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US 5,313,028 AGranted
Turn signal cancel mechanism
AssigneeITT Corporation
InventorDaniel J. DuRocher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved turn signal cancel mechanism for a vehicle. The cancel mechanism uses a dual finger cancel pawl which rotates into and out of the necessary operational position for contact with a cancelling member of a vehicle's steering column. The cancel mechanism obviates the need for a complicated centering system and also lessens the amount of force required by restoring plungers which results in less operational noise, easier assembly and more reliable operation.
Claims17
A turn signal mechanism for controlling the turn signal indicators of a vehicle, said turn signal mechanism comprising:
- a pivot assembly adapted to be pivotally mounted with respect to a vehicle steering assembly and adapted to receive a turn signal arm for manual movement of said pivot assembly between a normal position and signalling positions;
- restoring means for restoring said pivot assembly to said normal position;
- latching means for holding said pivot assembly in each of said signalling positions;
- cancelling means for releasing said latching means so that said pivot assembly can be restored to said normal position by said restoring means, said cancelling means including a cancel pawl having first and second cancelling fingers that are adapted to be engaged by said steering assembly, said cancelling fingers being pivotally mounted for pivotal movement between first and second positions corresponding to said signalling positions and a third position corresponding to said normal position;
- said pivot assembly and said cancelling means being operatively coupled such that when said pivot assembly is latched in one of said signalling positions, one of said cancelling fingers is pivoted to said first or second position and adapted to be engaged by said steering assembly to subsequently release said latching means as said steering assembly is operated so that said pivot assembly and said cancelling fingers can be restored to said normal position, wherein said cancel pawl is pivotally secured to said turn signal mechanism and includes a recess for receiving a pin extending from said latching means and said latching means extends from said turn signal pivot mechanism such that said cancel pawl and said pivot mechanism are operationally coupled, wherein the outer periphery of said cancel pawl includes a first pair of arc shaped ramps intersecting at a first point generally opposite said first finger and a second pair of arc shaped ramps intersecting at a point generally opposite said second finger, biasing means for biasing said cancel pawl outwardly and for positioning one of said first and second fingers into said first and second positions when said pin of said latching means comes into contact with a wall of said recess of said cancel pawl.
2 more elements
A mechanism for controlling vehicle turn signals, said vehicle including a steering assembly having an engaging member thereon, said mechanism comprising:
- a turn signal pivot member adapted to receive a turn signal arm for manual rotation of said pivot member between a normal position, wherein said vehicle turn signals are not operational, and first and second operational positions, wherein said vehicle turn signals are activated;
- a latching plunger protruding from said pivot member and engaging a control surface, said latching plunger cooperating with said control surface to hold said pivot member in said first and second positions after manual rotation to either of said first and second positions,
- a dual finger cancel pawl pivotally mounted to said mechanism and operatively coupled to said latching plunger, said dual finger cancel pawl including spaced first and second fingers selectively engagable by said engaging member to rotate said cancel pawl with respect to said mechanism to release said pivot member from said first and second operational positions and return said pivot member to said normal position, wherein said cancel pawl is pivotally secured and includes a recess for receiving a pin extending from said latching plunger and said latching plunger extends from said turn pivot member such that said cancel pawl and said pivot member are operationally coupled.
A turn signal control mechanism for use in controlling a vehicle's turn signals, said mechanism comprising:
- a pivotal member manually rotatable between a normal position, wherein said turn signals are not operational and operational positions wherein said turn signals are activated;
- a latching plunger for holding said pivotal member in each of said signalling positions;
- a dual finger cancel pawl operationally coupled to said pivotal member to return said pivotal member from one of said operational positions to said normal position after said vehicle has been turned in the desired direction, said cancel pawl being pivotally mounted such that said dual fingers can rotate between three positions corresponding to said normal and first and second operational position, said pawl having a recess for receiving a pin extending from said latching plunger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.