US3855877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking knob
Assignee: GACH R AKA KILO ENG CO
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Filing: 1973-06-28
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A knob for driving a rotatable shaft of a device and having a compact lock for securing the knob and shaft at a desired position. A locking member is mounted on the knob, and the member is movable with respect to the knob to drive braking pins or a similar braking means against a stationary portion of the device or knob assembly to lock the knob and shaft. The knob is especially useful on a turns-counting dial as used with devices such as miniature multi-turn potentiometers.
Inventors
- 👤 D Gach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/04; G06M1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834; Y10T74/2084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A locking knob assembly for driving a rotatable shaft of a device, comprising: a base having a portion adapted for attachment to the device to be stationary with respect to the shaft; a knob disposed adjacent the base and adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft to be rotatable with respect to the base; a locking member mounted on the knob to be movable with respect to the knob toward and away from the base; and braking means disposed between the locking member and base, and arranged to be driven by the locking member into frictional engagement with the base when the locking member is moved with respect to the knob whereby the knob and shaft can be secured at a desired rotational position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A locking knob assembly for driving a rotatable shaft of a device, comprising: a base having a portion adapted for attachment to the device to be stationary with respect to the shaft; a knob disposed adjacent the base and adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft to be rotatable with respect to the base; a locking member mounted on the knob to be movable with respect to the knob toward and away from the base; and braking means disposed between the locking member and base, and arranged to be driven by the locking member into frictional engagement with the base when the locking member is moved with respect to the knob whereby the knob and shaft can be secured at a desired rotational position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 in which the locking member is in threaded engagement with the knob to be rotatable coaxially with the knob.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly defined in claim 2 in which the knob has an open end remote from the device, and the locking member is threaded into the open end, the braking means including a pin mounted in the knob to be axially movable, the pin extending into the open end to be forced toward the base as the locking member is advanced into the knob.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly defined in claim 2 in which the locking member is a sleeve fitted over the knob, and in which the braking means includes an axially movable ring fitted over the knob between the sleeve and base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the braking means moves radially with respect to the shaft into frictional engagement with the base when the locking member is moved to a locking position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the braking means includes a pin slidably mounted in the knob to be axially movable, the pin being driven toward the base when the locking member is moved to a locking position to drive another portion of the braking means into frictional engagement with the base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a turns-counting dial assembly having a stationary base adapted for attachment to a device, and having a rotatable knob adapted for attachment to a rotatable shaft of the device, an improved locking mechanism comprising: a locking member threaded into an open end of the knob to be movable toward and away from the base, and a braking means disposed between the locking member and base, and arranged to be driven into engagement with the base by the locking member to secure the knob and shaft with respect to the base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a turns-counting dial assembly having a stationary base adapted for attachment to a device, and having a rotatable knob adapted for attachment to a rotatable shaft of the device, an improved locking mechanism comprising: a locking member threaded into an open end of the knob to be movable toward and away from the base, and a braking means disposed between the locking member and base, and arranged to be driven into engagement with the base by the locking member to secure the knob and shaft with respect to the base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement defined in claim 7 in which the braking means comprises a plurality of pins disposed in the knob to be axially movable, the pins being disposed between the locking member and base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement defined in claim 8 in which the turns-counting dial includes an axially movable coupling ring which is rotationally keyed to the knob, the pins being disposed between the locking member and coupling ring, whereby the locking member can be advanced to drive the pins against the coupling ring to force the coupling ring into frictional locking engagement with the base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |