Horn actuator incorporating a transducer in a steering wheel
First Claim
1. An apparatus for actuating an electrical device in response to pressure applied to an air bag cover door of a steering wheel mounted air bag unit, the air bag unit being of the type having a gas generator within a casing and an air bag operably fixed to said casing for receiving gas from said gas generator, said apparatus comprising:
- said air bag cover door having a front wall section that includes an inside surface and is deformable upon hand pressure being exerted thereon; and
a transducer mounted to said front wall section, said transducer normally producing a first non-actuating characteristic and being subject to the same deformation forces as said front wall section due to hand pressure and being sensitive to the deformation forces to produce a second actuating characteristic;
said transducer operably connectable to an electrical circuit that is connected to a vehicle horn, said horn actuated by said circuit upon said transducer producing said second actuating characteristic; and
said cover door formed as a single layer wall of flexible plastic material having said transducer adhesively bonded to said inside surface of said cover door.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering wheel (12) incorporates an air bag unit (22). The air bag unit has a cover door (30) with a transducer (38) molded in a deformable front wall (35) of the cover door. The transducer can be a force sensitive resistor (38) which is operably connected to an electrical circuit (42) that actuates a horn (44) when the circuit senses a change in the resistance of force sensitive resistor (38). The force sensitive resistor (38) produces a suitable change in resistance when hand pressure is exerted on the front wall (35).
61 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for actuating an electrical device in response to pressure applied to an air bag cover door of a steering wheel mounted air bag unit, the air bag unit being of the type having a gas generator within a casing and an air bag operably fixed to said casing for receiving gas from said gas generator, said apparatus comprising:
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said air bag cover door having a front wall section that includes an inside surface and is deformable upon hand pressure being exerted thereon; and a transducer mounted to said front wall section, said transducer normally producing a first non-actuating characteristic and being subject to the same deformation forces as said front wall section due to hand pressure and being sensitive to the deformation forces to produce a second actuating characteristic; said transducer operably connectable to an electrical circuit that is connected to a vehicle horn, said horn actuated by said circuit upon said transducer producing said second actuating characteristic; and said cover door formed as a single layer wall of flexible plastic material having said transducer adhesively bonded to said inside surface of said cover door.
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2. An apparatus for actuating an electrical device in response to pressure applied to an air bag cover door of a steering wheel mounted air bag unit, the air bag unit being of the type having a gas generator within a casing and an air bag operably fixed to said casing for receiving gas from said gas generator, said apparatus comprising:
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said air bag cover door having a front wall section that includes an inside surface and is deformable upon hand pressure being exerted thereon; and a transducer molded integrally within said front wall section, said transducer normally producing a first non-actuating characteristic and being subject no the same deformation forces as said front wall section due to hand pressure and being sensitive to the deformation forces to produce a second actuating characteristic; said transducer operably connectable to an electrical circuit that is connected to a vehicle horn, said horn actuated by said circuit upon said transducer producing said second actuating characteristic; and said cover door formed as a single layer wall of flexible plastic material.
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3. An apparatus for actuating an electrical device in response to pressure applied to a deformable cover door for an air bag unit, comprising:
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an air bag cover door having a front wall section that includes an inside surface adapted to contain an air bag within the air bag unit, said front wall section constructed such that said inside surface is deformable upon hand pressure being exerted on said front wall section; a transducer mounted to said front wall section and being constructed to undergo substantially the same deformation as the portion of said inside surface that is coextensive with said transducer, said transducer exhibiting a detectable characteristic in the absence of hand pressure being exerted on said front wall section and said transducer responsive to the deformation to provide a measurable change in said characteristic; and a switching circuit connected to said transducer, said switching circuit operable to change its conductive state in response to the measurable change in said characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification