Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Pivoted contact
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-17
2001-12-04
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Pivoted contact
C200S061270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326566
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an automotive combined brake light/turn signal light contact unit comprising a turn signal light circuit, a brake light circuit and an actuating lever with which at least one concomitantly movable contact bridge is associated.
In automobiles, especially passenger vehicles, using components jointly for various tasks is increasingly important. For example, combined taillights and brake lights have been developed which light up during day time, respectively during travel without lights turned on, only during a braking action. With the lights turned on, the respective light is illuminated with a specific brightness. As a braking action is initiated, the light turns brighter. In another design, other lamps installed in the light are activated also, causing the light to shine brighter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective underlying the invention is creating a circuit assembly which allows using a brake light at the same time as a turn signal light.
An automotive combined brake light and turn signal light contact unit according to the invention, featuring a turn signal light circuit and a brake light circuit and an actuating lever with which is associated a concomitantly movable contact bridge, is thus designed such the a first contact bridge of the actuating lever is provided for the turn signal light circuit, the first contact bridge possessing contacts for conductors of the front and rear circuits of the turn signal light circuit, which contacts are closed appropriately upon actuation of actuating lever. Moreover, the first contact bridge includes a further contact for closing a switch in the turn signal light circuit upon further actuation of the actuating lever, allowing the flashing pulse to be switched to the contact bridge.
Consequently, the contact unit according to the invention allows the use of a flashing brake light on the vehicle. This provides in a simple manner for coupling the turn signal light circuit and the brake light circuit, the simultaneous cut-in of the front and rear circuits being accomplished by actuation of the further contact of the first contact bridge, that is, a joint cut-in of a circuit component.
Hence, it is possible to provide two separate turn signal light circuits, that is, a front and a rear circuit. Available at the same time is a normal turn signal light contacting for the front circuit of the turn signal light circuit. The rear circuit of the turn signal light circuit includes a lamp e.g. a bulb for joint use by the brake light circuit.
The function of the contact unit, respectively the circuit arrangement, is as follows: with the vehicle being braked, the two brake lights light up; and, if additionally a directional turn of the vehicle is meant to be indicated, the front turn signal light flashes then as usual after actuation of the actuating lever. The illumination of the brake light on the respective side changes over to pulsing operation at the same time as the corresponding front turn signal light. On the other hand, with only braking involved, i.e., without actuating the actuating lever and without activating the turn signal light circuit, the two lights are illuminated normally.
Provided favorably is a second contact bridge of the actuating lever, for the brake light circuit, which bridge is coupled to the first contact bridge and possesses contacts for the conductors of the circuit of the brake light circuit, which contacts are upon actuation of the actuating lever appropriately opened; and, upon further actuation of the actuating lever they are closed again by the respective contacts of the turn signal light circuit. This allows with particular reliability an exact combination of the brake light circuit and turn signal light circuit. Upon short-circuiting the two lamps by the contact bridge, the flashing pulse is then switched first to this contact bridge. Next, both lamps, front and rear, begin to flash simultaneously as a result.
According to the invention, the further contact of the first contact bridge is suitably provided for closing the plus line of the turn signal light circuit. This is an especially easy and effective measure to ensure the simultaneous activation of the front and rear turn signal light circuits.
In a preferred embodiment of the contact unit according to the invention, one or both contact bridges are three-point contact bridges.
A lift-off ramp is favorably provided, in the direction of motion, before the relevant contact closure position of the further contact of the first contact bridge. Such lift bridge safeguards an exact switching sequence. Lifting of the bridge ensures.
A sound introduction of force in the center of gravity region, for activation of the three-point bridges, is made possible in that the actuating lever features a bore for mounting the compression spring of the three-point bridge, said bore being located on a fulcrum. In this way, the compression spring is then activated exactly in the center of gravity, guaranteeing at the same time the positionally exact entrainment of both contact bridges. The bore is thus entrained and not the shanks of the contact bridge, which allows a more exact fabrication, thus achieving an accurate fit. The bridge can thereby be entrained very precisely in its tangential motion, so that both bridges have a very exact association with one another. In turn, this allows an exact observance of the switching pattern, or of the sequence of the contact points in the path diagram.
The invention is explained further hereafter with the aid of an exemplary embodiment and the drawing. This explanation is intended merely for a further illumination of the invention and should by no means be viewed as limiting the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2748207 (1956-05-01), Clayton et al.
patent: 3255319 (1966-06-01), Paine
Luebke Renee
MDH Company, Inc.
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