United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Essex Group, Inc.

Anthony Vultaggio

David A Coffin

Dragan Bogovican

Nick Smith

Floyd J Sandi

An electrical switch contains three contactor carriers, each capable of containing a different pattern of contactors. The carriers slide on conductive strips to complete circuits to electrical devices. Two carriers are controlled by a linkage that moves one as the linkage is pushed or pulled and moves the other as the linkage is rotated. The third carrier is moved by thumbwheel and engages a resistance element that is connected to the strips, to vary the resistance through a pair of strips. A removable cover has walls that force the carriers towards the strips and limit the movement of some carriers. A bayonet lamp engages the strips to light the faceplate under the control of the third carrier.

Multi-function modular switch

A rotary, push-pull switch (20) for use in an automobile has a rotating ceramic coated metal substrate rheostat (48) and a supplemental switch (52) which opens and closes a dome light bypass circuit. The supplemental switch (52) is mounted internally to the rotary, push-pull switch (20) adjacent to the rotating rheostat (48) disposed on a shaft (36). A projection (88), which is radially disposed on the shaft (36), is used to actuate the supplemental switch (52) by engaging a resilient contact leaf (60) when the shaft (36) is rotated sufficiently. The engagement of the projection (88) and contact arm (60) causes the separation of a contact (62) and terminal (64), opens the dome light bypass circuit, and precludes energizing the dome light.

Rotary, push-pull headlight switch with ceramic coated metal substrate

A rotary, push-pull switch (20) for use in an automobile is combined with a supplemental switch (52) which opens and closes a dome light bypass circuit. The supplemental switch (52) is mounted internally to the rotary, push-pull switch (20) adjacent to a rotating rheostat (48) disposed on a shaft (36). A projection (88), which is radially disposed on the shaft (36), is used to actuate the supplemental switch (52) by engaging a resilient contact leaf (60) when the shaft (36) is rotated sufficiently. The engagement of the projection (88) and contact arm (60) causes the separation of a contact (62) and terminal (64), opens the dome light bypass circuit, and precludes energizing the dome light.

Cam actuated dome light bypass switch

A composite, push-pull headlight and rotary switch (1) having a front bracket area (4) and a panel light dimming rheostat (62/91) for use in a vehicle with, for example, a dome light switch and a supplemental fluorescent panel light system switch, utilizing two, parallel, spaced panels (6 & 7) having three, laterally extended, operative planar surfaces, all located in the front bracket area. The front panel (6) has on its back side a rheostat planar surface including a series of circularly disposed, peripherally spaced, resistive layers (62), which, in conjunction with a rotatable, sweeping, rheostat contactor arm (91), serve the rheostat dimming function for the panel lights. The rear panel (7) has on its front side (71) a detent planar surface having three protrusions (72A-72C), which serve as detent positions in cooperation with a flexible, rotatable detent arm (92) sweeping across it, as the control knob shaft (8) is rotated, along with an axially extended and movable, protruding plunger (73), which also extends to the other side ( 74) of the panel to coact with switch contactors (75A & 75B) for the 'dome' light bypass circuit, and a switch circuit planar surface on the opposite, back side having spaced conductive surface contacts (76& 77) which control the main 'dome' light circuit and the fluorescent panel light circuit. A common hub (90) carries the rheostat contactor arm and the detent and plunger actuator arm, while on the other side of the second panel there is included a conjunctively rotatable dome & fluorescent contactor structure (93) scrubbing against the switch circuit planar surface.

Automotive headlight, push-pull, rotary switch system

A multiple push-button switch having three push-button actuators for operation of two contact carrying leaf spring strips each normally urged to a rest position by its natural resilience but adapted for flexing to an actuated position. Each strip is associated with a respective latch member adapted to releasibly retain the strip in its actuated position. A first of the actuators engages the two strips when depressed to deflect the strips from their rest positions to actuated positions in latched engagement with the latch members. The second actuator when depressed interacts with one strip and the latch member associated with the other strip to deflect the one strip from its rest position to its actuated position in latched engagement with its associated latch member and to concurrently disengage the other latch member from the other strip for return thereof to its rest position from an actuated positon. The third actuator engages the two latch members when depressed to disengage the latch members from the respective strips for return of the latter to their rest positions from actuated positions.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Anthony Vultaggio