Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-06-12
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C200S061540
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246128
ABSTRACT:
This Application claims the benefit of the priority of Japanese 10-167543, filed Jun. 15, 1998.
The present Invention is directed to an attachment assembly for cable reels and combination switches which are mounted adjacent the steering wheel of a vehicle. More specifically, the Invention is directed to a structure which permits the operating ends of actuating levers to be mounted close to the underside of the steering wheel. As a result, the levers can be moved without the necessity of removing the driver's hands from the wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The steering wheel of a vehicle includes an air bag and an inflator which is capable of causing it to expand. A cable reel is used to connect the inflator to the vehicle's electrical circuits.
Referring to
FIGS. 7
to
9
, movable body
5
is rotatably mounted on fixed body
2
with a cylindrical space therebetween. Cable reel
1
, including coiled flat cable
6
, is in the space between fixed body
2
and movable body
5
. The cylindrical space between the movable body and the fixed body has a sufficient radius so that flat cable
6
can coil and uncoil in response to rotation of movable body
5
. The fixed body is mounted on combination switch body
3
which, in turn, is on steering column
4
adjacent steering wheel
10
and movable body
5
rotates with steering wheel
10
.
Combination switch body
3
carries turn indicator member
7
on one side and light switch member
8
on the other. They are actuated by operating lever
7
b
extending from switch box
7
a
and operating lever
8
b
extending from switch box
8
a,
respectively.
The foregoing device is assembled by fixing movable body
5
, carrying cable reel
1
to the steering column
4
beneath steering wheel
10
. Fixed body
2
, with rotatably mounted movable body
5
, is attached to the upper surface of switch body
3
and below steering wheel
10
. When the device of the foregoing type is assembled, cable reel
1
is interposed between steering wheel
10
and the upper surface of switch body
3
which, in turn, is fixed to steering column
4
. operating levers
7
b
and
8
b
extend from either side out of switch boxes
7
a
and
8
a.
When cable reel
1
is between steering wheel
10
and switch body
3
, from which operating levers
7
b
and
7
a
project, the height H is quite large and thus, the operating levers are separated from steering wheel
10
by a substantial distance S. This is of particular importance because recent innovations require more circuits to be carried by flat cable
6
. As a result, cable reel
1
has increased to about 1.5 to 2 times the prior height. When distance S between steering wheel
10
and operating levers
7
b
and
8
b
is increased in accordance with the foregoing, the driver can no longer actuate the operating levers without releasing the steering wheel. For safety reasons, this is undesirable.
In an effort to solve the foregoing problem, it has been suggested that operating levers
7
b
and
8
b
be bent as shown in broken lines in FIG.
7
and in full lines in FIG.
10
. This brings the ends closer to steering wheel
4
, thereby reducing distance S. However, this solution has the drawback of requiring a special bent shape for the operating levers which involves increased costs. In addition, the bent levers create problems for the circuits contained therein.
An additional mechanism is used to automatically return the turn indicator lever and switch to their neutral position. Since cancel cam
9
is the element which effectuates this as steering wheel
10
is rotated, the former must be disposed at the attachment position of operating lever
7
b.
As a result, it is an increased distance from steering wheel
10
. Therefore, the various elements comprising cancel cam
9
must be installed separately from the remainder of the device. The number of parts and the number of steps required for assembly are both increased.
Another solution is based upon Japanese OPI 9-129092. As shown in
FIG. 11
, fixed body
2
′ is formed directly from combination switch body
3
′. Movable body
5
′ rotates relative to switch body
3
′ and forms a ring-shaped space with switch body
3
′. Flat cable
6
′ is located therein.
The foregoing is an improvement on the other prior art mentioned, and allows operating levers
7
b
and
8
b
to be closer to steering wheel
10
. However, since switch body
3
′ doubles as the fixed body for the cable reel, and the cable reel and combination switch are formed integrally, a problem arises. Specifically, should one of the bodies be damaged (e.g. cracked, chipped, or deformed) both the cable reel and the combination switch must be replaced.
In addition, cancel cam
9
′ is disposed below fixed body
2
′. This requires that the cam parts be installed separately from one another. Moreover, the operating lever for the turn indicator switch is substantially below steering wheel
10
. This is particularly true if flat cable
6
is of increased height as is the current trend. Thus, the operating lever will still be farther away from steering wheel
10
than is optimally desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present Invention to overcome the foregoing problems. The cable reel is separate from the combination switch, so that the distance between the steering wheel and the operating levers need not be increased, even if the height of the cable increases. This permits the driver to actuate the operating levers while continuing to hold the steering wheel. Since the cancel cam does not need to be a separate member, the number of parts is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention provides an attachment assembly, for use in connection with the steering wheel of a vehicle, which includes a fixed body and a movable body mounted thereon and rotatable with respect thereto. The fixed body and movable body together define a ring-shaped hollow section between each other. A coiled flat cable is located in the hollow section with an upper connection at one of its ends and a lower connection at the other end. The fixed body, movable body, and flat cable form the cable reel.
There is a combination switch body, having a center opening in its upper plate, which carries a first operating lever on one side of the switch body and preferably a second operating lever on the other side of the switch body. The cable reel is at least partly within the center opening and releasably fixed to the switch body. The depth of penetration into the center opening is not critical, the deeper the cable reel is inserted, the lower the overall height will be, so long as the cable reel does not project from the other side.
In the usual case, the first operating lever will actuate a turn indicator. The lever (and the switch which it controls) will have a right turn signaling position, a left turn signaling position, and a neutral position located between the first two. The lever is moved from the neutral position to either of the other two positions manually; however, it is desirable that, when the steering wheel is reversed to straighten the wheels, the lever be returned to its neutral position. This is accomplished by a cancel cam which is located either on the exterior surface of the movable body or on the internal surface of the fixed body. The cam comprises a pair of arcuate cam surfaces which are spaced apart circumferentially from each other. They are positioned so that they will ride over the release mechanism as the wheel is turned so as to turn the vehicle in the desired direction and to trip the release mechanism as the wheel is straightened out. It has been found desirable to locate the cancel cam either within the hollow space or adjacent thereto as part of the movable body. It is also preferable that the center opening be circular.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4393280 (1983-07-01), Iwata et al.
patent: 5724907 (1998-03-01), Castellucci
patent: 5847342 (1998-12-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 6008457 (1999-12-01), Klein et al.
patent: 0771693 (19
Ballato Josie
Bierman, Muserlian and Lucas
Polk Sharon
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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