GB2148219A

GB2148219A - A switch bar for a dashboard for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2148219A
Application number: GB08423270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gert Pollmann; Kurt Biehl; Karl F Butzbach
Original assignee: Franz Kirsten Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik
Current assignee: Franz Kirsten Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik
Priority date: 1983-09-14
Filing date: 1984-09-14
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: SE8404585D0; ES8505875A1; DE3333138A1; FR2551702A1; IT1179240B; GB8423270D0; IT8448839A0; SE8404585L; GB2148219B; FR2551702B3; ES535885A0; IT8448839A1

Abstract

A switch bar for a dashboard for vehicles, more particularly motor vehicles, is made from an electrically non-conductive material, preferably plastics material, and has electrical current conductors extending to the individual indicating and/or switching elements (2). Each indicating and/or switching element (2) is in the form of a modular component, and the indicating and/or switching elements (2) are combined to form one switch bar unit (1), with the elements (2) being disposed directly adjacent one another or a suitable blank bar (8) which may alternatively be disposed therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A switch bar for a dashboard for vehicles The present invention relates to a switch bar on a dashboard for vehicles, more particularly motor vehicles, which is made from an electrically nondonductive material, preferably plastics material, and has electrical current conductors extending to the individual indicating and/or switching elements.

Such a switch bar has indicating and/or switching elements attached thereto for any additional desired functions.

An instrument panel for vehicles, more particularly for commercial vehicles, is already known from German Offenlegungsschrift No. 3 017 053 and has a base member with a honeycomb structure, into which individual operational and control elements are inserted, cover caps being provided for the honeycombs which are not needed. However, this instrument panel is disadvantageous because the vehicle appears not to be fully equipped and also occupies a relatively large amount of space.

German Offenlegungsschrift No. 3 023 905 describes an instrument panel for vehicles, more particularly motor vehicles, and a method of producing such a panel. The rear end of this instrument panel is provided with conductor paths made from an electrically conductive material.

However, this instrument panel is disadvantageous because either the indicating and switching elements for all of the possible functions have to be provided so that blank covers also have to be used for varying types of layout, or appropriate apertures have to be produced subsequently, thereby considerably increasing the time and costs required to manufacture such an instrument panel.

The present invention seeks to provide a switch bar which eliminates blank covers and can be extended if desired.

According to the invention, there is provided a switch bar for a dashboard for vehicles which is made from an electrically non-donductive material and has electrical current conductors extending to individual indicating and/or switching elements, in which each indicating and/or switching element is in the form of a modular component and the indicating and/or switching elements are combined to form a switchbar unit said elements being disposed directly adjacent another said element or a suitable blank bar.

The advantages which may be achieved with the invention reside, in particular, in the fact that basically new possibilities regarding installation and structure are created for the instrumentation in a motor vehicle without the need to seal existing apertures in the dashboard by means of blank covers for the possible installation of indicating and/or switching elements; that is to say, the unattractive appearance of an incompletely equipped vehicle is avoided. In addition, because the indicating and/or switching elements are neatly arranged and are easily accessible, they are easier to operate and traffic safety is therefore increased. The structural features of the indicating and/or switching elements of the invention permit the switchbar to have an excellent, aesthetic overall appearance.

When symbols are provided which denote the function of each particular element, operability is facilitated. The building brick type system approach increases the possibilities of disposition and structure, whilst a variety of methods of securing the individual elements permit them to be easily installed and removed, and this is conducive to easy assembly and maintenance. In addition, during assembly of the elements, the electrical connections are simultaneously in contact with the electrical connection system, so that the possibility of incorrect assembly or loose plugs as a source for faults is eliminated.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a prior art dashboard, Figure 2 illustrates a switch bar of the present invention, provided externally of the actual central switching area and having a reading light as the terminating element; Figure 3 illustrates a switch bar which terminates with a continuous blank bar; Figure 4 illustrates a switch bar of the present invention, having a spacer blank bar and a terminating blank bar; Figure 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view of an indicating and/or switching element according to the present invention, current being supplied by a plug in the dashboard; Figure 6 is a sectional view of an indicating and/ or switching element according to the present invention, the element being secured differently from the element shown in Figure 5;; Figure 7 is a sectional view of an indicating and/ or switching element according to the present invention, the elements being secured beneath one another by means of retaining rods which permit contact to be made therebetween; Figure 8 is a sectional view of an indicating and/ or switching element according to the present invention, taken along a line 7-7 illustrated in Figure 9, the current-carrying leads extending within a recess formed in the element and the elements being retained beneath one another by means of retaining pins; Figure 9 is a partial, sectional view of a switch bar according to the present invention, taken from above; Figure 10 is a longitudinal, sectional view of an indicating and/or switching element according to the present invention, the current being supplied by means of a conductor plate/printed circuit board within the elements;; Figure 11 is a partial sectional, perspective view of a switchbar according to the invention, the current being supplied by means of a printed circuit board within the dashboard; Figure 1 lea is a side view of the switch bar of Figure 11; Figure 12 is a partially sectional, perspective view of an alternative switch bar according to the invention, the current being supplied by plugs inserted in the dashboard; Figure 12a is a side view of the switchbar shown in Figure 12; Figure 13 is a partially sectional, perspective view of a further, alternative embodiment of a switch bar according to the invention, the current being supplied by means of current-collecting rails inserted in the dashboard; Figure 13a is a side view of the switch bar shown in Figure 13;; Figure 14 is a partially sectional, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the switchbar according to the invention, the current being supplied by bushes and plugs which are associated with the individual elements in a suitably lateral manner; Figure 14a is a plan view of the switch bar shown in Figure 14 with adjacently disposed elements, the rear ends of the indicating and/or switching elements being joined together by means of hookshaped catches; and Figure 15 is a perspective view of a further, alternative embodiment of the switch bar according to the invention, the current being supplied by means of plugs which are secured to the individual elements and engage in the installation aperture formed in the dashboard.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art dashboard having a central switching area "A" wherein indicator and/ or switching elements "B", referred to hereinafter as elements, are so-called blank covers for optional additional functions, which are only obtainable at extra cost or which enable the motor manufacturer to select an appropriate layout but which tend to give the impression of an incompletely equipped vehicle.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate types of switchbar 1 according to the invention, which are attractively connected to the central switching area "A" and have a variable number of elements 2. The additional functions effected by the elements 2 may relate, for example, to operation of the rear screen wipers, the rear screen washing system, a heater for the driver's seat, a heater for the front passengers seat, fog lamps, fog rear light or other equipment. Where necessary, each element 2 is provided with an appropriate symbol 3. In Figure 2, the switch bar 1 terminates with an element 5 which has a reading light 6 and a push-button 7.

The elements 2 are made of plastics material and are parallelepiped in shape. The securing surface (not visible) is adapted to the shape of the dashboard, and for reasons of safety and appearance, the edges of the switch bar 1 facing the occupant of the vehicle are rounded-off. The terminating element has the shape of an upright prism with a triangular base. The edges of the prism are also rounded-off.

In Figure 3, the switch bar 1 differs from that shown in Figure 2 in that, instead of using a prismshaped terminating element, a blank bar 8 is connected to the elements 2 and extends to the end of the dashboard.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, two blank bars 8 are used and additional elements, for example, a reading light and an element for operating the heating for the front passengers seat, are disposed between the blank bars 4.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mounting of one individual element 2. On its rear end, the upper half of the element 2 has a hook-shaped member 9, which engages in a continuous groove 14 formed in the dashboard, and the lower half of the element 2 is provided with a clip-like projection member 10 which abuts against the rear end of a plug housing 11 mounted in the dashboard 4. A connection plug 13 is also provided on the rear end of the element 2 and connected with a socket member 12, which is disposed in the plug housing 11. The element 2 is securely and firmly mounted on the dashboard 4 by means of the hook-shaped member 9 and the clip-like projection member 10.

The element shown in the sectional view of Figure 6 corresponds to the element shown in Figure 5, but the retaining means have been changed.

Two spaced-apart hook members 10a and 10b are provided on the clip-type projection member 10.

The hook member 10a located at the end of the clip-type projection member 10 points downwardly and abuts against the rear end of the plug housing 11 mounted on the dashboard 4. The other hook member 10b points upwardly and engages directly with a protruding edge of the dashboard 4. The hook-shaped member 9 is disposed on the lower half of the rear end of the element and is inserted in the continuous groove 14 formed in the dashboard 4. As with the element 2 shown in Figure 5, the electrical connection is established by means of a connection plug 13 and a socket 12. As with the element 2 shown in Figure 5, the installation process is effected so that the hook-shaped holder 9 is first of all inserted into the groove 14 and then the clip-type projection member 10 is inserted into the recess 15 provided therefor.

In the embodiment of the element shown in Figure 7, the elements are mutually secured to one another by means of retaining rods 16 and suitable apertures. The surface of the retaining rods 16 is provided with conductor paths 23 which are connected to the conductor paths 23 of the adjacent elements 2, so that the current can be picked-up via contact pins 24. This embodiment does not require any blank bar because there is no need to provide connection apertures in the dashboard 4.

One end of the switch bar 1 is secured to the righthand central switching area and the other end is secured via the element 2 and, as shown in Figure 7, has a recess 17 formed in an aperture, by means of which only the last element 2 of the switch bar 1 is secured on the dashboard 4 by means of a screw or other securing means 18. The rear of the element, which is adapted to the shape of the dashboard 4 and is considerably curved, serves as an additional retaining means to prevent upward or downward displacement. The retaining rods 16 and the apertures corresponding thereto are spaced from one another in the upper and lower corners in the vicinity of the rear of the element 2.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken along the line 7-7, of one individual element 2 of the switch bar 1 shown in Figure 9. The elements 2, which are shown in Figures 8 and 9, are mutually secured by means of two retaining pins 19 and appropriate apertures which are provided in the upper and lower corners in the vicinity of the rear of each element 2. The current is supplied by leads 20 which extend in a recess 21 provided in each element 2.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the electrical connection is established by connection plugs 26 which are held in position by clip-type projection members 29. The leads 20 themselves extend through two lead holders. This embodiment also does not require a blank bar because there is no need for connection apertures in the dashboard 4. As with the embodiment shown in Figure 7, one end of the switch bar 1 is secured at the central switching area and the other end of the switch bar 1 is secured by means of the terminating element 28 which is secured to the dashboard by means of a screw 27 or other securing means, the switch bar being additionally secured by the curvature of the rear of the elements.

Figure 10 illustrates a further embodiment of the element 2. As in the preceding embodiment, one end of the switch bar 1 is secured by means of two retaining pins 19 and appropriate apertures beneath one another, and the other end of the switch bar 1 is secured by means of the terminating element 28 which is mounted on the dashboard 4, the curved rear end of each element 2 abutting against the dashboard 4 and serving as an additional retaining means to prevent displacement. In this embodiment, the current is transmitted by a circuit board 22 which is of a length adapted to the number of adjacently disposed elements 2 and which extends into a recess 21 formed on the rear of the elements 2. The electrical circuit is closed by contact pins 30 which are disposed on the respective element 2.This embodiment also does not require a blank bar because there is no need for connection apertures in the dashboard.

In the embodiments of the switch bar which are illustrated in Figures 11 to 14, the elements 2, and possibly the blank bar 8, are secured to the dashboard 4 by means of a clip-in member 40 which clips into an upper guide groove 41 and into a lower guide groove 42. In the view shown in Figure 11, a continuous circuit board 43, which is connected to appropriate contact pins 44 for the individual elements 2, is disposed between the upper guide groove 41 and the lower guide groove 42 in the dashboard 4. The portion of the printed circuit board 43 which is not needed is covered by a blank bar 8. In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, adjacently disposed plugs 45 are inserted into the dashboard 4 between the upper guide groove 41 and the lower guide groove 42 in the dashboard 4 and are connected to appropriate contact pins 44 of the individual elements 2.The plugs 45 are retained in the dashboard 4 by means of clip-type projection members 46.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, continuous current-collecting rails 53 are disposed in the dashboard 4 between the upper guide groove 41 and the lower guide groove 42 in the dashboard 4 and are connected to appropriate contact springs 54 of the elements 2. The portion of the bus bars 53 which is not needed is covered by a blank bar 8.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the elements which are retained by the upper guide groove 41 and the lower guide groove 42 on the dashboard 4 are joined together in an electrically conductive manner by means of suitably laterally mounted bushes 55 and plugs 56. To make the adjacent elements 2 adequately stable, the rear ends of the individual elements 2 are joined together by means of hook-shaped catches which engage in appropriate grooves 57. The portion of the guide grooves 41 and 42 which is not needed is covered by an appropriate blank bar 8.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the elements 2, and possibly the blank bar 8, are secured in the dashboard 4 by means of a continuous slidein channel 47 having an associated insert aperture 48 formed therein. Retaining webs 49, which engage behind the wall of the slide-in channel 47, are moulded on the rear ends of the elements 2 and the blank bar 8. For current-transmitting purposes, a plug 50, which engages in the slide-in channel 47, is secured to the rear end of each of the elements 2 between the upper and lower retaining webs 49. To increase the stability of the adjacent elements 2, said elements are joined together laterally beneath one another by means of guide pins 52 which engage in appropriate bores 51.

Claims

1. A switch bar for a dashboard for vehicles which is made from an electrically non-conductive material and has electrical current conductors extending to individual indicating and/or switching elements, in which each indicating and/or switching element is in the form of a modular component, and the indicating and/or switching elements are combined to form a switch bar unit, said elements being disposed directly adjacent another said element or a suitable blank bar.

2. A switch bar as claimed in claim 1, in which the elements are parallelepiped in shape.

3. A switch bar as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the indicating and/or switching elements are of identical depth and height.

4. A switch bar as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the edges of the switch bar unit facing the occupant of the vehicle are rounded-off.

5. A switch bar as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the rear of the indicating and/ or switching elements and of the blank bars are adapted to the shape of the dashboard.

6. A switch bar as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the indicating and/or switching elements have a symbol denoting the function thereof.

7. A switch bar as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the switch bar comprises indi cating and/or switching elements and an upright prism having a triangular base as terminating element.

8. A switch bar as claimed in claim 7, in which the terminating element has a reading light and a push-button.

9. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 6, in which the switch bar is divided into a desired number of indicating and/or switching elements, a blank bar, additional indicating and/or switching elements, one element having a reading light, and a terminating blank bar.

10. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the individual indicating and/or switching elements of the switch bar are secured by means of a hook-shaped member, which is engageable in a continuous groove formed in the dashboard, and by means of a clip-type projection member, which is engageable in a recess formed in the dashboard beneath or above a plug housing secured in the dashboard.

11. A switch bar as claimed in claim 10, in which the clip-type projection member abuts against the rear end of the plug housing and against the dashboard.

12. A switch bar as claimed in claim 11, in which a connection plug is disposed between the clip-type projection member and hook-shaped member of each element.

13. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the elements are mutually secured to one another by means of retaining rods.

14. A switch bar as claimed in claim 13, in which the surface of the respective retaining rods is provided with conduction paths.

15. A switch bar as claimed in claim 13, in which the terminating element is secured to the dashboard by means of a screw or some other suitable securing means.

16. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the elements are secured to one another by means of retaining pins which engage in one another.

17. A switch bar as claimed in claim 16, in which current-conducting leads run in a recess formed on the rear of the elements.

18. A switch bar as claimed in claim 16, in which current is transmitted via a circuit board which is mounted in the elements and is of a length adapted to the number of adjacently disposed elements.

19. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the elements, and/or the blank bar, are securable to the dashboard by means of a clip-in member which clips into an upper guide groove and into a lower guide groove.

20. A switch bar as claimed in claim 19, in which a circuit board, which is contacted by appropriate contact pins of the individual elements, is disposed between the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove in the dashboard.

21. A switch bar as claimed in claim 19, in which adjacently disposed plugs are inserted into the dashboard between the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove in the dashboard and are connected to corresponding contact pins of the individual elements.

22. A switch bar as claimed in claims 19 and 21, in which the plugs are retained in the dashboard by means of clip-type projection members.

23. A switch bar as claimed in claim 19, in which continuous current-collecting rails are disposed in the dashboard between the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove in the dashboard and are connected to appropriate contact springs of the elements.

24. A switch bar as claimed in claim 19, in which the elements, which are retained by the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove in the dashboard, are joined together in an electrically conductive manner by means of suitably laterally mounted bushes and plugs.

25. A switch bar as claimed in claims 19 and 24, in which the rear ends of the individual elements are joined together by means of hookshaped catches which engage in appropriate grooves.

26. A switch bar as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the elements, and/or the blank bar, are secured by means of a continuous slide-in channel having an associated insert aperture formed therein.

27. A switch bar as claimed in claim 26, in which retaining webs, which engage behind the wall of the slide-in channel, are moulded on the rear ends of the elements and the blank bar.

28. A switch bar as claimed in claims 26 and 27, in which a plug, which engages in the slide-in channel, is secured to the rear end of each of the elements between the upper and lower retaining webs.

29. A switch bar as claimed in claims 26 to 28, in which the elements are joined together laterally beneath one another by means of guide pins which engage in appropriate bores.

30. A switch bar for a dashboard for vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 2 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.