Combination turn-signal and hazard-warning signal system

Claim 1

A combined turn signal and hazard-warning-signal system for a vehicle having right and left indicator lights, comprising: stationary housing means; a turn signal control member movably mounted on said housing means, said control member being normally maintained in a neutral position and being movable into first and second control positions disposed on substantially opposite sides of said neutral position; casing means mounted on said housing means for movement in a first direction between a turn signal position and a hazardwarning position; movable contact means movably mounted on said casing means for movement in a second direction substantially transverse to said first direction, said movable contact means being movable relative to said casing means along said second direction between first and second actuating positions which are disposed on substantially opposite sides of a central position; connecting means coacting between said turn signal control member and said movable contact means for causing movement of said movable contact means in said second direction from said central position into said first or second actuating position in response to movement of said turn signal control member from said neutral position into said first or second control position, respectively; stationary contact means mounted on said housing means and disposed for coaction with said movable contact means for controlling energization of the right and left indicator lights; first circuitry means for permitting flashing of a selected one of said right and left indicator lights, said first circuitry means including cooperating contacts on said movable and stationary contact means for causing energization and flashing of only said right indicator light when said movable contact means is in said first actuating position and said casing means is in said turn signal position, said first circuitry means also including cooperating contacts on said movable and stationary contact means for causing energization and flashing of only said left indicator light when said movable contact means is in said second actuating position and said casing means is in said turn signal position; second circuitry means connected to both said right and left indicator lights for permitting flashing of both said right and left indicator lights when said casing means is in said hazardwarning position, said second circuitry means including further contacts coacting between said movable and stationary cOntact means causing energization and flashing of both said right and left indicator lights irrespective of the position of said movable contact means relative to said casing means.