Release device for directional indicator switch

Claim 2

A direction-indicating apparatus for use with cancelling pins secured to a steering axle and movable in an orbital path, comprising: a support member having a central bore for receiving said steering axle; an actuating member having a support axle and a steering axle bore; means for connecting said actuating member to said support member for movement relative thereto from a neutral position to one of two operating positions; said support member being provided with a recessed base portion adjacent one end thereof and a support bore adjacent the other end thereof for receiving said support axle of said actuating member, said support member also having a pair of engaging projections extending toward said recessed base portion; said means for connecting said actuating member to said support member including an elongated ratchet support member mounted on said actuating member at a position remote from said support axle and spring means urging said ratchet support member toward said axle bore; said ratchet support member being provided with a pair of projections extending towards said recessed base portion of the support member and adapted to engage with one of said engaging projections in accordance with movement of said actuating member into one of said operating positions for holding said actuating member in said one operating position; a pair of ratchets pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of said ratchet support member and operatively connected with each other by a spring connected therebetween for resiliently urging said ratchets into a position wherein one ratchet projects into the path of movement of one of the cancelling pins when the actuating member is in one of said operating positions, whereby said one ratchet is pushed by said one cancelling pin to release said ratchet support member from said one engaging projection during return motion of said steering axle to release said actuating member from said one operating position; and further spring means coacting between said support member and said actuating member for resiliently urging said actuating member toward said neutral position.

Claim 3

A directional indicating device adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationship to a steering axle, said axle having release pins mounted thereon for rotation with said steering axle and disposed for coaction with said indicating apparatus, said apparatus comprising: frame means having a bore therethrough for receiving therein said steering axle, said frame means having a pair of projections disposed adjacent one end thereof; an actuating member movablY supported on said frame means, said frame means and said actuating member having cooperating pivot means disposed adjacent the other end of said frame means for enabling said actuating member to pivotally swing relative to said frame means, said actuating member also having a central bore therein adapted to be substantially aligned with the bore formed in said frame means for enabling said steering axle to extend therethrough; coacting means disposed for engagement with said frame means and said actuating member for permitting relative movement therebetween, said coacting means permitting said actuating member to be angularly moved between two extreme operating positions, said coacting means including spring means normally resiliently urging said actuating member into a neutral position disposed between said two operating positions; an elongated support member movably mounted on said actuating member adjacent said one end of said frame means, and resilient means coacting between said support member and said actuating member for normally maintaining same in a determined position; first and second ratchets pivotally mounted on said support member adjacent the opposite ends thereof and biasing means coacting with said ratchets for normally maintaining said ratchets in a position whereby a portion of each of said ratchets projects inwardly toward said bore, said ratchets when said actuating member is in said neutral position being displaced radially outwardly from the path of movement of said release pins; projection means secured to said support member and disposed for coaction with the projections formed on said frame means when said actuating member is moved to one of said operating positions for releasably retaining said actuating member in said one operating position, one of said ratchets projecting inwardly to intersect the path of movement of one of the release pins when said actuating member is retained in said one operating position; and means, including said biasing means, coacting with said ratchet for enabling free pivotal movement of said ratchet when said one release pin contacts same and moves therepast to enable said actuating member to be maintained in said one operating position, said last-mentioned means including a fixed stop disposed in abutment with said ratchet for preventing free pivotal movement of said ratchet in the opposite direction whereby rotational movement of said one release pin in said opposite direction causes displacement of said support member against the urging of said resilient means whereby said projection means on said support member disengages said projection on said frame means, thereby permitting said spring means to return said actuating member to said neutral position.

Claim 4

A directional indicating device adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationship to a steering axle, said axle having release pins mounted thereon for rotation with said steering axle and disposed for coaction with said indicating apparatus, said apparatus comprising: frame means having a bore therethrough for receiving therein said steering axle, said frame means having a pair of projections disposed adjacent one end thereof; an actuating member movablY supported on said frame means, said frame means and said actuating member having cooperating pivot means disposed adjacent the other end of said frame means for enabling said actuating member to pivotally swing relative to said frame means, said actuating member also having a central bore therein adapted to be substantially aligned with the bore formed in said frame means for enabling said steering axle to extend therethrough; coacting means disposed for engagement with said frame means and said actuating member for permitting relative movement therebetween, said coacting means permitting said actuating member to be angularly moved between two extreme operating positions, said coacting means including spring means normally resiliently urging said actuating member into a neutral position disposed between said two operating positions; an elongated support member movably mounted on said actuating member adjacent said one end of said frame means, and resilient means coacting between said support member and said actuating member for normally maintaining same in a determined position; first and second ratchets pivotally mounted on said support member adjacent the opposite ends thereof and biasing means coacting with said ratchets for normally maintaining said ratchets in a position whereby a portion of each of said ratchets projects inwardly toward said bore, said ratchets when said actuating member is in said neutral position being displaced radially outwardly from the path of movement of said release pins; projection means secured to said support member and disposed for coaction with the projections formed on said frame means when said actuating member is moved to one of said operating positions for releasably retaining said actuating member in said one operating position, one of said ratchets projecting inwardly to intersect the path of movement of one of the release pins when said actuating member is retained in said one operating position; and means, including said biasing means, coacting with said ratchet for enabling free pivotal movement of said ratchet when said one release pin contacts same and moves therepast to enable said actuating member to be maintained in said one operating position, said last-mentioned means including a fixed stop disposed in abutment with said ratchet for preventing free pivotal movement of said ratchet in the opposite direction whereby rotational movement of said one release pin in said opposite direction causes displacement of said support member against the urging of said resilient means whereby said projection means on said support member disengages said projection on said frame means, thereby permitting said spring means to return said actuating member to said neutral position.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bore formed in said actuating member is elongated in one direction to enable said actuating member to angularly move relative to said steering axle and relative to said frame means, and said frame means and said actuating member having cooperating angular projections and slots formed therein with said spring means being disposed in said slots for resiliently urging said actuating member toward said neutral position, said slots being concentric with said pivot means.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support member and said pivot means are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the bore formed in said actuating member, and said support member being elongated in a direction substantially transverse to a central plane extending between said pivot means and said support member.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said support member has said ratchets pivotally disposed adjacent one side thereof, said ratchets being interconnected by a common spring for resiliently urging said ratchets in opposite rotational directions, and said projection means comprising a first pair of projections extending downwardly from the other side of said support member and disposed adjaCent the opposite ends of said support member for coacting with the pair of projections formed on said frame means to enable said actuating member and said support member to be releasably maintained in either of said operating positions, said support member also having a pair of pivot pins extending downwardly from said other side thereof and disposed for coaction with recesses formed in said actuating member for enabling said support member to pivotally move relative to said actuating member in opposition to the urging of said resilient means when said release pins release said actuating member from said operating position.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said resilient means includes a spring coacting between said actuating member and said support member, said spring engaging said support member approximately midway between said pair of pivot pins.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said support member also has stop members fixedly secured adjacent opposite ends thereof and disposed for coaction with said ratchets, said ratchets being normally resiliently urged in engagement with said stop members.