Rotary switch with improved pivotally and reciprocable mounted thumbwheel actuator

Claim 2

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing having a fixed pivot formed therein, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted about said pivot in said housing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, arcuate guide means formed on said housing, a follower member formed on said thumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guide means, spring means for urging said follower member of said thumbwheel radially outwardly from said pivot with respect to said arcuate guide means, and circuit means formed on said thumbwheel and on said housing and including start-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, said start-up and drive range circuits being completed when said follower member is positioned in said radial outward position and pivoted to predetermined circumferential locations therealong, said reverse drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said start-up position and then to pivot said follower member in one direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a first predetermined circumferential location therealong, and said low drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said drive range position and then to pivot said follower member in the opposite direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a second predetermined circumferential location therealong.

Claim 3

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing having a fixed pivot formed therein, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted about said pivot in said housing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, arcuate guide means formed on said housing, a follower member formed on said thumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guide means, spring means for urging said follower member of said thumbwheel radially outwardly from said pivot with respect to said arcuate guide means, and circuit means formed on said thumbwheel and on said housing and including start-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, said start-up and drive range circuits being completed when said follower member is positioned in said radial outward position and pivoted to predetermined circumferential locations therealong, said reverse drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said start-up position and then to pivot said follower member in one direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a first predetermined circumferential location therealong, and said low drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said drive range position and then to pivot said follower member in the opposite direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a second predetermined circumferential location therealong.

Claim 4

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing having a fixed pivot formed therein, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted about said pivot in said housing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, arcuate guide means formed on said housing, a follower member formed on said thumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guide means, spring means for urging said follower member of said thumbwheel radially outwardly from said pivot with respect to said arcuate guide means, and circuit means formed on said thumbwheel and on said housing and including start-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, said start-up and drive range circuits being completed when said follower member is positioned in said radial outward position and pivoted to predetermined circumferential locations therealong, said reverse drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said start-up position and then to pivot said follower member in one direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a first predetermined circumferential location therealong, and said low drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said follower member radially inwardly from said drive range position and then to pivot said follower member in the opposite direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to a second predetermined circumferential location therealong.

Claim 5

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted in said housing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, female guide means formed on said housing, said female guide means including relative inner and outer arcuate portions, male guide means formed on said thumbwheel, spring means for urging said male guide means of said thumbwheel to said outer arcuate portion of said female guide means, a plurality of contacts formed in predetermined locations on said thumbwheel, start-up, reverse, low and drive ratio terminals formed in predetermined locations on said housing for forming respective circuits upon selective cooperation with said plurality of contacts, said start-up and drive circuits being completed when said male guide means is positioned in said outer arcuate portion of said female guide means and pivoted therealong, said reverse and low ratio circuits, respectively, being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said male guide means into said inner arcuate portion of said female guide means and pivoted in opposite directions therealong.

Claim 6

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted in said housing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, female guide means formed on said housing, said female guide means including relative inner and outer arcuate portions, male guide means formed on said thumbwheel, spring means for urging said male guide means of said thumbwheel to said outer arcuate portion of said female guide means, a plurality of contacts formed in predetermined locations on said thumbwheel, start-up, reverse, low and drive ratio terminals formed in predetermined locations on said housing for forming respective circuits upon selective cooperation with said plurality of contacts, said start-up and drive circuits being completed when said male guide means is positioned in said outer arcuate portion of said female guide means and pivoted therealong, said reverse and low ratio circuits, respectively, being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring means to move said male guide means into said inner arcuate portion of said female guide means and pivoted in opposite directions therealong.

Claim 7

The shift selector switch mechanism described in claim 2, and detent means operatively connected between said thumbwheel and said housing for holding said thumbwheel in each of said start-up, drive, reverse, and low ratio positions of said thumbwheel with respect to said housing.

Claim 8

The shift selector switch mechanism described in claim 3, wherein said detent means includes a spring-loaded extension member mounted on said thumbwheel, and a plurality of peaks and valleys formed on said housing and circumferentially aligned with the arcuate path followed by said extension member as it travels with said thumbwheel, said valleys being radially aligned with said respective start-up, drive, reverse, and low ratio positions of said thumbwheel with respect to said housing.

Claim 9

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheel including connector means for pivotal and reciprocal mounting in said housing, a portion of said thumbwheel extending outwardly through said housing, an indicator formed on said extended portion of said thumbwheel for manual depression and pivotal movement of said thumbwheel to selected drive ratio positions, a radial extension formed on said thumbwheel, arcuate slot means formed in said housing and including a first divided portion at one radius and a second intermediate portion at a second radius bridging said divided portion, a follower formed on said thumbwheel for extension into said arcuate slot means, spring means for urging said thumbwheel radially outwardly so as to position said follower in said second intermediate portion, a plurality of contacts formed on said radial extension of said thumbwheel, and a plurality of terminals formed on said housing for radial and circumferential alignment with respective contacts upon selective radial and rotary movement of said thumbwheel for selectively completing start-up, drive, reverse and low ratio circuits, said start-up and drive ratio circuits being completed when said follower is positioned in the respective ends of said second intermediate portion, said reverse ratio circuit being completed when said follower is manually depressed against the force of said spring means into the portion of said first divided portion of said arcuate slot means adjacent said start-up position and pivoted therein, and said low ratio circuit being completed when said follower is manually depressed against the force of said spring means into the portion of said first divided portion adjacent said drive position and pivoted therein.

Claim 10

A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheel including connector means for pivotal and reciprocal mounting in said housing, a portion of said thumbwheel extending outwardly through said housing, an indicator formed on said extended portion of said thumbwheel for manual depression and pivotal movement of said thumbwheel to selected drive ratio positions, a radial extension formed on said thumbwheel, arcuate slot means formed in said housing and including a first divided portion at one radius and a second intermediate portion at a second radius bridging said divided portion, a follower formed on said thumbwheel for extension into said arcuate slot means, spring means for urging said thumbwheel radially outwardly so as to position said follower in said second intermediate portion, a plurality of contacts formed on said radial extension of said thumbwheel, and a plurality of terminals formed on said housing for radial and circumferential alignment with respective contacts upon selective radial and rotary movement of said thumbwheel for selectively completing start-up, drive, reverse and low ratio circuits, said start-up and drive ratio circuits being completed when said follower is positioned in the respective ends of said second intermediate portion, said reverse ratio circuit being completed when said follower is manually depressed against the force of said spring means into the portion of said first divided portion of said arcuate slot means adjacent said start-up position and pivoted therein, and said low ratio circuit being completed when said follower is manually depressed against the force of said spring means into the portion of said first divided portion adjacent said drive position and pivoted therein.