Abstract: An improved electrical commutator which is particularly useful in a vehicle steering wheel system, includes sets of wire brushes or fingers on a first plate. The wire brushes or fingers contact plural co-planar rings on a second plate. The two plates rotate relative to each other. The wire brushes or fingers decrease the likelihood that any one of the sets will have a short circuit. Should any one of the wires bend, break, or come out of contact with its associated contact ring, there is a likelihood that at least several of the other wires will remain in contact. In addition, there are plural sets of wire brushes or fingers associated with each of the contact rings, again increasing the likelihood that the circuit will remain intact. In other features, the plural sets may be mounted such that circumferentially spaced ones of the sets face opposed directions.

Abstract: A stalk switch assembly mountable on a steering column of a vehicle includes a base having a track mounting a control stalk. The control stalk includes a collar received on the track, which moves along the track. In a preferred embodiment, the track defines a pivot point for the control stalk, wherein the pivot point is spaced from the stalk and track. The control stalk makes selective electric contact with contact points on the base. When moving contacts come in contact with the electric contact points, the electric switch is actuated or is deactivated. This switch is most beneficially used for the turn signal of a vehicle.