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Rocker member actuated switch assembly

  • US 5,753,874 A
  • Filed: 12/09/1996
  • Issued: 05/19/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly for motor vehicles with a housing which accommodates fixed and movable contact parts, with at least one rocker operating element mounted on the housing which, starting from a neutral position can be brought into four functional positions through its two operating directions, whereby the underside of the rocker operating element cooperates with one end of each of four plungers which are mounted in the housing so as to be slidable and which each can be displaced separately from the others, the other ends of the plungers engaging with four movable contact parts, whereby for each operating direction, two movable contact parts and two plungers are gathered into one functional group in such a way that by operation of the rocker operating element in one of its two operating directions, after a first operational travel one of the two movable contact parts and after a second operational travel, both movable contact parts of a functional group engages or engage with the associated fixed contact parts so as to give electrical contact, wherein:

  • both movable contact parts which are present in each functional group exhibit different designs so that in relation to the relevant functional group, a force is needed to switch over one movable contact part which is different in magnitude from the force which is needed to switch over the other movable contact part; and

    for each functional group, an intermediate element in the form of a two-armed lever situated between the ends of the two plungers belonging to a functional group and the underside of the rocker operating element, whereby the two intermediate elements can each be displaced in the operating direction of the rocker operating element and are mounted so as to be capable of tilting crosswise to the operating direction.

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