US3750619A

US3750619A - Channel indicator

Info

Publication number: US3750619A
Application number: US00212161A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Yamamura
Original assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
Current assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
Priority date: 1971-12-27
Filing date: 1971-12-27
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

A channel indicator generally comprises a plurality of channel indicating members respectively indicating a channel number, an indicator body which is capable of mounting and accommodating the channel indicating members individually replaceably, and a knob portion which is rotatable integrally with the indicator body. The channel indicator indicates the channel numbers in cooperation with a tuner. The channel indicating members can be individually removed from the indicator body and replaced.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Yamamura Aug. 7, 1973 CHANNEL INDICATOR [75] Inventor: Takashi Yamamura, lba raki, Japan [73] Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.,

Yokohama City, Kanagawa-ken,

Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 212,161

[52] U.S. Cl ll6/l24.l, 74/553, 1l6/124.4,

325/455, 334/86 [51] Int. Cl. H03j l/0 2 [58] Field of Search 116/124.1, 124.2,

1l6/l24.3, 124.4, 133; 325/455, 464, 465; 334/86, 87, 50; 29/161; 40/20 A, 26, 331; 74/553 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,332,604 3/1920 Chester l16/l24.2 R 1,533,297 4/1925 Aller 40/5 UX 1,599,034 9/1926 Weston 1l6/l24.2 R

2,257,022 9/1941 Pressley 116/129 R 2,861,538 ll/l958 2,926,626 3/1960 3,029,772 3/1962 Primary Examiner-Louis .1. Capozi Au0rney1-1olman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A channel indicator generally comprises a plurality of channel indicating members respectively indicating a channel number, an indicator body which is capable of mounting and accommodating the channel indicating members individually replaceably, and a knob portion which is rotatable integrally with the indicator body. The channel indicator indicates the channel numbers in cooperation with a tuner. The channel indicating members can be individually removed from the indicator body and replaced. v

4 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENIEB H915 3.750.619

sum 1 OF 4 FIG. IA FIG. IB FIG.

PATENIED AUG 3.750.619

sum 2 or 4 PATENIEDAUB H915 3.750.619

sum u 0F 4 FIG. 12A

CHANNEL INDICATOR This invention relates to a channel indicator and, more particularly, to a channel indicator adapted for use in a tuner or the like for receiving and selecting television signals of a UHF band.

A conventional UHF tuner which is used for receiving and tuning a television signal of a UHF band has been of a construction in which tuning operation is continuously made. Accordingly, a channel indicator which cooperates with this UHF tuner consists of a rotary drum, a rotary disc, a wound belt or the like which is continuously graduated and a pointer or an indication mark. However, the number of channels in the UHF band is so large as compared with the VHF band that one scale between each channel on the aforementioned continuously graduated rotary drum or the like is extremely small and many scales appear simultaneously on the indicating surface. As a result, it is rather difficult to read the scale. Since the prior art tuner is of a type which is continuously adjusted for tuning, if after this tuner was tuned to one channel for receiving the signal of that channel this tuner have to be changed to other channel, an operation for tuning it to the other channel is required. Further, if the aforementioned one channel is to be received again after receiving the other channel, an operation for tuning to said one channel must be made again. Such tuning operation as described above is rather troublesome. This is particularly troublesome and time-consuming when frequencies of a plurality of broadcast channels to be selected are widely separated from each other.

In order to eliminate the disadvantage of the UHF tuner of a continuous adjustment operation type, a preset type UHF tuner has been proposed and employed. A detent type tuner is a kind of this preset type tuner. In this preset type UHF tuner, several channels which it is desired to receive are respectively tuned in and these tuned-in states are preset. According to this preset type UHF tuner, the desired preset channel can be readily and immediately selected by merely rotating a channel selecting knob intermittently and articulately as in a conventional VHF tuner..

However, the frequencies of the UHF band are higher than those of the VHF band by one figure and a service area of one station in which a UHF band television signal is transmitted and received is relatively narrow. Further, an adjacent station usually uses different channels from those of the one station for avoiding interference. Consequently, channels used for each relatively narrow area are different from those used for other areas. Manufactures of UHF television receivers therefore must manufacture, as channel indicators which cooperates with the preset type UHF tuners, many different indicators respectively on which different combinations of channel numbers used in each area are fixedly indicated respectively for each area. This manufacturing of respective indicators for each area complicates a manufacturing process and a spare parts control, resulting in increase in the manufacturing cost.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to eliminate the above described disadvantages of the conventional channel indicators and provide a novel and useful channel indicator which is effectively adapted for use in a television tuner, particularly the preset type UHF television tuner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a channel indicator in which channel indicating members each having its own channel number indication can be easily replaced individually by other channel indicating members each having other desired channel number indication. According to this channel indicator, a user can easily change the channel indicating members in accordance with channels to be used in his area. The manufactures, therefore, have only to prepare a channel indicator body on which channel indicating members are not mounted and a number of channel indicating members having different channel numbers. Accordingly, the manufactures need not prepare channel indicators on which a combination of channel numbers are fixedly indicated with respect to a large number of different combinations. They can manufacture and provide a low-cost channel indicator effectively adapted for use in a UHF television receiver or the like used in a relatively narrow area which has different channel numbers from other areas.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. IA to 1C are respectively perspective views of an indicator knob body, channel indicating members and a holding plate which are component parts of one embodiment of a channel indicator according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the channel indicator which has been assembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 1A to IC;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of the channel indicator shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are perspective views of a knob body, holding plate, indicator body and channel indicating members which are component parts of a second embodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the channel indicator which has been assembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D;

FIG. 6 is a back side perspective view of the channel indicator shown in FIG. 5; a

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a sheet mounting channel indicating members thereon;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively side view of a knob body and a perspective view of an indicator body which are provided with a modified form of coupling mechanism for coupling the knob body with the indicator body which is adapted for use in the second embodiment of the channel indicator;

FIGS. 10 and II are respectively a side view of a knob body and a perspective view of an indicator body which are provided with another modification of coupling mechanism for coupling the knob body with the indicator body which is adapted for use in the second embodiment of the channel indicator; I

FIGS. 12A and 12B are respectively perspective views of an indicator knob body and a holding plate which are component parts of a third embodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a back side perspective view of the indicator knob body;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the channel indicator which has been assembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B; and

FIG. is a plan view of a part of the channel indicating part thereof.

First, one embodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1A shows an indicator knob body 11. The indicator knob body 11 is integrally formed of a shaft 13 fitted on a selection rotary shaft 12 for a tuner, an indicator body 15 of a shallow bottomed cylindrical shape having a rim portion 14, and a knob 17 erecting vertically from a bottom 16 of the indicator body 15 and extending in a diametrical direction thereof. The inside portion of the indicator body 15 encircled by the rim portion 14 is sectioned into six channel indicating member receiving parts 19 partitioned by partitions 18 and the knob 17.

FIG. 1B shows channel indicating members 20 to be received and accommodated in the receiving parts 19. In the present embodiment, six sector

channel indicating members

20a, 20b, 20f are used. The channel indicating members 200 to 20f are marked on either or both sides thereof with the channel numbers of desired channels. These channel indicating members 20a to 20f are selected from a large number of prepared channel indicating members each carrying a different channel number in accordance with the channel numbers used by the desired station.

FIG. 1C shows a holding plate 21 consisting of two holding

plate halves

21a and 21b. The holding plate 21 I is provided with six

holes

22a, 22b, 22f. The holes 22a to 22f are large enough for the channel numbers indicated on the channel indicating members 20a to 20f to be observed from outside.

The component parts shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C are assembled in the following manner. Each of the channel indicating members 20a to 20f carrying desired channel numbers which have been selected beforehand is placed in each of the channel indicating member receiving parts 19 in the indicator body 15 of the indicator knob body 10. The holding plate 21 is fitted in the indicator body 15, covering the channel indicating members 200 to 20f. Thus, the channel indicator 10 can be very easily assembled as shown in FIG. 2. The channel indicating members can be observed through the holes 22a to 22f of the holding plate 21. The shaft 13 of the channel indicator 10 is inserted through a hole (not shown) formed in a front panel 23 of the television receiver and fitted on the rotating shaft 12 (FIG. 1) of the preset type UI-IF tuner disposed in the rear of the front panel 23.

In assembling the channel indicator 10, the user of the television receiver can select necessary channel indicating members 204 to 20f from among a number of channel indicating members attached to the television receiver in accordance with the UHF channel numbers of the station which cover the area where the television receiver is used as its service area. Accordingly, the manufacturer of the television receivers need not make channel indicators on which different channel numbers are fixedly indicated for each area. This reduces the manufacturing cost of the channel indicator. In case the user changes its residence by reason of moving his home, etc., and uses the television receiver in a different service area, he should pull off the channel indicator 10 from the rotating shaft 12 of the tuner, disengage the holding plate 21 from the indicator body 15, remove the channel indicating members bearing the numbers which need alteration from among the members 20a to 20fand replace them by channel indicating members which bear newly required channel numbers. The holding plate 21 is fitted in the indicator body 15 and the channel indicator for indicating the new channel numbers is now obtained. It is to be noted that the preset type UHF tuner should also be newly adjusted in its preset tuning so that it is capable of receiving the new broadcast channels.

A modification of the channel indicator of the above described construction is shown in FIG. 3. At the bottom of the indicator body 15, there are formed a plurality of holes 24 at positions which correspond to the figures indicating the channel numbers of the channel indicating members 20a to 20f. The channel indicating members 20a to 20f indicate the figures of the channel numbers by contrast of transparent portions and nontransparent portions. The front panel 23 is formed with a hole 25 at the predetermined position and a lamp 26 which emits light is disposed opposite to the hole 25.

The channel indicator is rotated by means of the knob 17 for selection of a desired channel. The channel indicating member (the member 20b in this case as shown in the figure) bearing the figure of the selected channel number and the hole 24 reach the position opposite to the lamp 26. The light from the lamp 26 passes through the

holes

25 and 24, the transparent portion of the channel indicating member 20b and the hole 22b, causing the channel number to be clearly recognized by the contrast between the transparent portion and the non-transparent portion of the channel indicating member 20b. I

Nextly a second embodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4A shows a knob body 41. The knob body 41 consists of an integrally formed knob 42 and a rotating shaft 43. The shaft 43 is formed at its end portion adjacent the knob 42 with a flange portion 44 having a larger diameter than the shaft 43. The shaft 43 is also formed with

projections

45a and 45b at diametrically opposite positions and adjacent to the flange portion 44. The

projections

45a and 45b are provided with grooves 46a and 4612. FIG. 4B shows a holding plate 47 which has eight

transparent window portions

48a, 48b, 48h and a central opening 49. The central opening 49 is large enough to receive the shaft 43 of the knob body 41 and has smaller diameter than the flange portion 44 and has recesses 50a and 50b which engage with the

projections

45a and 45b.

FIG. 4D shows channel indicating members 51 consisting of eight channel indicating members 51a, 5 lb, 51h. Desired channel numbers are indicated on either or both sides of the channel indicating members 5111 to 51h. These channel indicating members 510 to 51h have been selected and removed from among a number of channel indicating members 51 attached to a sheet 52 shown in FIG. 7 channels from the 14th channel to 83rd channel as shown in the figure). This sheet 52 is appended to a television receiver when a user purchases it.

FIG. 4C shows an indicator body 53. The indicator body 53 has a peripheral rim portion 54 and eight channel indicating member receiving parts 55a, 55b 55!: which are recessed for receiving and accommodating the channel indicating members 510 to 51h. The indicator body 53 further has a central opening 56. The central opening 56 is large enough to receive the shaft 43 of the knob body 41 and has

recesses

57a and 57b which engage with the

projections

45a and 45b. Partitions 58 which separate the receiving parts 55a to 55h from each other are formed with recesses 59 which will facilitate removing of the channel indicating members from the receiving parts 55a to 55h. The bottom surfaces of these receiving parts 55a to 55h are marked with reference numbers such as U1, U2 U8 for facilitating placing and replacing of the channel indicating members.

The above described component parts shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D are assembled in the following manner. First, the channel indicating members 51a to 51h indicating the desired channel numbers to be used are removed from the sheet 52 shown in FIG. 7. The channel indicating members 51a to 51h are respectively placed in the channel indicating member receiving parts 55a to 55h of the indicator body 53. Nextly, the holding plate 47 is fitted in the indicator body 53, covering the channel indicating members 51a to 51h. The shaft 43 of the knob body 41 is then inserted through the

central openings

49 and 56 of the holding plate 47 and the indicator body 53 and the

projections

45a and 45b are fitted in the

recesses

50a, 57a, 50b and 57b. At this time, the holding plate 47 is in abutting engagement with the flange portion 44 thereby to be restricted in its position relative to the knob body 41. Thus, a provisional assembly of the channel indicator 40 shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Then, this provisional assembly of the channel indicator is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 6. In a state in which the holding plate 47 is in abutting engagement with the flange portion 44 of the knob body 40 and the holding plate 47 and the indicator body 53 are fitted in the shaft 43 of the knob body 40, the

projections

45a and 45b of the shaft 43 project above the rear surface 60 of the indicator body 53. The rear surface 60 is formed with

small holes

61a and 61b which are of a depth which does not reach the channel indicating member receiving parts provided on the top surface of the indicator body 53. An elastic spring 62 is substantially of a 'U-shape and has bent portions 63a and 63b at both ends. Both legs of the spring 62 are then engaged with the grooves 460 and 46b of the

projections

45a and 45b and the bent portions 63a and 63b are engaged with the

small holes

61a and 61b. This arrangement connects the indicator body 53 and the shaft 43 integrally so that they do not detach from each other. Thus, the assembly of the channel indicator 40 has been completed.

In case replacement of a part or whole of the channel indicating members 51a to 51h of the channel indicator 40 becomes necessary, the channel indicator 40 is disassembled into each component part shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D. The part or whole of the channel indicating members 51a to 51h are replaced by new channel indicating members indicating necessary channel numbers which have been removed from the sheet 52. Then the component parts are assembled in the same manner as previously described.

In the foregoing embodiment, the coupling of the knob body 40 and the indicator body 53 is made by means of the

projections

45a and 45b, the spring 62, the

small holes

61a and 61b etc. The invention is not limited to this but other coupling mechanism such as the following one may be employed. FIGS. 8 and 9 show one modified example of the coupling mechanism. The shaft 43 of a knob body 70 is provided on its circumferential surface with an elastic projection 710 having a taper 72a. A projection 71b (not shown) 'having the same shape as the projection 71a is provided on the shaft 43 at a position diametrically oppositeto the projection 71a. An indicator body 73 is provided adjacent to the opening 56 with

projections

74a and 74b projecting above the rear surface 60 of the indicator body 73. The

projections

74a and 74b consist of first projecting portions 76a and 76b having tapered

portions

75a and 75b and second projecting portions 780 and 78b having tapered portions 77a and 77b. For coupling the knob body with the indicator body 73, the shaft 43 of the knob body 70 is inserted into the opening 56 of the indicator body 73 and the projections 7 la and 71b are fitted in the

recesses

57a and 57b and caused to project above the rear surface 60. When the knob body 40 is rotated in this state, the projections 71a and 71b ride on the tapered portions a-and 75b of the

projections

74a and 74b. After the flange portion 44 abuts against the holding plate fitted in the indicator body 73 the projections 71a and 71b slightly flex elastically and ride over the first projections 76a and 76b to engage in the valleys formed between the first-and second projections. Thus, the knob body 40 is connected with the indicator body 73. For disconnecting the knob body 70 from the indicator body 73, the knob body 70. is further rotated in the same direction. The projections 71a and 71b rides along the tapered portions 770 and 77b and, flexing'slightly again, ride over the second projections 78a and 78b. The projections 71a and7lb 1 are aligned in the

recesses

57b and 57a and the shaft 43 of the knob body 70 is pulled off.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another modification of the coupling mechanism of the knob body and the indicator body. The shaft 43 of a knob body 79 has a threaded portion 80 adjacent to the flange portion 44. The shaft 43 has a hole 81 formed in a diametrical direction adjacent the end of the threaded portion 80. An indicator body 82 has a threaded portion '83 formed on the inner peripheralsurface of the central opening "56. Two studs 84a and 84b are provided on the back surface of the indicator body 82. For connecting the knob body 79 with the indicator body 82, the shaft "49 is inserted through the opening 56. The knob body 79 is rotated to bring the threaded portion 80 in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 83 until the flange portion 44 abuts against the holding plate fitted in the indicator body 82. A pin which is longer than the diameter of the shaft 43 is inserted through the hole8l of the shaft 43 projecting from the back surface "60. Thus, the coupling operation is completed. Even if' the knob body 70 is subject to a force which rotates the knob body 79 in a direction in which theknob body 79 is loosened from the engagement with the indicator body 82, the knob body 79 does not detach from the indicator body 82 because the pin '85 is locked bythe studs 84a and 84b. In case the knob body 79 is to be separated from the indicator body 82, the pin 85 is pulled off the hole 81, and the threaded portions80 and 83 are disengaged from each other by rotating the knob body 79 in an opposite direction.

Nextly, a third embodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15. FIG. 12A shows an indicator knob body 90. FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the indicator knob body seen from the back side. The

indicator knob body 90 generally consists of a shaft 91 which fits on a rotating selection shaft of the tuner, an indicator body 92 and a knob 93 integrally formed together. The indicator body 92 is formed with eight

openings

94a, 94b, 94h (represented by 94) having a substantially T-shape and being arranged radially on the same circumference. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 15, the opening 94 consists of an opening portion 96 which has larger width and a smaller length than channel indicating members 95 (only one of which is shown in the drawing for an illustrative purpose) and an opening portion 97 which has a smaller width than the channel indicating member 95. An eaves portion 104 is formed at the edge of the opening portion 97 projecting from the opening portion 96. The channel indicating members 95 are made of elastic materials such as plastics and formed with a knotch 103. FIG. 123 shows a holding plate 98 having a central opening 99 of a diameter which is large enough to receive the shaft 91. An opening 99 is formed with a recess 100 which engages a projection 101 of the shaft 91. The surface of the holding plate 98 is marked with letters U1 to U8 for facilitating mounting and replacing of the channel indicating members 95.

For assembling the above described component parts, the shaft 91 is inserted through the opening 99 of the holding plate 98 and the projection 101 is brought into engagement with the recess 100 whereby the holding plate 98 is adjusted in its position relative to the indicator knob body 90. Thus, the holding plate 98 is fitted inside of an outer peripheral rirn portion 102 formed on the back side of the indicator body 92, thereby being connected to the indicator body 92.

Each desired channel indicating member 95 is then in-,

serted from the opening portion 96 of the opening 94 into space between the holding plate 98 and the eaves portion 104 as shown in FIG. 12A, and the whole of the channel indicating member 95 is received in the space as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. This insertion of the channel indicating member 95 is made for each opening 94a to 94h.

For replacing the channel indicating member 95, the top portion of the channel indicating member 95 is lifted by inserting a pin or the like under the recess 103 of the member 95 placed in the opening 96 and the member 95 can be pulled out of the opening 96.

Each of the foregoing embodiments has been described with reference to a case in which the channel indicator is applied to a preset type UHF tuner. The invention, however, is not limited to this type of tuner but it is applicable to other types of tuner including an ordinary UHF tuner. Further, this invention is not limited to these embodiments but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A channel indicator adapted for use with a tuner which receives and selects television signals upon rotation of a tuner shaft associated therewith, said channel indicator comprising a rotatable knob body having an integrally formed knob portion and shaft portion extending therefrom adapted to receive the shaft of the tuner to effect rotation thereof; an indicator body which is rotated integrally with said knob body, said indicator body being formed separately from said knob body, a plurality of channel indicating members on which the number of channels to be selected are indicated, said indicator body having channel indicating member receiving parts for receiving said channel indicating members on the top surface thereof, said channel indicating member receiving parts being respectively arranged radially on the same circumference in said indicator body and being of sector form, each said channel indicating member being of a sector form and of a size which can be received in said receiving parts, a holding plate detachably mounted on said indicator body and covering said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts of said indicator body so as to prevent them from being detached, said holding plate covering the front surfaces of said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts of said indicator body and having transparent portions through which the channel numbers on said channel indicating members can be' observed, and a coupling means for detachably connecting said knob body integrally with said holding plate and said indicator body.

2. The channel indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator body and said holding plate are formed with openings through which said shaft portion of said knob body is inserted, and wherein said coupling means comprises an engaging portion provided on said shaft portion which appears above the back surface of said indicator body when said shaft portion is inserted through the openings of said indicator body and said holding plate and a member which engages said engaging portion thereby coupling said shaft and said indicator body.

3. The channel as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator body further has partitions which separate said receiving parts from each other, said partitions being formed with recesses for facilitating removing of said channel indicating members from said receiving parts.

4. The channel indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said knob body further has a flange portion having a larger diameter than said shaft portion disposed at the end portion of said shaft portion which is adjacent said knob portion, and projections provided with grooves formed adjacent to said flange portion at diametrically opposite'positions of said shaft portion, said holding plate and said indicator body being formed with openings through which said shaft portion is inserted, the rear surface of said indicator body being formed with small holes which are of a depth which does not reach the top surface thereof, and wherein said coupling means comprises an elastic spring substantially of a U-shape and having bent portions at both ends, both legs of said spring being engaged with said grooves of the projections and said bent portions of the spring being engaged with said small holes of the indicator body.

Claims

1. A channel indicator adapted for use with a tuner which receives and selects television signals upon rotation of a tuner shaft associated therewith, said channel indicator comprising a rotatable knob body having an integrally formed knob portion and shaft portion extending therefrom adapted to receive the shaft of the tuner to effect rotation thereof; an indicator body which is rotated integrally with said knob body, said indicator body being formed separately from said knob body, a plurality of channel indicating members on which the number of channels to be selected are indicated, said indicator body having channel indicating member receiving parts for receiving said channel indicating members on the top surface thereof, said channel indicating member receiving parts being respectively arranged radially on the same circumference in said indicator body and being of sector form, each said channel indicating member being of a sector form and of a size which can be received in said receiving parts, a holding plate detachably mounted on said indicator body and covering said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts of said indicator body so as to prevent them from being detached, said holding plate covering the front surfaces of said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts of said indicator body and having transparent portions through which the channel numbers on said channel indicating members can be observed, and a coupling means for detachably connecting said knob body integrally with said holding plate and said indicator body.

4. The channel indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said knob body further has a flange portion having a larger diameter than said shaft portion disposed at the end portion of said shaft portion which is adjacent said knob portion, and projections provided with grooves formed adjacent to said flange portion at diametrically opposite positions of said shaft portion, said holding plate and said indicator body being formed with openings through which said shaft portion is inserted, the rear surface of said indicator body being formed with small holes which are of a depth which does not reach the top surface thereof, and wherein said coupling means comprises an elastic spring substantially of a U-shape and having bent portions at both ends, both legs of said spring being engaged with said grooves of the projections and said bent portions of the spring being engaged with said small holes of the indicator body.