Patent ID: 9651108
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B60W,F16D,G01S,G05G,Y10T

Claim:
1. A latching device for a rotationally movable operating element, comprising a resiliently mounted latching projection and a latching guideway being in sliding contact with the latching projection and having a plurality of latching depressions with latching elevations arranged between them, the latching depressions and the latching elevations forming a substantially corrugated latching path which extends above and below a latching path extension plane and along which the latching projection slides during a relative movement between the latching guideway and the latching projection, and the latching projection having a surface which contacts the latching path along at least one contact line running substantially transversely to the longitudinal extension of the latching path, wherein, when sliding along the latching path, the latching projection experiences an upward and downward movement with periodic change of the orientation of its contact line with respect to the latching path extension plane, and wherein the surface of the latching path has a change of inclination relative to the latching path extension plane, the inclination being in a direction for the rotationally movable operating element in a radial direction relative to a circular corrugated latching path, which change of inclination is a function of the position of the contact line of the latching projection selected to maintain a contact line between the latching projection and the latching guideway at all positions during its upward and downward movement.