Steering wheel pad keyboard switch assembly
US4638131A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2239/016
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A steering wheel pad keyboard switch assembly is mounted on a steering wheel. The preassembled switch assembly comprises a base, a printed circuit board which has an array of open contact grids, an elastomeric switch member which has an array of movable contacts, a guide plate and a push button sub-assembly. The guide plate has a plurality of guide bosses and guide holes disposed in the same predetermined array for guiding the stem pieces of the push buttons into operative contact with the movable contacts of the switch member and a pad portion for supporting a horn switch. The push button sub-assembly comprises a frame member which is attached to the base to provide the unit handle switch assembly, a plurality of push buttons which are slideably retained in respective slide chambers of the frame and a soft decorative cover which includes a depressible horn switch pad to operate the horn switch and cut-outs to provide access to the push buttons. The guide plate and the stem pieces of the push buttons are made of a translucent material and form part of the back lighting system for the push button legends.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.