Auto-switch for power window

An auto-switch for use in a power window comprising:

• an operating knob supported by a shaft so as to swing freely, said operating knob to change over a window motor between forward rotation and reverse rotation depending on a direction of swing of the operating knob from a neutral position to enable a window to move down or up, the operating knob having clockwise and counter-clockwise located manual positions respectively, for rotating the window motor only while the operating knob is manually provided with an angle of swing within a predetermined value, and said operating knob also having an auto-position at least when pivoted clockwise for permitting the window motor to rotate continuously even if the operating knob is not manually pivoted when the angle of swing exceeds the predetermined value;
• a first swing member and a second swing member supported coaxially on opposite sides of the operating knob in a direction of the shaft and which are swingable together with or separately from the operating knob;
• engaging means for selectively engaging either one of the first and second swing members with the operating knob depending on a direction of swing thereof when the operating knob is swung either to one of the manual positions and the auto-position, and then swinging a selected swing member in a same direction as the operating knob, and thereafter enabling the operating knob to be returned alone to the neutral position, with a selected swing member left in a swinging condition;
• a first swing contact plate and a second swing contact plate, each having a generally V-shape, and mounted in parallel with each other to enable each of the swing members during movement to be brought into sliding contact therewith, the first and second swing contact plates being inclined opposite to each other when the operating knob and each of the swing members are located at neutral positions, when either one of the swing members is engaged with and swing together with the operating knob during pivoting of the operating knob, only the swing contact plate, with which a sliding member engaged with the operating knob is brought into sliding contact, is inclined reversely;
• a pair of fulcrum electrodes, each supporting an intermediate portion of each of the swing contact plates and being connected to each terminal of both poles of the window motor;
• a normally-open movable contact and a normally-closed movable contact provided on both ends of each of the swing contact plates;
• a first fixed contact located on a power supply side, said first fixed contact provided in opposed relationship to said normally-open movable contact of each swing contact plate and arranged to come into contact with the swing contact plate when a corresponding swing contact plate is inclined reversely;
• a second fixed contact located on a ground side, said second fixed contact provided in opposed relationship to said normally closed movable contact of each swing contact plate;
• locking means for mechanically holding the swing member in the swinging condition which is engaged with an swung together with the operating knobs by an engaging means when the operating knob is pivoted to the auto-position, the locking means comprising said sliding member connected to one of the swing members and slidably movable rectilinearly together with the swing member which is engaged therewith, a locking arm provided adjacent to said first and second swing contact plates, said locking arm extending in a direction at right angles to said sliding member and engageable with an engaging portion formed on the sliding member, a solenoid provided adjacent said operating knob, said solenoid for urging the locking arm in a direction to engage the locking arm with the sliding member, and a resilient member for biasing the locking arm in a direction to disengage the locking arm from the sliding member;
• and
• returning means for automatically returning the operating knob and each of the swing members from the swing positions to neutral positions, wherein during auto-operation, the normally-open movable contact of a corresponding swing contact plate is held mechanically in a closed condition.