Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Daniel J Danek

Mario M Orrico

Earl J Genz

Frank K Villari

Ghaffar Kazkaz

Joseph J Spedale

Harry N Etters

Charles J Shedore

Tao-Ming Wang

Iran R Littman

Randall M Crippen

Stephan H Schramme

Robert L Spike

Nicholas J Mercadante

Anthony W Meadors

John N Long

Brigg A Johnston

A mirror switch assembly that may be incorporated with a mirror unit for tilting a mirror. A set of contacts rotates when the mirror unit is rotated between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. The set of contacts is electrically coupled to two motors and to a set of terminals. The set of terminals is electrically coupled to at least one mirror adjustment switch that is located in the interior of the vehicle. When the set of contacts rotate, the connections between the terminals and the motors are reconfigured to compensate for a change in orientation of the mirror.

Mirror switch assembly

A joystick module in which a toggle arm controls movement of a plurality of shutters, with each shutter arranged between a light receiver and a light emitter. Control of the light from the light receiver to the light emitter of each pair provides signal information for controlled operation of an activity.

Optical joystick module

A switch actuator is provided with a rotor in a housing and a third class lever having a cam follower operatively engaged against a cam surface of the rotor. A fulcrum of the lever is provided at a location relative to the rotor, which location is adjustable relative to the rotor in response to continued rotation of the rotor after an operative end of the lever has been stopped against a switch.

Switch actuator

A centrifugal operated switch particularly suitable for operating a circuit for starter windings of a motor. A spindle is connected to and rotated by the motor shaft. Swing arms connected to the spindle move upwardly and outwardly in response to rotational speed of the spindle. A plunger is movable in the spindle, and moves together with movement of the swing arms. The plunger is operationally connected to a contactor having one end electrically connected to a first terminal, and a second end alternatively connected to and disconnected from a second terminal. Movement of the plunger causes movement of the contactor.

Centrifugal operated switch

A rotary switch suitable for use as a transmission gear selection switch. The switch includes a housing and a rotor rotationally connected to the housing, the rotor being rotational about a first axis. A cam follower connected to the rotor has a cam surface substantially centered about a radial axis, the radial axis being normal to the first axis. An electrical contact carried by the rotor has a contact surface spaced from the cam surface along the radial axis.

Rotary switch

An accelerator module for an electric vehicle has a pivotal actuator upon which is mounted a wiping element for wiping engagement with variable and constant resistance elements formed upon a printed circuit board mounted within a housing. A normally-open switch mechanism is also mounted upon the printed circuit board, and in order to delay the closure of the normally-open switch mechanism from its OPEN state to its CLOSED state, the actuator is provided with a spring-biased overtravel plunger mechanism which engages a push-button element of the switch mechanism so as to retain the switch in its OPEN state until the actuator has been moved a predetermined distance corresponding to a predetermined amount of depression of the accelerator pedal of the electric vehicle.

Accelerator module for electric vehicle

A method and apparatus for actuating an electrical switch and providing a variable electrical resistance usable to sense displacement of a movable member. The apparatus includes a housing for receiving the electrical switch, a variable resistance element, and an actuator with a body member and a transverse cylindrical sleeve. An electrically conductive wiper is coupled to the actuator and contacts the variable resistance element, which varies with pivotal movement of the actuator. The body member is pivotably supported by an aperture of the housing about an axis of the cylindrical sleeve, and a spring member biases the actuator toward an initial position, wherein the actuator is pivotable against the bias of the spring to actuate the electrical switch and to provide the variable resistance by positioning the electrically conductive wiper along the variable resistance element. A guide surface within the housing guides the actuator and the electrically conductive wiper in fixed relation relative to the variable resistance element when the body member is pivoted within the housing. The cylindrical sleeve protrudes through an aperture of the housing, and is coupled to the movable member by a collar with a set screw without having to calibrate the variable resistor or the switch actuation timing.

Electrical switch and variable resistance module for vehicle brake pedal

A method and apparatus for an electrical switch assembly generally comprising a snap-action electrical switch disposed in a module frame assembly and connected to electrical contact pins for mating with a contact pin connector. A switch module assembly is connected to the module frame assembly and includes a switch actuator assembly for actuating the snap-action electrical switch. The switch actuator includes a latch spring guide that may be configured for either 'alternate' or 'momentary' actuation of the snap-action electrical switch and emits audio and tactile switch status indicators perceptible to an operator. The module frame assembly and switch module assembly are releasably connectable to and form an integral unit with a cap base assembly having a cap module with a low power LED illuminatable display visible under extreme ambient lighting conditions for indicating switch status. The integral unit is interlockably receivable in a switch connector module that may include an electrical contact pin socket and is mountable in a bracket.

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Berwyn, IL, United States of America

Daniel J Danek