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.

Abstract: A wash/wiper switch control assembly having an integrally formed wash/wiper contact member. The wash/wiper contact member includes a plurality of wiper contact arms which are integrally formed with a central body portion and a wash contact arm which is also integrally formed with the central body portion. The wash/wiper contact member is secured to an actuator member via conventional staking techniques. By manufacturing the wash/wiper contact member as a single component, the overall cost of manufacturing a wash/wiper switch control assembly is reduced. The complexity of manufacturing the wash/wiper contact member is also reduced while the reliability is improved since only a single component part need be secured to the actuator member versus prior art arrangements in which a wash contact and a separate wiper contact are secured to separate component parts of a wash/wiper switch control assembly.

Abstract: An electrical switch contains three contactor carriers, each capable of containing a different pattern of contactors. The carriers slide on conductive strips to complete circuits to electrical devices. Two carriers are controlled by a linkage that moves one as the linkage is pushed or pulled and moves the other as the linkage is rotated. The third carrier is moved by thumbwheel and engages a resistance element that is connected to the strips, to vary the resistance through a pair of strips. A removable cover has walls that force the carriers towards the strips and limit the movement of some carriers. A bayonet lamp engages the strips to light the faceplate under the control of the third carrier.