Patent US3866477A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single knob, multifunction control assembly for a television receiver
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1973-08-02
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A control assembly for a television receiver includes a frame supporting a linear arrangement of resistive potentiometers and a track aligned therewith. A master shaft assembly, slidable along the track, bears a rotatable master shaft which is movable to tuning positions for engagement with the selected potentiometer. A spring, housed in the slider assembly biases the master shaft out of engagement, and a lamp, mounted to the master shaft assembly, illuminates appropriate control function indicators at each tuning position. A resilient foam curtain, having an elongated aperture through which the master shaft protrudes, is mounted to the frame. In one of the disclosed embodiments the track has a series of depressions adjacent each tuning position and a pair of spring loaded detent balls on the master shaft assembly coacting with the depressions to index the master shaft assembly. A plate, having a plurality of chamfered holes, corresponding to the potentiometers, is interposed between the master shaft assembly and the potentiometers to provide a guide for the master shaft. In the other disclosed embodiment a plate, having a plurality of valleys, corresponding to the potentiometers, and a hole at the bottom of each valley, is interposed between the potentiometers and the master shaft assembly. The surfaces of the valleys, when contacted by the master shaft, act to adjust the position of the master shaft assembly along the track and guide the master shaft into engagement with the potentiometers.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G Schmid
- 👤 Otto H Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:06
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J1/00; H03J1/06; H03J1/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A television receiver having a control assembly including at least three viewer operable potentiometers each having an adjustable element, and a slidable master shaft assembly, including a master shaft for selectively adjusting said elements, said control assembly comprising: frame means for supporting said potentiometers with said adjustable elements arranged in a line, and defining a corresponding plurality of separate tuning positions for adjustment of said potentiometers; guide means permitting movement of said master shaft assembly to said tuning positions; means normally biasing said master shaft out of engagement with said adjustable elements; and means for mechanically coupling said master shaft to the selected one of said adjustable elements for adjustment of its corresponding potentiometers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A television receiver having a control assembly including at least three viewer operable potentiometers each having an adjustable element, and a slidable master shaft assembly, including a master shaft for selectively adjusting said elements, said control assembly comprising: frame means for supporting said potentiometers with said adjustable elements arranged in a line, and defining a corresponding plurality of separate tuning positions for adjustment of said potentiometers; guide means permitting movement of said master shaft assembly to said tuning positions; means normally biasing said master shaft out of engagement with said adjustable elements; and means for mechanically coupling said master shaft to the selected one of said adjustable elements for adjustment of its corresponding potentiometers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A television receiver as in claim 1, wherein said control assembly includes: positioning means at each tuning position; and coacting means on said master shaft, said positioning means and said coacting means cooperating to facilitate engagement between said master shaft and said adjustable elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A television receiver as in claim 2, further including detent means indexing said master shaft assembly at said tuning positions, wherein said positioning means includes a plate, mounted on said frame means, interposed between said master and said adjustable elements, defining a plurality of chamfered holes corresponding to said adjustable elements, said chamfers defining cam surfaces; and said coacting means including a cam follower on said master shaft contacting said cam surfaces, in the event of said alignment errors, and guiding said master shaft into engagement with said adjustable elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A television receiver as in claim 3, wherein said guide means includes; a track, mounted to said frame, positioned along said linear arrangement of controls and having depressions adjacent said holes; and a track follower, on said master shaft assembly, cooperating with said track to restrict said assembly to movement along said linear arrangement of said tuning positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A television receiver as in claim 4, wherein said detent means includes; a spring loaded ball on said master shaft assembly cooperating with said depressions to index said master shaft assembly at said tuning positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A television receiver as in claim 5, wherein said master shaft assembly includes means permitting axial movement of said master shaft into engagement with said adjustable elements, and wherein said means normally biasing said master shaft include a spring, housed in said master shaft assembly, urging said master shaft out of engagement with said adjustable elements; said means foR mechanically coupling said master shaft to said adjustable elements including gear-like end structures on said master shaft and said adjustable elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A television receiver as in claim 2, wherein said positioning means includes; a plate, mounted on said frame means, interposed between said master shaft and said adjustable elements, defining a plurality of holes corresponding to said adjustable elements, and a plurality of cam surfaces adjacent said holes, said coacting means including a cam follower, on said master shaft, contacting said cam surfaces and guiding said master shaft into engagement with said adjustable elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A television receiver as in claim 7, wherein said plate includes a plurality of valleys each having one of said holes formed in the bottom thereof; said cam surfaces being defined by the walls of said valleys, the width of said valleys defining the region in which said alignment can occur.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A television receiver as in claim 8, wherein said guide means includes; a track on said frame means, and a track follower, on said master shaft assembly, cooperating with said track to restrict said assembly to movement along said linear arrangement of said tuning positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A television receiver as in claim 9, wherein said master shaft assembly includes means permitting axial movement of said master shaft into engagement with said adjustable elements, said means normally biasing said master shaft including a spring, housed in said master shaft assembly, urging said master shaft out of engagement with said adjustable elements, and said means for mechanically coupling said master shaft to said adjustable elements including gear-like end structures on said master shaft and said adjustable elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
A television receiver, having a control assembly including a plurality of viewer operable controls, each having an adjustable element, said control assembly comprising: a frame supporting said controls with said adjustable elements arranged in a line, and defining a corresponding plurality of separate tuning positions for adjustment of said controls; a master shaft assembly having a track follower; a master shaft, carried by said master shaft assembly, movable into engagement with said adjustable element; a plate, interposed between said master shaft assembly and said controls, defining a plurality of chamfered holes corresponding to said adjustable elements, said adjustable elements accessible to said master shaft through said holes; a track, mounted on said frame, positioned along said linear arrangement of controls and having depressions adjacent said holes, said master shaft assembly track follower coacting with said track, permitting said master shaft assembly to move to said tuning positions; spring means, urging said master shaft out of said engagement; a spring loaded ball, on said master shaft assembly, cooperating with said depressions to index said master shaft assembly at said tuning position; said master shaft and said adjustable elements having gear-like end structures to facilitate engagement therebetween; said master shaft end structure coacting with said chamfers to facilitate said engagement in the event of minor misalignment between said master shaft and said adjustable elements; and indicator means cooperating with said master shaft assembly to indicate to the viewer the control function operable in a given master shaft assembly position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
247 words
A television receiver, having a control assembly including a plurality of viewer operable controls, each having an adjustable element, said control assembly comprising: a frame supporting said controls with said adjustable elements arranged in a line, and defining a corresponding plurality of separate tuning positions for adjustment of said controls; a master shaft assembly having a track follower; a master shaft, carried by said master shaft assembly, movable into engagement with said adjustable element; a plate, interposed between said master shaft assembly and said controls, defining a plurality of chamfered holes corresponding to said adjustable elements, said adjustable elements accessible to said master shaft through said holes; a track, mounted on said frame, positioned along said linear arrangement of controls and having depressions adjacent said holes, said master shaft assembly track follower coacting with said track, permitting said master shaft assembly to move to said tuning positions; spring means, urging said master shaft out of said engagement; a spring loaded ball, on said master shaft assembly, cooperating with said depressions to index said master shaft assembly at said tuning position; said master shaft and said adjustable elements having gear-like end structures to facilitate engagement therebetween; said master shaft end structure coacting with said chamfers to facilitate said engagement in the event of minor misalignment between said master shaft and said adjustable elements; and indicator means cooperating with said master shaft assembly to indicate to the viewer the control function operable in a given master shaft assembly position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A television receiver as in claim 11, wherein said control assembly further includes resilient closure means, mounted on said frame, having an elongated aperture, through which said master shaft protrudes, said resilient closure means acting to mask said control assembly.
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) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |