Electrical switching arrangement

Claim 1

An electrical switching arrangement for use in a motor vehicle or the like, said arrangement comprising: a support frame; a lever support member pivotally mounted on said support frame for pivotal movement about a first support axis; a hollow control lever member pivotally mounted with respect to said lever support member for pivotal movement about a second support axis extending in a direction different from that of said first support axis; a control shaft extending coaxially through the hollow interior of said control lever member and rotatable with respect thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof; a first actuating member connected to said control lever member; a second actuating member connected to said control shaft; switching means mounted on said support frame and including: a switch base; a plurality of switch elements disposed on said switch base; a second sliding member mounted for sliding movement in a predetermined first direction; a first sliding member carried by said second sliding member for movement therewith in said first direction, said first sliding member being mounted for sliding movement with respect to said second sliding member in a second direction extending approximately at a right angle to said first direction; a plurality of cam actuators mounted for movement with respect to said switch base for selective opening and closing of said switch elements; and cam means on said first sliding member for selectively displacing said cam actuators with respect to said switch base; and connecting means for connecting said second sliding member to one of said first and second actuating members and for connecting said first sliding member to the other of said first and second actuating members, such that upon selective pivoting movement of said control lever member about said second support axis and rotational movement of said control shaft about said longitudinal axis, said first sliding member is moved in said second direction independently of said second sliding member, or said first sliding member is moved in said first direction with said second sliding member, thereby to displace selectively said cam actuators for opening and closing selected of said switch elements.