US4180713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch control unit for automobile vehicle
Assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
•
Filing: 1978-01-23
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Granted: 1979-12-25
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Expires: 1998-01-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle having a steering wheel and is constituted by a box provided with vehicle accessory control and checking means. The control members several types of manually operable switches arranged and disposed for operation by a driver while his hands remain on the steering wheel, the switches being recognizable by touch.
Inventors
- 👤 Boris Gonzales
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In an automobile vehicle provided with a steering wheel, with electrical means for controlling and checking the operation of various accessories of said vehicle and with a control unit constituted by a compact box located near said steering wheel and comprising a central part and two ends, a support attached to a fixed member of said vehicle and orientable and extendable with respect to said fixed member, said box being laterally connected to said support, said control means being constituted by hand-operated switches electrically connected by wires to said accessories and located and borne by said central part and said ends of said box, an improvement of said control unit in which said central part is substantially cylindrical and at least one of said switches is borne on said box to have rotatable direction of actuation about the axis of said cylindrical central part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an automobile vehicle provided with a steering wheel, with electrical means for controlling and checking the operation of various accessories of said vehicle and with a control unit constituted by a compact box located near said steering wheel and comprising a central part and two ends, a support attached to a fixed member of said vehicle and orientable and extendable with respect to said fixed member, said box being laterally connected to said support, said control means being constituted by hand-operated switches electrically connected by wires to said accessories and located and borne by said central part and said ends of said box, an improvement of said control unit in which said central part is substantially cylindrical and at least one of said switches is borne on said box to have rotatable direction of actuation about the axis of said cylindrical central part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one of switches is of annular form and rotatably borne by the box between one of said ends and said central part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one of switches is constituted by said central part of the box, mounted to rotate on the said support about said axis of the box between at least two end rest positions, the other switches being located on said ends parts and on extensions of said support surrounding the ends of said central part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support is telescopic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said fixed member is a front partition forming an instrument panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed member is the casing of the steering column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Improvement of the control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support is secured to said fixed member through a swivel joint for adjustment of the position of said box relative to said steering wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-24 | 1983-06-25 | 1983-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-24 | 1987-06-25 | 1987-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-24 | 1991-06-25 | 1991-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |