Origin restoration mechanism for operating member and multi-direction input apparatus using the same

A combination of an origin restoration mechanism and an operating member, the combination comprising:

• the operating member operable to move in a direction away from a predetermined original position;
• and
• the origin restoration mechanism including:
• a base unit arranged in such a manner as to cross an axis of the operating member, the base unit having a first surface;
• a link mechanism provided on the first surface of the base unit and having a plurality of movable members, the movable members having distal end portions arranged in opposed relation to each other facing the operating member, the movable members being coupled such that the distal end portions thereof are movable toward the original position;
• and
• an urging device for moving the distal end portions of the plurality of the movable members toward the original position,
• wherein a plurality of urging forces of the urging device exerted through the plurality of movable members are exerted equally on the operating member and act on each other due to abutment of the distal end portions of all the movable members against the operating member located at the original position,
• wherein the link mechanism includes:
• an annular rotary unit provided on the first surface of the base unit rotatably around the axis of the operating member and
• said plurality of movable members further comprising rear end portions opposite the distal end portions, and intermediate portions provided between the distal end portions and the rear end portions, the rear end portions being rotatably coupled to the rotary unit and the intermediate portions being journaled rotatably in accordance with the rotation of the rotary unit around the axis of the operating member inside the rotary unit on the first surface of the base unit, and
• wherein the urging device urges the rotary unit in a predetermined peripheral direction, and the urging forces of the urging device cause respective transverse end surfaces of the distal end portions of the movable members to come into contact with different portions of an outer surface of the operating member located at the original position.