# US 10,121,616 B2 · Window switch assembly of a vehicle

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- Number: US 10,121,616 B2
- Document ID: US10121616B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/702,559
- Filed: 2017-09-12
- Published: 2018-03-22
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-20
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Jason Zhou; Layla Mi; Tina Li; Fiona Yang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121616B2

## CPC

- H01H 25/002: {having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions}
- E05Y 2400/854: Switches
- E05Y 2400/86: by hand
- E05Y 2900/55: Windows
- H01H 2300/01: Application power window
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A window switch assembly of a vehicle comprises a base; a rail on the base; and a control member partially received in the rail and slidable in the rail. The rail includes a first rail body extending at a traverse direction, a first end portion and a second end portion communicated with the first rail body. The first end portion includes a first switch and a second switch opposite each other in a longitudinal direction, and the second end portion includes a third switch and a fourth switch opposite each other in the longitudinal direction. The control member selectively contacts the first switch and the second switch to control a first window, and selectively contacts the third switch and the fourth switch to control a second window.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A window switch assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a base;
a rail on the base, including:
a first rail body extending at a traverse direction of the vehicle,
a first sub-rail communicating with the first rail body, extending from the first rail body along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having two ends spaced apart from the first rail body at the longitudinal direction,
a second sub-rail communicating with the first rail body, extending from the first rail body along the longitudinal direction and having two ends spaced apart from the first rail body at the longitudinal direction;
a first switch and a second switch disposed at the two ends of the first sub-rail, respectively;
a third switch and a fourth switch disposed at the two ends of the second sub-rail, respectively; and
a control member partially received in the rail and slidable in the rail, wherein the control member selectively contacts the first switch and the second switch to control a first window, and selectively contacts the third switch and the fourth switch to control a second window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The window switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a micro switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The window switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a switch to roll up a first front window, and the second switch is a switch to roll down the first front window.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The window switch assembly of claim 1, wherein a sidewall of the control member includes a recess, and a sidewall of the first rail includes a sliding block to be received in the recess to guide movement of the control member in the rail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The window switch assembly of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member, wherein one end of the resilient member is connected to the control member and another end of the resilient member is connected to the first rail body, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the control member toward a rest position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The window switch assembly of claim 5, wherein the resilient member is configured to be moveable in the first body rail, the first sub-rail and the second sub-rail.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The window switch assembly of claim 1, further comprising
a second rail body extending at the traverse direction;
a third sub-rail communicating with the second rail body, extending from the second rail body along the longitudinal direction and having two ends spaced apart from the second rail body at the longitudinal direction,
a fourth sub-rail communicating with the second rail body, extending from the second rail body along the longitudinal direction and having two ends spaced apart from the second rail body at the longitudinal direction,
a middle rail extending along the longitudinal direction and communicating with the first rail body and the second rail body,
a fifth switch and a sixth switch disposed at the two ends of the third sub-rail, respectively,
a seventh switch and an eighth switch disposed at the two ends of the fourth sub-rail, respectively,
wherein the control member selectively contacts the fifth switch and the sixth switch to control a third window, and selectively contacts the seventh switch and the eighth switch to control a fourth window.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The window switch assembly of claim 7, further comprising a resilient member, wherein one end of the resilient member is connected to the control member and another end of the resilient member is connected to the middle rail, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the control member toward a rest position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The window switch assembly of the claim 8, wherein the resilient member is an electric conductive spring, the first switch is a first contact electrically connected to a window control circuit, wherein the control member includes a first contacting point matching the first contact, and wherein the first contacting point is electrically connected to the electric conductive spring which is electrically connected to the window control circuit.

### Claim 10

A window switch assembly to control multiple windows of a vehicle, comprising:
a base including:
a first rail, wherein the first rail includes a first rail body extending along a transverse direction of the vehicle, and a first sub-rail and a second sub-rail that extend from the first rail body along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and communicate with the first rail body, the first sub-rail has two ends spaced apart from the first rail body and the second sub-rail has two ends spaced apart from the first rail body,
a second rail, wherein the second rail includes a second rail body extending along the transverse direction, and a third sub-rail and a fourth sub-rail that extend from the second rail body along the longitudinal direction, and communicate with the second rail body, the third sub-rail has two ends spaced apart from the second rail body and the fourth sub-rail has two ends spaced apart from the second rail body, and
a middle rail extending along the longitudinal direction and communicating with the first rail body and the second rail body;
a plurality of switches including:
a right front window rolling-up switch and a right front window rolling-down switch disposed at the two ends of the first sub-rail, respectively,
a left front window rolling-up switch and a left front window rolling-down switch disposed at the two ends of the second sub-rail, respectively,
a right rear window rolling-up switch and a right rear window rolling-down switch disposed at the two ends of the third sub-rail, respectively,
a left rear window rolling-up switch and a left rear window rolling-down switch disposed at the two ends of the fourth sub-rail, respectively
a control member, wherein the control member is received partially in the middle rail at a rest position and is slidable in the first, second, third and fourth sub-rails and the middle rail to contact the switches selectively.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the switches is a power switch, wherein the control member contacts one of the switches in a shorter period to roll up or roll down a corresponding window for a certain distance, and the control member contacts one of the switches for a longer period to close or open a corresponding window fully.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, wherein the window switch assembly is disposed on a side of a front door adjacent to a driver.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, wherein the window switch assembly is disposed on an instrument panel adjacent to a driver.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, wherein a side surface of the control member includes a first recess, and wherein a sidewall of the first, second and middle rails includes a first sliding block to be received in the recess to guide the control member to move in the first, second and middle rails.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, wherein a bottom wall of the control member includes a second sliding block, wherein a bottom wall of the first, second, and middle rails include a second recess to receive the second sliding block to guide movement of the control member in the first, second and middle rails.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The window switch assembly of claim 10, further comprising a spring, wherein one end of the spring is connected to middle rail and another end of the spring is connected to the control member and wherein the spring applies a restoring force to bias the control member to the middle rail.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The window switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the control member includes a control rod, wherein each switch is a contact disposed on a sidewall of the sub-rails and electrically connected to a window control circuit, wherein a surface of the control rod adjacent to a sliding end includes a contacting point matching the contact, and wherein the contacting point is electrically connected to the spring which is further connected to the window control circuit, and wherein the control rod touches the switch to enable a connection with the window control circuit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The window switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the control member includes a control rod, wherein each switch includes a contact disposed on a bottom of the sub-rails and electrically connected to a window control circuit, wherein a sliding end of the control rod includes a contacting point matching the contact, wherein the contacting point is electrically connected to the spring which is further electrically connected to the window control circuit, and wherein the control rod touches the switch to enable a connection with the window control circuit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The window switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the spring is configured to be moveable in the first rail, the second rail and the middle rail.