Control device with optimized coaxiality
View Patent ↗A control device, includes a switch ( 2 ) with a rotary control rod ( 20 ) having a diametrical slot ( 21 ) which extends in a plane of reference (P), a molded plastic knob ( 3 ) which includes a housing receiving the control rod, the housing including two flexible fingers ( 31, 32 ) which are diametrically opposed and provided so as to be resilient radially inward, and two fixed fingers ( 33, 34 ) which are diametrically opposed and are connected together via a connecting wall ( 35 ) which extends along the plane (P), the connecting wall ( 35 ) being received in the diametric slot without any play in order to immobilize the knob in relation to the control rod in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the plane (P), the two flexible fingers holding the knob along the axis (A) by friction or by mechanical or spring-assisted blocking.
1. A control device ( 1 ), including:
a rotary switch ( 2 ) having a body ( 6 ) and a control rod ( 20 ) which extends along an axis (A), said control rod ( 20 ) having a general cylindrical form, and being mounted with at least one degree of rotational freedom in relation to the body ( 6 ) along the axis (A), said control rod ( 20 ) being provided with at least one diametrical slot ( 21 ) which extends in a plane of reference (P) defined by a first diametrical direction (X) and the axis (A), said diametrical slot ( 21 ) thus defining the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod,
a molded plastic knob ( 3 ) which includes a housing which is adapted to receive said control rod ( 20 ), said housing including at least two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) which are diametrically opposed and resiliently provided in order to press the two half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod radially inward, and at least two fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) which are diametrically opposed and connected together by means of a connecting wall ( 35 ) which extends along the plane (P), the connecting wall ( 35 ) being received in the diametrical slot ( 21 ) without any substantial play in order to immobilize the knob ( 3 ) in relation to the control rod ( 20 ) in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the plane of reference (P), the two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) holding the knob ( 3 ) along the axis (A) by means of friction or by means of mechanical or spring-assisted blocking.
2. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , further including a spring ( 91 ) which is arranged in a circumferential manner around the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) and the fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) in order to press the fingers radially inward.
3. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , further including a set screw ( 94 ) which is received in a housing that is tapped in order to wedge the connecting wall ( 35 ) against one of the faces ( 21 a , 21 b ) of the diametrical slot ( 21 ).
4. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) frame the half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod without substantial play in order to immobilize the knob ( 3 ) in relation to the control rod ( 20 ) in the first diametrical direction (X).
5. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotary switch ( 2 ) is an electric or electronic switch which is configured for controlling the operation of one or several members of a motor vehicle by a user.
6. The control device ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein,
a first end of a first of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a first end of a first of the flexible fingers,
a second end of the first of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a first end of a second of the flexible fingers,
a first end of a second of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a second end of the first of the flexible fingers, and
a second end of the second of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a second end of the second of the flexible fingers.
7. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the axial depth (H 1 ) of the diametrical slot ( 21 ), defined by the distance between the bottom ( 22 ) and the top opening ( 23 ) of the diametrical slot ( 21 ), is greater than the diameter (D) of the control rod ( 20 ).
8. The control device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the control rod ( 20 ) includes an engagement portion ( 24 ) and the diameter (D 2 ) of the rim of the knob ( 3 ) is greater than two times the height (H 0 ) of said engagement portion ( 24 ).
9. The control device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod include a toothing ( 4 ) which cooperates with the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ).
10. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control rod ( 20 ) includes an engagement portion ( 24 ) and the diameter (D 2 ) of the rim of the knob ( 3 ) is greater than two times the height (H 0 ) of said engagement portion ( 24 ).
11. The control device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod include a toothing ( 4 ) which cooperates with the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ).
12. The control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod include a toothing ( 4 ) which cooperates with the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ).
13. The control device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the toothing ( 4 ) of the control rod ( 20 ) comes to bite and/or interfere on an inside surface of the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ).
14. A control device ( 1 ), including:
a rotary switch ( 2 ) having a body ( 6 ) and a control rod ( 20 ) which extends along an axis (A), said control rod ( 20 ) having a general cylindrical form, and being mounted with at least one degree of rotational freedom in relation to the body ( 6 ) along the axis (A), said control rod ( 20 ) being provided with at least one diametrical slot ( 21 ) which extends in a plane of reference (P) defined by a first diametrical direction (X) and the axis (A), said diametrical slot ( 21 ) thus defining the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod,
a molded plastic knob ( 3 ) which includes a housing which is adapted to receive said control rod ( 20 ), said housing including at least two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) which are diametrically opposed and resiliently provided in order to press the two half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod radially inward, and at least two fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) which are diametrically opposed and connected together by means of a connecting wall ( 35 ) which extends along the plane (P),
the connecting wall ( 35 ) being received in the diametrical slot ( 21 ) without any substantial play in order to immobilize the knob ( 3 ) in relation to the control rod ( 20 ) in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the plane of reference (P), the two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) holding the knob ( 3 ) along the axis (A) by means of friction or by means of mechanical or spring-assisted blocking,
wherein the connecting wall ( 35 ) has an axial end ( 21 c) which projects beyond the axial end ( 31 c, 32 c) of the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) such that for insertion for assembly, the introduction of the connecting wall ( 35 ) into the diametrical slot ( 21 ) precedes the positioning of the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ).
15. A control device ( 1 ), comprising:
a rotary switch ( 2 ) having a body ( 6 ) and a control rod ( 20 ) which extends along an axis (A),
said control rod ( 20 ) being mounted with at least one degree of rotational freedom in relation to the body ( 6 ) along the axis (A),
said control rod ( 20 ) being provided with a diametrical slot ( 21 ) which extends in a plane of reference (P) defined by a first diametrical direction (X) and the axis (A), said diametrical slot ( 21 ) defining the first and second half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod; and
a molded plastic knob ( 3 ) which includes a housing, said control rod ( 20 ) being received in the housing,
said housing including i) two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) which are diametrically opposed and resilient, inner surfaces of each of the flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) bearing on diametrically opposite outer surfaces of the control rod ( 20 ) in order to press the two half-parts ( 20 a , 20 b ) of the rod radially inward, ii) two fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) which are diametrically opposed, inner surfaces of each of the fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ) being arranged along diametrically opposite outer surfaces of the control rod ( 20 ), and iii) a connecting wall ( 35 ) that extends along the plane (P) and connects the two fixed fingers ( 33 , 34 ),
wherein the connecting wall ( 35 ) is received in the diametrical slot ( 21 ) without any substantial play in order to immobilize the knob ( 3 ) in relation to the control rod ( 20 ) in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the plane of reference (P), the two flexible fingers ( 31 , 32 ) holding the knob ( 3 ) along the axis (A).
16. The control device ( 1 ) of claim 15 , wherein,
a first end of a first of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a first end of a first of the flexible fingers,
a second end of the first of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a first end of a second of the flexible fingers,
a first end of a second of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a second end of the first of the flexible fingers, and
a second end of the second of the fixed fingers is located adjacent and spaced apart from a second end of the second of the flexible fingers.