Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-07-17
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
C074S48400R, C200S061540
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260431
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to switches for vehicles and, in particular, to a construction of an on-vehicle lever switch having a rotary knob attached to an end portion of a lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional lever switch for a vehicle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication (KOKAI) No. 8-506204. This conventional lever switch has a slide switch and a rotary switch mounted thereto. A rotary knob mounted to the end portion of the operating lever has, for example, circuit boards for the slide switch therein.
However, this conventional lever switch has a large number of parts accommodated in the rotary knob and, therefore, is of a complicated structure. Accordingly, additional switches cannot be mounted in an end portion of the operating lever.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an on-vehicle lever switch that solves the problems found in the conventional lever switch described above. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an on-vehicle lever switch having a rotary switch, a slide switch, and a push-button switch attached to an end portion of a lever.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In accordance with the present invention, in order to achieve the objects set forth above, a construction of an on-vehicle lever switch is provided, comprising: a rotary knob; a third lever having the rotary knob fixed to one end thereof and an operating rod at the other end thereof; a second lever having a shaft hollow cylinder into which a shaft of the third lever is inserted; a first lever into which the second lever is inserted; a nonmovable member fixed to the first lever; and a nonmovable knob mounted at a location close to a tip of the first lever with respect to the rotary knob. The lever switch is characterized by the nonmovable knob being formed with a window in its periphery, a slide knob being slidably disposed in the nonmovable knob with a control that projects through the window outwardly relative to the nonmovable knob, and a push button of a switch being disposed in a knob receiving hole formed at a location close to the tip of the first lever with respect to the nonmovable knob.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable knob has a recess at an edge portion of the window close to the tip of the first lever, and the slide knob has a cutout formed therein that engages the recess.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the slide knob has guide straps on the left side and the right side thereof, and the nonmovable knob has guide grooves formed in an inner wall thereof, the guide straps fitting into the guide grooves.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable knob has a projection near the window through which the control projects outwardly from the nonmovable knob.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable knob holds the push button disposed at one opening of a knob receiving hole thereof, the slide knob is inserted from the other opening of the knob receiving hole, and the slide knob is assembled to the nonmovable knob with the control projecting through the window outwardly from the nonmovable knob.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the push button has a resilient fastening strap that engages a stepped portion formed in the nonmovable knob, and a slide shaft that is slidably inserted into a bearing hole formed in the nonmovable member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the push button has a contact strap accommodating groove formed in a slide shaft that receives a slide contact strap therein.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the push button has a guide groove formed in the slide shaft that engages a projection formed in a wall of the bearing hole.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable member has a nonmovable contact plate disposed in the bearing hole, and another nonmovable contact plate disposed on the panel surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable member has the nonmovable contact plate which contacts with the slide contact strap, the another nonmovable contact plate which contacts the slide contact strap, and a terminal which is electrically continuous with the nonmovable contact plates; and all of the nonmovable contact plates and terminal are insert-molded.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable member has: a flange formed substantially in the middle of the nonmovable member and rotatably fitting into an opening in the first lever and an opening in the rotary knob; a round hollow cylinder and a connector which are formed on one side of the flange, the connector having the terminal built therein; an engagement portion formed on the other side of the flange, the engagement portion receiving the nonmovable knob fixedly assembled via the rotary knob and receiving the slide shaft of the push button; and a cavity in which the third lever and the rotary knob are coupled together between the flange and the engagement portion, and in which a resilient fastening tongue formed at a tip of the second lever is received.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable member has a tongue formed at a periphery of the engagement portion; and the nonmovable knob has the engagement portion formed in an inner wall thereof, the engagement portion engaging the tongue.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the nonmovable member has: a blind hole for receiving a stopper which is pressed against the stopper groove formed in the rotary knob; a blind hole for receiving a stopper which is pressed against a stopper groove formed in the first lever; and a hole for receiving a stopper which is pressed against a stopper groove formed in the slide knob.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the slide knob is formed in a one piece construction with a stopper projection which has the stopper groove formed in an underside of the stopper projection; and the nonmovable member has a slit formed therein into which the stopper projection engages, the slit crossing the hole.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the slide contact strap includes a plurality of legs each of which has a contact portion at a free end thereof, the legs being continuous with each other through a common part; and the slide knob has a slit formed in a lateral side thereof into which the common part is inserted, and a pull-out preventing tongue engaging the end surface of the common part, the pull-out preventing tongue being formed at an end near a base of the stopper projection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5003132 (1991-03-01), Lagier
patent: 5453588 (1995-09-01), DuRocher et al.
patent: 5473809 (1995-12-01), DuRocher et al.
patent: 5610378 (1997-03-01), DuRocher et al.
patent: 5724719 (1998-03-01), DuRocher et al.
patent: 5780794 (1998-07-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 5847342 (1998-12-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 5852867 (1998-12-01), DuRocher
patent: 6034338 (2000-03-01), Uchiyama
patent: 8-506204 (1996-07-01), None
patent: WO 94/11892 (1994-05-01), None
Estremsky Sherry
Kananen Ronald P.
Lewis Tisha D.
Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
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