Abstract:
A switch device for a sunroof includes: a glass switch piece, which is switchable between glass opening positions and a glass closing position, which are for selecting whether to open or close the opening of a sunroof with a roof glass; and a shade switch piece, which is switchable between a shade opening position and a shade closing shade positions, which are for selecting whether to open or close the opening with of a roof shade. The shade closing positions include a first closing position and a second closing position. The switch device is provided with an interlocking portion, which links the glass switch piece to the shade switch piece so that the glass switch piece is moved into the glass closing position when the shade switch piece is moved to the second closed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2012/077072, filed Oct. 19, 2012, which application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2012-041838, filed Feb. 28, 2012, both of said applications being hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a switch device including a glass switch piece manipulated to cause a roof glass to selectively open and close an opening formed in a sunroof of a vehicle and a shade switch piece manipulated to cause a roof shade to selectively open and close the opening. 
     Conventionally, a sunroof for a vehicle (Example 1) having a roof glass electrically slid to selectively open and close an opening and a roof shade manually slid to selectively open and close the opening is publicly known. Other types of such publicly known sunroofs include a sunroof for a vehicle (Example 2) configured by adding a tiltable roof glass to the sunroof for a vehicle of Example 1, a sunroof for a vehicle (Example 3) having a fixed roof glass and a roof shade electrically slid to selectively open and close an opening, and a sunroof for a vehicle (Example 4) having a roof glass and a roof shade both electrically slid to selectively open and close an opening. 
     In the sunroofs of Examples 1 and 3, one of the roof glass and the roof shade is manipulated through a single switch. Accordingly, erroneous manipulation is unlikely to happen when the roof glass or the roof shade is moved to selectively open and close the opening. In the sunroof of Example 2, two functions of a single component, which are sliding and tilting of the roof glass, are achieved through manipulation of two switches. However, since the two switches operate the single component, erroneous manipulations are limited. 
     In contrast, the sun roof of Example 4 employs separate switches to operate two components, which are the roof glass and the roof shade. This may cause complicated or erroneous switch manipulation. If the roof shade is closed with the roof glass left open, the open state of the roof glass cannot be visibly checked through the roof shade, and the roof glass is likely to be left open. This problem may be solved by, as has been proposed in certain techniques, forming the roof shade using mesh, for example, to allow the roof shade to maintain the roof glass visible through the roof shade when the roof glass is left open. 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-11735, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-4521, and Japanese Patent No. 4153821 each describe the sunroof operating the roof glass and the roof shade through separate switches and controlling the roof glass simultaneously with the roof shade to close the opening when the roof shade is moved to close the opening. 
     However, in the techniques disclosed in these prior art documents, closing of the roof glass is electrically controlled to happen in a manner following closing of the roof shade. This may cause erroneous operation due to noise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to reliably close a roof glass a roof shade is closed. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, and in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a switch device for a sunroof is provided that includes a glass switch piece and a shade switch piece that are manipulated to selectively open and close an opening in the sunroof with a roof glass and a roof shade, respectively. The glass switch piece is switchable between a glass close position for closing the opening with the roof glass and a glass open position for opening the opening with the roof glass. The shade switch piece is switchable between a shade close position for closing the opening with the roof shade and a shade open position for opening the opening with the roof shade. The switch device includes an interlocking portion for causing the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece to operate in an interlocking manner. The shade close position of the shade switch piece includes a first close position, at which the interlocking portion prohibits the interlocking operation of the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece, and a second close position, at which the interlocking portion causes the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece to operate together in an interlocking manner. When the shade switch piece is moved to the first close position, the interlocking portion allows the shade switch piece to be independently manipulated and the roof shade closes the opening. When the shade switch piece is moved to the second close position, the interlocking portion causing the glass switch piece to be operated together with the shade switch piece in an interlocking manner, thereby moving the glass switch piece to the glass close position so that the opening is closed with the roof shade and the roof glass. 
     In this case, when the shade switch piece is switched to the second close position, the interlocking portion causes the glass switch piece to operate together with the shade switch piece and is moved to the glass close position. The opening is prevented from being closed only by the roof shade when the opening is opened by the roof glass. Thus, such a simple mechanical configuration prevents the roof glass from being left open and reliably closes the roof glass when the roof shade is closed. 
     The glass close position of the glass switch piece may include a first open position, at which the interlocking portion prohibits the interlocking operation of the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece, and a second open position, at which the interlocking portion causes the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece to operate together in an interlocking manner. When the glass switch piece is moved to the first open position, the interlocking portion allows the glass switch piece to be operated independently and the roof glass opens the opening. When the glass switch piece is moved to the second open position, the interlocking portion causes the shade switch piece to operate together with the glass switch piece in an interlocking manner to move the shade switch piece to the shade open position, so that the opening is opened with the roof glass and the roof shade. 
     In this case, when the glass switch piece is switched to the second open position, the interlocking portion causes the shade switch piece to operate together with the glass switch piece and is moved to the shade open position. Thus, when the opening is closed with the roof shade, the roof glass is prevented from being moved to open the opening with the roof shade keeping closing the opening. Thus, the simple mechanical configuration prevents the roof glass from being left open and improves the reliability of opening of the roof shade that accompanies opening of the roof glass. 
     The interlocking portion preferably includes a contact portion arranged in the glass switch piece and a contact portion arranged in the shade switch piece. The glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are switchable together in an interlocking manner when the contact portion of the glass switch piece and the contact portion of the shade switch piece contact each other. The glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are independently switchable when the contact portion of the glass switch piece and the contact portion of the shade switch piece are separated from each other. 
     In this case, the contact portion in the glass piece switch piece and the contact portion in the shade switch piece provide an auto-closing feature formed by a simple mechanical configuration. 
     The direction in which the glass switch piece is preferably switched to the glass close position and the direction in which the shade switch piece is switched to the shade close position coincide with the direction in which the roof glass and the roof shade are moved to close the opening. The direction in which the glass switch piece is preferably switched to the glass open position and the direction in which the shade switch piece is switched to the shade open position coincide with the direction in which the roof glass and the roof shade are moved to open the opening. 
     In this case, the user is allowed to selectively open and close the opening through the roof glass and/or the roof shade with the same feeling as when the user manipulates the glass switch piece and/or the shade switch piece. Erroneous switch manipulation is thus made unlikely to occur. 
     The glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are preferably switchable in a common manipulating direction, and the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are preferably arranged in the manipulating direction. 
     In this case, the position of the glass switch piece and the position of the shade switch piece can be held simultaneously, thus facilitating manipulation of the switch pieces. 
     The glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are preferably both reciprocally movable in a linear manner. 
     In this case, the linear reciprocal movement of the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece facilitates manipulation of the switch pieces. 
     The glass switch piece and the shade switch piece are preferably each reciprocally pivotal. 
     In this case, the reciprocal pivoting motion of the glass switch piece and the shade switch piece facilitates manipulation of the switch pieces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1( a )  is a bottom view showing a switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1( b )  is a side view showing the switch device; 
         FIG. 1( c )  is a cross-sectional side view showing the switch device; 
         FIG. 2( a )  is a plan view showing a portion of a sunroof; 
         FIG. 2( b )  is a circuit diagram representing a neutral state of the switch device; 
         FIGS. 3( a ), 3( b ), and 3( c )  are circuit diagrams each representing an example of a manipulated state of a shade switch piece of the switch device; 
         FIGS. 4( a ), 4( b ), and 4( c )  are circuit diagrams each representing an example of a manipulated state of a glass switch piece of the switch device; 
         FIGS. 5( a ), 5( b ), 5( c ), and 5( d )  are views each illustrating an example of operation of the sun roof for closing an opening; 
         FIGS. 6( a ), 6( b ), 6( c ), and 6( d )  are views each illustrating an example of operation of the sun roof for opening the opening; 
         FIG. 7( a )  is a cross-sectional side view showing a switch device according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7( b )  is a cross-sectional bottom view showing the switch device of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A switch device for a sunroof of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1( a ), 1( b ), and 1( c ) , an attachment case  1  is attached to the lower surface of the roof of a vehicle. The attachment case  1  is configured by an upper case portion  2  and a lower case portion  3 , which are joined together. An accommodation chamber  4  is formed in the attachment case  1 . A base plate  5  is secured to an inner side of an upper board  2   a  of the upper case portion  2  in the accommodation chamber  4 . A pair of openings  4   a  is formed in a lower board  3   a  of the lower case portion  3  and spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The openings  4   a  both communicate with the accommodation chamber  4 . A glass switch piece  6  and a shade switch piece  7  are mounted in the attachment case  1  and spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  each include a slider  8 , which is arranged between the base plate  5  and the lower board  3   a  in the accommodation chamber  4 , and a knob  9 , which is attached to the slider  8  and projected downward through the corresponding opening  4   a . The knobs  9  and sliders  8  are linearly movable toward or away from the corresponding knobs  9  and sliders  8  in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . In other words, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are manipulated in a common manipulating direction, which is the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . In the first embodiment, the extending direction X of the attachment case  1  coincides with the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle and the movement direction of a roof glass  22  and a roof shade  23  for selectively closing and opening an opening  21  of the sunroof. In  FIGS. 1( a ) to 1( c ) , “F” refers to “forward” and “R” refers to “rearward”. 
     Each one of the sliders  8  has a first side portion  8   a  and a second side portion  8   b , which are arranged at opposite sides of the corresponding one of the knobs  9 . The first side portions  8   a  of the sliders  8  are located between the knobs  9  and spaced apart and opposed to each other in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . Each first side portion  8   a  has contact portions  10  (engagement portions or interlocking portions), each of which is formed in a corresponding end portion of the first side portion  8   a . The second side portion  8   b  of each slider  8  is connected to a return spring  11  attached to the lower board  3   a.    
     With reference to  FIG. 2( b ) , connecting portions  12  and  13  are mounted on the base plate  5  at positions corresponding to the glass switch piece  6 . The connecting portion  12  includes a pair of fixed contact points (hereinafter, simply referred to as contact points)  12   a  and  12   b , which are spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The connecting portion  13  includes a pair of contact points  13   a  and  13   b , which are spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . A connecting portion  14  and a connecting portion  15  are secured to the base plate  5  at positions corresponding to the shade switch piece  7 . The connecting portion  14  has a pair of contact points  14   a  and  14   b , which are spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The connecting portion  15  includes a pair of contact points  15   a  and  15   b , which are spaced apart in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The contact points  12   a ,  12   b ,  13   a ,  13   b ,  14   a ,  14   b ,  15   a , and  15   b  are connected to a controller  24 . 
     Movable contact points  16  and  17 , which are connectable to the connecting portions  12  and  13 , respectively, are attached to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6 . Movable contact points  18  and  19 , which are connectable to the connecting portions  14  and  15 , respectively, are attached to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7 . 
     A plurality of illuminating portions  5   a  is attached to the base plate  5  at positions corresponding to the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7 . The illuminating portions  5   a  illuminate display portions  3   b , which are secured to an outer side of the lower board  3   a , and the interiors of the knobs  9 . Windows are formed in the lower board  3   a  and the knobs  9  at positions facing the illuminating portions  5   a . Transparent or translucent window members  5   b ,  9   a  are embedded in the windows. The display portions  3   b  are layered with and fixed to the corresponding window members  5   b . Display portions  9   b  are layered with and fixed to the corresponding window members  9   a . Each of the illuminating portions  5   a  is formed by a light emitting diode and capable of illuminating the corresponding one of the display portions  3   b ,  9   b  from the interior of the attachment case  1  through the associated window member  5   b ,  9   a.    
     The characters “close” are engraved in each of the front ones of the display portions  3   b  and the characters “open” are engraved in each of the rear ones of the display portions  3   b . Since the engraved portion representing the characters has decreased thickness compared with the thickness of the non-engraved portion, the characters emerge in light when the illuminating portions  5   a  illuminate the display portions  3   b . The characters “roof switch” are engraved in the display portion  9   b  of the glass switch piece  6  and the characters “shade” are engraved in the display portion  9   b  of the shade switch piece  7 . The characters emerge in light when the illuminating portions  5   a  illuminate the display portions  9   b.    
     In  FIGS. 1( a ), 1( b ), and 1( c ) , the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are each arranged at a neutral position A and held at the neutral position A by elastic force applied by the return spring  11  to the corresponding slider  8 . In this state, the contact portions  10  of the sliders  8  are spaced from the corresponding contact portions  10  to ensure a clearance S between each facing pair of the contact portions  10 . That is, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are each arranged in an independently manipulable state P, in which the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are manipulable independently from each other. When the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are located at the respective neutral positions A, the movable contact points  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 , which are mounted in the sliders  8 , maintain the corresponding connecting portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , which are formed in the base plate  5 , each in an open state, as illustrated in  FIG. 2( b ) . 
     When the shade switch piece  7  is at the neutral position A and the knob  9  of the shade switch piece  7  is moved forward by a distance smaller than the clearance S between the facing contact portions  10  against the elastic force produced by the return spring  11 , the shade switch piece  7  is moved to a first close position B 1 , which is a first-stage shade close position, in the independently manipulable state P, as illustrated in  FIG. 3( a ) . When the shade switch piece  7  is held at the first close position B 1 , the movable contact point  18  secured to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  maintains the connecting portion  14  mounted in the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  19 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7 , arranges the connecting portion  15 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  19  connects the contact point  15   a  to the contact point  15   b  in the connecting portion  15 . When the shade switch piece  7  is at the neutral position A and the knob  9  of the shade switch piece  7  is moved rearward by a distance smaller than the clearance S between the facing contact portions  10  against the elastic force produced by the return spring  11 , the shade switch piece  7  is moved to a shade open position C in the independently manipulable state P, as illustrated in  FIG. 3( b ) . When the shade switch piece  7  is held at the shade open position C, the movable contact point  19  attached to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  maintains the connecting portion  15  mounted in the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  18 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7 , arranges the connecting portion  14 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  18  connects the contact point  14   a  to the contact point  14   b  in the connecting portion  14 . When the knob  9  of the shade switch piece  7  is continuously moved forward beyond the first close position B 1  of the shade switch piece  7  against the elastic force of the return spring  11 , the shade switch piece  7  is moved to a second close position B 2 , which is a second-stage shade close position, as illustrated in  FIG. 3( c ) . At this stage, the contact portions  10  of the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  contact the corresponding contact portions  10  of the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  to move the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  such that the glass switch piece  6  is moved to a glass close position B. In other words, in this state, the shade switch piece  7  and the glass switch piece  6  are in an interlocking state, in which the shade switch piece  7  and the glass switch piece  6  are movable together with each other. When the shade switch piece  7  is held at the second close position B 2 , the movable contact point  18  secured to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  maintains the connecting portion  14  attached to the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  19 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7 , arranges the connecting portion  15 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  19  connects the contact point  15   a  to the contact point  15   b  in the connecting portion  15 . Meanwhile, the movable contact point  17  secured to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  maintains the connecting portion  13  attached to the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  16 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6 , arranges the connecting portion  12 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  16  connects the contact point  12   a  to the contact point  12   b  in the connecting portion  12 . 
     When the glass switch piece  6  is at the neutral position A and the knob  9  of the glass switch piece  6  is moved forward by a distance smaller than the clearance S between the facing contact portions  10  against the elastic force produced by the return spring  11 , the glass switch piece  6  is moved to the glass close position B in the independently manipulable state P, as illustrated in  FIG. 4( a ) . When the glass switch piece  6  is held at the glass close position B, the movable contact point  17  secured to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  maintains the connecting portion  13  attached to the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  16 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6 , arranges the connecting portion  12 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  16  connects the contact point  12   a  to the contact point  12   b  in the connecting portion  12 . When the glass switch piece  6  is at the neutral position A and the knob  9  of the glass switch piece  6  is moved rearward by a distance smaller than the clearance S between the facing contact portions  10  against the elastic force produced by the return spring  11 , the glass switch piece  6  is moved to a first open position C 1 , which is a first-stage glass open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 4( b ) . When the glass switch piece  6  is held at the first open position C 1 , the movable contact point  16  attached to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  maintains the connecting portion  12  mounted in the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  17 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6 , arranges the connecting portion  13 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  17  connects the contact point  13   a  to the contact point  13   b  in the connecting portion  13 . When the knob  9  of the glass switch piece  6  is continuously moved rearward beyond the first open position C 1  of the glass switch piece  6  against the elastic force of the return spring  11 , the glass switch piece  6  is switched to a second open position C 2 , which is a second-stage glass open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 4( c ) . When the glass switch piece  6  is held at the second open position C 2 , the movable contact point  16  secured to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  maintains the connecting portion  12  attached to the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  17 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6 , arranges the connecting portion  13 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  17  connects the contact point  13   a  to the contact point  13   b  in the connecting portion  13 . Meanwhile, the contact portions  10  of the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  contact the corresponding contact portions  10  of the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  to move the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  such that the shade switch piece  7  is switched to the shade open position C. In other words, at this stage, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are arranged in an interlocking state, in which the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are movable together with each other. When the shade switch piece  7  is at the shade open position C, the movable contact point  19  secured to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  maintains the connecting portion  15  attached to the base plate  5  in the open state. In this state, the movable contact point  18 , which is mounted in the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7 , arranges the connecting portion  14 , which is attached to the base plate  5 , in a closed state. In other words, the movable contact point  18  connects the contact point  14   a  to the contact point  14   b  in the connecting portion  14 . 
     Each slider  8  has a non-illustrated elastic engagement portion. The lower board  3   a  of the lower case portion  3  includes a plurality of non-illustrated projected/recessed engagement portions, which are aligned in the movement direction of the slider  8  (which is the extending direction of the attachment case  1 ). The respective projected/recessed engagement portions are arranged at the positions corresponding to the neutral position A, the shade open position C, the first close position B 1 , and the second close position B 2  of the shade switch piece  7 , as well as the neutral position A, the glass close position B, the first open position C 1 , and the second open position C 2  of the glass switch piece  6 . The elastic engagement portion of each slider  8  cooperates with the projected-recessed engagement portion of the lower board  3   a  to function as a regulation mechanism for stopping the shade switch piece  7  and the glass switch piece  6  each in a stepped manner. The regulation mechanism operates when the shade switch piece  7  is switched from the neutral position A to either the first close position B 1  or the shade open position C and from the first close position B 1  to the second close position B 2 . The regulation mechanism also operates when the glass switch piece  6  is switched from the neutral position A to either the glass close position B or the first open position C 1  and from the first open position C 1  to the second open position C 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2( a ) , the opening  21  is formed in the sunroof  20  and the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  are arranged in the opening  21 . The roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  both selectively open and close the opening  21 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The roof glass  22  is formed by, for example, organic glass or inorganic glass. When the glass switch piece  6  of the above-described switch device is switched to a glass open position or a glass close position, the controller  24  controls a glass motor  25  to open or close the opening  21  with the roof glass  22 . If the shade switch piece  7  of the switch device is switched to a shade open position or a shade close position, the controller  24  controls a shade motor  26  to open or close the opening  21  with the roof shade  23 . A plurality of encoders detects rotation of the glass motor  25  and rotation of the shade motor  26  to output a detection signal. The position of the roof glass  22  and the position of the roof shade  23  are detected based on the signal provided by the encoder. 
     Operation for selectively opening and closing the opening  21  of the sunroof  20  will hereafter be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5( a ) , the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  maintain the opening  21  in a fully open state. If, in this state, the shade switch piece  7  is moved from the neutral position A to the first close position B 1 , the controller  24  controls the shade motor  26  such that the roof shade  23  starts to close the opening  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5( b ) . The controller  24  calculates the position of a front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23  and the position of a front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  based on the detection signal from the aforementioned encoders, thus determining the distance between the front end portions  23   a  and  22   a . When the distance between the front end portions  23   a  and  22   a  becomes less than a set value, the controller  24  stops the shade motor  26 . That is, the front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23  stops immediately before moving forward with respect to the front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  through regulation control, except for when the roof glass  22  fully closes the opening  21 . In this manner, the front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23  is arranged at a position rearward to the front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  and a certain distance is maintained between the front end portions  23   a  and  22   a.    
     When the shade switch piece  7  is moved to the second close position B 2  (see  FIG. 3( c ) ), the glass switch piece  6  interlocks with the shade switch piece  7  and moved to the glass close position B. This moves the roof shade  23  and the roof glass  22  together to close the opening  21 . At this stage, the shade motor  26  and the glass motor  25  are subjected to the regulation control by the controller  24  such that the front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23  is located rearward to the front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  and a certain distance is maintained between the front end portions  23   a  and  22   a . When the controller  24  detects that the opening  21  is fully closed by the roof glass  22  based on the detection signal from the encoder for the glass motor  25 , the controller  24  ends the aforementioned control for maintaining the certain distance between the front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  and the front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23 . Accordingly, the roof shade  23  is switched from the state illustrated in  FIG. 5( c )  to the state illustrated in  FIG. 5( d )  and fully closes the opening  21 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6( a ) , the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  maintain the opening  21  in a fully closed state. If, in this state, the glass switch piece  6  is switched from the neutral position A to the first open position C 1  (see  FIG. 4( b ) ), the controller  24  controls the glass motor  25  such that the roof glass  22  becomes inclined and the roof shade  23  slightly opens the opening  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6( b ) . This allows ventilation of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. When the glass switch piece  6  is switched to the second open position C 2  (see  FIG. 4( c ) ), the shade switch piece  7  interlocks with the glass switch piece  6  and moved to the shade open position C. As a result, the roof shade  23  and the roof glass  22  move together to the transient state shown in  FIG. 6( c )  and then to a fully open state of the opening  21 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 6( d ) . During such movement of the roof shade  23  and the roof glass  22 , the controller  24  controls operation of the glass switch piece  6  and operation of the shade motor  26  such that the front end portion  23   a  of the roof shade  23  is located rearward to the front end portion  22   a  of the roof glass  22  and a certain distance is maintained between the front end portions  23   a  and  22   a.    
     By moving the shade switch piece  7  from the neutral position A to either the first close position B 1  or the shade open position C, independent operation of the roof shade  23  is permitted. Also, by moving the glass switch piece  6  from the neutral position A to either the first open position C 1  or the glass close position B, independent operation of the roof glass  22  is permitted. At these stages, if the roof shade  23  or the roof glass  22  stops, the shade switch piece  7  may be switched to the second close position B 2  or the glass switch piece  6  may be switched to the second open position C to continuously move the roof shade  23  or the roof glass  22 . 
     A second embodiment of the present invention will hereafter be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The description below is focused on the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment. 
     In the first embodiment, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are aligned in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are both reciprocally movable in a linear manner in the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 . The extending direction X of the attachment case  1  coincides with the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle and the movement direction of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  for selectively opening and closing the opening  21 . In the second embodiment, the glass switch piece  6  has a knob  28 , which is supported by a base plate  27  in a manner pivotal about a pivot axis  27   a . A knob  29  of the shade switch piece  7  is supported at a radially outer position with respect to the knob  28  in a manner pivotal about the pivot axis  27   a.    
     The knob  28  of the glass switch piece  6  has a slider  30 , which faces the base plate  27 . The knob  29  of the shade switch piece  7  includes a slider  31 , which also faces the base plate  27 . The slider  30  corresponds to the slider  8  of the glass switch piece  6  of the first embodiment. The slider  31  corresponds to the slider  8  of the shade switch piece  7  of the first embodiment. A cutout  32  is formed in a circumferential portion of the knob  29  of the shade switch piece  7 . The knob  28  of the glass switch piece  6  has a projection  33 , which is received in the cutout  32  of the knob  29 . Contact portions  10  are formed on opposite circumferential sides of the projection  33  and opposite circumferential wall surfaces of the cutout  32 . Each of the contact portions  10  of the projection  33  faces the corresponding one of the contact portions  10  of the cutout  32  by a clearance S between the facing contact portions  10 . The contact portions  10  operate in the same manner as the contact portions  10  of the first embodiment. The slider  30  of the glass switch piece  6  has movable contact points  16 ,  17 , which function in the same manner as the contact points  16 ,  17  of the first embodiment. The contact points  16 ,  17  are each formed in an arcuate shape and arranged adjacent to each other. The slider  31  of the shade switch piece  7  has movable contact points  18 ,  19 , which function in the same manner as the contact points  18 ,  19  of the first embodiment. The contact points  18 ,  19  are each formed in an arcuate shape and arranged adjacent to each other. The base plate  27  has connecting portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , which function in the same manner as the connecting portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  of the first embodiment. The connecting portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  are faced to the corresponding movable contact points  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 . In the present embodiment, although not illustrated, the connecting portions  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  are arranged in an arcuate manner about the pivot axis  27   a  serving as the center of the radius of curvature and each located on the arcuate path of the corresponding movable contact point  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 . 
     The knob  28  of the glass switch piece  6  and the knob  29  of the shade switch piece  7  are reciprocally pivoted in a circumferential direction about the pivot axis  27   a  in correspondence with indicators each representing “close” or “open”. 
     The illustrated embodiments have the advantages described below. 
     (1) In the first and second embodiments, when the shade switch piece  7  is moved to the second close position B 2 , the contact portions  10  allow the glass switch piece  6  to interlock with the shade switch piece  7  and move to the glass close position B. Therefore, the roof shade  23  is prevented from closing the opening  21  when the opening  21  is maintained in an open state by the roof glass  22 . Accordingly, such a simple mechanical configuration prevents the roof glass  22  from being left open, and reliably closes the roof glass  22  when the roof shade  23  is closed. 
     (2) In the first and second embodiments, when the glass switch piece  6  is switched to the second open position C 2 , the contact portions  10  allow the shade switch piece  7  to interlink with the glass switch piece  6  to move to the shade open position C. Therefore, the roof glass  22  is prevented from moving to open the opening  21  when the opening  21  is closed by the roof shade  23 . Accordingly, such a simple mechanical configuration prevents the roof shade  23  from being left closed and reliably opens the roof shade  23  when the roof glass  22  is opened. 
     (3) In the first and second embodiments, the simple mechanical configuration of the contact portions  10  of the glass switch piece  6  and the contact portions  10  of the shade switch piece  7  allow interlocking operation of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23 . 
     (4) The technique described in Patent Document 3 employs a shade open switch, a slide-panel close switch, and a slide-panel open switch. Specifically, by manipulating the shade open switch when the opening is fully closed by the slide panel (which corresponds to the roof glass of the present application), the sun shade (which corresponds to the roof shade of the present application) is independently moved to open the opening. By manipulating the slide-panel close switch, the sun shade is independently moved to close the opening. By manipulating the slide-panel open switch, the slide panel and the sun shade are moved together to open the opening. When the slide panel is located at a position for opening the opening, the sun shade is prohibited from moving independently to close the opening. However, the technique of Patent Document 3 does not employ a close switch specifically designed for the sun shade. This makes it necessary to manipulate the slide-panel close switch to move the sun shade to close the opening, which causes discomfort for the user. Additionally, the directions in which the switches are manipulated do not correspond to the directions in which the slide panel and the sun shade are opened or closed. This easily causes erroneous manipulations. 
     In contrast, in the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the manipulating directions of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  for closing the opening  21 , which are the switching directions of the switch pieces  6  and  7  to the glass close position B or the first close position B 1  or the second close position B 2 , correspond to the movement directions of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  for closing the opening  21 . Also, the manipulating directions of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  for opening the opening  21 , which are the switching directions of the switch pieces  6  and  7  to the first open position C 1  or the second open position C 2  or the shade open position C, correspond to the movement directions of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  for opening the opening  21 . As a result, the user is allowed to manipulate the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  with the same feeling as when the user selectively opens and closes the opening with the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23 . This facilitates switch manipulations by the user and prevents erroneous manipulations. 
     (5) In the first embodiment, the manipulating direction of the glass switch piece  6  and the manipulating direction of the shade switch piece  7  (which are the extending direction X of the attachment case  1 ) coincide with each other, thus allowing intuitive manipulations. This allows the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7 , which are aligned in the manipulating direction, to be held simultaneously, thus facilitating the switch manipulation. 
     (6) In the first embodiment, the sun roof is easily operated by linearly reciprocating the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7 . In the second embodiment, the sun roof is easily operated by reciprocally pivoting the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7 . 
     The illustrated embodiments may be modified in the following forms. 
     In the first and second embodiments, when the shade switch piece  7  is switched to the second close position B 2 , the glass switch piece  6  interlinks with the shade switch piece  7  and moves to the glass close position B. When the glass switch piece  6  is switched to the second open position C 2 , the shade switch piece  7  interlinks with the glass switch piece  6  and moves to the shade open position C. However, in a modified form, the shade switch piece  7  does not necessarily need to interlink with the glass switch piece  6  when the glass switch piece  6  is switched to the second open position C 2 . 
     In the first and second embodiments, the contact portions  10  of the glass switch piece  6  are spaced from the contact portions  10  of the shade switch piece  7 . By causing the contact portions  10  to contact each other, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  are allowed to interlink with each other. However, in a modified case, the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  each may have an engagement portion. The engagement portions are engaged with each other to allow interlocking operation of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  and disengaged from each other to cancel such interlocking operation. 
     In the first and second embodiments, the movement directions of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  for closing the opening  21  may be different from the switching directions of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  to the glass close position B, the first close position B 1 , or the second close position B 2 . Also, the movement directions of the roof glass  22  and the roof shade  23  for opening the opening  21  may be different from the switching directions of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  to the first open position C 1 , the second open position C 2 , or the shade open position C. 
     In the first embodiment, the manipulating directions of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7  to the glass close position B, the first close position B 1 , the second close position B 2 , the first open position C 1 , the second open position C 2 , or the shade open position C may be different from the alignment direction of the glass switch piece  6  and the shade switch piece  7 . 
     In the first and second embodiments, the installment position of the switch device is not restricted to a position in the roof lower surface of the vehicle but may be a position in a floor console, for example. 
     In the pivotal switch device of the second embodiment, the shade switch piece  7  is located radially outward and the glass switch piece  6  is arranged radially inward to the shade switch piece  7 . However, in a modified form, the glass switch piece may be arranged radially outward and the shade switch piece may be located radially inward to the glass switch piece.