Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an electrical contact assembly in a steering wheel that allows the contacts of a primary circuit board to move relative to the corresponding contacts of a secondary circuit board without disengaging the electrical connection. Thus, any minor deviation in the positioning of the primary or secondary circuit board may be compensated for without the loss of electrical contact. The primary circuit board is located in the center of the steering wheel around the steering column. The primary circuit board includes left and right arms which engage and cooperate with left and right button assemblies on the steering wheel to actuate various vehicle controls, such as radio volume and tuning control, in the vehicle. The arms include leaf-spring contacts which resiliently and non-fixedly engage the secondary circuit board which is connected to control buttons on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A connection module having multiple spring coils that connect the electrical contacts of a steeling stalk to the electrical contacts of a circuit board in a steering column. The spring coils are made from a conductive wire that is formed into a helix-shaped coil having several rings therein, the rings defining slots therebetween. The spring coils are placed end to end in the connection module so that access is provided to the slots in the sides of the spring coils. The contacts of the steering stalk and the circuit board are then inserted into the slots of the spring coil to electrically connect the two.

Abstract: A windshield wiper lever, wherein a single contact slide operates both as a contact element and as a detent plunger, enabling both wiper wash and wipe functions. To this end, the steering column lever comprises: (i) a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents; (ii) a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents; and (iii) a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents maintains the electrical connection.

Abstract: A combined windshield front and rear washing and wiping stalk switch having a single contact substrate that is adapted to engage a front wiper carrier, a front wash carrier and a rear wipe/wash carrier. To this end, the multifunctional steering column stalk switch comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) a substrate fixed inside the housing having a first leg and a second leg defining a predetermined angle between the first leg and the second leg; (iii) a conductive trace on one surface of each leg; (iv) a first carrier moveably engaged with the first leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the first leg; (v) a second carrier moveably engaged with the second leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the second leg; (vi) a first manual input device adapted to move the first carrier with respect to the first leg; and (vii) a second manual input device adapted to move the second carrier with respect to the second leg.

Abstract: A modular steering column device includes a lock housing, a primary switch module, a secondary switch module, an electronics module, a clockspring, and an ignition switch. The lock housing is removeably attachable to a steering column of a vehicle. The primary switch module is removeably attachable to the lock housing. The secondary switch module is removeably attachable to the primary switch housing and to the lock housing. The electronics module is removeably attachable to the lock housing. The clockspring is removeably attachable to the primary switch module. The ignition switch is removebaly attachable to the lock housing. The modularity of the serviceable steering column module design provides for the easy replacement of defective, worn-out, or broken modules, or to replace functioning modules with an upgraded, premium module. Furthermore, standard components can be swapped-out between different brands of vehicles.

Abstract: An automobile steering column switch includes a support rigidly mounted to the steering column tube of an automobile steering column. The support comprises at least one of a wiper switch, blinker switch, and driving light switch. The support includes a printed circuit board provided with electrical contacts to which the at least one of a wiper switch, blinker switch and driving light switch and an ignition starter switch are coupled. The support is configured in one piece and provided with an accommodation space for the ignition starter switch. The support with the switches can be mounted as a pre-assembled module to the steering column 2.

Abstract: An ignition system that includes an ignition switch assembly for preventing the short-circuiting of the ignition system is provided. The ignition switch assembly includes a contact carrier assembly that is in electrical switching contact with an electrical component, such as a printed circuit board, of the ignition system. The printed circuit board contains substantially all electronics of the ignition system separate and apart from the ignition switch assembly. Upon removing the ignition switch assembly from the ignition switch system, a switching contact member of the printed circuit board is destroyed thereby effectively preventing the ignition system from being short-circuited or “hot wired.

Abstract: A windshield wiper lever, wherein a single contact slide operates both as a contact element and as a detent plunger, enabling both wiper wash and wipe functions. To this end, the steering column lever comprises: (i) a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents; (ii) a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents; and (iii) a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents maintains the electrical connection.

Abstract: A combined windshield front and rear washing and wiping stalk switch having a single contact substrate that is adapted to engage a front wiper carrier, a front wash carrier and a rear wipe/wash carrier. To this end, the multifunctional steering column stalk switch comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) a substrate fixed inside the housing having a first leg and a second leg defining a predetermined angle between the first leg and the second leg; (iii) a conductive trace on one surface of each leg; (iv) a first carrier moveably engaged with the first leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the first leg; (v) a second carrier moveably engaged with the second leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the second leg; (vi) a first manual input device adapted to move the first carrier with respect to the first leg; and (vii) a second manual input device adapted to move the second carrier with respect to the second leg.

Abstract: A multifunctional automobile steering column lever having a printed circuit board and a variety of different input devices designed to achieve a desired grouping of functionality. To this end, the multifunctional automobile lever comprises: (i) a housing for attachment to a steering column of an automobile; (ii) a printed circuit board fixed inside the housing; (iii) a pushbutton displayed by the housing and adapted to make an electrical connection with the printed circuit board; (iv) a thumbwheel displayed by the housing and adapted to make an electrical connection with the printed circuit board; and (v) a rocker button displayed by the housing and adapted to make an electrical connection with the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A modular steering column device includes a lock housing, a primary switch module, a secondary switch module, an electronics module, a clockspring, and an ignition switch. The lock housing is removeably attachable to a steering column of a vehicle. The primary switch module is removeably attachable to the lock housing. The secondary switch module is removeably attachable to the primary switch housing and to the lock housing. The electronics module is removeably attachable to the lock housing. The clockspring is removeably attachable to the primary switch module. The ignition switch is removebaly attachable to the lock housing. The modularity of the serviceable steering column module design provides for the easy replacement of defective, worn-out, or broken modules, or to replace functioning modules with an upgraded, premium module. Furthermore, standard components can be swapped-out between different brands of vehicles.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a member by which a user selects one of a plurality of functions. Operation of the member applies different amounts of pressure to a transducer that has an impedance which changes in response to the applied pressure. An input circuit produces an output voltage which varies in relation to changes in the impedance of the pressure transducer. A voltage comparator compares the output voltage to a plurality of voltage ranges and in response to the voltage comparison, an output driver produces at least one electrical signal that indicates which one of plurality of functions the user has selected.

Abstract: A switch assembly having a sliding actuator adapted to be moved by a cam on a stalk lever. Initial movement of the actuator from a neutral position by user movement of the lever moves a first contact carried by the actuator to break a connection between a power bus and a fog lamp terminal strip in a planar array of strips. Further movement causes a second contact carried by the actuator to make a connection between another power bus strip and a high beam terminal strip. Continued movement of the sliding actuator causes rotational movement of a bi-stable rotor latched in one of its two bi-stable positions. Movement of the rotor causes a third contact on the rotor to shunt the second contact to make a second connection on another high beam strip and a fourth contact on the rotor breaks a second connection on the strip for the fog lamp electrically in series with the first connection.