GB2174481A - Rotary control button operating aid - Google Patents

Rotary control button operating aid Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2174481A
GB2174481A GB08511459A GB8511459A GB2174481A GB 2174481 A GB2174481 A GB 2174481A GB 08511459 A GB08511459 A GB 08511459A GB 8511459 A GB8511459 A GB 8511459A GB 2174481 A GB2174481 A GB 2174481A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
button
operating
aid
rotary control
head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08511459A
Other versions
GB8511459D0 (en
Inventor
Roger Paul Haywood
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB08511459A priority Critical patent/GB2174481A/en
Publication of GB8511459D0 publication Critical patent/GB8511459D0/en
Publication of GB2174481A publication Critical patent/GB2174481A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
    • G05G1/08—Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A rotary control button operating aid comprises a head 3, shaped and constructed to fit over the cylindrical periphery of a rotary control button, and with splines or joints so formed as to grip the periphery of the button so that rotation of the head causes rotation of the button; and an elongate operating handle 4 extending from the head and hence, in use, extending away from the button and towards the operator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary control button operating aid Field of the invention The invention relates to an operating aid for a rotary control button (as opposed to a push button) primarily for use in motor vehicles such as cars but may be used for any rotary control button in an inaccessible place.
A number of rotary control buttons in a car, such as the radio and heater controls are not very close to the wheel. Now that seat belts are complusory it can be difficult for some people to be able to reach these controls. This is a special problem for disabled people who cannot bend easily. Although some car manufacturers have tried to avoid this problem by bringing many of the controls within eash reach of the driver it is often impossible to achieve since many different control buttons are required.
Summary of the invention According to this invention there is provided a rotary control button operating aid comprising a head, shaped and constructed to fit over the cylindrical periphery of a rotary control button, and with splines or joints so formed as to grip the periphery of the button so that rotation of the head causes rotation of the button; and an elongate operating handle extending from the head and hence, in use, extending away from the button and towards the operator.
Thus the operator handle may be used to turn the button from a distance away from the button.
And the aid may be used in cars when the button may not be reached easily or may be used to turn buttons which are in-accessible places.
The gripping head may comprise a rubber or pastic cylindrical socket which grips the button via splines or jaws formed around the inner wall of the socket.
Alternatively the gripping head may comprise a spring grip coupled to a button at the top of the operating arm which serves to open or close the spring grip via a mechanism known per se.
The operating handle may be substantially rigid but is preferably of a relatively soft plastic or rubber so that it can bend slightly. This is especially useful for turning buttons in inaccessible places.
The size of the gripping head is preferably one which fits over all the rotary controls in a given car or other vehicle.
The length of the operating handle may be made to suit the particular purpose but for use in a car a length in the region of 10-30 centimetres is most appropriate, a longer length being for use in commercial vehicles.
When the operating aid is for use by disabled persons the non-button gripping end of the operating handle may have a specially shaped region to give better finger gripping for a disabled person.
Brief description of the drawing An example of an operating aid in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the aid in diagrammatic perspective.
Description of the preferred embodiment An opening aid 1 for a rotary control button 2 such as a volume control on a car radio comprises a gripping head 3 and an operating handle 4 extending outwardly of the gripping head 3. The gripping head 3 includes a spring grip 5 which is operated by a button 6 at the top of the operating handle 4 in known manner. Handle 4 is made of relatively soft plastic or rubbe so that it can flex slightly but transmit rotation to the button 2 without undue torsional twisting..
The operating aid is used by placing the spring grip 5 over the button 2 where it grips the button.
Rotation of the operating handle 4 causes directly corresponding rotation of the button 2. When the operating aid 1 is to be used to operate another button, pushbutton 6 is pushed to open the spring grip 5 to readily release the button 2 to detach the operating aid so that it can be taken off and used on the other button.
Because the spring grip and operating handle are made of resilient plastic they will not cause any damage to any of the controls on impact; they will simply pop off the control.
1. A rotary control button operating aid comprising a head, shaped and constructed to fit over the cylindrical periphery of a rotary control button, and with splines or joints so formed as to grip the periphery of the button so that rotation of the head causes rotation of the button; and an elongate operating handle extending from the head and hence, in use, extending away from the button and towards the operator.
2. An operating aid according to Claim 1 and in which the gripping head comprises a rubber or plastics cylindrical socket which grips the button, in use, via splines or jaws formed around the inner wall of the socket.
3. An operating aid according to Claim 1 and in which the gripping head comprises a spring group coupled to a button at the top of the operating arm which serves to open or close the spring grip via a mechanism known per se.
4. An operating aid according to Claim or Claim 2 and in which the operating handle comprises a relatively soft plastics or rubber material which, in use, can bend slightly.
5. A rotary control button operating aid substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rotary control button operating aid Field of the invention The invention relates to an operating aid for a rotary control button (as opposed to a push button) primarily for use in motor vehicles such as cars but may be used for any rotary control button in an inaccessible place. A number of rotary control buttons in a car, such as the radio and heater controls are not very close to the wheel. Now that seat belts are complusory it can be difficult for some people to be able to reach these controls. This is a special problem for disabled people who cannot bend easily. Although some car manufacturers have tried to avoid this problem by bringing many of the controls within eash reach of the driver it is often impossible to achieve since many different control buttons are required. Summary of the invention According to this invention there is provided a rotary control button operating aid comprising a head, shaped and constructed to fit over the cylindrical periphery of a rotary control button, and with splines or joints so formed as to grip the periphery of the button so that rotation of the head causes rotation of the button; and an elongate operating handle extending from the head and hence, in use, extending away from the button and towards the operator. Thus the operator handle may be used to turn the button from a distance away from the button. And the aid may be used in cars when the button may not be reached easily or may be used to turn buttons which are in-accessible places. The gripping head may comprise a rubber or pastic cylindrical socket which grips the button via splines or jaws formed around the inner wall of the socket. Alternatively the gripping head may comprise a spring grip coupled to a button at the top of the operating arm which serves to open or close the spring grip via a mechanism known per se. The operating handle may be substantially rigid but is preferably of a relatively soft plastic or rubber so that it can bend slightly. This is especially useful for turning buttons in inaccessible places. The size of the gripping head is preferably one which fits over all the rotary controls in a given car or other vehicle. The length of the operating handle may be made to suit the particular purpose but for use in a car a length in the region of 10-30 centimetres is most appropriate, a longer length being for use in commercial vehicles. When the operating aid is for use by disabled persons the non-button gripping end of the operating handle may have a specially shaped region to give better finger gripping for a disabled person. Brief description of the drawing An example of an operating aid in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the aid in diagrammatic perspective. Description of the preferred embodiment An opening aid 1 for a rotary control button 2 such as a volume control on a car radio comprises a gripping head 3 and an operating handle 4 extending outwardly of the gripping head 3. The gripping head 3 includes a spring grip 5 which is operated by a button 6 at the top of the operating handle 4 in known manner. Handle 4 is made of relatively soft plastic or rubbe so that it can flex slightly but transmit rotation to the button 2 without undue torsional twisting.. The operating aid is used by placing the spring grip 5 over the button 2 where it grips the button. Rotation of the operating handle 4 causes directly corresponding rotation of the button 2. When the operating aid 1 is to be used to operate another button, pushbutton 6 is pushed to open the spring grip 5 to readily release the button 2 to detach the operating aid so that it can be taken off and used on the other button. Because the spring grip and operating handle are made of resilient plastic they will not cause any damage to any of the controls on impact; they will simply pop off the control. CLAIMS
1. A rotary control button operating aid comprising a head, shaped and constructed to fit over the cylindrical periphery of a rotary control button, and with splines or joints so formed as to grip the periphery of the button so that rotation of the head causes rotation of the button; and an elongate operating handle extending from the head and hence, in use, extending away from the button and towards the operator.
2. An operating aid according to Claim 1 and in which the gripping head comprises a rubber or plastics cylindrical socket which grips the button, in use, via splines or jaws formed around the inner wall of the socket.
3. An operating aid according to Claim 1 and in which the gripping head comprises a spring group coupled to a button at the top of the operating arm which serves to open or close the spring grip via a mechanism known per se.
4. An operating aid according to Claim or Claim 2 and in which the operating handle comprises a relatively soft plastics or rubber material which, in use, can bend slightly.
5. A rotary control button operating aid substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
GB08511459A 1985-05-04 1985-05-04 Rotary control button operating aid Withdrawn GB2174481A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08511459A GB2174481A (en) 1985-05-04 1985-05-04 Rotary control button operating aid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08511459A GB2174481A (en) 1985-05-04 1985-05-04 Rotary control button operating aid

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8511459D0 GB8511459D0 (en) 1985-06-12
GB2174481A true GB2174481A (en) 1986-11-05

Family

ID=10578719

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08511459A Withdrawn GB2174481A (en) 1985-05-04 1985-05-04 Rotary control button operating aid

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2174481A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2229257A (en) * 1989-02-04 1990-09-19 Glidevale Building Prod Extension device for a rotatable control knob
GB2305710A (en) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-16 Graham Alexander Vincen Hooker Hand tool for adjusting water control valves
DE29806836U1 (en) * 1998-04-16 1999-09-09 Rixen Wolfgang Control element for manual adjustment

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB224586A (en) * 1923-08-10 1924-11-10 Alfred Peter Portway Improvements in and relating to control levers and handles for wireless signalling and other apparatus
GB1342413A (en) * 1970-06-24 1974-01-03 Arrow Hart Inc Electric switch
US3955438A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-05-11 Outboard Marine Corporation Extension handle assembly

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB224586A (en) * 1923-08-10 1924-11-10 Alfred Peter Portway Improvements in and relating to control levers and handles for wireless signalling and other apparatus
GB1342413A (en) * 1970-06-24 1974-01-03 Arrow Hart Inc Electric switch
US3955438A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-05-11 Outboard Marine Corporation Extension handle assembly

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2229257A (en) * 1989-02-04 1990-09-19 Glidevale Building Prod Extension device for a rotatable control knob
GB2305710A (en) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-16 Graham Alexander Vincen Hooker Hand tool for adjusting water control valves
GB2305710B (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-08-18 Graham Alexander Vincen Hooker Multi-purpose key for adjusting radiator valves and water taps
DE29806836U1 (en) * 1998-04-16 1999-09-09 Rixen Wolfgang Control element for manual adjustment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8511459D0 (en) 1985-06-12

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)