MXPA98001719A - Ilumin knob assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control knob comprising: a front face joined by means of a cylindrical wall, a slot oriented longitudinally in the cylindrical wall, a chamber formed radially inwardly adjacent to the longitudinally oriented slot, a tube assembly with color luminescence of a preselected first color engaged within the chamber, and a cover assembly of a preselected second color engaged with the tube assembly with color luminescence and including a portion of bulbs extending through the slot oriented longitudinally on the cylindrical side wall

Description

LIGHTED KNOB ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control knob, particularly for automotive applications, with an indicator portion that appears illuminated at night in a preselected color, but remains white during the day.

Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, control knobs, particularly control knobs in automotive applications, have position indicators to indicate the rotated position of the knob. While paints and inks that have been frequently used to provide this indication, this solution is not resistant to abrasion. U.S. Patent No. 5,450,653 entitled "Knob composed with an Insertable Position Indicator", issued on September 19, 1995 to Howie, Jr. presents a compound knob with a position indicator that is inserted, which would be more Resistant to abrasion than simple paint or inks. The position indicator has a contrasting color with that of the knob. However, this indicator does not provide a first color, such as white, during the day, and a second, different color, such as blue, during the night. U.S. Patent No. 5,050,269, entitled "Control Knob" issued September 24, 1991 to Engstrom et al., Presents a control knob, apparently for a portable telephone or device of the "walky-tal and" type, with an outer portion of reduced hardness molded into an inner portion with a sheet-like portion extending through the outer portion to provide an indicator. This does not seem appropriate to provide an indicator with different colors, one for the day and one for the night. U.S. Patent No. 5,518,561 entitled "True Color Day-Night Graphics and Method of Assembly" (True Color Graphics for Day and Night, and Assembly Method) issued on May 21, 1996 to Rosa describing a display panel with an electroluminescent portion that emits light, but is not related to control knobs, particularly for automotive applications Other references of interest include U.S. Patent No. 5,469,758 issued November 28, 1995 to Howie , Jr., U.S. Patent No. 5,259,267 issued to Jurewicz on November 9, 1993, U.S. Patent No. 5,303,612 issued April 19, 1994 to Odom et al., U.S. Pat. 2,753,911 issued to Haslett on July 10, 1956, and U.S. Patent No. 273,685 issued to Huntley on March 6, 1883. Additionally, the Patent Application of the United States with Serial No. 08 / 746,989 entitled "Control Knob" was filed on November 19, 1996 in the name of the attorney in this case.

OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable indicator for a control knob, particularly for automotive applications. Thus, it is another object of the present invention to provide an indicator for a control knob, this indicator being a first color, such as white, during the day and a second color, such as blue for when illuminated during the day . It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an indicator for a control knob, particularly for automotive applications, that is simple and low in construction and installation costs.

These and other objectives are achieved by means of a control knob which includes a chamber into which a tube assembly with color luminescence that hooks into a luminescent cap assembly is inserted. The luminescent lid includes a portion that extends or protrudes through a slot in the side walls., and on a portion of the front of the control knob, to form the indicator. The luminescent cap is translucent, typically white, so that the indicator has a soft appearance during the day. However, the tube set with color luminescence is translucent and of a second color, such as blue or "ice blue", such that when the knob is illuminated from behind, such as during the night, if the Instrument panel is electrically illuminated, part of this light is transmitted through the tube set with color luminescence and outside the luminescent cap so that the indicator looks blue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear view, enlarged, in perspective, of the knob of control, the tube set with color luminescence and the luminescent cap of the present invention. Figure 2 is a planar, front view of the control knob of the present invention. Figure 3 is a planar rear view of the control knob of the present invention. Figure 4 is a rear view of the channel inside the control knob on which the assembly of the tube assembly with color luminescence and the luminescent lid is fixed. Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the control knob, assembled with the luminescent color tube assembly and the luminescent cap, of the present invention. Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are planar, top, front and rear planar views, respectively, of the luminescent lid of the present invention. Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E are front, top, side, bottom and rear views, respectively, of the color luminescent tube assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the detailed drawings, in which the same reference number is used in all the different views, it can be seen that Figure 1 is a rear view, enlarged, of the knob 10, the color luminescent tube assembly 12 and the luminescent cap 14 of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the control knob 10 includes a cylindrical cover 16 with separate corrugations 18 around the periphery thereof. The corrugations 18 allow the user to grip firmly and rotate the control knob 10. As shown in figures 2 and 5, the control knob 10 further includes a slightly convex front circular face 20 which includes a depression of the type partially spherical 22 separated radially inward from the "at twelve o'clock" position. The depression 22 allows the user to grip and rotate the control knob 10 simply with the tips of the fingers. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the slot 24 is formed longitudinally along a portion of the cylindrical structure 16 in the "twelve o'clock" position. Additionally, the slot 24 extends in the outer peripheral portion of the face. front 20. The outer circumferential edge of the front circular face 20 is inwardly beveled in order to present an edge 26 that is free of sharp surfaces and to present a clean and aesthetic appearance. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the center of the rear control knob 10 includes a D-shaped opening 28 comprising a partially circular portion 30 and a flat portion 32 for engaging an axis 100 (shown with a dotted line in Figure 1) of a similar cross section. Figure 3 shows the use of a spring-shaped fastener 34 to engage the control shaft 100. However, the use of a spring-shaped fastener 34 can be eliminated with the fastening method presented in the application United States, commonly assigned, pending, with the serial number: 08 / 746,989 entitled "Control Knob", filed on November 19, 1996, the presentation of which is mentioned as a reference. The support ribs 36 extend from inside the cylindrical cover 16 to the outside of the walls that determine a D-shaped opening 28. As shown in Figure 3 and in more detail in Figure 4, the side walls 38, 40 extend from the two ends of the flat portion 32 of the D-shaped opening 28 towards the cylindrical cover 16 immediately adjacent to both sides of the slot 24, and therefore, forming a channel for the tube with color luminescence 42. Approximately at the midpoint of the walls 38, 40 extend inwardly, the retaining edges 44, 46, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, the retaining edges 44, 46 are used to engage the color luminescence tube assembly 12 up against the slot 24. The color luminescence tube assembly 12 is shown in more detail in FIG. Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E. The color luminescent tube assembly 12 includes the tail 48 which gathers the light from the illuminated instrument panel (not shown) or a similar control board from which the control arrow 100 extends. The light is directed upwards from tail 48 in the triangular body 50 of the tube assembly with color luminescence 12. The tube assembly with color luminescence 12 is a translucent polycarbonate and is of a first selected color, such as blue, greenish-blue or "ice blue", which is the color of the indicator on the control knob 10 during the night when lighting is done from the dashboard (not shown) or a similar control board. The upper surface of the triangular body 50 of the color luminescence tube assembly 12 includes an axially oriented guide 51 of a triangular cross section. The rim 52 is formed on the upper edge or the apex of an axially oriented triangular guide 51 (see Figure 7A). The rim 52 further extends above the forward tip 54 of the triangular body 50. As will be described below, the rim 52 is used to engage the luminescent lid 14. As described in Figures 7B and 7D, the tail 48 is flattens outward towards the rear portion thereof and, as shown in Figure 5, extends beyond the back of the control knob 10, for the purpose of collecting the illumination and directing it through the body triangular 50 and towards the luminescent cover 14. Additionally, as shown in Figures 7A, 7B and 7D, the retaining flanges 56, 58 extend laterally from the rear portion of the triangular body 50. The retaining flanges 56, 58 are engaged the retaining edges 44, 46 of the walls 38, 40. The luminescent lid 14 is illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D. Typically, the luminescent cap 14 is made of translucent white polycarbonate. Therefore, when the color luminescent tube assembly 12 is not illuminated from the instrument panel or the control panel (not shown), the luminescent cap 14 appears to be white. However, when the color luminescent tube assembly 12 is illuminated from the control board or control panel, the color of the tube set with color luminescence 12 (such as blue, blue-green, or blue-ice). is projected through the luminescent cap 14 and the color of the luminescent colored tube assembly 12 into the luminescent cap 14. As shown in Figure 6D, the luminescent cap 14 includes an upper planar surface 60 that includes protruding bulbs 62 (which is the portion of the indicator) formed above the longitudinally oriented blind groove 64. The longitudinally oriented blind groove 64 is complementary to the rim 52 of the tube assembly with color luminescence 12. The longitudinally oriented blind groove 64 extends forwardly. so as to include a forward facing portion 65 that is complementary to the portion of the rim 52 of the color luminescent tube assembly 12 that extends beyond nde above the forward tip 54 of the triangular body 50 (see Figure '7C). In addition, as indicated in Figure 6D, the luminescent cover 14 includes a lower flat surface that includes a triangular channel 66 that leads to the blind, longitudinally oriented slot 64. Likewise., the triangular channel 66 is complemented by the longitudinally oriented triangular guide 51 of the tube with color luminescence. To install the control knob 10, the color luminescent tube assembly 12 and the luminescent cap 14 of the present invention, the user inserts the rim 52 of the color luminescent tube assembly 14 into the Figure 3 is a view in section of another perforated film more of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a perforated film used in this invention, before being attached to the absorbent products of this invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated film used in this invention, before being attached to the absorbent products of the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin according to this invention. Figure 7 is a sectional view of the sanitary napkin shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a perspective view of another sanitary napkin according to this invention. Figure 9 is a sectional view of the towel shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of another sanitary napkin in accordance with the present invention. Figure 11 is a sectional view of the sanitary napkin shown in Figure 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to products

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. A control knob comprising: a front face joined by means of a cylindrical wall; a groove longitudinally oriented in the cylindrical wall; a chamber forms radially inwardly adjacent the longitudinally oriented slot; a tube assembly with color luminescence of a first preselected color engaged within the chamber;
2. And a cover assembly of a preselected second color engaged with the tube assembly with color luminescence and including a portion of bulbs extending through the longitudinally oriented slot in the cylindrical side wall. 2. The control knob according to claim 1, wherein the tube assembly with color luminescence and the luminescent cap assembly are translucent.
3. 3. The control knob assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first preselected color includes a substantially blue component and the second preselected color is substantially white.
4. 4. The control knob assembly according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinally oriented slot extends in a portion of the front face. The control knob according to claim 4, wherein the chamber is formed from the two walls extending from the central portion of the knob toward the cylindrical side walls. 6. The control knob according to claim 5, wherein the color luminescent tube assembly has an outwardly enlarged tail extending beyond the back of the control knob to gather the illumination behind the knob. of control . The control knob according to claim 6, wherein the walls of the chamber include the retaining edges for engaging the tube assembly with color luminescence. The control knob according to claim 7, wherein the color luminescent tube assembly includes a longitudinally oriented flange, and the cap assembly includes a blind longitudinally oriented slot complementary to the longitudinally oriented flange, so that the Tube assembly with color luminescence is hooked to the cap assembly by means of a longitudinally oriented flange that coincides with the blind slot oriented longitudinally. 9. The control knob according to claim 8, wherein the longitudinally oriented flange is formed at an apex or apex of the longitudinally oriented guide of the triangular cross section. The control knob according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinally oriented groove is formed at an apex or apex of a longitudinally oriented groove of the triangular cross section complementary to the longitudinally oriented guide. The control knob according to claim 10 wherein the color luminescent tube assembly and the cap assembly include portions extending forward in the portion of the front face in which the longitudinally oriented slot extends. . The control knob according to claim 11, wherein the tube assembly with color luminescence and the cap assembly are made of polycarbonate.