Symmetrically mounted switches on steering wheel column body including wiring connection and control unit

• US 5,977,494 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Hidetaka, Sano, Yukiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/699,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.27, 200/61.38, 200/61.54-61.57, 200/293-307, 200/329, 200/345
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1461 Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights
• 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

A combination switch device for use in conjunction with an automobile steering column. The device has a switch body into which at least one lever switch is engage so that it may be easily detached from the body. To this end, the lever switch includes at joining-side electrical terminal for electrically connecting the lever switch to a wiring and connecting means which is fixedly incorporated into the switch body when the lever switch is engaged with the switch body. The wiring and connecting means is formed of bus bars integral to the switch body. The combination switch also includes a control unit which is electrically connected to the wiring and connecting means for receiving output signals from the lever switch. The control unit is electrically connected to the lever switch through the wiring and connecting means and joining-side connecting terminals when the lever switch is engaged in the switch body.

Claims

1. A combination switch device for automobiles comprising:

a switch body for mounting on an automobile steering wheel shaft, said switch body fixedly incorporating wiring and connecting means;

at least one lever switch incorporating at least one joining-side connecting terminal for electrically connecting said lever switch, said lever switch being detachably engaged with said switch body, said joining-side connecting terminal being electrically connected to said wiring and connecting means when said lever switch is engaged with said switch body; and

a control unit connected to said wiring and connecting means for receiving output signals from said joining-side connecting terminal of said lever switch via said wiring and connecting means.

2. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit is detachable from said switch body.

3. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wiring and connecting means is an insert-molded bus bar in said switch body.

4. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch body further includes a clock spring for absorbing rotational forces of the motion of an automobile steering wheel.

5. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever switch further includes a knob switch section for generating knob switch signals for receiving by said control unit and a lever switch mechanism, wherein said lever switch mechanism generates said lever switch signals.

6. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said knob switch section and lever switch mechanism are electrically connected through said joining-side connecting terminal to said wiring and connecting means.

7. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch body includes a pair of accommodating sections on said automobile steering wheel shaft, each accommodating section located so as to be symmetrical to the other accommodating section with respect to said switch body and wherein each of a pair of symmetrical lever switches are engaged with said accommodating sections, respectively.

8. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said switch body includes a pair of accommodating sections on said automobile steering wheel shaft, each accommodating section located so as to be symmetrical to the other accommodating section with respect to said switch body and wherein each of a pair of symmetrical lever switches are engaged with said accommodating sections, respectively.

9. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switch body includes a pair of accommodating sections on said automobile steering wheel shaft, each accommodating section located so as to be symmetrical to the other accommodating section with respect to said switch body and wherein each of a pair of symmetrical lever switches are engaged with said accommodating sections, respectively.

10. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wiring and connecting means includes a receiving-side connecting terminal formed on said control unit and wherein said joining-side connecting terminal is slidably connected to said receiving-side connecting terminal so that said joining-side connecting terminal slides on said receiving-side connecting terminal when said lever switch is engaged with said switch body.

11. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wiring and connecting means includes a receiving-side connecting terminal formed on said control unit and wherein said joining-side connecting terminal is slidably connected to said receiving-side connecting terminal so that said joining-side connecting terminal slides on said receiving-side connecting terminal when said lever switch is engaged with said switch body.

12. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said wiring and connecting means includes a receiving-side connecting terminal formed on said control unit and wherein said joining-side connecting terminal is slidably connected to said receiving-side connecting terminal so that said joining-side connecting terminal slides on said receiving-side connecting terminal when said lever switch is engaged with said switch body.

13. A combination switch device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said wiring and connecting means includes a receiving-side connecting terminal formed on said control unit and wherein said joining-side connecting terminal is slidably connected to said receiving-side connecting terminal so that said joining-side connecting terminal slides on said receiving-side connecting terminal when said lever switch is engaged with said switch body.