FR2622046A1 - QUICK-START ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING THE WINDOW DEVICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A quick-release electric switch for controlling the window regulator device of a motor vehicle comprises a plastic body 1, a first and a second fixed contact 6, 7 mounted inside the body 1 in a face-to-face position. , a movable contact 12 substantially in the form of a plate 13, one free end of which is interposed between the two fixed contacts 6, 7 leaving a certain clearance, a leaf spring 18 interposed between a part fixed on the support body 1 and said plate 13, so as to keep the free end of the plate 13 in contact with the first fixed contact 6, a control button 2 capable of being pressed against one end of a control lever 16, in order to bring the free end of the plate 13 in contact with the second fixed contact 7, the leaf spring 18 being shaped and arranged such that the passage of the plate 13 between the first and the second position takes place in a rapid release .

Description

QUICK-RELEASE ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR

  CONTROL OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

  The present invention relates to an electric switch for controlling the window lifter device of a

motor vehicle.

  The object of the invention is to provide a switch of the type described above whose operating stroke is reduced and whose switching initiation is rapid with the presence of contact friction at the time of switching in order to guarantee its

perfect cleanliness.

  To achieve this objective, the invention relates to an electric switch for controlling the window regulator device of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a plastic body, first and second fixed contacts mounted at inside the body in face-to-face position, a movable contact substantially in the form of a plate, a free end of which comes to be interposed between the two fixed contacts, leaving a certain clearance, a control lever mounted in an oscillating manner in the body of support and connected to the other end of said plate, a leaf spring interposed between a part fixed on the support body and said plate, so as to keep the free end of the plate in contact with the first fixed contact, a control button mounted oscillatingly on the support body and capable of being pressed against one end of said control lever, in order to bring the free end of the plate into contact with the de uxth fixed contact, the leaf spring being shaped and arranged in such a way that the passage of the plate between the first and the second positions takes place in

quick release.

  In a preferred example, the part fixed to the body against which the leaf spring reacts is constituted by a flange on which the control lever is mounted in an oscillating manner. In the case of this example, the plate consists of two parallel flat rods spaced from one another, joined at their ends by two flat parts. The leaf spring is produced so as to form a single piece with the plate and it consists of a flat S-shaped tail which projects into the space between the two rods mentioned above, with from one of the two flat end parts. The flange against which the free end of the plate reacts is placed in the space between the two rods. The control lever consists of a flat L-shaped element mounted oscillatingly on the base of the aforementioned flange, the axis of oscillation being arranged in a position

  intermediate between the two ends of the plate.

  In addition, preferably between the command key

  and the inner parts of the switch is inter-

  installed a base serving as protection against dust and support for a printed circuit comprising a light-emitting diode for lighting the button (which

  in this case is transparent or semi-transparent).

  In practice, in the support body are provided two switches side by side, respectively intended to control the rotation in one direction and the other of the electric motor of the window lifter device. The plate of each of the switches is oriented in an opposite direction relative to the plate of the other switch, so that the two switches are operated by the pressure exerted on a single control key, oscillating in one direction

or in the other.

  In the case of a switch intended to be operated by the driver of a motor vehicle, it is possible to provide two pairs of switches mounted in the same support body and controlled by two oscillating keys, intended respectively to control the window from the driver's seat and the passenger window. Other features and benefits of

  the invention will emerge from the following description, while

  referring to the attached drawing presented by way of nonlimiting example, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of two detached parts of the switch; Figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of Figure 1; and Figures 5 and 6 show a side view and a front view of a variant of the switch according to the invention. Figures 1 to 4 show a switch for controlling the window lifter device associated with a motor vehicle window. More specifically, the switch shown is intended to be placed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle in a position accessible to a passenger. However, the switch intended to be controlled by the driver of the vehicle will be described

  specifically in the following description,

referring to Figures 5 and 6.

  The device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises two electric switches identical to each other, intended respectively to control the rotation in one direction and the other of the electric motor making

part of the window regulator.

  Referring to Figure 1, we see that the device comprises a body 1 of plastic and a control button 2 which is mounted on the body 1 so as to oscillate about an axis 3. As will be seen, l oscillation of the control key in both directions respectively causes the intervention of one or the other electric switch, both contained inside the body 1, with the respective consequence

  raising or lowering the window.

  If reference is also made to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plastic body 1 comprises a main body 1a and an auxiliary body 1b which is snap-fitted on the main body 1a. Snap-on mounting can be carried out by using lugs 4 (only one of which is visible in FIGS. 1 to 3) which are provided on the outside surface of the body 1a inside openings 5 provided in the part of the auxiliary body lb. In the mounting position, the lower edge of the auxiliary body 1b is in contact with

  abutment surfaces lc provided in the main body la.

  The two electrical switches supported by the main body 1a are visible in FIG. 3. One of these switches is illustrated in detail in the sectional view of FIG. 4. Since these two switches are identical as regards their structure, the

  description below will only deal with that illustrated on

  FIG. 4, it being understood that the other switch differs from the first switch only by the arrangement,

  as we will see below.

  Referring to Figures 3 and 4, each switch comprises a pair of fixed contacts 6, 7 mounted side by side in the space between the base wall 8 of the main body la and a base 9 forming part of the auxiliary body lb. The two contacts 6, 7 are supported by two flanges 10, 11 which extend below the base wall 8 (reference in FIG. 4) in order to produce two terminals in the form of a plate (not visible in the drawing) intended to be connected

  to the electrical circuit of the motor vehicle.

  Between the two fixed contacts 6, 7 is arranged, with a certain clearance, a movable contact 12 which is supported at the end of a plate 13. As can be seen in FIG. 3, said plate 13 of each switch is made up of two flat rods 14, parallel and spaced from one another, joined at their ends by two flat parts 15. One of these flat parts 15 supports the movable contact 12 while the other flat part 15 is connected to a control lever 16. The control lever 16 consists of a flat element whose configuration is substantially L-shaped. The shortest branch of the lever 16 is inserted in the space between the two rods 14 of the plate 13 so as to be fixed to this plate. The opposite end of the control lever 16 has a notch 16a which engages on a flange 17 so as to allow oscillation of the lever 16 relative to the point of connection with the flange 17. The latter is made of an electrically conductive material and is in electrical conduction relationship with the plate 13 via the control lever 16. The flange 17 extends beyond the base wall 8 so as to constitute a terminal plate (not visible in the drawing )

  for connection to the vehicle electrical system.

  Between the ends of the plate 13 which supports the movable contact 12 and the flange 17, is interposed a leaf spring 18 which pushes the movable contact 12 into the position of contact with the fixed contact 6. The leaf spring 18 consists of an S-shaped element made in one piece with the plate 13 and projecting into the space between the two rods 14 from the part

  plane 15 which supports the movable contact 12.

  The free end of the control lever 16 can be pressed, by means of a needle 19 by

the control button 2.

  The base 9 forming part of the auxiliary body 1b has an opening 9a in which the needle 19 is slidably mounted, as well as an opening 9b for fixing the upper end of the flange 17. The latter has, in its upper line (reference in FIG. 4) a notch in which the free end edge of the leaf spring 18 engages. The base 9 supports, in an example of a preferred embodiment, a printed circuit 20 provided with a diode light-emitting for the illumination of button 2 which, in this case is in

  transparent or semi-transparent material.

  Finally, the side wall of the main body has openings 1d intended to receive, by snap-fastening, lugs provided in relation to the panel of the motor vehicle on which the switch is mounted. The operation of the switch described above is as follows: With reference to FIG. 4, a pressure exerted on the control key 2 so as to make it oscillate around the axis 3 in the direction of the needles d 'a watch causes a lowering of the needle 19. The latter presses the control lever 16 by rotating it around the point of connection with the flange 17. Following this rotation, the end of the plate 13 which is linked to the lever 16 lowers, overcoming the action exerted by the leaf spring 18. The latter is shaped and arranged so that as soon as the movable contact 12 moves away from the fixed contact 6, it causes said movable contact to come quickly 12 in the position of contact with the fixed contact 7. However, this position is an unstable position and maintained only while a pressure is exerted on the key 2. When this pressure is released, the key 2 returns to its neutral position illustrated in figure 4 and the con mobile tact 12 returns to its position of connection with the fixed contact 6. This return movement is carried out

  evidence under the action of leaf spring 18.

  Since, when the key 2 is pressed, the end of the plate 13 linked to the control lever 16 rotates around the axis of oscillation of the lever 16, it can be seen that this rotation corresponds to a movement either in the vertical direction, either in the horizontal direction (with reference to FIG. 4), from the end of the plate 13 mentioned above. Consequently, when the plate 13 lowers, it also moves in the horizontal direction (always with reference to FIG. 4), causing friction between the movable contact 12 and the fixed contact 6 before these two contacts move away one of the other. Similarly, when the key is released, there is friction between the movable contact 12 and the fixed contact 6 before the contact 12 moves away from the contact 7. This friction is beneficial because it ensures that the contacts remain clean. The base 9, as has already been said, not only exercises the support function for the key lighting printed circuit, but is also useful for protecting the parts

  inside the dust switch.

  When the control key 2 oscillates anticlockwise (with reference to FIG. 4), it causes, in a manner analogous to what has already been described, the operation of the other electrical switch provided in the body 1. This electrical switch has a structure identical to that described above, with the only difference that its assembly is turned 180 relative to that of

  the switch described above.

  Thanks to the particular structure and the arrangement which have just been described, the switch according to the invention has the advantage that its operating stroke is very reduced, thus allowing rapid triggering of the switching. The size of

  this switch is also relatively small.

  Figures 5, 6 refer to an exemplary embodiment of a switch intended to be operated by the driver of the motor vehicle. In this case, the body 1 supports two oscillating keys 2a, 2b which respectively control the window regulator device of the front window to the right and to the left. Each key is obviously associated with a pair of switches, as in the case represented in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the mounting of the body 1 on the panel 21 of the motor vehicle (FIG. 5) is carried out by means engagement of spring lugs 21 projecting from

  of body 1 on the inside of panel 21.

  Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining unchanged, the construction details may vary widely from what has been described and illustrated.

on the drawing.

Claims (10)

  1. Quick-release electrical switch for controlling the window regulator device of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a plastic body (1), first and second fixed contacts (6, 7) mounted inside the body (1) in a face-to-face position, a movable contact (12) substantially in the form of a plate (13) of which a free end is interposed between the two fixed contacts (6, 7) leaving a certain play, a control lever (16) mounted in an oscillating manner in the support body (1) and connected to the other end of said plate (13), a leaf spring (18) interposed between a part fixed on the support body (1) and said plate (13), so as to keep the free end of the plate (13) in contact with the first fixed contact (6), a control button (2) mounted oscillating on the support body (1) and capable of being pressed against one end of said control lever (16), in order to bring er the free end of the plate (13) in contact with the second fixed contact (7), the leaf spring (18) being shaped and arranged so that the passage of the plate (13) between the first and the second position is done in one quick release.   2. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the part fixed to the body (1) against which reacts the leaf spring (18) consists of a flange (17) on which is mounted   oscillating the control lever (16).   3. Switch according to claim 2, characterized in that the leaf spring (18)   constitutes a single piece with the plate (13).   4. Switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate (13) consists of two planar rods (14) parallel and spaced from one another, joined at their ends by two flat parts (15), and by the fact that the leaf spring (18) consists of a flat S-shaped tail which projects into the space between the two rods (14) from one of the two flat end parts (15); the aforementioned flange (17) being disposed in the space between the two rods (14) in order to achieve the   connection with the free end of the leaf spring (18).   5. Switch according to claim 4, characterized in that the control lever (16) consists of a flat L-shaped element which is mounted   oscillating manner on said flange (17), the axis of oscillating   tion being disposed in an intermediate position between   the two ends of the plate (13).   6. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that between the control button (2) and the interior parts of the switch, is interposed a base (9) for protection against dust and possibly support a printed circuit with a light emitting diode for key lighting.   7. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) comprises two switches placed side by side having the structure defined above, and intended to respectively control the rotation in one direction and the other of the motor electric associated with the window regulator.   8. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) comprises two pairs of electrical switches controlled by two separate control keys, for controlling the separate window regulator. _622046   1t 9. Switch according to claim 6, characterized in that the base (9) mentioned above is part of an auxiliary body (lb) mounted by   latching on the main body (la).   10. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the body is provided with means (ld, 22) for snap mounting of   the switch on a panel of the motor vehicle.