US2713103A

US2713103A - Switch positioning means

Info

Publication number: US2713103A
Application number: US333957A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond N Slate
Original assignee: Moffats Ltd
Current assignee: Moffats Ltd
Priority date: 1953-01-29
Filing date: 1953-01-29
Publication date: 1955-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1972-07-12

Description

July 12, 1955 R. N. SLATE 2,713,103

SWITCH POSITIONING MEANS Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR RAYMOND N. SLATE BY W w ATTORNEYS July 12, 1955 R. N. SLATE 2,713,103

SWITCH POSITIONING MEANS Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR RAYMOND N. SLATE BY M ATTORNEYS United States Patent SWITCH POSHEONING l /HAN S Raymond N. Slate, Toronto, Ontario, Canadmassignor'to Motiats Limited, Weston, Ontario, Canada, a corporation Application .lannary 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,957

17 Claims. (Cl. 290-467) 'This invention relates to switch positioning means, and more particularly to an illuminated switch control knob.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch positioning means having a striking and ornamental illuminated switch position indicator.

Another object is -to provide an illuminated switch positioning means that is easily fabricated, assembled and dismantled.

The precise scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims, but a detailed description of a preferred embodiment will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective partly sectional View of an electric switch having an illuminated switch control'knob assembly mounted on the control panel of an electric stove, the switchbeing-in one of its On positions;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 but with the manipulating ring, indicator dial, and a few of the light-filters of the knob assembly vremoved, the switch being in the Off position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus ofFig. 1 with the indicator-dial partly broken away, the switch again being in the OE position;

Fig. 4 is'a rear perspective view of one of the light filters; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the switch with the knob assembly of Fig. 1 in longitudinal section, the switch being in another of the On positions.

Projecting from the front of the housing 1 of a con.- ventional rotary switch having an Off position and seven On positions is a split shaft 2 by means of which the switch is rotated from position to position. The switch is supported by a bracket 3 at the rear of a panel 4, and a resilient clip 5 suspends a lamp 6 over the shaft 2. The bracket 3 and clip 5 are prevented from rotating by small pins or

ears

7 and 8 respectively.

The shaft 2 projects through a circular opening in the panel 4, the panel having a forwardly extending flange 4a which cooperates with a control knob 9 on the shaft 2 to form a light trap which prevents light from the lamp 6 from escaping around the periphery of the knob.

The control knob 9 consists of a generally cylindrical manipulating ring 1 3 in the front end of which is set an indicator dial 11. The ring 10 is peripherally fluted so that it can be grasped easily, and'has a forwardly -pro-. jecting ornamental portion 16a which is uppermost whenthe switch is in the OH position; the ring l0'm'ay be formed of die cast zinc witha'chromeiplate finish.

The dial 11 is generally convex and is made of some light-transmitting material such as a melamine resin. In its inner face the dial 11 has inscribed eight numerals, from 0 to 7, arranged in a circle around the axis of rotation of the knob 9 and shaft 2, the numeral 0 corresponding to the Off position of the switch and the remaining numerals corresponding to the seven 0n positions.

- hub of the spider.

recessed portion 11a. Apart from the numerals 0 to 7 and the recessed portion 11a the inner surface of the dial is unpolished, as indicated by stippling in the drawings, and is therefore translucent. The periphery of the dial 11 adjacent the numeral 0 is flattened as at "11b to receive the portion 10a of the manipulating ring.

The ring'lfl has a lug lllb extending inwardly from adjacent the portion 10a, and to the lug is secured, by means of a stud 12, a spider member 13. From its hub the spider member has a rearwardly extending sleeve 13a which is frictionally slidable axially on the shaft 2 and connects the knob 9 to the shaft. The shaft 2 has a flattened portion 2a and the sleeve is complementarily formed internally so that the shaftmust turn with the knob. The spider 13 also has a peripheral rim 13b which fits snugly within the ring 10, and the rim 13b and sleeve 13a are connected by a plurality of arms 13c forming thin vanes in planes radial to the axis of rotation. The rear edges of the vanes 130 are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft 2, whereas the front edges sloperearwardly between the rim 13b and the hub.

The ring 10. has a rearwardly extending rim which surrounds the flange 4a and which forms with the rim 1312 a recess into which the flange 4a extends, forming the aforementioned light trap. The ring 10 and rim'13b may hereinafter be referred to as the annular portion of the knob .9 andthe arms 13s as the spider portion, the spaces between the arms :forming alight-transmitting interior of the 'knob surrounded by the opaque annular portion.

Supported on the front of the spider 13 are seven differently coloured light filters 14 made of a light transmitting substance such as a melamine resin. Each-filter is shaped substantially liken-sector of a:circle, and the filters are arranged side by side in circular order on the spider, as best seen in Fig. 3, afilter being located directly behind each of the numerals l to 7 on the dial '11. Each filter increases in thickness from its outer edge 14a to-its inner edge 14b so thatas shown in Fig. 5 thefront faces of the filters-lie substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft 2 and knob 9. The outer edge 1411 02" each filter is held between the dial 11 and-the 13b-of thespider to hold the :filter in position on thespider. Each filter also has on its rear face .a :substantially triangular protruding portion 14c which extends between adjacent vanes 13c of the spider; the apex of the protruding portion is cut offandrecessedas at 14d to engage a flange 13d on the The whole of the material of each filtermay be coloured in-a distinctive colour, or alternatively .a coloured water may be adhesively secured to the plane surface l4e of the portion 14c. As best seen in Pig. 2, the side l ifof the filters are bevelled and unpolished.

When the portion 10a of the knob 9 and thenumeral 0 of the .dial 11 are uppermost, as shown in Fig. 3, the switchis in the Off position, the lamp 6 is not energized, and the lug 10b of the knob is interposed between the lamp and the dial. When the knob 9 is turned so that one of the numerals 1 to 7 on the dial is in the uppermost position the switch is inan On position and 'the lamp 6 is energized; the On position shownin Pig. 5 is typical, the numeral 4 on the dial being uppermost. In any On position one of the filters 114 is uppermost and is located directly between the lamp 6 and the dial 11. The lamp-being suspended above the shaft 2, most of its-light passes through the said uppermost filter, and the vanes which extend rearwardly from the .sides of the filter assist in directing most of the light to the uppermost filter, particularly since the rear edges of the vanes are in a plane close to the lamp and pass close to the lamp as the knob is rotated. Because of its varying thickness each filter acts asa lens, and when the filter is in the uppermost position it focuses the light from the lamp onto a substantially V-shaped area which includes the numeral im mediately in front of it on the dial 11. The provision of the bevelled, translucent sides 14f is found to assist in producing a V-shaped area having sharp edges. As the knob 9 is rotated the numerals on the dial move sequentially through the V-shaped area and each numeral is in turn illuminated in the colour of the filter 14 behind it. The numerals 1 to 7 on the dial may correspond to increasing amounts of power supplied by the switch to a heating element, and the colours of the filters corresponding to these numerals may brighten to a glowing red indicating increasing-temperature.

In addition to the predominant illumination of the uppermost portion of the dial opposite the lamp 6, the

remainder of the dial has a more dim, general illumi nation in any of the On positions. This is due to the fact that the filters 14 other than the uppermost one receive some illumination from the lamp 6 and transmit light to other areas of the dial. Since the dial at such other areas receives unfocussed illumination from several differently coloured filters spaced rearwardly from the dial, the net result is a general dim illumination of the dial, the colour of which may be difierent in different areas, and a predominant illumination of the colour of the uppermost filter at the area of the dial opposite the uppermost filter. As diiferently coloured filters come opposite the lamp the colourations of the dim illumination and of the predominant illuminations vary. Thus a pleasing and useful illumination of the dial of the control knob is achieved; v

' It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to, Without departing from the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Switch positioning means comprising a rotatable shaft, a hollow'knob having a peripheral wall by which the knob may be grasped manually and having a translucent dial at its outer end, a spider within the knob rearward of the dial and connecting the peripheral wall with the shaft whereby the shaft may be rotated by the knob to a plurality of positions, the knob being coaxial with the shaft, the dial bearing switch position indicia located round the axis of rotation of the knob and shaft;

axis and through which the indicia are movable sequen-V tially as the knob is rotated and with more dim illumination at adjacent areas, the colour of the predominant illumination being variable by rotating the knob and the more dim illumination being difierently coloured than the predominant'illumination; said means comprising a stationary light source behind the spider and located radially from the shaft opposite said primary area, a plurality of differently coloured light filters arranged in circular order on the spider and movable'with the knob to pass sequentially in front of the light'source to transmit light from the light source to said primary area, adjacent filters transmitting light from the ligh source to said adjacent areas.

2. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim l-, which the filters are mounted on the front of the spider and the arms of the spider extend rearwardly therefrom to direct light primarily to the filter in front of the light source.

3. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 1', in

which the filters are lenses held by and between the front of the spider and the dial. a

' 4. Switch positioning means, comprising a movable switch position control having a position indicator, and

means for illuminating a portion of the position indicator with predominant illumination the colour of which is variable by moving the switch position control and for illuminating adjacent portions of the position indicator-with more dim illumination difierently coloured than the predominant illumination; said means comprising a stationary light source spaced rearwardly from the position indicator opposite the first-mentioned portion of the position indicator, a plurality of differently coloured light filters arranged side by side behind the position indicator and movable with the position control to pass sequentially in front of the light source to transmit light from the light source to the first-mentioned portion of the position indicator, adjacent filters transmitting light from the light source to said adjacent portions of the position indicator, and a plurality of vanes fixed relative tothe filters and extending rearwardly from the sides of the filters to direct light primarily to the filter in front of the light source.

5. Switch positioning means comprising a rotatable switch position control knob having a translucent dial rotatable with the knob and bearing switch position indicia located round the axis of rotation of the dial, and means forilluminating the dial with predominant illumination at a primary area through which the indicia are movable sequentially as the dial is rotated and with transmit light from the light source to said adjacent areas, the light source and filters being so arranged that the filter transmitting light to said primary area is predominantly illuminated and the adjacent filters are more dimly illuminated, there being a plurality of vanes fixed relative to the filters and extending rearwardly fromthe sides of the filters to direct light primarily to the filter transmitting light to said primary area.

6. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 5, in which'the filtersare portions of a rotatable member spaced rearwardly from the dial.

'7. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim' 5,

in which the filters are shaped like sectors of a circle.

8.- Switch positioning means for use with a stationary light source, comprising a switch position control adapted to move in front of the light source when positioning the switch; the control having a switch position indicator, and means'for illuminating a portion of the position indicator with predominant illumination the colour of which is variable by moving the switch position control and for lightsource to the first-mentioned portion of the posi-' tion indicator, adjacent filters transmitting light from the light source to said adjacent portions of the position indicator, anda plurality of vanes fixed relative to the filters and extending rearwardly betweenthe filters to direct light primarily to the filter in front of the light source.

" 9. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 8,

in which the filters are lenses spacedrearwardly from the position indicator, the spacing being such that each lens when transmitting light to said first-mentioned portion focuses the light on said portion.

10. A rotatable switch positioning control knob, comprising an annular portion, a plurality of arms extending inwardly from and fixed relatively to the annular portion, the arms comprising thin vanes in planes radial to the annular portion, and the vanes having spaces between them, and a light-transmitting switch position indicator located within the annular portion in front of the plurality of vanes for receiving light passing through the several spaces between the vanes.

11. A control knob as claimed in claim 10, in which the position indicator has switch position indicia in front of the spaces between the vanes.

12. A control knob as clamed in claim 11, in which the indicia are provided on the surface of the position indicator adjacent the vanes, said surface being translucent.

13. A control knob as claimed in claim 10, in which a plurality of differently coloured light filters are located between said spaces and said position indicator for filtering the light passing to the position indicator.

14. In combination, a wall having a circular opening and a forwardly directed annular flange surrounding the opening, a switch position control rotatable about an axis through the centre of the opening, the control having a spider portion with arms extending away from the axis and with spaces between the arms and an annular portion carried by the arms of the spider portion in front of the flange, the annular portion having an inner rearwardly extending rim of smaller diameter than the flange and an outer rearwardly extending rim of larger diameter than the inner rim, the rims defining a recess between them into which the flange extends, and a light source rearward of the spider portion for illuminating the spaces between the arms of the spider portion, the flange and rims substantially preventing escape of light around the outer nm 15. In combination, a wall having a circular opening and a forwardly directed annular flange surrounding the opening, a rotary switch at the rear of the wall, a rotatable switch position control knob at the front of the wall, a shaft through the opening connecting the switch and the control knob, the control knob having a light-transmitting interior and an opaque portion having an annular recess into which the flange extends, and a light source rearward of the light-transmitting interior for illuminating it, the flange in the recess substantially preventing escape of light around the flange.

16. In combination, a rotary switch, a rotatable position control for the switch comprising a spider portion having a hub engageable with the switch for rotation thereof, the spider portion having arms radiating from the hub and having spaces, between them, the control having an annular portion carried by the arms of the spider portion and a light-transmitting position indicator in front of the spider portion and surrounded by the annular portion, the position indicator having a plurality of switch position indicia in front of the spaces between the arms of the spider portion, and a stationary light source behind the spider portion and at one side of the axis of rotation for illuminating the indicia through said spaces.

17. The combination claimed in claim 16, in which the arms of the spider member consist of thin vanes in planes radial to the axis of the hub and having rear edges which pass close to the light source as the control is rotated whereby the space closest to the light source receives most of the illumination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS