Proximity switch arrangement for horn circuit in steering wheel

• US 3,876,977 A
• Filed: 05/29/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wolfgang Ladewig
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang Ladewig
• Inventors: Ladewig, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US05/364,541
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/88,384E,388,402,258A,258B,365C,75,135,279 180/99
• US Class Current: 200/61.57
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel

Abstract

A signalling device for a motor vehicle, consisting of a horn or lamp and a contactless (touch-type) signal initiator mounted on or near the steering wheel. The initiator may be of the capacitive or inductive form, and may be slightly recessed into a spoke or the rim of the vehicle steering wheel.

Claims

1. In the steering wheel of an automobile, a switch arrangement for the horn circuit of the automobile comprising in combination:

a recess in a portion of the steering wheel, the open end of the recess being oriented toward the driver; and

a proximity switch arranged inside said recess, the switch having a sensitive, substantially flat face recessed a short distance from the surrounding structure of the steering wheel.

2. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the recess is located centrally in the steering wheel; and

the proximity switch is a capacitive, contactless switch responding to the presence of a finger in the proximity of its sensitive face.

3. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a thin, resiliently depressible cover positioned at such a distance above the sensitive face of the proximity switch that, in addition to the presence of a finger, a slight depression toward said face is required to actuate the switch.

4. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein the cover is of plastic material and arranged on the steering wheel so as to define a protrusion over the surrounding wheel structure.

5. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the proximity switch is of the inductive type; and

the switch arrangement further comprises a resilient cover member having a conductive surface located substantially in parallel and at a distance from the sensitive face of the switch, the cover member being depressible toward said face to actuate the switch.

6. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the recess is located centrally in the steering wheel;

the cover member is a resiliently depressible plastic cap having a metallic coating on its side facing the inductive proximity switch.

7. A switch arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein the recess is located in a spoke of the steering wheel;

the inductive proximity switch is a rod shaped body; and

the cover member has an outer surface defining a portion of a continuous, smooth spoke outline.