Switch for a pop-up/sliding roof

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lifting/sliding switch, in particular for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle. Such switches typically comprise a housing, a first actuation element for the sliding movement of the roof and a second actuation element for the pop-up movement of the roof, whereby each of said actuation elements is automatically returned into its home position by a resetting arrangement and acts on switch contacts via a switch member.

German patent publication DE 44 31 061 A1 discloses a lifting/sliding switch for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle which switch comprises an actuation element that can be pivoted or shifted inside a housing. The actuation element is connected with a sliding switch member which is hinged to a rotary switch member, whereby a lever acts on the rotary switch member via an actuation element. The actuation element is guided by means of guide pins in a cruciform groove, as well as in a horizontal slot, whereby the essentially vertical sections of the cruciform groove represent guides for the pivoting movement and the horizontal slot represents a guide for the sliding movement of the actuation element. The horizontal sections of the cruciform groove act as additional guides for the guide pins of the actuation element during its sliding movement. In the case of this lifting/sliding switch the superimposition of simultaneous movements can lead to switching problems. When the actuation element is to be shifted, it frequently is inadvertently pivoted at the same time, whereupon the guide pins come into engagement with the essentially vertical sections of the cruciform groove and prevent the actuation element from shifting.

Also known are switch systems for opening and closing pop-up/sliding roofs, whereby two actuation elements are located next to each other in a common housing. These latter actuation elements are configured as rocker-type or sliding buttons, whereby different combinations are used. One actuation element is provided exclusively for the sliding movement and another actuation element exclusively for the pop-up movement of the roof. These switch systems require relatively substantial space because the actuation elements, in order to be easily accessible and usable, cannot be located as close to each other as is desirable.

The problem to be solved by the invention herein is to provide a lifting/sliding switch of the above-described type which functions reliably and is designed in a compact and cost-effective manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention this problem has been solved in that the second actuation element is an integral part of the first actuation element, whereby both actuation elements are supported in the housing and the switch members are configured as rotary switch members.

The compact design of the lifting/sliding switch is created by integrating one actuation element in the other. Movement overlaps created by external actions affecting the actuation elements do not result in malfunctions inasmuch as each actuation element is supported individually in the housing. The association of respectively one rotary switch member with one actuation element is implemented with a relatively simple and cost-effective witch mechanism. Furthermore, a rotary switch member can be incorporated with relatively simple means and without complex guides.

Preferably, the actuation elements are associated with two-stage switch positions for opening and closing the roof. The first stage of each switch position causes a slow movement of the roof; whereas, the second stage results in a rapid movement of the roof until it has reached its travel limit or stop position.

In accordance with one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first actuation element is configured as a sliding button and the second actuation element as a push-pull button. This configuration respectively for the buttons allows an appropriate association of the functions of the switch with those of the pop-up/sliding roof. Thus, the sliding button is associated with the roof sliding movements and the push-pull button with the roof lifting movements.

In the respectively first switch position of each actuation element, pressure is applied to the associated rotary switch element supported in the housing and, in the respectively second switch position, pressure is applied to another switch contact of a switching matrix. Furthermore, the switch contacts of the switching matrix are preferably arranged in resiliently deflectable domes at a distance from each other and covered by a common actuation plate. This arrangement allows recognition of the switch positions by touch and can be varied by changing the mechanical properties of the switching matrix.

In accordance with a modification of the invention each rotary switch member is associated with two switching matrices that are offset in parallel, as well as in longitudinal, directions. Therefore, each switching matrix represents one direction of movement of the roof.

In order to achieve favorable lever and path ratios, preferably the switching matrices associated with a rotary switch member are arranged relatively with respect to each other in such a manner that respectively one dome of one switching matrix is located essentially on a common plane with one dome of another switching matrix; and, the other domes of the switching matrices face in opposite directions. Furthermore, the essentially common plane of the domes preferably forms one plane with the axis of rotation of the rotary switch member.

In order to convert the sliding movement or the push-pull movement of the actuation elements into rotary movements for the rotary switch members, another modification of the invention comprises a deflecting arrangement between each actuation element and its associate rotary switch member.

The deflecting arrangement associated with the first actuation element comprises a strip having on its one end two pins extending through lateral bore holes of the actuation element—the pins at the same time acting as support for said actuation element in the housing—and having on its other end, which is connected with the rotary switch member, two support pins coming into engagement with housing bores. Consequently, the deflecting arrangement can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner.

In order to create a stable support in the immediate vicinity of the associated switching matrices, the deflecting arrangement, which is preferably associated with the second actuation element, has a two-arm flexible joint, whereby one of its arms is affixed to the actuation element and its other arm, which is connected with the rotary switch member, has two support pins coming into engagement with housing bores.

In order to apply uniform pressure on the actuation plates of the switch matrices, which are arranged offset with respect to each other, each rotary switch member has two actuation projections arranged in the form of a Z with respect to each other. This design saves material during the manufacture of the rotary switch member.

An adequate and relatively easily produced support is achieved in that the first actuation element is provided with guide pins arranged parallel to and at a distance from the pins of the deflection arrangement, whereby said pins and guide pins come into engagement with corresponding longitudinal holes of the housing in order to support the actuation element. The first actuation element has only two guide pins and its movement is limited by the longitudinal holes.

The second actuation element is preferably provided with lateral support pins that are molded to the deflecting arrangement and come into engagement with corresponding housing bores. This arrangement of lateral support pins in the bore holes permits the pivoting movement of the second actuation element in a pulling as well as in a pushing direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a plan view of an inventive lifting/sliding switch,

FIG. 2

is a view of the illustration in accordance with

FIG. 1

, in the direction of arrow II,

FIG. 3

is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with

FIG. 1

, along line III—III,

FIG. 4

is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with

FIG. 3

, along line IV—IV,

FIG. 5

is an enlarged illustration of a detail V in accordance with

FIG. 4

, in section,

FIG. 6

is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with

FIG. 3

, along line VI—VI,

FIG. 7

is a sectional view of the illustration in accordance with

FIG. 3

, along line VII—VII.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to

FIGS. 1 through 7

, the lifting/sliding switch comprises an essentially rectangular housing

1

with a shield

2

projecting beyond housing

1

, the shield

2

covering an assembly opening that receives housing

1

. Optionally, back-lighted symbols

3

, for the functions of the lifting/sliding switch, are provided on shield

2

. The underside of housing

1

is configured as a connecting collar

52

.

Shield

2

has an assembly opening

4

for a first actuation element

5

which is configured as a sliding button. Assembly opening

4

is bounded by strips

6

on its longitudinal sides and by engagement recesses

7

on its end sides. A second actuation element

8

, bearing a symbol

9

for a switch function, is integrated in first actuation

5

element having essentially rectangular form. Second actuation element

8

extends into a rectangular cutout

10

of first actuation element

5

, whereby cutout

10

has in the area of its end side an engagement recess

11

to permit extension behind second actuation element

8

which is configured as a push-pull button.

The first actuation element

5

is associated with a deflecting arrangement, indicated generally at

12

in

FIG. 3

, enabling the application of pressure to an associated rotary switch member indicated generally at

13

. Deflecting arrangement

12

comprises a strip

14

having on its one end indicated generally at

15

two pins

17

extending through lateral bore holes

16

of first actuation element

5

. On their continued course, pins

17

extend into corresponding longitudinal holes or slots

18

of housing

1

and thus act as support for first actuation element

5

in housing

1

. The other end indicated generally at

19

of strip

14

is connected with rotary switch member

13

and has two support pins

20

which come into engagement with corresponding housing bores

21

. Rotary switch member

13

is provided with two actuation projections

22

,

23

arranged in the form of a Z in plan form (not shown) with respect to each other in order to act on respectively one actuation plate

24

,

25

of one switching matrix

26

,

27

as will be readily apparent in view of the staggered arrangement of the switching matrix. In order to provide a stable support, first actuation element

5

has two guide pins

28

coming into engagement with longitudinal holes

29

of housing

5

in a manner parallel to as well as at a distance from pins

17

of said strip

14

of deflecting arrangement

12

, whereby longitudinal holes

18

,

29

limit the sliding movement of said first actuation element

5

.

The second actuation element

8

also cooperates with a deflecting arrangement indicated generally at

30

which comprises a two-arm flexible joint

31

. One arm

32

of a flexible joint

32

is affixed to second actuation element

8

. The other arm

33

of joint

32

is connected with a rotary switch member indicated generally at

34

and has two support pins

36

which come into engagement with housing bores

35

. Like rotary switch member

13

, rotary switch member

34

is also provided with two actuation projections

37

,

38

arranged in the form of a Z in plan form (not shown) with respect to each other in order to act on respectively one actuation plate

39

,

40

of one switching matrix

41

,

42

. Second actuation element

8

is supported by means of lateral support pins

43

which are set in corresponding bore holes

44

of housing

5

. In order to make this support possible, first actuation element

5

has clearances

63

in the area of support pins

43

of said second actuation element

8

.

The construction of switching matrices

26

,

27

,

41

,

42

placed on a printed circuit board

46

having connector contacts

45

is substantially the same and will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to switching matrix

27

. Switching matrix

27

comprises two resiliently deflectable domes

47

,

48

located next to each other at a distance, whereby each dome

47

,

48

receives a switch contact

49

,

50

. In their upper area, these two domes

47

,

48

are covered by common actuation plate

25

. The arrangement of respectively two switching matrices

26

,

27

and

41

,

42

is such that they are associated parallel and laterally offset with respect to each other with rotary switch member

13

and

34

, respectively. Respectively one dome

48

of one switching matrix

26

,

41

is located on an essentially common plane

51

with dome

48

of the other switching matrix

27

,

42

, and the other domes

47

of switching matrices

26

,

27

,

41

,

42

face in opposite directions. The essentially common plane

51

of domes

48

forms a plane with the axis of rotation of the respectively associated rotary switch members

13

and

34

.

When first actuation element

5

is slid out of a zero position

53

into a first switch position

54

associate deflecting arrangement

12

translates this linear movement of actuation element

5

into a rotary movement of rotary switch member

13

. Pins

17

of strip

14

of deflecting arrangement

12

rotate in bore holes

16

of actuation element

5

and are simultaneously shifted in longitudinal holes

18

of housing

1

. Strip

14

and rotary switch member

13

affixed to strip

14

are subjected to a rotary movement about support pins

20

which are set in housing bores

21

. Actuation projection

22

begins to act on actuation plate

24

of switching matrix

26

as a result of which dome

47

can be felt or tactilely discerned by the switch operator to be collapsing, and switch contact

50

is moved downwardly and closes an electrical circuit. In this first-stage switch position shown by black arrow

54

in

FIG. 2

, a motor (not illustrated) for a pop-up/sliding roof is energized, thereby enabling the slow opening sliding movement of the roof. When actuation element

5

is released, dome

47

returns into its home or fully raised position and causes deflecting arrangement

12

to reset actuation element

5

to zero position

53

in FIG.

2

. At the same time, an electrical circuit for the aforesaid motor is opened and the roof remains in the reached position.

When the first actuation element

5

is slid into a second-stage switch position shown by black arrow

55

in

FIG. 2

, dome

48

of switching matrix

26

collapses as well—due to the greater switching path—after dome

47

has collapsed as described, and switch contact

50

closes another electrical circuit for motor energization, thereby enabling an opening sliding movement of the roof until it reaches its travel stop. This travel stop is also reached after the release of actuation element

5

. Resetting or return of domes

47

,

48

to the raised position illustrated causes actuation element

5

to be reset to its zero position

53

.

The switch positions indicated by black arrows

56

,

57

in

FIG. 2

of first actuation element

5

enable a sliding movement for closing the roof, whereby actuation projection

23

of rotary switch member

13

acts on domes

47

,

48

of switching matrix

27

and causes electrical circuits to be closed for motor energization. In this case, operation takes place in the already described manner. In order to prevent excessive stressing of the mechanical components of the switch, pins

17

and support pins

20

abut in second-stage switch positions

55

,

57

against corresponding end sides of longitudinal holes

18

,

29

and prevent a continued sliding movement of actuation element

5

.

By applying pressure to the second actuation element

8

a lifting movement of the pop-up/sliding roof is effected. By applying pressure to actuation element

8

to move out of its zero position shown by black arrow

58

in

FIG. 2

in the direction of pressure, element

8

moves into a first-stage switch position indicated by black arrow

59

in

FIG. 2

, whereby actuation element

8

having adjoined support pins

43

is pivoted in the bore holes

44

of housing

1

. Deflecting arrangement

30

associated with actuation element

8

causes rotary switch member

34

to carry out a rotary movement toward the right. In so doing, arm

32

affixed to actuation element

8

and arm

33

connected with rotary switch member

34

move in opposite directions in housing bores

35

due to flexible joint

31

, as well as due to the arrangement of support pins

36

. As a result of the rotary movement of rotary switch member

34

to the right, actuation projection

38

acts on actuation plate

40

of switching matrix

42

, whereby dome

47

collapses and switch contact

49

closes an electrical circuit. This causes energization of a motor (not shown) for the slow lifting opening movement of the roof. When actuation element

8

is released dome

47

returns into its home position and, by means of deflecting arrangement

80

, resets actuation element

8

to zero position

58

in FIG.

2

. At the same time the electrical circuit is opened de-energizing a motor (not shown) and the roof remains in the reached position.

When pressure is applied to second actuation element

8

to reach a second-stage switch position denoted by black arrow

60

in

FIG. 2

the covered switch path causes, in addition to the already explained collapse of dome

47

, the collapse of dome

48

of switching matrix

42

, and switch contact

50

closes another electrical circuit, thereby causing energization of a motor (not shown) and a lifting movement of the roof to open it to its travel stop. The travel stop is reached even after the release of actuation element

8

, whereby this release causes actuation element

8

to be reset to zero position

58

due to the resetting of domes

47

,

48

.

The switch positions indicated by black arrows

61

,

62

in

FIG. 2

of second actuation element

8

, are reached by applying pressure on actuation element

8

in pulling direction, when it is deemed to cause a lowering movement to close the roof, whereby actuation projection

37

of rotary switch member

34

acts on domes

47

,

48

of switching matrix

41

and causes the sequential closing of two additional electrical circuits for motor energization and operation in the above-described manner.

Although the invention has hereinabove been described with respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.