Steering column switch for motor vehicles

Details Steering column switch for motor vehicles Steering column switch for motor vehicles

1990-07-27

1992-06-09

Scott, J. R.

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Special application

Steering wheel, shaft or column mounted

200313, H01H 916

Patent

active

051209144

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steering column switch for motor vehicles having a switch housing and a switch lever mounted therein to be pivoted about a pivotal axis together with a switching member, which switch lever has at least one read-out panel which may be fully illuminated by a light guide extending along the switch lever, which light guide is aligned to a light source by a light-input area.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since it has become normal practice for a long time to equip electric switches arranged on a motor vehicle instrument panel with a lighting system, steering column switches with illumination have also been used in particular vehicle models in the last few years. A steering column switch with illuminated switch lever is known from the printed specification of European patent 0 160 905. Several light emitting diodes are arranged as light sources in the switch lever of the steering column switch according to that printed specification. Among other things, it is disadvantageous to arrange a light source in the switch lever because the light source is then exposed to hard impacts as the switch lever is switched on and.
A steering column switch has also become known in which the switch lever includes read-out panels, which may be illuminated by light guides extending along the switch lever and which are aligned to a light source by a light-input area. In a construction of this kind the light source can in principle be arranged in any desired place.
The present invention addresses the problem of arranging a light source, from which at least one light guide is conducted to at least one read-out panel in the switch lever of a steering column switch, in such a way that the light source is protected and that together with the steering column switch a compact structural unit is formed.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved by a steering column switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.
A construction is preferred in which the entire light guide including the light input area is held on the switch lever and switching member and can be pivoted together with the switch lever and switching member. This has the advantage that the light guide is not continuously bent to and fro when the switch lever and switching member are jointly pivoted.
It is of special advantage to arrange the light source centrally around the pivotal axis of the switch lever and switching member. In such an arrangement the relative position between the light source and the light input area of the light guide is the same with regard to the pivotal axis mentioned in every switching position of the switch lever and the read-out panel can be illuminated with the same intensity in every switching position of the switch lever. It is conceivable, for example, to axially align the end of the light guide which is close to the light source and to put it on the pivotal axis. Because the switch lever protrudes more or less radially from the switch housing towards the pivotal axis, it is more favorable if, the light guide is radially aligned with the light source around the pivotal axis of the switch lever. When the switch lever is pivoted, the light-input area of the light guide is moved around the light source with constant spacing.
Normally the switch lever, in particular the switching member, is mounted on the switch housing by at least one bearing pin and one bearing ring. In principle it is possible that, looked at from the switching member in the axial direction, the light source is located in the switch housing beyond the bearing pin and bearing ring. However it is more favorable, if the bearing pin has a hollow, in which the light source can be fitted or into which the light source can project. Thus a compact mode of construction is achieved. Furthermore the end of the light guide which is close to the light source can be close to the switch lever. Preferably, a hollow bearing pin or a bearing ring on the switching member is closed by a bottom to form a hollow in the switching

REFERENCES:
patent: 2469274 (1949-05-01), Rein
patent: 4408104 (1983-10-01), Iwata et al.

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