Turn indicator system for use in automobiles

In an automobile having first and second turn indicators which are actuated one at a time by a manually operable actuator means, and a turn indicator system for cancelling the actuated one of the first and second turn indicators when a steering wheel shaft of the automobile which has been rotated in one direction from its neutral position is returned towards the neutral position, said turn indicator system comprising:

• a plate member rotatably mounted on, and frictionally engaged to, said steering wheel shaft to cause said plate member to rotate together with said steering wheel shaft;
• a contact member rigidly connected to said plate member;
• first and second stop members disposed around said steering wheel shaft and spaced a predetermined angle from each other about a longitudinal axis of said steering wheel shaft, said contact member adapted to come into contact with said first and second stop members when said steering wheel is rotated in first and second directions, respectively, said contact member, when forced into contact with any one of the first and second stop members depending on the direction of rotation of the steering wheel shaft, being held motionless in engagement with the corresponding stop member while permitting the continued rotation of the steering wheel shaft;
• first and second switch means operatively associated with said first and second stop members, respectively, such that said first and second switch means are actuated when said contact member comes into contact with said first and second stop members, respectively;
• and
• an electrical circuit means coupled to said first and second switch means for cancelling said first turn indicator when said second switch means is actuated after at least one actuation of said first switch means, and for cancelling the second turn indicator when said first switch means is actuated after at least one actuation of the second switch means.

In an automobile having first and second turn indicators which are actuated one at a time by a manually operable actuator means, and a turn indicator system for cancelling the actuated one of the first and second turn indicators when a steering wheel shaft of the automobile which has been rotated in one direction from its neutral position is turned towards the neutral position, said turn indicator system comprising:

• a plate member rotatably mounted on, and frictionally engaged to, said steering wheel shaft to cause said plate member to rotate together with said steering wheel shaft;
• a contact member rigidly connected to said plate member;
• first and second stop members disposed around said steering shaft and spaced a predetermined angle from each other about a longitudinal axis of said steering wheel shaft, said contact member adapted to come into contact with said first and second stop members when said steering wheel is rotated in first and second directions, respectively, said contact member, when forced into contact with any one of the first and second stop members depending on the direction of rotation of the steering wheel shaft, being held motionless in engagement with the corresponding stop member while permitting the continued rotation of the steering wheel shaft;
• at least one engaging member provided on said steering wheel shaft;
• at least one engageable member provided on said plate member, said engaging member adapted to engage with said engageable member when said steering wheel shaft is rotated while said contact member is held motionless in engagement with the corresponding stop member for applying an additional rotating force to said plate member, said engaging member capable of being disengaged from and moved past, said engageable member, when said steering wheel shaft is forced to rotate, to permit the continued rotation of the steering wheel shaft;
• first and second switch means operatively associated with said first and second stop members, respectively, such that said first and second switch means are actuated when said engaging means applies said additional rotating force to said plate member while said contact member is held motionless in engagement with the corresponding stop member;
• and
• an electrical circuit means coupled to said first and second switch means for cancelling said first and second turn indicators when said second and first switch means, respectively, are actuated.