Automotive brake switch
US5889246A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2003/167
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automotive brake switch including a body having a linearly traveling profiled carriage which makes or breaks various circuits as the carriage travels. The switch includes a plunger which, at first, is free to move relative to the carriage, but upon installation is locked to the carriage. A rotatable lever arm holds the carriage in a desired neutral operating position, and maintains free movement of the plunger relative to the carriage. When the switch body is installed, the plunger comes into contact with an arm of the brake which causes the brake to move against the force from a spring to assume a desired adjustment position relative to the carriage for proper operation. The rotatable lever arm is turned to lock the plunger to the carriage and to free the carriage for travel within the body. Thereafter, the carriage responds to movement of the plunger caused by the brake arm to make and break circuits in the normal fashion to control the operation of cruise control, stop lamps, etc. Also, the length of the carriage is somewhat less than the space provided in the switch body. This permits overtravel of the carriage within the body without causing readjustment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.