Electric switch, especially for operating a windshield wiper and washer system of a motor vehicle

A multi-function electric switch comprising:

• a switch housing assembly having a plurality of electrically isolated, stationary contacts;
• a switching member mounted in said switch housing for rotation about a first axis into switching positions interconnecting separate pairs of said plurality of stationary contacts;
• a switch lever mounted on said switching member for rotation about a second axis angularly offset from said first axis;
• and
• a first bridging contact carried by said switch lever for alternatively bridging one pair of said plurality of stationary contacts depending upon the angular position of said switch lever about said second axis, said first bridging contact bridging said one pair of stationary contacts at different points as a function of angular position of said switching member and said switch lever about said first axis so that said alternative bridging of said one pair of said stationary contacts by said first bridging contact is independent of said position of said switching member and said switch lever about said first axis.

An electric switch for operating a windshield wiper and washer system for a motor vehicle comprising:

• a switch housing assembly having a plurality of electrically isolated, stationary contacts;
• a switching member mounted in said switch housing for rotation about a first axis into switch positions interconnecting separate pairs of said plurality of stationary contacts and corresponding to operational stages of said windshield wiper system;
• a switch lever mounted on said switching member for rotation about a second axis angularly offset from said first axis;
• and
• a first bridging contact carried by said switch lever for alternatively bridging one pair of said plurality of stationary contacts depending upon the angular position of said switch lever about said second axis, said first bridging contact bridging said one pair of stationary contacts, thereby activating said washer system, at different points as a function of the angular position of said switching member and said switch lever about said first axis so that said alternative bridging of said one pair of said stationary contacts by said first bridging contact is independent of said position of said switching member and said switch lever about said first axis.