FR2490001A1 - ELECTRICAL SWITCH, ESPECIALLY A DASHBOARD SWITCH FOR MOTOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH. A DEVICE 10, RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE SWITCH BOX 1, IS PLACED IN THE SWITCH ACTUATOR 3 TO ENSURE A FUNCTION INDICATION IN DAYLIGHT. APPLICATION TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical switch, in particular a

dashboard switch

  for motor vehicles, comprising an action

  and a single light source, separate from that

  ci by a wall of the switch cabinet, and serving

  indicate an indicator range (illumination of local-

  tion), for example with a symbol and, simultaneously,

  to indicate the corresponding position of the

  contactor actuation (function indication), the

  which body has an optically linked transparent part

  the light source, in the closed circuit position, via a passage opening

  of light which is formed in the casing wall.

  In switches of this type with location and function illumination (German Patent Application Laid-Open No. 17,90,270), there is provided in the portion of the switch actuator which is turned towards the opening of light passage a transparent window through which, in the closed circuit position, the interior volume can be illuminated on one half of the actuating member

  in order to show a visible symbol of the external

  laughing. In the open circuit position, the actuating member is swiveled away so that no

  light ray can not go through the window.

  Of course such switches provide at night a clear indication indicating whether the actuator is in the open or closed position or in what position exactly the switch is located, but,

  however, this kind of switch is not suitable for

  function in normal daylight.

  It is an object of the invention to provide a switch with simple means for providing, in addition to a clear indication of function at night, also sufficient indication of the corresponding positions of the switch in daylight. This problem is solved according to the invention in

  a device, rigidly connected to the switch cabinet

  tor, is placed in the switch actuator

  to ensure function indication in daylight.

  According to an advantageous mode of arrangement of the in-

  the device may have an indicative surface

  sensitive movement of the maneuvering organ of the

  switch and which is placed, in the closed circuit position, in front of a window of

  vision which is arranged in the actuating member of the

mutator.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

  tion, the indicator surface consists of a

  see guided in a guiding sleeve of the device and which, in each position of the switch, applies under the effect

  of a spring force against the inner wall of the body

switch actuator.

  In one embodiment of a construction

  very simple, the indicator surface is formed by a

  that is attached to an arc-shaped piece of plastic or metal, resilient and rigidly connected to and operated by the switch housing,

  in each position of the switch, against the wall

  of the switch actuator.

  For both embodiments, it is expediently provided that the switch actuator

  is arranged in the form of a control flip-flop.

  By providing indicator surfaces that are

  elastically against the inner wall of the

  control flip-flop, one can eliminate the springs of

  pel, otherwise necessary, the control rocker.

  To be able to set the function indication range

  at any position on the frontier side

  it, visible from the outside, the control lever, it is provided in a simple manner that this control rocker comprises at least one light pipe extending up to 2490f001

  the transparent part and which, in the closed position

  circuit, is placed in the light beam of the

  this. The light beam passing through the light aperture can be interrupted in a simple manner in that, in the cut-off position, a front wall of the control lever covers the aperture of

passage of light.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the

  will be highlighted later in the description of the

  tion, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG.

  of circuit opening, an embodiment of a switching

  a single-stage rocker which is provided with a

  indication of function in daylight; Fig. 2 shows the toggle switch in the closed circuit position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the toggle switch; Fig. 4 shows the toggle switch having a two-stage function indication in the first circuit close position; Fig. 5 shows the toggle switch in the second circuit close position; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the toggle switch, with two-stage function indication; Figure 7 shows the function indication at the

  daylight and night in the first position of iron-

  circuit termination (right side) and in the second closed circuit position (left side); and FIG. 8 shows in section the rocker switch provided with a simplified device for the indication of

function in the light of day.

  In a switch casing 1 is disposed a control lever 3 pivotable about a center of rotation 2 and which masks, in the open circuit position shown in FIG.

  passage of light 5 formed in a wall 4 of the housing.

  Behind this wall 4 of the housing, there is provided in the housing 1 of a switch lamp 6 which serves firstly to indicate a transparent indicator range 7 and provided with a symbol, for example a road-lighting symbol , a headlight wiper symbol, a lighting symbol

  baggage compartment, etc., and on the other hand to indi-

  position the toggle switch 3.

  For the function indication it is provided a

  led light 8 rigidly connected to the rocker com

  Mande 3, this light pipe penetrating on one side into a

  transparent portion 9 of the control lever 3 and

  on the other side, facing the passageway

  light 5, slightly below the control lever 3.

  The light pipe 8 simply provides a

  the position of the switch at night. Since the indication of function in normal daylight is not sufficient, there is provided in the control lever 3 a device 10 to ensure the indication of function during the day. It consists of a guide sleeve 11 connected to the switch housing 1 and in which is mounted a pusher 12 which is applied by a spring 13

  against the inner front wall 14 of the weighbridge

  3. The front side of the punch 12 has a surface

  this indicator 15 provided for the function indication, which may be characterized by a color and which, when passing through the closed circuit position, switches to a

  vision window 16 of the control rocker 3.

  The spring 13 also serves the function of

  recall the control lever 3 from the open position

  circuit to the closing position of cir-

cooked.

  In FIG. 2, the control lever 3 is

  in the closed circuit position. In this position, the control lever 3 disengages the light-passing opening 5 and the light duct 8, rotating at the same time as the control lever 3, arrives in the

  light beam (indicated by arrows) of the lamp 6.

  In addition, the indicator surface 15 is simultaneously de-

  placed by the rotational movement of the

  command 3 to the viewing window 16.

  FIG. 3 shows in the closed circuit position the function indication provided for the night by a light point 17 and the indication of

  function planned for the day by the indicator surface 15.

  The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 comprises a control flip-flop 3 with two-stage function indication. In the control rocker 3, it is provided

  two light pipes 8, 8 'placed next to each other

  and whose free ends are offset in height, as well as two pushers of similar structure, movable, placed next to the light pipes and of which only the

  front pusher designated by 12 is visible in the figure.

  In the first closed circuit position,

  the control lever 3 releases only part of the opening

  light passage 5, which means that only

  the front light channel 5 is placed in the light beam, whereas in FIG. 5 the second light pipe 8 'is additionally biased by the light beam because the control lever 3 has completely cleared the opening

light passage.

  For two-stage function indication at the

  daylight, the indicator surface 15 of the first push

  evening 12 is initially placed, in the first position

  circuit closure I, in the viewing window 16 a-

  arranged in the form of an oblong hole (FIG. 7) whereas,

  in the second closed circuit position, the override

  15 'indicator face of the second pusher is additionally

  placed in a circular vision window 16 '.

  In the closed circuit positions I and II, the light spots placed inside provide the indication of

  two-storey function during the night, while the

  The outside vision unit provides two-stage function indication during the day. The circuit open position of the control flip-flop 3 is

shown in Figure 6.

  FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment of a function indicator device, which consists of an arc-shaped metal part 18,

  elastic plate, and a plate 19 provided with a surface indicative of

  trice 15, and disposed at its free end. The piece

  18 has a fixed point 20 in the housing-of

switch 1.

  In the open circuit position, the indicator surface 15 is not visible in the window 16, which may also have a rectangular shape, whereas in the

  first circuit closure position shown, initial

  tially only one half of the indicator area is

  visible in the window, whereas, finally, in the se-

  conde closed circuit position, the other half of the indicator surface is also clearly visible in

the window.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which can make

the subject of many variants.

Claims (8)

  1) An electric switch, in particular a dashboard switch for motor vehicles, comprising an actuating member and a single light source, separated from the latter by a wall of the switch housing.   tor, and used to indicate a range of indicative   location) provided for example with a symbol and, simultaneously, to indicate the corresponding position of the switch actuator (indication of   function), which drive unit has a   transparent tie optically connected to the light source,   in the closed circuit position, through the   of an opening of passage of light which is   in the casing wall, characterized in that a dis-   positive (10), rigidly connected to the switch cabinet (1), is placed in the switch actuator (3)   to ensure function indication in daylight.   2) Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises an indicator surface (15, 15 ') responsive to the operating movement of the switch actuating member (3) and which is placed,   in the closed circuit position, in front of a window   view (16, 16 ') disposed in the actuator (3).   3) Switch according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the indicator surface (15, 15 ') is   formed by a pusher (12) guided in a guiding sheath   (11) of the device (10) and which in each position of the   switch, comes into force under the effect of a force   resiliently against the inner wall (14) of the actuator switching.   4) Switch according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the indicator surface (15) is   staked by a plate (19) which is fixed on a piece of   arc shape of metal or plastic (18), elastic   and which is rigidly connected to the switch housing (1), and which is applied by this part, in each position of the switch, against the inner wall (14) of the body switch actuator (3).   Switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switch actuator (3) is arranged in the form of a flip-flop control.   6) Switch according to any one of the claims   1 to 5, characterized in that the control rocker   (3) comprises at least one led light (8)   to the transparent part (9) and which, in the   closing circuit, is placed in the light radius the source (6).   7) Switch according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, characterized in that in the position of   circuit opening, the light passage opening (5) is masked by a front wall of the control lever (3).   8) Switch according to any one of the claims   1 to 7, characterized in that it is provided in the   control circuit (3), a second light pipe (8 ') co-   with a transparent part (9 ') associated with it   which is offset in height with respect to the first light pipe in the area of the passage opening   of light (5), so that in a first posi-   initially in one of the light conduits (8), and in a second closed circuit position also the second light pipe (8 '), are placed in the radius of the single light source (6).   9) Switch according to any one of the claims   1 to 8, characterized in that the device (10) com-   for indication of function in daylight, two indicator surfaces (15, 15 '), one of which appears,   in the first and second closed position of cir-   cooked, in front of the viewing window (16), while the other appears, only in the second closed circuit position, in front of a second viewing window (16?) of the control lever (3).   ) Switch according to any one of the claims   1 to 9, characterized in that the viewing window (16) is formed by an oblong hole and in that   first closed circuit position, the surface   initially appears in one of the halves of the oblong hole and, in the second closed position of   circuit, in the other half of the oblong hole.