The present invention relates to the area of vehicular seesaw switches. In particular, the
invention relates to vehicular seesaw switches having enhanced performance characteristics.
Background of the Invention:
Seesaw switches have been used traditionally in vehicles for realizing a variety of functions.
The traditional vehicular seesaw switches however face a variety of problems including the
inability to operate on low ampere, poor connection quality, premature failures in the field,
high cost of production, being susceptible to accumulation of dust and moisture, etc. In some
instances, the knob and the moving contacts are formed together. In such case, any change in
the knob (such as any aesthetic change) necessitates the entire mould to be freshly made,
which has high cost impact. Thus, there exists a need to address one or more of the
disadvantages as faced in the prior art.
Summary of the Invention:
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that is
further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither
intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended
for determining the scope of the invention.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular
seesaw switch (100) comprising a housing (102) accommodating a set of fixed terminals
(104); a knob (106) being located outside the housing (102) and being adapted to receive an
actuating force; and a carrier member (108) being located within the housing (102), the
carrier member (108) indirectly receiving the actuating force from the knob (106) and
exhibiting seesaw movement within the housing (102) in response thereto, the carrier
member (108) including a moving contact member (110) that selectively provides electrical
path between the set of fixed terminals (104) in response to the carrier member (108)
exhibiting seesaw movement.
In an embodiment of the invention, the knob (106) includes a first knob side wall (112) and a
second knob side wall (114), the first knob side wall (112) opposing the second knob side
wall (114), the first knob side wall (112) includes a first female linking member (116) and the
second knob side wall (114) includes a second female linking member (118).
3
In another embodiment of the invention, the carrier (108) includes a first carrier surface (120)
and a second carrier surface (122), the first carrier surface (120) opposing the second carrier
surface (122), the first carrier surface (120) includes a third female linking member (124) and
the second carrier surface (122) includes a first male linking member (126).
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the housing (102) includes a first housing side
wall (128) and a second housing side wall (130), the first housing side wall (128) opposing
the second housing side wall (130), the first housing side wall (128) defining an internal
surface and an external surface; the first housing side wall including a second male linking
member (132) on the external surface and a third male linking member (134) on the internal
surface; the second housing side wall (130) including a fourth female linking member (136).
In still another embodiment, the first male linking member (126) provided on the carrier
member (108) co-operating with the second female linking member (118) provided on the
knob (106) and the fourth female linking member (136) provided on the housing (102).
In a further embodiment of the invention, the second male linking member (132) provided on
the external surface of the first housing side wall (128) co-operating with the first female
linking member (116) provided on the knob (106).
In a furthermore embodiment of the invention, the third male linking member (134) provided
on the internal surface of the first housing side wall (128) co-operating with the third female
linking member (124) provided on the carrier (108).
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular
description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof,
which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict
only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail
with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the drawings:
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the
drawings, wherein:
4
Figure 1 demonstrates a perspective view of a vehicular seesaw switch in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 demonstrates a sectional view of the vehicular seesaw switch as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 demonstrates a first side view of the vehicular seesaw switch as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 demonstrates a second side view of the vehicular seesaw switch as shown in Figure
1;
Figure 5 demonstrates a close up view of the housing having a first configuration of the first
female aperture;
Figure 6 demonstrates a close up view of the housing having a second configuration of the
first female aperture;
Figure 7A demonstrates a close up view of the vehicular seesaw switch after removing the
knob in a first state, wherein the vehicular seesaw switch incorporates the housing shown in
Figure 5; and
Figure 7B demonstrates a close up view of the vehicular seesaw switch after removing the
knob in a second state, wherein the vehicular seesaw switch incorporates the housing shown
in Figure 5.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for
simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow
charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve
understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction
of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the
drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details
that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to
obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference
will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be
used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of
the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated
system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein
5
being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be
restrictive thereof.
Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar
language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same
embodiment.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a
non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not
include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such
process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or
components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the
existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other
components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or
additional structures or additional components.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention
belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not
intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 2, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the vehicular
seesaw switch (100) and Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the vehicular seesaw switch,
it can be observed that the vehicular seesaw switch (100) comprises a housing (102)
accommodating a set of fixed terminals (104). The seesaw switch (100) further comprises a
knob (106) being located outside the housing (102) and being adapted to receive an actuating
6
force. The seesaw switch (100) further comprises a carrier member (108) being located
within the housing (102), the carrier member (108) indirectly receiving the actuating force
from the knob (106) and exhibiting seesaw movement within the housing (102) in response
thereto. The carrier member (108) includes a moving contact member (110) that selectively
provides electrical path between the set of fixed terminals (104) in response to the carrier
member (108) exhibiting seesaw movement.
In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the knob (106) includes a knob first side
surface (112) and a knob second side surface (114). The knob first side surface (112) is
located opposite to the second knob side wall (114). The first knob side wall (112) includes a
first female linking member (116) and the second knob side wall (114) includes a second
female linking member (118).
In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the carrier (108) includes a first carrier
surface (120) and a second carrier surface (122). The first carrier surface (120) is located
opposite to the second carrier surface (122). The first carrier surface (120) includes a third
female linking member (124) and the second carrier surface (122) includes a first male
linking member (126).
In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the housing (102) includes a first housing
side wall (128) and a second housing side wall (130). The first housing side wall (128) is
located opposite to the second housing side wall (130). The first housing side wall (128)
defines an internal surface and an external surface. The first housing side wall includes a
second male linking member (132) on the external surface and a third male linking member
(134) on the internal surface. The second housing side wall (130) includes a fourth female
linking member (136).
In an embodiment of the invention, the first male linking member (126) provided on the
carrier member (108) is adapted to cooperate with the second female linking member (118)
provided on the knob (106) and the fourth female linking member (136) provided on the
housing (102).
In an embodiment of the invention, the second male linking member (132) provided on the
external surface of the first housing side wall (128) is adapted to co-operate with the first
female linking member (116) provided on the knob (106).
7
In an embodiment of the invention, the third male linking member (134) provided on the
internal surface of the first housing side wall (128) is adapted to co-operate with the third
female linking member (124) provided on the carrier (108).
In an embodiment of the invention, the shapes of the first male linking member (126) and the
second female linking member (118) are such that they provide a non-moving interlock
between the carrier member (108) and the knob (106). On the other hand, the shapes of the
first male linking member (126) and the fourth female linking member (136) are such that it
allows seesaw movement of the carrier member (108) with respect to the housing (102).
The shapes of the second male linking member (132) and the first female linking member
(116) are such that it allows seesaw movement of the knob (106) with respect to the housing
(102). Likewise, the shapes of the third male linking member (134) and the third female
linking member (124) are such that it allows seesaw movement of the carrier member (108)
with respect to the housing (102).
In an embodiment of the invention, the housing (102) may be made of a casing and a base
plate that are joined together. In an embodiment of the invention, the casing and the base
plate may be joined with each other using snap fit mechanism. In another embodiment of the
invention, the casing and the base plate may be joined with each other using ultra-sonic
welding.
The housing (102) defines a bottom surface (138) and a top surface (140). In an embodiment
of the invention, the bottom surface (138) of the housing (102) is substantially devoid of
apertures. In an embodiment of the invention, the top surface (140) of the housing (102) does
not include any apertures.
The carrier (108) is fully accommodated within the housing (102) and no part of the carrier is
protruding outside the housing (102). The knob (106) is located outside the housing (102) and
no part of the knob (106) protrudes into the housing (102).
The vehicular seesaw switch (100) further comprises a ball-spring mechanism (142) that
projects from a bottom surface (144) of the carrier member (108). The ball-spring mechanism
(142) interacts with a cam profile (146) provided on the bottom surface (138) of the housing
(102). The interaction between the ball-spring mechanism (142) and the cam profile (146)
8
defines parking places of the switch. Parking place is taken as the place at which the carrier
member (108) can be parked and actuating force is needed to move the carrier member (108)
from the place. Also, the interaction between the ball-spring mechanism (142) and the cam
profile (146) provides smooth movement of the carrier member (108) with respect to the
housing (102).
The carrier member (108) further accommodates a resilient member (148) that applies
positive contact making force on the moving contact member (110).
Now referring to Figure 3, which is a first side view of the vehicular seesaw switch (100), it
can be seen that the first knob side wall (112) comprises a first female linking member (116)
of circular cross-section. Also, it can be observed that the shape of the second male linking
member (132) which is provided on the external surface of the first housing side wall (128) is
of circular cross-section. The above construction allows seesaw movement of the knob (106)
with respect to the housing (102).
Although not separately illustrated, the shape of the third male linking member (134) which
is provided on the internal surface of the first housing side wall (128) is of circular crosssection and the shape of the third female linking member (124) as provided on the first carrier
surface (120) is also of circular cross-section. The above construction allows seesaw
movement of the carrier (108) with respect to the housing (104).
Now referring to Figure 4, which is a second side view of the vehicular seesaw switch (100),
it can be seen that the second knob side wall (114) comprises a second female linking
member (118) of “T” shaped cross-section comprising a vertical portion (154) and a
horizontal portion (156). Also, it can be observed that the shape of the first male linking
member (126) which is provided on the second carrier surface (122) is of “T” shaped crosssection comprising a vertical portion (150) and a horizontal portion (152). The size of the “T”
shaped second female linking member (118) and the size of the “T” shaped first male linking
member (126) are such that they provide a non-moving interlock between the carrier member
(108) and the knob (106).
Now referring to Figure 5, the fourth female linking member (136) as provided in the second
housing side wall (130) can have a circular cross-section (158). In an alternative embodiment,
as shown in Figure 6, the fourth female linking member (136) as provided in the second
9
housing side wall (130) can have a “T” shaped cross-section comprising a vertical portion
(160) and a horizontal portion (162).
It may be that under both circumstances, the size of the fourth female linking member (136)
is such that it allows the first male linking member (126) (which passes through the fourth
female linking member (136) and terminates in the second female linking member (118) as
provided in the knob (106)) to exhibit seesaw motion.
This aspect of the invention is shown in Figures 7 A and 7B, which illustrate close up view of
the vehicular seesaw switch after removing the knob in a first state, and close up view of the
vehicular seesaw switch after removing the knob in a second state, respectively. It can be
seen that the first male linking member (126) (as provided on the second carrier surface
(122)) having the “T” shaped cross-section (having the vertical portion (150) and a horizontal
portion (152)) exhibits seesaw movement with respect to the fourth female linking member
(136) (as provided in the second housing side wall (130)) having the “T” shaped cross-section
(having the vertical portion (160) and a horizontal portion (162)).
It may be noted that the whenever a linking member is having a “T” shaped cross-section, the
horizontal line portion is provided with a marginal outwardly projecting curved surface (with
respect to the vertical line portion). This aspect furthermore facilitates the seesaw movement
of the first male linking member (126) with respect to the fourth female linking member
(136).
Compared to the traditional switches, the switch constructed in accordance with the present
invention switch is less susceptible to accumulation of dust and moisture, etc. Due to the
above, the switch is capable of operating on low ampere currents. Also, the quality of
connection is improved and the overall life of the switch is increased. As the number of
separately assemble parts is less, the cost of production is less.
While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the
invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the
following claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A vehicular seesaw switch (100) comprising:
a housing (102) accommodating a set of fixed terminals (104);
a knob (106) being located outside the housing (102) and being adapted to receive an
actuating force; and
a carrier member (108) being located within the housing (102), the carrier member
(108) indirectly receiving the actuating force from the knob (106) and exhibiting
seesaw movement within the housing (102) in response thereto, the carrier member
(108) including a moving contact member (110) that selectively provides electrical
path between the set of fixed terminals (104) in response to the carrier member (108)
exhibiting seesaw movement;
characterized in that:
the knob (106) includes a first knob side wall (112) and a second knob side
wall (114), the first knob side wall (112) opposing the second knob side wall (114),
the first knob side wall (112) includes a first female linking member (116) and the
second knob side wall (114) includes a second female linking member (118);
the carrier (108) includes a first carrier surface (120) and a second carrier
surface (122), the first carrier surface (120) opposing the second carrier surface (122),
the first carrier surface (120) includes a third female linking member (124) and the
second carrier surface (122) includes a first male linking member (126);
the housing (102) includes a first housing side wall (128) and a second
housing side wall (130), the first housing side wall (128) opposing the second housing
side wall (130), the first housing side wall (128) defining an internal surface and an
external surface; the first housing side wall including a second male linking member
(132) on the external surface and a third male linking member (134) on the internal
surface; the second housing side wall (130) including a fourth female linking member
(136);
the first male linking member (126) provided on the carrier member (108) cooperating with the second female linking member (118) provided on the knob (106)
and the fourth female linking member (136) provided on the housing (102);
the second male linking member (132) provided on the external surface of the
first housing side wall (128) co-operating with the first female linking member (116)
provided on the knob (106); and
11
the third male linking member (134) provided on the internal surface of the
first housing side wall (128) co-operating with the third female linking member (124)
provided on the carrier (108).
2. The vehicular seesaw switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shapes of the first
male linking member (126) and the second female linking member (118) are such that
they provide a non-moving interlock between the carrier member (108) and the knob
(106).

3. The vehicular seesaw switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shapes of the first
male linking member (126) and the fourth female linking member (136) are such that
it allows seesaw movement of the carrier member (108) with respect to the housing
(102).
4. The vehicular seesaw switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shapes of the second
male linking member (132) and the first female linking member (116) are such that it
allows seesaw movement of the knob (106) with respect to the housing (102).
5. The vehicular seesaw switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shapes of the third
male linking member (134) and the third female linking member (124) are such that it
allows seesaw movement of the carrier member (108) with respect to the housing
(102).
6. The vehicular seesaw switch as claimed in claim1 wherein the housing (102)
completely encompasses the carrier member (108).