Multidirectional input device

A multidirectional input device comprising:

• a frame;
• first and second interlock members disposed at right-angles to each other and turnably mounted in said frame;
• a control shaft having an axis oriented so as to intersect said first and second interlock members, wherein said control shaft passes through a slot in said first interlock member and is pivotally supported by said second interlock member so that said first and second interlock members are turned by a tilting operation of said control shaft and said control shaft is prevented from rotating about its axis;
• a bottom plate placed so as to intersect the axis of said control shaft;
• an operating member held by said control shaft so as to be moveable in a direction along the axis of said control shaft, said operating member comprising a bottom surface configured to slide along the bottom plate in response to the tilting operation of said control shaft;
• an urging member for elastically pressing the bottom surface of said operating member against said bottom plate;
• and
• electric parts operated via said first and second interlock members by the tilting operation of said control shaft,
• wherein said control shaft is provided with a shaft support portion and a cylindrical portion, said shaft portion being disposed along the axis of the control shaft and configured to movably engage a central portion of the operating member, said cylindrical portion being spaced away from said shaft support portion so as to form an interior area for holding said urging member, said urging member being disposed between an inner wall of said cylindrical portion and an outer wall of said shaft support portion, and
• wherein said control shaft and said operating member are spline-connected to each other so that said operating member is prevented from rotating about the axis of said control shaft and is prevented from rotating relative to said bottom plate during the tilting operation of the control shaft, the inner wall of the cylindrical portion being spline-connected with an outer wall of said operating member.