Movable element control arrangement
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
InventorMasaru Suzuki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved arrangement for controlling one or more movable element such as seats and side windows mounted in an automobile and the like, which includes a switch holding means having switch holding faces and control switches mounted on the switch holding faces. Each control switch has an operation knob so arranged as to be operated in the directions respectively corresponding to a direction of the respective movement of the movable element. Therefore, it is very easy for a user to operate correctly the control switches without being confused at selection of switch operations.
Claims13
A switch arrangement for application in a motor vehicle having a motorized adjustable seat with a movable cushion portion and a back rest portion that permits an automatic adjustment to a subjective position desired by the operator, comprising:
- a base member configured to simulate the exterior configuration of the seat on a reduced scale having a substantially L shape with an elongated four-sided cushion portion having a horizontal portion with an upper and lower surface and also a forward and rearward side surface and an upper back portion with a front and back surface, the back portion positioned adjacent one end of the cushion portion and extending in one vertical direction substantially traverse to the elongated horizontal portion, and
- switch means respectively positioned on the base member for driving the motorized seat, the switch means being juxtapositioned on the base member so that both the position and direction of activation of the switch means simulates a manual movement of the actual seat positions to the desired positions for the operator, including
- a first switch on one of the upper surface and lower surface for controlling movement of the seat downwardly;
- a second switch on the other of the upper surface and the lower surface for controlling movement of the seat upwardly;
- a third switch on one of the forward surface and rear surface for controlling movement of the seat rearwardly;
- a fourth switch on the other of the forward surface and the rear surface for controlling movement of the seat forwardly;
- a fifth switch on one of the front surface and back surface for controlling movement of the seat back backwardly;
- and
- a sixth switch on the other of the front surface and the back surface for controlling movement of the seat back frontwardly.
A switch arrangement for application in a motor vehicle having motorized adjustable windows that permit automatic adjustment to subjective positions desired by the operator, comprising:
- a base member configured to approximately simulate the exterior configuration of an automobile exterior on a reduced scale having a raised surface and a lowered surface forming a plurality of side walls with the side walls corresponding to the sides of a motor vehicle with two opposing side walls corresponding respectively to the left and right sides of the vehicle, the base member capable of mounting in a motor vehicle to be spatially aligned therewith,
- and switch means respectively positioned on the base member for driving the motorized windows, the switch means being juxtapositioned on the base member so that both the position and direction of activation of the switch means simulates a manual movement of the actual window positions to the desired positions for the operator, including
- a first switch mounted on the first opposing side wall for controlling the movement of the front left vehicle window;
- a second switch mounted on the first opposing side wall rearward of the first switch for controlling the movement of the rear left vehicle window;
- a third switch mounted on the second opposing side wall for controlling the movement of the front right vehicle window;
- and
- a fourth switch mounted on the second opposing side wall for controlling the movement of the rear right vehicle window.
A switch mounting structure for use in a vehicle wherein the location of the vehicle component to be operated by a particular switch on the switch mounting structure can be indicated by the spatial positioning of the switch on the switch mounting structure, comprising:
- a switch holding structure mounted on the vehicle and having a raised surface and a lowered surface forming a plurality of side walls with the side walls corresponding to movable vehicle component locations, or oriented to form a miniaturization of a vehicle component having movable portions, and spatially aligned therewith;
- and
- a plurality of switches mounted on the side walls and located in spatial relation to each other in positions corresponding to the relative location in the vehicle of a movable vehicle component operated by the switch, or to the relative position of the movable portion of the vehicle component with respect to the other switches on the switch mounting.
In combination with a motor vehicle seat having a motorized adjustable seat with movable cushion portion and a movable back rest portion that permits an automatic adjustment to a subjective position desired by the operator, a switch arrangement mounted on the seat comprising:
- a base member configured to simulate the exterior configuration of the seat on a reduced scale having a substantially L shape with an elongated four-sided cushion portion having a horizontal portion with an upper and lower surface and also a forward and rearward side surface and an upper back portion with a front and back surface, the back portion positioned adjacent one end of the cushion portion and extending in one vertical direction substantially traverse to the elongated horizontal portion, the base member is integral with a side portion of the cushion portion of the seat;
- and
- switch means respectively positioned on the base member for driving the motorized seat, the switch means being juxtapositioned on the base member so that both the position and direction of activation of the switch means simulates a manual movement of the actual seat positions to the desired positions for the operator, including
- a first switch on one of the upper surface and lower surface for controlling movement of the seat downwardly;
- a second switch on the other of the upper surface and the lower surface for controlling movement of the seat upwardly;
- a third switch on one of the forward surface and rear surface for controlling movement of the seat rearwardly;
- a fourth switch on the other of the forward surface and the rear surface for controlling movement of the seat forwardly;
- a fifth switch on one of the front surface and back surface for controlling movement of the seat back backwardly;
- and
- a sixth switch on the other of the front surface and the back surface for controlling movement of the seat back frontwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.