Trw Limited

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Scott J Pollock

George B Wolfe

Ralph Thomas Varney

Nick Smith

Daniel Christopher Murphy

An apparatus () is used with a vehicle seat () and a vehicle floor pan () for supporting the vehicle seat. A sensor lever () transmits the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat () to the vehicle floor pan (). The sensor lever () has a first end portion (), a second end portion (), and a middle portion () interposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The middle portion () of the sensor lever () is movable with the vehicle seat (). The sensor lever () has a first sensor portion () disposed between the middle portion () and the first end portion (). The sensor lever () has a second sensor portion () disposed between the middle portion () and the second end portion (). The first and second sensor portions () bend as the vehicle seat () moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan (). A carrier structure () rigidly connects to the sensor lever () at the first end portion () and the second end portion () for connection to the vehicle seat (). The first and second sensor portions () provide an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of the middle portion ().

Seat load sensing apparatus

A pushbutton switch (,) includes a printed circuit board (,) having first and second traces (,) spaced circumferentially apart about an axis (,) and a housing (,) connected to the circuit board. The housing (,) includes a chamber (,) in which a movable assembly (,) is partially disposed. The movable assembly (,) has electrical contacts (,) for engaging one or the other of the first and second traces (,and,) on the circuit board (,). A button (,) is connected with the movable assembly (,). The button (,) is manually depressible toward the circuit board (,). A spring (,) biases the movable assembly (,) and the button (,) away from the circuit board (,). A plurality of angled surfaces (,) on the movable assembly (,) cooperate to cause the movable assembly to rotate about the axis (,) when the button (,) is manually depressed toward the circuit board (,). The movable assembly (,), when rotated, toggles between a first condition in which the first trace (,) is engaged by the contacts (,) and a second condition in which the second trace (,) is engaged by the contacts.

Two position pushbutton switch with illuminated button

An electrical switch (20) comprises a plastic base (40), a plurality of base terminals (102-112) mounted in the base, a manually pivotable actuator (200) supported for pivotal movement relative to the base, and at least one actuator terminal (260) mounted to the actuator. The actuator (200) is pivotable between a neutral position in which the actuator terminal (260) is in contact with one (106) of the base terminals (102-112) and at least one actuated position in which the actuator terminal is in contact with another (110) of the base terminals. The actuator terminal (260), when the actuator (200) is pivoted from the neutral position to the at least one actuated position, slides out of contact with the one (106) of the base terminals (102-116) and slides into contact with the other (110) of the base terminals. The sliding movement of the actuator terminal (260) into and out of contact with the one (106) of the base terminals (102-112) and the other (110) of the base terminals cleans the actuator terminal and the base terminals to help prevent contamination.

Electrical switch with sliding terminal contacts

A switch (10) includes a pair of fixed contacts (20,22) spaced apart from each other. The switch (10) also includes a contact member (40) including a resilient base (42) and a pair of contact arms (80,82) connected to and extending from the base in a direction toward the fixed contacts (20,22). The switch (10) also includes a manually engageable member (110) connected with the contact member (40) for, upon the application of a predetermined force to the manually engageable member, moving the contact arms (80,82) into electrical contact with the fixed contacts (20,22) to complete an electric circuit between the fixed contacts. The resilient base (42) of the contact member (40) yields upon the application of the predetermined force to the manually engageable member (110). The resilient base (42) moves the contact arms (50,52) out of electrical contact with the fixed contacts (20,22) upon removal of the predetermined force from the manually engageable member (110).

Electrical switch with contact spring

An apparatus (10) comprises a manually rotatable knob (14) and a source (18) of light. The knob (14) has an axis (15) of rotation, and has a discrete light-transmitting portion (40) which is spaced from the axis (15). A hollow part (36) of the knob (14) defines a chamber (39) extending from the axis (15) to the light-transmitting portion (40). A rotor (22) extends along the axis (15) from the chamber (39) to the source (18) of light. The rotor (22) is formed of material which is translucent sufficiently to transmit light from the source (18) to the chamber (39) to flood the chamber (39) with light, and thereby to illuminate the light-transmitting portion (40) of the knob (14).

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Scott J Pollock