Abstract: The airbag device for pedestrian protection includes an airbag to be inflated in front of the vehicle and then be disposed between a pedestrian and the vehicle. The airbag includes a front cover portion and two fall preventing portions. The front cover portion covers the front side of the vehicle. The fall preventing portions cover the vicinities of the left and right edges of the top surface of the hood panel, respectively, and are projected upward so as to prevent the pedestrian from falling down. The airbag device for pedestrian protection is able to prevent the pedestrian mounted on a hood panel from falling down on road surface.

Abstract: A key switch includes a switch provided on a base, a key top for operating the switch, and a link mechanism supported on the base and supporting the key top on its upper side, a shape of the link mechanism being changed when the key top is depressed. A movable plate is provided on the base, in stacked relationship; such that the movable plate is moved when the key top is depressed so as to change the shape of the link mechanism to a flat shape. An auxiliary link mechanism has a first part supported on the moveable plate and, in turn, by the base and a second part supporting the key top.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one plate spring is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion is engaged, to exert a biasing force, relative to a shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a key switch including a switch provided on a base, a key top for operating the switch, a link mechanism supported on the base and supporting the key top on its upper side, a shape of the link mechanism being changed when the key top is depressed, a movable plate provided on the base such that the movable plate is moved when the key top is depressed so as to change the shape of the link mechanism to the flat shape and an auxiliary link mechanism. The auxiliary linking mechanism is provided with a first side part supported by the base and a second side part supporting the key top.

Abstract: A key switch includes a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism capable of opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes an engagable end region engaged with the key top. The base includes an inner peripheral surface defining an opening capable of receiving the link members. The base is provided on the inner peripheral surface with protruding wall parts located at positions respectively facing oppositely to the engagable end regions of the link members. Each protruding wall part serves to locally reduce a clearance defined between the inner peripheral surface and the engagable region of each link member when the link member is received in the opening.

Abstract: A key switch includes a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism capable of opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes an engagable end region engaged with the key top. The base includes an inner peripheral surface defining an opening capable of receiving the link members. The base is provided on the inner peripheral surface with protruding wall parts located at positions respectively facing oppositely to the engagable end regions of the link members. Each protruding wall part serves to locally reduce a clearance defined between the inner peripheral surface and the engagable region of each link member when the link member is received in the opening.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one elastic member is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion of each link member is engaged. The elastic member exerts biasing force, relative to a displacement or shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from, e.g., substantially orthogonal to, the vertical shifting direction of the key top.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one plate spring is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion is engaged, to exert a biasing force, relative to a shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from the vertical direction.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interconnected with each other to support the key top above the base and to direct the key top in a vertical direction, a biasing member for elastically urging the key top vertically away from the base, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top.

Abstract: A portable information processing unit, such as a personal computer, has a keyboard in which the normal, operating height of key switches is reduced to a more compact, reduced height automatically when a cover of the unit is closed and is automatically reinstated to the normal operating height when the cover is opened. Each key switch has a key top, a base, an actuating mechanism connecting the key top to the base, an elastic member and a switching layer, the elastic member extending through an opening in the base and interconnecting the key top and the switch. Depression of the key top produces movement thereof in a depressing direction and a depression force transferred through the elastic member to the switch, switching same from an off to an on state; upon release of the key top, the elastic member returns the key top to the normal position.

Abstract: An air bag device comprises at the center a bag provided with a gas flowing orifice, a pad for receiving the bag in its folded state, an inflator arranged so as to permit gas to be jetted toward the gas flowing orifice of the bag and an inflator insertion hole into which a holding cylinder below the inflator can be inserted and further provided with a retainer for holding the inflator and the bag in their inner periphery and the pad in its outer periphery. The air bag device further includes a holding cloth surrounding the lower holding cylinder of the inflator and formed continuously below the gas flowing orifice of the bag, and a coupling is formed between the peripheral surface of the inflator and peripheral edge of the inflator insertion hole of the retainer.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a first keyboard unit for left hand operation of an operator, a second keyboard unit separable from the first keyboard unit, for right hand operation of the operator, and a fix plate movable between the first and second keyboard units, wherein one of the first and second keyboard units accommodates the fix plate when the first and second keyboard units are separated from each other, the fix plate bridges the first and second keyboard units when the first and second keyboard units are connected with each other to form a single keyboard, and a fixing mechanism is provided for fixing the fix plate upon the first and second keyboard units in the state that the fix plate bridges across the first and second keyboard units.

Abstract: An embroidery pattern processing apparatus including a reading device which reads a plurality of sets of embroidery data from a plurality of external memories, each of the sets of embroidery data defining an embroidery pattern to be formed by a sewing machine; a selection display which displays the embroidery pattern of each set of embroidery data read by the reading device; a manually operable selecting device for selecting a plurality of embroidery patterns from the embroidery patterns displayed on the selection display; and a writing device which writes, in an embroidery pattern memory, the sets of embroidery data for the embroidery patterns selected by the selecting device from the external memories.

Abstract: A movable blade unit in an automatic thread cutting device comprises a plate-like arresting member having an arresting portion for arresting the needle thread and the bobbin thread. A plate-like movable blade provided with a cutting edge cuts the needle thread and the bobbin thread in cooperation with a fixed blade and is disposed under the arresting member. A plate-like guide member is disposed under the movable blade and provided with a guide portion for guiding the needle thread and the bobbin thread arrested by the arresting member into a slit formed in the arresting member. A spacer interposed between the movable blade and the guide member forms a gap for receiving the fixed blade between the movable blade and the guide member. These members of the movable blade unit are easy to form; hence, the movable blade unit can be fabricated at a reduced cost and surely holds and cuts the needle thread and the bobbin thread.

Abstract: A sewing machine incorporates a needle bar disconnecting mechanism (3) and a thread cutting mechanism (9). The needle bar disconnecting mechanism (3) is interposed between an arm spindle (2) and a needle bar (4), which normally transmits rotations of the arm spindle (2) to the needle bar (4) to vertically move the latter up and down but disconnects the needle bar (4) from the arm spindle (2) to stop the vertical movement of the needle bar (4) when actuated. The thread cutting mechanism (9) cuts threads at the termination of stitching. A rotational phase detecting mechanism (11) is provided for detecting a rotational phase of the arm spindle (2). An electronic control circuit (12) actuates the needle bar disconnecting mechanism (3) when the rotational phase detecting mechanism (11) detects that the arm spindle (2) has reached a predetermined rotational phase after the thread cutting mechanism (9) is actuated.

Abstract: An input detecting apparatus, method in a switching matrix in which a plurality of switches are provided in the form of a matrix, which discriminates a sneak pass signal current caused by overlapping keying of up to 10 switches and is provided with a switching matrix including a driver circuit, a detecting circuit, a first group of a plurality of lines (1.sub.0 -1.sub.6), each connected to the driver circuit (2), a second group of a plurality of lines (3.sub.0 -3.sub.6), each connected to the detecting circuit, and a plurality of switching devices including a resistor (6) and a switching element (5) serially arranged, one end of each switching device being connected to one of the first group of lines and the other end to one of the second group of lines, the driver circuit having a decoder (11) which in turn connects one end of each oen of the plurality of lines of the first group (1.sub.0 -1.sub.

Abstract: In a thread trimmer mechanism on a sewing machine, a movable knife for catching and cutting thread and a bobbin pressing member for pressing and applying frictional resistance to a bobbin are operated synchronously with a rotary hook assembly. After needle thread caught by a hook of the rotary hook assembly has passed the end surface of the bobbin, the bobbin pressing member presses the end surface of the bobbin. Therefore, the needle thread is prevented from being caught in the bobbin pressing member and from being excessively supplied. Almost at the same time as the bobbin pressing member presses the end surface of the bobbin, the movable knife catches and cuts the thread. Consequently, even when the movable knife pulls bobbin thread from the bobbin, the bobbin is prevented from spinning freely. As a result, only a short thread extends from the last stitch on cloth, thus enhancing the appearance of the cloth and possibly eliminating a separate trimming operation.

Abstract: A sheet switch comprises a pair of flexible insulative films, one of which is provided with a plurality of electrodes, resistances connected to the electrodes, respectively, and line patterns for externally connecting the electrodes via the resistances. The other insulative film is also provided with a plurality of second electrodes at positions corresponding to the first electrodes, respectively, and a space is defined between each of the facing electrodes. The line pattern is a laminated structure consisting of an underlayer formed of a low resistance paste and an upper layer formed of a high resistance paste coated over the underlayer. The underlayer formed of a low resistance paste is partially disconnected to define a gap, so that the resistance is formed integrally with the upper layer formed of a high resistance paste at a position corresponding to the gap.

Abstract: A push button switch employing a dome spring switch element mounted in a vertical orientation relative to a generally horizontal orientation of a bottom support plate, and a key top and associated plunger which are mounted for limited, reciprocating vertical movement. An actuator, comprising a coil spring and a pivotally mounted lever, interconnects the plunger and the spring dome and is responsive to and converts vertical downward movement of the plunger to a horizontally directed depressing force on the dome spring for inverting the dome spring in a snap action and completing an electrical connection between inner and outer contacts mounted within the switch element and underlying the dome spring. A dome spring of rectangualr shape affords improved force versus displacement and snap action characteristics, and a contact frame providing flexible support of the inner contacts reduces impact shock and wear produced by the snap action.

Abstract: A novel stroke converting mechanism for a push-button switch is disclosed. The stroke converting mechanism is for providing a push-button switch or a keyboard comprising the push-button switches with features such as low cost, low profile, and light and comfortable key touch. The stroke converting mechanism is made from a plate of metal such as 18-8 stainless steel, and fabricated by a single shot of press or by an etching of the plate in a batch process. The delineated plate is then shaped into a specified form by die press. In spite of the simple structure, the stroke converting mechanism can provide a sufficient stroke conversion ratio, e.g., about 4 mm of the key top to a displacement of about 1 mm necessary for actuating a couple of make-break contacts. And also, it reduces the necessary depression force on the key top to a half of the force required for actuating a make-break contacts, and provides a reduction in the height of a push-button switch or a keyboard as much as 3 mm or more.