Abstract:
A lifting/sliding switch, in particular for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing ( 1 ), a first actuation element ( 5 ) for the sliding movement and a second actuation element ( 8 ) for effecting the pop-up movement of the roof, whereby the actuation elements ( 5, 8 ), automatically return to their home position due to a resetting arrangement and, respectively act on switch contacts ( 49, 50 ) by means of a switch member. The second actuation element ( 8 ) is an integral part of the first actuation element ( 5 ), whereby both actuation elements ( 5, 8 ) are supported in the housing ( 1 ) and the switch members are configured as rotary switch members ( 13, 34 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lifting/sliding switch, in particular for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle. Such switches typically comprise a housing, a first actuation element for the sliding movement of the roof and a second actuation element for the pop-up movement of the roof, whereby each of said actuation elements is automatically returned into its home position by a resetting arrangement and acts on switch contacts via a switch member. 
     German patent publication DE 44 31 061 A1 discloses a lifting/sliding switch for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle which switch comprises an actuation element that can be pivoted or shifted inside a housing. The actuation element is connected with a sliding switch member which is hinged to a rotary switch member, whereby a lever acts on the rotary switch member via an actuation element. The actuation element is guided by means of guide pins in a cruciform groove, as well as in a horizontal slot, whereby the essentially vertical sections of the cruciform groove represent guides for the pivoting movement and the horizontal slot represents a guide for the sliding movement of the actuation element. The horizontal sections of the cruciform groove act as additional guides for the guide pins of the actuation element during its sliding movement. In the case of this lifting/sliding switch the superimposition of simultaneous movements can lead to switching problems. When the actuation element is to be shifted, it frequently is inadvertently pivoted at the same time, whereupon the guide pins come into engagement with the essentially vertical sections of the cruciform groove and prevent the actuation element from shifting. 
     Also known are switch systems for opening and closing pop-up/sliding roofs, whereby two actuation elements are located next to each other in a common housing. These latter actuation elements are configured as rocker-type or sliding buttons, whereby different combinations are used. One actuation element is provided exclusively for the sliding movement and another actuation element exclusively for the pop-up movement of the roof. These switch systems require relatively substantial space because the actuation elements, in order to be easily accessible and usable, cannot be located as close to each other as is desirable. 
     The problem to be solved by the invention herein is to provide a lifting/sliding switch of the above-described type which functions reliably and is designed in a compact and cost-effective manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention this problem has been solved in that the second actuation element is an integral part of the first actuation element, whereby both actuation elements are supported in the housing and the switch members are configured as rotary switch members. 
     The compact design of the lifting/sliding switch is created by integrating one actuation element in the other. Movement overlaps created by external actions affecting the actuation elements do not result in malfunctions inasmuch as each actuation element is supported individually in the housing. The association of respectively one rotary switch member with one actuation element is implemented with a relatively simple and cost-effective witch mechanism. Furthermore, a rotary switch member can be incorporated with relatively simple means and without complex guides. 
     Preferably, the actuation elements are associated with two-stage switch positions for opening and closing the roof. The first stage of each switch position causes a slow movement of the roof; whereas, the second stage results in a rapid movement of the roof until it has reached its travel limit or stop position. 
     In accordance with one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first actuation element is configured as a sliding button and the second actuation element as a push-pull button. This configuration respectively for the buttons allows an appropriate association of the functions of the switch with those of the pop-up/sliding roof. Thus, the sliding button is associated with the roof sliding movements and the push-pull button with the roof lifting movements. 
     In the respectively first switch position of each actuation element, pressure is applied to the associated rotary switch element supported in the housing and, in the respectively second switch position, pressure is applied to another switch contact of a switching matrix. Furthermore, the switch contacts of the switching matrix are preferably arranged in resiliently deflectable domes at a distance from each other and covered by a common actuation plate. This arrangement allows recognition of the switch positions by touch and can be varied by changing the mechanical properties of the switching matrix. 
     In accordance with a modification of the invention each rotary switch member is associated with two switching matrices that are offset in parallel, as well as in longitudinal, directions. Therefore, each switching matrix represents one direction of movement of the roof. 
     In order to achieve favorable lever and path ratios, preferably the switching matrices associated with a rotary switch member are arranged relatively with respect to each other in such a manner that respectively one dome of one switching matrix is located essentially on a common plane with one dome of another switching matrix; and, the other domes of the switching matrices face in opposite directions. Furthermore, the essentially common plane of the domes preferably forms one plane with the axis of rotation of the rotary switch member. 
     In order to convert the sliding movement or the push-pull movement of the actuation elements into rotary movements for the rotary switch members, another modification of the invention comprises a deflecting arrangement between each actuation element and its associate rotary switch member. 
     The deflecting arrangement associated with the first actuation element comprises a strip having on its one end two pins extending through lateral bore holes of the actuation element—the pins at the same time acting as support for said actuation element in the housing—and having on its other end, which is connected with the rotary switch member, two support pins coming into engagement with housing bores. Consequently, the deflecting arrangement can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. 
     In order to create a stable support in the immediate vicinity of the associated switching matrices, the deflecting arrangement, which is preferably associated with the second actuation element, has a two-arm flexible joint, whereby one of its arms is affixed to the actuation element and its other arm, which is connected with the rotary switch member, has two support pins coming into engagement with housing bores. 
     In order to apply uniform pressure on the actuation plates of the switch matrices, which are arranged offset with respect to each other, each rotary switch member has two actuation projections arranged in the form of a Z with respect to each other. This design saves material during the manufacture of the rotary switch member. 
     An adequate and relatively easily produced support is achieved in that the first actuation element is provided with guide pins arranged parallel to and at a distance from the pins of the deflection arrangement, whereby said pins and guide pins come into engagement with corresponding longitudinal holes of the housing in order to support the actuation element. The first actuation element has only two guide pins and its movement is limited by the longitudinal holes. 
     The second actuation element is preferably provided with lateral support pins that are molded to the deflecting arrangement and come into engagement with corresponding housing bores. This arrangement of lateral support pins in the bore holes permits the pivoting movement of the second actuation element in a pulling as well as in a pushing direction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inventive lifting/sliding switch, 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 1, in the direction of arrow II, 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 1, along line III—III, 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 3, along line IV—IV, 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged illustration of a detail V in accordance with FIG. 4, in section, 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 3, along line VI—VI, 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 3, along line VII—VII. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the lifting/sliding switch comprises an essentially rectangular housing  1  with a shield  2  projecting beyond housing  1 , the shield  2  covering an assembly opening that receives housing  1 . Optionally, back-lighted symbols  3 , for the functions of the lifting/sliding switch, are provided on shield  2 . The underside of housing  1  is configured as a connecting collar  52 . 
     Shield  2  has an assembly opening  4  for a first actuation element  5  which is configured as a sliding button. Assembly opening  4  is bounded by strips  6  on its longitudinal sides and by engagement recesses  7  on its end sides. A second actuation element  8 , bearing a symbol  9  for a switch function, is integrated in first actuation  5  element having essentially rectangular form. Second actuation element  8  extends into a rectangular cutout  10  of first actuation element  5 , whereby cutout  10  has in the area of its end side an engagement recess  11  to permit extension behind second actuation element  8  which is configured as a push-pull button. 
     The first actuation element  5  is associated with a deflecting arrangement, indicated generally at  12  in FIG. 3, enabling the application of pressure to an associated rotary switch member indicated generally at  13 . Deflecting arrangement  12  comprises a strip  14  having on its one end indicated generally at  15  two pins  17  extending through lateral bore holes  16  of first actuation element  5 . On their continued course, pins  17  extend into corresponding longitudinal holes or slots  18  of housing  1  and thus act as support for first actuation element  5  in housing  1 . The other end indicated generally at  19  of strip  14  is connected with rotary switch member  13  and has two support pins  20  which come into engagement with corresponding housing bores  21 . Rotary switch member  13  is provided with two actuation projections  22 ,  23  arranged in the form of a Z in plan form (not shown) with respect to each other in order to act on respectively one actuation plate  24 ,  25  of one switching matrix  26 ,  27  as will be readily apparent in view of the staggered arrangement of the switching matrix. In order to provide a stable support, first actuation element  5  has two guide pins  28  coming into engagement with longitudinal holes  29  of housing  5  in a manner parallel to as well as at a distance from pins  17  of said strip  14  of deflecting arrangement  12 , whereby longitudinal holes  18 ,  29  limit the sliding movement of said first actuation element  5 . 
     The second actuation element  8  also cooperates with a deflecting arrangement indicated generally at  30  which comprises a two-arm flexible joint  31 . One arm  32  of a flexible joint  32  is affixed to second actuation element  8 . The other arm  33  of joint  32  is connected with a rotary switch member indicated generally at  34  and has two support pins  36  which come into engagement with housing bores  35 . Like rotary switch member  13 , rotary switch member  34  is also provided with two actuation projections  37 ,  38  arranged in the form of a Z in plan form (not shown) with respect to each other in order to act on respectively one actuation plate  39 ,  40  of one switching matrix  41 ,  42 . Second actuation element  8  is supported by means of lateral support pins  43  which are set in corresponding bore holes  44  of housing  5 . In order to make this support possible, first actuation element  5  has clearances  63  in the area of support pins  43  of said second actuation element  8 . 
     The construction of switching matrices  26 ,  27 ,  41 ,  42  placed on a printed circuit board  46  having connector contacts  45  is substantially the same and will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to switching matrix  27 . Switching matrix  27  comprises two resiliently deflectable domes  47 ,  48  located next to each other at a distance, whereby each dome  47 ,  48  receives a switch contact  49 ,  50 . In their upper area, these two domes  47 ,  48  are covered by common actuation plate  25 . The arrangement of respectively two switching matrices  26 ,  27  and  41 ,  42  is such that they are associated parallel and laterally offset with respect to each other with rotary switch member  13  and  34 , respectively. Respectively one dome  48  of one switching matrix  26 ,  41  is located on an essentially common plane  51  with dome  48  of the other switching matrix  27 ,  42 , and the other domes  47  of switching matrices  26 ,  27 ,  41 ,  42  face in opposite directions. The essentially common plane  51  of domes  48  forms a plane with the axis of rotation of the respectively associated rotary switch members  13  and  34 . 
     When first actuation element  5  is slid out of a zero position  53  into a first switch position  54  associate deflecting arrangement  12  translates this linear movement of actuation element  5  into a rotary movement of rotary switch member  13 . Pins  17  of strip  14  of deflecting arrangement  12  rotate in bore holes  16  of actuation element  5  and are simultaneously shifted in longitudinal holes  18  of housing  1 . Strip  14  and rotary switch member  13  affixed to strip  14  are subjected to a rotary movement about support pins  20  which are set in housing bores  21 . Actuation projection  22  begins to act on actuation plate  24  of switching matrix  26  as a result of which dome  47  can be felt or tactilely discerned by the switch operator to be collapsing, and switch contact  50  is moved downwardly and closes an electrical circuit. In this first-stage switch position shown by black arrow  54  in FIG. 2, a motor (not illustrated) for a pop-up/sliding roof is energized, thereby enabling the slow opening sliding movement of the roof. When actuation element  5  is released, dome  47  returns into its home or fully raised position and causes deflecting arrangement  12  to reset actuation element  5  to zero position  53  in FIG.  2 . At the same time, an electrical circuit for the aforesaid motor is opened and the roof remains in the reached position. 
     When the first actuation element  5  is slid into a second-stage switch position shown by black arrow  55  in FIG. 2, dome  48  of switching matrix  26  collapses as well—due to the greater switching path—after dome  47  has collapsed as described, and switch contact  50  closes another electrical circuit for motor energization, thereby enabling an opening sliding movement of the roof until it reaches its travel stop. This travel stop is also reached after the release of actuation element  5 . Resetting or return of domes  47 ,  48  to the raised position illustrated causes actuation element  5  to be reset to its zero position  53 . 
     The switch positions indicated by black arrows  56 ,  57  in FIG. 2 of first actuation element  5  enable a sliding movement for closing the roof, whereby actuation projection  23  of rotary switch member  13  acts on domes  47 ,  48  of switching matrix  27  and causes electrical circuits to be closed for motor energization. In this case, operation takes place in the already described manner. In order to prevent excessive stressing of the mechanical components of the switch, pins  17  and support pins  20  abut in second-stage switch positions  55 ,  57  against corresponding end sides of longitudinal holes  18 ,  29  and prevent a continued sliding movement of actuation element  5 . 
     By applying pressure to the second actuation element  8  a lifting movement of the pop-up/sliding roof is effected. By applying pressure to actuation element  8  to move out of its zero position shown by black arrow  58  in FIG. 2 in the direction of pressure, element  8  moves into a first-stage switch position indicated by black arrow  59  in FIG. 2, whereby actuation element  8  having adjoined support pins  43  is pivoted in the bore holes  44  of housing  1 . Deflecting arrangement  30  associated with actuation element  8  causes rotary switch member  34  to carry out a rotary movement toward the right. In so doing, arm  32  affixed to actuation element  8  and arm  33  connected with rotary switch member  34  move in opposite directions in housing bores  35  due to flexible joint  31 , as well as due to the arrangement of support pins  36 . As a result of the rotary movement of rotary switch member  34  to the right, actuation projection  38  acts on actuation plate  40  of switching matrix  42 , whereby dome  47  collapses and switch contact  49  closes an electrical circuit. This causes energization of a motor (not shown) for the slow lifting opening movement of the roof. When actuation element  8  is released dome  47  returns into its home position and, by means of deflecting arrangement  80 , resets actuation element  8  to zero position  58  in FIG.  2 . At the same time the electrical circuit is opened de-energizing a motor (not shown) and the roof remains in the reached position. 
     When pressure is applied to second actuation element  8  to reach a second-stage switch position denoted by black arrow  60  in FIG. 2 the covered switch path causes, in addition to the already explained collapse of dome  47 , the collapse of dome  48  of switching matrix  42 , and switch contact  50  closes another electrical circuit, thereby causing energization of a motor (not shown) and a lifting movement of the roof to open it to its travel stop. The travel stop is reached even after the release of actuation element  8 , whereby this release causes actuation element  8  to be reset to zero position  58  due to the resetting of domes  47 ,  48 . 
     The switch positions indicated by black arrows  61 ,  62  in FIG. 2 of second actuation element  8 , are reached by applying pressure on actuation element  8  in pulling direction, when it is deemed to cause a lowering movement to close the roof, whereby actuation projection  37  of rotary switch member  34  acts on domes  47 ,  48  of switching matrix  41  and causes the sequential closing of two additional electrical circuits for motor energization and operation in the above-described manner. 
     Although the invention has hereinabove been described with respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.