IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,082,568
Granted Patent B2
US 9,082,568 · App. 13/704,318 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Switch, in particular for an electric parking brake

Inventors: Gebhard Laicher (Stockach, DE); Horst Singer (Radolfzell, DE)
Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
H01H23/02H01H23/003H01H23/205H01H23/30H01H23/168H01H2021/225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,082,568
App. No.
13/704,318
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switch is shown which has a housing ( 10, 12 ), a key ( 20 ) that is pivotally mounted on the housing ( 10, 12 ), a rocker switch ( 22 ) that is assigned to the key ( 20 ) and can be actuated by the latter in two directions, so that it is pivoted about two axes spaced apart from each other, and two microswitches ( 16 ) that are arranged on the side of the rocker switch ( 22 ) facing away from the key ( 20 ).

Claims (21)

1. A switch comprising

a housing ( 10 , 12 ),

a key ( 20 ) pivotally mounted on the housing ( 10 , 12 ),

a rocker switch ( 22 ) arranged to be actuated on a first side by the key ( 20 ) to move the rocker switch ( 22 ) in two directions, such that the rocker switch ( 22 ) is pivoted, respectively, about two axes spaced apart from each other, and

two microswitches ( 16 ) arranged at a second side of the rocker switch ( 22 ) facing opposite from the key ( 20 ),

wherein an actuating contour ( 34 ) is arranged on the first side of the rocker switch ( 22 ) facing the key ( 20 ) for each position of actuation of the key ( 20 ), and wherein the actuating contour is formed by a two-sided ramp ( 34 ) having a peak that defines a maximum permissible actuating travel distance of the rocker switch ( 22 ).

2. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein the rocker switch ( 22 ) is urged to an initial position by a spring tappet ( 28 ).

3. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein the rocker switch ( 22 ) is arranged within a guide collar ( 24 ) of the housing ( 10 , 12 ).

4. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein, depending on the position of actuation by the key ( 20 ), the rocker switch ( 22 ) is pivoted about a side edge of the rocker switch ( 22 ) that is remote from an opposite, non-actuated side edge of the rocker switch ( 22 ).

5. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key ( 20 ) cooperates with a spring-loaded pin ( 42 ) which urges the key into an initial position.

6. The switch according to claim 5 , wherein the key ( 20 ) includes a guide channel ( 40 ) accommodating the pin ( 42 ) and a spring ( 44 ), the spring ( 44 ) being supported at one end of the pin ( 42 ), and wherein the housing ( 10 , 12 ) includes a return slide path ( 46 ) against which the pin ( 42 ) is pressed by the spring ( 44 ).

7. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein the two-sided ramp ( 34 ) is formed by a plurality of ribs arranged parallel to one another.

8. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key ( 20 ) includes a pair of spaced apart actuating ribs ( 32 ), each rib ( 32 ) cooperating with one of the two-sided ramps ( 34 ) to define the maximum permissible actuating travel distance of the rocker switch ( 22 ).

9. The switch according to claim 1 further comprising a spring tappet ( 28 ) spaced from the microswitches ( 16 ) that engages the rocker switch ( 22 ) and urges the rocker switch ( 22 ) towards the key ( 20 ) to an initial position.

10. A switch comprising:

a housing;

a key pivotally mounted on the housing;

a rocker switch having a first side facing the key and a second side facing away from the key, the first side of the rocker switch including a pair of actuating contours, each constituting a two-sided ramp having a peak; and

first and second microswitches on the second side of the rocker switch;

wherein the key is pivotable in a first direction to pivot the rocker switch about a first axis to actuate the first microswitch, the key being pivotable in a second direction to pivot the rocker switch about a second axis spaced from the first axis to actuate the second microswitch, wherein the key cooperates with the peaks of the actuating contours to define a maximum permissible actuating travel distance of the rocker switch.

11. The switch according to claim 10 , wherein the key includes a pair of spaced-apart actuating ribs that cooperate with the peaks of the actuating contours to define the maximum permissible actuating travel distance of the rocker switch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2012
From: LAICHER, GEBHARD; SINGER, HORST
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 029469/0583 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2010 027 569 · Jul 19, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130213787A1 · Aug 22, 2013