Single piece vane knob

Abstract

A closed control knob for a vent having vanes and louvers includes a resilient member integrally molded within the control knob. The resilient member acts between the control knob and the louver on which it is mounted to provide a frictional force to retain the knob in the position it is placed by a passenger in a vehicle of other user. By integrally forming the resilient member with the control knob, assembly is simplified and failure of glued, snapped or welded joints is avoided.

1 . A closed control knob for controlling vanes and louvers in a vent, the control knob comprising: 
 an enclosed passage through which a louver to be controlled can slidably extend;    a pair of fingers extending from said control knob to engage at least one vane to be controlled;    a resilient member, integrally formed with said control knob, to act between said control knob and said louver to generate a frictional force therebetween, the frictional force acting to maintain the control knob in its current position on said louver; and    an aperture to allow said resilient member to be integrally molded with said control knob.    
   
   
       2 . The closed control knob of  claim 1  wherein said resilient member acts between the closed control knob and the front of the louver.  
   
   
       3 . The closed control knob of  claim 2  wherein said resilient member comprises a generally bow-shaped member, the ends of said bow-shaped member being connected to said control knob and the portion of the member between said ends being cantilevered therefrom and being resiliently deformable to act between said control knob and said louver.  
   
   
       4 . The closed control knob of  claim 3  wherein said portion of said resilient member between said ends engages a track on an edge of said louver to enhance frictional forces developed between the resilient member and the louver.  
   
   
       5 . The closed control knob of  claim 1  further including a pair of spring tabs, one on each side of said knob, said spring tabs engaging a track on a side of said louver, the track including a pair of spaced end stops and each spring tab abutting a respective one end stop at a respective end of intended movement of said closed control knob along said track to limit movement of said control knob along said louver.  
   
   
       6 . The closed control knob of  claim 5  wherein one of said end stops includes a ramp portion over which said spring tabs can ride to enter said track during assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The closed control knob of  claim 1  further including an accent piece mounted in said aperture.  
   
   
       8 . The closed control knob of  claim 2  comprising at least two resilient members.  
   
   
       9 . The closed control knob of  claim 8  wherein each of said at least two resilient members comprises a cantilevered arm extending from said closed control knob to abut said louver.  
   
   
       10 . The closed control knob of  claim 3  further including a pair of spring tabs, one on each side of said knob, said spring tabs engaging a track on a side of said louver, the track including a pair of spaced end stops and each spring tab abutting a respective one end stop at a respective end of intended movement of said closed control knob along said track to limit movement of said control knob along said louver.  
   
   
       11 . The closed control knob of  claim 10  wherein one of said end stops includes a ramp portion over which said spring tabs can ride to enter said track during assembly.