STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED CONTROL STALK WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATORS

摘要

A vehicle steering column mounted control stalk with multiple switch actuators for selective independent actuation of a multiple contact, multiple slide vehicle speed control switch assembly and of a multiple contact rotary and axially translatable windshield wiper motor and washer pump motor control switch assembly. The slide switch assembly includes a first switch controlled by a first button movable from a stable position to an unstable position against a spring force. A second switch is controlled by a second button which is movable with the first button between two stable positions corresponding to the stable and unstable positions of the first button. The second button may go beyond its second stable position independently of the first button to a third unstable position against a spring force. The control stalk mounts at its outer end a rotatable and axially translatable control knob which controls the multiple contact rotary and axially translatable switch assembly. Up to ten functions may be performed with a minimum of three switch actuators through the present invention.