Abstract: A steering assembly having a switch device attached to a steering column which rotatably supports a steering wheel. The steering wheel includes a steering wheel boss, a steering wheel ring and steering wheel spokes coupling the boss and the ring. The switch device is composed of an operating shaft and a first operating ring formed around it. The entire length of the operating shaft is set that its tip is located between an outer edge and an inner edge of the steering wheel ring in a radial direction of the steering wheel. The first operating ring provided around the operating shaft is rotatable in both directions.

Abstract: A lever switch is provided having an operating first knob 14 and a lever rod 3. The lever rod 3 has one end pivotally disposed in a case 6 and the other end disposed to project from the case. The first knob 14 and a boot 22 are disposed side by side. The first knob 14 has a first opening 14a that opposes a second opening 22c of the boot 22. As a result of this construction, the first opening, lever rod, and wire harness of the lever switch cannot be seen from outside, and the lever switch has an operating portion of good appearance in its entirety.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: A circuit interlock switch mountable in a stalk switch apparatus includes an actuator mounted on a lever movably mounted in a housing attachable to a vehicle steering column. The actuator is moveable relative to the lever. In a first movement state, the actuator is coupled through a shaft extending through the lever to a contactor and moves the contactor between operative states upon rotation of the actuator to open and close vehicle circuits coupled through conductive traces in a substrate engaged by contacts on the contactor. A cam and cam follower are formed on the lever and the actuator to permit axial translation of the actuator relative to the lever only in certain rotated positions of the actuator.

Abstract: A multi-function switch lever apparatus mountable on a vehicle steering column includes at least one actuator and one contactor. A shaft extends through a lever pivotally mounted to a housing containing the contactor. A first end of the shaft is fixed to the first actuator. The second end of the shaft rotates a drive gear which engages and moves a linear toothed rack mounted in the housing between electrical circuit positions. Cancel members in a turn signal mechanism are biasingly mounted allowing disengagement of either cancel member from a cancel pawl when the turn signal lever is held in a turn position during rotation of the steering wheel when completing a turn. A beam change carrier is mounted in the housing and carries a pivotal contact which switches positions upon engagement with a paddle during pivotal movement of the stalk switch lever about one axis.

Abstract: A switch apparatus for controlling multiple electrical circuits includes a pivot shaft carried in a housing mountable on a vehicle steering column. A carrier is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft for rotation of about axis. A lever is pivotally mounted to the carrier for rotation about a first axis to the axis of the shaft. A rotatable end cap is mounted on the lever. A shaft is fixed to the end cap at one end and extends through a lever to a second end on which a gear is mounted. A radial rack is mounted in the housing and engaged by the gear for rotation about the pivot shaft. Electrical traces are formed in the housing and engaged by contacts carried on the radial rack to control operating circuits. An actuator is rotatably and translatingly mounted on the pivot shaft and has an arm extending from a center. The arm engages one leaf contact in the housing upon rotation of the actuator to control a circuit.

Abstract: A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprises at least one wiper/washer switch (6 and 31), which is an integral part of a switch lever (1), whereby the contact bridge (16 and 37) of the wiper/washer switch is held in position on a rotary switch member (11 and 32) and acts with several contact arms (18) on switch contact paths (21 and 43) with associate connection contacts (23 and 41). The contact bridge (16 and 37) and the switch contact paths (21 and 41) interact to transfer switch function data in Gray code. This type of coding permits a reduced number of connection lines (25) and connection contacts (23 and 41), compared with the number of switch positions and, at the same time, permits relatively high switching reliability.

Abstract: The invention concerns a canceling device (10) for a blinker switch in motor vehicles for effecting automatic return of the blinker switch from one of the two switched positions into the neutral central position. Towards this end, a casing (12) having a catch profile (14) is provided as is a movable pretensioned trigger finger (16) which can be loaded by the cam (128) of a steering shaft (44) and with a pivotable switching part (26) having pretensioned catch elements (62, 64). To reduce the actuating forces, the catch profile (14) is provided with a movable locking section (54, 56). The trigger finger (16) should be connected to the movable locking section (54, 56) such that the locking section (54, 56) releases the catch element (62, 64) when the trigger finger (16) is actuated.

Abstract: A switch housing (21) of a starter switch (Ss) is inserted into an opening (14) defined in a rear handlebar cover (1) in a motor vehicle, and a locking claw (212) projectingly provided on the switch housing (21) is locked in the opening (14) to fix the switch housing (21). When the switch housing (21) is inserted into the opening (14), a leaf spring-like terminal (242) of a stationary contact (24) exposed to a surface of the switch housing (21) comes into resilient abutment against a terminal (312) of a bus bar (31) exposed to the opening (14) in the rear handlebar cover (1), thereby automatically completing the connection of the starter switch (Ss) and the bus bar (31) to each other. Thus, it is possible to simply and reliably perform the operation of mounting the starter switch (Ss) to the rear handlebar cover (1) and the operation of electrically connecting the starter switch (Ss) to the bus bar (31).

Abstract: A contact unit for a lever actuated arrangement for activating brake lights and the flashing turn signal light function. A single contact bridge moved by the lever has three contacts, a first and second contact for closing respectively on left or right brake light circuit contacts and left or right turn signal light circuit contacts and a third contact for closing on a flasher circuit contact upon further lever movement in the same direction. Upon initial lever movement from a neutral position, a second bridge contact is operable to close a brake switch circuit contact with the opposite brake light circuit contact from the lever actuation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a modular steering column mounted switch system for motor vehicles which is organized according to the internal functions of the switch. The steering column mounted switch system contains a plurality of functional modules which correspond to the internal functions. Should the demands for operation and/or design of a particular module change, the associated module can be easily replaced. All other functional modules remain unchanged, to thereby permit simple adaptation of the steering column mounted switch to the given operation and design demands. When there is a defect, the modular steering column mounted switch can also be easily repaired and in an economical fashion by simple replacing the defective functional module.

Abstract: A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprises a base plate and first, second, and third identical microswitches placed onto the plate that are indirectly actuated by an operating lever through terminal links. The operating lever has a neutral position and two operating positions. The third microswitch that is assigned to the neutral position is arranged in a flat position. The terminal link actuating the third microswitch is arranged in a plane parallel to the base plate. A sampling roller prevents frictional losses during the actuation of the third microswitch via a control contour on the control lever.

Abstract: The present invention is for enlarging the moving stroke of a movable member according to rotation of a lever. Operation projecting portions for moving a contact holder are provided in a moderation piece provided in the base end portion of the lever, movably in the axial direction. When the lever is rotated in the arrow A direction, the moderation piece moves in the arrow B direction while sliding a cam surface. According thereto, the operation projecting portions press the inclined surface of guiding portions so as to move the contact holder in the arrow C direction. At the time, since the moving amount of the moderation piece in the axial direction can be added to the moving stroke L2 of the contact holder, the moving stroke L2 of the contact holder can be enlarged compared with the case with the operation projecting portions provided in the lever.

Abstract: A control stalk includes a support shaft and a head mounted on the support shaft. At least the head is rotatably mounted on the support shaft and latches in various radial switch positions. In each radial switch position, additional switch positions can be triggered by pivoting the support shaft. In order to create a control stalk that permits improved operation, especially when different devices to be operated are associated with the various radial switch positions, it is provided that at least the head be capable of being brought into a specified radial switch position by outside force. The outside force can be responsive to a telephone call.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for arranging in the area of a steering column in a motor vehicle, comprises a locating device, a centrally arranged support board, and at least one steering column switch. The locating device comprises a receptacle for the support board and at least one laterally-aligned receptacle for the steering column switch. The support board establishes electrical connection between the connections of the steering column switch and the vehicle's control devices allocated to the steering column switch. The control devices allocated to the steering column switch are at least in part arranged on the support board. The ease of servicing such a known steering column assembly is decisively improved in that the receptacle for the support board is radially aligned and the support board can be connected to the locating device from a radial direction.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for arranging in an area of a steering column in a motor vehicle comprises a locating device, a centrally arranged support board, and at least one steering column switch. The locating device comprises a receptacle for the support board and at least one laterally-aligned receptacle for the steering column switch. The support board establishes electrical connection between the connections of the steering column switch and the vehicle's control devices allocated to the steering column switch. The control devices allocated to the steering column switch are at least in part arranged on the support board. The ease of servicing such a known steering column assembly is decisively improved in that the receptacle for the support board is radially aligned and the support board can be connected to the locating device from a radial direction.

Abstract: The problem of the turn signal inadvertently remaining on is solved through the use of additional intelligence added on to the current turn-signal control system already existing within current late-model vehicles. The turn-control circuitry in a vehicle first sends a signal to the ABS system indicating to the ABS system that the turn signal has been turned on. The amount of distance traveled from a certain event, such as when the turn signal is turned on, can be ascertained by the ABS system, as distance traveled for odometer purposes has always been a product of the ABS system. Therefore, when a predetermined distance has passed since the turn signal was activated, the ABS system, sends a signal back to the turn-control circuitry, instructing the turn-control circuitry to turn off the turn signal.

Abstract: A column-type operating apparatus for an automatic transmission wherein the apparatus is improved in safety by restricting the direction in which the shift lever is operated. An automatic transmission has a shift lever disposed near a steering column of an automobile, the operating apparatus being electrically controllably driven to change the running range of an automatic transmission. In a preferred embodiment, the shift lever includes a rotary knob that is provided at a tip thereof and operated to switch the running range of the automatic transmission. The shift lever has a first shaft rotatably journaled in an inner case and is pivoted about the first shaft in forward and rearward directions. The inner case has a second shaft that is rotatably supported on a case provided to the steering column, and rotates together with the shift lever about the second shaft in upward and downward directions.

Abstract: In a lever switch assembly, a sliding portion is formed on a bracket at an area located inside a first unit case. The sliding portion is constructed so as to slide along a face inside the first unit case which is directed facing away from a second unit case. With this arrangement, a projection conventionally provided at a tip end of the bracket has become unnecessary, and an overall thickness of the assembly can be decreased. During assembly, the sliding portion is blocked by the face inside the first unit case which is directed facing away from the second unit case and therefore, the bracket will be prevented from being disengaged at a stage before the second unit case is assembled.