Control button device

The control knob device addresses the challenge of combining user comfort and safety compliance by using a deformable member to retract during impact, improving design and reducing costs.

DE102014225569B4Active Publication Date: 2025-07-31HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD +1
View PDF 3 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
DE102014225569
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2014-07-30
Filing Date
2014-12-11
Publication Date
2025-07-31
Estimated Expiration
2034-12-11

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing control knobs in vehicles face a dilemma between meeting aesthetic and operational requirements and adhering to safety standards, as they must protrude sufficiently for user comfort but are limited by safety regulations, leading to compromised design and increased costs.

Method used

A control knob device with a deformable member that allows sufficient protrusion for user comfort and aesthetic appeal, while incorporating a deformable member that absorbs impact during collisions, meeting safety standards by retracting into the panel.

Benefits of technology

The solution enhances user comfort and aesthetic appeal while ensuring compliance with safety standards, reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs by allowing a single design to meet both requirements.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
    Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A control knob device (100) comprising: a shaft (120) connected to a knob cap; a switching part (150) having an elastic element (153) which is pressed and elastically deformed by the shaft (120), and a switch (152) arranged adjacent to the elastic element (153), wherein the switch (152) outputs a signal by deformation of the elastic element (153); and a deformable element (121) which is deformable by a load greater than that at which the elastic element (153) is deformed and the switch (152) outputs the signal, and is configured to change a relative position between the knob cap and the shaft (120);a head (130) connected to the knob cap and having a shaft receiving hole (131) configured to receive the shaft (120); a projection (140) coupled to the switching part (150) and having a shaft insertion hole (141) into which the shaft (120) is inserted; a projection insertion hole (132) is formed on the head (130), and the projection (140) is inserted and received in the projection insertion hole (132) when the deformable member (121) is deformed; and an insertion amount of the projection (140) inserted into the projection insertion hole (132) is restricted by a stop part (137) formed at a connecting portion of the shaft receiving hole (131) and the projection insertion hole (132);
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Claims

[1] Control button device (100) with: a shaft (120) connected to a button cap; a switching part (150) having an elastic element (153) which is pressed and elastically deformed by the shaft (120), and a switch (152) arranged adjacent to the elastic element (153), wherein the switch (152) outputs a signal by deformation of the elastic element (153); and a deformable element (121) which is deformable by a load greater than that at which the elastic element (153) is deformed and the switch (152) outputs the signal, and is arranged to change a relative position between the button cap and the shaft (120); a head (130) connected to the button cap and having a shaft receiving hole (131) adapted to receive the shaft (120), a projection (140) coupled to the switching part (150) and having a shaft insertion hole (141) into which the shaft (120) is inserted, wherein a projection insertion hole (132) is formed on the head (130), and the projection (140) is inserted into and received in the projection insertion hole (132) when the deformable member (121) is deformed, and wherein an insertion amount of the projection (140) inserted into the projection insertion hole (132) is restricted by a stopper part (137) formed at a connecting portion of the shaft receiving hole (131) and the projection insertion hole (132). [2] Control button device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the deformable element (121) is elastically deformable. [3] The control knob device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the deformable member (121) pushes and moves the shaft (120) within a range in which the shaft (120) is moved, and elastic deformation thereof is enabled when the shaft is supported by the switching part (150) and movement of the shaft (120) is restricted. [4] A control knob device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one side of the deformable member (121) is supported by the head (130) and the other side thereof by the shaft (120), and the shaft (120) is pressed by a load applied to the head (130). [5] The control knob device (100) according to claim 4, wherein one side of the deformable member (121) is supported by a support step (122; 136) projecting from an inner peripheral surface of the shaft receiving hole (131), and the other side thereof is supported by a support step (122; 136) projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft (120). [6] The control knob device (100) according to claim 5, further comprising a projection (140) coupled to the switching part (150) and having a shaft insertion hole (141) into which the shaft (120) is inserted, wherein a height between an end of the projection (140) in which the shaft insertion hole (141) is formed and the support step (122; 136) protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft (120) is greater than or identical to that with which the shaft (120) is inserted into the projection (140) by deformation of the elastic member (153). [7] The control knob device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inclined portion or a curved portion is provided at an edge of an end of the projection (140) in which the shaft insertion hole (141) is formed, to guide the projection (140) so that it can be easily inserted into the projection insertion hole (132). [8] A control button device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformable member (121) is deformed by a load greater than a minimum load required to deform the elastic member (153) and to switch the switch (152) to output the signal.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Rotary / push control device for a human-machine interface

    DE102011083524A1

  • Impact absorbing structure of audio knob for vehicle

    KR1020090009466A

  • Push switch

    US20100224472A1