Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Other

Pat A Bolen

Christopher K Wyatt

Brent E Henderson

John A DeFranco

The present invention is directed towards a flexible flat cable of a vehicular clockspring whose conductors are directly attached to the contacts of a mounting header. The flat cable comprises a series of conductors 'printed' in-between a pair of insulating layers. The conductors are directly connected to the contacts of a mounting header, which partially form the connection module of a clockspring. Other devices or cables within the vehicle can than quickly mate to the clockspring connection module, via a corresponding connector. This method of termination is in contrast to prior art clockspring cables which typically weld their cable conductors to rigid printed circuit boards or overmolded metallic insert grids.

Flexible flat cable termination structure for a clockspring

A warning system for an ignition switch that includes a housing of the ignition switch and a plunger having at least a portion slidably received in the housing, a key abutment end and a contact abutment end opposite the key abutment end. The plunger is movable between first and second positions with respect to the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof. First and second contacts are positioned in the housing. The first and second contacts are spaced from one another when the plunger is in the first position. The first and second contacts are in contact when the plunger is in the second position. At least one of the first and second contacts is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Warning system for ignition switch

An electrical switch assembly for actuating an electrical circuit by closing at least one pair of conducting contacts in a sliding manner is disclosed. The assembly includes a contact carrier within a switch housing, a spring attached to the carrier that biases the carrier in an electrical circuit open position, a slot connected to the carrier that receives a force transfer member, and a force transfer member that is insertable into the slot and transfers a force applied by a switch operator to an angled wall portion of the slot. The angle of the wall portion is preferably 45-degrees relative to the axis of travel of the force transfer member. In operation, when the force transfer member is inserted into the slot and pushes against the angled wall, the carrier is displaced approximately orthogonal to the insertion direction of the force transfer member to move the contacts in the carrier from an electrical circuit open position to an electrical circuit closed position.

Electrical switch assembly

The present invention is directed to a modular clockspring to be used in automobile steering columns that allow modular parts of the clockspring to be modified without the need to alter the design of the entire clockspring. The clockspring is composed of at least six modules, a cover module, a housing module, an inner diameter (ID) connector module, an outer diameter (OD) connector module, a locking module, and a flat electrical cable module. The modular nature of the clockspring allows a single generic clockspring to be used in various steering columns. Minor differences in mounting styles, connector styles or the number of circuits within the differing steering columns can be accommodated with minor changes to the relevant modules without having to redesign the entire clockspring.

Modular clockspring

An electrical connector such as a clockspring for carrying electrical signals through a steering wheel provides EMI/RFI shielding. The electrical connector includes a housing formed of a conductive plastic and/or a metallized exterior surface.

Electrical connector with EMI/RFI shielding

A clock spring interconnector for providing an electrical connection between a rotating and stationary electrical circuit. The clock spring interconnector has a rotating hub attached to a housing and containing a coiled conducting means. The clock spring interconnector has one or more spring loaded locking devices which prevent the hub from rotating whenever the clock spring interconnector is divorced from the rotating and stationary devices.

Clock spring interconnector with reusable locking means

A clock spring assembly useful in maintaining an electrical connection between a rotating and stationary electrical device the clock spring assembly comprising a hub, a housing, a retainer, and a coiled conducting means. The hub is rotatably associated with the housing at a single bearing. The hub is attached to the housing by a locking means.

Growing community of inventors

Carthage, IL, United States of America

Pat A Bolen