The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 08, 2018
Grayhill, Inc., La Grange, IL (US);
Kevin Dooley, Chicago, IL (US);
Grayhill, Inc., LaGrange, IL (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to knob systems and methods to permit a smooth turning user input device that minimizes unintended horizontal displacement, along the X- or Y-axis, or unintended vertical displacement, along the Z-axis. The disclosed knob system may achieve this goal through the use of a back plate, a knob and a main housing extending through the knob and the back plate, the back plate comprises a plurality of Z-stop bearings, comprising a plurality of Z-stop balls and a plurality of Z-support springs, wherein the Z-stop bearings are in contact with the back plate and are configured to separate the knob from the back plate when the main housing is depressed in a vertical direction and wherein each of the plurality of Z-stop balls are attached to one of the plurality of Z-support springs, the Z-support springs bias the Z-stop ball against the knob.