Switch System

Abstract

Generally, a switch system for a vehicle including one or more switches electrically coupled to an electrical power distribution module each switch operable to corresponding activate or deactivate one or more accessory devices. In particular, a retrofit switch system including a switch assembly configured to insert within fascia panel pocket of a fascia panel within a vehicle and having one or more switches electrically coupled to an electrical power distribution module each switch operable to corresponding activate or deactivate one or more accessory devices.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A kit to retrofit a fascia panel of vehicle with a switch assembly, comprising:
 a switch assembly including a switch housing operably supporting at least one switch, said switch housing configured to secure to said fascia panel upon removal of a fascia panel pocket resulting in fascia panel opening in said fascia panel, said fascia panel having a fascia panel first side facing toward said vehicle interior and a fascia panel second side facing away from said vehicle interior, said switch housing having at least one tab extending outwardly from said switch housing external surface to secure said switch housing to said fascia panel second side disposing said switch housing within said fascia panel opening with said at least one switch facing said vehicle interior.   
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein said fascia panel pocket has at least one tab configured to secure said fascia panel pocket to said fascia panel, said at least one tab extending outwardly from a fascia panel pocket external surface, said at least one tab removably secured by at least one fastener to at least one fastening location on said fascia panel second side allowing removal of said fascia panel pocket from said fascia panel. 
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 49 , wherein upon removal of said fascia panel pocket said at least one tab extending outwardly from said switch housing external surface secured by at least one fastener to said at least one fastening location to said fascia panel second side. 
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 50 , wherein said at least one fastening location on said fascia panel second side includes:
 at least one threaded bore disposed in said fascia panel second side, said at least one tab extending from said switch housing external surface having a tab aperture alignable with said at least one threaded bore disposed in said fascia panel second side; and   at least one threaded fastener adapted to pass through said tab aperture to rotatably engage said at least one threaded bore disposed in said fascia panel second side to secure said switch housing in said fascia panel opening with said at least one switch facing said vehicle interior.   
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 51 , wherein said at least one switch operably supported in said switch housing selected from the group consisting of: one switch, two switches, three switches, four switches, five switches, six switches, seven switches, eight switches, nine switches, ten switches, eleven switches and twelve switches. 
     
     
         53 . The kit of  claim 48 , further comprising an electrical power distribution module, said electrical power distribution module configured to switchably regulate electrical power from one or more power sources to at least one output circuit, said at least one output circuit correspondingly switchably controlled by operation of said at least one switches supported in said switch housing of said switch assembly to correspondingly activate or deactivate at least one accessory device. 
     
     
         54 . The kit of  claim 53 , wherein said electrical power distribution module includes at least one magnetic relay correspondingly switchably regulating at least one relay output switch to connect or disconnect said electrical power from said one or more power sources in a corresponding said at least one relay output circuits, said at least one relay output switches actuated by a corresponding relay switch actuator within a corresponding relay input circuit activated or deactivated by operation of a corresponding one of said at least one switches operably supported in said switch housing of said switch assembly. 
     
     
         55 . The kit of  claim 54 , wherein said electrical power distribution module further includes: a switch wiring harness including at least one relay power input wire connected to said relay switch actuator and each connectable to said at least one switch operably supported in said switch housing disposed within said fascia panel opening of said fascia panel fascia panel;
 an accessory device wiring harness including at least one relay power output wire correspondingly connected to said at least one relay output switches and correspondingly connectable to at least one grounded accessory device;   a power wire connectable to said one or more power sources of said vehicle; and   a ground wire connectable to a ground.   
     
     
         56 . The kit of  claim 55 , wherein one or more power sources comprise a battery. 
     
     
         57 . The kit of  claim 56 , further comprising a vehicle including said fascial panel and providing said ground. 
     
     
         58 . The kit of  claim 57 , where said plurality of accessory devices comprises a plurality of vehicle accessory devices. 
     
     
         59 . A method of retrofitting a fascia panel of a vehicle with a switch assembly, comprising:
 obtaining a fascia panel which upon installation in said vehicle has a first side facing toward a vehicle interior of said vehicle and a second side facing away from said vehicle interior, said fascia panel a including a fascia panel pocket removable from said fascia panel;   removing said fascia panel pocket from said fascia panel resulting in fascia panel opening in said fascia panel;   obtaining a switch assembly having a switch housing operably supporting at least one switch, said switch housing configured to insert within said fascia panel opening in said fascia panel upon removal of said fascia panel pocket and having at least one tab extending outwardly from said switch housing external surface;   inserting said switch housing within said fascia panel opening with said at least one switch facing said vehicle interior;   securing said at least one tab extending from said switch housing external surface to said fascia panel second side to secure said switch housing within said fascial panel opening.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said fascia panel pocket has at least one tab extending outwardly from a fascia panel pocket external surface configured to secure said fascia panel pocket to said fascia panel second side, said at least one tab removably secured by at least one fastener to at least one fastening location on said fascia panel second side, wherein said method further comprises:
 removing said at least one fastener at said at least one fastening location; and   removing said fascia panel pocket from said fascia panel resulting in said fascia panel opening.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising securing said at least one tab extending outwardly from said switch housing external surface to said at least one fastening location on said fascia panel second side. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 aligning a tab aperture disposed in said at least one tab extending outwardly from said switch housing with at least one threaded bore disposed at said at least one fastening location in said fascia panel second side; and   passing at least one threaded fastener through said tab aperture to rotatably engage said at least one threaded bore disposed at said at least one fastening location in said fascia panel second side to secure said switch housing in said fascia panel opening with said at least one switch facing said vehicle interior.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said at least one switch operably supported in said switch housing selected from the group consisting of: one switch, two switches, three switches, four switches, five switches, six switches, seven switches, eight switches, nine switches, ten switches, eleven switches and twelve switches. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising switchably regulating electrical power from one or more power sources to at least one output circuit of an electrical power distribution module by operation of said at least one switch supported in said switch housing of said switch assembly to correspondingly activate or deactivate at least one accessory device. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising activating or deactivating by operation of a corresponding one of said at least one switches operably supported in said switch housing of said switch assembly at least one magnetic relay which correspondingly switchably regulates at least one relay output switch to connect or disconnect said electrical power from said one or more power sources in a corresponding said at least one relay output circuits. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 connecting at least one relay power input wire of a switch wiring harness to said at least one switch operably supported in said switch housing and to said relay switch actuator;   connecting at least one relay power output wire of an accessory device wiring harness to said at least one relay output switches and to at least one grounded accessory device;   connecting a power wire to said one or more power sources of said vehicle; and   connecting a ground wire to a ground.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 ,
 wherein connecting said power wire to said one or more power sources of said vehicle comprises connecting said power wire to a battery of said vehicle;   wherein connecting a ground wire to a ground comprises connecting a ground wire to said vehicle; and   wherein connecting at least one relay power output wire of an accessory device wiring harness to said at least one relay output switches and to at least one grounded accessory device comprises connecting said at least one relay power output wire of an accessory device wiring harness to said at least one relay output switches and to at least one grounded accessory device of said vehicle.