Multi-function switch for automotive vehicles

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-function turn signal switch for an automotive vehicle comprising a switch body having a longitudinal axis, a lever that has an exterior end disposed exteriorly of the switch body for operating the lever and an interior end that is disposed interiorly of the switch body, a mount for mounting the lever between its ends on the switch body to enable the interior end of the lever, when operated via its exterior end, to describe a frustoconical zone of motion within the switch body with the apex of the frustoconical zone of motion lying on said longitudinal axis, means acting against the interior end of said lever to create plural discrete positions for the lever circumferentially around the frustoconical zone of motion for giving signals, including right and left turn signals, at each of which discrete positions the lever will be retained when operated to that position, plural electrical switches arranged on said switch body in a circumferentially extending array about said axis and each of said electrical switches being particular to a particular one of said discrete positions of the lever, and switch actuating means on said lever for actuating the particular electrical switch that is particular to the corresponding one of said discrete positions of said lever when the lever is operated to that position.

2. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 1 in which said plural discrete positions for the lever comprise two particular positions that are spaced circumferentially 180 degrees apart about the frustoconical zone of motion, said two positions being the positions for giving the right and left turn signals.

3. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 2 in which two of said plural electrical switches are disposed 180 degrees apart about said axis and respectively actuated by said switch actuating means when the lever is operated to each of said two positions respectively to give the right and left turn signals respectively.

4. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 3 in which said switch actuating means comprises a circular disc disposed transversely on the lever between said mount and the interior end of the lever.

5. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 3 in which said lever is also disposed for longitudinal bodily displacement along said longitudinal axis relative to the switch body to perform additional modes of switch actuation.

6. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 5 in which said lever is arranged for longitudinal bodily displacement along said axis in a direction outward of the switch body, said mount is arranged for outward bodily displacement along said axis along with said lever, and the outward longitudinal displacement of said lever and said mount relative to said body along said axis is effective to cause said switch actuating means to simultaneously actuate both of said two switches.

7. A multi-funotion turn signal switch as set forth in claim 1 in which said means acting against the interior end of said lever to create said plural discrete positions for the lever circumferentially disposed around the frustoconical zone of motion also creates at least one further discrete position for the lever that is circumferentially between the first-mentioned plural discrete positions to which said lever can be operated but that is ineffective to retain the lever when the lever is operated to such at least one further discrete position when force that was applied to the exterior end of the lever to move the lever to such at least one further discrete position has been removed, and at least one further electrical switch, each of which is additional to said plural electrical switches and is particular to a corresponding one of each of said at least one further discrete position for the lever, said switch actuating means being arranged to actuate a particular one of said at least one further electrical switch that is particular to a corresponding one of said at least one further discrete position for the lever when the lever is operated to that corresponding position.

8. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 7 in which said means acting against the interior end of the lever is constructed and arranged to permit the interior end of the lever to be displaced a limited circumferential amount within the frustoconical zone of motion while remaining in one of said first-mentioned plural discrete positions when the exterior end of the lever is circumferentially displaced a limited amount while being operated to said one of said first-mentioned plural discrete positions, and said switch actuating means is effective for such displacement of the lever to simultaneously actuate both the particular one of said first-mentioned plural electrical switches that is particular to said one of said first-mentioned plural discrete positions and also a particular one of said at least one further electrical switch.

9. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 7 in which all said electrical switches are arranged in a circular array that is transverse to said axis, and said switch actuating means is disposed transversely on the lever between said mount and the interior end of the lever.

10. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 9 in which said first-mentioned plural electrical switches are two in number, said at least one further electrical switch is two in number, and these four switches are arranged at 90 degree intervals around the circular array.

11. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 10 in which said two of said first-mentioned plural electrical switches are operable for giving right and left turn signals respectively via associated signalling circuitry when each said two of said first-mentioned plural electrical switches is respectively actuated by said switch actuating means, and said two of said at least one further electrical switch are operable for giving two additional different exterior lighting signals respectively on the vehicle via said associated signalling circuitry when each of said two of said at least one further electrical switch is respectively actuated by said switch actuating means.

12. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 11 in which said lever is also disposed for longitudinal bodily displacement along said longitudinal axis relative to the switch body in a direction outward of the switch body, said mount is arranged for outward bodily displacement on said body along said axis along with said lever, and the outward longitudinal bodily displacement of both said lever and said mount relative to said body along said axis is effective to cause said switch actuating means to simultaneously actuate both said two of said first-mentioned plural electrical switches and also said two of said at least one further electrical switch for giving a still additional different exterior lighting signal on the vehicle via said associated signalling circuitry.

13. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 12 in which said first two mentioned different exterior lighting signals are the headlamp dimmer control signal and the marker lamp interrupt signal, and the still additional different exterior lighting signal is the hazard warning signal.

14. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 9 in which said lever is also disposed for longitudinal bodily displacement along said longitudinal axis relative to the switch body in a direction outward of the switch body, said mount is arranged for outward bodily displacement on said body along said axis along with said lever, and the outward longitudinal bodily displacement of both said lever and said mount relative to said body along said axis is effective to cause said switch actuating means to simultaneously actuate both said two of said first-mentioned plural electrical switches and also said at least one further electrical switch for giving an additional different exterior lighting signal on the vehicle via associated signalling circuitry.

15. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 14 in which said mount has a throughbore comprising a generally semi-spherical seat that faces axially inwardly of said body, said lever passes through said throughbore and comprises a spherically contoured portion that seats in said seat to provide for the lever to operated to describe the frustoconical zone of motion, said lever is also arranged for bodily displacement inwardly relative to said mount to unseat said spherically contoured portion from said seat, means, including detent means, defining two discrete axial positions of displacement for said mount among said axis relative to said switch body, said mount occupying one of its two discrete positions relative to said switch body when said lever and mount have both been displaced outwardly on said body along said axis to cause said switch actuating means to simultaneously actuate said two plural electrical switches and said at least one further electrical switch, and when said mount occupies said one discrete axial position, a portion thereof protrudes from said switch body, said lever comprising a knob at its exterior end for abutting the protruding portion of said mount after inward displacement of the lever has slightly unseated said spherically contoured portion from said seat, and upon further inward displacement of said lever after said knob has abutted the protruding portion of said mount, the lever is effective to displace the mount axially inwardly on said switch body to the other of said two discrete axial positions.

16. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 15 in which said mount is disposed in a bore in an end wall of said switch body and said circular array of said electrical switches is disposed on the interior face of said end wall.

17. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 15 in which all said electrical switches are sealed membrane switches, and including resiliently compressible pad structure overlying said membrane switches and through which said switch actuating means is effective to actuate said membrane switches.

18. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 1 in which said means acting on the interior end of the lever comprises the axial end face of a member that is longitudinally moveable within said switch body along said axis and is resiliently biased in the longitudinal direction along said axis against the interior end of the lever.

19. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 18 in which said member carries a selectively operable cancellation mechanism that is effective, when activated, to return the lever from said discrete positions on said axial end face of said member to a longitudinal position coaxial with said longitudinal axis.

20. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 19 in which said cancellation mechanism comprises a further member that is resiliently biased on the first-mentioned member in the direction away from the interior end of the lever, and said cancellation mechanism further comprises an electrically activated force-producing means that is effective, when activated, to operate said further member to return the lever to longitudinal position coaxial with said longitudinal axis.

21. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 20 in which the axial end face of said first-mentioned member comprises plural surface portions creating an over-center transition for the lever as the interior end of the lever moves between one surface portion and another, said over-center transition serving to retain said lever in said discrete positions when the lever has been operated thereto, said axial end face of said first-mentioned member having an opening longitudinally therethrough, and said further member comprising a surface portion that, when said force-producing means is activated, is displaced through said opening to engage the interior end of the lever, to unseat it from said axial end face of said first-mentioned member, and to cause the lever to return to longitudinal position coaxial with said longitudinal axis. PG,64

22. A multi-function turn signal switch as set forth in claim 21 in which said surface portion of said further member compri