Abstract: A contact 24 is fitted to an insulator complete 25, and the contact 24 is adapted to rotate in correspondence with the operation of an operation knob. The length of an arm 38 among arm portions 37 to 39 which are provided on the contact 24 is set to be shorter than the other arm portions 37 and 39. As a result, fixed contacts 40a and 41a with which movable contacts 37a and 38a provided at distal ends of the arms 37 and 38 are brought into contact can be arranged at concentric positions, thereby making it possible to increase the number of contacts. In this case, since a relay for a small-current load is connected to the fixed contact 41a, no hindrance is caused even if the contact force of the second movable contact 38a is set to be small by devising the angles between the respective ones of the arm portions 37 to 39.

Abstract: Two adjacent operation knobs (14, 15) are formed integrally with each other via a coupling portion (18) On the coupling portion (18), there are formed a V-shaped gap variable portion (18a) and cylindrical portions (19) having positioning guide portions (20). There are provided pin-shaped positioning portions (22) on the switch body (11). To assemble the operation knobs (14, 15) to the switch body (11), each of the positioning guide portions (20) is mated with the positioning portions (22) and the front portion of the operation knobs (14, 15) is inserted into the opening (12). In cooperation with each of the positioning guide portions (20) and the positioning portions (22), the spacing dimension D2 between the operation knobs (14, 15) is narrowed, for example, down to 0.5 mm or less, and the spacing dimension is to be sustained.

Abstract: A rotary body (20) rotating around a shaft center (O1) is provided at a main case body (13). A cam (20h) is provided at the outer periphery of the potion (20g) of the rotary body (20). A supporting shaft (30) is provided at the main case body (13) and a cam driving force transmission rod (31) is rotatably supported by the supporting shaft (30). When the cam abutment portion (31a) of the cam driving force transmission rod (31) abuts against the cam (20h), the pressing portion (31b) of the cam driving force transmission rod (31) pushes an interlock member (36) to turn on a switch. A virtual circle (K) is a moving locus of the outermost portion of a cable operation member which swings around a guide tube (18), and the cam (20h) is disposed within the virtual circle (K).

Abstract: A rotary body (20) rotating around a shaft center (O1) is provided at a main case body (13). A cam (20h) is provided at the outer periphery of the potion (20g) of the rotary body (20). A supporting shaft (30) is provided at the main case body (13) and a cam driving force transmission rod (31) is rotatably supported by the supporting shaft (30). When the cam abutment portion (31a) of the cam driving force transmission rod (31) abuts against the cam (20h), the pressing portion (31b) of the cam driving force transmission rod (31) pushes an interlock member (36) to turn on a switch. A virtual circle (K) is a moving locus of the outermost portion of a cable operation member which swings around a guide tube (18), and the cam (20h) is disposed within the virtual circle (K).

Abstract: Two adjacent operation knobs (14, 15) are formed integrally with each other via a coupling portion (18) On the coupling portion (18), there are formed a V-shaped gap variable portion (18a) and cylindrical portions (19) having positioning guide portions (20). There are provided pin-shaped positioning portions (22) on the switch body (11). To assemble the operation knobs (14, 15) to the switch body (11), each of the positioning guide portions (20) is mated with the positioning portions (22) and the front portion of the operation knobs (14, 15) is inserted into the opening (12). In cooperation with each of the positioning guide portions (20) and the positioning portions (22), the spacing dimension D2 between the operation knobs (14, 15) is narrowed, for example, down to 0.5 mm or less, and the spacing dimension is to be sustained.

Abstract: When a leaf spring 22 is rotated integrally with the rotation of a knob dial 18, the leaf spring 22 is pushed and deflected by three corners of a cylindrical section 17a. After that, when three corners of the cylindrical section 17a get over the leaf spring 22 and new three surfaces are engaged with the leaf spring 22, rotation of the knob dial 18 is regulated. In this case, the pushing direction of the leaf spring 22 is the same as the direction of deflection. Therefore, the rotational resistance of the knob dial 18 can be reduced. Accordingly, a feeling of operation of the knob dial 18 becomes light.

Abstract: When a knob dial 18 is turned on, a predetermined LED 15c to 15e corresponding to a rotational position of the knob dial 18 is turned on. Then, a beam of light is supplied to a predetermined indicator lens 29a to 29f via a predetermined light path 30, and the indicator lens 29a to 29f can be illuminated. In this structure, the optical path 30 is formed into a sector-shape. Therefore, even if the knob dial 18 is set at an intermediate position, the beam of light emitted from LED 15c to 15e is supplied to the indicator lens 29a to 29f via the optical path 30. Accordingly, the indicator lens 29a to 29f can be illuminated to the utmost.

Abstract: Upon depression of a depression surface of an operating knob of a switch assembly, a depression working surface pushes down the head portion of a rubber contact, and a switching operation is performed. The operating knob is pushed up by the return elastic force of the rubber contact and returned to its original position. Then the upper face of the depression portion abuts against the correction member. As the correction member is positioned directly above the rubber contact, the moment generated by the return elastic force of the rubber contact is offset and the operating knob is straightened and maintained to be in a horizontal position. Therefore, the side surfaces of the head portion projecting from the operation hole of the switch case barely rub against the side edges of the operation hole in a depressed state owing to inclination of the operating knob.

Abstract: An operation device for a vehicle, capable of being used in a vehicle air conditioner system. The operation device has front panels that have a light transmissive portion, and a flexible printed circuit board shaped to correspond to the arrangement of the front panels. The flexible printed circuit board includes a plurality of light emitting elements at positions respectively corresponding to the positions of the front panels. There are switching means, disposed at the rear of the printed circuit and arranged so that these switching means are operated in response to the operation of the front panels. The rear portion of the front panel can be moved together with light emitting elements in response to the operation of the front panel.

Abstract: Contact holders accommodated in defined regions are elastically returned to initial positions on the side of a wall. At the initial positions, stoppers are formed integral with a wall which defines the regions, in such a manner that the stoppers are in parallel with the wall and spaced a distance from the wall. Those stoppers are each in the form of a thin plate, and have protrusions which are extended towards the contact holders, respectively. Hence, when returning to the initial positions, the contact holders and strike against the protrusions of the stoppers, so that the latter are bent towards the wall while reducing the distance, thus decreasing the impact thereon when the contact holders strike against the stoppers.

Abstract: A fitting groove 46 comprised of a first groove 48 and a second groove 50 is formed in a holder connected to an operation knob. As a pin 54 of a shaft 52 is inserted in the fitting groove 46, the shaft 52 is connected to a holder 24, i.e., the operation knob. As a result, even in a shift-lock state in which the axial movement of the shaft 52 is prevented, it is possible to carry out without trouble the operation of selecting a shift position N, D, or 2 by the rotation of the holder 24 as well as the operation of selecting a shift position L involving the rotation and axial movement of the holder 24. In addition, it is possible to set a multiplicity of shift positions which are selected by the holder 24.

Abstract: The switch includes a case, first and second manipulation members, two switching mechanisms, cam projections two locking members, guide grooves, and an operating member. The guide grooves for guiding the locking members are arranged so that tip ends of the locking members can be put in contact with the operation member for forcibly returning the manipulation members from a pressed-in position to a released position and that the tip ends are prevented from facing the operation member when the tip ends are located in a normal paths of the guide grooves, thereby preventing deformation of locking members and damages of the cam projections due to an erroneous pressing operation.

Abstract: A slider stopping mechanism for an automatic seatbelt system which is supported by a guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a groove extending in the same direction and is adapted to stop the movement of a slider at one end of the guide rail so as to apply a webbing to a seat occupant or cancel the application thereof as the webbing is moved in the transverse direction by a driving apparatus. The slider stopping mechanism includes a switch inserted in the groove from the end portion and adapted to stop the driving of the driving apparatus when the slider reaches a predetermined position, as well as a shock-absorbing member which is disposed in the groove in such a manner as to be located adjacent to the switch and with which the slider is brought into contact. Hence, the slider is prevented from coming into direct contact with the switch.

Abstract: An automatic seat belt device having a guide rail arranged in a room of a vehicle in a longitudinal direction thereof, a slider engaged with one end of a webbing and supported by the guide rail such as to be movable along the guide rail in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle, and an elongate member engaged at its one end with the slider and moved by a driving force so as to move the slider in the direction. The elongate member is movable so as to move the slider to a rear end portion of its movement so that the webbing may be fastened around a body of an occupant on a vehicle seat when he gets on the vehicle.

Abstract: A buckle apparatus for use in a plurality of seatbelt assemblies each having a tongue plate and a buckle and disposed adjacent to each other is arranged such that widths of an opening of a tongue plate-inserting passage of each buckle as well as a portion thereof adjacent to the opening differ to allow only a predetermined tongue plate and buckle to be engaged with each other.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a guide rail of an automatic seat belt apparatus of a vehicle on a side wall of the compartment via a holder engageable with the sides of the guide rail that are arranged in the widthwise direction of the compartment, the guide rail slidably supporting a slider and being adapted to guide the slider in the to-and-fro direction of the compartment, the slider being kept in engagement with one end of a webbing adapted to be worn by an occupant of the vehicle. The holder is engaged with the side portion of the guide rail that is outward in the widthwise direction of the compartment at an engagement portion formed in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail that is remote from the webbing with respect to the slider. Therefore, the holder is kept from readily being disengaged from the engagement portion even when the guide rail is, via the slider, subjected to a lateral force acting to pull the webbing inwardly of the compartment.

Abstract: A guide rail cover disposed over a guide rail which guides a slider which secured one end of a webbing, in forward and backward direction of a vehicle. The guide rail cover has a base which is made of a rigid synthetic resin and also is mounted on the guide rail, and a filler which is made of a nonrigid synthetic resin and also extends from the base to close a guide groove which guide the guide rail. Therefore, the base has a high rigidity and inhibits its portions facing the slider from lifting off the guide rail.

Abstract: A buckle apparatus for use in a seatbelt system for a vehicle designed to protect an occupant in an emergency situation of the vehicle includes a buckle body into which a tongue plate is inserted. A lock plate is moved in a direction orthogonal to the tongue plate inserting direction and is engaged with an opening formed in the tongue plate, and portions of the lock plate on both sides of its portion engaged with the tongue plate are supported by the buckle body, thereby reliably obtaining a sufficiently large tongue plate holding strength. When the force applied to the tongue plate such as to pull it out from the buckle apparatus is relatively small, a resilient member retains the lock plate, together with the tongue plate, in such a manner that they are separated from the engaging portions of the buckle body.

Abstract: A buckle device is adapted to retain a tongue plate inserted thereinto by a lock plate. The lock plate is supported by a leaf spring member and biased in a direction in which it is engaged with the tongue plate. The leaf spring member is integrally formed with an ejector which biases the inserted tongue plate counter to a direction in which it is inserted into the buckle device. Accordingly, the buckle device is readily assembled, and the number of required parts is reduced.

Abstract: A buckle apparatus for use in a seatbelt system is arranged such that when a tongue plate is inserted into a buckle body, the tongue plate retaining portion of a lock plate pivotally supported on one side of the tongue plate insertion passage extends through an opening formed in the tongue plate and projects out to the other side of the insertion passage so as to engage with a subsidiary lock plate. Accordingly, the lock plate which prevents the tongue plate from being undesirably pulled out is supported by the buckle body on both sides of the tongue plate and therefore can bear a large load. To release the tongue plate, the subsidiary lock plate is pivoted so as to disengage from the lock plate, which requires only a reduced force.