Patent ID: 6046413
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A switch, comprising:at least one contact bridge displaceable in a contact plane, said contact bridge including a first and a second contact areas interconnected by a bridging member, said contact bridge being pushable from a separating position to a connecting position and being resiliently guided in a direction vertical to said contact plane by an actuating member arranged within an actuating lever of a steering column switch, the resilient guidance of said contact bridge being provided by a spring acting upon said bridging member,two contact sections including contact banks elevated in a rail-type manner that are electrically separated from each other by an interval and to be interconnected by said first and second contact areas of said contact bridge, said contact sections being rigidly fastened to a switch housing,said first and second contact areas of said contact bridge being arranged in a longitudinal direction of said contact banks in a spaced relationship from one another,at least one ramp arranged laterally of said interval between said contact sections, said first contact area of said contact bridge being provided with at least one ramp zone guided through said at least one ramp, and with at least one contact zone sliding on said contact banks,wherein said contact bridge changes from contacting one of said two contact sections to contacting both of said contact sections during a pushed transition from said separating position to said connecting position, and wherein during said transition said first contact area of said contact bridge is lifted by said at least one ramp over said contact plane from the contact section previously contacted to be lowered thereafter down to the other contact section to be newly contacted.