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Electrical switch for use in an automotive vehicle    

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United States Patent5744769   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/5744769.html
Inventor(s)Proctor; Thomas H. (Sterling Heights, MI); Wright; James B. (Warren, MI); Poleschuk; LeRoy A. (White Lake, MI); Valade; Ernest Peter (Woodhaven, MI)
AbstractAn electrical switch for use in an automotive vehicle includes an actuator and a carrier movable to electrically actuate a steering column tilting device and a steering column telescoping device. A post and a receptacle assist to align the carrier during its linear switching movement. An actuator assembly is provided which includes a shaft, a partially spherical ball, a first set of crossed arms and a second set of crossed arms while a centering spring biases an actuator toward a centralized neutral position. A modularized electrical switch is also mechanically and electrically connected to a second circuit and housing in a single assembly motion.
   














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Drawing from US Patent 5744769
Electrical switch for use in an automotive vehicle - US Patent 5744769 Drawing
Electrical switch for use in an automotive vehicle
Inventor     Proctor; Thomas H. (Sterling Heights, MI); Wright; James B. (Warren, MI); Poleschuk; LeRoy A. (White Lake, MI); Valade; Ernest Peter (Woodhaven, MI)
Owner/Assignee     United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Dearborn, MI)
Patent assignment
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Publication Date     April 28, 1998
Application Number     08/431,899
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     May 1, 1995
US Classification     200/61.54 200/4 200/6A
Int'l Classification     H01H 009/00
Examiner     Gellner; Michael L.
Assistant Examiner     Friedhofer; Michael A.
Attorney/Law Firm     Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
Address
Parent Case     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of a patent application Ser. No. 08/380,090, filed on Jan. 30, 1995, now patened as U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,177, which was a continuation-in-part of a patent application Ser. No. 08/120,676, filed on Sep. 13,1993 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,067.
Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     200/4 200/5 R 200/5 A 200/6 R 200/6 A 200/17 R 200/18 200/61.27 200/61.54 200/293 200/295 200/303 200/307 200/332 200/335 200/339 307/9.1 307/10.1
Patent Tags     electrical switch automotive vehicle
   
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 Technical Review Submit all comments and votes
 Claims Submit all comments and votes
 


The invention claimed is:

1. In combination, an electrical switch and a steering column, said combination comprising:

first conductive means for conducting electric current;

second conductive means for conducting electric current;

a carrier linearly movable relative to said first and second conductive means;

contactor means riding upon said carrier operable for conducting electric current between said first and second conducting means, wherein a back and forth movement of said contactor means along a first direction causes telescoping movement of the steering column and a back and forth movement of said contactor means along a second direction causes tilting movement of the steering column;

a nonpivoting post oriented substantially normal to a plane defined by surfaces of said first and second conductive means;

a receptacle having at least one groove for engaging with a distal end of said post; and

said post and said receptacle assisting to align said carrier during movement.

2. The electrical combination of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator assembly having a shaft with an occupant accessible button mounted on a first end thereof, said actuator assembly further having a pedestal segment with a finger projecting therefrom, said actuator assembly pivotable relative to said plane defined by said first and second conductive means;

at least one cradle projecting from at least one side of said carrier;

at least one lower arm protruding from said actuator and causing linear movement of said carrier upon movable engagement of said at least one lower arm with said at least one cradle; and

a stationary guide having at least one groove for engaging with said finger.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said at least one groove of said guide includes a pair of crossed grooves oriented parallel to said plane, an intersection of said pair of crossed grooves defining a centralized detent for said finger.

4. The combination of claim 3 further comprising a switch housing having said post and said guide disposed thereupon.

5. The combination of claim 2 further comprising:

a return spring disposed within said pedestal segment;

said finger being defined as a longitudinally movable plunger outwardly biased by said return spring; and

at least part of said pedestal segment of said actuator assembly extending through an aperture within said carrier, said actuator assembly pushing said carrier in response to pivoting actuation of said button.

6. The combination of claim 2 further comprising:

a partially spherical ball disposed on said actuator assembly;

a cover having support means for journally engaging with said ball, said cover being fixed relative to said first and second conductive means;

a set of median arms projecting from said actuator assembly; and

a centering spring surrounding at least a portion of said pedestal segment and compressing said set of median arms away from said carrier.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said contactor means is further defined as a single stamped metallic member having a pair of bifurcated leaves projecting from a crotch, said crotch affixed to said carrier, said pair of bifurcated leaves movably and flexibly contacting against said first and second conductive means.

8. An electrical switch comprising an actuator, said actuator including:

a shaft with an occupant accessible button on a first end thereof;

a partially spherical ball joined to said shaft as a single, integral piece;

a pedestal segment longitudinally extending as part of said single, integral piece from said ball opposite from said shaft;

a first set of crossed arms projecting adjacent to said ball and transverse from said pedestal segment as part of said single, integral piece; and

a second set of crossed arms projecting from said actuator in a substantially transverse manner.

9. The electrical switch of claim 8 wherein said actuator further includes:

a return spring disposed within said pedestal segment; and

a longitudinally movable plunger outwardly biased by said return spring.

10. The electrical switch of claim 8 further comprising:

a first contact node;

a second contact node;

a carrier linearly movable relative to said first and second contact nodes;

centering means compressibly contained between said first set of crossed arms and said carrier for centeringly biasing said actuator toward a neutral and unswitched position;

contactor means mounted to said carrier for conducting electric current between said first and second contact nodes;

back and forth movement of said contactor means along a first direction actuable for causing telescoping movement of a steering column; and

back and forth movement of said contactor means along a second direction actuable for causing tilting movement of said steering column.

11. The electrical switch of claim 8 wherein the spherical portion of said partially spherical ball faces away from said second set of crossed arms.

12. An electrical switch comprising;

contactor defined as a single stamped metallic member having a pair of bifurcated leaves flexibly projecting from a crotch;

two sets of switch node pads, each of said sets divided between at least three distinct contact nodes;

a first resistor electrically connected to a first of said contact nodes actuating a steering column tilt up signal;

a second resistor electrically connected to a second of said contact nodes actuating a steering column tilt down signal;

a third resistor electrically connected to a third of said contact nodes actuating a steering column telescopic extension signal; and

a fourth resistor electrically connected to a fourth of said contact nodes actuating a steering column telescopic retraction signal.

13. The electrical switch of claim 12 wherein said bifurcated leaves each have a cup shape near a distal end thereof.

14. The electrical switch of claim 12 further comprising a printed circuit board including:

a pair of switch node pads each divided into at least three distinct whereby there exists at least six distinct contact nodes on said printed circuit board,

said pair of leaves of said contactor selectively movable between said contact nodes of said printed circuit board.

15. In combination, an electrical switch for use in an automotive vehicle and a tilting and telescoping steering column, said electrical switch comprising:

a longitudinally elongated actuator pivotable along a cross-like pattern, at least one substantially transversely oriented surface integrally projecting from a longitudinal portion of said actuator, said actuator further includes a partially spherical ball, a longitudinally elongated shaft extending from said ball, said at least one substantially transversely oriented surface projecting from a median longitudinal portion of said actuator;

a centering spring biasing against said at least one surface of said actuator;

contact nodes;

a carrier linearly movable relative to said contact nodes, said carrier having at least one cradle movably engageable with said actuator;

a pair of leaves of a contactor mounted to said carrier conducting electric current between said contact nodes;

back and forth movement of said contactor along a first direction actuable causing telescoping movement of said steering column;

back and forth movement of said contactor along a second direction actuable causing tilting movement of said steering column;

a first resistor electrically connected to a first of said contact nodes selectively supplying a steering column tilt up signal;

a second resistor electrically connected to a second of said contact nodes selectively supplying a steering column tilt down signal;

a third resistor electrically connected to a third of said contact nodes selectively supplying a steering column telescopic extension signal;

a fourth resistor electrically connected to a fourth of said contact nodes selectively supplying a steering column telescopic retraction signal; and

an occupant accessible button mounted on said actuator for selectively operating said switch.
 Description Submit all comments and votes
 


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electrical switches and specifically to an electrical switch and components thereof for use in an automotive vehicle.

Many automotive vehicles have steering columns which are manually tiltable along a vertical plane in relation to the adjacent vehicle body. This tilting feature provides added driver comfort by allowing a steering wheel attached to the steering column through a steering shaft to be upwardly tilted for allowing easy driver entrance and egress relative to the driver seat. The driver can then manually pull a tilting lever and manually tilt the steering wheel and column downwardly to an operable position.

It is also known to provide inwardly and outwardly telescoping steering columns, in addition to the tilting feature, which allow the steering wheel to move toward and away from the vehicle driver. Examples of manually operated tilting and telescoping steering columns are disclosed within the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat No. 4,981,049 entitled "Tilt-Telescope Steering Column" which issued to Venable et al. on Jan. 1, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,204 entitled "Tilt and Telescope Steering Column Having a Single Control" which issued to Kubasiak on Dec. 27, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,121 entitled "Tilt-Telescope Steering Column" which issued to Venable on Jun. 28, 1988; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,500 entitled "Tilt Steering Column Head Mounted Switch Operating Control" which issued to Wilcox on Jul. 8, 1986. More recently, the tilting and telescoping movement of the steering column has been remotely powered through use of electric motors or hydraulic pump and piston systems. Examples of such powered constructions are disclosed within the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. RE. 34,359 entitled "Electric Steering Apparatus" which reissued to Matsumoto et al. on Aug. 31, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,562 entitled "Axially Adjustable Steering Column for Vehicles" which issued to Peitsmeier et al. on Dec. 14, 1993; the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herewithin.

A conventional electric switch is known which controls movement of a powered tilting and telescoping steering column. This switch consists of a lever member having a post extending therefrom upon which is mounted an operator accessible button. A spring mounted plunger projects from a pocket within an oppositely extending boss. A platform is disposed upon the lever member adjacent the boss, a semi-spherical ball is mounted upon the platform next to the post for engaging with a protruding and outwardly visible matching semi-spherical section of a bezel. Four arms outwardly extend in a cross-like manner from edges of the platform for engaging within perpendicularly oriented channels projecting inwardly from the bezel walls. The button and lever member can be moved in any direction without limitation. Furthermore, a printed circuit board is mounted below the lever member such that one of four nibs projecting from the platform, parallel to the boss, can depress the adjacent one of four distinct, longitudinally movable popple switches mounted to the circuit board. A polymeric plate is disposed between the printed circuit board and the platform. This plate has four clearance holes coincidental with the four popple switches for allowing the nibs to access these switches. A cross-like detent pattern is present within the center of the plate for engagement with the plunger. This switch appears to be expensive to produce due to the requisite popple switches. Moreover, these popple switches provide a redundant switch within the overall tilting/telescoping control switch. This switch is also electrically coupled through a discretely wired electrical connector.

Another switch is known which operates a pair of motorized exterior mirrors within an automotive vehicle. This four-way switch has a lever member consisting of a post upon which an operator accessible button is mounted and a downwardly facing semi-spherical ball for engagement with a mating polymeric shelf with a partially spherical receptacle for engaging the ball. Four fingers project longitudinally downward from the ball of the lever member for engaging within a central aperture of a carriage. The carriage consists of four downwardly projecting bosses with each having a compression spring, a flat contactor spanning between two pairs of bosses, and a conductive ball bearing. Each ball bearing can be moved in response to lever member movement thereby electrically interfacing with printed circuits of a rigid printed circuit board. Six conductive terminals project from an opposite face of the circuit board for attachment to an electrical connector. This actuating member is limited to four-way movement. However, pivoting movement of the actuating member primarily relies upon interface between a transverse edge of a platform adjacent the ball against a retainer. A pair of flexible snap-fit fingers and a pair of stationary barbs project form external walls of the bezel for engagement with an armrest bezel, center console bezel or the like. These two disclosed switches have been found to provide a sloppy and inaccurate feel