Composite switch lever for automobile

Abstract: A composite switch lever (2) of the composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles mounted on the steering column, is provided with a rotary light switch knob (25) for switching a light switch (24) and a rotary fog switch knob (28) for driving a fog light intermittence switch (29), and they are rotably mounted on a lever shaft (13) and an outer cylindrical shaft (14). Both switch knobs (25) and (28) are coupled with each other through a related operation mechanism (A) composed of a connecting projection (32) and a interfering hole (33) for mechanically coupling them with a predetermined idle angle. By such a construction it is prevented that a driver forgets to switch off lights upon getting off the automobile and turn on a small light.

Description: Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite switch lever for automobiles and more particularly to an improvement of switches integrally installed with a composite switch lever mounted on a steering column for automobiles, and more particularly to an improvement of a composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles provided with a light switch and a fog light intermittence switch for switching a head light and a small light. Prior Art Hitherto, there has been known such prior technique that rotary switches more than two for manually actuating them are mounted on a composite switch lever mounted on a steering column for automobiles, as shown by such as JP 59-25708 Y2. The conventional composite switch lever of this type is the composite switch lever 50, as shown in Figs. 8 (a) and (b), composed of a turn signal switch 51, a light switch 52, a dimmer and passing switch 53, and a fog light intermittence switch 54. In the composite switch lever 50, the light switch 52 and the fog light intermittence switch 54 have independent rotary switch knobs respectively. Namely, though both rotary switches are mounted on a single composite switch lever 50, but they are independently operated for switching plural lights, for turning off light, and for turning off a fog light. Therefore, when even the light switch 52 has been made OFF, the fog light intermittence switch 54 may still be ON undesirably. Moreover, when the fog light is made ON, it is necessary to made ON the front/rear small lights and/or the rear light, and therefore two circuit systems for the rear light are inevitably necessary for the light switch 52 and the fog light intermittence switch 54, thereby making the harness complex and resulting an expensive manufacturing cost. From EP 0 446 126 A1 a composite switch lever for automobiles with two rotary switches is known a base portion of which is swingably mounted on a base block mounted on a steering column. A first rotary switch knob serves for actuating one switch group ON or OFF intermittently. A second rotary switch knob actuates the other switch group ON or OFF intermittently. Both switch knobs are rotatably mounted on the switch lever and have a common axis. They are mechanically coupled with each other through a related operation mechanism with a predetermined idle angle. The rotary switches are separated from one another by an intermediate piece with a raster surface. The switch lever consists of a plurality of constructive parts. Problem to be Solved by the Invention The present invention is made for solving the above mentioned problems and is aimed to present a composite switch lever in which a related operation mechanism is simplified. The problem is solved by a composite switch lever as indicated in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are indicated in claims 2 to 6. The problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved by a composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles having a composite switch lever, the base portion of which is swingably mounted on a base block mounted on a steering column for automobiles, and a plurality of rotary switches coupled to the composite switch lever, and a first rotary switch knob for actuating one switch group ON or OFF intermittently and a second rotary switch knob for actuating the other switch group ON or OFF intermittently. The knobs are rotatably mounted on the composite switch lever with a common axis, and the first rotary switch knob and the second rotary switch knob are mechanically coupled with each other through a related operation mechanism with a predetermined idle angle; the related operation mechanism is composed of a light switch knob with a connecting projection, a fixed knob provided with a through hole having a rectangular shape extending in the peripheral direction, and a fog switch knob provided with an interfering hole with a rectangular shape; and the end points of the connecting projection is inserted into the interfering hole passing the through hole. Moreover, the present invention has the subject matter that the first rotary switch knob and the second rotary switch knob are composed of a light switch for selectively switching a plurality of switch terminals and a fog light intermittence switch for intermittently connecting switch terminals, and the related operation mechanism is related with the positions except the OFF position of the light switch, the OFF position of the fog light intermittence switch, the ON position of the fog light intermittence switch, and the OFF position of the light switch. Moreover, the fixed knob of the present invention is operated by providing a click contact structure movably inserted into the gap formed between the contact projections of the fog switch knob at the both walls of through hole in the periphery direction and a elevation wall adapted to be contacted to the side walls of the contact projections. Moreover, the present invention is realized by that the light switch knob is supported at the end portion of a lever shaft rotatably supported on an outer cylinder shaft of the composite switch lever, the fixed knob is fitted to the end point of the outer cylinder shaft through the fog switch knob, and the fog switch knob is rotatably supported by outer cylinder shaft, in a single shaft structure. Moreover, the present invention is realized by that the composite switch lever is further comprised with a fog light intermittence switch composed of a short member contacted to the fog switch knob, and a fixed pole plate for a fog light fixed on the composite switch lever. Moreover, the present invention is realized by that when the fog switch knob is rotated, the fog light intermittence switch actuates either one of a front fog light and a rear fog light by a first stage operation, and actuates both of the front fog light and the rear fog light by a second stage operation. The operation of the composite switch is as follows. The first rotary switch knob (the light switch) and the second rotary switch knob (the fog light intermittence switch) are mechanically coupled through a related operation mechanism contacting with a predetermined idle angle in the peripheral direction. Therefore, upon the switching operation of the fog switch knob, if the fog light intermittence switch is set to the ON position, the related operation mechanism rotates the light switch knob thereby positioning the light switch to its ON position in order to actuate the small light of automobiles. When the fog light is actuated, if the light switch is set to its OFF position by operating the light switch knob, the related operation mechanism rotates the fog switch knob thereby positioning the fog light intermittence switch to its OFF position, thereby making the fog light OFF. Therefore, it is prevented to forget the extinction of the fog light upon OFF state of the light switch, and to forget the energization of the small light upon ON state of the fog light. Mode of Embodiment of the Invention The invention is now described by examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles as one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Y - Y in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment, Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a related operation mechanism, (a) is an enlarged view, (b) is a view taken along the line B - B, (c) is a view taken along the line C - C, and (d) is a view along the line D - D. Fig. 5 is a partially broken exploded perspective view of the related operation mechanism, Fig. 6 is a partially broken exploded perspective view for explaining the relation between a fixed knob and a light switch knob, Fig. 7 (A) is a view for explaining the rotation region of a light switch knob for the light switch and switch positions, and (b) is a view for explaining the rotation region of a fog switch knob for the fog light intermittence switch and switch positions ON, OFF, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional composite switch lever apparatus, (a) is a sectional view, and (b) is a view taken along the line X - X in Fig. 8 (a). Throughout the description the following reference numerals have been used: 1 base block; 2 composite switch lever; 5 fixed pole plate; 13 lever shaft; 14 outer cylindrical shaft; 21 turn signal switch; 23 dimmer switch - passing switch; 24 light switch; 25 first (light) switch knob; 26 cam member; 27 fixed knob; 27b click contact structure; 27c elevation wall; 28 second (for) switch knob; 28a short member; 28b contact projection; 28d gap; 29 fog light intermittence switch; 30 fixed pole plate for fog light; 31 through hole ; 32 connecting projection; 33 interfering hole; and A is a related operation mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 the composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles of the present invention as one embodiment is described hereinafter. The composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles of the present invention is composed of a base block 1 fixed on a switch base (not shown) mounted on the steering column of automobiles, and a composite switch lever 2 mounted on the base portion of the base block swingably in the peripheral direction of the steering shaft and the axial direction of the steering shaft. The base block 1 is composed of a casing 3 the bottom portion of which is provided with a fixed pole plate 4, a swing block 5 installed within the casing 3 so as to be rotatable around a projected shaft 6 formed on the swing block 5 in the peripheral direction with respect to the steering shaft, and a cover member 7 for covering the swing block 5. A pair of projectors 9, 9 is mounted at both sides of the swing block 5 as is projected from the both sides of the swing block 5 by using a pair of coil springs 8, 8 respectively, thereby maintaining the swing block 5 at the neutral position thereof. The composite switch lever 2 is for example a turn signal switch, a passing switch, a main dimmer switch and the like. The composite switch lever 2 is rotatable around the projected shaft 6 of the swing block 5 in the front and rear directions, and around a pair of projected shafts 15 in the vertical direction. The composite switch lever 2 provides two rotary switch knobs, i.e. a fog switch knob 28 and a light switch knob 25 at its end point, and a fixed knob 27 fixed at the end point of an outer cylindrical shaft 14. The composite switch lever 2 is formed with an opening at its end point, and a hole 14b at its central portion of the composite switch lever 2 for passing through a harness therefrom. Numeral 10 denotes a peripheral contact member mounted on the upper surface of the swing block 5 for maintaining a rotation attitude with a predetermined angle by interfering a cancel swing member 12 resilient by a coil spring 11, and the swing block 5 can be restored in a stable state by being released from the periphery swing member 10 when the cancel swing member 12 is moved by a back projection (not shown) supported on the steering shaft. The outer cylindrical shaft 14 into which the lever shaft 13 is inserted is swingably mounted in the vertical direction, on the swing block 5 by utilizing the projected shaft 15 mounted on the base portion of the outer cylindrical shaft 14, and further the outer cylindrical shaft 14 is swingable at a predetermined angle position by using a bearing roll 17 pressed against an opposite inner wall of the swing block 5 by a coil spring 16. Numerals 18, 19 and 20 denote a switch slider provided with conductive short members 18a, 19a and 20a through a spring members 18c, 19c and 20c respectively, and they are disposed between the swing block 5 and the fixed pole plate 4 such that each of the short member 18a, 19a and 20a may be slideably contacted with each of the switch terminals 4a mounted on the upper portion of the fixed pole plate 4. The contact slits 18b formed on the upper surface of the switch slider 18 may be contacted, only in the lateral direction, with the contact projections 5a formed on the lower surface of the swing block 5, whereby the switch slider 18 can be slid with respect to the fixed pole plate 4 by swinging of the composite switch lever 2 in the peripheral direction, which results in a forming a turn signal switch 21. The contact rectangular slit 19b formed on the upper surface of the switch slider 19 may be contacted, only in the axial direction of the composite switch lever 2, with a contact projection 22 mounted on the inner end of the outer cylindrical shaft 14 of the composite switch lever 2, whereby the switch slider 19 may be moved in position with respected to the fixed pole plate 5 upon moving of the composite switch lever 2 in the axial direction, which results in a forming a dimmer switching / passing switch 23. Moreover, the third switch slider 20 is for composing a rotary light switch 24, therefore the cam member 26 formed at the base portion of the lever shaft 13 provided with the rotary light switch knob 25 at the end point of the lever shaft 13, is provided such that the contact projection 26a of the cam member 26 is adapted to contact, only in the lateral direction, with the contact slit 20a formed on the upper surface of the switch slider 20. According to the structure, when the light switch knob 25 is rotated, the cam member 26 is also rotated together with the contact projection 26a, thereby moving the switch slider 20 in the lateral direction in order to change the relative position with respect to the fixed pole plate 5 in a click-stepwise fashion. At the flare-shaped opening portion located at the end point of the composite switch lever 2, there is provided a ring-shaped fixed pole plate 30 for the fog light connected with lead wires. The lead wires are passed through the inside of the composite switch lever 2 and pulled out from the portion adjacent the projected shaft 15. The ring-shaped fixed pole plate 30 is composed of a fixed contact to be contacted to the short member 30a of the fog switch knob 28, and a printed substrate having the terminals to be soldered with the lead wires. A fixed knob 27 is integrally mounted at the end point and peripheral portion of the outer cylinder shaft 14, and the annular rotary fog switch knob 28 is mounted on the peripheral surface of the collar portion 27a of the fixed knob 27, between the outer cylindrical shaft 14 and the fixed knob 27. The fixed pole plate 30 and the short member 30a used for the fog light, and the fog switch knob 28 are inserted into the outer cylinder shaft 14f, and the claw 27d of the fixed knob 27 is adapted to be coupled with the hole 14a formed at the end point and peripheral portion of the outer cylindrical shaft 14. By the coupling of the hole 14a and the claw 27d, the fog switch knob 28 may be rotatably supported on the composite switch lever 2, and the fixed knob 27 may be fitted to the composite switch lever 2. Moreover, the outer cylinder shaft 14 is provided with a pair notches 14d at the end point of the outer cylinder shaft 14 to be fitted with the deviation avoiding portions 27e of the fixed knob 27, thereby achieving stable fix between the fixed knob 27 and the outer cylindrical shaft 14. With respect to the coupling mechanism between the fixed knob 27 and the fog switch knob 28, the click contact balls 35, 35 biased by the coil springs 37, 37 mounted as is projected from the end surface of the fog switch knob 28, are pressed with resilient force to a click contact structure 27b, 27b mounted on the inner side of the fixed knob 27, and having small irregular mountains in a circular arrangement. The fixed knob 27 is provided with the click contact structure 27b to be freely inserted into the gap 28c between the contact projections 28b, 28b of the fog switch knob 28, and elevated walls 27c to be contacted with the side wall of the contact projections 28b, 28b. The contact projections 28b (the angle in the circular direction =  a) formed on the collar portion 28a of the fog switch knob 28 is positioned at the elevation wall 27c, 27c (the angle in the circular direction between the elevation walls =  b) formed on the opposite surface of the fixed knob 27, and the fog switch knob 28 may be moved within a predetermined angle (b -  a = 25° ). The fixed pole plate 30 used for a fog light may be composed of the printed substrate or the like fixed at the end portion of the outer cylindrical shaft 14, and the conductive short member 30a fixed to the other end of the fog switch knob 28 may be slidable with the fixed pole plate 30 for fog light usage with the resilient force by the spring member 30b, thereby providing a fog light intermittence switch 29 for achieving a short circuit or its release operation. The switch harness 29a extracted from the fog light intermittence switch 29 is fetched through the harness hole 14b formed at the back and side positions of the outer cylindrical shaft 14. The fog light to be actuated or extinguished by the fog light intermittence switch 29 may be the front fog lamps or the rear fog lamps. The light switch 24 and the fog light intermittence switch 29 compose the related operation mechanism A for contacting in the operating peripheral direction to effect an intermittence operation through the through hole 31 mounted on the fixed knob 27. Namely, numerals 32 and 32 are connecting projections extended from the one end of the light switch knob 25 in parallel with the lever shaft 13, and having the angle width  t in the circular direction, and the end points of the connecting projections are inserted into the contact holes 33 (the angle  c in the circular direction) formed on the fog swich knob 28 respectively through the through holes 31 and 31 (the angle  c in the circular direction). Upon the fabrication of the light switch knob 25 and the fixed knob 27, the click contact balls 34, 34 biased by the coil springs 36, 36 as is projected from the end surface of the fixed knob 27, are pressed by utilizing the resilient force due to the coil springs 36, 36 to a click contact structure 25a, 25a mounted on the inner side of the contact structure 25, and having small irregular mountains in a circular arrangement. The circular angle  c between the through hole 31 and the interforming hole 33 is made as a sum (50° +  t) of the angle  t in the circular direction of the connecting projection 32 and the rotation angle ( = 50° ) of the light switch knob 25. The click contact structure 25a is arranged such that the switch operation angle between the first stage and the second stage of the light switch knob 25 is made 25° respectively, by the contact portion with more deeper portion. The through hole 31, 31 of the fixed knob 27 is provided with the rectangular hole (the angle in circular direction  c = 50° +  t) to not disturb the rotation  of the light switch knob 25, and further the interfering hole 33, 33 of the fog switch knob 28 is set as the same angle as 50° +  t in the circular direction. Therefore, when the fog switch knob 28 is rotated by angle 25° in order to make the fog light intermittence switch 29 ON, if the light switch knob 25 is located in OFF position PO, the connecting projection 32 of the light switch knob 25 contacts to the interfering hole 33, thereby rotating the light switch knob 25 to the first position P1 by the rotation angle 25° . Furthermore, when the light switch knob 25 is rotated from the first position P1 to the OFF position PO by angle 25° in order to make the light switch 24 OFF, if the fog switch knob 28 is located in ON position, the connecting projection 32 contacts to the interfering hole 33 of the fog switch knob 28, thereby rotating the fog switch knob 28 from the ON position P4 to the off position P3 by the rotation angle 25°. Numeral 38 denotes an end cap which is fitted at the end point of the light swich knob 25 with using a removement avoiding mechanism composed of a circular slit 13a mounted on the end point of the lever shaft 13, a fit rib 25b of a plate spring 25a to be fitted. The hooks 25c, 25c formed at the inside of the light switch knob 25 are inserted into the contact holes 38b, 38b respectively by utilizing the resilient force provided on the respective members, and the plate spring 25a is pressed to the cylinder wall 38a from outside, thereby forming them integrally. Referring now Figs. 5 to 7, the operation of the related operation mechanism A of the composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles is explained hereinafter. Fig. 7 (a) is a view for explaining a rotation region of the light switch knob 25 of the light switch 24, and its positions. Fig. 7 (b) is a view for explaining a rotation region of the fog switch knob 28 of the fog intermittence switch 29, and ON and OFF positions. The light switch knob 25 has the rotation region  of e.g. 50°, namely the region of e.g. 25° from the position P0 corresponding to OFF position of the light switch 24 to the first position P1, and further the region of e.g. 25° from the position P1 to the second position P2. Moreover, the first position P1 may be set as the position of the head light ON, and the second position P2 may be set as the position of the small light ON, (even when it is in the position P1, the small light is ON state). As to the fog switch knob 28, it may be rotated in the rotation region from the OFF position P3 corresponding to the OFF position of the fog light intermittence switch 29, to the ON position P4 corresponding to the ON position by rotation of 25°. Therefore, in the state that both of the light switch 24 and the fog light intermittence switch 29 are OFF, if the fog light intermittence switch 29 is manually set to ON by rotating the fog switch knob 28, the interfering holes 33 press the connecting projections 32 thereby rotating the light switch knob 25 by 25°, and the light switch 24 may be rotated to the first position P1. Furthermore, the first position P1 is corresponding to the position ON of the head light, and the small light and the fog light are actuated together with each other. In this state, if the light switch 24 is rotated to the second position P2 by rotating the light switch knob 25 by 25°, the connecting projection 32 projected from the light switch knob 25 slidably moves within the interfering hole 33 of the fog switch knob 28 thereby actuating the head lights without any contact with the hole and of the interfering hole 33. If the light switch 24 is manually made OFF by changing the light switch knob 25 to the position P0 for OFF, in the state of ON for the light switch 24 and the fog light intermittence switch 29, the connecting projection 32 may be interfered within the region from the first position P1 for OFF to the position P0. The head light and the fog light are extinguished together with each other by rotating the fog switch knob 28 to the OFF position P3 by means of using the interfering hole 33, thereby making the fog light intermittence switch 29 OFF. The light switch 24 is communicated with the fog light intermittence switch 29 as mentioned above. The fog switch knob 28 of the present invention may be the knob in which the above-mentioned rotated operation can be effected by a single rotary switch or by two stage rotary switch as the light switch knob 25. In this case, the fog switch knob 25 can actuate the front fog light and the small light by means of the first stage rotation, and further the rear fog light may be actuated by means of the second stage rotation. When the fog switch knob 25 is changed from the second stage to the first stage, the rear fog light may be actuated, and when it is restored back to the position OFF, the front fog light and the small light may be extinguished. As is similar to the light switch knob, the fog switch knob 28 may be rotated by for example 25° at the first stage, and further by 25° at the second stage. As a result, the rotation region of the fog switch knob 28 becomes for example 50° = ( b -  a), and the angle  in the circle direction of the contact projection 28b may be reduced to 25°. Effects of the Invention As mentioned above, the composite switch lever apparatus for automobiles of the present invention has the structure that a plurality of switches are installed in the composite switch lever mounted on a steering column of automobiles, and a light switch is related with a fog light intermittence switch by a related operation mechanism in which a connecting projection mounted on the light switch knob and a interfering hole mounted on the fog switch knob are adapted to be contacted with each other with a predetermined idle angle in the rotation direction. Therefore, if the fog light intermittence switch is manually made ON in the state that the light switch and the fog light intermittence switch are made OFF, a small light may be actuated by rotating the light switch to ON, and further if the light switch is manually made OFF from the sate of both switches are made ON, the fog light intermittence switch is also made OFF, and the fog light intermittence switch is thus communicated with the the light switch. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is prevented that a driver forgets to switch off lights upon getting off the automobile or turn on a small light, and it is possible to reduce the volume of harness between plural switches and lights, thereby making the apparatus simple.

Claims: A composite switch lever (2) for automobiles having a base portion swingably mounted on a base block (1) which is mounted on a steering column for automobiles, and a plurality of rotary switches coupled to said composite switch lever (2), wherein a first rotary switch knob (25) for actuating one switch group (24) ON or OFF intermittently and a second rotary switch knob (28) or actuating another switch group (29) ON or OFF intermittently, are rotatably mounted on said composite switch lever (2) with a common axis, and said first rotary switch knob (25) and said second rotary switch knob (28) are mechanically coupled with each other through a related operation mechanism (A) with a predetermined idle angle, characterized in that said related operation mechanism (A) is composed of the first switch knob (25) having connecting projection (32), a fixed knob (27) provided with a through hole (31) with a rectangular shape extending in the peripheral direction, and the second switch knob (28) provided with an interfering hole (33) with a rectangular shape; and in that the end point of said connecting projection (32) is inserted into said interfering hole (33) through said through hole (31). A composite switch lever for automobiles according to Claim 1, wherein said first rotary switch knob and said second rotary switch knob are composed of a light switch (24) for selectively switching a plurality of switch terminals and a fog light intermittence switch (29) for intermittently connecting switch terminals, and said related operation mechanism is related with the positions except the OFF position of said light switch (24), the OFF position of said fog light intermittence switch (29), the ON position of said fog light intermittence switch (29), and the OFF position of said light switch (24). A composite switch lever for automobiles according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said fixed knob (27) is provided with a click contact structure (27b) movably inserted into the gap (28d) formed between both side walls in the periphery direction of said through hole (31) and the contact projections (28b, 28b) of said fog switch knob (28), and an elevation wall (27c) adapted to be contacted to the side walls of said contact projections (28b, 28b). A composite switch lever for automobiles according to Claim 1 or 3, wherein said light switch knob (25) is supported at the end portion of a lever shaft (13) rotatably supported on an outer cylinder (14) of said composite switch lever (2), said fixed knob (27) is fitted to the end point of said outer cylinder (14) through said fog switch knob (28), and said fog switch knob (28) is rotatably supported by said outer cylinder (14), in a single shaft structure. A composite switch lever for automobiles according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said composite switch lever (2) is further provided with a fog light intermittence switch (29) composed of a short member (28a) contacted to said fog switch knob (28), and a fixed pole plate (30) for a fog light fixed on said composite switch lever (2). A composite switch lever for automobiles according to Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein when said fog switch knob (28) is rotated, said fog light intermittence switch (29) actuates either one of a front fog light or a rear fog light by a first stage operation, and actuates both of the front fog light and the rear fog light by a second stage operation.

Inventors: UCHIYAMA NORIO, YOKOYAMA TOSHIAKI, UCHIYAMA, NORIO, YOKOYAMA, TOSHIAKI, Uchiyama, Norio, c/o Niles Parts Co., Ltd., Yokoyama, Toshiaki, c/o Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
Applicants: NILES PARTS CO LTD, NILES PARTS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60R16
IPC codes: B60Q1, H01H25, H01H89