Operating switch for a motor vehicle with a movable protective device

• US 6,914,205 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Galea, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/368,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 200 4301- 4322, 200/50.1, 200/333
• US Class Current: 200/43.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/682 Arrangements to cover or hide instruments
• 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: H01H 2003/0266 Operating part bringable in an inoperative position by an electrical drive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/068 having a not operable condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/20 wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/287 wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers

Abstract

An operating switch for a motor vehicle with a housing having an operating opening for accessing an operating element, and a protective device movable relative to the operating opening for temporarily covering the operating element on the operating side. The protective device is formed as a slide member guided in the housing, displaceable at right angles to the access direction of the operating opening, the slide member and the operating element being pivotable together so that the slide member is movable from a first position, in which the operating element is arranged in the operating opening, to a second position in which the operating element is covered within the housing and the operating opening is closed by the slide member.

Claims

1. An operating switch for a motor vehicle comprising a housing having an operating opening providing access to an operating element of the operating switch, and a slide member for temporarily covering the operating opening, said slide member being guided in the housing and displaceable substantially at right angles to the access direction of the operating opening, said slide member and said operating element being pivotable together so that said slide member is movable from a first position, in which the operating element is arranged in the operating opening, to a second position in which the operating element is covered within the housing and the operating opening is closed by the slide member.

2. The operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the motion of the slide member can be effected or blocked by an electric drive coupled thereto.

3. The operating switch according to claim 2, wherein the drive is controllable by means of an identification key coupled thereto.

4. The operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is formed as a wall-like slide for closing the operating opening.

5. The operating switch according to claim 4, wherein the slide member is curved in the sliding direction and guided in an accordingly curved slideway of the housing.

6. The operating switch according to claim 5, wherein the slide member is guided so as to be largely sinkable in the housing.

7. The operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating element is part of a switch unit mounted movably in the housing and forming the slide member, and is displaceable out of the area of the operating opening behind stationary wall members of the housing.

8. The operating switch according to claim 7, wherein the switch unit is pivotally mounted in the housing, and a swivel axis of the switch unit is disposed on a side of the switch unit facing away from the operating opening.

9. The operating switch according to claim 7, wherein the protective device has a wall segment for closing the operating opening in a sunk position of the operating element.

10. The operating switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating switch is equipped with additional electric switching elements which are actuated by the motion of a particular displaceable part.

11. An operating switch for a motor vehicle comprising a housing having an operating opening for providing access to an operating element, and a slide member pivotally mounted in said housing for temporarily covering the operating opening, said operating element being part of a switch unit mounted movably in the housing and coupled to the slide member such that movement of said slide member displaces said operating element from the operating opening to a position behind stationary wall members of the housing in which the operating opening is closed by the slide member.

12. The operating switch according to claim 11, wherein the slide member is formed as a wall-like slide for closing the operating opening.

13. The operating switch according to claim 12, wherein the slide is curved in the sliding direction and guided in an accordingly curved slideway of the housing.

14. The operating switch according to claim 13, wherein the slide is guided so as to be largely sinkable in the housing.

15. The operating switch according to claim 11, wherein the switch unit is pivotally mounted in the housing, and a swivel axis of the switch unit is disposed on a side of the switch unit facing away from the operating opening.

16. An operating switch for a motor vehicle comprising a housing having an operating opening for providing access to an operating element of the operating switch, and a protective device movable relative to the operating opening for temporarily covering the operating element on an operating side, said protective device being formed as a slide member curved in the sliding direction and guided in an accordingly curved slideway of the housing, said slide member being displaceable at substantially right angles to the access direction to the operating element for closing the operating opening.

17. The operating switch according to claim 16, wherein the slide is guided so as to be largely sinkable in the housing.

18. The operating switch according to claim 16, wherein the operating element is part of a switch unit mounted movably in the housing and forming the slide member, and is displaceable out of the area of the operating opening behind stationary wall members of the housing.

19. The operating switch according to claim 18, wherein the switch unit is pivotally mounted in the housing, and a swivel axis of the switch unit is disposed on a side of the switch unit facing away from the operating opening.

20. The operating switch according to claim 16, wherein the protective device has a wall segment for closing the operating opening in a sunk position of the operating element.