Turn signal apparatus

A turn signal apparatus for indicating a turning direction of a vehicle, comprising:

• a frame mounted on a chassis of the vehicle;
• a turn lever having a bracket and a pair of actuating projections spacedly provided therebetween, and axially supported on said frame and rotatively manipulated by a driver from a neutral position to one direction or the other, said bracket having a guide means comprised of a guide recess and a guide surface;
• a ratchet which is supported between said frame and said guide means being interposed between said turn lever and a cancellation cam of said steering shaft to move along said guide surface of said guide means, one end of said ratchet being moved to the rotating path of said cancellation cam by the manipulation of said turn lever, said ratchet being subjected to a rotating force as said steering shaft is rotated in a returning direction;
• urging means attached to said frame;
• a pair of arms pivotally supported on said frame to receive a rotating force of said ratchet when said steering shaft is rotated in the returning direction, and thereby imparts the rotating force to said turn lever as a force for returning said turn lever to its neutral position, said arms and said ratchet urged in opposite directions by said urging means;
• and
• power boosting means for imparting the rotating force to said turn lever as a large rotating force, said power boosting means including said pair of arms, said actuating projections and said ratchet.

A turn signal apparatus capable of cancelling an indication of a change in the forward direction of a vehicle by the rotation of a steering wheel in a return direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame mounted on a chassis of a vehicle;
• a turn lever pivotally supported on said frame for rotation from a neutral position in one direction or the other in correspondence with the intended change in the forward direction of the vehicle;
• a ratchet which is interposed between said turn lever and a steering shaft, is pivotally supported on said frame, and is made capable of approaching or moving away from said steering shaft;
• a spring having opposite ends secured to said frame, an intermediate portion thereof being retained at said ratchet, said spring urging said ratchet toward a cancellation cam of said steering shaft so that said ratchet is rotated in the returning direction by the rotation of said steering shaft.
• guide means having a guide recess and a guide surface and associated with said turn lever and said ratchet, guide surface of said guide means out of a rotating path of said cancellation cam against an urging force when said turn lever is set in its neutral position;
• and
• an arm which is pivotally supported on said frame, an extended portion thereof being interposed between said turn lever and said ratchet, wherein said arm boosts the rotating force of said steering shaft in the return direction so as to transmit a rotating force as a force for returning said turn lever to its neutral position.