BUTTON PUSH AND PULL MECHANISM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a push and pull mechanism which provides forward and backward movement of the control buttons of ^" the appliances including control panels. Background of the Invention

By means of a push and pull mechanism, control buttons especially in the control panel of home appliances enter into or come out of the control panel. For example when washing machines are used, force is applied to the button in the control panel and thereby the button comes out. Then washing setting is made by rotating the button. After washing machine completes washing task, the entrance of the button into the control panel is provided by pushing the button again. The button stays in the panel until the next use and thereby it gives an aesthetical appearance to the washing machine.

In the art of the field, control buttons having push and pull mechanism can not be pushed to the same level as the control panel and it seems salient outwards the panel. In addition, because of over tolerance it moves unsafely to right and left when the button is in outward position.

In the field of art, lock bolts of some push and pull mechanism are made of metal. The said metal bolt moves in a plastic slot and this movement causes corrosion in the internal part of the slot. For the prevention of this corrosion, the internal part of the slot should be lubricated. In the systems whose locking mechanism bolt is plastic, since the lock bolt is fixed and plastic, breakings are seen in the lock bolt during operation and too high locking voices arising during locking are seen. In the field of art, a button which is used in a cooking appliance and which can enter into control panel is mentioned in the Canadian patent document no CA21 12760. In case the cooking appliance is not used, the button stays in the same level as the control panel. In the open part of the button, there are multiple elastic fixation hooks. Each hook includes guide surface which extend inwards and fixation hole. Rail body which generally has a cylindrical shape slides inwards the button and it fix there. There are multiple paths on the external wall of the rail body.

Short Description of Invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a push and pull mechanism that enables for control buttons to come out of the control panel during the use of appliance and to enter into the control panel when the appliance is out of use.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a push and pull mechanism which can prevent the damages to control button during the transportation of the appliance for which it is used.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a push and pull mechanism which can prevent the damages to control button during the transportation of the appliance for which it is used. Another aim of the invention is to provide a push and pull mechanism which operates without constrain and in a balanced way.

Detailed Description of Invention

A push and pull mechanism which is made for achieving the aim of the invention is shown in the attached figures and the said figures are as follows: Figure 1- is the exploded perspective view of the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 2- is the perspective view of the movable part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 3- is the top view of the movable part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 4- is the side view of the movable part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 5- is the perspective view of the fixed part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 6- is the bottom view of the fixed part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 7- is the side view of the fixed part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 8- is the perspective view of the latch in the push and pull mechanism 0 which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 9- is the perspective view of the flexible part in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 10- is the perspective view of the cover in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 1 1- is the top view of the cover in the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 12- is the forward position view of the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 13- is the backward position view of the push and pull mechanism which is the subject of the invention.

The parts are numerated in the figures and their corresponding definitions are given below.

1. Push and pull mechanism 2. Movable part

3. Fixed part

4. Latch

5. Flexible part

6. Connection spring

7. Spring

8. Cover

9. Body

10. Extension

1 1. Base

12. Flat surface

13. Recess

14. Connection surface

15. Space

16. Ceiling

17. Side wall

18. Opening

19. Slot

20. Salience

21. Front wall

22. Channel

23. Extension

24. Blind hole

25. Body

26. Base

27. Salience

28. Ceiling

29. Side wall

30. Front wall

31. Cavity

32. First elevation 33. Second elevation

34. Third elevation

35. First positioning slot

36. Salience

37. Second positioning slot

38. Hole

39. Pin

40. Salience

41. Abutment surface

42. Salience

43. Nail

44. First path

45. Second path In the specification, when it is mentioned about the shaft of the element, it will thereafter refer to metal connected to component or plastic shaft which enables to adjust the related component of any appliance by pressing and rotating. For example the said shaft can be the one which is connected to gas tap which adjusts the gas flow in the cooking appliances; the one which is connected to program appliance that controls the program flow in the washing machine; the one which is connected to heat thermostat in the appliances with thermostat or the one which is connected to potentiometer in the appliances with potentiometer.

The push and pull mechanism (1) which is the subject of the invention consists of; At least one movable part (2) which enables the push and pull mechanism (1) to fasten to the button in the control panel of the appliance and which can move in forward and backward positions,

At least one fixed part (3) which is placed into the movable part (2) and which enables it to be locked in forward and backward positions and to fasten to the element shaft that will be operated, at least one latch (4) which is placed on the movable part (2) and which enables the movable (2) part to be locked and unlocked,

at least one flexible part (5) which is placed on movable part (2) and which enables latch (4) to spring by applying force on the said latch (4) and to be fixed in its place,

at least one connection spring (6) which has bearing on fixed part (3) and which enables the fixed part (3) be intertwined with element shaft which will be operated,

at least one spring (7) which moves in the movable part (2) and fixed part (3) and which can tighten and loosen for the movement of movable part (2) on fixed part (3),

at least one cover (8) which is placed of the movable part (2) and which enables to hold all parts together. Movable part (2) comprises an extension (10) whose one end is open and the other one is closed and which provides connection to the button by extending outward the hollow body (9) and the closed end of the said body (9).

Body (9) comprises a base (1 1), a ceiling (16) and two opposite side walls (17) which connects the said base (1 1) and the ceiling (16). In the preferred implementation of this invention, base (1 1) and ceiling (16) have the same geometric form. In the said implementation, two walls (17) also have the same geometric form. The said body (9) also comprises a front wall (21) which enables its end that looks at the extension (10) to become closed. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the said front wall (21) has the shape of a circle. By means of front wall (21), the connection is provided between extension (10) and the body (9). The end of the body (9) which has no wall (21) is open. The base (11) comprises at least two flat surfaces (12) which extend in a way that their elevation from the ground on a plane that extends parallel to ground will be the same and which do not contact with each other, and a connection surface (14) which is extends between both flat surfaces (12) by connecting to the said flat surfaces (12), which is in a lower level than these flat surfaces (12) and which has at least one recess (13) in the surface which looks out of the mechanism. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the connection surface (14) has a convex form. Because of the level difference between the flat surface (12) and connection surface (14), a space (15) occurs between the said two flat surfaces (12). In the preferred implementation of the invention, the said space (15) extends from the open end of the body (9) to the closed end like a channel.

The ceiling (16) comprises at least two flat surfaces (12) which extend in a way that their elevation from the ground on a plane that extends parallel to ground will be the same and which do not contact with each other, and a connection surface (14) which is extends between both flat surfaces (12) by connecting to the said flat surfaces (12), which is in a higher level than these flat surfaces (12) and which has at least one recess (13) in the surface which looks out of the mechanism. Because of the level difference between the flat surface (12) and connection surface (14), a space (15) occurs between the said two flat surfaces (12). In the preferred implementation of the invention, the said space (15) extends from the open end of the body (9) to the closed end.

Between base (1 1) and ceiling (12), side wall (17) extends from the front wall (21) which enables to close one end of the body (9) to the distance in which base (11) and ceiling (12) extend. Side wall (17) comprises at least one opening (18). Side wall (17) comprises also a slot (19) which extends to the opening (18) on the surface looking out of the mechanism and into which flexible part (5) is placed, and at least one salience (20) on which latch (4) is passed inside the slot (19). Extension (10) comprises at least one channel (22) the enables push and pull mechanism (1) to be mounted to the button. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the extension (10) has a cylindrical form and there are multiple axial and peripheral channels (22) on it.

Fixed part (3) comprises on its one end a hollow extension (23) whose one end is open and the other one is closed, and at least one body (25) which extends from the other closed end to the direction which has no extension (23) and whose one end is closed and whose other end has a blind hole (24).

The spring (7) has a bearing in the extension (23).

Body (25) comprises a base (26), a ceiling (28), at least two opposite side walls (29) which connect the base (26) and the ceiling (28), and a front wall (30) which enables to close the end looking at the extension (23). In the end of the body (25) opposite to the other end of the body (25) looking at the extension (23), there is at least one blind hole (24) into which connection spring (6) is placed and into which the element shaft which will be operated. In this way, the shaft of the element to be operated will tightly connects to fixed part (3) and thereby to push and pull mechanism (1).

The base (26) extends between two ends of the body (25) on a plane which extends parallel to the ground. The base (25) comprises at least one salience (27) which provides the movement of the movable part (2) on it by entering to the space (14) in the base of the movable part. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the salience (27) extends throughout the whole base (26).

The ceiling (28) extends between two ends of the body (25) on a plane which extends parallel to the ground. The ceiling (28) comprises at least one salience (27) which provides interlocking to the movable part (2) on it by entering to the space (15) in the ceiling of the movable part. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the salience (27) extends throughout the whole ceiling (28).

On its surface looking out of the mechanism, side wall (29) comprises a cavity (31) with a special form which can be accesses through the opening (18) in the body (9) of movable part and in which the latch (4) moves, and at least three elevations (33, 34, 35) which elevate on it and which do not have connection with each other. The first elevation (32) among the said elevations extends on the side wall (29) in a way to start from the end where front wall (30) is and not to contact with the end where the blind hole (24) is. On the first elevation (32), there is first positioning slot (35) which provides the fixation of the movable part (2) in backward position. The second elevation (33) extends on the side wall (29) in a way to start from the end of the side wall (29) where blind hole (24) is and not to come to the end of front wall (30). On the second elevation (33), there is at least one salience (36) which enables to change the movement direction of latch (4). The third elevation (34) is on the cavity (31) and it extends in a way not contact with the first (32) and the second (33) elevation. On the third elevation (34) there is second positioning slot (37) which enables to fix the movable part (2) in forward position. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the third elevation (34) has the shape of a heart. In the said implementation, obtuse end of the third elevation (34) which has the shape of a heart is on the opposite of the salience (36). Like the obtuse end of the third elevation (34), the salience (36) has the shape of a heart. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the surface of the first elevation

(32) which looks at the third elevation (34), the surface of the second elevation

(33) which looks at the third elevation (34) and third elevation (34) extend on side wall (29) in a way to be angular and parallel to each other. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the salience (36) of the second elevation (33) has a form of a triangular. The said triangular salience (36) is connected to the second elevation (33) from one side and it changes movement direction of the latch (4) when its other two sides touch the said latch (4).

The latch (4) comprises at least one hole (38) which enables to enter into the salience (20) on the movable part (2), and at least one pin (39) which enables to move in the cavity (31) on the fixed part (3). The movement of pin (39) inside the cavity (31) occurs by its touch to the walls of the third elevation (34).

Flexible part (5) comprises at least three saliences (40) which are in the middle part and on the two ends of it and which enables the placement to the slot (19) on the movable part (2), and at least one abutment surface (41) on its end without salience (40) which provides the abutment of latch (4) on it and which preferentially has a curved form. In the preferred implementation of the invention, the saliences (40) on the ends of the flexible part (5) have a longer size then the saliences (40) in the middle part of it. By means of the flexible part (5), it is enabled for the latch (4) to spring by applying force to the said latch (4) and to be fixed in its place.

Connection spring (6) is placed into the blind hole (24). By means of connection spring (6), it is enabled for the fixed part (2) to be tightly intertwined with the element shaft to be operated.

Spring (7) has a bearing for the space in the extension (23) of the fixed part (3) from one end and from the other end it has a bearing for the space in the body (9) of the movable part (2). It provides the movement of movable part (2) on fixed part (3) by tightening or loosening due to the force applied by the user.

The cover (8) has the shape of an empty shell. The cover (8) is placed on the movable part (2) and it enables to hold all elements together and to prevent the damage of both the latch (4) and the cavity (31) in which the latch (4) moves. In this way, the usage life of push and pull mechanism (1) is increased. In the preferred implementation of this invention, cover (8) and movable part (2) have the same geometric form. Cover (8) comprises at least one salience (42) in the parts corresponding to the connection surface (14) of the body (9) of the movable part. Connection surface (14) and cover (8) saliences (42) show the same geometric features. For fixation to movable part (2), cover (8) comprises at least one nail (43) which will correspond to recess (13) on the connection surface (14) which is in the internal surface of salience (42). In the preferred implementation of the invention, the number of the recess (13) on the connection surface (14) and the number of nail (43) on the cover (8) are equal.

In the preferred implementation of the invention, cavity (31 ) comprises the first path (44) between the first elevation (32) and the third elevation (34) and the second path (45) between the second elevation (33) and the third elevation (34). While the pin (39) is moving on the first path (44), the movable part (2) moves forward and while the said pin (39) is moving on the second path (45), the said movable part (2) moves backward.

With the user's pressing on the button connected to push and pull mechanism (1) and in other words user's applying force, the movable part (2) thereby latch (4) start to move forward. While the latch (4) is moving forward, pin (39) leads for latch (4) to go toward the first path (44) by contacting with the surface of the third elevation (34) which looks at the first elevation (32). With the continuation of the force, the latch (4) continues to move on the first path (44) and the movable part (2) goes forward on the fixed part (3). With the condition that the force will continue to applied when the third elevation (34) come to the last part of the surface which looks at the first elevation (32), pin (39) moves backward by hitting the edge of the salience (36) which has triangular shape and which is close to the pin (39) at that moment. As a result of the backward movement of the pin (39), the said pin (39) enters into the second positioning slot (37) on the third elevation (34) and enables to lock the movable part (2) on the fixed part (3) in the forward position. When force is applied to the mechanism (1) which is in locked position in the second positioning slot (37) of the pin (39), the pin (39) thereby the movable part (2) start to move forward. However, this movement lasts for quite a short time and the pin (39) is directed to second path (45) by hitting the edge of the salience (36) which has a triangular shape and which is close to the pin (39) at that moment. After this moment when the force is stopped, the pin (39) thereby latch (4) enter into the second path (45). The pin (39) which moves backward in the second path (45) is directed to the first positioning slot (35) when it comes to the last part of the surface of the third elevation (34) which looks at the second elevation (3). Together with the entrance of pin (39) into the first positioning slot (35), movable part (2) remains fixed in backward position until the force is applied on the button.

In the preferred implementation of the invention, each of the two side walls (17) on the movable part (2) comprises at least one latch (4) which operates simultaneously with each other. One of the said latches (4) is in the first positioning slot (35) which corresponds to it on the side wall (29) of the fixed part (3) and the other latch (4) on the other side wall (17) of the movable part (2) is in the first positioning slot (35) which corresponds to it on the side wall (29) of the fixed part (3). When the force is applied to the button, both latches (4) start to move in the cavity (31) with the same speed. By means of using double latch (4) and cavity (31) in the said push and pull mechanism (1), the mechanism operated more safely and in a more balanced way. The push and pull mechanism (1) which is the subject of the invention enables for control buttons with which it is used to come out of the control panel during usage and to enter into the control panel for the situations in which it is out of use. In this way, an aesthetically beautiful appearance, cleaning easiness, safety against children and hitting are provided. By means of the entrance of the button into the control panel during the transportation of the appliance in which push and pull mechanism (1) is used, the damage of the button is prevented and the appliance takes up less place.

Within these basic concepts, it is possible to develop a great variety of implementation of A Push and Pull Mechanism (1) and the invention can not be restricted with the examples given herein and it is basically as stated in the claims.