US 11,890,932 B2
Transformable knob for a vehicle
Joseph F. Szczerba, Grand Blanc, MI (US); and Ki Hyun Ahn, Lake Orion, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/518,238.
Prior Publication US 2023/0135972 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B60K 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 35/00 (2013.01) [B60K 2370/122 (2019.05); B60K 2370/126 (2019.05); B60K 2370/774 (2019.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transformable knob for a vehicle comprising:
an axle extending along an axis;
a body mounted to the axle and rotatable about the axis, with the body comprising a face plate and a periphery wall coupled to the face plate and extending around the axis, with the face plate and the periphery wall defining a cavity, and with the periphery wall arranged to flex relative to the axis;
a plurality of engagement arms disposed within the cavity and movable toward and away from the axis, with the plurality of engagement arms configured to selectively engage and flex the periphery wall between a first configuration and a second configuration; and
an actuator in engagement with the plurality of engagement arms and arranged to move between a first position and a second position, with movement of the actuator between the first and second positions facilitating corresponding movement of the plurality of engagement arms to flex the periphery wall between the first and second configurations, respectively.