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US2918604A - Headlight beam selector switch - Google Patents

Headlight beam selector switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US2918604A
US2918604A US694286A US69428657A US2918604A US 2918604 A US2918604 A US 2918604A US 694286 A US694286 A US 694286A US 69428657 A US69428657 A US 69428657A US 2918604 A US2918604 A US 2918604A
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Prior art keywords
arm
headlight
selector switch
terminal
contacts
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Expired - Lifetime
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US694286A
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Willis T Johnston
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/14—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means
    • B60Q1/1446—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights having dimming means controlled by mechanically actuated switches
    • B60Q1/1492—Foot actuated switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/14—Operating parts, e.g. push-button
    • H01H13/16—Operating parts, e.g. push-button adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot

Definitions

  • headlight high beam can be blinding. It is also dangerous to endure the headlight high beam of an oncoming vehicle whenthe driver has forgotten to switch to his headlight low beam.
  • ⁇ It is also an object of this invention to provide a means of reminding an oncoming driver to switch to his headlight low beam without disturbing the present method of headlight beam selection.
  • a feature of this invention is that it would work equally well with vehicles equipped with separately sealed high and low beam headlights as well as those vehicles having them combined.
  • Figure 1 shows a front View of the headlight beam selector switch with a portion of the cover removed to show the parts added vto the usual headlight beam selector switch mechanism.
  • Figure 2 shows a side view depicting the reciprocating arm ⁇ that allows the points to make and break.
  • Figure 3 shows an electrical circuit of the headlights and the headlight beam selector switch.
  • 21 is the body shell of the headlight beam selector switch mechanism.
  • the drivers foot makes contact with surface 19 causing arm 18 to lower, compressing spring 20.
  • arm 18 causes lthe usual headlight beam selector switching action to take place. This switching action allows current to flow from the positive terminal 1 to either the low beam terminal 2 or to the high beam terminal 3.
  • the full downward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from an initial position across terminals 1 and 2 to a position across terminals 1 and 3, the spring 20 returning the reciprocal actuating arm upward as soon as the drivers foot is released. No switching action occurs from one headlight beam to the other on the returning upward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm.
  • a successive downward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from the position across terminals 1 and 3 to the initial position across terminals 1 and 2, thus alternating high and low Patented Dec. 22, 195,9
  • Figure 1 also shows the switch mechanism that closes contacts 6 and 7 during the first quarter of downward travel of the arm 18.
  • the arm 18 is bent at a right angle to form the stub shaft 13.
  • An insulating sleeve 8 is pressed on the stub shaft 13.
  • the depressed position of insulating sleeve 8 is shown at 9.
  • the contact 6 is attached to a iiat spring 10 which is mounted on the insulating block 5 by screw 11.
  • Screw 11 also holds the terminal of wire 12 which is attached to resistor 4 and continues to the headlight high beam terminal 3. Screws ⁇ 15 and 16 hold the insulating block 5 in place.
  • Wire 14 is attached to the positive terminal 1 and also to the contact 7 by screw 17.
  • FIG. 3 shows the electrical circuit in which 23 is the headlight low beam filament, and '24 is the headlight high beam filament.
  • the switch Z6 coupled with the resistor 2S allows the driver to signal with an intermittent weak glow of the high beam.
  • the headlight beam selector switch is 27.
  • the usual components are the ground 22, battery 29, and the headlight dash switch 28.
  • the driver may signal by partially depressing the headlight beam selector switch. In addition to the usual low beam, this will allow a weak high beam to shine in the eyes of the oncoming vehicles driver, courteously and safely reminding him to switch to his low beam.
  • An electric switch having a current source terminal, a plurality of terminals adapted for selective connection in series with the current source terminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the current source terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series to one of the plurality of terminals, and means to open and close the contacts.
  • An electric switch having three terminals; a headlight high beam terminal, a headlight low beam terminal, and a battery terminal, means to selectively connect the battery terminal in series with each beam terminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the battery terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series to the headlight high beam terminal, and means t0 open and close the contacts.
  • a lighting system for a vehicle comprising; a headlight beam selector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having means on the other end to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, and means to close the two contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the
  • a signalling device for a vehicle comprising; a battery, headlights, and a headlight beam Selector switch having a plurality of terminals, including va headlight high beam terminal, a headlight low beam terminal, and a battery terminal, means to selectively connect the battery terminal in series with each beam terminal, and a xed contact connected in series with'the battery terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series with a resistor, the resistor connected in series with the headlight high beam terminal, and means to open and close the contacts.
  • a signalling arrangement for a vehicle including; an electric switch having a reciprocal arm, said, arm
  • said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having means on the other end to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, and means to close the two contacts when the arm is ⁇ moved toward the opposite end of travel, the two contacts connected in series with a resistor, the headlights, and the battery.
  • a signalling arrangement for a vehicle comprising; a headlight beam selector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formed at a right angle to the direction of travel on the other end, an insulating sleeve positioned on said shaft to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, a
  • a headlight beam selector switch having aireciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selectionintermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formed at avright angle to the direction of'travel on ythe other end, an insulating sleeve positioned on ysaid shaft to hold two contacts apart when the'arm is at one end of travel,
  • a spring attached to one of the contacts and adapted to close the contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the contacts connected in series with a resistor, the headlights, and the battery.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Description

Dec 22, 1959 w. T. JOHNSTON HEADLIGHT BEAM SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Nov. 4, 1957 INVENTOR o ,o `2,9`1's,604 y t .-HEAnLrGHTfEAM SELECTOR SWITCH Tplolmston, Dawson, ilowa, assignor` of one-half t L o to Evelyn Dew, Flint, Mich.
Application Ndveiber 4, 1957, serial No. 694,286
7 claims. (ci. 315-82) headlight high beam can be blinding. It is also dangerous to endure the headlight high beam of an oncoming vehicle whenthe driver has forgotten to switch to his headlight low beam.
It is a` primary object of this invention to provide a means of reminding an oncoming driver to switch to his headlight low beam without ilashing the full intensity of the headlight high beam into his eyes.
`It is also an object of this invention to provide a means of reminding an oncoming driver to switch to his headlight low beam without disturbing the present method of headlight beam selection.
A feature of this invention is that it would work equally well with vehicles equipped with separately sealed high and low beam headlights as well as those vehicles having them combined.
',Another feature of this invention is that the signal can be given within the same travel and by the same member of the present headlight beam selector switch mechanism.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the accompanying drawing and later description. o
Figure 1 shows a front View of the headlight beam selector switch with a portion of the cover removed to show the parts added vto the usual headlight beam selector switch mechanism.
Figure 2 shows a side view depicting the reciprocating arm` that allows the points to make and break.
Figure 3 shows an electrical circuit of the headlights and the headlight beam selector switch.
Referring now to Figure 1, 21 is the body shell of the headlight beam selector switch mechanism. The drivers footmakes contact with surface 19 causing arm 18 to lower, compressing spring 20. It should be understood that the full travel of arm 18 causes lthe usual headlight beam selector switching action to take place. This switching action allows current to flow from the positive terminal 1 to either the low beam terminal 2 or to the high beam terminal 3. The full downward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from an initial position across terminals 1 and 2 to a position across terminals 1 and 3, the spring 20 returning the reciprocal actuating arm upward as soon as the drivers foot is released. No switching action occurs from one headlight beam to the other on the returning upward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm. A successive downward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from the position across terminals 1 and 3 to the initial position across terminals 1 and 2, thus alternating high and low Patented Dec. 22, 195,9
ICC
'beam contact with each full downward stroke of the reciprocal actuating arm. It should be understood that by 4depressing' the reciprocal actuating arm. a quarter of a stroke and releasing it to return upward does not cause a switching action from one headlight beam to the other to occur. However, depressing the reciprocal actuating arm a quarter of a stroke allows the flat spring 10` to close contacts 6 and 7, and when the reciprocal actuating arm is released to return upward the contacts 6 and 7 are opened.
Figure 1 also shows the switch mechanism that closes contacts 6 and 7 during the first quarter of downward travel of the arm 18. The arm 18 is bent at a right angle to form the stub shaft 13. An insulating sleeve 8 is pressed on the stub shaft 13. The depressed position of insulating sleeve 8 is shown at 9. The contact 6 is attached to a iiat spring 10 which is mounted on the insulating block 5 by screw 11. Screw 11 also holds the terminal of wire 12 which is attached to resistor 4 and continues to the headlight high beam terminal 3. Screws `15 and 16 hold the insulating block 5 in place. Wire 14 is attached to the positive terminal 1 and also to the contact 7 by screw 17.
` Figure 3 shows the electrical circuit in which 23 is the headlight low beam filament, and '24 is the headlight high beam filament. The switch Z6 coupled with the resistor 2S allows the driver to signal with an intermittent weak glow of the high beam. The headlight beam selector switch is 27. The usual components are the ground 22, battery 29, and the headlight dash switch 28.
In operation, should a vehicle approach a driver at night with the headlights apparently on the high beam, the driver may signal by partially depressing the headlight beam selector switch. In addition to the usual low beam, this will allow a weak high beam to shine in the eyes of the oncoming vehicles driver, courteously and safely reminding him to switch to his low beam.
From the foregoing drawings and description, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention may be gained.
It is to be understood, however, that though there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as described and the scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An electric switch having a current source terminal, a plurality of terminals adapted for selective connection in series with the current source terminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the current source terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series to one of the plurality of terminals, and means to open and close the contacts.
2. An electric switch having three terminals; a headlight high beam terminal, a headlight low beam terminal, and a battery terminal, means to selectively connect the battery terminal in series with each beam terminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the battery terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series to the headlight high beam terminal, and means t0 open and close the contacts.
3. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising; a headlight beam selector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having means on the other end to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, and means to close the two contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the
closed contacts completing a circuit between the battery, a resistor, and the headlights.
4. A signalling device for a vehicle, comprising; a battery, headlights, and a headlight beam Selector switch having a plurality of terminals, including va headlight high beam terminal, a headlight low beam terminal, and a battery terminal, means to selectively connect the battery terminal in series with each beam terminal, and a xed contact connected in series with'the battery terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series with a resistor, the resistor connected in series with the headlight high beam terminal, and means to open and close the contacts.
5. A signalling arrangement for a vehicle, including; an electric switch having a reciprocal arm, said, arm
vhaving a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having means on the other end to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, and means to close the two contacts when the arm is` moved toward the opposite end of travel, the two contacts connected in series with a resistor, the headlights, and the battery.
6. A signalling arrangement for a vehicle, comprising; a headlight beam selector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formed at a right angle to the direction of travel on the other end, an insulating sleeve positioned on said shaft to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, a
spring attached to one of thecontacts and adapted to close the contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the contacts connected in series with a resistor, the battery, and the headlights.
7. A headlight beam selector switch having aireciprocal arm, said arm having a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selectionintermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formed at avright angle to the direction of'travel on ythe other end, an insulating sleeve positioned on ysaid shaft to hold two contacts apart when the'arm is at one end of travel,
a spring attached to one of the contacts and adapted to close the contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the contacts connected in series with a resistor, the headlights, and the battery.
y529.952R4 France ---..V. Nov. 21.1921
US694286A 1957-11-04 1957-11-04 Headlight beam selector switch Expired - Lifetime US2918604A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3121823A (en) * 1959-09-25 1964-02-18 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle light control
US3671802A (en) * 1971-02-05 1972-06-20 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle headlight control circuit using an auxiliary contact on the dimmer switch
US5272416A (en) * 1992-05-28 1993-12-21 Deems George W Headlight extender and intensifier

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR629952A (en) * 1927-02-28 1927-11-21 Warning contact device for locks of all types
US1686859A (en) * 1923-12-17 1928-10-09 Willys Overland Co Lighting system for automobiles
US2791721A (en) * 1954-05-19 1957-05-07 Gen Motors Corp Headlight control

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1686859A (en) * 1923-12-17 1928-10-09 Willys Overland Co Lighting system for automobiles
FR629952A (en) * 1927-02-28 1927-11-21 Warning contact device for locks of all types
US2791721A (en) * 1954-05-19 1957-05-07 Gen Motors Corp Headlight control

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3121823A (en) * 1959-09-25 1964-02-18 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle light control
US3671802A (en) * 1971-02-05 1972-06-20 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle headlight control circuit using an auxiliary contact on the dimmer switch
US5272416A (en) * 1992-05-28 1993-12-21 Deems George W Headlight extender and intensifier

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