Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Shinji Yanai

Yujiro Shimoyama

Makoto Sasaki

Kenji Sawada

Akinori Ito

Osamu Ishiguro

Nobuo Ebishi

A switch device which is operated by movement of a knob coupled to a switch actuator. The knob comprises a projection from a center of an arc-like skirt, wherein the arc-like skirt has a rounded slope extending from the projection to a periphery of the arc-like skirt. A cover arranged over a switch element mounted on a printed substrate defines an opening and has projection walls formed at peripheral edges of the opening, wherein the opening acts to receive the switch actuator, and wherein the arc-like skirt co-acts with the projection walls for preventing water from entering the opening. Liquid contacting the knob flows down the arc-like skirt and is drained through a drain passage formed in the cover. Thus, the switch device is essentially made waterproof by the co-action of the arc-like skirt, the projection walls, and the drain passage.

Waterproof structure for a switch device

A power seat switch device for adjusting a seat position having a single operating knob, a sliding member cooperatively connected to the operating knob, and three lever switches adapted to be selectively operated by the motion of the sliding member. When the common operating knob is moved in one of two opposite directions, the first switch is operated to move the seat to the front and to the rear. On the other hand, when the operating knob is rotated at one end, the sliding member is pivoted about the third switch, thereby operating the second switch. As a result, the height of the front portion of the seat is adjusted. In contrast, when the operating knob is rotated at its other end, the sliding member is pivoted about the second switch, thereby operating the third switch. As a result, the height of the rear portion of the seat is adjusted.

Power seat device

A switch device having a casing, an actuator swingably supported to the casing, a plurality of projections suspended down from the lower surface of the actuator for changing over a switch by pressing a plurality of switch elements arranged in the casing which has a partition plate for separating the actuator and the switch element in the casing, a plurality of operation openings perforated at the partition plate for the actuators of the switch elements, and rubber pressing gaskets which transfer movement of the actuator projections to movement of switch elements and seal the upper portion of the casing from the lower portion in which the switch elements are located. Thus, the switch device can provide high waterproofness with a simple construction.

Multiple switch device having waterproof structure

A switch assembly has a holder which supports a switch and a light source inside. The holder is formed with a concavity recessed down from a central portion of the upper surface, and the cavity is formed with a hole at the bottom to expose a lever or knob of the switch. The concavity has a light hole communicating the light source to guide a light beam to the lever or knob.

Growing community of inventors

Furukawa, Japan

Shinji Yanai