Self canceller for a turn signal indicator

• US 4,859,816 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metro Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Metro Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US07/157,722
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.27-61.38, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 200/61.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/425 using a latching element for resetting a switching element

Abstract

A self-canceller for a turn signal indicator comprises the following features: (a) its body has a retaining element with three recesses formed therein; (b) the body is provided with a movable bracket capable of rotating; (c) a control lever is fastened to the movable bracket; (d) two side stoppers, a center stopper, and a spring housing are fastened to the movable bracket; (e) an engaging ball and a compression spring are contained in the spring housing; (f) a ratchet mount is provided between the center stopper and the compression spring; (g) the compression spring is supported by the engaging ball at one end and by the ratchet mount at the other end; (h) the engaging ball can be engaged with any of the three recesses of the body according to the rotary movement of the movable bracket; (i) two cancel ratchets are formed on the ratchet mount; and (j) when the cancel cam moving in the rotating direction of the control lever makes contact with either of the cancel ratchets, the ratchet mount can rotate about a point on the center stopper as a pivot against the compressing spring. When one of the cancel ratchets of the ratchet mount contacts and interferes with the cancel cam during the movement of the ratchet mount by the operation of the control lever, depending on the rotating position of the steering wheel, it is necessary to add only a very small force for compressing the compression spring, as opposed to the otherwise ordinary control force previously necessary, to operate the control lever against such interference.

Claims

1. A self-canceller for a turn signal indicator comprising:

a main body;

a retaining element attached to said main body, said retaining element having three recesses, and said three recesses including left, neutral, and right recesses for retaining an engaging ball in a left, neutral, and right position;

a movable bracket rotatably mounted on said main body, said movable bracket including a left stopper, a center stopper, and a right stopper, and said center stopper having a left and a right pivot means;

a compression spring housing spaced from said center stopper and attached to said movable bracket;

a compression spring in said compression spring housing;

an engaging ball in said compression spring housing and between said retaining element and said compression spring, said compression spring biasing said engaging ball against said retaining element for retaining said engaging ball in one of said left, neutral, and right recesses;

a ratchet mount between said compression spring housing and said center stopper, said compression spring biasing said ratchet mount against said center stopper, and said ratchet mount including a left turn and a right turn cancel ratchet;

a control lever attached to said movable bracket for rotating said movable bracket relative to said main body for moving said compression spring housing relative to said retaining element for disengaging said engaging ball from one of said three retaining element recesses for moving said engaging ball into another one of said three recesses; and

a cancel cam rotatably attached to said main body, said cancel cam being attachable to a rotatable steering wheel for rotation therewith, said cancel cam first engaging said left turn cancel ratchet for pivoting said ratchet mount about said left pivot means of said center stopper for compressing said compression spring when said engaging ball is retained in said left recess of said retaining element and a steering wheel is first rotated to the left from a neutral position, said cancel cam disengaging from said left turn cancel ratchet for causing said ratchet mount to return to its initial position when a steering wheel is rotated still further to the left, and said left turn cancel ratchet engaging said ratchet mount for moving said ratchet mount against said right stopper for moving said right stopper for moving said movable bracket to its initial position for moving said engaging ball to said neutral recess when a steering wheel is then rotated back in the opposite direction to the right.