IP Library Granted Patent US 8,546,710
Granted Patent B2
US 8,546,710 · App. 12/018,921 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Automatic transmission switch

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,546,710
App. No.
12/018,921
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic transmission switch includes a fixed member provided with a fixed-side contact, and a movable member provided with a movable-side contact. The movable-side contact includes an intermittent contact portion with respect to the fixed-side contact. The contact portion extends along a moving direction of the movable member. The movable member is connected to an automatic transmission, and if the movable member is turned according to a switching operation of a shift lever, the movable member brings the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact into contact with each other and separates them from each other. The movable-side contact is fixed to the movable member. The fixed member is provided with a coil spring which biases the fixed-side contact toward the movable-side contact.

Claims (18)

1. An automatic transmission switch comprising

a fixed member fixed to a vehicle body of an automobile,

a fixed-side contact provided on one surface of the fixed member,

a movable member which is opposed to the one surface of the fixed member and which is supported by the fixed member such that the movable member can turn around a turning axis perpendicular to the one surface,

and a movable-side contact provided on a surface of the movable member opposed to the fixed member,

in which one of the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact has an intermittent contact portion with respect to the other along a moving direction of the movable member, and the movable member is connected to an automatic transmission and turned according to a switching operation of a shift bar so that the movable member brings the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact into contact with each other and separates the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact from each other, wherein

the movable-side contact is fixed to the movable member,

the fixed member is provided with a spring member which biases the fixed-side contact toward the movable-side contact,

the spring member is a leaf spring,

the fixed-side contact has a contact which comes into contact with the movable side contact,

the leaf spring is interposed between the contact and the fixed member,

a portion of the movable member which comes into contact with the contact of the fixed-side contact is provided with an insulation rib made of insulation material,

the insulation rib has a width smaller than that of the contact of the fixed-side contact and intermittently projects along the moving direction of the movable member,

a pair of contact ribs being conductive and lower than the insulation rib projects from the movable side contact at a region thereof which comes into contact with the contact of the fixed-side contact and which is on both sides in a width direction of the insulation rib,

the contact simultaneously comes into contact with the pair of contact ribs when coming into contact with the pair of contact ribs, and

the insulation rib is positioned between the pair of contact ribs.

2. The automatic transmission switch according to claim 1 , wherein the movable-side contact and the movable member are integrally formed as one part.

3. The automatic transmission switch according to claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the movable-side contact with respect to the fixed-side contact is a flat surface.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Feb 13, 2012
From: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO.,LTD.,
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027697/0525 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 28, 2009
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
To: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022206/0574 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2008
From: ITONAGA, MASAFUMI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 020939/0859 →