TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to the construction and mechanism of a hinge type low ampere illuminated modular switch. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a modular switch assembly for discrete contact making/breaking whereby the modular switch comprises an integrated illumination means.
BACKGROUND
The information in this section merely provides background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, vehicles are provided with control switches for operating the various functions of the vehicle such as blinkers, cruise control, etc. Conventionally, such control switches have a knob for manually actuating a function of the switch by the user/rider. The said knob is configured with a plunger for actuating a moving contact loaded by means of a spring. A plurality of terminals or fixed contact is usually disposed below the moving contact. When a user actuates knob, the moving contact moves towards the terminals/fixed contacts energizing the spring. The moving contact thereby, establishes contact between the terminals to complete the electric circuit resulting in an electric signal to achieve a desired function. When the user releases the actuating force from the plunger, due to resilient action of spring, the moving contact moves to the unactuated position, and the contact between terminals breaks.-The upward movement of the moving contact is restricted by a casing. However, with an advancement in technology, there was a need to develop modular switches that would be illuminated during use so as to be easily visible at night.
With on-going efforts to provide modular switches for vehicles, many arrangements have been proposed. One such arrangement provides switches whereby an illumination means is placed inside the casing of the switch and a corresponding lens/translucent section is provided on the knob. Thus, when the user actuates the

knob, the illumination means illuminates providing a glowing effect on the lens/translucent section of the knob. However, one major drawback associated with such switches is that during usage, impurities such as dust and water enters the casing. Moreover, accumulation of dust in between the illumination means and the lens/translucent section of the knob reduces the illumination effect of the knob.
In other words, there was a need to develop a user friendly and technically advance control switch. Specifically, a control switch that is water resistant, compact in size whereby the contact making/breaking is discrete, and illumination of the switch is consistent through the life-cycle of the switch. More specifically, a control switch that overcomes the one or more the shortcomings associated with the prior-art.
SUMMARY
One or more drawbacks of conventional control switches as described in the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided by the low ampere illuminated modular switch for vehicles as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a low ampere illuminated modular switch. The said modular switch comprises a casing having a hollow interior region. A knob assembly is disposed at an open end of the casing. The knob assembly comprises a knob having an illumination portion and a light guide channel extending longitudinally between the knob and a contact switch assembly. The light guide channel comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The contact switch assembly comprises an actuation membrane being actuable by the distal end of the light guide channel. The actuation membrane is made from an at least partially translucent material. Further, the contact switch assembly comprises a contact switch. The contact switch comprises a light source being disposed in an encapsulation formed by the actuation membrane.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact switch comprises a moving contact and fixed contacts.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the moving contact has a generally arcuate shape and is configured to selectively establish electric contact between the fixed contacts.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the moving contact comprises a hole being located over the light source.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact switch is configured with an electrical circuit of the vehicle.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the knob is configured resiliently about pivot and is disposed external to the casing.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the knob comprises an arm being disposed movably in a guiding slot of the casing for restricting movement of the knob.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the proximal end of the light guide channel is disposed at the illumination portion of the knob.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distal end of the knob is disposed coaxially over the hole of the moving contact.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light guide channel is configured to convey light from the light source to the illuminated portion of the knob.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent with reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present low ampere illuminated modular switch.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the low ampere illuminated modular switch of Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the knob assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the contact switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the low ampere illuminated modular switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the low ampere illuminated modular switch of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assemblies and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Before describing in detail, the various embodiments of the present disclosure it may be observed that the novelty and inventive step that are in accordance with a low ampere illuminated modular switch. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art can be motivated from the present disclosure and can perform various modifications. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly, setup, system, device that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system or device or setup. In other words, one or more elements in the system or apparatus or device proceeded by "comprises a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly or system or apparatus. The following paragraphs explain present disclosure. The invention in respect of the same may be deduced accordingly.
Accordingly, it is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a low ampere modular switch for vehicles that is compact in size and is water proof.
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One more aim of the present disclosure is to provide a low ampere modular switch having an integrated illumination means.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a low ampere illuminated modular switch. The said modular switch comprises a casing having a hollow interior region. A knob assembly is disposed at an open end of the casing. The knob assembly comprises a knob having an illumination portion and a light guide channel extending longitudinally between the knob and a contact switch assembly. The light guide channel comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The contact switch assembly comprises an actuation membrane being actuable by the distal end of the light guide channel. The actuation membrane is made from an at least partially translucent material. Further, the contact switch assembly comprises a contact switch. The contact switch comprises a light source being disposed in an encapsulation formed by the actuation membrane. The contact switch comprises a moving contact and fixed contacts. The moving contact has a generally arcuate shape and is configured to selectively establish electric contact between the fixed contacts. The moving contact comprises a hole being located over the light source. The contact switch is configured with an electrical circuit of the vehicle. The knob is configured resiliently about pivot and is disposed external to the casing. The knob comprises an arm being disposed movably in a guiding slot of the casing for restricting movement of the knob. The proximal end of the light guide channel is disposed at the illumination portion of the knob. The distal end of the knob is disposed coaxiaily over the hole of the moving contact. The light guide channel is configured to convey light from the light source to the illuminated portion of the knob.
Reference will now be made to a low ampere illuminated modular switch which is explained with the help of figures. The figures are for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as limitations on the assembly and mechanism of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, referral numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
It is understood by a person skilled in art that a low ampere illuminated modular switch, as disclosed in the present disclosure, can be mounted at different locations on
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the front panel of a vehicle in horizontal or vertical position or any other position as per the suitability of the manufacturer/user.
Accordingly referring to Figures 1 to 6, there is provided a low ampere illuminated modular switch (100). The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) comprises a casing (1) made from a sturdy material. The casing (1) comprises a hollow interior region (la) for securing the various components/assemblies of the present modular switch (100) therein. The casing (1) comprises an open end being configured with a knob assembly (2). The knob assembly (2) comprises a knob (3) being mounted at the open end of the casing (1) hingedly about pivot (P) such that the knob (3) is disposed externally to the casing (1) for being selectively actuated by a user. In an embodiment, the knob (3) is configured resiliently by means of a torsion spring (9). The knob (3) has an illumination portion (3a) being located on a front face of the knob (3). The illumination portion (3a) of the knob (3) is made from a transparent/translucent material so as to illuminate the illumination portion (3a) of the knob (3) upon actuation of the modular switch (100). In a non-limiting embodiment, the illumination portion (3a) may be provided with marks, symbols, etc. for indicating a specific function to the user/rider of the vehicle. The knob (3) comprises an arm (3b) being disposed movably in a guiding slot (lb) of the casing (1). The arm (3b) restricts the movement of the knob (3) during actuation of the said modular switch (100). The knob assembly (2) further comprises a light guide channel (4). The light guide channel (4) extends longitudinally along axis XX between the knob (3) and a contact switch assembly (5) located in the hollow interior region (la) of the casing (1). The light guide channel (4) comprises a hollow internal path extending between a proximal end (4a) and a distal end (4b). In an embodiment, the proximal end (4a) of the light guide channel (4) is disposed at the illumination portion (3a) of the knob (3). The proximal end (4a) has a transparent/translucent surface for transmitting light therethrough to the illumination portion (3a) of the knob (3).
In an embodiment, the contact switch assembly (5) comprises housing (10). The contact switch assembly (5) further comprises an actuation membrane (6). The actuation membrane (6) comprises a dome shaped upper portion (6a) and a rectangular lower portion (6b). In the mounted condition, the upper portion (6a) is located external to the housing (10) such that it is disposed below the distal end (4b)
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of the light guide channel (4). During actuation of the said modular switch (100), the actuation membrane (6) is actuable by the distal end (4b) of the light guide channel (4). The lower portion (6b) of the actuation membrane (6) has a generally rectangular construction comprising a plurality of side walls disposed below the upper portion (6a) so as to define an encapsulation (6c). In an embodiment, the actuation membrane is made from a transparent/translucent material. Disposed in the encapsulation (6c) formed by the actuation membrane (6) is a contact switch (7). The contact switch (7) is configured with an electrical circuit of the vehicle. For this purpose, the housing (10) may be provided with holes (not shown) for receiving wires of the electrical circuit of the vehicle. Further, the contact switch (7) comprises a light source (8) for providing illumination during operation of the said modular switch (100).
In a non-limiting embodiment, the contact switch (7) comprises a moving contact (7a) and a plurality of fixed contacts (7b, 7c). The moving contact (7a) is made from a conductive material and has a generally arcuate shape. The moving contact (7a) is disposed over the fixed contacts (7b, 7c) so as to selectively establish electrical connection between the fixed contacts (7b, 7c) during actuation of the knob (3). The moving contact (7a) has a hole (H) formed centrally. The light source (8) is mounted below the moving contact (7a) such that the hole (H) is located directly over the light source (8). In the mounted condition, the light source, hole, upper portion (6a) and the light guide channel (4) are disposed along the longitudinal axis XX. In one embodiment, the fixed contacts (7b, 7c) and light source (8) are configured with a PCB (not shown) such that the light source (8) illuminates when electric connection is established between the fixed contacts (7b, 7c). Further, wires/connection means are soldered to the contact points of the PCB to configure the PCB with the electrical circuit of the vehicle.
During actuation of the said modular switch (100), when the user applies an actuation force on the knob (3), the upper portion (6a) is pressed longitudinally by the distal end (4b) of the light guide channel (4). This in turn applies a downward force on the central portion of the moving contact (7a). The force applied by the upper portion (6b) results in the central portion of the moving contact (7a) getting collapsed on the fixed contacts (7b, 7c) to establish electrical connection, thereby completing the electric circuit of the modular switch (100) causing activation of an electrical signal as well as
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illumination of the light source (8). In a non-limiting embodiment, the illuminating means is an LED being located corresponding to the hole (H). Thus, the illumination from the light source (8) reaches the illumination portion (3a) of the knob (3).
Upon removal of the activating force from knob (3), the upper portion (6a) of the actuation membrane (6), due to the dome shape, experiences resilient action and gets restored to the unactuated condition. Correspondingly, the central portion of the moving contact (7a) regains the arcuate shape, thereby discretely breaking the electrical connection between the fixed terminal (7b, 7c) to deactivate the electrical signal and complete a switching cycle.
List of reference numerals:

100 Low Ampere Illuminated Modular Switch
1 Casing
la Hollow Interior Region of Casing
lb Guiding Slot of Casing
2 Knob Assembly
n j Knob
3a Illumination Portion
3b Arm of Knob
4 Light Guide Channel
4a Proximal End
4b Distal End
5 Contact Switch Assembly
6 Actuation Membrane
6a Upper Portion of Actuation Membrane
6b Lower Portion of Actuation Membrane
6c Encapsulation of Actuation Membrane
7 Contact Switch
7a Moving Contact
7b, 7c Fixed Contacts
8 Light Source
9 Torsion Spring
10 Housing
H Hole in Moving Contact
P Pivot of Knob
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Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and
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embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:
1. A low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) for vehicles, comprising:
a casing (1) having a hollow interior region (la);
a knob assembly (2) being disposed at an open end of the casing (1);
the knob assembly (2) comprising;
a knob (3) having an illumination portion (3 a); and
a light guide channel (4) extending longitudinally between the
knob (3) and a contact switch assembly (5); the light guide channel (4)
comprises a proximal end (4a) and a distal end (4b);
the contact switch assembly (5) comprising;
an actuation membrane (6) being actuable by the distal end (4b) of the light guide channel (4); wherein the actuation membrane (6) is made from an at least partially translucent material; and
a contact switch (7) comprising a light source (8) being disposed in an encapsulation (6c) formed by the actuation membrane (6).
2. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact switch (7) comprises a moving contact (7a) and fixed contacts (7b, 7c).
3. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the moving contact (7a) has a generally arcuate shape and is configured to selectively establish electrical connection between the fixed contacts (7b, 7c).
4. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the moving contact (7a) comprises a hole (H); the hole being located over the light source (8).

5. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the contact switch (7) is configured with an electrical circuit of the vehicle.
6. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob (3) is configured resiliently about pivot (P); and is disposed external to the casing (1).
7. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob (3) comprises an arm (3b) being disposed movably in a guiding slot (lb) of the casing (1) for restricting movement of the knob (3).
8. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, the proximal end (4a) of the light guide channel (4) is disposed at the illumination portion (3 a) of the knob (3).
9. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal end (3b) of the knob (3) is disposed coaxially over the hole (H) of the moving contact (7a).
10. The low ampere illuminated modular switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide channel (4) is configured to convey light from the light source (8) to the illuminated portion (3a) of the knob (3).