US5120914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering column switch for motor vehicles
Assignee: SWF Auto Electric GmbH
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Filing: 1989-11-24
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Granted: 1992-06-09
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Expires: 2009-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A steering column switch for motor vehicles includes a switch housing and a switch lever mounted therein which may be pivoted about an axis together with a switching member, which switch lever is provided with at least one read-out panel which may be illuminated by a light guide traversing the switch lever, which light guide is aligned with a light source by a light-input area. The light source is fitted and protected in the switch housing; it is free from hard switching-on and switching-off impacts of the switch lever. In particular, it is arranged centrally around the pivotal axis of the switch lever and switching member, so that it is possible to illuminate the read-out panel with the same intensity in all switching positions of the switch lever relative to the pivotal axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Kerner
- 👤 Adam Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1446; B60Q1/1453; B60Q1/1461; B60Q1/1469; B60Q1/1476; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/16; H01H9/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprising: a switch housing; a switching unit mounted for pivotal movement about a first axis extending through said housing, said switching unit including: (a) a switching member mounted within said switch housing, and (b) a switch lever attached to said switching member; at least one read-out panel mounted in a surface of said switch lever; a light source within said switch housing; and light conducting means extending through said switch lever from said light source to said read-out panel for conducting light from said light source to said read-out panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprising: a switch housing; a switching unit mounted for pivotal movement about a first axis extending through said housing, said switching unit including: (a) a switching member mounted within said switch housing, and (b) a switch lever attached to said switching member; at least one read-out panel mounted in a surface of said switch lever; a light source within said switch housing; and light conducting means extending through said switch lever from said light source to said read-out panel for conducting light from said light source to said read-out panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first end of said light conducting means at which light from said light source enters said light conducting means is attached to said switching member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein said light source is disposed along said first axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein said light conducting means is aligned radially, with respect to said first axis, with said light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 4 further comprising: at least one bearing pin located on said housing and having a hollow portion in which said light source is located; and at least one bearing ring located on said housing and engaging said bearing pin for pivotably mounting said switch lever within said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a bottom positioned on said bearing pin wherein: said switching member contains a bore into which said switch lever projects; and said bottom closes the end, facing said bore, of said bearing pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a bottom positioned on said bearing ring wherein: said switching member contains a bore into which said switch lever projects; and said bottom closes the end, facing said bore, of said bearing ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein: said bearing pin has an opening disposed perpendicular to said first axis providing access to said hollow portion of said bearing pin in which said light source is located; and said light conducting means is positioned inside said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein said light conducting means is movable in said opening of said bearing pin in a direction perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 8 wherein said switch lever covers said opening of said bearing pin through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 10 wherein said switch lever forms a mesh covering said opening of said bearing pin through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 11 wherein said mesh of said switch lever has a collar and a circumferential recess into which said collar extends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein: said bearing ring has an opening disposed perpendicular to said first axis providing access to said hollow portion of said bearing pin in which said light source is located; and said light conducting means is positioned inside said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 13 wherein said light conducting means is movable in said opening of said bearing ring in a direction perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 13 wherein said switch lever covers said opening of said bearing ring through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 15 wherein said switch lever forms a mesh covering said opening of said bearing ring through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 16 wherein said mesh of said switch lever has a collar and a circumferential recess into which said collar extends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first end of said light conducting means at which light from said light source enters said light conducting means is attached to said switch lever.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A steering column as claimed in claim 18 wherein said light source is disposed along said first axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 19 wherein said light conducting means is aligned radially, with respect to said first axis, with said light source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 20 further comprising: at least one bearing pin located on said housing and having a hollow in which said light source is located; and at least one bearing ring located on said housing and engaging said bearing pin for pivotably mounting said switch lever within said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a bottom positioned on said bearing pin wherein: said switching member contains a bore into which said switch lever projects; and said bottom closes the end, facing said bore, of said bearing pin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a bottom positioned on said bearing ring wherein: said switching member contains a bore into which said switch lever projects; and said bottom closes the end, facing said bore, of said bearing ring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 21 wherein: said bearing pin has an opening disposed perpendicular to said first axis providing access to said hollow portion of said bearing pin in which said light source is located; and said light conducting means is positioned inside said opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 24 wherein said light conducting means is movable in said opening of said bearing pin in a direction perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 24 wherein said switch lever covers said opening of said bearing pin through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 26 wherein said switch lever forms a mesh covering said opening of said bearing pin through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 27 wherein said mesh of said switch lever has a collar and a circumferential recess into which said collar extends.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 21 wherein: said bearing ring has an opening disposed perpendicular to said first axis providing access to said hollow portion of said bearing pin in which said light source is located; and said light conducting means is positioned inside said opening.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 29 wherein said light conducting means is movable in said opening of said bearing ring in a direction perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 29 wherein said switch lever covers said opening of said bearing ring through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 31 wherein said switch lever forms a mesh covering said opening of said bearing ring through which said light conducting means reaches said light source.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 32 wherein said mesh of said switch lever has a collar and a circumferential recess into which said collar extends.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said switch lever is attached to said switching member for pivotal movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis; and said first end of said light conducting means is movable relative to said switching member and said housing when said switch lever is pivoted about said second axis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
A steering column switch as claimed in claim 18 wherein: said switch lever is attached to said switching member for pivotal movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis; and said first end of said light conducting means is movable relative to said switching member and said housing when said switch lever is pivoted about said second axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
FR1052532A
Cited
GB1178647A
Cited
FR2111907A1
Cited
US4408104A
Cited
FR2503646A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |