Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-05-29
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
C200S061300, C200S061340, C200S061350
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237437
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turn signal switch to be used as a direction indicator, which is attached to a steering column of an automobile or the like, and more particularly, to a canceling mechanism for causing a control lever provided for a turn signal switch to automatically return to the neutral position.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a turn signal switch for an automobile, the base end of a control lever is turnably supported in a housing that is incorporated with a steering column or the like, and the leading end of the control lever is turned from the neutral position to the right-direction indicating position or the left-direction indicating position, thereby causing a left-turn lamp or a right-turn lamp to blink.
In order to hold the control lever at three positions, the right-direction indicating position, the left-direction indicating position, and the neutral position, in the turn signal switch, a cam portion is formed on the inner surface of the housing, and a driving element is provided in the control lever via a spring so as to be engaged with the cam portion. A canceling mechanism is also provided to cause the control lever, which has been turned in the right-direction indicating position or the left-direction indicating direction, to automatically return to the neutral position when the steering wheel is turned in the direction opposite from the indicating direction.
FIGS. 10
to
16
illustrate a canceling mechanism of a turn signal switch previously proposed by the present applicant (see European Patent No. 0 778 176 A2).
FIG. 10
is an exploded perspective view of the turn signal switch, as viewed from below,
FIG. 11
is a perspective view showing how a first holder is incorporated into a case,
FIG. 12
is a perspective view showing how a first lever member and a press spring are further incorporated in the state shown in
FIG. 11
,
FIG. 13
is a perspective view showing how a second lever member is further incorporated in the state shown in
FIG. 12
,
FIG. 14
is a perspective view showing how a cover is incorporated in the state shown in
FIG. 13
,
FIG. 15
is a plan view of the turn signal switch in the neutral state, from which the cover is removed, for illustrating the operation thereof, and
FIG. 16
is a plan view of the turn signal switch, from which the cover is removed, in a state in which the control lever is switched to the right-turn or left-turn direction, also for illustrating the operation thereof.
The canceling mechanism of this turn signal switch mainly comprises a case
121
attached to a steering cover (not shown), first and second holders
131
and
141
contained in the case
121
, first and second lever members
151
and
161
placed on the upper surface of the first holder
131
, and a cover member
171
for covering the top opening of the case
121
.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, the case
121
includes a recessed portion
122
for containing the first holder
131
, which recessed portion
122
is opened on one side and has a pair of cam faces
123
, forming a depression at the center, on the other side face; and a stepped portion
124
formed at a lower position than the top end face of the case
121
. Two pins
125
and
126
are provided at a predetermined interval on the upper surface of the stepped portion
124
, and a slot
127
is formed at about the midpoint therebetween. High portions
123
a
and
123
b
are formed at the ends of the cam faces
123
, and a retaining hole
128
is formed in the recessed portion
122
on the side opposite from the side of the cam faces
123
.
The first holder
131
, which is opened on one side, is inserted in the recessed portion
122
so that it can pivot horizontally. The first holder
131
has, on the side opposite from the open side, a driving element support portion
134
in which a driving element
132
is inserted. The driving element
132
is slidably inserted in the driving element support portion
134
via a spring
133
, and the leading end thereof is always pressed against the cam faces
132
by the spring
133
.
The first holder
131
has retaining pins
135
and
136
on the upper and lower surfaces on the open side, respectively, and a retaining groove
137
on the upper surface on the side of the driving element support portion
134
. The first holder
131
also has retaining holes
138
formed in the right and left side faces on the open side.
The second holder
141
is approximately T-shaped so that a head portion
142
intersects one end of a base portion
143
at right angles. Retaining pins
144
stand at both ends of the head portion
142
so as to be rotatably passed through the retaining holes
138
of the first holder
131
. The base portion
143
is inserted in an open end portion of a control lever
145
, and is fixed by a spring pin
146
.
The first lever member
151
is placed on the stepped portion
124
so that a retaining pin
152
standing on the lower surface thereof is loosely fitted in the slot
127
formed in the upper surface of the stepped portion
124
. The first lever member
151
also has an engaging projection
153
that projects outside the case
121
. The engaging projection
153
engages with a projection
183
provided in a canceling cam
182
that turns together with a steering shaft
181
, as shown in
FIGS. 15 and 16
. The first lever member
151
also has a receiving portion
154
on the upper surface on the side of the engaging projection
153
, and an engaging pin
155
on the opposite side.
After the first lever member
151
is placed on the stepped portion
124
of the case
121
so that the engaging pin
152
is loosely fitted in the slot
127
, a spring member
156
is mounted so as to regulate the first lever member
151
on the stepped portion
124
, as shown in FIG.
12
. The spring member
156
includes a pair of winding portions
156
a
that are arranged at a slightly longer interval than that between the two pins
125
and
126
, and end portions
156
b
that extend inward from the winding portions
156
a
, respectively, so as to intersect each other, and that are rounded at the end.
The winding portions
156
a
of the spring member
156
are fitted on the two pins
125
and
126
so that the end portions
156
b
abut on the receiving portion
154
, whereby the part of the spring member
154
between the winding portions
156
a
is bent toward the end portions
156
b
, and the first lever member
151
is supported while being urged toward the outside of the case
121
.
The second lever member
161
has a cam hole
162
with an angular cam side
162
a
on its upper surface, and a pair of support projections
164
which project from its back surface on the side opposite from the cam side
162
a
so as to support both ends of a coil-shaped action spring
163
.
The support projections
164
, which are holding the action spring
163
, are inserted in the retaining groove
137
of the first holder
131
, and the retaining pin
155
of the first lever member
151
is inserted in the cam hole
162
from below.
The cover member
171
covers the top opening of the case
121
, and the retaining pin
135
of the first holder
131
is inserted in a retaining hole
172
formed in the upper surface of the cover member
171
, thereby allowing the first holder
131
to reliably pivot on the retaining pins
135
and
136
.
Next, a description will be given of the operation of the canceling mechanism in the turn signal switch. When the control lever
145
is in the neutral position, as shown in
FIG. 15
, the engaging pin
155
of the first lever member
151
is in contact with the top of the cam side
162
a
of the second lever member
161
, and the retaining pin
152
is retracted by a distance that is defined by the slot
127
against the spring member
156
. Therefore, the engaging projection
153
of the first lever member
151
is also retracted outside the locus of turning of the projection
183
of the canceling cam
182
that turns together with the steering shaft
181
.
E
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Bucci David A.
Joyce William C
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