Direction indication mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014491-B2
Application number	US-201716345930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A bracket is rotatable between a neutral position and a direction indication position in response to an operation by a user. A ratchet is slidable between a position where the ratchet enters a rotating trajectory of a cancel cam mounted on a steering shaft of a vehicle and a position where the ratchet retracts from the rotating trajectory interlocking with rotation of the bracket. A first regulating member defines a guide groove that guides sliding of the ratchet that regulates displacement of the ratchet in a direction along the rotating trajectory. A second regulating member is provided on the ratchet and regulates displacement of the ratchet in a direction intersecting both a sliding direction of the ratchet and the direction along the rotating trajectory. A guide groove includes an open end which is opened toward the rotating trajectory.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A direction indication mechanism to be mounted on a vehicle, the direction indication mechanism comprising:
a rotating member which is rotatable between a neutral position and a direction indication position in response to an operation by a user;
a ratchet which is slidable between a position where the ratchet enters a rotating trajectory of a cancel cam mounted on a steering shaft of the vehicle and a position where the ratchet retracts from the rotating trajectory interlocking with rotation of the rotating member;
a first regulating member which defines a groove that guides sliding of the ratchet and that regulates displacement of the ratchet in a direction along the rotating trajectory; and
a second regulating member which is provided on the ratchet and which regulates displacement of the ratchet in a direction intersecting both a sliding direction of the ratchet and the direction along the rotating trajectory,
wherein one end of the groove is opened toward the rotating trajectory, and
wherein a protrusion which regulates displacement of the ratchet toward the rotating trajectory is arranged inside the groove.

2. The direction indication mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a moderation surface forming member which forms a moderation surface having at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion; and
a moderation piece which holds the rotating member at one of the neutral position and the direction indication position by being displaced along the moderation surface with the rotation of the rotating member,
wherein the moderation surface forming member and the first regulating member are integrally molded to be an integrally molded article.

Assignees

• Tokai Rika Co Ltd

Inventors

• Misaka Keiji
• ENDO Seisuke

Classifications

• B60Q1/425 Primary

  using a latching element for resetting a switching element · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• G05G1/04

  Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers · CPC title

• G05G5/05

  Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title