of modes of operation; c. said operating means being operable during a first predetermined mode of operation to coact with a first predetermined one of said control means to operate same; d. said operating means being operable during a second predetermined mode of operation to coact with a second predetermined one of said control means to operate same; e. said operating means being operable during a third predetermined mode of operation to coact with a third predetermined one of said control means to operate same; f. said operating means is adapted to slide longitudinally along a predetermined axis when displaced during said first mode of operation; g. said operating means is adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis when displaced during said second mode of operation; and h. said operating means is adapted to be disposed in any one of a plurality of positions parallel to said predetermined axis when displaced in a third predetermined manner.

Claim 18

The control actuator of claim 10 wherein: said operating means is stick like and is mounted and constructed so as to be displaceable in said first, second, and third predetermined manners.

Claim 19

The control actuators of claim 10, wherein said plurality of control means include a plurality of variable potentiometer means electrically interconnected to control sound, volume and stereo image or balance in a multiple speaker high fidelity sound system.