Switch assembly for a steering wheel

• US 8,466,382 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Donicke, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US12/835,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.55
• US Class Current: 200/61.55
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1461 Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights

Abstract

A switch assembly is provided for a steering wheel. The assembly comprising a steering wheel, a steering wheel hub, a steering column and a switch unit. The switch unit is arranged at the steering wheel hub in such fashion that it may either be operated in the synchronous mode, in which it follows the rotation of the steering wheel when the latter is rotated, or in the fixed mode, in which it remains in a fixed position, even when the steering wheel is rotated.

Claims

1. A switch assembly for a steering wheel, comprising:

a steering wheel hub;

a steering column; and

a switch unit arranged at the steering wheel hub in such fashion that it may either be operated in a synchronous mode or a fixed mode,

wherein the synchronous mode follows a rotation of the steering wheel when the latter is rotated and the fixed mode remains in a fixed position, even when the steering wheel is rotated,

the switch unit comprises a freewheel assembly arranged at the steering wheel hub, and

the freewheel assembly comprises at least one driver pin that can be introduced, in an alternating fashion, in either of at least two receptacles, the latter being arranged in the steering wheel or the steering wheel hub, and in the steering column, respectively.

2. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch assembly further comprises an actuator for switching between the synchronous mode and the fixed mode.

3. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein it is provided that switching between the synchronous mode and the fixed mode is only possible when the steering wheel adopts a rotation angle in which a front wheel is arranged in a straight-ahead position.

4. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a gear switch unit.

5. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is automatic transmission switch unit.

6. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a direction indicator switch unit.

7. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a vehicle lighting switch unit.

8. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a windscreen wiper switch unit.

9. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises at least one rocker switch.