US3710049A — Switches for turn signal and hazard warning lights

Claim 1

Independent Claim 146 words

A switching system for providing warning signal indications in motor vehicles comprising a first plurality of contacts including a plurality of wire spring contacts, plate means having one face supporting said wire spring contacts in a fixed planar pattern, means aligning a plurality of ball contacts for individual support by the wire spring contacts, means enabling cable connections to be established with said wire spring contacts, whereby electrical signals may be transmitted through said wire spring contacts and said ball contacts, a movable slide, a second plurality of contacts formed as flat conductive surfaces in association with the movable slide, and means for moving said movable slide along a linear path to establish conductive relationships with different ones of said first plurality of contacts and complete selected circuits through said flat conductive surfaces and selected ones of said ball contacts to the first plurality of contacts.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 146 words

A switching system for providing warning signal indications in motor vehicles comprising a first plurality of contacts including a plurality of wire spring contacts, plate means having one face supporting said wire spring contacts in a fixed planar pattern, means aligning a plurality of ball contacts for individual support by the wire spring contacts, means enabling cable connections to be established with said wire spring contacts, whereby electrical signals may be transmitted through said wire spring contacts and said ball contacts, a movable slide, a second plurality of contacts formed as flat conductive surfaces in association with the movable slide, and means for moving said movable slide along a linear path to establish conductive relationships with different ones of said first plurality of contacts and complete selected circuits through said flat conductive surfaces and selected ones of said ball contacts to the first plurality of contacts.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means aligning said wire spring contacts includes a plurality of holes arranged in a preselected pattern to receive said ball contacts.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, including a turn indicator lever, the means for moving said movable slide including a mechanical linkage operated by the turn indicator lever for providing the sliding motion in a linear path to the movable slide to move it relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishing selected complete circuits.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 79 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage and a hazard warning mechanical control coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing sliding motion to the movable slide along a linear path at an angle relative to the first path, and a particular selected position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes circuits to enable operation of signals indicating a hazardous state.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 113 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a first mechanical linkage from a turn indicator for providing sliding motion to the movable slide in the linear path relative to the first plurality of contacts, the means for moving said movable slide also includes a second mechanical linkage and a hazard warning mechanical control coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing sliding motion to the movable slide in a different direction relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes a selected complete circuit to enable operation of selected signals.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 80 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage from a turn indicator lever for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the mechanical linkage includes a detent device to impart ''''feel'''' to the turn indicator lever to enable the user to distinguish between a first position representing a lane change position and a second position representing a turn position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 89 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which a canceling cam is provided, the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage from a turn indicator lever for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, the mechanical linkage includes a detent device, and the detent device holds the turn indicator lever in a turn position, once such a position has been reached, until released manually or by operation of the canceling cam after the turn has been completed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the system includes contacts for completing a circuit to operate signals on the side opposite the direction of a turn in cooperation with the operation of a brake circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage from a turn indicator for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, and said system provides contact closures over which can be conveyed a continuous signal to cornering lights on the same side of the vehicle as the lane change or the turn signal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 74 words

A switching system As claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage from a turn signal lever providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, the mechanical linkage includes a detent device, and said detent device includes latching means to latch the system in an alarm sounding status when the signal lever is operated beyond a first detent condition.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 75 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 10, in which release means are provided for automatically releasing the system from the latch status when a turn is completed, said release means including a cam surface having a cancel lobe and a cancel spring associated with the mechanical linkage, said cancel lobe and said cancel spring cooperating to release the latching means as the cam surface is rotated past a position indicating completion of a turn.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 119 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a first mechanical linkage from a turn indicator for providing sliding motion to the movable slide to a first position relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the means for moving said movable slide also includes a second mechanical linkage to a hazard warning mechanical control for providing sliding motion to the movable slide to a second position relative to the first plurality of contacts, whereby the second position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes selected complete circuits to enable operation of hazard warning signals regardless of the first position of the movable slide.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 7, in which a cancelling spring is coupled to said mechanical linkage, said cancelling cam includes a cancel lobe, and the detent device is released by coaction between said cancelling spring and said cancel lobe after the turn has been completed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 59 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage operated by a turn indicator for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes selected complete circuits.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 77 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a mechanical linkage to a hazard warning mechanical control for providing sliding motion to the movable slide in a direction at an angle relating to the direction of the first linear path, and a particular selected position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishing circuits to enable operation of signals indicating a hazardous state.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 104 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for moving said movable slide includes a first mechanical linkage from a turn indicator for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the first plurality of contacts, the means for moving said movable slide also includes a second mechanical linkage to a hazard warning mechanical control for providing sliding motion to the movable slide in a different direction relative to the first plurality of contacts, and the position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes a selected complete circuit to enable operation of selected signals.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

A switching system as claimed in claim 1, in which said first plurality of contacts and said means enabling cable connections are located on a connector block, and said connector block includes means by which connections through the switching system may be speedily and automatically completed.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 152 words

In a switching system for providing warning signal indications in motor vehicles, switching means comprising a baseplate through which pass a plurality of openings in a fixed pattern, a plurality of wire spring contacts fastened in a planar pattern across the openings along one face of the baseplate, a plurality of ball contacts resting in said openings upon the wire spring contacts, means enabling cable connections to be established with said wire spring contacts, whereby electrical signals may be transmitted to operate warning indicators, a movable slide, a plurality of contacts formed as flat conductive surfaces in association with the movable slide, and a slide block plate retaining said movable slide and guiding the movable slide along a linear path to establish conductive relationships with selected pluralities of said ball contacts and thereby to complete selected circuits through said flat conductive surfaces and selected ones of said plurality of wire spring contacts.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 152 words

In a switching system for providing warning signal indications in motor vehicles, switching means comprising a baseplate through which pass a plurality of openings in a fixed pattern, a plurality of wire spring contacts fastened in a planar pattern across the openings along one face of the baseplate, a plurality of ball contacts resting in said openings upon the wire spring contacts, means enabling cable connections to be established with said wire spring contacts, whereby electrical signals may be transmitted to operate warning indicators, a movable slide, a plurality of contacts formed as flat conductive surfaces in association with the movable slide, and a slide block plate retaining said movable slide and guiding the movable slide along a linear path to establish conductive relationships with selected pluralities of said ball contacts and thereby to complete selected circuits through said flat conductive surfaces and selected ones of said plurality of wire spring contacts.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

In a switching system as claimed in claim 18, means including a turn indicator lever said slide blade plate including a mechanical linkage operated by the turn indicator lever for providing sliding motion to the movable slide relative to the ball contacts, whereby the position of said movable slide relative to said first plurality of contacts establishes selected complete circuits.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 75 words

In a switching system as claimed in claim 18, further means including a hazard warning arm fastened to said movable slide, said hazard warning arm responding to the application of force to pull said movable slide along a second linear path and establish a new pattern of connections between said second plurality of contacts and said ball contacts, thereby to enable the establishment of connections over further additional selected circuits and provide hazard warning signals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-01-09	1976-07-10	1977-01-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-01-09	1980-07-10	1981-01-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-01-09	1984-07-10	1985-01-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Switches for turn signal and hazard warning lights

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