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(11) | EP 1 052 040 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Metallic knob and method for making it |
| (57) A metallic knob includes a hollow base (10) including a first end formed with a column
(11) and a second end formed with a bowl (15), the column containing a through bore
(12) defined in the bottom thereof, and a hollow cap (20) secured to the bowl (15)
of the hollow base (10). |
[0002] A conventional metallic knob in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig. 9 can be attached to an article (not shown) such as a drawer, a cabinet, a wardrobe and the like and includes a body (50) made of a solid copper alloy containing a threaded bore (55) defined in the bottom thereof to secure the solid body (50) to the article. Making the body (50) out of a solid material increases the production cost. In addition, the solid body (50) is made by turning it on a lathe such that it takes a great deal of time to make the solid body (50), thereby decreasing the productivity of the metallic knob.
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metallic knob comprising: a hollow base including a first end formed with a column and a second end formed with a bowl, the column containing a through bore defined in the bottom thereof; and a cap secured to the bowl of the hollow base.
[0004] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a metallic knob, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongated first metallic sheet; (b) forming a column on the first metallic sheet by punching; (c) forming a through bore in the bottom of the column by punching; (d) forming a bowl on the first metallic sheet by punching, the bowl extending from the column; (e) separating the bowl from the first metallic sheet by punching, thereby forming a hollow base which includes the column and the bowl; (f) providing an elongated second metallic sheet; (g) forming a dome on the second metallic sheet by punching; (h) separating the dome from the second metallic sheet by punching, thereby forming a cap; and (i) securing the cap to the bowl by riveting, thereby forming the metallic knob which includes the hollow base and the cap.
[0005] In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a metallic knob in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front plan cross-sectional view of the metallic knob as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a flow chart delineating the method for making the metallic knob as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the process to make the hollow base of the metallic knob as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hollow base as shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the process to make the cap of the metallic knob as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cap as shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hollow base in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 9 is a front plan cross-sectional view of a metallic knob in accordance with the prior art.
[0006] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a metallic knob in accordance with the present invention can be adapted to fit to an article (not shown) such as a drawer, a cabinet, a wardrobe and the like, and comprises a hollow base (10) including a first end formed with a column (11) and a second end formed with a bowl (15), and a cap (20) secured to the bowl (15) of the hollow base (10) and including a dome (21).
[0007] The column (11) includes a concave (14) formed on the periphery thereof, and contains a through bore (12) defined in the bottom thereof and formed with an inner thread (120) to secure the column (11) to the article. The column (11) further contains a plurality of through holes (13) defined in the bottom thereof.
[0008] The bowl (15) contains a plurality of through holes (16) defined in the periphery thereof and includes a lip (17) formed on the periphery thereof, and the cap (20) includes an engaging flange (22) formed on the periphery thereof and secured on the lip (17) of the bowl (15) by riveting.
[0009] Referring to Figs. 3-5 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a method is used to make the metallic knob in accordance with the present invention, and includes the steps described as follows.
[0010] First, an elongated first metallic sheet (10A) is fed through a plurality of molds (not shown) so as to be punched by means of a plurality of punch heads (not shown) each of which mate with one of the corresponding molds.
[0011] A column (11) is then formed on the first metallic sheet (10A) by punching. However, a raw blank (11A) with a greater diameter and a shorter height than the column (11) is initially formed on the first metallic sheet (10A) so as to gradually form the column (11), thereby preventing the first metallic sheet (10A) from breaking due to excessive deformation. Then, a recess (122) is formed in the bottom of the column (11), and a through bore (12) is formed in the recess (122) by punching. Next, a plurality of through holes (13) are formed in the bottom of the column (11), and a plurality of through holes (16) are punched in the first metallic sheet (10A) so as to drain cooling water or lubricating oils required during the manufacturing process. Then, a lip (17) is formed on the periphery of the bowl (15), and the bowl (15) is then separated from the first metallic sheet (10A) by punching, thereby forming a hollow base (10) which includes the column (11) and the bowl (15). A concave (14) is then formed on the periphery of the column (11) by a roll pressing process to enhance the aesthetic quality of the hollow base (10).
[0012] Referring to Figs. 3, 6 and 7 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, an elongated second metallic sheet (20A) is fed through a plurality of molds (not shown) so as to be punched by means of a plurality of punch heads (not shown) each of which mate with one of the corresponding molds.
[0013] Then, a press seam (26) is formed on the second metallic sheet (20A) by punching to conform to the periphery of the cap (20). A dome (21) is then formed on the second metallic sheet (20A), and is separated from the second metallic sheet (20A) by punching, thereby forming the cap (20). An engaging flange (22) is formed on the periphery of the dome (21) by punching before the dome (21) is separated from the second metallic sheet (20A).
[0014] Then, the cap (20) is secured to the bowl (15) by riveting the engaging flange (22) to the lip (17), thereby forming the metallic knob that includes the hollow base (10) and the cap (20). An inner thread (120) is then formed in the inner periphery of the through bore (12). The metallic knob that includes the hollow base (10) and the cap (20) is then machined by a surface treatment, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the metallic knob.
a hollow base (10) including a first end formed with a column (11) and a second end formed with a bowl (15), said column (11) containing a through bore (12) defined in the bottom thereof; and
a cap (20) secured to said bowl (15) of said hollow base (10).
(a) providing an elongated first metallic sheet (10A);
(b) forming a column (11) on said first metallic sheet (10A);
(c) forming a through bore (12) in the bottom of said column (11);
(d) forming a bowl (15) on said first metallic sheet (10A), said bowl (15) extending from said column (11);
(e) separating said bowl (15) from said first metallic sheet (10A), thereby forming a hollow base (10) which includes said column (11) and said bowl (15);
(f) providing an elongated second metallic sheet (20A);
(g) forming a dome (21) on said second metallic sheet (20A);
(h) separating said dome (21) from said second metallic sheet (20A), thereby forming a cap (20); and
(i) securing said cap (20) to said bowl (15) to form said metallic knob which includes said hollow base (10) and said cap (20).
forming a recess (122) in the bottom of said column (11); and then
forming said through bore (12) in said recess (122).
forming a plurality of through holes (13) in the bottom of said column (11).
forming a plurality of through holes (16) in said first metallic sheet (10A); and then
forming said bowl (15) which includes said through holes (16).
forming a lip (17) on the periphery of said bowl (15) before said bowl (15) is separated from said first metallic sheet (10A).
forming a concave (14) on the periphery of said column (11).
forming a press seam (26) on said second metallic sheet (20A) to conform to the periphery of said cap (20).
forming an engaging flange (22) on the periphery of said dome (21) before said dome (21) is separated from said second metallic sheet (20A).