Patent Publication Number: US-9406452-B2

Title: Movable contact point for switch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 157195/2013 filed on Jul. 29, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a movable contact point for a switch. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-197022 proposes various kinds of switches configured such that movable contact points making pressure contact with fixed contact points are moved in the circumferential direction around a rotary shaft, thus connecting/disconnecting the fixed contact point and the movable contact point. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view explaining the configuration of an inhibiter switch  10  according to the conventional example that is represented by the inhibiter switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-197022. It should be noted that  FIG. 4  is a cross section showing the periphery of a shaft portion  51  in a movable board  5 . 
       FIGS. 5A to 5C  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point  7 X according to the conventional example. 
     A body case  4  of the inhibiter switch  10  is formed by coupling a cover  3  to a peripheral wall  24  that surrounds an area of a pole board  2  where fixed contact points  8  are disposed, and the movable board  5  provided with the movable contact points  7 X is provided inside the body case  4  to be rotatable around an axis line X. 
     The movable board  5  includes a cylindrical shaft portion  51  and a contact point holding portion  52  extending in a radial direction (radial direction of the axis line X) from the shaft portion  51 , and each of the movable contact points  7 X is accommodated in an accommodation hole  53  formed in the contact point holding portion  52  together with a spring Sp. 
     Each of the movable contact points  7 X projects downward to the pole board  2 -side from the accommodation hole  53  by an urging force acting from the spring Sp, and is configured to make pressure contact with the fixed contact point  8  exposed on an upper surface of the pole board  2  in a state where the movable board  5  is incorporated in the body case  4 . 
     A shaft rotating in association with an operation of a shift lever is coupled to the shaft portion  51  of the movable board  5 . When the shift lever is operated, the contact point holding portion  52  extending in the radial direction from the shaft portion  51  rotates around the axis line X in association with the operation of the shift lever. Thereby, the movable contact point  7 X having made pressure contact with the fixed contact point  8  moves (slides) in a circumferential direction around the axis line X. 
     The movable contact point  7 X has a basic configuration formed by bending one sheet of metallic plate in a U-letter shape, and as shown in  FIG. 5A , a sliding portion  72  that slides on the fixed contact point  8  is positioned between side wall portions  71  disposed in parallel to each other to have an interval therebetween in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 X. 
     In a side view, an outer periphery of the sliding portion  72  is formed in an arc shape, and the movable contact point  7 X causes the outer periphery of the sliding portion  72  to make pressure contact with the fixed contact point  8  in the inhibiter switch  10 . 
     Here, when the shift lever is operated, the movable contact point  7 X is operated to slide on the fixed contact point  8  toward one of the sliding directions. Repetition of the sliding of the movable contact point  7 X by the operation of the shift lever causes wear of the sliding portion  72  having made pressure contact with the fixed contact point  8 , such that a thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  becomes thin. 
     Then, support strength to the side wall portions  71  disposed to oppose across the sliding portion  72  is the weaker as the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  becomes thinner. 
     When the movable contact point  7 X that slides on the fixed contact point  8  in association with the operation of the shift lever reaches a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction around the axis line X, the movable contact point  7 X gets over a step portion  9  formed in the pole board  2  to be spaced apart from the fixed contact point  8 . 
     Therefore, the movable contact point  7 X is subjected to stress in accordance with an operation force of the shift lever from abutment points P 1  and P 2  to the accommodation hole  53  that accommodates the movable contact point  7 X therein at the time of sliding on the fixed contact point  8  or getting over the step portion  9  (refer to  FIG. 5B ). 
     Consequently, when the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  becomes thin to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , the side wall portions  71  cannot be held in a state of being disposed in parallel to each other against the acting stress, and are inclined in a direction of narrowing the interval of each other. 
     In addition, when the inclination of each of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of narrowing the interval of each other is large by the repetition of the sliding of the movable contact point  7 X, the movable contact point  7 X is largely deformed (refer to  FIG. 5C ), leading to the difficulty of causing the movable contact point  7 X to be connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position (angular position). 
     It is possible to extend a period (lifetime of the movable contact point  7 X) for which the movable contact point  7 X is connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position by increasing the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72 . 
     However, since the movable contact point  7 X is formed by bending one sheet of metallic plate, when the thickness (thickness of the metallic plate) of the sliding portion  72  is increased to meet a demand for recent long life, the thickness of the side wall portion  71  is also increased. Therefore, the movable contact point  7 X is upsized. 
     Then, since a size of the movable contact pint  7 X to the accommodation hole  53  of the contact point holding portion  52  is increased, the movable contact point  7 X cannot be incorporated in the body case  4  of the inhibiter switch  10 . 
     Therefore, there is a demand for preventing a deformation of the movable contact point without the upsizing thereof to extend the lifetime of the movable contact point. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a movable contact point for a switch which can prevent a deformation of the movable contact point without the upsizing thereof to extend the lifetime of the movable contact point. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a movable contact point for a switch in which a movable contact point that makes pressure contact with a fixed contact point is slid to cause the movable contact point and the fixed contact point be connected to/disconnected in accordance with a position of the movable contact point, comprises a pair of side wall portions that are disposed in parallel to each other to have an interval therebetween in the sliding direction of the movable contact point, a sliding portion that connects end portions of the pair of side wall portions in the fixed contact point-side to each other and slides on the fixed contact point, and projecting portions provided in respective opposing portions of the one side wall portion and the other wall portion in the pair of side wall portions to project in the sliding direction, wherein the projecting portions abut against each other between the pair of side wall portions in the sliding direction. 
     According to the aspect of the present invention, since the inclination of the pair of side wall portions in the direction of narrowing the interval of each other is blocked by the projecting portions abutting against each other between the pair of side wall portions, even if the thickness of the sliding portion becomes thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions, it is possible to prevent the movable contact point from being deformed due to the inclination of the pair of side wall portions in such a direction that the pair of side wall portions become narrow to each other. 
     Therefore, since it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the sliding portion, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the movable contact point without the upsizing thereof to extend the lifetime of the movable contact point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which: 
         FIGS. 1A to 1E  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point according to an embodiment in the present invention, wherein  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view showing the movable contact point according to the embodiment,  FIG. 1B  is a side view showing the movable contact point according to the embodiment,  FIG. 1C  is a bottom view showing the movable contact point as viewed from a fixed contact point-side according to the embodiment,  FIG. 1D  is a front view showing the movable contact point according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 1E  is a cross section taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1D ; 
         FIGS. 2A to 2D  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point according to a modification in the embodiment, wherein  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view showing the movable contact point according to the modification,  FIG. 2B  is a side view showing the movable contact point according to the modification,  FIG. 2C  is a front view showing the movable contact point according to the modification, and  FIG. 2D  is a side view showing the movable contact point in which a sliding portion becomes thin in thickness due to wear thereof according to the modification; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3C  are diagrams explaining movable contact points according to modifications in the embodiment, wherein  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing a movable contact point according to a modification,  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing a movable contact point according to a different modification, and  FIG. 3C  is a perspective view showing a movable contact point according to a further different modification; 
         FIG. 4  is diagrams explaining an inhibiter switch according to the conventional example; and 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point according to the conventional example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, a movable contact point for a switch according to an embodiment in the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, and  FIGS. 1A to 1E  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point  7  according to the embodiment. It should be noted that in the following explanation, for descriptive purposes, the upper side in  FIG. 1B  is indicated as an upward side and the lower side therein is indicated as a downward side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the movable contact point  7  has a basic configuration formed by bending one sheet of metallic plate in a U-letter shape, and a sliding portion  72  that slides on a fixed contact point  8  is positioned between a pair of side wall portions  71  disposed in parallel to each other to have an interval therebetween in the sliding direction (moving direction) of the movable contact point  7 . 
     In a side view, the sliding portion  72  is provided to connect end portions of the side wall portions  71  in the fixed contact point  8 -side to each other, and an outer shape of the sliding portion  72  is formed in an arc shape to put a central point (lower end  72   a ) of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding direction at the lowest position in the fixed contact point  8 -side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1C , the sliding portion  72  has a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from the downward side of the fixed contact point  8 -side, and two notch portions  721  are disposed on a lower surface of the sliding portion  72  in the fixed contact point  8 -side to have an interval therebetween in the longitudinal direction (right-left direction in the figure) of the sliding portion  72 . 
     The notch portions  721  are positioned to be symmetrical across a straight line Ya that passes through a center of the sliding portion  72  in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 ) and extends in the width direction of the sliding portion  72  (sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 ), and the sliding portion  72  is provided with abutment portions  722  against the fixed contact point  8  at the opposite side to the notch portions  721  with reference to the straight line Ya. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , each of the side wall portions  71  is provided in a direction perpendicular to the sliding portion  72 , and has the same thickness Wa. 
     In a side view, each of the side wall portions  71  extends linearly in a direction of being away from the sliding portion  72  and a height h1 of each of the side wall portions  71  from the lower end  72   a  of the sliding portion  72  is equal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1D , the side wall portions  71  of the movable contact point  7  are provided with a notch portion  710  formed in the central part therebetween in the longitudinal direction. The notch portion  710  extends downward to the sliding portion  72 -side from upper ends  711   a  in the side wall portions  71  at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72 , and a width W3 of the notch portion  710  is the narrower toward the downward side to the sliding portion  72 -side. 
     Each of both side portions (regulation portions  711  to be described later) in the side wall portion  71  across the notch portion  710  is inclined in a direction where a side edge  711   b  of the regulation portion  711  at the opposite side to the notch portion  710  is closer to a center line (axis line Xa) passing through the center of the movable contact point  7  in the longitudinal direction from the halfway position in the longitudinal direction, and the regulation portion  711  has a width W4 in the longitudinal direction that is narrower toward the upper end  711   a.    
     An abutment portion  73  to a spring Sp is provided on a lower part of the notch portion  710  in the sliding portion  72 -side to project upward from a lower side  710   a  of the notch portion  710 . 
     The abutment portion  73  is provided with base portions  731  extending upward from the central part of the lower side  710   a  in the notch portion  710  in the longitudinal direction, and an upper end side of the base portion  731  is bent in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7  to form a projecting portion  732 . 
     In the embodiment, the projecting portion  732  of the one side wall portion  71  and the projecting portion  732  of the other side wall portion  71  are disposed to oppose in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 , and tip surfaces  732   a  thereof form flat surfaces in parallel to each other. 
     In the projecting portions  732  of the movable contact point  7 , the tip surfaces  732   a  thereof abut against each other between the side wall portions  71  disposed to have an interval in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7  (refer to  FIG. 1E ), and the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding portion  72 -side is enhanced by the projecting portions  732  abutting against each other. 
     In consequence, since the rigidity strength to the side wall portion  71  in the sliding portion  72 -side is also enhanced, at the time the movable contact point  7  slides on the fixed contact point  8 , even if the stress by the sliding acts on the abutment portions  722  to the fixed contact point  8 , the side wall portions  71  are structured to be not easily inclined in a direction of being closer to each other by such stress. 
     Here, the movable contact point  7  slides in the right-left direction (one side and the other side in the sliding directions) in  FIG. 1B . Therefore, even if the movable contact point  7  slides in any of the one side and the other side, for preventing the movable contact point  7  from being deformed by the stress acting by the sliding, the projecting portion  732  of the one side wall portion  71  and the projecting portion  732  of the other side wall portion  71  are disposed to cause the tip surfaces  732   a  to abut against each other on the axis line Xa that passes through the center of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding direction and is in parallel to a rotation center axis (axis line X) of the movable board  5 . 
     Each of upper surfaces  732   b  of the projecting portions  732  is formed as an abutment surface of the spring Sp, and one end of the spring Sp in the longitudinal direction abuts against the abutment surfaces in the axis line Xa in parallel to the axis line X. 
     In the embodiment, the other end of the spring Sp in the longitudinal direction is attached to be inserted around a cylindrical spring holding portion  54  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) provided in the accommodation hole  53  of the contact point holding portion  52 , and the movable contact point  7  against which one end of the spring Sp abuts is operated to be capable of advancing/retreating in the axial direction of the axis line Xa. 
     In addition, both sides in the side wall portion  71  across the notch portion  710  in the longitudinal direction form the regulation portions  711  that regulate the movement of the movable contact point  7  in the longitudinal direction (in the right-left direction in  FIG. 1D ). When the movable contact point  7  moves in the longitudinal direction, in a point where the spring Sp positioned in the notch portion  710  abuts against the regulation portions  711 , the movement of the movable contact point  7  beyond that point is blocked. 
     According to the movable contact point  7  with this configuration, the projecting portions  732  abutting against each other enhance the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding portion  72 -side, and block the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of narrowing the interval therebetween. 
     Consequently, even if the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  is thin to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , the side wall portions  71  can be more stably held in a state of being disposed in parallel to each other than in a case of the conventional movable contact point  7 X, which can appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7  from being largely deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in a direction of approaching to each other. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7  from being incapable of being connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position. 
     As described above, in the movable contact portion  7  for the inhibiter switch structured such that the movable contact point  7  that makes pressure contact with the fixed contact point  8  is slid to cause the movable contact point  7  and the fixed contact point  8  to be connected to/disconnected in accordance with the position of the movable contact point  7 , the movable contact point  7  comprises the pair of side wall portions  71  that are disposed in parallel to each other to have an interval therebetween in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 , and the sliding portion  72  that connects end portions of the pair of side wall portions  71  in the fixed contact point  8 -side to each other and slides on the fixed contact point  8 . 
     The side wall portions  71  each have a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, and are provided with the notch portion  710  (notch) in the central part therebetween in the perpendicular direction, the notch portion  710  extending from the end portion at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72  to the vicinity of the sliding portion  72 . 
     The projecting portions  732  projecting in the sliding direction are provided in the lower side  710   a -side of the notch portion  710  in the sliding portion  72 -side such that the projecting portions  732  abut against each other between the side wall portions  71  in the sliding direction. 
     With this configuration, the projecting portions  732  abutting against each other between the pair of side wall portions  71  enhance the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding portion  72 -side, and block the inclination of the pair of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of narrowing the interval therebetween. 
     Consequently, even if the thickness of the sliding portion  72  is thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , it is possible to prevent the movable contact point  7  from being deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71 . 
     Therefore, it is possible to extend a period (lifetime of the movable contact point  7 ) for which the movable contact point  7  is connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion  72 . 
     Further, when the movable contact point  7  is deformed, in some cases the deformed movable contact point  7  falls down from the accommodation hole  53  formed in the contact point holding portion  52 , but occurrence of such an event can be properly prevented. 
     The upper end side of the base portion  731  extending upward from the central part of the lower side  710   a  in the notch portion  710  in the longitudinal direction is bent in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7  to form the projecting portion  732 , and the tip surfaces  732   a  of the projecting portions  732  form flat surfaces in parallel to each other. The projecting portions  732  are disposed to cause the tip surfaces  732   a  to abut against each other on the axis line Xa that passes through the center of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding direction and is in parallel to the rotation center axis of the movable board  5  (axis line X). 
     With this configuration, the projecting portions  732  abutting against each other enhance the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7  in the sliding portion  72 -side on which the stress acts at sliding. Therefore, even if the thickness of the sliding portion  72  is thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7  from being deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in a direction of approaching to each other. 
     Further, since the movable contact point  7  is formed of one sheet of metallic plate by press molding, the movable contact point can be manufactured less expensively than in a case of manufacturing the movable contact point by cutting a metallic, bar-shaped member, a cross section of which forms a shape of the movable contact point, by a predetermined width. 
     In addition, at the time of punching out the metallic plate, the base portion  731  and the projecting portion  732  can be formed using a material of a section of the notch portion  710  conventionally disposed of. In consequence, since a new material is not necessary for forming the abutment portion  73  provided with the base portion  731  and the projecting portion  732 , it is possible to appropriately prevent the deformation of the movable contact point  7  without increasing the manufacturing cost. 
     Hereinafter, an explanation will be made of a movable contact point according to a modification in the embodiment. 
       FIGS. 2A to 2D  are diagrams explaining a movable contact point  7 A according to the modification. 
     It should be noted that in  FIGS. 2A to 2D , components in common to those in the aforementioned movable contact point  7  are referred to as identical codes, and in the following explanation, a concrete explanation of the common components in the aforementioned movable contact point  7  will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A to 2C , the movable contact point  7 A according to the modification is provided with projecting portions  74  in a regulation portion  711  positioned in one of the side wall portions  71  and a regulation portion  711  positioned in the other thereof across a notch portion  710 . 
     The projecting portions  74  are provided to project in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 A from upper ends  711   a  of the regulation portions  711 , and the projecting portions  74  provided in the respective regulation portions  711  are structured such that tip surfaces  74   a  of the projecting portions  74  abut against each other between the regulation portions  711  opposing across a sliding portion  72 . 
     Therefore, in the movable contact point  7 A, the rigidity strength of the upper side in the side wall portion  71  (regulation portion  711 ) is enhanced by the projecting portions  74  abutting against each other to prevent the inclination of the upper sides of the side wall portions  71  opposing across the sliding portion  72  in the direction of approaching to each other. 
     Here, also in the movable contact point  7 A according to the modification, even if the movable contact point  7 A slides in any of the one side and the other side in the sliding direction, for preventing the movable contact point  7 A from being deformed by the stress acting by the sliding, the projecting portion  74  of the one side wall portion  71  and the projecting portion  74  of the other side wall portion  71  are disposed to cause the tip surfaces  74   a  to abut against each other on the axis line Xa that passes through the center of the movable contact point  7 A in the sliding direction and is in parallel to the rotation center axis of the movable board  5  (axis line X). 
     It should be noted that the movable contact point  7 A according to the modification is also formed by bending one sheet of metallic plate. Therefore, at the time of manufacturing the movable contact point  7 A, a length of the regulation portion  711  is made longer by a length h2 corresponding to the projecting portion  74  than the aforementioned movable contact point  7  in the metallic plate prior to being bent, and the lengthened section (refer to the numeral  74 ′ in  FIG. 2B ) of the tip side of the regulation portion  711  is bent to form the projecting portion  74 . 
     According to the movable contact point  7 A with this configuration, the projecting portions  74  abutting against each other between the pair of side wall portions  71  enhance the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7 A at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72  (the upper end  711   a -side of the regulation portion  711 ), and block the inclination of the side wall portions  71  (the regulations  711 ) in the direction of narrowing the interval therebetween to each other. 
     Consequently, even if the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  becomes thin to the extent of the thickness W1′ to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , the side wall portions  71  can be held in a state of being disposed in parallel to each other to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 A from being largely deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  (the regulation portions  711 ) in a direction of approaching to each other. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 A from being incapable of being connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position. 
     As described above, in the movable contact point  7 A according to the modification, the side wall portions  71  each have a predetermined length in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, and are provided with the notch portion  710  (notch) that is in the central part therebetween in the perpendicular direction to extend from the upper end  711   a  at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72  to the vicinity of the sliding portion  72 . 
     The projecting portions  74  are provided in one-side regulation portion  711  (side portion) and the other-side regulation portion  711  (side portion) of the side wall portions  71  in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular direction of the sliding direction) of the movable contact point  7 A across the notch portion  710 , and each of the projecting portions  74  is formed by bending the upper end side of the regulation portion  711  at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72  in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 A. 
     When the notch portion  710  is disposed between the side wall portions  71 , one-side regulation portion  711  and the other-side regulation portion  711  are likely to be easily deformed across the notch portion  710 . Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the entire movable contact point  7 A by providing the projecting portions  74  to the regulation portions  711  that are likely to be easily deformed. 
     Further, the projecting portions  74  that abut against each other block the regulation portions  711  opposing across the siding portion  72  from being inclined in the direction of narrowing the interval of each other. Therefore, even if the thickness of the sliding portion  72  is thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 A from being deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of approaching to each other. 
     Therefore, it is possible to extend a period (lifetime of the movable contact point  7 A) for which the movable contact point  7 A is connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion  72 . 
       FIGS. 3A to 3C  are diagrams explaining movable contact points according to modifications. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , in a movable contact point  7 B according to a modification, projecting portions  75  are provided in a regulation portion  711  positioned in one side and in a regulation portion  711  positioned in the other side in side wall portions  71  across a notch portion  710 . 
     The projecting portion  75  is provided with a base portion  751  extending in the width direction of the regulation portion  711  (direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 B) from a side edge  711   b  of the regulation portion  711 , and a tip side of the base portion  751  is bent in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 B to form a projecting portion  752 . 
     The projecting portions  752  in the movable contact points  7 B are structured such that tip surfaces thereof abut against each other between the side wall portions  71  (regulation portions  711 ) disposed to have an interval therebetween in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 B, and the rigidity strength of the upper side of the side wall portion  71  (regulation portion  711 ) in the movable contact point  7 B is enhanced by the projecting portions  752  abutting against each other. 
     According to the movable contact point  7 B with this configuration, the projecting portions  752  abutting against each other enhance the rigidity strength of the movable contact point  7 B at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72 , and block the inclination of the side wall portions  71  (the regulations  711 ) in the direction of narrowing the interval therebetween to each other. 
     Consequently, even if the thickness W1 of the sliding portion  72  becomes thin to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , the side wall portions  71  can be held in a state of being disposed in parallel to each other. 
     Thereby, it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 B from being largely deformed with an increasing inclination of the side wall portions  71  (the regulation portions  711 ) in a direction of approaching to each other. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 B from being incapable of being connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position. 
     In the movable contact point  7 B according to the modification, the side wall portions  71  each have a predetermined length in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, and are provided with the notch portion  710  (notch) that is in the central part therebetween in the perpendicular direction to extend from an upper end  711   a  at the opposite side to the sliding portion  72  to the vicinity of the sliding portion  72 . 
     The projecting portions  752  are provided in one-side regulation portion  711  (side portion) and the other-side regulation portion  711  (side portion) of the side wall portions  71  across the notch portion  710  in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the sliding direction) of the movable contact point  7 B. 
     Each of the projecting portions  752  is formed by folding back a tip side of the base portion  751  projecting in the longitudinal direction of the movable contact point  7 B from a side edge  711   b  in the regulation portion  711  at the opposite side to the notch portion  710  in the sliding direction of the movable contact point  7 B. 
     With this configuration also, the projecting portions  752  that abut against each other block the side wall portions  71  (regulation portions  711 ) opposing across the siding portion  72  from being inclined in the direction of narrowing the interval of each other. Therefore, even if the thickness of the sliding portion  72  is thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 B from being deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of approaching to each other. 
     Therefore, It is possible to extend a period (lifetime of the movable contact point  7 B) for which the movable contact point  7 B is connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion  72 . 
     It should be noted that as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , there may be provided a movable contact point  7 C or  7 D configured by a combination of the projecting portion  732  provided in the abutment portion  73  in the movable contact point  7  as shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1E  and the projecting portions  74  and  75  in the movable contact points  7 A and  7 B as described above. 
     With this configuration also, even if the thickness of the sliding portion  72  is thin by wear to lower the support strength to the side wall portions  71 , it is possible to appropriately prevent the movable contact point  7 C or  7 D from being deformed due to the inclination of the side wall portions  71  in the direction of approaching to each other. 
     Therefore, it is possible to extend a period (lifetime of the movable contact points  7 C and  7 D) for which the movable contact point  7 C or  7 D are connected to/disconnected from the fixed contact point  8  in an appropriate position without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion  72 . 
     It should be noted that the embodiment exemplifies a case of the rotary switch in which the movable contact point  7  moves in the circumferential direction around the rotary shaft (axis line X), but the present invention may be applied suitably for a movable contact point of a sliding type switch in which movable contact points advance/retreat linearly. 
     While only the selected embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiment according to the present invention is provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
       2  Pole board     3  Cover     4  Body case     5  Movable board     7 ,  7 A to  7 D,  7 X Movable contact point     8  Fixed contact point     9  Step portion     10  Inhibiter switch     24  Peripheral wall     51  Shaft portion     52  Contact point holding portion     53  Accommodation hole     54  Spring holding portion     71  Side wall portion     72  Sliding portion     72   a  Lower end     73  Abutment portion     74  projecting portion     74   a  Tip surface     75  Projecting portion     710  Notch portion     710   a  Lower side     711  Regulation portion     711   a  Upper end     711   b  Side edge     722  Abutment portion     731  Base portion     732  Projecting portion     732   a  Tip surface     732   b  Upper surface     751  Base portion     752  Projecting portion   P 1 , P 2  Abutment point   Sp Spring   X Axis line   Xa Axis line   Ya Straight line