ELASTOMERIC VEHICLE CONTROL SWITCH

• US 20060021861A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Schmidt, Robert M., Amundson, Robert, Feldman, Mark G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/026 Car
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/30 with stable centre positions and one or both end positions unstable

Abstract

A vehicle control switch assembly for use with a printed circuit board is disclosed. The switch assembly includes an elastomeric pad and a support member. The elastomeric pad has a contact pad for selective engagement with an electrical contact of the printed circuit board. The support member is molded together with the elastomeric pad. A vehicle control switch assembly including a printed circuit board having an electrical contact, an elastomeric pad having a contact pad for selective engagement with the electrical contact of the printed circuit board, and a support member is also disclosed. The support member is positioned between the elastomeric pad and the printed circuit board to provide support for the elastomeric pad.

Claims

1. A switch assembly comprising:

an elastomeric pad having an electrically conductive contact pad molded within the elastomeric;

pad and

a separate rigid support member, wherein the support member is molded together with the elastomeric pad.

2. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric pad is molded around the support member.

3. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric pad covers at least a portion of the support member.

5. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the switch is a rocker-type switch, and the support member includes a ball, wherein a substrate layer includes a pivot engaged with the ball of the support member.

6. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the switch is a push-button type switch.

7. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein a translucent overlay is positioned over the elastomeric pad.

8. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the elastomeric pad includes a graphic that is one of painted and etched thereon.

9. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of the elastomeric pad and the support member are translucent.

10. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the support member is a light pipe.

11. The switch assembly defined in claim 10 further comprising a light source, the light source being positioned adjacent the support member.

12. The switch assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising

a printed circuit board having an electrical contact;

wherein the contact pad is movable for selective engagement with the electrical contact of the printed circuit board; and

the support member is positioned between the elastomeric pad and the printed circuit board to provide support for the elastomeric pad.

4. (canceled)

13-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A switch assembly comprising:

a substrate portion;

an elastomeric pad covering at least a portion of the substrate portion;

a first switch having a first rigid support member in moving engagement with the substrate portion and a first electrically conductive contact pad; and

a second switch having a second rigid support member separate from the first rigid support member, the second support member being in moving engagement with the substrate portion and a second electrically conductive contact pad;

wherein the first and second contact pads and the first and second support members are molded within the elastomeric pad.

22. The switch assembly defined in claim 21 wherein one of the first support member and the second support member is a light pipe.

23. The switch assembly defined in claim 22 further comprising a light source positioned adjacent the light pipe for transmitting light therethrough.

24. The switch assembly defined in claim 23 wherein at least a portion of the elastomeric pad is translucent for transmitting light from the light pipe through the elastomeric pad.

25. The switch assembly defined in claim 21 wherein the elastomeric pad includes a plurality of contact pads configured to cooperate with a plurality of contacts formed on a substrate layer.

26. The switch assembly defined in claim 21 wherein an outer surface of the elastomeric pad has a graphic one of printed and etched thereon.

27. The switch assembly defined in claim 21 wherein the switch is a push-button switch.

28. A switch assembly comprising:

an elastomeric pad having an electrically conductive contact pad, wherein a portion of the elastomeric pad is configured to allow light to pass therethrough; and

a separate rigid support member molded together with the elastomeric pad, and wherein the support member is a light pipe.

29. The switch assembly defined in claim 28 wherein the contact pad is molded within the elastomeric pad.