EP1217494A2

EP1217494A2 - Multifunctional switch for external rear-view mirrors of vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1217494A2
Application number: EP20010125113
Authority: EP
Inventors: Riccardo Spada
Original assignee: Bitron SpA
Current assignee: Bitron SpA
Priority date: 2000-12-20
Filing date: 2001-10-23
Publication date: 2002-06-26
Also published as: IT249339Y1; ITTO20000216V0; ITTO20000216U1

Abstract

Multi-functional switch (1) for external rear view mirrors of vehicles provided with a box-type casing (2), an operating handle (3) which projects from the casing (2) with a pivoting movement over a conical area; a positioning bush which is fixed to the casing (2) in such a way as to turn around its own rotation axis, and a number of mobile blade-shaped contacts which are arranged inside the casing (2) in order to be activated according to the positioning of the handle (3); the handle (3) is connected to a balancing bush (4) which is mounted via an internal balancing surface of the carrier pin (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-functional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles.
According to the international patent no. PCT/EP98/08266 a well-known kind of multi-functional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles exists which comprises:
a box-type casing;
an operating handle which projects from the casing;
a carrier pin which is fixed to the casing in such a way that it can turn around its own rotation axis;
a connecting cross joint between the pin and the handle which is suitable for permitting a pivoting movement over a conical area in relation to the handle itself; and four switches which are equally distributed around the carrier pin, and which are suitable for being activated by the handle according to variations in the position of the handle itself.
The multi-functional switch according to the above-mentioned international patent no. PCT/EP98/08266 permits the regulation of the inclination of two external rear view mirrors separately from each other and also permits the simultaneous turning over of both mirrors in order that they lean on an external side of the vehicle. The rotation of the handle together with the rotation of the carrier pin around the rotation axis of the carrier pin itself permits the selection of the external rear view mirror to be orientated as well as the selection of the positioning movement of both external rear view mirrors.
While the multi-functional switch of a well-known type aims to resolve problems of dimension and structure in relation to other kinds of well-known multi-functional switches, it does, however, present a structure which is still complex and, therefore, expensive and difficult to manufacture.
The aim of the present invention is to produce a multi-functional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles which will be free of the above-described disadvantages.
According to the present invention, a multifunctional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles will be produced, comprising a box-type casing, an operating handle which projects from the casing; a carrier pin which is fixed to the casing in such a way that it can turn around its own rotation axis, and a multiple actuator which is arranged inside the casing, and which is suitable for being activated according to variations in the position of the handle; the multi-functional switch being characterised by the fact that it comprises a balancing bush which is connected to the handle and which extends towards the carrier pin.
The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of the current invention and in which:

FIGURE 1: is an exploded view of a preferred form of embodiment of the multi-functional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles according to the present invention;
FIGURE 2: is an enlarged plan view, with some parts in section and some parts removed for reasons of clarity, of the switch illustrated in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3: is an elevated side view, with some parts in section and some parts removed for reasons of clarity, of the switch illustrated in FIGURE 2 in a resting operative position; and
FIGURE 4: is an elevated side view, with some parts in section and some parts removed for reasons of clarity, of the switch shown in FIGURE 2 in a functional operative position.

With reference initially to FIG. 1, With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the number 1 indicates a multi-functional switch for external rear view mirrors of vehicles in its entirety.
The switch 1 comprises a box-type casing 2, an operating handle 3 which projects from the casing 2 itself, and two bushes 4 and 5, which are inserted one inside the other, and from which the bush 4 is integral with the handle 3, while the bush 5 is supported by the casing 2.
Finally, the switch 1 comprises an electrical printed circuit 6 which is arranged inside the casing 2 and which presents seven mobile blade-shaped contacts 7, which can be assimilable to common contacts fixed to the circuit 6 by means of corresponding external electrical connections via "PIN" which are linked to the body of the vehicle, and which are suitable for being closed according to variations in the position of the handle 3. The mobile blade-shaped contacts 7 are grooved in such a way as to obtain a sliding action between the mobile and fixed parts so that the end result produces a polishing effect.
FIGURES 3 and 4 provide a better illustration of the following: the casing 2 comprises an upper wall 8 which is transversal to an axis A and a base wall 9 which is parallel to the wall 8 itself. The casing 2 is provided with a collar 10 which is obtained in the wall 8 around the axis A itself and with a determined number of hooks 11, which are arranged inside the casing 2 integral with the wall 8 in order to support the bush 5, and said hooks 11 are uniformly distributed around the axis A.
Finally, the casing 2 comprises a bottom 12 which is mounted on the wall 9 external to the wall 9 itself in order to support the entire switch 1 while protecting the switch 1 itself from external agents.
The bush 5 is a positioning bush which is fixed by the hook 11 to the wall 8 in a turning way , and it is suitable for rotating around the axis A while being regulated in its own rotation by a fork spring 13, which is also supported by the wall 8 inside the casing 2, and which presents two flexible arms 14 which are arranged opposite the bush 5 itself.
In particular, the bush 5 presents two external circular external grooves 15 and 16, from which the groove 15 is engaged by the hooks 11 in order to fix the bush 5 itself to the wall 8, while the groove 16 is arranged between the groove 15 and the wall 8, and presents an internal shaped cam 17 which defines four angular positions of the bush 5, which correspond to an equivalent number of operating positions of the handle 3; which is to say a "0" operating position without any possibility of regulation , an "SD" enabling operating position for regulating the position of the right-hand rear view external mirror, an "SS" enabling operating position for regulating the position of the left-hand rear view external mirror and two "R" operating positions for turning over heating the rear view external mirrors themselves.
Each of these operating positions is indicated by a respective index 18 which is obtained by moulding or lasering on the external part of the wall 8, and which is activated by an operating arm 19 which is integral to the bush 5 and which extends parallel to the axis A towards the circuit 6 in order to interact in selective fashion with the four contacts 7 in such a way as to select equivalent functions of the switch 1.
The bush 5 is provided with a central hole 20, which is coaxial to the axis A, and which is engaged by the bush 4, and which is defined by an internal grooved profile. The central hole 20 presents a balancing flange 21, which is arranged substantially coplanar to the wall 8 and which is directly in contact with the bush 4.
The handle 3 presents a respective axis A' and is suitable for rotating around the axis A' when the latter coincides with the axis A for the selection of the operating positions listed above, as well as for pivoting in a conical area which is centered on the axis A itself. IN FIGURE 3, the handle 3 is illustrated in a resting operative position with the axis A' coinciding with the axis A, and the movement of the handle 3 from this position permits the up-down/left-right positioning of the two external rear view mirrors in such a way that they are independent the one of the other, and also permits the simultaneous activation of the heating of the external rear view mirrors as well as the activation of the turning over the external rear view mirrors themselves close to the respective sides of the vehicle.
The handle 3 comprises an upside down cup-shaped body 22, which is arranged with its own base wall 23 arranged transverse to the axis A', and a central body 24, which presents a first end section 25 which is inserted into, and integral with, the body 22, and a second end section 26 which is opposite the first section 25 and which is inserted into, and integral with, the bush 4.
The wall 23 presents a passing hole 27 which is substantially arranged along the edge of the wall 23 itself, and the first section 25 is provided with, from the part opposite that inserted into the body 22, an annular notch 28, and, from the part adhering to the wall 23, an index 29 which is arranged inside the hole 27 itself; the radial collimation with regard to the axis A of the index 29 with the indexes 18 identifies each function of the switch 1.
Furthermore, the first section 25 is provided with four radial blades 30 which are uniformly distributed around the notch 28, and which are suitable for being inserted inside the respective notchings 31 which are obtained along a free edge of the collar 10 in order to render integral with each other the rotation of the handle 3 and the bush 5. The first section 25 is also provided with two profiles 32, which are arranged between two adjacent blades 30 and which define, together with the free edge itself, an anti-double-contact device 33 which is suitable for preventing the simultaneous activation of the two contact 7.
In order to permanently permit the return of the handle 3 to its resting operative position with the axis A' coinciding with the axis A and with the blades 30 outside the notchings 31, the switch 1 comprises a garter spring 34, which is compressed between the flange 20 and the notch 27, and which is wound around the central body 23 and the handle 3 itself.
The bush 4 is a balancing bush and it presents a central passing hole 35 inside of which is inserted and blocked the central body 26, which in its turn presents a respective central hole 36 which is coaxial to the axis A' and which is aligned with the hole 35 in order to permit the backlighting of the index 29.
The bush 4 presents an external shoulder 37 which is suitable for co-operating with the flange 21 in order to avoid the upward sliding of the handle 3 under the elastic action of the spring 34, and comprises four operating arms 38 which extend transversely from the axis A' between the bush 4 and the circuit 6 in order to interact in selective fashion with a similar number of contacts 7 in order to orientate the cited rear view external mirrors. The arms 38 are provided with a nick, which slides during the positioning of the handle 3 in relation to the relative blades 7 and which generates a mechanical resistance which, together with the conformation of the profile of each blade 7, determines a sudden decrease in the operating resistance with a consequent effect on the return of the handle 3. The return effect generates, in the user of the switch 1, a clear sensation of having activated the switch 1 itself in order to obtain the requisite function and effect.
The functioning of the switch 1 and all its variations may be easily deduced from the fore-going description and so does not require any further explanation. It does, however, seem opportune at this point to specify that,
when the handle 3 is arranged in its resting operative position, it is absolutely impossible to activate the switch 1 unless the handle 3 itself is turned around the axis A in order to select the heating or turning over functions, or to select the orientation of the external rear view mirrors: in the latter case the rotation of the handle 3 in one direction rather than the other will determine the selection of whichever one of the rear view external mirrors needs to be orientated.
It is obvious from the above description that the switch 1, with the same number of activating functions, presents a reduced number of internal components and an extremely simple structure which permits a fast and reliable assembly of the above-mentioned components.
It is not intended that the current invention be limited to the form of embodiment herein described and illustrated, which is to be considered as a non-limiting form of embodiment of the current invention, which might be subject to further modifications in terms of the shape and arrangement of the parts, and details pertaining to construction and assembly.

Claims

Multifunctional switch (1) for external rear view mirrors of vehicles comprising a box-type casing (2), an operating handle (3) which projects from the casing (2); a carrier pin (5) which is fixed to the casing (2) in such a way that it can turn around its own rotation axis, and a multiple actuator (6) which is arranged inside the casing (2), and which is suitable for being activated according to variations in the position of the handle (3); the multi-functional switch (1) being characterised by the fact that it comprises a balancing bush (4) which is connected to the handle (3) and which extends towards the carrier pin (5).
Multifunctional switch according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the carrier pin (5) presents a central hole (20) which is coaxial to the rotation axis and which is engaged by the balancing bush (4); the central hole (20) being defined by an internal grooved profile, and presenting a balancing flange (21) which is arranged directly in contact with the balancing bush (4).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that it comprises an elastic/flexible positioning element (34) which is interposed between the handle (3) and the carrier pin (5) and which is suitable for repositioning the handle (3) itself in a resting working position coaxial to the rotation axis.
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the handle (3) comprises a head (22) and a tubular support coupling (26) which is integral with the head (22) itself and which is mounted inside the balancing bush (4); the said elastic/flexible positioning element (34) being defined by a garter spring which is wound around the coupling (26) and which is compressed between the head (22) and the balancing flange (21).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said multiple actuator (6) comprises a printed circuit which is arranged on the base of the said box-type casing (2), and a number of blade-shaped arms (7) which each correspond to a respective function of the multi-functional switch (1) itself.
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the balancing bush (4) comprises four operating arms (38) which extend between the carrier pin (5) and the printed circuit in order to selectively interact with an equal number of blade-shaped arms (7) in such a way as to orientate the said external rear view mirrors.
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 6, characterised by the fact that it comprises anti-double-contact means (33), which are interposed between the casing (2) and the handle (3) in order to regulate the action of the handle (3) starting from a resting operating position, and which comprise in turn a number of radial profiles (32) which are obtained in the said handle (3) and a shaped edge (10, 31) which is obtained on the casing (2).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said carrier p in (5) is defined by a positioning bush which is mounted through a collar (10) of the box-type casing (2) in a turning way , and comprising an operating arm (19) which extends towards the printed circuit in order to interact in a selective fashion with at least three blade-shaped arms (7) in such a way as to be able to select an equivalent number of functions of the multi-functional switch (1).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 8, characterised by the fact that the operating arm (19) extends towards the printed circuit parallel to the rotation axis in order to interact in a selective fashion with four blade-shaped arms (7) in such a way as to be able to select an equivalent number of functions of the multi-functional switch (1).
Multi-functional switch according to Claims 8 or 9, characterised by the fact of comprising selective elastic blocking means (13) which are coupled to the carrier pin (5) in order to correctly define each of the selection positions of the operating arm in correspondence with each relative blade-shaped arm (7).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 10, characterised by the fact that the said elastic blocking means (13) are defined by a fork spring (13) which is integral with the casing (2), and which comprise two flexible arms (14) which are arranged under an external surface (17) of the carrier pin (5).
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 8, characterised by the fact that said collar (10) comprises a number of hooks (11) which are arranged inside the casing (2) in order to render the carrier pin (5) integral with the casing (2) and capable of being able to turn in relation to the casing (2) itself.
Multi-functional switch according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said handle (3) comprises an identifying index (29) which indicates the position of the handle (3) itself around the rotation axis.