JP3693811B2 - Combination switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combination switch provided in the vicinity of a steering wheel of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an automobile, a combination switch is provided around the shaft portion of the steering handle. This combination switch is used for performing a predetermined operation based on an electrical signal from a lighting switch member or a wiper switch member to be mounted.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, an expensive harness or connector is required for electrical connection between the combination switch and the lighting switch member or the wiper switch member.
[0004]
The lighting switch member and the wiper switch member are mounted on the combination switch casing after electrical connection using a harness or the like, and the workability is poor.
[0005]
Further, since the casing is packaged around the rotating shaft of the steering handle, it is a dead space except for a portion where the lighting switch member and the wiper switch member are mounted.
[0006]
In addition, when different functions are provided depending on the vehicle type and grade, wiring according to each is required, and it is difficult to flexibly cope with it.
[0007]
Also, even if a partial failure occurs, such as when only the lighting switch member fails, the work can only be performed after all parts are removed.
[0008]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a combination switch that can be used in various modes with a simple and inexpensive configuration and can easily cope with a failure.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention includes an electrical connection structure in a casing attached around the shaft portion of the steering handle, and transmits an electrical signal from a switch body to be mounted to perform a predetermined operation. In combination switch to make
The electrical connection structure
A first U.S. internal substrate having a symmetrical U-shape located around the shaft portion of the steering handle and having contact portions at both ends thereof;
A second internal substrate on which electronic components having additional functions different from the first internal substrate are mounted;
It is housed in a switch body mounted from the outside of the casing, and includes an external board provided with an electrical connection part that can be electrically connected to a contact part of the first internal board,
The casing has openings on either the upper surface or the lower surface located in the radial direction and both side surfaces with respect to the shaft portion of the steering handle,
The first and second inner substrates can be mounted in the casing from an opening on either the upper surface or the lower surface of the casing,
The second internal board has a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the steering handle with respect to the first internal board, and the dead dead of the casing is formed above or below in the radial direction with respect to the shaft portion of the steering handle. It is arranged in a space.
[0010]
Preferably, the contact portions are formed at both upper end portions of the first internal substrate , which are positioned in the radial direction of the steering handle so as to be positioned at the openings on the both side surfaces in a state of being mounted on the casing. .
[0011]
It is preferable that the first internal substrate is prevented from falling off from either the upper surface or the lower surface by guiding the contact portion to the inner edge of the opening of the switch body.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows a state in which a combination switch 3 according to this embodiment is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 2 of the steering handle 1. The combination switch 3 is provided with a lighting switch member 4 and a wiper switch member 5.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 6 of the combination switch 3 is formed with a bearing portion 7 positioned at the outer periphery of the shaft portion 2 of the steering handle 1 at the center thereof. Openings 8a, 8b, and 8c are formed on the lower surface and both side surfaces of the casing 6, respectively. The side surface openings 8b and 8c are formed so as to open slightly obliquely upward with respect to the lower surface opening 8a, thereby facilitating the mounting of the switch members 4 and 5. Further, an inner substrate 9 is attached to the casing 6 through the lower surface opening 8 a and is closed by a lower lid 10.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the internal substrate 9 includes a first internal substrate 9a and a second internal substrate 9b disposed at a predetermined interval from the first internal substrate 9a.
[0016]
The first inner substrate 9a has a substantially U-shape that is symmetrical to the left and right, and the first contact portion 12 and the second contact portion 13 are formed on the pattern of both upper end portions 11 by plating. The outer edges of both upper end portions 11 are formed so as to gradually approach and incline toward the upper end. Thus, when the first internal substrate 9a is inserted into the casing 6 from the lower surface opening 8a and attached, the first contact portion 12 and the second contact portion 13 are positioned in the side surface openings 8b and 8c. It has become.
[0017]
The second internal substrate 9b includes a recess 14 along the bearing portion 7 of the casing 6, and various electronic components are mounted thereon. The second internal substrate 9b is used for additional functions such as keyless, immobility, SAV, safety function, and anti-theft function. Which additional function is provided differs depending on the vehicle type and grade, but can be easily handled by simply replacing the second internal substrate 9b. Keyless means a function of locking or unlocking a door by a remote controller provided on the key. Immobility refers to a function of receiving a signal from the key and determining whether it is normal or not in order to prevent the engine from starting unless the normal key is operated. SAV refers to a function of detecting the operation angle of the steering wheel 1 and the operation speed thereof.
[0018]
Both the lighting switch member 4 and the wiper switch member 5 have a configuration in which a lever 16 is rotatably attached to a switch body 15 and an external substrate 17 is accommodated. The external substrate 17 is formed with a plurality of contact portions 18 arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals by plating. Further, a through hole 19 (see FIG. 4) is formed in a part of or near the contact portion 18. In addition, since the 1st internal substrate which electrically connects the said external substrate 17 is left-right symmetric shape, and the 1st contact part 12 and the 2nd contact part 13 are the same shape, both the external substrates 17 shall also be made the same shape. The parts can be shared.
[0019]
An opening 20 is formed in the switch body 15, and the contact portion 18 of the external substrate 17 is located there. Further, on both side surfaces of the switch main body 15, locking claws 21 that are locked to the inner wall of the side opening 8 b or 8 c of the casing 6 are respectively projected.
[0020]
A leaf spring 22 is attached to each contact portion 18 of the external substrate 17 as shown in FIG. The leaf spring 22 includes a substantially U-shaped sandwiching portion 23 that sandwiches the contact portion 18 from both sides, and an electrical connection portion 24 that is substantially C-shaped and elastically deformable. A curved locking projection 25 is formed on the free end side of the clamping portion 23 and is locked in the through hole 19 of the external substrate 17.
[0021]
The combination switch 3 having the above-described configuration is assembled as follows.
[0022]
First, the first internal substrate 9a and the second internal substrate 9b are inserted through the lower surface opening 8a of the casing 6, and the lower surface opening 8a is closed with a lid. Thereby, the internal board | substrate 9 can be arrange | positioned in the dead space in the casing 6 which was not used conventionally.
[0023]
Next, a part of the switch body 15 of the lighting switch member 4 or the wiper switch member 5 is inserted from the side opening 8b or 8c of the casing 6 from the opening 8a side. The switch body 15 is attached to the casing 6a by the locking claw 21 being locked to the inner wall of the side opening 8b or 8c. At this time, the first contact portion 12 or the second contact portion 13 of the first internal substrate 9a in the casing 6a is located in the opening 20 of the switch body 15. As a result, the first contact portion 12 or the second contact portion 13 is guided by the inner edge of the opening 20 of the switch body 15, and is prevented from moving in the drop-off direction (downward opening 8a side). Further, the leaf spring 22 provided on the external substrate 17 is in pressure contact with the first contact portion 12 or the second contact portion 13, and electrical connection between the external substrate 17 and the internal substrate 9 is achieved. For this reason, the conventional harness and connector are unnecessary.
[0024]
In the combination switch 3 assembled in this way, since the lighting switch member 4 or the wiper switch member 5 is assembled last, if a failure occurs in them, only the corresponding member can be easily replaced. is there.
[0025]
In the embodiment, the lighting switch member 4 and the wiper switch member 5 are mounted after the internal substrate 9 is assembled to the casing 6 of the combination switch 3, but conversely the lighting switch member 4 and the wiper switch member 5 are mounted. After mounting, the internal substrate 9 may be assembled.
[0026]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the notches 26 are formed in the internal substrate 9 and the external substrate 17, respectively, so that the external substrate 17 and the opening 20 of the switch body 15 do not hinder the insertion of the internal substrate 9. Need to be configured. Further, the lighting switch member 4 and the wiper switch member 5 may be prevented from falling off by enabling a part of the inner substrate 9 to be locked to the outer substrate 17 or the opening 20.
[0027]
In the embodiment, the leaf spring 22 is provided on the external substrate 17, but may be provided on the internal substrate 9 side.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the combination switch according to the present invention, the switch mechanism is a substantially U-shaped symmetrically located around the steering handle, and has an internal substrate provided with contact portions at both ends thereof. Since it is configured with an external substrate mounted from the outside of the casing and electrically connected to the contact portion of the internal substrate, the configuration is simplified, and an expensive harness or the like is not required and can be manufactured at low cost. . In particular, since the inner substrate has a bilaterally symmetric shape, it is possible to use the same shape for the external substrate, and parts can be shared. Further, the internal substrate can be disposed by effectively using the dead space in the casing. In addition, when the available functions are changed, it is possible to flexibly cope with the change by simply replacing the internal substrate with one printed with another wiring pattern. In particular, when a partial failure occurs, it is possible to easily replace only the relevant part.
[0029]
In addition, since the second internal substrate is arranged in the dead space of the casing, various functions such as keyless, immobility, safety function, and anti-theft function are added without any special structural changes. It can be easily handled even in cases.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a steering handle provided with a combination switch employing an electrical connection structure according to an embodiment and the vicinity thereof.
FIG. 2 is an exploded front view showing the combination switch and the switch member of FIG.
3 is a front view (a) showing a state in which a board is mounted in the casing of the combination switch from the state shown in FIG. 2, and a front view (b) showing a state in which all remaining components are assembled. FIG.
4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view showing a combination switch and a switch member according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Steering handle 2: Shaft portion 3: Combination switch 4: Lighting switch member 5: Wiper switch member 6: Casing 7: Bearing portions 8a, 8b, 8c: Opening portion 9: Internal substrate 12: First contact portion 13: First Two contact portion 15: switch body 17: external substrate 18: contact portion 20: opening 22: leaf spring

Claims (3)

In a combination switch having an electrical connection structure in a casing attached around the shaft portion of the steering handle and transmitting an electrical signal from a switch body to be mounted to perform a predetermined operation,
The electrical connection structure
A first U.S. internal substrate having a symmetrical U-shape located around the shaft portion of the steering handle and having contact portions at both ends thereof;
A second internal substrate on which electronic components having additional functions different from the first internal substrate are mounted;
It is housed in a switch body mounted from the outside of the casing, and includes an external board provided with an electrical connection part that can be electrically connected to a contact part of the first internal board,
The casing has openings on either the upper surface or the lower surface located in the radial direction and both side surfaces with respect to the shaft portion of the steering handle,
The first and second inner substrates can be mounted in the casing from an opening on either the upper surface or the lower surface of the casing,
The second internal board has a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the steering handle with respect to the first internal board, and the dead dead of the casing is formed above or below in the radial direction with respect to the shaft portion of the steering handle. A combination switch arranged in a space. The contact portions are formed on both upper end portions of the first internal substrate , which are positioned in the radial direction of the steering handle so as to be positioned in the openings on the both side surfaces in a state of being mounted on the casing. The combination switch according to claim 1. 3. The first inner substrate is prevented from falling off from either the upper surface or the lower surface by guiding the contact portion to the inner edge of the opening of the switch body. Combination switch described.

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