Modular electrical device for automobiles
First Claim
1. An electrical device for use in motor vehicles, including at least one steering column switch situated below the steering wheel, the steering wheel being attached to the steering spindle, the steering column switch and base housing extending radially outwardly from the steering spindle;
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
a signal transfer device which is attached to the steering wheel and concentrically surrounds the steering spindle and which is provided with two housing sections rotatable in relationship to one another;
wherein the improvement comprises;
a modular unit (4) fixed to the carrier member (3) including;
one or more of the steering column switches (4a/4b) and the signal transfer device (4c), anda direct connection of the base housing (4a'"'"', 4b'"'"') of the at least one steering column switch to the fixed housing portion (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device comprising at least one discrete keyed in connector;
the housing portion (4c") of the signal transfer device (4c) which rotates according to movement of the steering wheel (7) being provided with a canceling extension (4c*) which cooperates with a finger-like canceling element (4a*) on the associated steering column switch (4a or 4b) in order to provide cancellation of the turn signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical device is situated around the steering column of a motor vehicle underneath the steering wheel, including at least one steering column switch and one signal transfer device. In order that different components may be combined in different ways to form different units, the steering column switches are attached to the fixed section of the signal transfer device by cooperating male and female members so that a complete assembly module consisting of different and variable elements is created. The complete assembly module is attached to a carrier member by a cooperating male and female member means and/or force fitting fastener. The rotatable section of the signal transfer device is provided with an extension which cooperates with a finger-like element on the turn signal steering column switch in the finished module in order to provide a cancelling function.
26 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electrical device for use in motor vehicles, including at least one steering column switch situated below the steering wheel, the steering wheel being attached to the steering spindle, the steering column switch and base housing extending radially outwardly from the steering spindle;
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
a signal transfer device which is attached to the steering wheel and concentrically surrounds the steering spindle and which is provided with two housing sections rotatable in relationship to one another;
wherein the improvement comprises;a modular unit (4) fixed to the carrier member (3) including; one or more of the steering column switches (4a/4b) and the signal transfer device (4c), and a direct connection of the base housing (4a'"'"', 4b'"'"') of the at least one steering column switch to the fixed housing portion (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device comprising at least one discrete keyed in connector; the housing portion (4c") of the signal transfer device (4c) which rotates according to movement of the steering wheel (7) being provided with a canceling extension (4c*) which cooperates with a finger-like canceling element (4a*) on the associated steering column switch (4a or 4b) in order to provide cancellation of the turn signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
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26. An electrical device for use in motor vehicles, including at least one steering column switch situated below the steering wheel, the steering wheel being attached to the steering spindle, the steering column switch in a base housing extending radially outwardly from the steering spindle;
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
a signal transfer device which is attached to the steering wheel and concentrically surrounds the steering spindle and which is provided with two housing sections rotatable in relationship to one another;
wherein the improvement comprises;a modular unit (4) fixed to the carrier member (3) including; one or more of the steering column switches (4a/4b) in the signal transfer device (4c) wherein the signal transfer device (4c) is a rotary brush connector, and the two housing sections (4c'"'"', 4c") are joined to form a hollow cylindrical housing, and a direct connection of the base housing (4a'"'"', 4b'"'"') of the at least one steering column switch in the fixed housing portion (4c'"'"') to the signal transfer device; the housing portion (4c") of the signal transfer device (4c) which rotates according to movement of the steering wheel (7) being provided with a cancelling extension (4c*) which cooperates with a finger-like cancelling element (4a*) on the associated steering column switch (4a or 4b) in order to provide cancellation of the turn signal.
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
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27. An electrical device for use in motor vehicles, including at least one steering column switch situated below the steering wheel, the steering wheel being attached to the steering spindle, the steering column switch in a base housing extending radially outwardly from the steering spindle;
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
a signal transfer device which is attached to the steering wheel and concentrically surrounds the steering spindle and which is provided with two housing sections rotatable in relationship to one another;
wherein the improvement comprises;a modular unit (4) fixed to the carrier member (3) including; one or more of the steering column switches (4a/4b) in the signal transfer device (4c) wherein the signal transfer device (4c) is provided with optoelectronic components; a direct connection of the base housing (4a'"'"', 4b'"'"') of the at least one steering column switch in the fixed housing portion (4c'"'"') to the signal transfer device; the housing portion (4c") of the signal transfer device (4c) which rotates according to movement of the steering wheel (7) being provided with a cancelling extension (4c*) which cooperates with a finger-like cancelling element (4a*) on the associated steering column switch (4a or 4b) in order to provide cancellation of the turn signal.
- a carrier member which is firmly fixed to, and at least partially surrounds, the steering column;
Specification