Patent ID: 6878887

Claim:
An anti-malfunction mechanism for at least a variable output device having an operating shaft adapted to be displaced under an external force and changing the output in accordance with the displacement of the operating shaft, the mechanism comprising: a mounting unit for mounting the variable output device thereon; at least an operating unit for receiving an operation of the user and transmitting the operation as the external force to the operating shaft; a holding member arranged in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device interposed therebetween; and an elasticity applier for elastically urging the operating unit; wherein the variable output device is mounted on the mounting unit with the operating shaft displaceable; wherein the operating unit is mounted on the operating shaft relatively movably along direction of the axis of the operating shaft, on the one hand, and in an operatively interlocked fashion along the direction of displacement of the operating shaft, on the other hand; wherein the operating unit is urged elastically by the elasticity applier in the direction away from the variable output device; wherein the holding member is provided with an operating hole, the holding member being arranged at a position in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device and the operating unit interposed therebetween; and wherein the operating unit elastically urged by the elasticity applier is brought into contact with the peripheral edge portion of the operating hole of the holding member in opposed relation with the operating hole.