EP1526422B1 - Retractable rotating knob of a switch or positioning device, especially of a household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a retractable rotary handle device of a switching or adjusting device, in particular a household appliance, with a variable in different angular positions rotary knob which is axially movable between an outer located in front of an outer surface of the device Drehwinkelverstell position and a sunk in this area position, a two-part executed, rotatably connected to the rotary knob axis of rotation with an inner axially fixed axis member and an outer on this by means of a slotted guide axially displaceable sleeve-shaped axis member and a disposed between the two axis organs compression spring for returning the knob to its outer non-recessed position, the slotted guide a on the outer surface of the inner axis member provided guide track on which a with the outer axis organ axially fixed body is guided, so after a hint leinstellung of the knob in its outer position, this button by an axially directed, exerted on him first compressive force is retractable into the outer surface and locked in its retracted position, and by a second axially directed pressure of the push button is released again, so that he under effect the return spring can return in its outer position.

Turning handle devices of the aforementioned type are already known. However, these known devices have the disadvantage that in the guideway, which is designed as a groove, guided body is designed as an additional separate part which must be slidably inserted into the outer sleeve-shaped axis part transverse to its longitudinal axis, which the structure and the Assembly of the device complicates.

Document EP 0671681 shows a retractable rotary handle device according to the preamble of claim 1. Document DE 19930057 also shows a retractable twist grip device.

The invention has for its object to provide a retractable rotary handle device of the aforementioned type, which no longer has the shortcomings of the known device.

The solution to this problem is solved by the subject of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Further features of the invention are set forth in subclaims.

• Die Figur 1 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen versenkbaren Drehgriffvorrichtung ;
• Die Figuren 2 und 3 zeigen die erfindungsgemässe Drehgriffvorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht in ihren zwei Stellungen in der Bedienungsblende eines Haushaltsgeräts ;
• Die Figur 4 ist eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils IV der Figur 3 ;
• Die Figur 5 ist eine Seitenansicht des äusseren hülsenförmigen Achsenorgans der erfindungsgemässen Drehgriffvorrichtung ;
• Die Figur 6 ist eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils VI der Figur 5 ;
• Die Figur 7 ist eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie VII-VII der Figur 6 ;
• Die Figuren 8 und 9 sind Ansichten in Richtung der Pfeile VIII bzw. IX der Figur 6 ;
• Die Figur 10 ist eine Seitenansicht des inneren Achsenorgans 6 der erfindungsgemässen Drehgriffvorrichtung ;
• Die Figur 11 ist eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils XI der Figur 10 ;
• Die Figur 12 ist eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie XII-XII der Figur 11 ;
• Die Figuren 13 und 14 sind Ansichten in Richtung der Pfeile XIII bzw. XIV der Figur 11 ;
• Die Figur 15 ist eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie XV-XV der Figur 11 ;
• Die Figur 16 ist eine Seitenansicht des inneren Achsenorgans einer zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Drehgriffvorrichtung ;
• Die Figur 17 ist eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils XVII der Figur 16 ;
• Die Figur 18 ist eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie XVIII-XVIII der Figur 17 ;
• Die Figuren 19 und 20 sind Ansichten entsprechend der Pfeile XIX bzw. XX der Figur 17;
• Die Figur 21 ist eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie XXI-XXI der Figur 17 ;
• Die Figur 22 ist eine Seitenansicht des äusseren Achsenorgans 5 der zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Drehgriffvorrichtung ;
• Die Figur 23 ist eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils XXIII der Figur 22 ;
• Die Figur 24 ist eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie XXIV-XXIV der Figur 23 ;
• Die Figuren 25 und 26 sind Ansichten in Richtung der Pfeile XXV bzw. XXVI der Figur 23 ;
• Die Figur 27 zeigt die Achse der Drehgriffvorrichtung der zweiten Ausführungsform in ihrer äusseren Stellung des Drehknopfes entsprechenden Figuration ;
• Die Figur 28 ist eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie XXVIII-XXVIII der Figur 27, und
• Die Figur 29 entspricht der Figur 27 und zeigt jedoch die Achse in ihrer der inneren Stellung des Drehknopfes entsprechenden Stellung.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which serve only as exemplary embodiments and on which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable twist grip device according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 show the inventive rotary handle device in a side view in its two positions in the control panel of a household appliance;
• Figure 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV of Figure 3;
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the outer sleeve-shaped axle member of the rotary handle device according to the invention;
• Fig. 6 is a view in the direction of the arrow VI of Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;
• Figures 8 and 9 are views in the direction of the arrows VIII and IX of Figure 6;
• Figure 10 is a side view of the inner axle member 6 of the rotary handle device according to the invention;
• Figure 11 is a view in the direction of the arrow XI of Figure 10;
• Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11;
• Figures 13 and 14 are views in the direction of the arrows XIII and XIV of Figure 11;
• Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of Fig. 11;
• FIG. 16 is a side view of the inner shaft member of a second embodiment of the rotary handle device according to the present invention;
• FIG. 17 is a view in the direction of the arrow XVII of FIG. 16;
• Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 17;
• Figs. 19 and 20 are views corresponding to arrows XIX and XX of Fig. 17, respectively;
• Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI of Fig. 17;
• Fig. 22 is a side view of the outer shaft member 5 of the second embodiment of the rotary handle device according to the present invention;
• Fig. 23 is a view in the direction of the arrow XXIII of Fig. 22;
• Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 23;
• Figs. 25 and 26 are views in the direction of arrows XXV and XXVI of Fig. 23, respectively;
• Figure 27 shows the axis of the rotary handle device of the second embodiment in its outer position of the knob corresponding Figuration.
• FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken along the line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 27, and FIG
• FIG. 29 corresponds to FIG. 27, but shows the axis in its position corresponding to the inner position of the rotary knob.

1 shows the inventive retractable rotary handle device for a switching or adjusting device of a control panel having a household appliance in a perspective view. This device, which carries the reference numeral 1, essentially has a rotary knob 2, which is mounted on one end 3 of a rotatable shaft 4 rotatably. The axle 4 is made in two parts and has an outer axle body 5 which carries the knob 2 and an inner axle body 6, on which the outer sleeve-shaped axle body 5 is axially displaceable, but without being able to rotate on this body 6. The rotationally fixed connection of the two axle body 5 and 6 is characterized achieved that the cross sections of the two bodies are listed out of round. According to FIG. 1, the two bodies have an essentially circular cross-section, which is flattened in a region, so that a flat surface 13 or 14 is formed on the bodies 5 and 6.

As FIG. 2 shows, the gripping device according to the invention is inserted into the operating panel, designated 8, of a domestic appliance (not shown). In the position shown in Figure 2, the control knob 2 projects outwards beyond the aperture 8 so that it can be turned by hand. The consequently rotatable knob 2 penetrates the aperture 8, which has a corresponding circular aperture 9 for this purpose. In this externally operable position of the knob 2 and thus the handle device 1, the inner axle body 6 protrudes maximally over the inner end face 11 of the outer axle body 5 axially inwards. It should be noted that the inner axle body 6 always rests with its inner end face 12 against a fixed abutment surface 13 of the adjusting device. FIG. 3 shows the device 1 according to the invention in its lowered position into the operating panel 8, in which the rotary knob 2 is in alignment with the outer surface of the panel and as a result can no longer be turned by hand. In this position, the inner axle member 6 projects axially only a small amount from the outer axle member, always in abutment with its end face 12 on the device-fixed support surface 13.

The retractable rotary handle device 1 can be locked in its lowered position shown in FIG. It can be unlocked by a slight further pressing the button 2. This operation of the device 1 is by a slide guide mechanism , which will be described below and allows the axial sliding movement of the outer axle member 5 on the inner axle member 6 between the two displacements of the knob 2 shown in FIGS.

To form the slide guide mechanism, the outer axle member 5 has an axially extending arm 16 which is radially and laterally, ie substantially tangentially resilient in a window 18 in the wall of the sleeve-shaped member 5 is deflectable. The window 18 is provided axially in the middle of the flat surface 13 and the arm 16 extends centrally in the window. In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 14, the root 17 of the arm is located near the outer end of the axle body 5 and the free end 21 near the inner end with its inner end face 11 of the body 5. The free radial and laterally elastically deflectable end 21 of the arm 16 has an inwardly directed towards the axis of the organ 5 nose 23, which has a special shape, which will be described below. This nose 23 protrudes into a special gate guide groove 25, which is incorporated in the flattened outer wall 14 of the inner axle body 6. This groove has a substantially heart-shaped form 26 in the inner half of the organ 6, which protrudes from the organ 5 in FIG. The groove 25 has a rectilinear portion 27 which extends symmetrically to the axial axis of symmetry from the apex of the heart to the outer end of the organ 6 and is interrupted by a transverse web 28 in the vicinity of this end. The heart-shaped portion 26 of the displacement path of the nose of the arm forming groove has two laterally offset from the axis of symmetry and parallel to the axis XX extending straight groove portions 29, 30 of different lengths. The shorter portion 29 is connected to the rectilinear axial portion 27 by a rectilinear connection portion 31 which is referred to on the axial portions 29, 30 extends obliquely with a relatively small angle. The second axis-parallel groove portion 30 is connected to the axial and central groove portion 27 by a wider but shorter and steeper groove portion 38.

The heart-shaped groove portion 26 is closed to the free end 12 of the member 6 through a substantially Z-shaped wall 32. This wall has an outer wall portion 33 which extends from the outer wall of the shorter axially parallel groove portion 29 obliquely to the axis of the part 6 in the direction of the free end 12, and a central wall portion 34 which is substantially parallel to the wall portion 31 to the axis, However, in the opposite direction to the part 33 extends and forms with the latter a V, the tip of which is directed towards the end face 12. The end 36 of the central wall portion 34 is located with respect to the axis XX of the inner axis member 6 at a distance which is smaller than the distance from this axis of the inner, the axis-parallel groove portion 29 forming wall 37. To the central wall portion 34 of the substantially Z -shaped end wall 32 of the heart-shaped groove portion 26 is followed by a wall 39 which extends in the illustrated embodiment of the invention approximately at right angles to the wall portion 34 practically to the outer wall 40 of the longer axially parallel groove portion 30, except for a short Einmündungsteil, approximately at right angles to this wall 40 is directed.

The Z-shaped wall 32 opposite the heart-shaped groove 26 is bounded by an inner wall 42. The inner wall 42 has a V-shaped profile, the tip 43 is directed away from the free end 12 and thus causes a latching of the nose 23 of the resilient arm 16. The bottom of the groove portion 45, which connects the two axially parallel Herznutenbereiche 29 and 30 between the boundary walls 39 and 42, increases towards the grooved area 30 progressively, so that in the extension to the groove area 30 bounded inner wall 46, a step 47 is present, which extends to the outer wall portion 39 of the Z-shaped Abschlußβ 32.

The nose 23 at the end 21 of the elastically deflectable arm 16 of the outer axle member 5 is formed according to the configuration of the groove in which it slides. For this purpose, the front side surface 49 of the nose 23 has a V-shaped profile corresponding to that of the two wall portions 33, 34 of the Z-shaped end wall 32 of the heart-shaped groove 26. The inner side 50 of the nose 23 also has a V-shaped profile which corresponds to that of the inner wall 42 of the Verbindungsnutteils 45. The Nutengrund directed towards the end face 51 of the nose 23 is chamfered in a region 52, corresponding to the ramp in the bottom of the Verbindungsnutteils 45th

The embodiment of the retractable knob device according to the invention just described works as follows.

2 shows the device in the non-recessed position of the knob 2, in which it can be rotated. The outer axle body 5 is thereby held axially on the inner body 6, in spite of the coil spring 7 which presses it apart, that the nose 23 of the spring arm 17 rests with its rear side surface 50 on the transverse web 28 which has a corresponding profile and interrupts the groove 27. This engaging behind the web 28 through the nose 23 was due to the elastic radial deflection to the outside of the end 21 of the arm 16 when attaching the outer axle member 5 on the inner axle member 6 allows.

After adjusting the rotary head 2 in its desired angular position of the button is pressed into the control panel so that it occupies the position shown in Figure 3 and locked in this. During this indentation, the nose 23 of the resilient arm 16 slides first in the rectilinear central groove 27 and then along the inner wall of the oblique groove portion 21 and the subsequent axially parallel groove portion 29 until it abuts the Z-shaped closure wall 32 of the heart-shaped groove 26 in the area of the walls 33 and 34. Now, when the pressure on the button 2 stops, the nose 23 slides under the action of the axial compression spring 7 and the elastic restoring force of the spring directed towards the axis XX along the oblique walls 34 and 42 of the transverse Groove connection part 45 until the nose 23 then engages in the recess of the V-shaped groove wall 42. Upon a further pressure on the knob 2, the nose 23 slides along the inclined groove wall 39 in the axially parallel groove 30 of the heart-shaped guide groove 26. When now the pressure on the button stops, the nose can freely under the force of the compression spring 7 in the straight groove area 30, the oblique adjoining groove portion 30 and the axial groove portion 27 slide, so that the head 2 can return to its illustrated in Figure 2 outer position.

In the embodiment of the invention just described, shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, the resilient arm 16 extends with its free end towards the inner end 11 of the outer axle body 5. As a result, the arm is subjected to tension and bending.

Figures 16 to 29 show another embodiment of a retractable rotary handle device according to the invention. These figures have their shape different organs but functionally comparable to the first embodiment, parts and details the same reference number, but now provided with an apostrophe. In this embodiment, the resilient arm, now designated 16 ', extends with its free end 31, in the direction of the end of the outer axle body 5' carrying the turret. The root 17 'of the arm is located near the free end 11' of this organ 5 '. As in the first embodiment, the arm 16 'is radially and laterally in a corresponding window 18' in the wall of the sleeve-shaped member 5 'elastically deflected. In this second embodiment, the outer sleeve 6 'has an axially directed slot 53 which is diametrically opposed to the arm 16' and is closed substantially at the level of the nose 23 'and the root of the arm 16' at its ends. The inner axis member 6 ', on which the outer member 5' in its illustrated in Figures 22 to 26 second embodiment is axially displaceable, has a guide groove 25 'for the nose 23' of the spring arm 16 ', which has substantially the same structural features as the guide groove 25 of the first embodiment, as can be seen in Figures 17 to 21. However, now is the groove 25 'in the outer half of the organ 6' and has only a small depth, as shown in particular Figures 16, 18 and 21 show. The central groove portion 27 'extends to the outer end of the member 6', which has at this point an axial projecting tongue 55 having the width of the groove. The Z-shaped closure wall 32 'of the heart-shaped groove 25' is now located approximately in the middle of the length of the organ 6 '. The inner walls of the heart-shaped groove 26 ', on which the nose 23' slides upon actuation of the device, are formed as side walls of an island-like corresponding projection 56.

In the second embodiment, in the wall of the member 6 'of the groove 25' is diametrically opposed, an axially extending radially resiliently deflectable arm 59 cut out, the root of which is from the bottom of the spring 7 serving for the axial cavity from the inner end of the organ extends. This arm 59 has a projection 60 projecting radially outwardly beyond the peripheral surface of the member, which has a chamfer 61 on its side directed towards the root of the arm 59. This arm 59 with its projection 60 and its chamfer 61 is elastically radially inwardly displaceable when pushing the outer member 5 ', and then engages in the slot 53 of the outer member 5', with the result that the two organs 5 ' and 6 'remain connected despite the action of the compression spring 7.

The operation of the second embodiment of the invention substantially corresponds to that of the first embodiment and therefore need not be further described in detail. Figures 7 and 20 and 29 show the device in its two end positions. As can be seen from FIG. 28, the two axis members are now held together after assembly by the projection 60 of the arm 59 engaging behind the boundary wall of the slot 53 and being blocked in this position. The intervention of the projection in the slot was possible during assembly thanks to the chamfer 61 of the projection. In this second embodiment, the guidance of the nose of the elastic arm is practically only effected by the island-shaped inner wall of the heart-shaped guide track, so that the groove is possibly no longer necessary. In the second embodiment, unlike the first of the resilient arm 17 'is not claimed to train, but to pressure.

The two embodiments shown and described by way of example only and have in common that they are formed only by assembling three components, namely the two rotatably connected to each other, but axially displaceable to each other axis member and the compression spring. The axle parts are advantageously designed as castings and made of plastic. The assembly of the device is extremely simple and requires only the insertion of the compression spring in the outer axis member and then the axial insertion of the internal organ into the external organ, the organs then held together by means integral with the organs against the force of the spring between them become.

Claims (9)

1. A retractable rotating knob of a switch or positioning device, especially of a household appliance, with a rotating knob (2) adjustable in different angular positions, which is axially movable between an outer rotation angle adjusting position located in front of an outer surface of the device and in a position that is retracted into this surface, a stationary two-piece rotating axis (4) connected to the rotating knob (2) with an inner axially stationary axial body (6), and an outer tubular axial body (5) that can be axially displaced on the same with the aid of a connecting guide member,.and a compression spring (7) arranged between the two axial bodies for the resetting of the rotating knob (2) into its outer, non-retracted position, wherein the connecting guide member has a guide way (25, 25') provided on the outer surface of the inner axial body, in which a body firmly connected to the outer axial body is guided so that upon an angular adjustment of the rotating knob in its outer position, this knob can be retracted into the outer surface and locked in its retracted position within the same by means of an axially aligned first compression force exerted upon the same, and the pushbutton can be unlocked again by means of a second axially aligned pressure so that it may return to its outer position under the effect of the return spring, wherein the said guided body is a radially inward protruding lug (23, 23') at the end (21, 21') of an arm (16, 16') embodied as one piece with the tubular outer tube body (5, 5'), which is essentially aligned parallel to its axial direction, which can be radially and lateral flexibly displaced from its rest position, wherein the said guide way (25, 25') of the connecting guide member has a heart-shaped part (26, 26'), which at its peak ends in an axially aligned area (27, 27'), and the two lateral areas (29, 29'; 30, 30') of which are connected to each other at their ends that are distant from their peaks by means of a laterally directed part (45, 45'), which has an interior wall (42) and an opposing Z-shaped exterior wall (32), and in the interior wall of which a recess is provided, into which the lug (23, 23') of the displaceable arm (16, 16') can be engaged, characterized in that the lug (23, 23') has a front lateral surface (49) with a V-shaped profile, which corresponds to two of the wall parts (33, 34) of the Z-shaped exterior wall (32) of the heart-shaped groove (26, 26'), and an interior side (50) with a V-shaped profile, which corresponds to that of the interior wall (42), wherein a front surface (51) of the lug (23, 23') directed toward the bottom of the groove is slanted according to the shape of the bottom of the laterally directed part (45, 45') of the heart-shaped part (26, 26') of the guide way (25, 25').
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two axial bodies (5, 6) each have an out-of-round cross-section, and thus are connected to each other in a pivot-proof manner.
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide way (25) is formed by a groove, which is provided in the outer surface of the inner axial body, wherein an exterior wall (32) is present within the connecting groove part (45) opposite of the interior wall (42), which has guide surfaces (34, 39), along which the lug (23) can glide from one of the two lateral groove areas into the rest position, and from the same into the other lateral groove area under the effect of the compression forces exerted upon the pushbutton.
4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the axially aligned groove area (27) is interrupted by a cross bar (28), and that the lug (23) of the arm (16) can also flexibly be displaced radially toward the exterior so that it can over-travel the bar (28), with the axial insertion of the inner axial body (6) into the outer axial body (5) during the gliding into the axially aligned groove area (27) toward the heart-shaped groove part (26), but not in the opposite direction(28), and subsequently ensuring the connection of the two axial bodies (5, 6) in opposite direction of the return spring (7).
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the free end (21) of the arm (16) is located within the end area of the outer axial body (5) that is positioned toward the inner axial body (6), and pressure is exerted on the arm (16) in its position engaged in its lateral area (25) of the heart-shaped groove part (26).
6. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the said guide way (25') of the connecting guide member has a heart-shaped guide way part (26'), the peak of which extends into an axially aligned guide way area (27'), and which is essentially determined by means of a respectively embodied elevation of the outer surface of the body (6'), along which the lug (23') glides due to its flexible lateral deflection, when the rotating knob is actuated in order to move between its two axial positions.
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in an advantageous manner, the outer axial body (5') has an axially aligned, slot-shaped recess (53) positioned diametrically opposite of the arm (16'), into which a radially flexible deflecting arm (59) of the inner axial body (16') can be engaged in order to effect the connection of the two axial bodies (5', 6') opposite of the effect of the return spring (7').
8. The device according to one of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the end (21') of the arm (16') extends toward the end area of the outer body, on which the pushbutton (2') is attached, and that pressure is exerted on the arm in its position engaged in the heart-shaped guide way part (26').
9. The device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lateral surfaces of the lug (23, 23') of the arm (16, 16') are embodied in accordance with the guide way.

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