Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching device for use as a control switch for the posture-adjustable automotive mirror. The switching device according to the present invention comprises plural fixed contacts disposed in a substantially straight line on a substrate housed in an enclosure, moving contacts formed by two electrically conductive balls disposed movably on the substrate, slider element having two slopes which are in contact with the two balls, a box-shaped actuator comprising a slider which houses the slider element, through holes for guiding the slider parallel to the substrate, and a resilient member disposed between the slider element and the slider, which forces the slider element toward the substrate. Thus, the switching device according to the present invention performs well in operation and durability, as well as ensures a contact between the fixed contacts and the moving contacts.

Abstract: In a light assembly in which a holder in which a bulb is fixed is replaceably mounted in a lamp housing having a reflector formed integrally therewith, the portion near the apex of the reflective surface of the reflector is formed flat, so that the reflective surface of the reflector can be formed without taking in consideration the molding precision of the portion near the apex and that any of the lamp units under different standards are applied can be accomodated. Furthermore, since the light emitted from the filament and going toward the flat portion can be prevented by a shade from being incident upon the flat portion, thus preventing any glaring light from occurring.

Abstract: The light reflectivity control for use with an automotive rearview mirror according to the present invention has a first and second photosensors to detect the brightness of the surroundings including the front of a car in which the inside rearview mirror is equipped and that of the surroundings including the rear of the car, respectively. These photosensors deliver output signals in inverse proportion to the respective brightnesses of the surroundings of the car. The output signals are supplied to a first and second comparators each having at least a reference value predetermined correspondingly to the brightness of the surroundings, in which the output signals are compared with the reference values, respectively. Based on the signal including the information concerning the brightness of the surroundings including the front and rear, respectively, of the car and that are delivered from the comparators, voltages for application to the electrochromic elements and then the electrochromic elements are connected.

Abstract: In an automotive mirror using an electrochromic element, the electrochromic element comprises a first electrode made of a transparent conductive layer laminated on a substantially rectangular glass substrate, two EC (electrochromic) layers disposed opposing each other with a solid electrolyte layer placed between them, a second electrode made of a reflective metal film and an insulative/protective layer disposed outside the second electrode. There are formed on the first electrode longitudinally and laterally in positions off the adjoining EC layer, strip-shaped metal films considerably superior in conductivity to the first electrode.

Abstract: A finisher installed at the rear end of an automotive vehicle body. The finisher is comprised of two plate-like plastic parts which are joined at a parting plane with each other. The two plate-like plastic parts have respectively outer surfaces which are planarly aligned with each other to form a common flat outer surface. At least one of the two plate-like plastic parts is colored. The parting plane includes a horizontal flat narrower section which is generally perpendicular to the outer surface, and an inclined flat wider section contiguous to the horizontal section and inclined relative to the outer surface in such a manner as to form an acute angle between it and the outer surface defining the colored plastic part, thereby improving the strength and appearance of the finisher.

Abstract: In an optical-axis adjusting apparatus for use with automotive lights, an adjusting member is provided to orientate the lamp unit by tilting the latter about the horizontal and vertical axes. The adjusting member includes an adjusting threaded rod screwed in an internally threaded member fixed to the body of motor vehicle and which can be moved forwardly and reversely. The shank of the adjusting threaded rod has formed a ball-shaped portion at a part thereof. The ball portion is received in spherical concavities of the holder and rotatably supported in the holder. The holder is elastically fitted in a holder support member from a direction substantially perpendicular to the forwardly and reversely moving direction of the threaded rod and prevented from coming off the holder by means of stoppers. Therefore, the adjusting member can be easily and securely installed to the lamp unit and permits a smooth optical-axis adjustment.

Abstract: A projector type headlamp in which the reflecting surface of a reflector is not the surface geometically decided but composed of a great many minute face elements smoothly connected with each other and the orientation of each face element with respect to the optical axis is decided such that the light incident from a light source is reflected to the vicinity of a meridional image plane of a convex lens and a desired luminosity distribution can be obtained at the position of a shade. According to the headlamp, it is possible to control a distribution pattern so as to have a desired luminosity distribution and to utilize the light emitted from the light source effectively.

Abstract: A remote control switch for posture adjustment of automotive mirrors comprises plural fixed contact groups each having a first to third fixed contacts formed on both sides of a substrate and plural pairs of moving contacts disposed corresponding to the fixed contact groups, respectively. Each of the moving contact pairs consists of two electrically-conductive rolling elements movable on the substrate while being so kept by slidable actuating members disposed correspondingly to each moving contact pair. Each of the actuating members are forced by a resilient member disposed correspondingly to the actuating member in a direction where each moving contact pair takes a first contact position in which it is put into contact with the first and second fixed contacts.

Abstract: The automotive headlight of projector type comprises a reflector, a lamp bulb as light source disposed near the focus of said reflector, a convex lens which projects frontwardly the light emitted from the lamp bulb, reflected by the reflector and then converged to a predetermined light collecting area, and a light transmitting means device through which the light is projected directly and frontwardly from the lamp bulb. The light emitted directly from the lamp bulb is positively projected frontwardly through the light transmitting device without passing through the convex lens. Therefore, the zones surrounding the illuminated zone are blurred. The luminous intensity of the zone near the boundary between the illuminated and non-illuminated zones can be gradually decreased going outwardly away from the projector axis into the non-illuminated zone without any influence on the illumination distribution of the zone illuminated by the light projected through the convex lens.

Abstract: A remote control side mirror device for a vehicle capable of rotating a mirror housing with respect to a mirror base fixed to an automotive body by a motor driven remote control. The motor driven by a remote control is fixed in the mirror housing to rotate a first gear through a reduction gear. A support shaft for rotatably supporting the mirror housing vertically is formed at the mirror base, and a second gear engaged in mesh with a first gear is arranged at the mirror housing side of the support shaft. Since the second gear is stationarily connected by the frictional force to the support shaft through a friction transmitting mechanism. When the motor is driven, the mirror housing is rotated around the support shaft of the mirror base. When the mirror housing receives a strong external force, the second gear can slide around the support shaft to prevent the reduction gear from damaging.

Abstract: A control lever is driven by a driving unit to cause variation in tension of a coil spring and therefore variation in force with which a wiper blade is pressed against a windshield. The driving unit is disposed in an arm head and includes a geared motor, a male screw member in the form of a bolt and secured to an output shaft of the geared motor and a female screw member having an internally threaded socket portion screwed onto the male screw member and a sliding portion in the form of a rectangular bar and installed in a guide member for longitudinal movement but against rotation. The output shaft of the geared motor, male screw member and the female screw member are so arranged as to have axes in line with each other and exending longitudinally of the arm head.

Abstract: A replaceable lamp bulb assembly comprises a reflector and a plug body in which a lamp bulb is secured and which is detachably mounted to the reflector. The plug body has a flange movable inside the inner circumferential surface of a socket formed on the back of the reflector. The flange has one end face thereof that is to be in contact with the outer circumferential edge of the opening formed in the apex of the reflector, and the other end face that is to be in contact with one surface of the wedge-shaped portion of the cleat. The other surface of the cleat, namely, the slanted surface thereof, is so formed as to act as wedge on the guide surface of guide member. When the plug body is fully inserted in the socket, the cleat is inserted from a direction substantially perpendicular to axial direction while the other surface of the flange is axially pressed by the wedge-shaped portions of the cleat, whereby the plug body is retained to the reflector.

Abstract: In an incandescent lamp unit, a base assembly of a rectangular section and which holds the pinched portion of the bulb comprises a first and second bases. The first base has formed therein a first opening in which said pinched portion can be introduced and first lug members extending from the edges of the first opening and which abut the upper portion of the pinched portion to limit the latter from moving longitudinally and laterally. On the other hand, the second base is so made as to be attached to the first base and has formed therein a second opening in which the pinched portion can be introduced, and it is also provided with second lug members extending obliquely and downwardly from the second opening and which abut the lower portion of the pinched portion to limit the latter from moving in the vertical plane.

Abstract: A novel and useful automotive wiper device, of which the depression force can be adjusted with a compact mechanism for adjusting the depression force of the wiper blades. The automotive wiper device employes a plurality of springs exerting a biasing force on a wiper arm and a wiper blade against a vehicular window surface. At least one of the springs has an adjustable spring force. The adjustable spring is associated with an adjusting means which allows adjustment of the spring force thereof.

Abstract: A wiper arm, gearing and linkage are all installed in a housing so that an extensible and contractible wiper arm assembly is formed into a unit prior to installation on a vehicle body. In one embodiment, a one way clutch is interposed between a stationary gear and a stationary member of a windshield wiper to allow the stationary gear to be rotatable in one direction only relative to the stationary member.

Abstract: A control switch for remote-controlling a motor-driven automotive mirror. The stationary contact to be connected to one of the terminals of the motor to move the mirror about a vertical axis, the stationary contact to be connected to one of the terminals of the motor to move the mirror about a horizontal axis, and the stationary contact to be connected to the other terminal of the above two motors in common are formed on a circuit board. Bridge members connect each of the stationary contacts selectively to one of the stationary contacts of a stationary contact pair. The bridge members to connect stationary contacts to the negative polarity of a power supply at their ordinary position and to the positive polarity at their actuated position are accommodate in an enclosure fixedly attached to the circuit board. The actuating rods to act on the bridge members are arranged in the enclosure to be independent of one another, and one end of each of the actuating rods is projecting outside from the enclosure.

Abstract: A control switch for a motor driven remote control mirror device in a vehicle has a switching control circuit for connecting motors for driving a mirror to be tilted to a DC power source. The control circuit has first and second stationary contact to be connected with one terminals of the motors for tilting the mirror around horizontal and vertical axes, and a third stationary contact to be commonly connected to the other terminals of the motors, the contacts are selectively connected with the negative and positive polarities of a power source by bridge members disposed corresponding to the contacts. The bridge members ordinarily connect the contacts to the negative polarity of the power source, and connect, when elastically deformed, to the positive polarity. A push plate is elastically supported by the bridge members, has a leg for operating the bridge members on the back surface, and the relative bridge member is operated by pressing the direction indication unit of the push plate.

Abstract: An electric remote control mirror apparatus comprising pivotably supporting means fixed within a mirror housing for pivotably supporting the mirror body having a mirror by utilizing a pivot connection mechanism composed of a boss portion mounted on the mirror body and a concave portion mounted on a drive casing to be resiliently fitted to the boss portion, a mirror driving mechanism composed of two ball bases mounted on the mirror body and disposed on two lines orthogonal to each other, threaded rods each of which has a ball to be fitted to the ball base and mounted in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the pivot connection mechanism thereby slanting the mirror body, and O-ring for stably supporting the threaded rods and surely sealing the threaded rods from water and/or dust, wherein a stable movement of the mirror is achieved and the mirror is stably maintained even when the mirror is affected with wind pressure and/or vibration due to automobiles.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp bulb assembly having three or four lead wires led out of the bottom of a pinched sealing neck of an envelope or bulb containing two filaments (double filament structure), said lead wires are disposed in line longitudinally of the pinched sealing neck. Each of three supports connected to these lead wires comprises a connecting arm section extending parallelly with a plane defined by the line of lead wires and lead-out direction of them and also in a direction intersecting the lead-out direction, and a stem section extending from the connecting arm section and having one end thereof fixed. Since the connecting arm section of each support is so formed as to be welded to a corresponding lead wire from a direction perpendicular to said plane, all the supports are welded to the lead wires from a same direction.

Abstract: A device for driving a movable member in vehicle comprises a driving motor provided to be rotated in s predetermined direction, a reduction gear train for decelerating the rotating motion of the driving motor, and crank mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to an output shaft to be coupled with a driven member and a casing for enclosing the motor, reduction gear train and the crank mechanism.Adjacent two gears in the reduction gear train are rotatably supported coaxially to the casing, and both gears are disposed relatively movably in the axial direction. The two gears are coupled through a clutch mechanism to integrally rotates, disengaged by a manual operating member as required, and only the gear near the output shaft can be rotated.