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(11) | EP 1 355 335 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device for a sliding switch |
| (57) This description relates to a switch for controlling electrical equipment in an automotive
vehicle, comprising a pivoted key which is connected to the lid of the switch and
a circuit board which is contained in the base, said pivoted key being suitable for
moving a mobile contact on the said circuit board in order to close electrical contacts
contained therein. The mobile contact is contained in a sliding element which is connected
to the pivoted key by a mechanism for transforming the pivoted motion. |
[0001] The present invention refers to an electrical switch for the control, for example, of power window regulators or of other electrical devices present in an automotive vehicle.
[0002] Many of the switches in current use are composed of an activating key, which also has an aesthetic function, and which..is fitted onto a support body by means of a hinge connection which permits the relative pivoted motion. The pivoted motion of the key is transformed into a linear activating motion by microswitches which are connected to a circuit board by means of brazing, with face feed of a tin/lead alloy.
[0003] The kind of switch which is well-known in the art, however, presents constructive details which increase the relative cost, for reasons of more burdensome assembly operations as well as for reasons relating to more delicate workmanship, which also lead to higher costs. Furthermore, the kind of switch which is well-known in the art also presents a greater polluting factor which is linked to the higher quantity of tin/lead which is used in the above-mentioned brazing process.
[0004] To go into greater detail, microswitches are complex components, which are created by means of the assembly of various plastic and metal elements, which - given their small size - require considerable work in terms of lining up, all of which factors are translated into high costs and limited adaptability.
[0005] The aim of the present invention is to produce a switch which will be cost-effective and which will overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0006] This and other aims and advantages will be accomplished by a switch for controlling electrical devices in an automotive vehicle, which presents the characteristics as described in the first claim.
[0007] There will now be described the structural and functional characteristics of a preferred but non-limiting form of embodiment of the switch according to the present invention. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the switch according to the present invention, and
FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the motion commutation device present on the switch in FIGURE 1, and which is not visible in detail in that illustration.
[0008] With reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated in general and in an exploded view a switch for commanding, for example, the electrical central control unit for power window regulators, formed of a lid 2 and a base 3. The switch is provided with a command pivoted key 4 connected in 5 to the lid 2. The body of the switch is snap fixed, by means of the base 3, on to a part of the interior compartment of an automotive vehicle (which is not illustrated). The key 4 is mobile, against the action of an elastic element, between three positions, one is a stable resting position in which it is in a substantially horizontal position and is parallel to the upper surface of the lid 2, and two are unstable activating positions, in which it is compressed and pivots from one part or the other in order to command, in the example illustrated, the opening or closing of the automotive vehicle windows. The mechanism which permits the transformation of the pivoted motion into a rectilinear motion of a metal contact element will be described in greater detail below, with reference to figure 2.
[0009] On the base 3 of the body of the switch there is the circuit board 7 and the connectors 8 for connecting it to the electrical system. A substantially W-shaped metal contact 9 is made to slide on the circuit board, and it presents on two external arms two support hooks 9a which permit it to be snap mounted onto the guide 9b of a sliding element 10. The contact 9 is maintained in pressure on the circuit board by means of a spring 11 which is compressed between the guide 9b and the contact itself. The metal contact is suitable, in its two extreme positions of linear movement, for closing the contacts 13 on the circuit board in such a way as to instigate the function of the relative electric motors, in the case which is illustrated, in order to activate the automotive vehicle windows. The sliding element is moved between guides which are obtained on the lid 2 (which are not illustrated), by a pin-fork mechanism which is suitable, as has been said, for transforming the pivoted motion of the key 4 into a rectilinear motion of the metal contact 9. With reference to FIGURE 2, the key 4 is visible, in the lower part of which there is presented the fork 12 which is suitable for engaging with the pin 14 which is realised on the sliding element 10, on which the fork 12 engages. Furthermore a position marking tracer point 15 is also visible, along with its push spring 16, which together carry out the return function of the pivoted key 4 in the resting position.
[0010] The mobile contact according to the present invention, for the commutation of fixed contacts, requires an amount of force which is less than the forces which determines the snap sensation and which are governed by a position marking tracer point system. Furthermore, being a contact of the sliding type, it carries out a self-cleaning commutation, which means a reduction of the drop in contact stress to the value of two units less in relation to the stress applied, even after 50,000 cycles.
1. Switch for controlling electrical equipment in an automotive vehicle, composed of
a lid (2) and a base (3) and comprising a pivoted key (4) which is connected to the
lid of a circuit board (7) which is contained on the base, said pivoted key being
suitable, when activated, for moving a mobile contact (9) on the said circuit board
in order to close electrical contacts which are contained therein, characterised by the fact that said mobile contact is contained in a sliding element (10) which is
connected to the pivoted key by a mechanism for transforming the pivoted motion of
the pivoted key (4) into a rectilinear motion of the sliding element (10) and which
is made up of a pin (14) which is inserted into a fork (12).
2. Switch according to Claim 1 characterised by the fact that the contact (9) is substantially in the form of a "W", and presents
on the two external arms two support hooks (9a) which permit the snap mounting of
a guide (9b) of the said sliding element (10).
3. Switch according to Claims 1 and 2 characterised by the fact that the contact (9) is maintained in a push position by means of a spring
(11).
4. Switch according to Claim 1 characterised by the fact that on the circuit board (7) there are points of contact (13).