Steering column switch assembly having additional switch means for light dimming andthe like

Claim 1

IN A STEERING COLUMN SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES WHICH IS ARRANGED BELOW THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COMPRISES SWITCH HOUSING MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE PORTION AND A FIXED PORTION, MAIN SWITCH MEANS IN SAID HOUSING MEANS FOR THE TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS INCLUDING SWITCH LEVER MEANS MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE WITH THE ROTATABLE PORTION OF SAID HOUSING MEANS SO AS TO BE MOVABLE IN A PLANE APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL TO THE STEERING WHEEL PLANE AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY IN THE RADIAL DIRECTION UP TO WITHIN PROXIMITY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CIRCUMFERENCE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING ADDITIONAL SWITCH MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SEPARABLE CONTACTS, ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID PAIR OF CONTACTS OPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE MAIN SWITCH FROM THE END OF SAID SWITCH LEVER MEANS, AN AXIALLY MOVABLE CONDUCTIVE ROD SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID SWITCH LEVER MEANS AND CORRESPONDING IN LENGTH THERETO, ONE END OF SAID ROD BEING ENGAGED BY SAID ACUTATING MEANS FOR AXIALLY MOVING SAID ROD, THE OTHER END OF SAID ROD REMOTE FROM SAID SCTUATING MEANS FORMING ONE OF THE SEPARABLE CONTACTS, THE REMAINING CONTACT OF SAID ADDITIONAL SWITCH MEANS BEING SECURED TO THE FIXED PORTION OF SAID HOUSING IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID CONTACT FORMING END OF THE ROD, THE CONTACT FORMING END OF THE ROD BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE TO CLOSE ON AND ENGAGE THE REMAINING CONTACT UPON THE ADDITIONAL SWITCH MEANS BEING PLACED IN ITS ACTUATED CONDITION AND BEING WITHDRAWN FROM AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REMAINING CONTACT IN THE NON-ACTUATED CONDITION OF THE ADDITIONAL SWITCH MEANS, THE CONTACT FORMING END OF THE ROD, WITH THE ADDITIONAL SWITCH MEANS IN THE ACTUATED CONDITION, BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SLIDABLE ALONG THE REMAINING CONTACT IN ALL POSITIONS OF THE SWITCH LEVER MEANS.