Patent ID: 7528335

Claim:
An interior light assembly for vehicles, comprising: a base structure configured to be mounted in an interior of a vehicle; a switch member movably interconnected with the base structure, the switch member being movable relative to the base structure between an ON position, an OFF position, and an automatic position, the switch member including a first ON detent corresponding to the first ON position, an OFF detent corresponding to the OFF position, and a second detent corresponding to the automatic position; an electrical circuit including first and second electrically conductive contacts on the base structure adjacent the switch member, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to receive a signal indicative of whether or not a vehicle door is opened or closed; an electrically powered light source operably coupled to the electrical circuit; an electrically conductive third contact on the base structure, the third contact operably engaging the first detent and the first contact when the switch member is in the ON position and forming a first electrical connection with the first contact, the third contact operably engaging the OFF detent when the switch member is in the OFF position, and wherein the third contact does not form an electrical connection with the first and second contacts when the switch member is in the OFF position, the third contact operably engaging the second detent and the second contact when the switch member is in the automatic position and forming a second electrical connection with the second contact; and wherein: the third contact operably engages the first and second detents and the OFF detent and elastically deforms when the switch member is in the ON position and the automatic position, the third contact tending to remain in contact with the first and second contacts when the switch member is in the ON position and the automatic position and tends to remain out of contact with the first and second contacts when the switch member is in the OFF position; and: the electrical circuit is configured to turn the light source ON if the switch member is in the ON position regardless of whether or not a vehicle door is open or closed, the electrical circuit turning the light source OFF when the switch member is in the OFF position regardless of whether or not a vehicle door is opened or closed, the electrical circuit turning the light source on when the switch member is in the automatic position and a vehicle door is open, the electrical circuit turning the light source OFF when the switch member is in the automatic position and a vehicle door is closed.