US1321987A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

W. W. DEAN.

SWIITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY e. 1918.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

W. W. DEAN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1918.

1,821,987. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Original application filed May 11, 1914, Serial No. 837,844. Divided and this application filed May 6, 1918.

Serial No. 232,678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to switches and, more particularly, to switches designed for use in connection with the steering mechanism of automobiles for controlling the circuit through an electric horn, or alarm, or signal, this application bein a division of my copending application Serial No. 837,844.

One of the objects of my invention resides in the production of an improved switchoperating mechanism which may be actuated by pressure applied by the driver while his hands are grasping the wheel for steering purposes, and irrespective of the position in which the hands are located. Another object resides in improved means for actuating the switch mechanism, operable by the hands of the driver by exerting pressure to the rim of the steering wheel at substantially any point in its circumference. Other objects will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1' is a plan view of the steering wheel incorporating my switch mechanism; Fig, 2 is a detail sectional View showing the method of mounting the switch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top annular rim of the steering wheel showing the method of mounting the switch contacts thereon;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower annular rim of the steering wheel showing the "method of mounting the switch contacts thereon; and 7 Fig.6 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2 illustrating my preferred means of maintaining the resilient operating means of the switch in position in the wheel. As illustrated in the drawings, the rim 10 of the steering wheel is split, the lower section 11 thereof being provided with an annular channel 12 and the upper section 13 thereof being provided with an annular flange 14, which fits and rides within the annular channel 12 in the section 11.

Secured to the lower section of the steering wheel are the spokes 15, which are connected in any suitable way with the steer ing post 16. Fitted in the annular channel 12 (see Fig. 4) are a series of contact springs, such as 17, said springs being serially interconnected by conductors, such as 18.

[Extending from the contact springs 17 at one end of said serial connection is a conductor 20, which is wired to one terminal of the electric alarm or signal (not shown).

Fitted in the channel 12, in addition to the contact s rings, is a plurality of spiral springs 21, w ich serve as a resilient means for separating the upper and lower sections of the steering wheel. These springs 21 may be secured in the channel 12 in any suitable manner, but I prefer to secure them to said lower section, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. As there shown, these spiral springs 21 encircle screws 22 which fit in suitable notches 23 cut in the lower section of the steering-wheel rim, which is secured to the upper section 13 of the steering-wheel rim by the forward threaded ends 24 thereof.

Fig. 3 illustrates the method of mounting the contact springs 25, one of which is provided to cooperate with each contact spring 17 of the lower section, on the annular flange 14 of the upper section 13 of the steering wheel 10. The contact springs 25 are serially interconnected by the conductors 26, and the conductor 27 is wired to one end of said serial connection, said conductor being connected to the other terminal of the electric alarm or signal. The conductors 20 and 27 are connected to a twisted pair of conductors 28, which are carried down the steering post to the electric alarm or signal.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that, in order to close the circuit of the alarm or signal, it is merely necessary to bear down upon the upper section 13 of the steering wheel 10 at any point in its circumference. This pressure upon the upper section 13 of the steering wheel will move it downwardly against the compressive force of the springs 21, and thus the top surface of the annular flange 14 approaches the floor of the channel 12. A

In this downward movement of the upper section 13, one or more of the pairs of contact springs 17 and 25 will be moved into engagement with each other, and thus the circuit through the electric horn or signal will be closed. It therefore follows that the circuit through the electric horn or signal will be closed by merely exerting pres- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A steering wheel having a' circuitclosing switch embedded in the rim thereof, and an annular pressure member disposed in said rim in operative relation to said switch and normally projecting beyond the outer face of said rim, said pressurememher being movable toward said switch for actuating it, and resilient means for normally projecting said member.

2. A steering wheel having a rim provided with'an' annular recess in its upper surface, an annular pressure member disposed in said recess with a portion thereof projecting normally beyond the outer surface of said rim, a circuit-closing switch disposed in said recess between the inner wall thereof and said pressure member, and resilient means for normally holding said pressure member projected.

3. A steering wheel comprising two'separable sections movable with respect to each other, and a plurality of sets of seriallyconnected circuit-closing contact springs normally out of contact, located between said sections and so disposed that the circuit will be closed irrespective of the point at which the sections of the wheel are moved toward one another.

l. A steering wheel comprising two separable sections movable with respect to each other, resilient means operable to normally hold. said sections apart, and a plurality of sets of serially-connected circuit-closing contact springs normally out of contact, located between said sections and so disposed that the circuit will be closed irrespective of the point at which the sections of the wheel are moved toward one another.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN.

Witnesses A. G. LAGKMANN, ISAAC NEWTON TERRELL.

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