Operating switch for a motor vehicle with a movable protective device

• US 20040016629A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Galea, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/200
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/682 Arrangements to cover or hide instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/682 Arrangements to cover or hide instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0266 Operating part bringable in an inoperative position by an electrical drive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/068 having a not operable condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/20 wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/287 wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers

Abstract

An operating switch (2) for a motor vehicle is provided with a housing (1) and a protective device movable relative to an operating element (7) for temporarily covering the operating element (7) on the operating side The housing (1) has an operating-side operating opening (3) for the operating element (7). The protective device is formed as a slide member (5) guided in the housing (1), displaceable at right angles to the access direction, and closing the operating opening.

This considerably impedes accidental actuation of the operating switch (2).

Claims

1. An operating switch (2) for a motor vehicle with a housing (1) and a protective device movable relative to an operating element (7) of the operating switch (2) for temporarily covering the operating element (7) on the operating side, characterized in that the housing (1) has an operating-side operating opening (3) for the operating element (7) and the protective device is formed as a slide member (5) guided in the housing (1) and displaceable at right angles to the access direction for closing the operating opening.

2. An operating switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the motion of the slide member (5) can be effected or blocked by an electric drive.

3. An operating switch according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive is controllable by means of an identification key.

4. An operating switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the slide member is formed as a wall-like slide for closing the operating opening.

5. An operating switch according to claim 4, characterized in that the slide is curved in the sliding direction and guided in an accordingly curved slideway of the housing.

6. An operating switch according to claim 5, characterized in that the slide is guided so as to be largely sinkable in the housing.

7. An operating switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the operating element (7) is part of a switch unit (8) mounted movably in the housing (1) and forming the slide member (5), and is displaceable out of the area of the operating opening (3) behind stationary wall members (9) of the housing (1).

8. An operating switch according to claim 7, characterized in that the switch unit (8) is pivotally mounted in the housing (1), and a swivel axis (10) of the switch unit (8) is disposed on a side of the switch unit (8) facing away from the operating opening (3).

9. An operating switch according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the switch unit (8) has a wall segment (4) for closing the operating opening (3) in the sunk position of the operating element (7).

10. An operating switch according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the operating switch (2) is equipped with additional electric switching elements which are actuated by the motion of the particular displaceable part.