US3946827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control unit for a vehicle and dashboard incorporating same
Assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
•
Filing: 1974-12-11
•
Granted: 1976-03-30
•
Expires: 1994-12-11
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a control unit with which is equipped a vehicle provided with a steering wheel coupled to the rotary member controlling the steering members, comprising at least two control members disposed on the side opposite the driver with respect to the steering wheel, whilst these members have actuating surfaces whose centres define, with the axis of the rotary member, half-planes shifted by a first angle. The directions perpendicular to the actuating surfaces and passing through the centres are contained in planes parallel to the axis which form a second angle larger than the first, whilst the intersection is disposed with respect to the plane parallel to the axis of the rotary member and containing the centres of the two actuating surfaces, substantially on the side where said axis is itself disposed. This invention may be applied to the production of a dashboard providing greater safety.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Georges Cadiou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B60K35/50; B60K35/60; B60K37/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
Control unit for use in a vehicle provided with a prehension element such as a steering wheel, and a rotary member connected to said prehension element for controlling the steering members of said vehicle, said unit being mounted adjacent said prehension element and comprising two control members disposed on the side opposite the driver with respect to said prehension element, said control members being disposed within reach of at least one of the hands of said driver when the driver's hands are resting on said prehension element in the normal driving position, said control members having actuating surfaces, the centres of which define, with the axis of the rotary member, half-planes shifted by a first angle, wherein the directions perpendicular to the actuating surfaces and passing through said centres, are contained in planes parallel to said axis, which planes form a second angle larger than the first angle, and the intersection of said planes containing said directions is disposed, with respect to the plane parallel to the axis of the rotary member and containing the centres of the two actuating surfaces, substantially on the side where said axis is itself disposed, said control unit further comprising a third control member which is in a relative disposition with respect to a first of said two control members, substantially identical to the relative disposition of the first and second of said two control members with respect to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
Control unit for use in a vehicle provided with a prehension element such as a steering wheel, and a rotary member connected to said prehension element for controlling the steering members of said vehicle, said unit being mounted adjacent said prehension element and comprising two control members disposed on the side opposite the driver with respect to said prehension element, said control members being disposed within reach of at least one of the hands of said driver when the driver's hands are resting on said prehension element in the normal driving position, said control members having actuating surfaces, the centres of which define, with the axis of the rotary member, half-planes shifted by a first angle, wherein the directions perpendicular to the actuating surfaces and passing through said centres, are contained in planes parallel to said axis, which planes form a second angle larger than the first angle, and the intersection of said planes containing said directions is disposed, with respect to the plane parallel to the axis of the rotary member and containing the centres of the two actuating surfaces, substantially on the side where said axis is itself disposed, said control unit further comprising a third control member which is in a relative disposition with respect to a first of said two control members, substantially identical to the relative disposition of the first and second of said two control members with respect to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
223 words
Control unit for use in a vehicle provided with a prehension element such as a steering wheel, and a rotary member connected to said prehension element for controlling the steering members of said vehicle, said unit being mounted adjacent said prehension element and comprising two control members disposed on the side opposite the driver with respect to said prehension element, said control members being disposed within reach of at least one of the hands of said driver when the driver's hands are resting on said prehension element in the normal driving position, said control members having actuating surfaces, the centres of which define, with the axis of the rotary member, half-planes shifted by a first angle, wherein the directions perpendicular to the actuating surfaces and passing through said centres, are contained in planes parallel to said axis, which planes form a second angle larger than the first angle, and the intersection of said planes containing said directions is disposed, with respect to the plane parallel to the axis of the rotary member and containing the centres of the two actuating surfaces, substantially on the side where said axis is itself disposed, said control unit further comprising a third control member being formed with an exterior configuration which is distinct from said two control members whereby it is identifiable by the sense of touch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
223 words
Control unit for use in a vehicle provided with a prehension element such as a steering wheel, and a rotary member connected to said prehension element for controlling the steering members of said vehicle, said unit being mounted adjacent said prehension element and comprising two control members disposed on the side opposite the driver with respect to said prehension element, said control members being disposed within reach of at least one of the hands of said driver when the driver's hands are resting on said prehension element in the normal driving position, said control members having actuating surfaces, the centres of which define, with the axis of the rotary member, half-planes shifted by a first angle, wherein the directions perpendicular to the actuating surfaces and passing through said centres, are contained in planes parallel to said axis, which planes form a second angle larger than the first angle, and the intersection of said planes containing said directions is disposed, with respect to the plane parallel to the axis of the rotary member and containing the centres of the two actuating surfaces, substantially on the side where said axis is itself disposed, said control unit further comprising a third control member being formed with an exterior configuration which is distinct from said two control members whereby it is identifiable by the sense of touch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein the third control member and the second of the two said control members are grouped into one single, rocker switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein, when the control members are with zero displacement, said control members have a capacitive effect, and wherein the third control member and the second of said two control members are grouped in a single switch having two projections with respect to the external face adjacent said control unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control unit according to claim 3 wherein said control unit is defined at least partially by a substantially cylindrical surface which has an upper face and a lower face, the single switch being disposed on said upper face, and the line perpendicular to the actuating surface of the first of the two control members and passing through the centre of said actuating surface being substantially horizontal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control unit according to claim 5 wherein the actuating surface of the first of said two control members is disposed in the zone of connection of the upper and lower faces, said zone being substantially continuous.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control unit according to claim 5 wherein a control member is disposed on said lower face and is constituted by a lever mounted to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the rotary member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein said control unit is adjustable in position with respect to the structure of the vehicle, by a means known per se.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control unit according to claim 8 wherein means are provided so that after the prehension element has been disposed in a given position with respect to the structure, the position of the control unit is adjustable with respect to said prehension element as a function of the morphological form of the driver, and particularly the size of his hands, so that the control members are disposed within reach of at least one of said hands, when they rest on said prehension element in the normal driving position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein said unit is fixed to the structure of the vehicle by means of a device for removably holding it in position, and provided with a means for rapidly making the connections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein said control unit comprises an inner face oriented substantially towards the rotary member and one of the control members comprises a control light which indicates functioning thereof, which light being disposed on said inner face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein said unit comprises two devices mounted on the vehicle dashboard disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a plane parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle and passing substantially through the axis of the rotary member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control unit according to claim 12 wherein said unit further comprises an assembly which groups substantially all the members for visually checking the functioning of the vehicle, and said checking assembly being disposed between said two devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A control unit according to claim 13 wherein the visual checking assembly is adjustable in position with respect to the structure of the vehicle and the adjustment of the position of said assembly, particularly the adjustment of its inclination substantially parallel to the longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle, is effected as a function of the location of the driver's eyes, when said driver is sitting in his normal driving position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A control unit according to claim 1 wherein each of said control members is formed with exterior configurations which are distinct from one another whereby they are identifiable respectively by the sense of touch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB115532A
Cited
DE935646C
Cited
US2804931A
Cited
DE1128302B
Cited
US3176537A
Cited
DE1962810A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |