Pressure detection switch and opening/closing apparatus for vehicle

An opening/closing apparatus for vehicle, comprising:

• a driving source to drive an opening/closing body provided in a vehicle;
• a control unit to drive and control the driving source;
• and
• a pressure detection switch to detect a foreign object between the body of the vehicle and the opening/closing body, the pressure detection switch being electrically connected to the control unit,
• wherein the control unit drives reversely or stops the driving source on detection of a signal from the pressure detection switch,
• the pressure detection switch further comprises:
• an outer electrode formed tubularly by a flexible conductor;
• an inner electrode formed linearly by a flexible conductor and accommodated and disposed in the outer electrode;
• a spacer member formed by an insulator and disposed helically between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to retain a gap between both of these electrodes;
• an inner lead wire disposed inside the inner electrode and electrically connected to the inner electrode;
• and
• an outer lead wire disposed inside the outer electrode and helically about the axis of the outer electrode, and electrically connected to the outer electrode, and
• the outer lead wire is disposed so as to be positioned on the opposite side of an spacer member with respect to an axis of the inner electrode.

A pressure detection switch formed cable-like and detecting a contact with the detection target, the pressure detection switch comprising:

• an outer electrode formed hollowly of conductive rubber;
• an inner electrode formed of conductive rubber and disposed inside the outer electrode;
• and
• a gap portion formed between the outer electrode and the inner electrode,
• wherein the gap portion is provided with at least one spacer member, which is constructed by a flexible insulator and helically arranged so as to continue longitudinally between the outer electrode and the inner electrode, and
• by this spacer member, the outer electrode and the inner electrode are retained isolated, and
• pressure is detected by a contact to mutual regions where the outer electrode and the inner electrode directly oppose each other in the gap portion.