Combined detent plunger and moving contact
AssigneeMethode Electronics, Inc.
InventorsRay C. Goff, Steven R. Hoskins, Joseph E. Khoury, Christopher Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A windshield wiper lever, wherein a single contact slide operates both as a contact element and as a detent plunger, enabling both wiper wash and wipe functions. To this end, the steering column lever comprises: (i) a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents; (ii) a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents; and (iii) a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents maintains the electrical connection.
Claims17
A steering column lever comprising:
- a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents;
- a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents;
- and
- a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents maintains the electrical connection.
A steering column lever comprising:
- a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents;
- a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents;
- and
- a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents provides tactile feedback for the electrical connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.