Steering wheel pad with improved horn switch assembly

• US 5,371,333 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanai, Makoto, Kantoh, Takanori, Inoue, Michio, Mizutani, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/068,111
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 280/728-735
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches

Abstract

A steering wheel pad is provided which includes a non-conductive inner member. The pad has a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on the inner member. The horn switch has terminals. The pad includes a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch. An air bag device is accommodated in the inner member. A conductive bag support is provided with the air bag device for attaching the air bag device to the inner member. The pad has a conductive bracket and a conductive coupling member having a rod section and engaging sections at opposing ends thereof. The bracket is disposed at an outer side of the outer member. The rod section of the coupling member is inserted into bores of the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket. The engaging sections of the coupling member contact with the bag support and bracket so that the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket are connected with each other, and the bracket is electrically connected to the terminals.

Claims

1. A steering wheel pad comprising:

a non-conductive inner member;

a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals;

a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch;

an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member;

a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member;

a conductive bracket; and

a conductive coupling member,

said conductive bracket being disposed at an outer side of the outer member, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket together, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.

2. The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the conductive coupling member includes a rod portion and engaging portions at opposing ends of the rod portion, said rod portion being inserted into bores of the support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, said engaging sections contacting the conductive bag support and conductive bracket.

3. The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the outer member is made of soft synthetic resin.

4. The steering wheel pad according to claim 3, wherein the outer member has a plurality of ribs that abut the horn switch.

5. The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the horn switch has a switch body that includes a conductive base plate and a pair of conductive contact plates disposed on opposing surfaces of the base plate, one of the contact plates contacting the base plate to form an electrical connection when the switch body is depressed.

6. The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the air bag device includes an inflator fixed to the inner member by the bag support, an air bag being accommodated between the inflator and the inner member in a folded state, the air bag being inflated by nitrogen gas generated within the inflator.

7. The steering wheel pad according to claim 6, wherein the inner member is made of rigid synthetic resin, the inner member having a plurality of notches, said notches permitting breaking of the inner member when the air bag is inflated.

8. The steering wheel pad according to claim 2, wherein the conductive bracket has a projection protruded toward the outer member, the projection being accommodated in a bore of the outer member, an outer periphery of the projection contacting an outer surface of the outer member, the rod portion of the conductive coupling member being coupled with the projection.

9. The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein one of the inner member and the horn switch includes a positioning post, the post engaging a bore of the other of the inner member and the horn switch to align the inner member and the horn switch.

10. The steering wheel pad according to claim 9, wherein the post has a non-circular cross-section.

11. The steering wheel pad according to claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of the post is larger than an opening area of the bore, and a plurality of notches are formed around the bore to enlarge the opening area of the bore during engagement with the post.

12. The steering wheel pad according to claim 5, wherein the inner member has a plurality of positioning sections which engage the horn switch to position the switch body.

13. The steering wheel pad according to claim 5, wherein non-conductive spacers are provided between each of the contact plates and the base plate.

14. The steering wheel pad according to claim 13, wherein the spacers include a belt-shaped spacer disposed on an outer periphery of the base plate, and a plurality of pellet shaped spacers disposed at upper and lower sides of the base plate in a middle portion thereof, arrangements of the pellet shaped spacers disposed at the upper and lower sides of the base plate being different from each other.

15. A steering wheel pad comprising:

a non-conductive inner member;

a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals and a switch body;

the inner member having a plurality of positioning sections for engaging the horn switch to position the switch body;

a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch;

an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member;

a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member;

a conductive bracket having a projection protruded toward an outer portion thereof; and

a conductive coupling member;

the projection of the conductive bracket being housed in a bore provided in the outer member, an outer periphery of the projection contacting with an outer surface of the outer member, the horn switch being positioned on the inner member by the positioning sections, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.

16. The steering wheel pad according to claim 15, wherein the conductive coupling member includes a rod portion and engaging portions at opposing ends of the rod portion, the rod portion being inserted into bores of the support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, the engaging sections contacting the conductive bag support and bracket.

17. The steering wheel pad according to claim 15, wherein one of the inner member and the horn switch includes a positioning post, the post engaging a bore of the other of the inner member and the horn switch to align the inner member and the horn switch.

18. The steering wheel pad according to claim 17, wherein the post has a non-circular cross-section.

19. The steering wheel pad according to claim 17, wherein a cross-sectional area of the pad is larger than an opening area of the bore, and a plurality of notches are formed around the bore to enlarge the opening area of the bore during engagement with the post.