Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki

Mamoru Miyako

Keiji Nagaya

Toshihito Takai

Shinji Watanabe

Keisuke Imai

Kazuki Yamaguchi

Motoharu Yoshida

Hirofumi Kondo

Takayuki Washino

Shinichi Umemura

Naoyuki Yokoe

A vehicle switch apparatus for increasing space for other switches and ensuring operation of a switch when the switch must be felt for in order to be operated. The vehicle switch apparatus includes a paddle that has a front surface facing the driver and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. A push switch is arranged near the rear surface of the paddle and includes an operation portion operated by the driver. The paddle has a window for enabling the driver to visually check operation of the operation portion.

Switch apparatus for use in vehicles

A contact structure for a switch that ensures stable electrical connection. The contact structure includes a substrate. A first fixed contact and a second fixed contact are arranged on the substrate and spaced from each other. An elastically deformable movable contact engages and disengages the first and second fixed contacts. The movable contact includes a recess. A conductive member is arranged on the movable contact for electrically connecting the first and second fixed contacts when the movable contact engages the first and second fixed contacts.

Switch contact structure and method for manufacturing switch contact

A switch-device sheet comprising: a soft and elastic sheet body () having operation parts () for operating contacts of a switch device; and a light guiding member () containing an optical fiber and being partially or completely embedded and wired in the sheet body (), the light guiding member receiving light at one end () and emitting light at the other end (). Therefore, the whole of the switch-device sheet () is flexible, and further the light guiding member () may be wired, as desired, outside or in the sheet body (), while allowing for the size and wiring configuration.

Switch-device sheet

A switch that dampens noise that is produced when the switch is operated. The switch includes a wiring board. A resiliently deformable rubber contact is arranged on the wiring board. The rubber contact includes a contact portion for electrically contacting the wiring board when the rubber contact is deformed. A pusher contacts and deforms the rubber contact. A button contacts the pusher when operated. The rubber contact includes an elastic portion that contacts the button before the button contacts the pusher.

Switch

In an elastic sheet member of the present invention, a silicon rubber sheet is supported by a fixed member. A wire group functioning as contacts is disposed at either one of the silicon rubber sheet or the fixed member. In other words, electrical continuity paths, which were conventionally provided at a printed circuit board, are basically provided at the elastic sheet member which is formed of a non-conductive material. In accordance with the present invention, there is no need for the printed circuit board to cover a range at which all rubber contacts are disposed, as in conventional art. Accordingly, the printed circuit board can be made compact, space required for placement thereof can be reduced, and degrees of freedom in design are increased.

Elastic sheet structure having an improved electrical continuity function, and printed circuit board structure

In a switch operating mechanism, a switch of a circuit board is disposed between a first pressing arm and a second pressing arm of a pusher having a substantial U-shape when seen in side view, and the first pressing arm is positioned directly above the switch. A front end of an operating knob is disposed between the circuit board and the second pressing arm. When the operator moves the operating knob upward, the front end of the operating knob moves the second pressing arm of the pusher downward. Thus the pusher moves straight along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board, and the first pressing arm of the pusher presses and activates the switch.

Switch operating mechanism

A light guide member ( ) is made of a transparent material, and includes a main body portion ( ), disposed at a back side of a central portion of an operating member ( ), and extension portions ( ) which extend from the main body portion, and are disposed respectively at back sides of push operating portions ( ). This light guide member is separate from the operating member ( ), and light emitted from LEDs ( ) passes sequentially through the main body portion ( ) of the light guide member ( ) and the extension portions ( ) to illuminate light-transmitting indicating portions ( ) of the operating member.

Switch device

In a switch apparatus, moderating pieces ( ) are engaged with moderation concave portions of a manipulator ( ) by way of a displaceable portion ( ) of an elastic member ( ) having a movable-side contact ( ) which is contacted/separated to/from a fixed-side contact owned by an insulating board. Thus, the moderation can be applied to the manipulations of the manipulator ( ) without requiring a coil spring provided as an independent component of a conventional switch apparatus.

Switch apparatus

A manipulation switch for operating a device that is installed in an automobile by remote control is arranged on a switch body, which is mounted on a steering wheel. A stopper attaches a flat cable, which is electrically connected to the switch body, to the steering wheel. The stopper is adhered to the flat cable. The stopper includes a flange, which extends sideways from the side edge of the flat cable. An engaging hole is formed in the flange. The switch body has an engaging projection, which is engaged with the engaging hole of the flange.

Stopper for flat cable and mounting structure of flat cable

An outer casing ( ) of a switch ( ) is provided with mounting hooks ( ), which are engaged with a core metal ( ) of a steering wheel ( ). A lower cover ( ) of the steering wheel ( ) is provided with retaining portions ( ), which are made to abut against the mounting hooks ( ) in such a way as to restrain the retaining portions ( ) from moving in a direction in which the engagement between the core metal ( ) and each of the retaining portions ( ) is canceled. Consequently, the switch (is) firmly mounted on the steering wheel ( ). Thus, a stable mounting state of the switch ( ) is obtained.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi, Japan

Mamoru Miyako