Direction indicator blinker light switching arrangement

A direction indicator blinker light switching arrangement for a motor vehicle of the type provided with an automatic cancelling mechanism, including a pivotal actuator mounted to the vehicle at a location separated from the cancelling mechanism. The switches are mounted to a bracket pivotally mounted about the steering shaft of the vehicle. The bracket is separately coupled to a cancelling cam through a ratchet disposed on the bracket and to the actuator through an elongated interconnection structure such as a cable, a pair of wires, a pivotal rod or a crank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a direction indicator blinker light switching 
arrangement for use in motor vehicles, and more particularly, to such 
arrangement of the type provided with an automatically cancelling 
mechanism. 
Recent steering wheels for use in motor vehicles are adapted to comprise 
one or two spokes of the type arranged to bridge the steering wheel and a 
steering shaft, thereby enabling a driver to readily observe an instrument 
panel or dashboard without an obstruction in visibility by such spokes. A 
handling lever for actuating a direction indicator blinker light switch 
is, however, still provided in or around a steering shaft in a 
conventional manner. Further, the construction of the switching unit, 
which includes therein a position retaining mechanism for the handling 
lever, switching means each adapted to be actuated by the handling lever, 
a mechanism for automatically cancelling the actuation of the handling 
lever in association with the pivotal movement of the steering wheel etc., 
remains unchanged and is still adapted to be provided on the steering 
shaft. Such being the case, in spite of the intention to decrease the 
number of the spokes for purposes as stated above, not only the bulky 
housing, but also the rather untidily arranged handling lever, which are 
both otherwise hidden from the driver by the spokes, come in sight. 
Accordingly, the ornamental features surrounding the dashboard are 
particularly affected by the existence of the handling lever and the 
configuration and size of the housing. However, according to such 
arrangement as described above, since the retaining mechanism and its 
cancelling mechanism must be integrally provided as one unit, setting the 
size and/or configuration of the housing as desired or alterations of the 
mounting positions of the handling lever are not readily effected. Thus, 
in order to enhance the ornamental features around the dashboard, such 
conventional construction of the switching unit with the handling lever 
must be improved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to provide a 
direction indicator blinker light switching arrangement of the type 
provided with an automatically cancelling mechanism, which is adapted to 
have such construction that an actuator of the arrangement and its 
automatically cancelling mechanism are separately assembled. 
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a direction 
indicator blinker light switching arrangement of the above described type, 
which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a direction 
indicator blinker light switching arrangement of the above described type, 
which can be manufactured on a large scale at low cost. 
In accomplishing these and other objects according to one preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a direction 
indicator blinker light switching arrangement of the type provided with an 
automatically cancelling mechanism as will be described hereinbelow. The 
arrangement comprises an actuator disposed within a driver's operable 
distance inside a motor vehicle and adapted to be selectively displaceable 
from a non-actuating position to a rightward actuating position and its 
directionally opposite, leftward actuating position to effect relatively 
directionally opposite actuating drives; a mechanism for cancelling a 
positioning of the rightward position or the leftward position of the 
actuator, which includes a cam surrounding a steering shaft in a manner 
such that it can be rotated in association with rotational steering 
movement of the steering shaft, and a ratchet adapted to be pivotally 
displaced to a switching position for a right direction indicator blinker 
light and its directionally opposite switching position for a left 
direction indicator blinker light with respect to a neutral position, with 
the ratchet being engageable with the cam in both switching positions, in 
which the ratchet having been displaced in a selected one of the switching 
positions is to be returned to the neutral position, when the cam is 
rotated in a direction opposite relative to the above described selected 
switching position; and a lever for interconnecting the actuator and the 
cancelling mechanism and transmitting the actuating drives to the ratchet 
in response to respective displacement of the actuator, thereby to make 
the ratchet be selectively displaced in the two switching positions stated 
above. As is clear from the above description, the actuator and its 
cancelling mechanism, both constituting the arrangement of the present 
invention, can be separately provided. Accordingly, due to such advantage 
of the invention, a switching unit including the cancelling mechanism can 
be constructed in a compact size, with the ornamental features surrounding 
a dashboard and the steering shaft being much improved.

Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted 
that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout 
several views of the accompanying drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a direction indicator blinker 
light switching arrangement in accordance with one preferred embodiment of 
the invention, in which the arrangement is of a type provided with an 
automatically cancelling mechanism. 
The switching arrangement of the present invention mainly comprises an 
assembling board 2 secured to a framework 1 mounted on a steering column 
shaft (not shown here), an approximately pentagonally shaped bracket 5 
positioned on the assembling board 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), a direction 
indicator blinker light switch 22, a cancelling mechanism 25, and an 
actuator 7. The assembling board 2 is centrally opened thereby to provide 
a cylindrical portion 4, through which a steering shaft 3 is adapted to be 
extended. The bracket 5 surrounding the cylindrical portion 4 is pivotally 
movable by means of a pivot pin 6, which is projected from a bottom 
surface of a trough-like block portion constituting the bracket 5. 
Separated from the location of the assembling board 2, the actuator 7 of 
the rocker or see-saw type is mounted to the framework 1. The actuator 7 
is adapted to be pivotally moved from a neutral position (N) as denoted in 
a real line in FIG. 1 towards rightwardly or leftwardly, thereby to take a 
rightward actuating position (R) or a leftward actuating position (L), 
both of which are denoted in respective imaginary lines in FIG. 1. Between 
the bracket 5 and the actuator 7, there are provided a pair of steel wires 
8 and 9 each having a spring portion, so that the bracket 5 and actuator 7 
are capable of being resiliently connected and can cooperate with each 
other as will be described hereinafter. Respective ends of these steel 
wires 8 and 9 are each connected to corresponding ring members as provided 
on a rear surface of the actuator 7, while these two ring members are 
mutually oppositely disposed with respect to a pivotal center of the 
actuator 7. On the other hand, each of the other ends of these steel wires 
8 and 9 is connected to one end of the corresponding coil spring whose 
other end is further connected to a corresponding engaging portion 
provided in the trough-like block portion of the bracket 5. More 
specifically, each of these coil springs 10 and 11 is accommodated in each 
of longitudinally recessed portion 12 and 13 both made in the trough-like 
block portion of the bracket 5. However, as best shown in FIG. 2, these 
two longitudinally recessed portions are separated from the other by a 
transversely provided wall 14, on both sides of which a pair of engaging 
portions for respective coil springs 11 and 12 are provided. The 
respective ends of the wires 8 and 9 are connected to corresponding ends 
of the respective coil spring 11 and 12, while their stretching portions 
are adapted to run on respective cornering portions 5a and 5b provided for 
the bracket 5, thereby to cause their stretching directions to be changed 
by approximate right angles, and then, to be further stretched to be 
connected with the respective ring members on the actuator 7. By such 
arrangement, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the actuator 7 
from the neutral position (N) to the first position (R), the wire 8 is 
pulled in a direction as denoted by an arrow A in FIG. 1, with the bracket 
5 being pivotally moved with respect to the pivot center 6 in a direction 
as denoted by an arrow B. On the other hand, in accordance with the 
pivotal movement of the actuator 7 from the neutral position (N) to the 
second position (L), the wire 9 is pulled in a direction as denoted by an 
arrow C, with the bracket 5 being pivotally moved with respect to the 
pivotal center 6 in a direction as denoted by an arrow D. Further, 
circumferential portion of the assembling board 2 is formed in 
configuration to have a specific wall, so that a retaining (dent) 
mechanism 15, with which such bracket 5 angularly shifted as described 
above can be retained in these positions, may be constituted in 
conjunction with specific provisions of the bracket 5. The dent mechanism 
15 comprises a retaining wall 16 provided on an outermost circumference of 
the assembling board 2, a ratchet 30 placed on the bracket 5 in such a 
manner as will be described hereinafter, and a ball 18 urged towards the 
retaining wall 16 through a resilient force caused by a spring 17 of 
compression type. As shown in FIG. 1, the spring 17 is accommodated inside 
a through bore longitudinally provided for a head block portion 29, while 
it is interposed between a head side 30a of the ratchet 30 and the ball 18 
received by the retaining wall 16 under its resilient condition. The 
retaining wall 16 is so arranged that it has three valley-like portions 
19, 20 and 21. Thus, when the actuator 7 remains in the neutral position 
N, the ball 18 is urgedly attached to the central valley-like portion 20 
as shown in FIG. 1 and therefore, the bracket 5 is left retained in its 
neutral position B.sub.N. Alternately, when the actuator 7 is pivotally 
moved towards the first position R, the bracket 5 is pivotally moved in a 
direction by an arrow B, in which the ball 18 is resiliently held by the 
spring 17 is slidably moved towards the valley-like portion 19 until it is 
complementarily retained in the valley-like portion 19. Such being the 
case, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the bracket 5 is to take a position 
B.sub.R for energizing a right direction indicator blinker light. 
Similarly, when the actuator 7 is pivotally moved towards the second 
position L, the bracket 5 is pivotally moved in a direction as denoted by 
an arrow D, in which the ball 18 is in turn slidably moved towards the 
valley-like portion 21 until it is complementarily retained in the 
valley-like portion 21. Such being the case, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the 
bracket 5 takes a position B.sub.L for energizing a left direction 
indicator blinker light. In the arrangement of the present invention, the 
respective tenion springs 10 and 11 are ready to function as 
self-retaining members against an extraordinary exertion of pressure, such 
as may be brought about when the bracket 5 is undesirably maintained in a 
locked condition and therefore, need to be released. For such purposes as 
stated above, the resilient force caused by the spring 10 or the spring 11 
is adapted to be a little larger than that required for the pivotal 
movement of the bracket 5, while both of the springs 10 and 11 are 
ordinarily maintained in respective unstretched states in accordance with 
the pivotal movement of the bracket 5. The numeral 22 designates a 
direction indicator blinker light switch constituting an electrical 
circuit for the blinker lights, which comprises a plurality of fixed 
contacts 23 assembled on the assembling board 2 and a plurality of movable 
contacts 24 each disposed in position on the bracket 5. When the bracket 5 
is pivotally moved and then, is disposed on the position for energizing 
the right direction indicator blinker light B.sub.R, the movable contacts 
24 are adapted to be in contact with the appropriate fixed contacts in a 
predetermined manner such that the right direction indicator blinker light 
is electrically turned ON. On the other hand, when the bracket 5 is 
pivotally moved and then, is in position for energizing the left direction 
indicator blinker light B.sub.L, the movable contact 24 are further 
adapted to be in contact with the appropriate fixed contacts in a 
predetermined manner such that the left direction indicator blinker light 
is electrically turned ON. The numeral 25 designates a cancelling 
mechanism, with which the bracket 5 being retained either in the position 
B.sub.R for the right direction indicating mode, or in the position 
B.sub.L for the left direction indicating mode is adapted to be 
self-returned to the neutral position. The cancelling mechanism 25 
includes a cancelling cam member 26, which is adapted to surround the 
steering shaft 3 in a manner such that it can be rotated with the steering 
shaft 3 incorporating a cylindrical member 4 of the assembling board 2 and 
more particularly, with a steering wheel 27. The cancelling cam member 26 
is provided with a pair of projected portions 28 formed at diametrically 
opposite locations on its outermost circular circumference. As can be seen 
in FIG. 3, bracket 5 is shaped in an approximately pentagonal 
configuration and has a head block portion 29 provided with the through 
bore in which the compression coil spring 17 and the ball 18 can be 
accommodated. Further, an opposite side relative to the side with the bore 
is inwardly fully receded to provide a wall configuration 29a. A pair of 
block portions extending angularly from respective lateral sides of the 
head block portion 29 are adapted to integrally bridge the head block 
portion 29 and a pair of parallelly facing block portions. The upper 
surfaces of the angularly extending block portions are stepped down with 
respect to the upper surfaces of both the head block portion and the 
parallelly facing block portions. The parallelly facing block portions are 
provided with a pair of round cornering projections 5c and 5d on both 
heads of the cancelling mechanism also includes block portions. The 
ratchet 30 disposed on the angularly extending block portions and is 
assembled in a manner such that respective lateral extremities 31 and 32 
are urged onto the respective round cornering portions 5c and 5d through 
the resilient force caused by the coil spring 17, with a central portion 
of ratchet 30 being seized by the wall portion 29a of the block portion 
29. Further, relative assembling locations of the ratchet 30 and the other 
elements of the invention are adapted to provide such moving correlation 
that either of the extremities 32 and 31 can come within a locus, which is 
effected through a rotating movement of either of the projected portions 
28 in association with the corresponding rotating movement of the bracket 
5 between two positions B.sub.R and B.sub.L. 
By the arrangement as described in the foregoing, the arrangement of the 
present invention can function as follows. For example, when the actuator 
7 is pivotally operated from its neutral position N to its first position 
R with an intention or making a right turn of the motor vehicle, the steel 
wire 8 is first pulled in the direction as denoted by the arrow A in FIG. 
1. In accordance with such pulling effectuation of the steel wire 8, the 
bracket 5 is pivotally moved with respect to the pivot center 6, until it 
is retained in the position B.sub.R for the right direction indicating 
mode, with the ball 18 being complementarily held in the valley-like 
portion 19 (see FIG. 4). As the result of such pivotal movement of the 
bracket 5 in the direction as denoted by the arrow B, the direction 
indicator blinker light switch 22 is actuated so as to effect the right 
direction indicator blinker light. When the steering wheel 27 having been 
rotated towards the right (clockwise) for making the right turn of the 
motor vehicle with such switching state is again rotated towards the left 
(counterclockwise) so as to be returned in the neutral position, the 
cancelling cam 26 is rotated in association with such rotation of the 
steering wheel 27, with the cam projection 28 approaching to engage with 
the extremity 31 of the ratchet 30 from a direction as denoted by an arrow 
E. After such engagement between the extremity 31 and the projected 
portion 28 is once effected, the ratchet 30 with the bracket 5 is further 
pivotally driven, with the bracket 5 being urged towards the arrow D, 
until the bracket 5 is returned to its neutral position B.sub.N. Soon 
after the bracket 5 is returned to its neutral position B.sub.N, the 
bracket 5 is retained there through the resilient force caused by the ball 
18. During such pivotal movement of the bracket 5, the direction indicator 
blinker switch 22 is also returned to its non-actuating state and thus, 
the electrical circuit for the right direction indicator blinker light is 
interrupted. In accordance with the pivotal movement of the bracket 5 in 
the direction as denoted by the arrow D, the steel wire 8 is being in turn 
pulled in the direction opposite that denoted by the arrow A, thus making 
the actuator 7 retained in an urged state in a direction as denoted by an 
arrow F. Accordingly, when the bracket 5 is to take the neutral position 
B.sub.N, the actuator 7 is simultaneously self-returned to its neutral 
position N. However, it is to be noted here that, according to the 
arrangement of the present invention, when the steering wheel 27 is 
rotated towards the right for making the right turn following the 
energization of the right direction indicator blinker light, the 
cancelling cam 26 is also rightwardly rotated. Such being the case, in 
accordance with the rotation of the cancelling cam 26, the cam projection 
28 is also rightwardly rotated and then, drives the extremity 31 of the 
ratchet 30 in a reverse direction relative to the direction as denoted by 
the arrow E. However, such drive caused by the movement of the cam 
projection 28 only causes the escape of the ratchet with respect to the 
extremity 32 in the direction as denoted by G (see FIG. 4), while the coil 
spring 17 is further compressed and its resilient force is consequently 
being increased during such driving engagement. Owing to the arrangement 
as stated above, not only is the ratchet 30 not spoiled, but also the 
displacement of the bracket 5 is retained in the position for the right 
direction indicating mode in the direction as denoted by B can not be 
brought about. 
On the contrary to such operation as described above, when the actuator 7 
is pivotally operated from its neutral position N to its second position L 
with an intention for making a left turn, the steel wire 9 is first pulled 
in the direction as denoted by the arrow C in FIG. 1. In accordance with 
such pulling of the steel wire 9, the bracket 5 is pivotally moved with 
respect to the pivot center 6 in the direction as denoted by the arrow D, 
until it is retained in the position B.sub.L for the left direction 
indicating mode, with the ball 18 being complementarily held in the 
valley-like portion 21 (see FIG. 5). As the result of such pivotal 
movement of the bracket 5, the direction indicator blinker light switch 22 
is actuated so as to effect the left direction indicator blinker light. 
Similarly, when the steering wheel is successively turned towards left in 
operation for making the left turn with the energization of the left 
direction indicator blinker light, the cancelling cam 26 is also 
leftwardly rotated. Thus, in accordance with such rotation of the 
cancelling cam 26, the cam projection 28 is also leftwardly rotated and 
then, is to drive the extremity 32 of the ratchet 30 in the direction as 
denoted by the arrow E. However, the drive caused by the movement of the 
cam projection 28 only causes the escaping movement of the ratchet 30 with 
respect to the extremity 31 in the direction as denoted by the arrow H 
(see FIG. 5), while the coil spring 17 is further compressed and its 
resilient force is consequently being increased during such driving 
engagement. When the steering wheel 27 is again rotated towards the right 
to let it be returned to its neutral position, the cancelling cam 26 is 
rotated in association with such rotation of the steering wheel 27, with 
the cam projection 28 approaching to engage with the extremity 32 of the 
ratchet 30 from the direction opposite relative to the direction as 
denoted by the arrow E. After the engagement between the extremity 32 and 
the projected portion 28 is once effected, the ratchet 30 with the bracket 
5 is further pivotally driven in the direction as denoted by the arrow B, 
until the bracket 5 is returned to its neutral position B.sub.N. Soon 
after the bracket 5 is returned to its neutral position B.sub.N, the 
bracket 5 is retained there through the resilient force caused by the ball 
18. Further, during the pivotal movement of the bracket 5, the direction 
indicator blinker switch 22 is also returned to its non-actuating state 
and thus, an electrical circuit for the left direction indicator blinker 
light is interrupted. In accordance with the pivotal movement of the 
bracket 5 in the direction as denoted by the arrow B, the steel wire 9 is 
being pulled in the reverse direction relative to the direction as denoted 
by the arrow C, thus making the actuator 7 be retained in an urged state 
in the direction as denoted by the arrow I. Accordingly, when the bracket 
5 is to take the neutral position B.sub.N, the actuator 7 is 
simultaneously automatically returned to its neutral position N. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown one modified embodiment of the 
arrangement of the present invention, in which there are provided a 
plurality of pulleys 33 over which the respective steel wires 8 and 9 can 
run for the purposes as described in connection with the former 
embodiment. More specifically, some pulleys 33 are provided on the 
assembling board 22, with the rest being secured to the framework 1. The 
respective stretching portions of these steel wires 8 and 9 are adapted to 
be supported with several number of the pulleys 33, so that the steel 
wires 8 and 9 can be stretched between the respective ring members and 
coil springs 10 and 11 with appropriate numbers of turns thereof, if these 
can not be directly stretched between them. Moreover, since the stretching 
directions of these steel wires 8 and 9 can be changed in any manner, 
depending on circumstances, it becomes possible for the actuator 7 to be 
assembled on the dashboard. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown further modified embodiment 
of the arrangement of the invention. However, for the sake of brevity, 
such like parts as included in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are 
not detailed here. This modified arrangement of the present invention also 
comprises an assembling board 2 secured to a framework (not shown here) 
mounted on a steering column (not shown here), a multi-laterally shaped 
bracket 5 positioned on the assembling board 2 and including a ratchet 30, 
a direction indicator blinker light switch 22, a cancelling mechanism 25, 
and an actuator 7. Similar to the former embodiment, the actuator 7 of the 
see-saw type is also mounted to the framework, while being separated from 
the location of the assembling board 2. According to this embodiment, 
between the bracket 5 and the actuator 7, a rigid elongated member 
(connecting rod) 8' as best shown in FIG. 7 is provided, so that these 
bracket 5 and actuator 7 are capable of being connected and then, can 
cooperate with each other as will be described hereinbelow. One end of the 
connecting rod 8' is pivotally connected to a projected portion 7a of the 
actuator 7, while the projected portion 7a is provided on the edge of a 
rear surface so that it can be disposed apart from a pivotal center of the 
actuator 7. On the other hand, the other end of the connecting rod 8' is 
pivotally connected to a projection 29a provided for a head block portion 
29 of the bracket 5. The functional characteristics of this modified 
embodiment is not so much different from the former embodiment, except 
that the bracket 5 is pivotally driven by means of the connecting rod 8' 
which move in a substantially longitudinal direction in response to the 
pivotal movement of the actuator 7. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a further modified embodiment of the present 
invention. This embodiment is also adapted to be actuated with a 
connecting rod 43. However, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 
and 8, an elongated rigid member (crank) in the form of connecting rod 8' 
is connected to the head block portion 29 in a manner such that a 
longitudinal axis of the rod 8' is intersected with a longitudinal axis at 
substantial right angles, when the bracket 5 is maintained in the neutral 
state. On the contrary, the connecting rod 43 is connected to a head block 
portion 29 in a manner such that a longitudinal axis of a leading portion 
43b of the connecting rod 43 substantially coincides with the longitudinal 
axis of the head block portion 29. Further, as best shown in FIG. 10, the 
connecting rod 43 is formed to have such configuration of reversely shaped 
crank shaft with a handle 45 at its one end, while stretching portion of 
the connecting rod 43 is pivotally supported at two positions with 
supporting members 44 and 44 secured to the framework (not shown here) so 
that the rod 43 is movable only about an axis extending along its 
elongated portion. The handle 45 is spacedly disposed in a manner such 
that it can be readily actuated with the drive of the steering wheel 27. 
Consequent positions of the handle 45 pivotally actuated are denoted in 
respective fantom lines L and R in FIG. 9, while the neutral position of 
the handle 45 is denoted in a full line. A portion 43a stretched 
directionally oppositely relative to the handle 45 is formed to render an 
L-shaped arm whose leading portion 43b extends towards the bracket 5 in an 
approximately parallel relationship with the extending direction of the 
handle 45. Further, the leading portion 43b is provided with a slit 43c 
with which a projection 46 provided for the bracket 5H is coupled. By the 
arrangement, the handle 45 as the actuator and the bracket 5 is pivotally 
interconnected with the such rod 43 having L-shaped configuration, in 
which in accordance with the pivotal movement of the handle 45, the 
bracket 5 is subjected to be retained either in the position B.sub.R for 
the right direction indicating mode or in the position B.sub.L for the 
left direction indicating mode. Similar to all the embodiments as 
described earlier, the handle 45 is also automatically returned to its 
neutral position N in response to the pivotal movement of the bracket 5, 
which is brought about as the actuation of the function of the cancelling 
mechanism. Although both of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and that shown 
in FIG. 9 respectively introduce rods as for the member for conducting the 
drive effected by the actuator, such a flexible cable having therein a 
drive transmitting wire can be available. For example, some types of the 
flexible cables capable of transmitting forward drive as well as backward 
drive (marketed by Nippon Cable System Inc., Japan) may be preferable. 
However, such being the case, the flexible cable for the purposes is 
adapted to run on such pulleys and the like as described in the embodiment 
shown in FIG. 6. 
As is clear from the description in the foregoing, according to the 
invention, the means adapted to function as the actuator of the means for 
actuating direction indicator blinker light and the operating means 
adapted to function as the cancelling mechanism are separately provided, 
and these are interconnected with the means for transmitting the drive 
caused by the actuator. Accordingly, the assembling positioning of the 
means adapted to function as the actuation is not subjected to the 
mounting positioning of the means adapted to function as the cancelling 
mechanism at all. Further, due to such advantages as described above, the 
means adapted to function as the cancelling mechanism can be constructed 
in a compact size, with results such that the ornamental features 
surrounding the dashboard and the steering wheel can be much improved. 
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example 
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted here that 
various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart 
from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as 
included therein.