The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 1987
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1986
Richard L Kidd, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Jerry A Graf, Cortland, OH (US);
Philip J Engler, Leavittsburg, OH (US);
Song-Chin S Lu, Vienna, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A steering wheel pad keyboard switch assembly is mounted on a steering wheel. The preassembled switch assembly comprises a base, a printed circuit board which has an array of open contact grids, an elastomeric switch member which has an array of movable contacts, a guide plate and a push button sub-assembly. The guide plate has a plurality of guide bosses and guide holes disposed in the same predetermined array for guiding the stem pieces of the push buttons into operative contact with the movable contacts of the switch member and a pad portion for supporting a horn switch. The push button sub-assembly comprises a frame member which is attached to the base to provide the unit handle switch assembly, a plurality of push buttons which are slideably retained in respective slide chambers of the frame and a soft decorative cover which includes a depressible horn switch pad to operate the horn switch and cut-outs to provide access to the push buttons. The guide plate and the stem pieces of the push buttons are made of a translucent material and form part of the back lighting system for the push button legends.