Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Steering wheel – shaft or column mounted
Patent
1995-08-24
1996-12-03
Scott, J. R.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Steering wheel, shaft or column mounted
200 6127, H01H 900
Patent
active
055810616
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle steering column switch, which is disposed on the end of a steering column sheath, which receives the steering column, and has a plurality of individual switches, each comprising a housing with electrical connectors and an actuating element.
In a steering column switch known from DE 43 05 827 A1, which was not published before the priority date of the present application, the individual switches are all fastened to a carrier plate. Each individual switch is slid onto the carrier plate via corresponding guide means, which are provided both on the carrier plate and on the individual switch, and affixed by a releasable clip connector. For the fastening of a plurality of individual switches, the carrier plate must have sufficient room to embody all guide means as well as clip connectors. This goes for the fastening of individual switches both on the periphery of the carrier plate and in the depths of the carrier plate, that is in the direction of the course of the steering column. As a result of these requirements, the carrier plate is very large, and this is reflected in the tools and the tool costs connected with them. In individual switches, which are fastened to the carrier plate behind one another, sufficient intermediate space must be available for assembly, by means of which the structural size is further increased. In the course of stabilizing, the carrier plate installed in the vehicle is designed so that a maximal configuration with individual switches is possible. As a result, a large carrier plate is always installed, which takes up a lot of space, even when the guide means are not occupied. Due to the maximal carrier plate, the heaviest embodiment is also always in the vehicle, which contradicts efforts to reduce weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A object of the invention is to provide a steering column of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which individual switches, without the aid of a tool, can be quickly and easily connected to one another, without play, and detached again without altering the carrier plate.
This object is attained, according to the invention, by the provision of a switch assembly for a steering column wherein at least one individual switch can be slid onto another individual switch against the force of a spring by the cooperation of corresponding guide means and is fixed in its end position by a releasable clip connector.
According to an advantageous improvement of the invention, the one individual switch is fastened on the end of the steering column sheath and the other individual switch can be slid as a slide-on switch onto the housing of the base switch. Consequently, the base switch occupies the space on the steering column sheath or its carrier plate and is fixed there. No additional space or additional guide means is required on the carrier plate for the slide-on switch, by means of which the carrier plate can be small and the number of carrier plates can be kept low.
It is furthermore preferable that at least one sliding block is provided on the slide-on switch, which engages a groove of the base switch. Integrating the groove in the base switch is advantageous insofar as there are no protruding shaped elements behind which electrical lines or other elements provided on the steering column can get caught.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the subject of the invention, two sliding blocks of the slide-on switch, which are virtually the same length as the housing of the base switch and are supported on the housing via tabs, are provided on ribs on the housing of the slide-on switch, to prevent catching of the electrical lines and for upgrading with an improved embodiment of the guide.
In an advantageous improvement of the invention, each sliding block of the slide-on switch is embodied as T-shaped. The face between the rib and the head of the sliding block is as sloped. Furthermore, the groove of the base switch functionally comprises walls formed perpendicular to the housing and o
REFERENCES:
patent: 3766351 (1973-10-01), Cryer
patent: 3873788 (1975-03-01), Machalitzky et al.
Kunz Peter
Mahr Hermann
Eaton Controls GmbH & Co. KG
Scott J. R.
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