US 5,491,312 A · Combination wash/wiper contact subassembly

Abstract

A wash/wiper switch control assembly having an integrally formed wash/wiper contact member. The wash/wiper contact member includes a plurality of wiper contact arms which are integrally formed with a central body portion and a wash contact arm which is also integrally formed with the central body portion. The wash/wiper contact member is secured to an actuator member via conventional staking techniques. By manufacturing the wash/wiper contact member as a single component, the overall cost of manufacturing a wash/wiper switch control assembly is reduced. The complexity of manufacturing the wash/wiper contact member is also reduced while the reliability is improved since only a single component part need be secured to the actuator member versus prior art arrangements in which a wash contact and a separate wiper contact are secured to separate component parts of a wash/wiper switch control assembly.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A combination wash/wiper contact member for a multi-function wash/wiper switch assembly for a vehicle for controlling at least one wiper blade associated with a windshield of the vehicle and for controlling the application of windshield washer solvent from the switch assembly, said wash/wiper contact member comprising:

a central body portion;
a plurality of wiper contact arms protruding outwardly from said central body portion, each arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being integrally formed with said central body portion, said second end being formed for selective contact with a first electrically conductive surface, each of said plurality of wiper contact arms extending away from a plane formed by said central body portion;
a wash contact arm integrally formed with said central body portion and protruding outwardly away from said plane in a direction opposite that of said plurality of wiper contact arms for selective contact with a second conductive surface co-planar with said first conductive surface;
and
said wash/wiper contact member being securable as a single component to an actuator member of said switch assembly.

2 more elements

A wash/wiper switch control assembly for a vehicle for controlling a plurality of windshield wipers of the vehicle and for controlling the application of windshield washer solvent to a windshield of a vehicle, said switch assembly comprising:

a cover member;
a spring at least partially disposed within said cover member;
an actuator member operably associated with said spring so as to be biased by said spring;
a lever member operably associated with said actuator member so as to allow said actuator member to rotate within a portion of said lever member;
a wash/wiper contact member comprising:
a central body portion;
a plurality of wiper contact arms protruding outwardly from said central body portion, each arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being integrally formed with said central body portion, said second end being formed for selective contact with a first electrically conductive surface, each of said plurality of wiper contact arms extending away from a plane formed by said central body portion;
a wash contact arm integrally formed with said central body portion and protruding outwardly away from said plane in a direction opposite that of said plurality of wiper contact arms for selective contact with a second conductive surface co-planar with said first conductive surface;
and
said wash/wiper contact member being securable as a single piece component to said actuator member and positioned within said portion of said lever member so as to rotate in accordance with said actuator member.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combination wash/wiper contact subassembly

Life of this patent

Combination wash/wiper contact subassembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7