Steering column switch assembly

• US 4,277,658 A
• Filed: 02/23/1979
• Issued: 07/07/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Muller, Norbert, Delp, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US06/014,320
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.27-61.38, 200/61.54, 200/307, 200/293, 200/294, 200/295, 200/296, 180/78, 248/27.1, 280/779, 74/492, 74/494
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1461 Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights

Abstract

A steering column switch assembly includes a carrier housing mounted on a steering column adjacent a steering wheel thereon. A plurality of switches, each in a housing, is detachably mounted in the carrier housing between a respective one of a plurality of pairs of parallel carrier faces on the carrier housing and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column. Resilient means on each switch housing engage stop surfaces on the respective pair of carrier surfaces to retain said switch housing in said carrier housing.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a steering column comprising a casing tube surrounding a steering shaft carrying a steering wheel, a steering column switch assembly mounted at the end of the casing tube adjacent the steering wheel, comprising:

a plurality of switches having different switching functions, each switch having a housing, electrical connections and an actuating member independent of the other switches, a carrier housing secured to the said end of the casing tube for supporting the switches and having for each switch outside the casing tube and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column a pair of parallel carrier faces disposed approximately tangentially to the casing tube for slidably receiving a switch therebetween, and means for releasably securing the switches to the carrier housing comprising stop portions on at least one face of each pair of carrier faces and the respective switch housings carrying resilient arms for latchingly engaging corresponding stop portions.

2. In a motor vehicle having a steering column comprising a casing tube surrounding a steering shaft carrying a steering wheel, a steering column switch assembly mounted at the end of the casing tube adjacent the steering wheel, comprising:

a plurality of switches having different switching functions, each switch having a housing, electrical connections and an actuating member independent of the other switches, a carrier housing secured to the said end of the casing tube for supporting the switches and having for each switch outside the casing tube and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column a pair of parallel carrier faces disposed approximately tangentially to the casing tube for slidably receiving a switch therebetween, and means for releasably securing the switches to the carrier housing comprising stop portions on at least one face of each pair of carrier faces and the respective switch housings carrying resilient arms for latchingly engaging corresponding stop portions, the resilient arms each being attached to the respective switch housing at a side thereof and extending generally parallel to the adjacent carrier face with a free end of the arm extending away from the steering column and projecting beyond the adjacent carrier face to thereby allow manipulation of the arms to effect easy switch removal.

3. In a motor vehicle having a steering column comprising a casing tube surrounding a steering shaft carrying a steering wheel, a steering column switch assembly mounted at the end of the casing tube adjacent the steering wheel, comprising:

a plurality of switches having different switching functions, each switch having a housing, electrical connections and an actuating member independent of the other switches, a carrier housing secured to the said end of the casing tube for supporting the switches and having for each switch outside the casing tube and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column a pair of parallel carrier faces disposed approximately tangentially to the casing tube for slidably receiving a switch therebetween, guide means comprising a tongue projecting from each side of the switch housings and extending in the tangential direction along the switch housing and a mating groove in the corresponding carrier face to slidably engage the tongue thereby guiding and retaining the switch housing between the faces, and means for releasably securing the switches to the carrier housing comprising stop portions on at least one face of each pair of carrier faces and the respective switch housings carrying resilient arms for latchingly engaging corresponding stop portions.

4. In a motor vehicle having a steering column comprising a steering shaft carrying a steering wheel and a casing tube surrounding the steering shaft and having an end spaced from the steering wheel, a steering column switch assembly mounted at the end of the casing tube adjacent the steering wheel, comprising, a plurality of switches having different switching functions, each switch having a housing, electrical connections and an actuating member independent of the other switches, a carrier housing for supporting the switches including a tubular extension fitting within the casing tube at the end thereof to thereby secure the carrier housing and having for each switch outside the steering column and extending parallel to the axis of the steering column a pair of parallel carrier faces disposed approximately tangentially to the steering column for slidably receiving a switch therebetween, guide means comprising a tongue projecting from each side of the switch housings and extending in the tangential direction along the switch housing and a mating groove in the corresponding carrier face to slidably engage the tongue thereby guiding and retaining the switch housing between the faces, and means for releasably securing the switches to the carrier housing comprising stop portions on at least one face of each pair of carrier faces and the respective switch housings carrying resilient arms for latchingly engaging corresponding stop portions, the resilient arms each being attached to the respective switch housing at a side thereof and extending generally parallel to the adjacent carrier face with a free end of the arm extending away from the steering column and projecting beyond the adjacent carrier face to thereby allow manipulation of the arms to effect easy switch removal.