Field of invention

The present invention relates to a lever combination switch  particularly  the present invention relates to a switching mechanism incorporated in the lever combination switch of a vehicle  more particularly  the present invention relates to a switching mechanism incorporated in the lever combination switch of a vehicle for activation of ‘Low beam’  ‘High beam’ and ‘Pass/ Flash’ functions in the vehicle.

Background of the invention

Lever combination switches are normally being used in four wheeled or more wheeled vehicles and provided with one or more switching mechanism for activation of the various functions such as ‘Left blinker’  ‘Right Blinker’  ‘Low beam’  ‘High beam’ and ‘Pass/ Flash’ functions.

Figures 1-3 shows a lever combination switch with conventional switching mechanism for ‘High beam’  ‘Low beam’ and ‘Pass/ Flash’ functions.

Referring to Figures 1-3  the lever combination switch comprises a lever; an end portion of the said lever assembly is accommodated inside a casing which accommodates a switching mechanism. The said end portion is pivoted so that the lever and the said end portion can pivotally move with respect to the casing. As shown in Figures 1-3  the end portion of the lever assembly is pivoted at rivet actuator. The conventional switching mechanism comprises one or more metallic strips; an end of the metallic strip is riveted with the case  while the other end of the metallic strip is provided with moving-contact. The moving-contact provided on the said other end of the metallic strip can be in the form of a rivet. The metallic strip includes a bend near the location at which the metallic strip is riveted with the casing. The end portion of the lever includes a guide which upon actuation of the lever comes in contact with the metallic strip pushes it towards the wall (i.e. bottom Surface) of the casing so that moving contact disposed on the metallic strip makes contact with fixed contact disposed on the casing. The actuation of the metallic strip is enabled by unbending of the bend provided on the metallic strip. In other words  since an end of the metallic strip is riveted with the casing  the actuation of the strip unbends the bend provided on the metallic strip.

Figures 1 -3 also illustrate actuation or movement of the metallic strip in High beam  Low beam and Pass/ Flash functions’ positions respectively. As shown in Figure 1  the metallic strip comprises a bend of about 175o at ‘High beam’ position. Whereas  in Low beam and Flash/Pass function  the metallic strip actuates thereby unbending the bend to about 176 o and to about 179o respectively. Unbending of metallic strip causes stress generation at the location of bend and results is premature breakage of the metallic strip. Particularly  the unbending of the metallic strip during Flash/Pass function results in stress generation at the location of the bend and results in the premature breakage.

Brief description of the figures:

Figures 1-3 shows a lever combination switch with conventional/existing switching mechanism for ‘High beam’  ‘Low beam’ and ‘Pass/ Flash’ functions.
Figures 4-6 illustrate switching mechanism of a lever combination switch according to an according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 7-9 illustrate actuation of the high-beam metallic strip in High beam  Low beam and Pass/ Flash functions’ positions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the present invention

The present invention aim to overcome the at least one of the problem associated with the existing switching mechanism for lever combination switch (LCS). Particulars  the present invention addresses the problems of the premature breakage of metallic strip used in the switching mechanism of the lever combination switch (LCS).

Figures 4-9 illustrate switching mechanism LCS for ‘High beam’  ‘Low beam’ and ‘Pass/ Flash’ functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described in the previous paragraphs the LCS comprises a lever; an end portion of the said lever is accommodated inside a casing which accommodates a switching mechanism. The said end portion is pivoted so that the lever and the said end portion can pivotally move with respect to the casing. As shown in Figures 4 and 5  the end portion of the lever assembly is pivoted at rivet actuator.

Referring to figures 4  5 and 6  switching mechanism of the present invention includes a metallic strip having a first end and a second end and the metallic strip comprises a bend near the first end. In an embodiment of the present invention  the first end of the metallic strip is riveted with the casing by means of a floating rivet. For this purpose  the casing is provided with a hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the floating-rivet so that floating-rivet can be floatingly disposed in the hole. The floating rivet has an inner end which remain inside the casing  and an outer end which remain outside the casing. For this purpose  the inner end is rigidly secured with the first end of the metallic plate and a rivet head of a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole may be formed at the outer end of the rivet. A helical spring may be disposed at between the outer end of the floating rivet and the casing. As can be clearly understood  the diameter of the helical spring is greater that the diameter of the hole. The first end of the metallic strip is may be extended as terminal beyond the connection of the floating rivet for making electrical connection. A moving contact is disposed on the second end of the metallic strip. One or more fixed contacts may be disposed on the casing so as to make contact with the said moving contact upon actuation of the metallic strip corresponding to different functions’ positions such as High beam  Low beam and Pass/ Flash functions’ positions.

As shown in figures 5 and 6  in order to maintain a contact force between moving contact and fixed contact  a helical spring may be disposed so as to bias the second end of the metallic strip towards a fixed contact.

As explained in the previous paragraphs  the end portion of the lever includes a guide which upon actuation of the lever comes in contact with the metallic strip pushes it towards the wall (i.e. bottom surface) of the casing so that moving contact disposed on the metallic strip makes contact with fixed contact disposed on the casing.

In an embodiment of the present invention  due to the actuation of the metallic strip the first end of the metallic strip floats and the bend provided near the first end forms a hinge point. In other words  when the guide of the lever actuates the metallic strip the bend of the metallic strip forms a hinge point as the first end of the metallic strip is floatingly coupled with the casing. This saves the metallic strip from unbending. Since there is no stress formation at the location of bend  the life of the metallic strip increases.

In an embodiment of the present invention  in the metallic strip  a copper strip and a stainless steel strip are coupled together.

Referring to figures 4  5 and 6  the switching mechanism for LCS comprises two metallic strips i.e. a high-beam metallic strip for High beam function and a low-beam metallic strip for low-beam function. The casing is divided in two parts i.e. a Case-upper and a Case lower. As shown in figure 5  the low-beam metallic strip is disposed in the case upper and the high-beam metallic strip is disposed on the case lower. In use  normally the High beam strip requires maximum unbending. Therefore  (as shown in figures 4-6) the first end of the High beam metallic strip is riveted with the casing by means of the floating rivet. Whereas  the low-beam metallic strip is rigidly riveted with the casing as this strip requires comparatively less bending. However  if required the first end of the low-beam metallic strip may be riveted with the casing by means of the floating rivet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 7-9 illustrate actuation of the high-beam metallic strip in High beam  Low beam and Pass/ Flash functions’ positions respectively. The high-beam metallic strip has a bend of about 165o which remain same in High beam  Low beam and Pass/ Flash functions’ positions. Therefore  in the switching mechanism of the present invention there is no unbending of the high beam metallic strip. Moreover  in during operation of Flash/ Pass function  there is no unbending of the metallic strip. Hence there is no stress formation at the location of bend which will increase the life of metallic strip.

The inventors have been working to develop the invention  so that advantage can be achieved in an economical  practical  and facile manner. While preferred aspects and example configurations have been shown and described  it is to be understood that various further modifications and additional configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the specific embodiments and configurations herein disclosed are illustrative of the preferred nature of the invention  and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention.