Switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles

Abstract

 The invention relates to a switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, the template comprising a plurality of push-buttons which are operatively coupled to an actuator holding bodies holding therein a plurality of actuators controlled by said push-buttons. The main feature of the invention is that the push-buttons and holding body comprise a single piece made by molding.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles.

[0002] As is known, available motor vehicles conventionally comprise a plurality of electric devices, which can be controlled by respective controlling switches, such as, for example, direction lights, anti-fog lights, electric window operating devices, emergency lights, heating devices, and so on.

[0003] A first type of prior switches for operating the mentioned devices usually comprises ON-OFF switches, which can be controlled or driven by a control push-button which can be alternately arranged either in a first ON position or in a second OFF position, as the device controlled by such a switch must be actuated or deactuated.

[0004] A second type of prior switches is conventionally used in devices for operating the window glasses in a motor vehicle, or in other devices in which a control switch therefor must be designed to assume either a first or a second electric contact position, as well as a further neutral position between the two mentioned contact positions.

[0005] More specifically, a prior electric window switch comprises a toggling push-button thereon are provided suitable marks allowing a user to clearly see the operating conditions of the push-button, as well as a holding body housing therein several actuators driven by the toggling movement of the push-button.

[0006] The mentioned push-button is pivoted to the actuator holding body as follows: the push-button comprises two pins, each of which projects from one of the longitudinal sides of the push-button and is engaged in a corresponding hole formed on the actuator holding body.

[0007] While this solution is very simple construction-wise, it has the following drawbacks.

[0008] At first, in order to make the switch, it is necessary to make two discrete switch pieces, i.e. the toggling or swinging push-button and the actuator holding body.

[0009] Moreover, said discrete switch pieces must be mutually assembled, in order to provide the end switch.

[0010] Thus, the making of the mentioned switches is very expensive, and it would be desirable to reduce their cost by a simplified construction of the switch itself.

[0011] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that a need is felt of simplifying the push-buttons associated with motor vehicle switches both individually and overally.

[0012] Moreover, it would be very desirable to make a push-button assembly as unexpensively as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a switch template comprising therein a plurality of switches which can assume their operating positions without the need of performing further assembling operations to the actuator holding body.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a switch template for control switches, in particular for controlling electric devices in motor vehicles, comprising a plurality of push-buttons which are operatively coupled to a holding body holding therein a plurality of actuators to be controlled by said push-buttons, characterized in that said push-buttons and actuator holding body comprise a single pieces.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said single piece is made by molding.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch template comprises a plurality of push-buttons adapted to be alternately arranged in a first OFF position and in a second ON position, said push-buttons being coupled to said actuator holding body by coupling bridging elements.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch template comprises a plurality of toggling or swinging push-buttons, coupled to said holding body by a pair of bridging elements, each of which is arranged at a half of one of the longitudinal sides of a side toggling or swinging push-button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure, given by way of an illustrative but not limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch template according to a first embodiment of the present invention, made by molding, comprising a plurality of switches therein;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating an electric window switch, associated to the switch template of Figure 1, in a cross-section taken according to a plane perpendicular to the push-button and parallel to the longitudinal sides thereof;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric window switch, substantially taken through a plane perpendicular to the push-button and parallel to the cross sides thereof;
and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a switch template according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] In the following disclosure, reference will be made to some preferred embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated as a not limitative example of several possible variations thereof.

[0020] In particular, the invention specifically relates to a switch template for motor vehicle electric devices, as shown in Figure 1, and generally indicated by the reference number 1.

[0021] The switch template 1 comprises a template body 21 housing herein a plurality of switches 2, 3, 22, 23, 24 for controlling or operating corresponding motor vehicle electric devices.

[0022] For example, the switch template 1 can comprise a pair of switches for electric or power windows, each provided with a toggling or swinging push-button 2, coupled to the switch template 1 by bridging elements 3.

[0023] The template comprises moreover push-buttons for controlling other electric devices, of the type adapted to be alternately arranged both in a first OFF position and in a second ON position.

[0024] In particular, in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, are provided ON-OFF push-buttons, respectively indicated by the reference numbers 22, 23, 24 and 25, for operating devices such as direction lights, anti-fog lights, power windows, emergency lights, heating devices.

[0025] Said ON-OFF push-buttons are coupled to said holding body by coupling bridging elements 26, 27 allowing said push-buttons to operate between the two mentioned ON-OFF positions.

[0026] The switch template 1 comprises moreover switches 2 and 3 which can be used for actuating that type of devices requiring a switch adapted to assume both a first and a second electric contact position as well as a further neutral position, included between said two contact positions.

[0027] A main example of such a device is that of a power window, which must be operated both in an opening direction and in a closing direction of the window glasses.

[0028] Figure 2 shows, in particular, a power window switch, generally indicated by the reference number 10, comprising a toggling or swinging push-button 2 and a holding body 5, housing therein the actuators 4 and 4' controlled by the swinging movement of the push-button 2.

[0029] The actuators 4 and 4' are in turn coupled to an electric circuit 7, designed for controlling the device driven by the switch 1.

[0030] The swinging or toggling push-button 2 and holding body 5 comprise a single piece, which is preferably made by molding.

[0031] By such a molding method, a swinging push-button 2 coupled to the holding body 5 by a pair of coupling bridging elements 3 and 3' is provided.

[0032] More specifically, each bridging element 3 and 3' is arranged at a half of one of the longitudinal sides 6 and 6' of the toggling or swinging push-button 3.

[0033] The disclosed single-piece construction will allow the switch 1 to operate by assuming a first and a second electric contact position, as well as a further neutral position included between said contact positions, by pivoting on the bridging elements 3 and 3', so that the switch can properly operate for controlling the opening and closing movements of the motor vehicle window glasses.

[0034] One of the contact positions of the switch 1 has been clearly shown by dashed lines 2'.

[0035] The switch template 1 integratedly houses therein both ON-OFF switches and toggling switches in a single construction, comprising the holding body 5, said construction being made by molding, thereby allowing to greatly reduce the making cost thereof.

[0036] A second embodiment of the switch template according to the present invention is shown in Figure 5 and has been generally indicated by the reference number 30.

[0037] Likewise the switch template 1, the switch template 30 herein shown comprises a molded body 31 housing herein a plurality of control switches 2, 3, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 33 specifically designed for operating different electric devices.

[0038] Actually, said switch template 30 houses therein a pair of power window switches, each including a toggling or swinging push-button 2, coupled to the switch template 1 by coupling bridging elements 3.

[0039] Moreover, said switch template 30 comprises moreover control push-buttons for operating electric devices requiring push-buttons designed for assuming, alternately, a first OFF position and a second ON position.

[0040] In particular, each said push-button 33 is coupled to the body 31 by a coupling bridging element 34, the push-buttons 24 and 25 being each coupled to the body 31 by a respective coupling bridging element 36 and the push-buttons 22 and 28 being each coupled to said body 31 by respective bridging element 37.

[0041] The switches of all the above disclosed embodiments, in addition to providing the above mentioned advantages, are adapted to operate through a number of operating cycles which is much greater than that of the standards required by the motor vehicle makers.

[0042] From the above disclosure it should be accordingly apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

Claims

1. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, said switch template comprising a plurality of push-buttons operatively coupled to an actuator holding body holding therein a plurality of actuators to be controlled by said push-buttons, characterized in that said push-buttons and said actuator holding body are made as a single piece.

2. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said single-piece is made by molding.

3. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said switch template comprises moreover at least a push-button of a type adapted to assume, alternately, a first OFF position and a second ON position.

4. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to Claim 3, characterized in that each of said ON-OFF push-buttons is coupled to said actuator holding body by one or more coupling bridging elements.

5. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said switch template comprises moreover at least a toggling push-button, coupled to said actuator holding body by a pair of coupling bridging elements.

6. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to Claim 5, characterized in that each said bridging element is arranged at a half of one of the longitudinal sides of said toggling push-button.

7. A switch template for control switches, in particular for operating electric devices in motor vehicles, according to one or more of the preceding claims, and substantially as broadly disclosed and illustrated and for the intended aim and objects.

Drawing