Patent ID: 6884954

Claim:
A switch apparatus, comprising: an operating knob having a knob-leg with a bifurcation formed in said knob-leg, the operating knob being supported so that the operating knob can be operated to rock; and a slide switch having an engagement portion that engages the bifurcation formed in the knob-leg; wherein when said operating knob is operated to rock, the engagement portion receives a force from the bifurcation through the rocking movement to operate the slide switch; wherein said slide switch has a limiting element that maintains the knob-leg in engagement with the engagement portion so that the knob-leg is prevented from disengaging from the engagement portion; wherein the limiting element is a limiting wall that opposes an end of the engagement portion and extends in a direction substantially parallel to a plane in which the knob-leg swings; wherein the limiting wall is spaced from an end of the engagement portion by a distance shorter than a width of the knob-leg; and wherein the engagement portion projects substantially normal to a plane in which the knob-leg swings and the limiting wall opposes a free end of the engagement portion.