Modular electrical device for automobiles

• US 5,769,649 A
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Widlitzki, Lothar, Welschholz, Jorg
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, CHRISTOP
• Application Number:
  US08/488,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 439/15, 439/164, 439/27, 307/10
• US Class Current: 439/164
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1476 comprising switch controlling means located near the free end of the lever, e.g. press buttons, rotatable rings

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.

Claims

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.

2. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one steering column switch comprises two steering column switches (4a,4b) lying diametrically opposite to one another in relation to the steering spindle (1), the switches being connected with one housing section (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device (4c) at the edge area of the base housing;

one of the two steering column switches (4a) being provided with one finger-like cancelling element (4a*).

3. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one steering column switch comprises one steering column switch, the switch being connected with one housing section (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device (4c) at the edge area of the base housing;

the steering column switch (4a) being provided with a finger-like cancelling element (4a*); and

wherein the connection comprises inter-fitting male-female members.

4. An electrical device according to claim 2, two steering column switches (4a,4b) lying diametrically opposite to one another in relation to the steering spindle (1), the switches being connected with one housing section (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device (4c) at the edge area of the base housing;

one of the two steering column switches (4a) being provided with one finger-type cancelling element (4a*); and

wherein the connection comprises inter-fitting male-female members.

5. An electrical device according to claim 4 wherein one or more of the steering column switches (4a,4b) are connected to one fixed housing section (4c'"'"') of the signal transfer device (4c) by means of swallow-tail connecting members.

6. An electrical device according to claim 4, wherein the modular unit (4) is attached by means of screwing elements (5) to the carrier member (3) which is in the form of a plate.

7. An electrical device according to claim 4, wherein the modular unit (4) is attached by means of screwing elements (5) to the carrier member (3) which is in the form of a console associated with steering block.

8. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the housing portion (4c") is connected to steering wheel (7) by cooperating male and female member means, the steering wheel being affixed to the steering spindle (1) by cooperating male and female member means and force-exerting screwing means (8).

9. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the signal transfer device (4c) is in the form of a clock spring cable cassette (4c**), the two housing sections (4c'"'"',4c") being joined so as to form a hollow cylindrical housing.

10. An electrical device according to claim 9, wherein the clock spring cable (4c**) inside the clock spring cable cassette has electrical conductors.

11. An electrical device according to claim 9, wherein the clock spring cable (4c**) inside the clock spring cable cassette has optical and electrical conductors.

12. An electrical device according to claims 1, 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.

13. An electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the signal transfer device (4c) is provided with optoelectronic components.

14. An electrical device according to claim 1, further including electrical connector elements (9a,10a), the electrical connector elements (9a,10a) positioned on the two housing sections (4c'"'"',4c") of the signal transfer device (4c), whereby the connector elements can be mated to corresponding connector elements (9b,10b) respectively associated with the steering wheel (7) and the supply cable (10b*).

15. An electrical device according to claim 14, wherein the supply cable (10b*) is guided through the carrier member (3).

16. An electrical device according to claim 14 wherein the carrier member (3) is provided with electrically conductive tracks.

17. An electrical device according to claim 16, wherein the conductive tracks are connectable by connector elements on the one side with the supply cable, and on the other side with the steering column switches (4a,4b), and the signal transfer device (4c).

18. An electrical device according to claim 16, wherein electrical components are connected to the conductive tracks.

19. An electrical device according to claim 18, wherein the conductive tracks and electrical components are disposed on a printed circuit board.

20. An electrical device according to claim 14, wherein the connector element (10b) associated with the supply cable (10b*) is fixed to the carrier member (3).

21. An electrical device according to claim 14, wherein the connector element (10b) associated with the supply cable (10b*) and the connector elements 11a, 12a, associated with the at least one steering column switch are fixed to the carrier member (3).

22. An electrical device according to claim 10 wherein the carrier member (3) is provided with electrically conductive tracks.

23. An electrical device according to claim 11 wherein the carrier member (3) is provided with electrically conductive tracks.

24. An electrical device according to claim 10, wherein the conductive tracks are connected with the supply cable connector elements and/or the connector elements associated with the steering column switches (4a,4b) and/or the connector elements associated with the signal transfer device (4c) by connector elements.

25. An electrical device according to claim 11, wherein the conductive tracks are connected with the supply cable connector elements and/or the connector elements associated with the steering column switches (4a,4b) and/or the connector elements associated with the signal transfer device (4c) by connector elements.

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.

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.