Seat switch assembly including a multiple position adjustment mechanism

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seat switch for use in a power seat.

2. Description of the Related Prior Art

As a conventional seat switch for a power seat provided in a vehicle, there is known a seat switch of a type which is shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

).

FIG. 16

(

a

) shows a switch knob

1

which is disposed in each of the two side portions of a vehicle power seat. Also, in

FIG. 16

(

a

), reference characters

2

,

3

and

4

respectively designate the operation positions of a front seat vertical switch operation shaft, a seat slide switch operation shaft, and a rear seat vertical switch operation shaft. In

FIGS. 16

(

a

) to (

c

) and in

FIGS. 15

(

a

) and (

b

), the left side thereof is assumed to be the front side of the vehicle, while the right side thereof is assumed to be the rear side of the vehicle.

If the switch knob

1

shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

) is operated in a direction of an arrow line A (in the back-and-forth direction thereof) shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

), then the seat slide switch operation shaft

3

is operated by the switch know

1

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the power seat

5

is driven by a drive motor (not shown) and is thereby moved in the back-and-forth direction thereof (in a direction of an arrow line a which is shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

)).

Also, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

), if the front side of the switch knob

1

is swung in the vertical direction (in a direction of an arrow line B shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

), then the front seat vertical switch operation shaft

2

is operated on by the switch knob

1

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the front seat surface of the power seat

5

is driven by a drive motor (not shown) and is thereby moved up or down in a direction of an arrow line b shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

). Also, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

), if the rear side of the switch knob

1

is swung in the vertical direction (in a direction of an arrow line C shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

), then the rear seat vertical switch operation shaft

4

is operated on by the switch knob

1

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the rear seat surface of the power seat

5

is driven due to the driving force of a drive motor (not shown) and is thereby moved up or moved down in a direction of an arrow line c shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

).

As described above, in the conventional structure, the operation directions of the switch knob

1

shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

) are made to correspond to the operation directions of the power seat

5

. And, since the switch knob of this type is capable of moving up and down the power seat

5

respectively in the front and rear seat surfaces thereof, the present switch knob is generally referred to as a switch knob of a seat vertical 4-way type.

On the other hand, as another conventional switch knob, there is known a switch knob

6

of a type which is shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

). In

FIG. 16

(

b

), reference character

7

designates the position of the fixed shaft of the switch knob

6

, while

2

and

3

respectively stand for the positions of the same operation shafts as in the above-mentioned conventional switch knob

1

.

If the switch knob

6

shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

) is operated in a direction of an arrow line A (in the back-and-forth direction thereof) shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

), then the seat slide switch operation shaft

3

is operated by the switch knob

6

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the power seat

5

is moved in the back-and-forth direction thereof (in the arrow line a direction shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

) due to the driving force of a drive motor (not shown).

Also, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

), if the front side of the switch knob

6

is swung in the vertical direction (in a direction of an arrow line B shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

)), then the switch knob

6

is swung about the fixed shaft

7

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the front seat surface of the power seat

5

is moved up or down in the vertical direction (in the arrow line c direction shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

)) due to the driving force of a drive motor (not shown). Since the switch knob

6

of this type is capable of moving up or down the power seat

5

only in one of the seat surfaces of the two end portions of the power seat (in this case, the seat surface of the front portion of the power seat) thereof, the switch knob is generally referred to as a switch knob of a seat vertical 2-way type.

Further, as an example of a switch knob of a seat vertical 2-way type, there is known a switch knob which is shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

). In this example, if a switch knob

8

shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

) is operated in a direction of an arrow line A shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

) (that is, in the back-and-forth direction thereof), then a seat slide switch operation shaft

3

is operated on by the switch knob

8

, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the power seat

5

is moved in the back-and-forth direction thereof (in the arrow line a direction shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

) due to the driving force of a drive motor (not shown). Also, as shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

), if the rear side of the switch knob

8

is swung in a direction of an arrow a line C shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

), then the switch knob

8

is swung about a fixed shaft

7

a

and a rear seat vertical operation shaft

4

is thereby operated on, with the result that, as shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

), the rear portion seat surface of the power seat

5

is moved up or down in the arrow line c direction shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

) due to the driving force of a drive motor (not shown).

As described above, the switch knobs

1

,

6

and

8

are all structured such that the portions of the switch knobs

1

,

6

and

8

to be operated are respectively allowed to correspond to the portions of the power seat

5

to be operated, while the operation directions of the portions of the switch knobs

1

,

6

and

8

to be operated are respectively allowed to correspond to the operation directions of the power seat

5

. The reason why the motion of the power seat and the motion of the switch knobs are allowed to correspond to each other is that, when an operator wants to move up or down a given portion of the power seat, if the operator operates the operation portion of the switch knob that is allowed to correspond to the given portion of the power seat, then the given portion of the power seat can be operated easily with no trouble.

Although the seat vertical movement adjusts the seat front portion surface or seat rear portion surface of the power seat

5

by the above-mentioned conventional switch knob, as shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

), there exists a need to move up or down the whole seat surface of the power seat

5

in a direction of an arrow line d shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

) (that is, in the vertical direction thereof). In this case as well, the motion of the power seat

5

requires using a switch knob of a seat vertical 2-way type and the operation of the switch knob must be executed in correspondence to the motion of the power seat

5

for the above-mentioned reason.

However, in the conventional switch knobs

6

and

8

of a seat vertical 2-way type, there arises a problem that the movements of the switch knobs

6

and

8

cannot be made to correspond to the motion of the power seat

5

shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

). That is, in the switch knob

6

shown in

FIG. 16

(

b

), the front portion of the switch knob

6

is operated in the arrow line B direction and, in the switch knob

8

shown in

FIG. 15

(

a

), the rear portion of the switch knob

8

is operated in the arrow line C direction: and, therefore, the movements of the switch knobs

6

and

8

are different from the motion of the power seat

5

shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

).

Also, when trying to dispose a switch knob in such a manner that the motion thereof is allowed to correspond to the motion of the power seat

5

the whole of which, as shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

), is movable in the vertical direction (in the arrow line d direction), it is necessary to dispose a seat vertical switch operation shaft which can be operated by means of the operation of the same switch knob; and, at the same time, it is also necessary to dispose a seat slide switch operation shaft which is sued to move the power seat

5

in the back-and-forth direction thereof. However, in this structure, differently from the conventional switch knobs

6

and

8

of a seat vertical 2-way type, there are not disposed the fixed shafts

7

and

7

a

; and, therefore, there arises a problem that the present switch knob cannot be fixed.

Further, depending on the types of vehicles, there is another request for development of a new type of seat switch which is structure din the following manner. That is, the new seat switch is capable of not only dealing with the above-mentioned motion of the power set

5

shown in

FIG. 15

(

b

) but also serving as the conventional switch knob

1

of a seat vertical 4-way type shown in

FIG. 16

(

a

) to thereby be above to deal with the motion of the power seat

5

shown in

FIG. 16

(

c

) (that is, the movements of the power seat

5

in the a, b and c directions), so that, in the new seat switch, some parts of the above-mentioned two types of seat switches can be used in common to thereby reduce the cost of the seat switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks found in the above-mentioned conventional seat switches. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a seat switch which can be used to operate not only a power seat of a seat vertical 4-way type but also a power seat of a seat vertical 2-way type, while allowing common use of some switch parts thereof in its two kinds of operations for dealing with the movements of the above two types of power seats to thereby be able to reduce the cost thereof, and also which can be operated in such directions that correspond to the movements of the above two types of power seats.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In attaining the above object, according to the invention there is provided a seat switch including a case main body, a first seat vertical switch, a seat slide switch and a second seat vertical switch respectively arranged within the case main body in this order, the seat switch comprising: a first operation member, when operated in a first operation direction, for switchingly driving the first seat vertical switch; a second operation member, when operated in a second operation crossing the first operation direction, for switchingly driving the seat slide switch; a third operation member disposed at the opposite position to the first operation member with the second operation member between them and, when operated in the same direction as the first operation member or in the first operation direction, for switchingly driving the second seat vertical switch; a restrict member disposed in the case main body and structured such that, when the first and third operation members are operated in the first operation direction, it permits the movements of the first and third operation members in the first operation direction and, when the second operation member is operated in the second operation direction, it prevents the movements of the first and third operation members in the second operation direction; and, a first operation knob member including first and third engaging portions respectively operationally connected to the first and third operation members as well as a second engaging portion operationally connected to the second operation member, the first and third engaging portions being structured such that, when operated in a first operation direction, they drive the first and third operation members respectively in the first operation direction and, when operated in a second operation direction, they are respectively moved with respect to the first and third operation members, and the second engaging portion being structured such that, when operated in a second operation direction, it drives the second operation member in the second operation direction and, when operated in a first operation direction, it is moved with respect to the second operation member.

Also, according to the invention, there is provided a seat switch including a case main body, a first seat vertical switch, a seat slide switch and a second seat vertical switch respectively arranged within the case main body, the seat switch comprising: a fourth operation member, when operated in a first operation direction, for switchingly driving the first seat vertical switch; a second operation member, when operated in a second operation crossing the first operation direction, for switchingly driving the seat slide switch; a restrict member disposed in the case main body and structured such that, when the fourth operation member is operated in the first operation direction, it permits the movement of the fourth operation member in the first operation direction and, when the second operation member is operated in the second operation direction, it prevents the movement of the fourth operation member in the second operation direction; and, a second operation knob member including a fourth engaging portion operationally connected to the fourth operation member as well as a fifth engaging portion operationally connected to the second operation member, the fourth engaging portion being structured such that, when operated in a first operation direction, it drives the fourth operation member in the first operation direction and, when operated in a second operation direction, it is moved with respect to the fourth operation member, and the fifth engaging portion being structured such that, when operated in a second operation direction, it drives the second operation member in the second operation direction and, when operated in a first operation direction, it is moved with respect to the second operation member.

In the present specification, referring in particular to the first operation direction, when a member is operated to move on an arbitrary straight line between the ends thereof, the first operation direction means two directions consisting of a direction in which the member moves one end of the straight line to the other end thereof, and a direction in which the member moves back from the other end to one end. That is, the first operation direction includes two mutually opposite directions, for example, upward and downward directions (vertical direction), right and left directions, and the like. Also, the second operation direction includes two mutually opposite directions in the same sense as the first operation direction.

Therefore, according to the invention when an operator wants to switch and operate the first seat vertical switch, the side of the first operation knob member where the first operation member is disposed may be operated in the firs operation direction (a going direction or a return direction). Due to this operation, the first operation member operationally connected to the first engaging portion is driving or moved in the first operation direction and, owing to the movement of the first operation member, the first seat vertical switch is switchingly operated. At the then time, since the second operation member is prevented by the restrict member from moving in the second operation direction, the second operation member is caused to stop at the then position and, therefore, the second engaging portion of the first operation knob member is moved with respect to the second operation member.

Also, when the operator wants to switchingly operate the second seat vertical switch, the side of the first operation knob member where the third operation member is disposed may be operated in the first operation direction (a going direction or a return direction). due to this operation, the third operation member operationally connected to the third engaging portion is driven or moved in the first operation direction and, owing to the movement of the third operation member, the third seat vertical switch is switchingly operated. At the then time, since the second operation member is prevented by the restrict member from moving in the second operation direction, the second operation member is caused to stop at the then position and, therefore, the second engaging portion of the first operation knob member is moved with respect to the second operation member.

Next, when the operator wants to switchingly operate the seat slide switch, the side of the first operation knob member where the second operation member is disposed may be operated in the second operation direction (a going direction or a return direction). Due to this operation, the second operation member operationally connected to the second engaging portion is driven or moved in the second operation direction and, owing to the movement of the second operation member, the set slide switch is switchingly operated. At the then time, since the first and third operation members are respectively prevented by the restrict member from moving in the second operation direction, the first and third operation members are respectively caused to stop at the then positions and, therefore, the first and third engaging portions of the first operation knob member is moved with respect to the first and third operation members.

According to the invention, when the operator wants to switch and operate the first seat vertical switch, the side of the second operation knob member where the fourth operation member is disposed may be operated in the first operation direction (a going direction or a return direction). Due to this operation, the fourth operation member operationally connected to the fourth engaging portion is driven or moved in the first operation direction and, owing to the movement of the fourth operation member, the first seat vertical switch is switchingly operated. At the then time, since the second operation member is prevented by the restrict member from moving in the second operation direction, the second operation member is caused to stop at the then position and, therefore, the fifth engaging portion of the second operation knob member is moved with respect to the second operation member.

Next, when the operator wants to switchingly operate the seat slide switch, the side of the second operation knob member where the second operation member is disposed may be operated in the second operation direction (a going direction or a return direction). Due to this operation, the second operation member operationally connected to the fifth engaging portion is driven or moved in the second operation direction and, owing to the movement of the second operation member, the seat slide switch is switched and operated. At the then time since the fourth operation member is prevented by the restrict member from moving in the second operation direction, the fourth operation member is caused to stop at the then position and, therefore, the fifth engaging portion of the second operation knob member is moved with respect to the fourth operation member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a section view of a unit of a first embodiment of a seat switch according to the invention;

FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the unit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a seat switch knob employed in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4

is an explanatory view of the mutual relation between the respective operation shafts and the seat switch knob in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5

is an explanatory view of the position relations between the respective switch portions of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6

is an explanatory view of the mutual relations between an operation body and the switch portions;

FIG. 7

is an electric circuit diagram employed in each of the switch portions;

FIG. 8

is an electric circuit diagram employed in each of the switch portions;

FIG. 9

is an electric circuit diagram employed in each of the switch portions;

FIG. 10

is a section view of a unit of a second embodiment of a seat switch according to the invention;

FIG. 11

is an exploded perspective view of the unit of the second embodiment;

FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a seat switch knob employed in the second embodiment;

FIG. 13

is an explanatory view of the mutual relations between the respective operation shafts and the sat switch knob in the second embodiment;

FIG. 14

is an explanatory view of the position relations between the respective switch portions of the second embodiment;

FIG. 15

(

a

) is an explanatory view of the operation directions of a conventional operation knob, and

FIG. 15

(

b

) is an explanatory view of the movement of the seat surface of a power seat; and,

FIG. 16

(

a

) is an explanatory view of the operation directions of a further conventional operation knob,

FIG. 16

(

b

) is an explanatory view of the operation directions of a still further conventional operation knob, and

FIG. 16

(

c

) is an explanatory view of the movement of the seat surface of a power seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Now, description will be given below of a first embodiment of a seat switch according to the invention with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

9

, that is, a seat switch of a seat vertical 4-way type for use in a power seat in which the front and rear portions of the seat surface thereof can be moved individually in the vertical direction.

FIG. 1

is a section view of a unit forming a seat switch unit according to a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG.

2

in an exploded perspective view of the present seat switch unit. In the following description, reference character X designates a forward direction, Y an upward direction, anti-X a backward direction, and anti-Y a downward direction, respectively. And, in the following embodiments, a first operation direction includes Y and anti-Y directions, where as a second operation direction includes X and anti-X directions. Therefore, the unit U is mounted on the lower side surface of a power seat (not shown) in such a manner that the left end portion thereof shown in

FIG. 1

provides the front portion thereof and the right end portion thereof shown in

FIG. 1

provides the rear portion thereof.

As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the unit U comprises a case main body

11

, a substrate

12

stored within the case main body

11

, a restriction plate

18

fixed to the case main body

11

in such a manner that it covers an opening formed on the surface side of the case main body

11

, and a rubber cover

19

disposed in such a manner that it covers the restriction plate

18

as well as the surface side of the case main body

11

. Also, the unit U further includes operation shafts

20

-

23

respectively for driving their associated switch portions

13

-

16

disposed in the substrate

12

, a seat switch knob

24

for operating the operation shafts

20

-

23

, and the like. The restriction plate

18

forms a restrict member.

The case main body

11

of the unit U is formed of insulating synthetic resin and is formed in a substantially square box shape. Within the case main body

11

, there is stored the substrate

12

, which includes a plurality of switch portions, from the bottom side of the case main body

11

, while the substrate

12

is fixed to the case main body

11

. On the substrate

12

, there are arranged a reclining switch portion

13

, a rear vertical switch portion

14

, a seat slide switch portion

15

and a front vertical switch portion

16

in this order from the front portion of the substrate

12

to the rear portion thereof.

The rear vertical switch portion

14

forms a second seat vertical switch. Also, the seat slide switch portion

15

forms a seat slide switch, and a front vertical switch portion

16

forms a first seat vertical switch.

Since it is in common to the respective switch portions

13

-

16

that they include a pair of opening and closing portions A and B respectively, the electrical structure of the reclining switch portion

13

will be firstly described and, with respect to the structure so the remaining switch portions, description will be given mainly of the portions thereof which are different from the structure of the reclining switch portion

13

. And, in the opening and closing portions of the respective switch portions

13

-

16

, A and B are added to the reference characters of the respective switch portions. In

FIGS. 7

to

9

, for the sake of explanation, in reference characters which designate the respective composing members, the reference characters of the respective switch portions are omitted and there are used only the reference characters of the respective composing members (for example,

13

A is expressed simply as A and a fixed contact

13

a

1

is expressed simply as a

1

).

The reclining switch portion

13

A includes a pair of opening and closing portion

13

A and

13

B. In

FIG. 1

, there is shown only the opening and closing portion

13

A, while the opening and closing portion

13

B is arranged parallel to the opening and closing portion

13

A on the vertical direction (Y direction) side of the sheet of FIG.

1

. Because the opening and closing portions

13

A and

13

B are the same in structure, description will be given below only of the structure of the opening and closing portion

13

A whereas the description of the structure of the opening and closing portion

13

B is omitted here.

The opening and closing portion

13

A is composed of a pair of fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

which are respectively fixed to the substrate

12

and arranged in the X direction and a movable contact

13

a

3

interposed between the two fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

. The pair of fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

, as shown in

FIG. 7

, are connected to a power source side terminal and a grounding terminal through the wiring that is formed within the substrate

12

.

The movable contact

13

a

3

is formed of a conductive metal member the central portion of which is bent formed in a V shape toward the bottom side of the case main body

11

, while two contact ends respectively located on both end portions thereof are bent in such a manner that they can be contacted with their associated fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

. Between the pair of fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

, a contact ring

17

is fixed to the substrate

12

. The contact ring

17

is fitted with the central portion of the movable contact

13

a

3

to support the same in such a manner that the central portion of the movable contact

13

a

3

can be freely swung along an arrow shown in

FIG. 1

; and, the contact ring

17

is always in contact with the movable contact

13

a

3

. And, the contact ring

17

is further connected to a connecting terminal (not shown) through a wiring such as a lead wire or the like formed in the substrate

12

.

In the restriction plate

18

, at a position thereof which corresponds to the reclining switch portion

13

, there is formed an elongated hole (not shown) extending in the X direction, while the reclining operation shaft

20

is projected externally through the elongated hole. In the inner end face of the reclining operation shaft

20

, there is formed a fitting cylindrical portion

25

. Within the fitting cylindrical portion

25

, there is fitted an operation body

26

. The operation body

27

includes a pair of projections

26

a

(in

FIG. 1

, only one of them is shown) which correspond to the respective movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

of the two opening and closing portions

13

A and

13

B. And, the operation body

26

is always pressed against the respective movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

of the two opening and closing portions

13

A and

13

B through a coiled spring

27

which is stored within the central portion of the operation body

26

and extends between the operation body

26

and fitting cylindrical portion

25

. The positions of the movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

are set so that, in a state where the reclining operation shaft

20

is not in operation, due to such pressing of the operation body

26

by the coiled spring

27

, the movable contact

13

a

3

is contacted with the fixed contact

13

a

2

and the movable contact

13

b

3

is contacted with the fixed contact

13

b

1

. Into the externally projected end portion of the reclining operation shaft

20

, there is fitted an operation knob (not shown).

The reclining switch portion

13

, as shown in

FIG. 7 and 8

, is electrically connected to a battery B and a reclining motor M

1

. That is, the two fixed contacts

13

a

1

and

13

a

2

of the opening and closing portion

13

A are respectively connected to the battery B and grounding conductor, while the two fixed contacts

13

b

2

and

13

b

1

of the opening and closing portion

13

B are respectively connected to the battery B and grounding conductor.

And, when the operation know (not shown) is not in operation, due to the energizing force of the coil spring

27

, the projections

26

a

of the operation body

26

are guided by the two inclined surfaces of the V-shaped movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

of the opening and closing portion

13

A and

13

B, so that the two projections

26

a

are respectively pressed against the central portions of the movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

are set so that, when the reclining operation shaft

20

is not in operation, the movable contact

13

a

3

is contacted with the fixed contact

13

a

2

and the movable contact

13

b

3

, as shown in

FIG. 7

, is contacted with the fixed contact

13

b

1

, the present unit U is held at an off position. In

FIG. 7

, a

1

, a

2

, b

1

and b

2

are respectively the fixed contacts of the opening and closing portions A and B.

Also, if the operation knob (not shown) is operated in the X direction against the energizing force of the coil spring

27

, then the projection

26

a

of the operation body

26

is pressed against one inclined surface (X-direction side inclined surface) of the V-shaped movable contact

13

a

3

of the opening and closing portion

13

A to thereby move the present inclined surface. As a result of this, the movable contact

13

a

3

, in more particular, the x-direction side contact end thereof, as shown in

FIG. 1

, is contacted with the fixed contact

13

a

1

(in

FIG. 8

, a

1

). Therefore, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the reclining motor M

1

to be connected to the present switch portion

13

is driven or rotated forwardly and, due to such forward rotation movement of the motor M

1

, the seat back (not shown) of the power seat is inclined forwardly.

On the other hand, in the unit U off position shown in

FIG. 7

, if the operation knob (not shown) is operated in the anti-X direction against the energizing force of the coil spring

27

, then the projection

26

b

of the operation body

26

is pressed against one inclined surface (anti-X-direction side inclined surface) of the V-shaped movable contact

13

b

3

of the opening and closing portion

13

B to thereby move the present inclined surface. As a result of this, the movable contact

13

b

3

, in more particular, the anti-X-direction side contact end thereof, as shown in

FIG. 1

, is contacted with the fixed contact

13

b

2

(in

FIG. 9

, b

2

). Therefore, as shown in

FIG. 9

, the reclining motor M

1

to be connected to the present switch portion

13

is driven or rotated reversely and, due to such reverse rotation of the motor M

1

, the seat back (not shown) of the power seat is inclined backwardly.

In

FIGS. 7

to

9

, reference character +B designates a battery power source which is to be carried on board a vehicle.

Next, description will be given below of the rear vertical switch portion

14

.

The present rear vertical switch portion

14

is different from the above-mentioned reclining switch portion

13

only in the operation direction thereof, and the electrical connection of the rear vertical switch portion

14

is similar to that of the reclining switch portion

13

. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted here and description will be given below mainly of the different structure thereof.

Now,

FIG. 5

is an explanatory view of the positional arrangement of the switch portions

14

to

16

. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 5

, the rear vertical switch portion

14

includes a pair of opening and closing portions

14

A and

14

B. The opening and closing portions

14

A and

14

B respectively include a pair of fixed contacts

14

a

1

and

14

a

2

and a pair of fixed contacts

14

b

1

and

14

b

2

which are respectively fixed to the substrate

12

and arranged in the Y direction, and movable contacts

14

a

3

and

14

b

3

which are respectively interposed between their associated two fixed contacts

14

a

1

and

14

a

2

as well as between two fixed contacts

14

b

1

and

14

b

2

. The pair of fixed contacts

14

a

1

and

14

a

2

, as shown in

FIG. 7

, are respectively connected to the power source side terminal and grounding conductor through the wiring formed in the substrate

12

. The shaped of the movable contacts

14

a

3

and

14

b

3

are the same as those of the above-mentioned movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

, while the contact ends of the movable contact

14

a

3

and

14

b

3

located on their respective two ends are respectively structured such that they can be contacted with and removed from their associated fixed contacts

14

a

1

and

14

a

2

.

Referring further to the structure of the movable contacts

14

a

3

and

14

b

3

, similarly to the previously described movable contacts

13

a

3

and

13

b

3

, the central portions thereof are fitted with supported by their respective contact rings (not shown) in such a manner that they can be swung freely along the Y direction. The contact rings are respectively connected to a connecting terminal (not shown) by wiring such as a lead wire or the like formed in the substrate

12

.

In the restriction plate

18

, at a position thereof which corresponds to the seat surface rear portion vertical switch portion

14

, there is formed an elongated hole

28

, while the rear seat surface operation shaft

21

is projected externally through the elongated hole

28

. In the inner end face of the rear seat surface operation shaft

21

, there is formed a fitting cylindrical portion

29

. Within the fitting cylindrical portion

29

, there is fitted an operation body

30

. In the respective side walls of the two end portions of the fitting cylindrical portion

29

, there are formed slits

29

a

in such a manner that they respectively extend through their associated end portion side walls of the fitting cylindrical portion

29

; and, within each of the slits

29

a