VEHICLE LIGHT-IGNITION SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT

• US 3,764,816 A
• Filed: 06/26/1972
• Issued: 10/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert I. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Robert I. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/266,297
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 315/80,82 307/1LS
• US Class Current: 315/80
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0235 for lighting devices combined with starting or ignition devices for road vehicles

Abstract

A motor vehicle electrical system having a light switch with off and on positions includes a solenoid associated with the light switch. The solenoid is connected to a start contact of an ignition switch to be energized when the vehicle is started and the solenoid is operable when energized to actuate the light switch to its off position. The ignition switch is arranged to break the circuit between the light switch and the battery of the vehicle when the ignition switch is switched to its start position.

Claims

1. In the electrical system of a motor vehicle wherein a light switch with a movable body portion is positionable along a predetermined path of travel between an off position and at least one on switch position and wherein an ignition switch has a start contact to which electrical power is supplied whenever the ignition switch is positioned in its start position, the improvement in combination therewith of solenoid means electrically connected to said start contact and associated with said light switch for setting said light switch in its off position whenever said solenoid means is energized whereby whenever said ignition switch is positioned in its start position said solenoid means is energized and said light switch set to its off position, said solenoid means comprising a coil element and a magnetic member element, one of said elements being secured to the movable body portion of said light switch, said coil element and said magnetic member element being positioned relative to each other with said magnetic member element extending into said coil element so that energization of said coil element centers said magnetic member element therein to set said light switch to its off position.

2. An electrical system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a light switch including a power contact for receiving electrical power, at least one fixed contact Defining a switch on position and a movable body portion selectively positionable along a predetermined path of travel between a switch off position and the switch on position defined by said fixed light switch contact, said switch body portion carrying contact means positioned for electrically interconnecting said power contact and said light switch fixed contact whenever said switch body portion is positioned in said light switch on position;

vehicle lights electrically connected to said fixed light switch contact for receiving electrical power therefrom;

an ignition switch including first and second switch sections, said first switch section having four fixed contacts defining, respectively, first, second, third and fourth ignition switch positions and a movable contact selectively positionable to make electrical contact with the associated fixed contacts defining each of said ignition switch positions, said second switch section having three fixed contacts defining, respectively, first, second and third ignition switch positions, two fixed contacts defining a fourth ignition switch position and a movable contact selectively positionable for making electrical contact with the associated fixed contacts defining each of said ignition switch positions, said movable contacts of said first and second switch sections being ganged for coordinate movement from one of said ignition switch positions to another, the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said first and fourth ignition switch positions in said first switch section and said first and second ignition switch positions in said second switch section being dummy contacts;

means electrically interconnecting the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said second and third ignition switch positions in said first switch section commonly to said power contact of said light switch;

a battery for supplying electrical power;

means electrically interconnecting said movable contacts of said ignition switch commonly to said battery;

solenoid means associated with said light switch for setting said light switch in its off position whenever said solenoid means is energized, said solenoid means associated with said light switch comprising a coil element and a magnetic member element, one of said elements being secured to the movable body portion of said light switch, said coil element and said magnetic member element being positioned relative to each other with said magnetic member element extending into said coil element so that energization of said coil element centers said magnetic member element therein to set said light switch to its off position;

motor vehicle ignition circuit means;

starter solenoid means for a motor vehicle;

means electrically connecting one of the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said fourth ignition switch position in said second switch section commonly to said starter solenoid means and said solenoid means associated with said light switch; and

means electrically connecting the other one of the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said fourth ignition switch position in said second switch section and the fixed contact defining said third ignition switch position in said second switch section commonly to said ignition circuit means.

3. In the electrical system of a motor vehicle wherein a light switch with a movable body portion is positionable along a predetermined path of travel between an off position and at least one on switch position and wherein an ignition switch has a start contact to which electrical power is supplied whenever the ignition switch is positioned in its start position, the improvement in combination therewith of solenoid means electrically connected to said start contact and associated with said light switch for setting said light switch in its off position whenever said solenoid means is energized whereby whenever said ignition switch is positioned in its start position said solenoid means is energized and said light switcH set to its off position, said solenoid means comprising a coil positioned adjacent the movable body portion of said light switch with the axis of said coil substantially aligned with the predetermined path of travel of the movable body portion of said light switch and a magnetic member secured to the movable body portion of said light switch to extend into said coil whereby energization of said coil centers said magnetic member therein to set said light switch in its off position.

4. In the electrical system of a motor vehicle wherein a light switch with a movable body portion is positionable along a predetermined path of travel between an off position and at least one on switch position and wherein an ignition switch has a start contact to which electrical power is supplied whenever the ignition switch is positioned in its start position, the improvement in combination therewith of solenoid means electrically connected to said start contact and associated with said light switch for setting said light switch in its off position whenever said solenoid means is energized whereby whenever said ignition switch is positioned in its start position said solenoid means is energized and said light switch set to its off position, said light switch having a power contact to which power is supplied through said ignition switch, the start contact of said ignition switch being electrically isolated from said power contact.

5. An electrical system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a light switch including a power contact for receiving electrical power, at least one fixed contact defining a switch on position and a movable body portion selectively positionable along a predetermined path of travel between a switch off position and the switch on position defined by said fixed light switch contact, said switch body portion carrying contact means positioned for electrically interconnecting said power contact and said light switch fixed contact whenever said switch body portion is positioned in said light switch on position;

vehicle lights electrically connected to said fixed light switch contact for receiving electrical power therefrom;

an ignition switch including first and second switch sections, said first switch section having four fixed contacts defining, respectively, first, second, third and fourth ignition switch positions and a movable contact selectively positionable to make electrical contact with the associated fixed contacts defining each of said ignition switch positions, said second switch section having three fixed contacts defining, respectively, first, second and third ignition switch positions, two fixed contacts defining a fourth ignition switch position and a movable contact selectively positionable for making electrical contact with the associated fixed contacts defining each of said ignition switch positions, said movable contacts of said first and second switch sections being ganged for coordinate movement from one of said ignition switch positions to another, the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said first and fourth ignition switch positions in said first switch section and said first and second ignition switch positions in said second switch section being dummy contacts;

means electrically interconnecting the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said second and third ignition switch positions in said first switch section commonly to said power contact of said light switch;

a battery for supplying electrical power;

means electrically interconnecting said movable contacts of said ignition switch commonly to said battery;

solenoid means associated with said light switch for setting said light switch in its off position whenever said solenoid means is energized, said solenoid means associated with said light switch comprising a coil and a magnetic member, said coil being positioned adjacent the movable body portion of said light switch with the axis of said coil substantially aligned with the predetermined path of travel of the movable body portion of said light switch, said coil being electrically connected commonly with said starter solenoid means, said magnetic member being secured to the movable body portion of said light switch to extend into said coil whereby energization of said coil centers said magnetic member therein to set said light switch in its off position;

motor vehicle ignition circuit means;

starter solenoid means for a motor vehicle;

means electrically connecting one of the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said fourth ignition switch position in said second switch section commonly to said starter solenoid means and said solenoid means associated with said light switch; and

means electrically connecting the other one of the fixed ignition switch contacts defining said fourth ignition switch position in said second switch section and the fixed contact defining said third ignition switch position in said second switch section commonly to said ignition circuit means.

6. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said light switch has a power contact to which power is supplied through said ignition switch and the start contact of said ignition switch is electrically isolated from said power contact.