Title of Invention	ROTARY SWITCH FOR USE IN DETECTING ORIENTATION
Abstract	A rotary switch 1 includes a housing 2 provided with a fixed contact point 41 and connected to the body frame, and a rotor 3 for holding a movable contact point 42 capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point 41, the rotor 3 rotatably attached to the housing 2 and connected to the stand. The rotor 3 having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor includes a metal-made sleeve 35 constituting an inner circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole. Further, radially outwardly protruding anti-rotation lug portions 35a are formed on the sleeve 35. The rotor 3 formed of a synthetic resin is partially inserted between the neighboring anti-rotation lug portions 35a. In other words, the anti-rotation lug portions 35a make contact with a surface of the rotor 3 opposite from a surface facing a head portion of the bolt so as to prevent the rotation of the sleeve 35 relative to the rotor 3.

Title of Invention

ROTARY SWITCH FOR USE IN DETECTING ORIENTATION

Abstract

A rotary switch 1 includes a housing 2 provided with a fixed contact point 41 and connected to the body frame, and a rotor 3 for holding a movable contact point 42 capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point 41, the rotor 3 rotatably attached to the housing 2 and connected to the stand. The rotor 3 having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor includes a metal-made sleeve 35 constituting an inner circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole. Further, radially outwardly protruding anti-rotation lug portions 35a are formed on the sleeve 35. The rotor 3 formed of a synthetic resin is partially inserted between the neighboring anti-rotation lug portions 35a. In other words, the anti-rotation lug portions 35a make contact with a surface of the rotor 3 opposite from a surface facing a head portion of the bolt so as to prevent the rotation of the sleeve 35 relative to the rotor 3.

Full Text	Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary switch. Background of the Invention Conventionally, there is known a rotary switch that includes a housing provided with a fixed contact point and a rotor having a movable contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing for rotation in such a direction as to cause the movable contact point to make contact with or separate from the fixed contact point (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-231094) . As shown in Fig. 9 by way of example, this kind of rotary switch 1 is attached to a coupling portion between a body frame B and a stand S in a two-wheeled vehicle and is used in detecting a standing state of the stand S. In other words, the rotary switch 1 keeps an engine from starting up when the stand S is in the standing state that the vehicle is parked, thereby preventing the vehicle from running while the stand S remains in the standing state. Specifically, the rotary switch 1 is provided with a housing 2 which includes a main body portion 21 for receiving a fixed contact point and a rotor (not shown) with a movable contact point, a wiring leading portion 22 from which electric cables C electrically connected respectively to the fixed contact point and the movable contact point is led to the outside, and a positioning portion 23 for interposing a positioning pin B1 protruding from the body frame B between itself and the wiring leading portion 22. The housing 2 is coupled to the body frame B in a state that the positioning pin Bl is interposed between the wiring leading portion 22 and the positioning portion 23. The rotor is connected to the stand S. If the stand S is rotated relative to the body frame B as indicated by an arrow A1, the rotor is also rotated relative to the housing 2 together with the stand S. The movable contact point is contacted with or separated from the fixed contact point depending on whether or not the stand S is in the standing state. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the stand S is provided with a stud S1 protruding in the same direction as the protruding direction of the positioning pin Bl of the body frame B. The positioning pin Bl of the body frame B and the stud S1 of the stand S are interconnected by means of a connecting spring SP formed as a tension coil spring. The stand S is maintained, by a tensile force of the connecting spring SP, in one of the standing state when the vehicle is parked and a retreated state when the vehicle runs. In this kind of rotary switch, the rotor may include a synthetic resin-made rotor body connected to the stand for rotation relative to the housing together with rotation of the stand with respect to the body frame, a metal plate-made movable contact member having a movable contact point, and a contact pressure spring arranged between the rotor body and the movable contact member for biasing the movable contact member with respect to the rotor body in such a direction as to press the movable contact point against a fixed contact point. In other words, the contact pressure between the movable contact point and the fixed contact point is secured by use of the contact pressure spring. In the rotary switch, the movable contact member has at least one interlocking lug that protrudes in the same direction as an axis about which the rotor rotates relative to the housing. The rotor body is provided with an interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted. The movable contact member is interlocked with the rotor body by fitting the interlocking lug into the interlocking hole. Conventionally, since the interlocking lug is formed by, e.g., an extruding work, the protruding size of the interlocking lug is restricted by the ductility of a material of the movable contact member. Such an inability to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug makes it impossible to increase the depth of the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole. Therefore, even after the contact pressure spring and the movable contact member are assembled to the rotor body, the interlocking lug may be released from the interlocking hole by a biasing force of the contact pressure spring. Thus, the movable contact member is apt to be separated from the rotor body, consequently reducing the ease of assembly. In this regard, use of a material with high ductility as the movable contact member would make it possible to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug to some extent. Since the material with high ductility shows a low wear resistance in most cases, however, use of such material leads to shortened lifespan. As an alternative construction, it would be possible to form the interlocking lug in the rotor body instead of forming it in the movable contact member, while the interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted is formed in the movable contact member. In this case, it is necessary for the interlocking lug to avoid physical interference with the housing or the fixed contact point. This makes it impossible to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug. Further, in the case of the rotor made of a molded synthetic resin product in an effort to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof, if the rotor is fixed to the stand with a bolt fitted through the rotor, it is highly likely that the rotor is broken due to excessive tightening of the bolt. Summary of the Invention In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a rotary switch capable of enhancing the ease of assembly and restraining breakage of a rotor which would otherwise be caused by the tightening of a bolt fitted through the rotor. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, including: a housing provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a direction as to change over the contact and separation of the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the stand is rotated relative to the body frame, the rotor having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor being attached to the stand by means of the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole. The rotor includes a metal-made sleeve constituting a circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole and a rotor body formed of a synthetic resin for holding the sleeve in place. With such configuration, the sleeve helps to increase mechanical strength, thereby restraining breakage of parts which would be caused when tightening the bolt. It is preferable that the sleeve is made of steel plated with nickel. With such configuration, use of nickel with a relatively high wear resistance ensures that the plated layer is hardly peeled off, thus keeping the anti-rust effect intact. In addition, the rotary switch further includes a tubular protection body, interposed between an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve and the rotor body, for covering the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve, the protection body made of a synthetic resin that exhibits an alkali resistance higher than that of the synthetic resin forming the rotor body. With such configuration, the protection body protects the rotor body from degradation which would otherwise be caused by alkaline liquid containing ambient water and hydroxyl radicals, the hydroxyl radicals generated by the ions that are emitted when the metal constituting the sleeve is rusted. It is preferable that the sleeve is provided with an anti-rotation portion that makes contact with a surface of the rotor body opposite from a surface facing a head portion of the bolt. With such configuration, as compared to a case that the anti-rotation portion is absent, the sleeve is prevented from rotating relative to the rotor body by the frictional force acting between the anti-rotation portion and the rotor body. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, including: a housing provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a direction as to change over the contact and separation of the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the stand is rotated relative to the body frame. The rotor includes a rotor body made of a synthetic resin and connected to the stand for rotation relative to the housing together with rotation of the stand relative to the body frame, a movable contact member formed of a metal plate, which holds the movable contact point, and contact pressure springs interposed between the rotor body and the movable contact member for biasing the movable contact member away from the rotor body in such a direction as to press the movable contact point against the fixed contact point. The movable contact member may have at least one interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to the housing, and the rotor body has at least one an interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted, so that the movable contact member is moved together with the rotor body by the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole, the interlocking lug being formed by a bending work. With such configuration, the interlocking lugs are formed by the bending work, so that it is possible to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lugs, as compared to a case that the interlocking lugs are formed by an extruding work. Therefore, the interlocking lugs are hardly removed from the corresponding interlocking holes in the assembling process, which enhances the ease of assembly. Brief Description of the Drawings The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a bottom view showing a rotary switch in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 1B is a section view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1A; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary switch shown in Figs. 1A and 1B; Fig. 3A is a bottom view showing an inner rotor of the rotary switch united with a sleeve block and Fig. 3B is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 3A; Fig. 4A is a bottom view showing a rotary switch in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4B is a section view taken along line A-A in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4A; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary switch shown in Figs. 4A and 4B; Fig. 6 is a top view illustrating a state that a movable contact member and a contact pressure spring are attached to an inner rotor of the rotary switch; Fig. 7 is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 6; Figs. 8A, 8B and 8C are respectively top, front and bottom views showing an outer rotor of the rotary switch united with a sleeve; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state-of- use of the rotary switch. Detailed Description of the Embodiments Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1A to Fig. 3B. As shown in Figs. 1A and 1B and Fig. 2, a rotary switch 1 of the present embodiment includes a housing 2 and a rotor 3 rotatably supported on the housing 2. The housing 2 has a fixed contact point 41 and the rotor 3 is provided with a movable contact point 42 that makes contact with or moves away from the fixed contact point 41 when the rotor 3 is rotated relative to the housing 2. In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" are defined on the basis of Fig. 1B. The housing 2 is formed of, e.g., a synthetic resin molded product, and includes a cylindrical main body portion 21 with a base wall, a wiring leading portion 22 and an positioning portion 23, the latter two of which are the same as those of the prior art example. The main body portion 21 has a downwardly opened accommodating recess portion 20 in which the rotor 3 is received in part. Positioning protrusions 22a and 23a that protrude upwardly and face with each other are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of the wiring leading portion 22 and the positioning portion 23. At least one fixed contact point 41 and a counterpart connection terminal 51 are held in place on the inner bottom surface of the accommodating recess portion 20. The fixed contact point 41 is formed of a metal plate arranged horizontally. The fixed contact point 41 is of an arc shape whose center is aligned with the rotational axis about which the rotor 3 rotates relative to the housing 2. In case of employing two or more fixed contact points 41, they have common inner and outer diameters. The counterpart connection terminal 51 is formed of a metal plate arranged horizontally. The counterpart connection terminal 51 is of an annular shape whose center is aligned with the rotational axis about which the rotor 3 rotates relative to the housing 2. The counterpart connection terminal 51 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the fixed contact point 41. An electric cable C is led to the outside from the wiring leading portion 22 of the housing 2. The electric cable C has core wires (not shown) that correspond to the fixed contact point 41 and the counterpart connection terminal 51 in a one-to-one correspondence relationship. Each of the core wires is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the fixed contact point 41 and the counterpart connection terminal 51. The rotor 3 includes a movable contact member 33 holding a movable contact point 42 in place, the movable contact member 33 being formed by punching and bending a metal plate; an inner rotor 31 received in the accommodating recess portion 20 and connected to the movable contact point 42 through the movable contact member 33; and an outer rotor 32 mechanically coupled to the inner rotor 31 and arranged inside and outside the accommodating recess portion 20. The inner rotor 31 and outer rotor 32 are made of synthetic resin, e.g., polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and are combined together to constitute a rotor body recited in the claims. As shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the inner rotor 31 includes a generally flat ring-shaped main body portion 31a, a cylindrical shaft portion 31b protruding from the center region of the main body portion 31a in upward and downward directions so as to bring the upper and lower spaces of the main body portion 31a into communication with each other, and a cylindrical coupling portion 31c protruding from the lower surface of the main body portion 31a. The movable contact member 33 is horizontally arranged on the upper side of the main body portion 31a in such a pattern as to surround the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The movable contact member 33 is provided with two interlocking lugs 33d arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to the rotational axis about which the movable contact member 33 rotates relative to the housing 2. The interlocking lugs 33d are formed to project downwardly by a bending work. The main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 has two vertically extending interlocking holes 31d formed in diametrically opposite positions with respect to the rotational axis (the center axis as viewed in a vertical direction) . The interlocking lugs 33d are respectively inserted into the interlocking holes 31d, so that the movable contact member 33 can be rotated together with the inner rotor 31. In this regard, the interlocking holes 31d are formed in the radial end portions of the main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31. As compared to a case that the interlocking holes 31d would be formed near the center axis of the inner rotor 31, the pressure imparted on the inner surfaces of the interlocking holes 31d during operation becomes smaller, which helps reduce the wear of relevant parts. In this connection, one set of the interlocking lug 33d and the interlocking hole 31d has a longitudinal width (a vertical dimension in Fig. 3A) greater than that of the other set, so that the interlocking lug 33d having the greater width cannot be fitted into the interlocking hole 31d having the smaller width. This prevents the movable contact member 33 from being attached to the inner rotor 31 in an inverted state. In the present embodiment, the interlocking lugs 33d are formed by the bending work. Therefore, it is easier to form the interlocking lugs 33d in different sizes as compared to a case that the interlocking lugs 33d are formed by an extruding work. Three contact pressure springs 39 each formed of a coil spring are arranged between the lower surface of the movable contact member 33 and the main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 at about 120 degree intervals when viewed from the bottom. The contact pressure springs 39 are received at their lower end portions within respective spring rest portions 31e formed in the upper surface of the main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and are brought into elastic contact with the lower surface of the movable contact member 33 at their upper end portions. Thus, the movable contact member 33 is biased upwardly away from the inner rotor 31. A movable contact point 42 is provided in one of three points on the upper surface of the movable contact member 33 that correspond to the contact pressure springs 39. In the remaining two points, two connection terminals 52 for making elastic contact with the counterpart connection terminal 51 are formed by an embossing work to protrude in an upward direction. In other words, the fixed contact point 41 that makes contact with the movable contact point 42 is electrically connected to the counterpart connection terminal 51 through the movable contact member 33. The contact pressure of the movable contact point 42 against the fixed contact point 41 and the contact pressure of the connection terminals 52 against the counterpart connection terminal 51 are maintained by the biasing force of the contact pressure springs 39. The outer rotor 32 includes a downwardly opened main body portion 32a with a base wall, a flange portion 32b radially outwardly extending from the lower end of the main body portion 32a and a connecting portion 32c downwardly protruding from the outer edge of the flange portion 32b, the connecting portion 32c having a "U"-like shape when viewed from the bottom. As shown in Fig. 1A and 1B, the outer rotor 3 2 is bonded to the inner rotor 31, e.g., by ultrasonic wave bonding or laser bonding, in a state that the main body portion 3 2a thereof is inserted into the coupling portion 31c of the inner rotor 31. A vertically extending insertion hole 32d for receiving the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31 is formed in the base wall of the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32. In this regard, four engaging lug portions 32e are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 to protrude radially outwardly at about 90 degree intervals. Four engaging groove portions 31f are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the coupling portion 31c of the inner rotor 31 in about 90 degree intervals. The engaging lug portions 32e are engaged with the engaging groove portions 31f, whereby the inner rotor 31 is prevented from rotating relative to the outer rotor 32. One set of the engaging lug portion 32e and the engaging groove portion 31f has a width greater than that of the remaining sets. Therefore, the engaging lug portions 32e are not allowed to engage with the engaging groove portions 31f unless they are combined in a specified manner. This helps prevent the inner rotor 31 from being attached to the outer rotor 32 in a wrong direction. In a state that the rotary switch 1 is attached to the body frame B, one end of the stand S pivotally attached to the body frame B is interposed between the opposite end extensions of the connecting portion 32c of the outer rotor 32. The other end (ground-contacting end) of the stand S is positioned on the right lower side in Fig. 1A and on the right side in Fig. 1B. When the stand S is rotated relative to the body frame B, the inner surface of the connecting portion 32c of the outer rotor 32 makes contact with the stand S and, therefore, the rotor 3 is rotated relative to the housing 2 together with the stand S, consequently changing over the contact and separation (namely, the contact point status) of the movable contact point 42 and each fixed contact point 41. A ring-shaped first oil seal 61 for preventing infiltration of rainwater or leakage of lubricant such as grease or the like through a gap between the rotor 3 and the housing 2 is arranged between the lower surface of the main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and the upper surface of the flange portion 32b of the outer rotor 32 within the accommodating recess portion 20. Furthermore, a metal-made annular sliding plate 63 is arranged between the main body- portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and the first oil seal 61 in order to reduce the friction between the inner rotor 31 and the first oil seal 61. A circular insertion hole 20a is formed in the center region of the bottom surface of the accommodating recess portion 2 0 to extend in a vertical direction. An annular surrounding protuberance 21a that surrounds the insertion hole 20a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2 to protrude upwardly. The insertion hole 20a has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 20a, so that the rotor 3 is pivotally supported on the housing 2. The direction of the rotational axis about which the rotor 3 rotates relative to the housing 2 is a vertical direction in Fig. 1B. A bolt (not shown) for attaching the rotor 3 to the stand S is fitted through the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The bolt is mechanically coupled to the stand S, e.g., by threadedly engaging with a thread hole formed in the stand S. The bolt is provided with a flange portion (not shown) having a size great enough not to be inserted into the insertion hole 20a. The flange portion of the bolt is surrounded by the surrounding protuberance 21a of the housing 2. The flange portion serves to prevent the bolt from falling from the rotor 3. A ring-shaped second oil seal 62, the axis of which extends in a vertical direction, for preventing infiltration of rainwater or leakage of lubricant through a gap between the rotor 3 and the housing 2 is arranged between the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 20a and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The second oil seal 62 is provided at its upper end with a radially outwardly protruding flange portion 62a. A positioning jut portion 62b is formed to protrude radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 62a and a positioning groove portion 21c is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2. The positioning jut portion 62b engages into the positioning groove portion 21c, so that the second oil seal 62 is prevented from rotating relative to the housing 2. A notch 21d communicating with the positioning groove portion 21c is formed in the surrounding protuberance 21a. The flange portion 62a of the second oil seal 62 is interposed between the lower surface of the flange portion of the bolt fitted through the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31 and the upper surface of the housing 2. A cylindrical tubular protuberance 21b surrounding the insertion hole 2 0a is formed on the inner bottom surface of the accommodating recess portion 20 to protrude downwardly. The counterpart connection terminal 51 and the fixed contact point 41 are insert-molded and held in place by the housing 2. The counterpart connection terminal 51 has an inner circumferential edge inserted into the tubular protuberance 21b. The fixed contact point 41 has a radial outer end portion inserted into the inner circumferential surface of the accommodating recess portion 20. In this regard, a cylindrical sleeve block 34 covering the inner surface of the shaft portion 31b is attached to the inner rotor 31. The sleeve block 34 includes a metal- made sleeve body 34a constituting the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve block 34 and a protection layer 34b covering the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve body 34a, the protection layer 34b being made of synthetic resin that exhibits an alkali resistance higher than that of the inner rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32. Examples of the protection layer 34b include polyamide-based synthetic resin and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) , both of which show a relatively high alkali resistance. In this connection, hydroxyl radicals may be generated in the ambient water, e.g., rainwater, by the ions emitted when the metal constituting the sleeve body 34a gets rusted. This would generate alkaline liquid that degrades the synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, it is possible for the protection layer 34b to restrain degradation of the inner rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32 which would otherwise caused by the alkaline liquid. The sleeve body 34a is formed of, e.g., steel plated with an anti-rust material. Use of nickel exhibiting a relatively high wear resistance as the anti-rust material is desirable in that the plated layer is seldom peeled off by the friction between the sleeve body 34a and the protection layer 34b, even if the sleeve body 34a is slid relative to the protection layer 34b and rotated together with a bolt during the course of tightening the bolt. The sleeve body 34a is integrated with the protection layer 34b by insert-molding. Similarly, the protection layer 34b is integrally formed with the inner rotor 31 by insert-molding. Groove portions 34c for inhibiting vertical displacement of the protection layer 34b relative to the sleeve body 34a are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve body 34a. Bulge portion 34d for inhibiting vertical displacement of the sleeve block 34 relative to the inner rotor 31 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the protection layer 34b. In the rotary switch as described above, the interlocking lugs 33d of the movable contact member 33 are formed by a bending work. This makes it possible to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug 33d, as compared to a case that the interlocking lug .33d would be formed by an extruding work. Therefore, the interlocking lugs 3 3d are hardly removed from the corresponding interlocking holes 31d in the assembling process, which makes it possible to enhance the ease of assembly. Further, with the configuration described above, the metal-made sleeve body 34a enhances mechanical strength of the sleeve block 34. Therefore, it becomes possible to restrain breakage of the sleeve block 34 which would otherwise occur when a fixing bolt is tightened to the stand S. Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical strength of the rotor is increased by the sleeve. In this connection, the sleeve is plated with an anti-rust material because the rotary switch is generally used in outdoor. (Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 4A to 8C. Figs. 4A to 4C show a rotary switch in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4A is a bottom view of the rotary switch, Fig. 4B is a section view taken along line A-A in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4A. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary switch shown in Figs. 4A to 4C. Fig. 6 is a top view illustrating a state that a movable contact member and a contact pressure spring are attached to an inner rotor of the rotary switch in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 6. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve body 34a is integrated with the protection layer 34b by insert-molding. Similarly, the protection layer 34b is integrally formed with the inner rotor 31 by insert-molding as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. However, in the second embodiment as described in later section, a sleeve 35 is integrally formed with a main body portion 32a of an outer rotor 32 by insert-molding. Further, there is provided a retainer rim portion 32h formed on an upper surface of the main body portion 32 of the outer rotor 32 in such as manner as to protrude upwardly. In the present embodiment, like parts as in the first embodiment will be designated by like reference numerals and redundant description thereof will be omitted. In the same manner of the first embodiment, the outer rotor 32, as shown in Fig. 8, includes a downwardly opened main body portion 32a with a base wall, a flange portion 32b radially outwardly extending from the lower end of the main body portion 32a and a connecting portion 32c downwardly protruding from the outer edge of the flange portion 32b, the connecting portion 32c having a "U"-like shape when viewed from the bottom. A cylindrical sleeve 35 through which the upper and lower sides of the outer rotor 32 communicate with each other is integrally formed with the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 by insert-molding. The sleeve 35 is formed of, e.g., steel plated with an anti-rust material such as nickel or the like. The sleeve 35 has a lower end surface generally flush with the inner bottom surface of the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 and an upper end portion protruding above the outer rotor 32. A cylindrical retainer rim portion 32h surrounding the lower end portion of the sleeve 35 is formed on the upper surface of the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 in such as manner as to protrude upwardly. As shown in Figs. 4A to 4C, the outer rotor 32 is bonded to the inner rotor 31, e.g., by ultrasonic wave bonding or laser bonding, in a state that the main body portion 32a thereof is inserted into the coupling portion 31c of the inner rotor 31 and the sleeve 35 is inserted into a shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The upper end of the sleeve 35 is flush with the upper end surface of the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. Further, an annular recess portion 31g receiving the retainer rim portion 32h of the outer rotor 32 is formed in a lower surface of the main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31. A bolt (not shown) for attaching the rotor 3 to the stand S is inserted through the sleeve 35. That is to say, a bolt insertion hole recited in the claims is formed inside the sleeve 35. The bolt is mechanically coupled to the stand S, e.g., by threadedly engaging with a thread hole formed in the stand S. The bolt is provided with a flange portion (not shown) having a size great enough not to be inserted into the insertion hole 20a. The flange portion of the bolt is surrounded by the surrounding protuberance 21a of the housing 2. The flange portion serves to prevent the bolt from falling from the sleeve 35. The flange portion 62a of the second oil seal 62 is interposed between the lower surface of the flange portion of the bolt inserted into the sleeve 35 and the upper surface of the housing 2. In this regard, eight radially outwardly protruding anti-rotation lug portions 3 5a are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the sleeve 3 5 at regular intervals along the circumferential direction of the sleeve 35. The outer rotor 32 is partially inserted between the circumferentially neighboring anti- rotation lug portions 35a. In other words, the anti- rotation lug portions 35a come into contact with the lower surface of the outer rotor 32, i.e., the opposite surface from the surface (upper surface) facing the head portion of the bolt. With such configuration, rotation of the sleeve 35 relative to the outer rotor 32 is restrained by the force acting between the anti-rotation lug portions 35a and the outer rotor 32. This helps prevent loss of the anti-rust plating effect for the sleeve 35 which would otherwise be caused by the friction between the inner rotor 31 or the outer rotor 3 2 and the sleeve 35. In case, the sleeve 35 is insert-molded with the inner rotor 31 as in the first embodiment, the inner rotor 31, receives the torque of the sleeve 35 during the process of tightening the bolt fitted through the sleeve 35, so that stresses are generated in the coupling portion of the inner rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32 which shows relatively low mechanical strength in the rotor 3. However, in the present embodiment, this is not the case because the sleeve 35 is insert-molded with the outer rotor 32. While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. WE CLAIM: 1. A rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising: a housing provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a direction as to change over the contact and separation of the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the stand is rotated relative to the body frame, the rotor having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor being attached to the stand by means of the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole, wherein the rotor includes a metal-made sleeve constituting a circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole and a rotor body formed of a synthetic resin for holding the sleeve in place. 2. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a movable contact member formed of a metal plate, which holds the movable contact point, and contact pressure springs interposed between the rotor body and the movable contact member for biasing the movable contact member away from the rotor body in such a direction as to press the movable contact point against the fixed contact point, wherein the movable contact member has at least one interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to the housing, and wherein the rotor body has at least one interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted, so that the movable contact member is moved together with the rotor body by the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole, the interlocking lug being formed by a bending work. 3. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made of steel plated with nickel. 4. The rotary switch of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a tubular protection body, interposed between an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve and the rotor body, for covering the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve, the protection body made of a synthetic resin that exhibits an alkali resistance higher than that of the synthetic resin forming the rotor body. 5. The rotary switch of claim 4, wherein the rotor body of the rotor includes an inner rotor received in the accommodating recess portion of the housing and an outer rotor mechanically coupled to the inner rotor and arranged inside and outside the accommodating recess portion, and wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the protection body and the inner rotor by insert-molding. 6. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is provided with an anti-rotation portion that makes contact with a surface of the rotor body opposite from a surface facing a head portion of the bolt. 7. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the rotor body of the rotor includes an inner rotor received in the accommodating recess portion of the housing and an outer rotor mechanically coupled to the inner rotor and arranged inside and outside the accommodating recess portion, and wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the outer rotor by insert-molding. 8. A rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising: a housing provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a direction as to change over the contact and separation of the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the stand is rotated relative to the body frame, wherein the rotor includes a rotor body made of a synthetic resin and connected to the stand for rotation relative to the housing together with rotation of the stand relative to the body frame, a movable contact member formed of a metal plate, which holds the movable contact point, and contact pressure springs interposed between the rotor body and the movable contact member for biasing the movable contact member away from the rotor body in such a direction as to press the movable contact point against the fixed contact point, wherein the movable contact member has at least one interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to the housing, and wherein the rotor body has at least one interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted, so that the movable contact member is moved together with the rotor body by the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole, the interlocking lug being formed by a bending work. A rotary switch 1 includes a housing 2 provided with a fixed contact point 41 and connected to the body frame, and a rotor 3 for holding a movable contact point 42 capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed contact point 41, the rotor 3 rotatably attached to the housing 2 and connected to the stand. The rotor 3 having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor includes a metal-made sleeve 35 constituting an inner circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole. Further, radially outwardly protruding anti-rotation lug portions 35a are formed on the sleeve 35. The rotor 3 formed of a synthetic resin is partially inserted between the neighboring anti-rotation lug portions 35a. In other words, the anti-rotation lug portions 35a make contact with a surface of the rotor 3 opposite from a surface facing a head portion of the bolt so as to prevent the rotation of the sleeve 35 relative to the rotor 3.

Full Text

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary switch.
Background of the Invention
Conventionally, there is known a rotary switch that
includes a housing provided with a fixed contact point and a
rotor having a movable contact point, the rotor rotatably
attached to the housing for rotation in such a direction as
to cause the movable contact point to make contact with or
separate from the fixed contact point (see, e.g., Japanese
Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-231094) .
As shown in Fig. 9 by way of example, this kind of
rotary switch 1 is attached to a coupling portion between a
body frame B and a stand S in a two-wheeled vehicle and is
used in detecting a standing state of the stand S. In other
words, the rotary switch 1 keeps an engine from starting up
when the stand S is in the standing state that the vehicle
is parked, thereby preventing the vehicle from running while
the stand S remains in the standing state.
Specifically, the rotary switch 1 is provided with a
housing 2 which includes a main body portion 21 for
receiving a fixed contact point and a rotor (not shown) with

a movable contact point, a wiring leading portion 22 from
which electric cables C electrically connected respectively
to the fixed contact point and the movable contact point is
led to the outside, and a positioning portion 23 for
interposing a positioning pin B1 protruding from the body
frame B between itself and the wiring leading portion 22.
The housing 2 is coupled to the body frame B in a state that
the positioning pin Bl is interposed between the wiring
leading portion 22 and the positioning portion 23.
The rotor is connected to the stand S. If the stand S
is rotated relative to the body frame B as indicated by an
arrow A1, the rotor is also rotated relative to the housing
2 together with the stand S. The movable contact point is
contacted with or separated from the fixed contact point
depending on whether or not the stand S is in the standing
state.
In the example shown in Fig. 9, the stand S is
provided with a stud S1 protruding in the same direction as
the protruding direction of the positioning pin Bl of the
body frame B. The positioning pin Bl of the body frame B
and the stud S1 of the stand S are interconnected by means
of a connecting spring SP formed as a tension coil spring.
The stand S is maintained, by a tensile force of the
connecting spring SP, in one of the standing state when the
vehicle is parked and a retreated state when the vehicle
runs.

In this kind of rotary switch, the rotor may include a
synthetic resin-made rotor body connected to the stand for
rotation relative to the housing together with rotation of
the stand with respect to the body frame, a metal plate-made
movable contact member having a movable contact point, and a
contact pressure spring arranged between the rotor body and
the movable contact member for biasing the movable contact
member with respect to the rotor body in such a direction as
to press the movable contact point against a fixed contact
point. In other words, the contact pressure between the
movable contact point and the fixed contact point is secured
by use of the contact pressure spring.
In the rotary switch, the movable contact member has
at least one interlocking lug that protrudes in the same
direction as an axis about which the rotor rotates relative
to the housing. The rotor body is provided with an
interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted.
The movable contact member is interlocked with the rotor
body by fitting the interlocking lug into the interlocking
hole.
Conventionally, since the interlocking lug is formed
by, e.g., an extruding work, the protruding size of the
interlocking lug is restricted by the ductility of a
material of the movable contact member. Such an inability
to increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug
makes it impossible to increase the depth of the

interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole.
Therefore, even after the contact pressure spring and the
movable contact member are assembled to the rotor body, the
interlocking lug may be released from the interlocking hole
by a biasing force of the contact pressure spring. Thus,
the movable contact member is apt to be separated from the
rotor body, consequently reducing the ease of assembly.
In this regard, use of a material with high ductility
as the movable contact member would make it possible to
increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug to some
extent. Since the material with high ductility shows a low
wear resistance in most cases, however, use of such material
leads to shortened lifespan.
As an alternative construction, it would be possible
to form the interlocking lug in the rotor body instead of
forming it in the movable contact member, while the
interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted
is formed in the movable contact member. In this case, it
is necessary for the interlocking lug to avoid physical
interference with the housing or the fixed contact point.
This makes it impossible to increase the protruding size of
the interlocking lug.
Further, in the case of the rotor made of a molded
synthetic resin product in an effort to reduce the
manufacturing cost thereof, if the rotor is fixed to the
stand with a bolt fitted through the rotor, it is highly

likely that the rotor is broken due to excessive tightening
of the bolt.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the foregoing, the present invention
provides a rotary switch capable of enhancing the ease of
assembly and restraining breakage of a rotor which would
otherwise be caused by the tightening of a bolt fitted
through the rotor.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a rotary switch for use in
detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body
frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, including: a housing
provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the
body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point
capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed
contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing,
the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a
direction as to change over the contact and separation of
the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the
stand is rotated relative to the body frame, the rotor
having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is
inserted, the rotor being attached to the stand by means of
the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole.
The rotor includes a metal-made sleeve constituting a

circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole and a
rotor body formed of a synthetic resin for holding the
sleeve in place.
With such configuration, the sleeve helps to increase
mechanical strength, thereby restraining breakage of parts
which would be caused when tightening the bolt.
It is preferable that the sleeve is made of steel
plated with nickel.
With such configuration, use of nickel with a
relatively high wear resistance ensures that the plated
layer is hardly peeled off, thus keeping the anti-rust
effect intact.
In addition, the rotary switch further includes a
tubular protection body, interposed between an outer
circumferential surface of the sleeve and the rotor body,
for covering the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve,
the protection body made of a synthetic resin that exhibits
an alkali resistance higher than that of the synthetic resin
forming the rotor body.
With such configuration, the protection body protects
the rotor body from degradation which would otherwise be
caused by alkaline liquid containing ambient water and
hydroxyl radicals, the hydroxyl radicals generated by the
ions that are emitted when the metal constituting the sleeve
is rusted.
It is preferable that the sleeve is provided with an

anti-rotation portion that makes contact with a surface of
the rotor body opposite from a surface facing a head portion
of the bolt.
With such configuration, as compared to a case that
the anti-rotation portion is absent, the sleeve is prevented
from rotating relative to the rotor body by the frictional
force acting between the anti-rotation portion and the rotor
body.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a rotary switch for use in
detecting the orientation of a stand with respect to a body
frame of a two-wheeled vehicle, including: a housing
provided with a fixed contact point and connected to the
body frame; and a rotor for holding a movable contact point
capable of making contact with and separating from the fixed
contact point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing,
the rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a
direction as to change over the contact and separation of
the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the
stand is rotated relative to the body frame.
The rotor includes a rotor body made of a synthetic
resin and connected to the stand for rotation relative to
the housing together with rotation of the stand relative to
the body frame, a movable contact member formed of a metal
plate, which holds the movable contact point, and contact
pressure springs interposed between the rotor body and the

movable contact member for biasing the movable contact
member away from the rotor body in such a direction as to
press the movable contact point against the fixed contact
point.
The movable contact member may have at least one
interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a
rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to
the housing, and the rotor body has at least one an
interlocking hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted,
so that the movable contact member is moved together with
the rotor body by the interlocking lug fitted into the
interlocking hole, the interlocking lug being formed by a
bending work.
With such configuration, the interlocking lugs are
formed by the bending work, so that it is possible to
increase the protruding size of the interlocking lugs, as
compared to a case that the interlocking lugs are formed by
an extruding work. Therefore, the interlocking lugs are
hardly removed from the corresponding interlocking holes in
the assembling process, which enhances the ease of assembly.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying

drawings, in which:
Fig. 1A is a bottom view showing a rotary switch in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
and Fig. 1B is a section view taken along line A-A in Fig.
1A;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary
switch shown in Figs. 1A and 1B;
Fig. 3A is a bottom view showing an inner rotor of the
rotary switch united with a sleeve block and Fig. 3B is a
section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 3A;
Fig. 4A is a bottom view showing a rotary switch in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 4B is a section view taken along line A-A in Fig. 4A
and Fig. 4C is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig.
4A;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary
switch shown in Figs. 4A and 4B;
Fig. 6 is a top view illustrating a state that a
movable contact member and a contact pressure spring are
attached to an inner rotor of the rotary switch;
Fig. 7 is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig.
6;
Figs. 8A, 8B and 8C are respectively top, front and
bottom views showing an outer rotor of the rotary switch
united with a sleeve; and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state-of-

use of the rotary switch.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof.
(First Embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to Figs. 1A to Fig. 3B.
As shown in Figs. 1A and 1B and Fig. 2, a rotary
switch 1 of the present embodiment includes a housing 2 and
a rotor 3 rotatably supported on the housing 2. The housing
2 has a fixed contact point 41 and the rotor 3 is provided
with a movable contact point 42 that makes contact with or
moves away from the fixed contact point 41 when the rotor 3
is rotated relative to the housing 2. In the following
description, the terms "upper" and "lower" are defined on
the basis of Fig. 1B.
The housing 2 is formed of, e.g., a synthetic resin
molded product, and includes a cylindrical main body portion
21 with a base wall, a wiring leading portion 22 and an
positioning portion 23, the latter two of which are the same
as those of the prior art example. The main body portion 21
has a downwardly opened accommodating recess portion 20 in
which the rotor 3 is received in part. Positioning

protrusions 22a and 23a that protrude upwardly and face with
each other are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of
the wiring leading portion 22 and the positioning portion 23.
At least one fixed contact point 41 and a counterpart
connection terminal 51 are held in place on the inner bottom
surface of the accommodating recess portion 20. The fixed
contact point 41 is formed of a metal plate arranged
horizontally. The fixed contact point 41 is of an arc shape
whose center is aligned with the rotational axis about which
the rotor 3 rotates relative to the housing 2. In case of
employing two or more fixed contact points 41, they have
common inner and outer diameters.
The counterpart connection terminal 51 is formed of a
metal plate arranged horizontally. The counterpart
connection terminal 51 is of an annular shape whose center
is aligned with the rotational axis about which the rotor 3
rotates relative to the housing 2. The counterpart
connection terminal 51 has an outer diameter smaller than
the inner diameter of the fixed contact point 41.
An electric cable C is led to the outside from the
wiring leading portion 22 of the housing 2. The electric
cable C has core wires (not shown) that correspond to the
fixed contact point 41 and the counterpart connection
terminal 51 in a one-to-one correspondence relationship.
Each of the core wires is electrically connected to the
corresponding one of the fixed contact point 41 and the

counterpart connection terminal 51.
The rotor 3 includes a movable contact member 33
holding a movable contact point 42 in place, the movable
contact member 33 being formed by punching and bending a
metal plate; an inner rotor 31 received in the accommodating
recess portion 20 and connected to the movable contact point
42 through the movable contact member 33; and an outer rotor
32 mechanically coupled to the inner rotor 31 and arranged
inside and outside the accommodating recess portion 20. The
inner rotor 31 and outer rotor 32 are made of synthetic
resin, e.g., polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and are
combined together to constitute a rotor body recited in the
claims.
As shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the inner rotor 31
includes a generally flat ring-shaped main body portion 31a,
a cylindrical shaft portion 31b protruding from the center
region of the main body portion 31a in upward and downward
directions so as to bring the upper and lower spaces of the
main body portion 31a into communication with each other,
and a cylindrical coupling portion 31c protruding from the
lower surface of the main body portion 31a.
The movable contact member 33 is horizontally arranged
on the upper side of the main body portion 31a in such a
pattern as to surround the shaft portion 31b of the inner
rotor 31. The movable contact member 33 is provided with
two interlocking lugs 33d arranged in diametrically opposite

positions with respect to the rotational axis about which
the movable contact member 33 rotates relative to the
housing 2. The interlocking lugs 33d are formed to project
downwardly by a bending work. The main body portion 31a of
the inner rotor 31 has two vertically extending interlocking
holes 31d formed in diametrically opposite positions with
respect to the rotational axis (the center axis as viewed in
a vertical direction) . The interlocking lugs 33d are
respectively inserted into the interlocking holes 31d, so
that the movable contact member 33 can be rotated together
with the inner rotor 31.
In this regard, the interlocking holes 31d are formed
in the radial end portions of the main body portion 31a of
the inner rotor 31. As compared to a case that the
interlocking holes 31d would be formed near the center axis
of the inner rotor 31, the pressure imparted on the inner
surfaces of the interlocking holes 31d during operation
becomes smaller, which helps reduce the wear of relevant
parts.
In this connection, one set of the interlocking lug
33d and the interlocking hole 31d has a longitudinal width
(a vertical dimension in Fig. 3A) greater than that of the
other set, so that the interlocking lug 33d having the
greater width cannot be fitted into the interlocking hole
31d having the smaller width. This prevents the movable
contact member 33 from being attached to the inner rotor 31

in an inverted state. In the present embodiment, the
interlocking lugs 33d are formed by the bending work.
Therefore, it is easier to form the interlocking lugs 33d in
different sizes as compared to a case that the interlocking
lugs 33d are formed by an extruding work.
Three contact pressure springs 39 each formed of a
coil spring are arranged between the lower surface of the
movable contact member 33 and the main body portion 31a of
the inner rotor 31 at about 120 degree intervals when viewed
from the bottom. The contact pressure springs 39 are
received at their lower end portions within respective
spring rest portions 31e formed in the upper surface of the
main body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and are brought
into elastic contact with the lower surface of the movable
contact member 33 at their upper end portions. Thus, the
movable contact member 33 is biased upwardly away from the
inner rotor 31.
A movable contact point 42 is provided in one of three
points on the upper surface of the movable contact member 33
that correspond to the contact pressure springs 39. In the
remaining two points, two connection terminals 52 for making
elastic contact with the counterpart connection terminal 51
are formed by an embossing work to protrude in an upward
direction. In other words, the fixed contact point 41 that
makes contact with the movable contact point 42 is
electrically connected to the counterpart connection

terminal 51 through the movable contact member 33. The
contact pressure of the movable contact point 42 against the
fixed contact point 41 and the contact pressure of the
connection terminals 52 against the counterpart connection
terminal 51 are maintained by the biasing force of the
contact pressure springs 39.
The outer rotor 32 includes a downwardly opened main
body portion 32a with a base wall, a flange portion 32b
radially outwardly extending from the lower end of the main
body portion 32a and a connecting portion 32c downwardly
protruding from the outer edge of the flange portion 32b,
the connecting portion 32c having a "U"-like shape when
viewed from the bottom.
As shown in Fig. 1A and 1B, the outer rotor 3 2 is
bonded to the inner rotor 31, e.g., by ultrasonic wave
bonding or laser bonding, in a state that the main body
portion 3 2a thereof is inserted into the coupling portion
31c of the inner rotor 31. A vertically extending insertion
hole 32d for receiving the shaft portion 31b of the inner
rotor 31 is formed in the base wall of the main body portion
32a of the outer rotor 32.
In this regard, four engaging lug portions 32e are
formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body
portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 to protrude radially
outwardly at about 90 degree intervals. Four engaging
groove portions 31f are formed in the inner circumferential

surface of the coupling portion 31c of the inner rotor 31 in
about 90 degree intervals.
The engaging lug portions 32e are engaged with the
engaging groove portions 31f, whereby the inner rotor 31 is
prevented from rotating relative to the outer rotor 32. One
set of the engaging lug portion 32e and the engaging groove
portion 31f has a width greater than that of the remaining
sets. Therefore, the engaging lug portions 32e are not
allowed to engage with the engaging groove portions 31f
unless they are combined in a specified manner. This helps
prevent the inner rotor 31 from being attached to the outer
rotor 32 in a wrong direction.
In a state that the rotary switch 1 is attached to the
body frame B, one end of the stand S pivotally attached to
the body frame B is interposed between the opposite end
extensions of the connecting portion 32c of the outer rotor
32. The other end (ground-contacting end) of the stand S is
positioned on the right lower side in Fig. 1A and on the
right side in Fig. 1B. When the stand S is rotated relative
to the body frame B, the inner surface of the connecting
portion 32c of the outer rotor 32 makes contact with the
stand S and, therefore, the rotor 3 is rotated relative to
the housing 2 together with the stand S, consequently
changing over the contact and separation (namely, the
contact point status) of the movable contact point 42 and
each fixed contact point 41.

A ring-shaped first oil seal 61 for preventing
infiltration of rainwater or leakage of lubricant such as
grease or the like through a gap between the rotor 3 and the
housing 2 is arranged between the lower surface of the main
body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and the upper surface
of the flange portion 32b of the outer rotor 32 within the
accommodating recess portion 20. Furthermore, a metal-made
annular sliding plate 63 is arranged between the main body-
portion 31a of the inner rotor 31 and the first oil seal 61
in order to reduce the friction between the inner rotor 31
and the first oil seal 61.
A circular insertion hole 20a is formed in the center
region of the bottom surface of the accommodating recess
portion 2 0 to extend in a vertical direction. An annular
surrounding protuberance 21a that surrounds the insertion
hole 20a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2 to
protrude upwardly. The insertion hole 20a has an inner
diameter greater than the outer diameter of the shaft
portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The shaft portion 31b of
the inner rotor 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 20a,
so that the rotor 3 is pivotally supported on the housing 2.
The direction of the rotational axis about which the rotor 3
rotates relative to the housing 2 is a vertical direction in
Fig. 1B.
A bolt (not shown) for attaching the rotor 3 to the
stand S is fitted through the shaft portion 31b of the inner

rotor 31. The bolt is mechanically coupled to the stand S,
e.g., by threadedly engaging with a thread hole formed in
the stand S. The bolt is provided with a flange portion
(not shown) having a size great enough not to be inserted
into the insertion hole 20a. The flange portion of the bolt
is surrounded by the surrounding protuberance 21a of the
housing 2. The flange portion serves to prevent the bolt
from falling from the rotor 3.
A ring-shaped second oil seal 62, the axis of which
extends in a vertical direction, for preventing infiltration
of rainwater or leakage of lubricant through a gap between
the rotor 3 and the housing 2 is arranged between the inner
circumferential surface of the insertion hole 20a and the
outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 31b of
the inner rotor 31.
The second oil seal 62 is provided at its upper end
with a radially outwardly protruding flange portion 62a. A
positioning jut portion 62b is formed to protrude radially
outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the
flange portion 62a and a positioning groove portion 21c is
formed on the upper surface of the housing 2. The
positioning jut portion 62b engages into the positioning
groove portion 21c, so that the second oil seal 62 is
prevented from rotating relative to the housing 2. A notch
21d communicating with the positioning groove portion 21c is
formed in the surrounding protuberance 21a. The flange

portion 62a of the second oil seal 62 is interposed between
the lower surface of the flange portion of the bolt fitted
through the shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31 and the
upper surface of the housing 2.
A cylindrical tubular protuberance 21b surrounding the
insertion hole 2 0a is formed on the inner bottom surface of
the accommodating recess portion 20 to protrude downwardly.
The counterpart connection terminal 51 and the fixed contact
point 41 are insert-molded and held in place by the housing
2. The counterpart connection terminal 51 has an inner
circumferential edge inserted into the tubular protuberance
21b. The fixed contact point 41 has a radial outer end
portion inserted into the inner circumferential surface of
the accommodating recess portion 20.
In this regard, a cylindrical sleeve block 34 covering
the inner surface of the shaft portion 31b is attached to
the inner rotor 31. The sleeve block 34 includes a metal-
made sleeve body 34a constituting the inner circumferential
surface of the sleeve block 34 and a protection layer 34b
covering the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve
body 34a, the protection layer 34b being made of synthetic
resin that exhibits an alkali resistance higher than that of
the inner rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32. Examples of the
protection layer 34b include polyamide-based synthetic resin
and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) , both of which show a
relatively high alkali resistance.

In this connection, hydroxyl radicals may be generated
in the ambient water, e.g., rainwater, by the ions emitted
when the metal constituting the sleeve body 34a gets rusted.
This would generate alkaline liquid that degrades the
synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, it is possible
for the protection layer 34b to restrain degradation of the
inner rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32 which would otherwise
caused by the alkaline liquid.
The sleeve body 34a is formed of, e.g., steel plated
with an anti-rust material. Use of nickel exhibiting a
relatively high wear resistance as the anti-rust material is
desirable in that the plated layer is seldom peeled off by
the friction between the sleeve body 34a and the protection
layer 34b, even if the sleeve body 34a is slid relative to
the protection layer 34b and rotated together with a bolt
during the course of tightening the bolt.
The sleeve body 34a is integrated with the protection
layer 34b by insert-molding. Similarly, the protection
layer 34b is integrally formed with the inner rotor 31 by
insert-molding. Groove portions 34c for inhibiting vertical
displacement of the protection layer 34b relative to the
sleeve body 34a are formed in the outer circumferential
surface of the sleeve body 34a. Bulge portion 34d for
inhibiting vertical displacement of the sleeve block 34
relative to the inner rotor 31 are formed on the outer
circumferential surface of the protection layer 34b.

In the rotary switch as described above, the
interlocking lugs 33d of the movable contact member 33 are
formed by a bending work. This makes it possible to
increase the protruding size of the interlocking lug 33d, as
compared to a case that the interlocking lug .33d would be
formed by an extruding work. Therefore, the interlocking
lugs 3 3d are hardly removed from the corresponding
interlocking holes 31d in the assembling process, which
makes it possible to enhance the ease of assembly.
Further, with the configuration described above, the
metal-made sleeve body 34a enhances mechanical strength of
the sleeve block 34. Therefore, it becomes possible to
restrain breakage of the sleeve block 34 which would
otherwise occur when a fixing bolt is tightened to the stand
S.
Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present
invention, the mechanical strength of the rotor is increased
by the sleeve. In this connection, the sleeve is plated with
an anti-rust material because the rotary switch is generally
used in outdoor.
(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to Figs. 4A to 8C.
Figs. 4A to 4C show a rotary switch in accordance with
the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4A is a
bottom view of the rotary switch, Fig. 4B is a section view

taken along line A-A in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C is a section
view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4A. Fig. 5 is an exploded
perspective view of the rotary switch shown in Figs. 4A to
4C.
Fig. 6 is a top view illustrating a state that a
movable contact member and a contact pressure spring are
attached to an inner rotor of the rotary switch in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a section view taken along line B-B in Fig. 6.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the
sleeve body 34a is integrated with the protection layer 34b
by insert-molding. Similarly, the protection layer 34b is
integrally formed with the inner rotor 31 by insert-molding
as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. However, in the second
embodiment as described in later section, a sleeve 35 is
integrally formed with a main body portion 32a of an outer
rotor 32 by insert-molding.
Further, there is provided a retainer rim portion 32h
formed on an upper surface of the main body portion 32 of
the outer rotor 32 in such as manner as to protrude upwardly.
In the present embodiment, like parts as in the first
embodiment will be designated by like reference numerals and
redundant description thereof will be omitted.
In the same manner of the first embodiment, the outer
rotor 32, as shown in Fig. 8, includes a downwardly opened
main body portion 32a with a base wall, a flange portion 32b
radially outwardly extending from the lower end of the main

body portion 32a and a connecting portion 32c downwardly
protruding from the outer edge of the flange portion 32b,
the connecting portion 32c having a "U"-like shape when
viewed from the bottom.
A cylindrical sleeve 35 through which the upper and
lower sides of the outer rotor 32 communicate with each
other is integrally formed with the main body portion 32a of
the outer rotor 32 by insert-molding. The sleeve 35 is
formed of, e.g., steel plated with an anti-rust material
such as nickel or the like. The sleeve 35 has a lower end
surface generally flush with the inner bottom surface of the
main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32 and an upper end
portion protruding above the outer rotor 32.
A cylindrical retainer rim portion 32h surrounding the
lower end portion of the sleeve 35 is formed on the upper
surface of the main body portion 32a of the outer rotor 32
in such as manner as to protrude upwardly.
As shown in Figs. 4A to 4C, the outer rotor 32 is
bonded to the inner rotor 31, e.g., by ultrasonic wave
bonding or laser bonding, in a state that the main body
portion 32a thereof is inserted into the coupling portion
31c of the inner rotor 31 and the sleeve 35 is inserted into
a shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. The upper end of
the sleeve 35 is flush with the upper end surface of the
shaft portion 31b of the inner rotor 31. Further, an annular
recess portion 31g receiving the retainer rim portion 32h of

the outer rotor 32 is formed in a lower surface of the main
body portion 31a of the inner rotor 31.
A bolt (not shown) for attaching the rotor 3 to the
stand S is inserted through the sleeve 35. That is to say,
a bolt insertion hole recited in the claims is formed inside
the sleeve 35. The bolt is mechanically coupled to the
stand S, e.g., by threadedly engaging with a thread hole
formed in the stand S. The bolt is provided with a flange
portion (not shown) having a size great enough not to be
inserted into the insertion hole 20a. The flange portion of
the bolt is surrounded by the surrounding protuberance 21a
of the housing 2. The flange portion serves to prevent the
bolt from falling from the sleeve 35.
The flange portion 62a of the second oil seal 62 is
interposed between the lower surface of the flange portion
of the bolt inserted into the sleeve 35 and the upper
surface of the housing 2.
In this regard, eight radially outwardly protruding
anti-rotation lug portions 3 5a are formed on the outer
circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the
sleeve 3 5 at regular intervals along the circumferential
direction of the sleeve 35. The outer rotor 32 is partially
inserted between the circumferentially neighboring anti-
rotation lug portions 35a. In other words, the anti-
rotation lug portions 35a come into contact with the lower
surface of the outer rotor 32, i.e., the opposite surface

from the surface (upper surface) facing the head portion of
the bolt.
With such configuration, rotation of the sleeve 35
relative to the outer rotor 32 is restrained by the force
acting between the anti-rotation lug portions 35a and the
outer rotor 32. This helps prevent loss of the anti-rust
plating effect for the sleeve 35 which would otherwise be
caused by the friction between the inner rotor 31 or the
outer rotor 3 2 and the sleeve 35.
In case, the sleeve 35 is insert-molded with the inner
rotor 31 as in the first embodiment, the inner rotor 31,
receives the torque of the sleeve 35 during the process of
tightening the bolt fitted through the sleeve 35, so that
stresses are generated in the coupling portion of the inner
rotor 31 and the outer rotor 32 which shows relatively low
mechanical strength in the rotor 3. However, in the present
embodiment, this is not the case because the sleeve 35 is
insert-molded with the outer rotor 32.
While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation
of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled
vehicle, comprising:
a housing provided with a fixed contact point and
connected to the body frame; and
a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of
making contact with and separating from the fixed contact
point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the
rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a
direction as to change over the contact and separation of
the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the
stand is rotated relative to the body frame, the rotor
having a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is
inserted, the rotor being attached to the stand by means of
the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole,
wherein the rotor includes a metal-made sleeve
constituting a circumferential surface of the bolt insertion
hole and a rotor body formed of a synthetic resin for
holding the sleeve in place.
2. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the rotor
further includes a movable contact member formed of a metal
plate, which holds the movable contact point, and
contact pressure springs interposed between the rotor

body and the movable contact member for biasing the movable
contact member away from the rotor body in such a direction
as to press the movable contact point against the fixed
contact point,
wherein the movable contact member has at least one
interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a
rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to
the housing, and
wherein the rotor body has at least one interlocking
hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted, so that the
movable contact member is moved together with the rotor body
by the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole,
the interlocking lug being formed by a bending work.
3. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
made of steel plated with nickel.
4. The rotary switch of any one of claims 1 to 3, further
comprising a tubular protection body, interposed between an
outer circumferential surface of the sleeve and the rotor
body, for covering the outer circumferential surface of the
sleeve, the protection body made of a synthetic resin that
exhibits an alkali resistance higher than that of the
synthetic resin forming the rotor body.
5. The rotary switch of claim 4, wherein the rotor body

of the rotor includes an inner rotor received in the
accommodating recess portion of the housing and an outer
rotor mechanically coupled to the inner rotor and arranged
inside and outside the accommodating recess portion, and
wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the
protection body and the inner rotor by insert-molding.
6. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
provided with an anti-rotation portion that makes contact
with a surface of the rotor body opposite from a surface
facing a head portion of the bolt.
7. The rotary switch of claim 1, wherein the rotor body
of the rotor includes an inner rotor received in the
accommodating recess portion of the housing and an outer
rotor mechanically coupled to the inner rotor and arranged
inside and outside the accommodating recess portion, and
wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the outer
rotor by insert-molding.
8. A rotary switch for use in detecting the orientation
of a stand with respect to a body frame of a two-wheeled
vehicle, comprising:
a housing provided with a fixed contact point and
connected to the body frame; and
a rotor for holding a movable contact point capable of

making contact with and separating from the fixed contact
point, the rotor rotatably attached to the housing, the
rotor being rotatable relative to the housing in such a
direction as to change over the contact and separation of
the movable contact point and the fixed contact point as the
stand is rotated relative to the body frame,
wherein the rotor includes a rotor body made of a
synthetic resin and connected to the stand for rotation
relative to the housing together with rotation of the stand
relative to the body frame, a movable contact member formed
of a metal plate, which holds the movable contact point, and
contact pressure springs interposed between the rotor body
and the movable contact member for biasing the movable
contact member away from the rotor body in such a direction
as to press the movable contact point against the fixed
contact point,
wherein the movable contact member has at least one
interlocking lug protruding in the same direction as a
rotational axis about which the rotor is rotated relative to
the housing, and
wherein the rotor body has at least one interlocking
hole into which the interlocking lug is fitted, so that the
movable contact member is moved together with the rotor body
by the interlocking lug fitted into the interlocking hole,
the interlocking lug being formed by a bending work.

A rotary switch 1 includes a housing 2 provided with a
fixed contact point 41 and connected to the body frame, and
a rotor 3 for holding a movable contact point 42 capable of
making contact with and separating from the fixed contact
point 41, the rotor 3 rotatably attached to the housing 2
and connected to the stand. The rotor 3 having a bolt
insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted, the rotor
includes a metal-made sleeve 35 constituting an inner
circumferential surface of the bolt insertion hole. Further,
radially outwardly protruding anti-rotation lug portions 35a
are formed on the sleeve 35. The rotor 3 formed of a
synthetic resin is partially inserted between the
neighboring anti-rotation lug portions 35a. In other words,
the anti-rotation lug portions 35a make contact with a
surface of the rotor 3 opposite from a surface facing a head
portion of the bolt so as to prevent the rotation of the
sleeve 35 relative to the rotor 3.

Documents:

00876-kol-2008-abstract.pdf

00876-kol-2008-assignment.pdf

00876-kol-2008-claims.pdf

00876-kol-2008-correspondence others.pdf

00876-kol-2008-description complete.pdf

00876-kol-2008-drawings.pdf

00876-kol-2008-form 1.pdf

00876-kol-2008-form 2.pdf

00876-kol-2008-form 3.pdf

00876-kol-2008-gpa.pdf

00876-kol-2008-others.pdf

00876-kol-2008-priority document.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(03-04-2012)-CERTIFIED COPIES(OTHER COUNTRIES).pdf

876-KOL-2008-(03-04-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(03-04-2012)-FORM-6.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(03-04-2012)-PA.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-FORM-3.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-FORM-5.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

876-KOL-2008-(16-04-2014)-PETITION UNDER SECTION 8(1).pdf

876-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

876-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.2.pdf

876-KOL-2008-FORM 13.pdf

876-kol-2008-form 18.pdf

876-KOL-2008-FORM 26.pdf

876-KOL-2008-FORM 3 1.1.pdf

876-KOL-2008-OTHERS.pdf

abstract-00876-kol-2008.jpg

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Patent Number

263209

Indian Patent Application Number

876/KOL/2008

PG Journal Number

42/2014

Publication Date

17-Oct-2014

Grant Date

14-Oct-2014

Date of Filing

14-May-2008

Name of Patentee

PANASONIC CORPORATION

Applicant Address

1006,OAZA KADOMA,KADOMA-SHI,OSAKA 571-8501

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	TOSHIAKI SAITO	C/O MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD., 1048, OAZA-KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA
2	NORIHIRO IDA	C/O MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD., 1048, OAZA-KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA

PCT International Classification Number

H01H 9/00; H01H 25/06

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	2007-134558	2007-05-21	Japan
2	2007-134557	2007-05-21	Japan
3	2007-130830	2007-05-16	Japan