| US 7,524,074 B2 | ||
| Light guide for a control knob fitted with a rotary index | ||
| Andre Chery, Ozoir la Ferriere (France); Stephane Guichardon, Bougival (France); Jerome Wroblewski, Maffliers (France); Laurent Lucaora, Vanves (France); and Kevin Callahan, La Minerve (France) | ||
| Assigned to Valeo Systemes Thermiques S.A.S., Le Mesnil, St. Denis (France) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/409,948. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 05 04117 (FR), filed on Apr. 25, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0238994 A1, Oct. 26, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01D 11/28 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 362—26 [362/29; 362/23; 362/551] | 55 Claims |
| 1. A control knob comprising:
a light guide (1) inserted between a light source (2) and an index (3) free to move in rotation about an axis (A), said light guide (1) comprising at least one entry surface (4) for light rays emitted by the light source (2), a first exit surface (6) of light rays towards the index (3), and said light guide (1) comprising a first optical part (4, 8, 15, 16) to orient received light rays approximately parallel to the rotation axis (A) of the index (3), and a second optical part (5, 22, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20) to focus light rays towards at least the first exit surface (6); and
a rotary body (35) hollowed out in the axial direction fitted with a reception part for reception of the light guide (1) sliding in a socket joint;
the reception part including a recess (36) formed in the internal surface of the body (35) and an axial support part for axially supporting this light guide (1); and
the axial support part comprising a plate (39) formed on the light guide (1) and support tabs (40) for this plate (39) formed on the body (35).
|