Selector switch assembly

Claim 2

An electrical switch assembly, comprising a housing, a first member carried by said housing and supporting a plurality of electrical circuits thereon, a plurality of first electrical circuits thereon, a plurality of first electrical terminals carried by said first member and electrically connected to said plurality of electrical circuits, a second member rotatably carried by said housing, a plurality of electrical contacts operatively carried by said second member, said electrical contacts being so arranged as to be generally directed toward said first member, resilient means operatively engaging said electrical contacts and normally urging said electrical contacts in a direction generally toward said first member, and manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said first and second members in order to cause sequential engagement and disengagement between said electrical contacts and said electrical terminals, said plurality of electrical circuits comprising a plurality of printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side of said first member, means for nonrotatably supporting said first member in said housing, a plurality of bridging contact members carried by said rotatable member and engaging said electrical contacts, a plurality of prearranged slots formed in said rotatable member for respectively receiving therein pairs of said plurality of electrical contacts and at least one of said bridging contact members, said rotatable member being annular in shape and provided with a central opening, at least two of said slots having openings extending into said central opening, and said bridging contact members situated within said at least two slots include extensions passing through said openings of said slots.

Claim 3

An electrical switch assembly, comprising a housing, a first member carried by said housing and supporting a plurality of electrical circuits thereon, a plurality of first electrical terminals carried by said first member and electrically connected to said plurality of electrical circuits, a second member rotatably carried by said housing, a plurality of electrical contacts operatively carried by said second member, said electrical contacts being so arranged as to be generally directed toward said first member, resilient means operatively engaging said electrical contacts and normally urging said electrical contacts in a direction generally toward said first membeR, and manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said first and second members in order to cause sequential engagement and disengagement between said electrical contacts and said electrical terminals, said plurality of electrical circuits comprising a plurality of printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side of said first member, means for nonrotatably supporting said first member in said housing, a plurality of bridging contact members carried by said rotatable member and engaging said electrical contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and a second tubular member telescopically received within said outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said tubular casing above said second tubular member, an upwardly extending arcuate flange provided on said outer tubular casing, said manually operative means comprising an elongated arm operatively connected to said rotatable member for effecting rotation of said rotatable member, cooperating detent means carried by said arm and said flange, said detent means being effective for maintaining said arm in any selected position to which said arm has been rotated, and lever means pivotally carried on said arm, said lever means including a portion adapted to abutably engage an abutment surface formed on said outer tubular casing in order to thereby limit rotational movement of said arm in one direction.

Claim 4

An electrical switch assembly, comprising a housing, a first member carried by said housing and supporting a plurality of electrical circuits thereon, a plurality of first electrical terminals carried by said first member and electrically connected to said plurality of electrical circuits, a second member rotatably carried by said housing, a plurality of electrical contacts operatively carried by said second member, said electrical contacts being so arranged as to be generally directed toward said first member, resilient means operatively engaging said electrical contacts and normally urging said electrical contacts in a direction generally toward said first membeR, and manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said first and second members in order to cause sequential engagement and disengagement between said electrical contacts and said electrical terminals, said plurality of electrical circuits comprising a plurality of printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side of said first member, means for nonrotatably supporting said first member in said housing, a plurality of bridging contact members carried by said rotatable member and engaging said electrical contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and a second tubular member telescopically received within said outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said tubular casing above said second tubular member, an upwardly extending arcuate flange provided on said outer tubular casing, said manually operative means comprising an elongated arm operatively connected to said rotatable member for effecting rotation of said rotatable member, cooperating detent means carried by said arm and said flange, said detent means being effective for maintaining said arm in any selected position to which said arm has been rotated, and lever means pivotally carried on said arm, said lever means including a portion adapted to abutably engage an abutment surface formed on said outer tubular casing in order to thereby limit rotational movement of said arm in one direction.

Claim 5

An electrical switch assembly according to claim 2, including resilient biasing means operatively engaging said lever means so as to normally maintain said lever means and said portion thereof in position as to engage said abutment surface upon sufficient rotation of said arm in said one direction.

Claim 6

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, and an intermediate member interposed between said nonrotatable and rotatable members, said intermediate member being provided with a plurality of slots with said ball contacts positioned in pairs within said slots, and said intermediate member being attached to one of said relatively rotatable members.

Claim 7

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, and an intermediate member interposed between said nonrotatable and rotatable members, said intermediate member being provided with a plurality of slots with said ball contacts positioned in pairs within said slots, and said intermediate member being attached to one of said relatively rotatable members.

Claim 8

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, an intermediate member interposed between said nonrotatable and rotatable members, said intermediate member being provided with a plurality of slots with said ball contacts positioned in pairs within Said slots said intermediate member being attached to one of said relatively rotative members, said rotatable member being annular in shape to provide a central opening, at least two of said slots having openings into said central opening, and at least two of said spring-pressed contact means including extensions passing through said last named openings.

Claim 9

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, manually operative means for effecting relative rotation between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, an intermediate member interposed between said nonrotatable and rotatable members, said intermediate member being provided with a plurality of slots with said ball contacts positioned in pairs within Said slots said intermediate member being attached to one of said relatively rotative members, said rotatable member being annular in shape to provide a central opening, at least two of said slots having openings into said central opening, and at least two of said spring-pressed contact means including extensions passing through said last named openings.

Claim 10

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, and an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, and cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions.

Claim 11

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, and an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, and cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions.

Claim 12

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions, lever means pivotally mounted on said handle, said lever means having a portion adapted to engage one end of said arcuate flange to limit movement of the handle in one direction, an spring means normally maintaining said lever means in a flange-engaging position.

Claim 13

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of conductive rivets electrically connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of ball contacts adapted to engage said rivets, means for mounting said ball contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members, a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engage said ball contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions, lever means pivotally mounted on said handle, said lever means having a portion adapted to engage one end of said arcuate flange to limit movement of the handle in one direction, an spring means normally maintaining said lever means in a flange-engaging position.

Claim 14

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of fixed contacts connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of movable contacts adapted to engage said fixed contacts, means for mounting said movable contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engAge said movable contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and a second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions, manually releasable latching means carried by said handle, said latching means including a latch portion adapted to engage a cooperating portion of said arcuate flange to limit movement of said handle in one direction, and spring means normally maintaining said latch portion in position for engaging said cooperating portion of said arcuate flange.

Claim 15

In a switch mechanism for automotive turn signals or the like, the combination of a housing, a member having printed circuits of a predetermined pattern imprinted on one side thereof, means for nonrotatably supporting said member in said housing, a plurality of fixed contacts connected to said printed circuits and passing transversely through said member in a predetermined arrangement, a rotatable member mounted in said housing, a plurality of movable contacts adapted to engage said fixed contacts, means for mounting said movable contacts in a predetermined pattern between said nonrotatable and said rotatable members a plurality of spring-pressed contact means carried by said rotatable member and adapted to engAge said movable contacts, said housing comprising an outer tubular casing and a second tubular member telescopically received within the outer casing, said nonrotatable member being mounted on said second tubular member and said rotatable member being positioned within said outer tubular casing above said second tubular member, said outer tubular casing being provided with an upwardly extended arcuate flange, an elongated handle provided for rotating said rotatable member, cooperative detent means positioned on said handle and said flange providing for properly positioning the handle in different switch positions, manually releasable latching means carried by said handle, said latching means including a latch portion adapted to engage a cooperating portion of said arcuate flange to limit movement of said handle in one direction, and spring means normally maintaining said latch portion in position for engaging said cooperating portion of said arcuate flange.

Claim 16

A selector switch assembly, comprising a housing assembly, a control lever assembly, and a switch contact assembly, said housing assembly comprising a first generally tubular housing section including a radially inwardly directed annular flange formed integrally therewith, said annular flange including a generally centrally disposed first aperture formed therethrough, said control lever assembly comprising a main body portion situated against the upper end face of said annular flange and forming a generally upper end wall of said housing assembly, a cylindrical extension formed on said body portion and closely received within said first aperture for rotation therein, a spring-loaded detent member carried by said body portion, a flange portion formed integrally with said first housing section and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of recesses formed in said longitudinally extending flange portion generally juxtaposed to said control lever assembly body portion, an elongated handle operatively connected to said body portion for causing selective rotation of said body portion relative to said first housing section, said spring-loaded detent member being effective to sequentially traverse and engage said plurality of recesses as said body portion is rotated relative to said first housing section, a second generally cup-shaped housing section slidably received within said first housing section, the closed end of said cup-shaped second housing section forming a generally lower end wall of said housing assembly, said switch contact assembly comprising a printed circuit board carried within said housing assembly and secured against rotation to said second housing section, said printed circuit board including a plurality of printed circuit portions carried on the underside of said board so as to be disposed generally between said board and said second housing section, a plurality of fixed contact members arranged in a correlated pattern and extending through said board so as to have respective one ends of said contact members connected to said printed circuit portions and so as to have respective second ends terminating on the opposite side of said board, a plurality of movable bridging contact members situated in and carried by a rotatable switch body member, said plurality of movable contact members being arranged in a pattern permitting selective engagement between said movable contact members and said fixed contact members upon rotation of said rotatable switch body, resilient means carried by said rotatable switch body member for urging said movable contact members toward said opposite side of said board, said rotatable switch body member being situated generally within said housing assembly so as to be axially between the lower end face of said annular flange and said opposite side of said board, fastening means operatively securing said rotatable switch body member to said extension so as to contain said annular flange between said rotatable switch body member said control lever assembly body portioN whereby rotation of said handle and said control lever assembly body portion causes like rotation of said rotatable switch body member and a second aperture formed in said lower end wall of said housing assembly generally centrally thereof for reception therein an electrical connector assembly through which electrical conductor means pass for connection to said printed circuit board.

Claim 17

A selector switch assembly, comprising a housing assembly, a control lever assembly, and a switch contact assembly, said housing assembly comprising a first generally tubular housing section including a radially inwardly directed annular flange formed integrally therewith, said annular flange including a generally centrally disposed first aperture formed therethrough, said control lever assembly comprising a main body portion situated against the upper end face of said annular flange and forming a generally upper end wall of said housing assembly, a cylindrical extension formed on said body portion and closely received within said first aperture for rotation therein, a spring-loaded detent member carried by said body portion, a flange portion formed integrally with said first housing section and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of recesses formed in said longitudinally extending flange portion generally juxtaposed to said control lever assembly body portion, an elongated handle operatively connected to said body portion for causing selective rotation of said body portion relative to said first housing section, said spring-loaded detent member being effective to sequentially traverse and engage said plurality of recesses as said body portion is rotated relative to said first housing section, a second generally cup-shaped housing section slidably received within said first housing section, the closed end of said cup-shaped second housing section forming a generally lower end wall of said housing assembly, said switch contact assembly comprising a printed circuit board carried within said housing assembly and secured against rotation to said second housing section, said printed circuit board including a plurality of printed circuit portions carried on the underside of said board so as to be disposed generally between said board and said second housing section, a plurality of fixed contact members arranged in a correlated pattern and extending through said board so as to have respective one ends of said contact members connected to said printed circuit portions and so as to have respective second ends terminating on the opposite side of said board, a plurality of movable bridging contact members situated in and carried by a rotatable switch body member, said plurality of movable contact members being arranged in a pattern permitting selective engagement between said movable contact members and said fixed contact members upon rotation of said rotatable switch body, resilient means carried by said rotatable switch body member for urging said movable contact members toward said opposite side of said board, said rotatable switch body member being situated generally within said housing assembly so as to be axially between the lower end face of said annular flange and said opposite side of said board, fastening means operatively securing said rotatable switch body member to said extension so as to contain said annular flange between said rotatable switch body member said control lever assembly body portioN whereby rotation of said handle and said control lever assembly body portion causes like rotation of said rotatable switch body member and a second aperture formed in said lower end wall of said housing assembly generally centrally thereof for reception therein an electrical connector assembly through which electrical conductor means pass for connection to said printed circuit board.