Direction indicator automatic return device

Claim 1

A direction indicator automatic return device for use in a motor vehicle comprising: a restoring cam, secured to a steering column in the motor vehicle, having a pair of cam lobes arranged on opposite sides of the steering column; a main body arranged concentrically around the steering column; and a movable bracket supported by said main body in concentric relation with the steering column for rotation about said steering column, said movable bracket including a curved peripheral outer portion, a pair of curved, cantilever-like ratchet arms spaced from an inner surface of said outer portion, and flexible holding means for holding said movable bracket into one of a left-turn, right-turn and neutral position, each of said pair having one end secured to said movable bracket to form a first gap between said ratchet arms and said inner surface over substantially the length of said ratchet arms and having a free end separated from said inner surface by a second smaller gap, each said ratchet arms having a triangular engagement portion disposed approximately in a central portion of each said ratchet arms and Said triangular engagement portion having a vertex facing said steering column, wherein, upon rotation of said movable bracket to one of a position indicating a left turn and a right turn, one of said triangular engagement portions comes into the circle of rotation of said cam lobes so that one of said cam lobes engages an oblique side face of said one triangular engagement portion during turning of said steering column such that said free end closes said second smaller gap and contacts said inner surface, thereby forming a centrally flexible beam that enables flexion of said ratchet arm to allow said cam lobe to pass over said triangular engagement portion.