AIRBAG MODULE SAFETY DEVICE

• US 20120305371A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chevalier, Nicolas, Valakkatti, Jean Kuriakose, Nordqvist, Jonas
• Granted Patent: US 8,907,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device having an airbag module which has a housing (40) and which can be mounted in the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, having a cover (10) fastened to the housing (40) in a movable manner, on which a first horn contact (30) is arranged; at least a second horn contact (50) is arranged on the housing (40), which, in the initial position, is electrically isolated from the first horn contact (30), and in the activation position, comes into electrical contact with the first horn contact (30) in order to trigger a horn signal. The second horn contact (50) being configured as a separate component which is fixed to the housing (40) by at least one separate locking element (60).

Claims

1. A safety device having an airbag module which has a housing (40) and which can be mounted in the a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, having a cover (10) which is fastened to the housing (40) in a movable manner, on which a first horn contact (30) is arranged, comprising at least a second horn contact (50) is arranged on the housing (40), and in an initial position, the second horn contact is electrically isolated from the first horn contact (30), and in an activation position, the second horn contact comes into electrical contact with the first horn contact (30) in order to trigger a horn signal, the second horn contact (50) is configured as a separate component, which is fixed to the housing (40) by at least one separate locking element (60).

2. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising the first horn contact (30) is configured as an electrically conductive wire which is fixed to the cover (10).

3. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising the housing (40) is made of a plastic material.

4. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising the second horn contact (50) is configured as a conductive ribbon or as a conductive strip.

5. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising the locking element (60) has at least has one resilient locking latch (64) which form-fittingly locks the locking element (60) on the housing (40).

6. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising locking holders (46) are configured on the housing (40) which hold the locking elements (60) in a form fitting manner.

7. The safety device according to claim 6, further comprising the second horn contact (50) is guided through the locking holders (46) and is fixed to the housing(40) by the locking element (60) in a form fitting manner.

8. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein the locking element(60) is made of a plastic material.

9. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising the second horn contact (50) abuts or rests against the front end (65) of the locking element (60) facing the first horn contact (30).

10. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising in the initial position, the first horn contact (30) is spaced apart from the second horn contact (50) by not more than 3 mm in the direction of displacement of the cover (10) as it is moved in the movable manner.