Patent · US Expired

Assembly for steering column switch with spiral spring

US6008457A · kind A · utility

6Cited by

10References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

ITT Automotive Europe GmbH · DE

Inventors

Rudolf Klein · Oberhausen, DE
Salvador Cristofaro · Schlat, DE
Walter Hecht · Ravensburg, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 5, 1997
Grant date	Dec 28, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 5, 2017

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH01R35/025
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A steering column switch has a spiral spring which produces a rotatable contact between terminals that are rigidly arranged on the housing of the steering column switch and terminals on the rotatable steering wheel. The receptacle for the spiral spring is attained by integrally forming an open receptacle onto the switch housing, with said receptacle being closed by a cover that can be turned relative to the housing. Consequently, the spiral spring is integrated into the switch housing such that a separate spring housing is eliminated. Advantageous additional developments of the invention pertain to an additional locking part that rotationally locks the cover relative to the switch housing while the switch is stored. The locking part also makes it possible to turn the cover only relative to the switch housing once the steering wheel is attached to the steering column.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.