Automobile steering wheel switch

• US 6,147,315 A
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rudolph, Gerd, Weiss, Hans-Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/289,926
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.54-61.56, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/743.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0005 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0087 Welding switch parts by use of a laser beam

Abstract

The invention herein relates to an automobile steering wheel switch assembly with several individual switches (3) and a support housing (1) located inside the steering wheel for the accommodation of an airbag module, by means of which at least one horn switch (15) can be activated. Inside the steering wheel is a stationary support plate (7), which supports the support housing (1) in a spring-biased, wobbling manner, whereby the support housing (1) has mounted on its side (12) facing the support plate (7) a contact unit (10) with connector contacts (32), the unit having switch guides (20) that contact individual switches (3) by way of connecting lines (35) and the horn switch (15) located on the connecting lines (35, 35a).

Claims

1. A switch assembly for use on an automobile steering wheel, said assembly comprising a plurality of accessory switches and a support housing for mounting inside the steering wheel for accommodating an airbag module, at least one horn switch, a stationary support plate, which supports the support housing in a spring-biased, wobbling manner, whereby the support housing has mounted on a side facing the support plate a contact unit with connector contacts, said contact unit comprising switch guides that contact individual ones of said plurality of switches by way of connecting lines, wherein said at least one horn switch is located on said connecting lines, wherein said contact unit has thereon a dome open in a direction of the support plate and which accommodates said at least one horn switch.

2. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the contact unit is provided on the side facing the support plate with a plurality of said domes overlapped by tension springs, whereby each of said plurality of domes accommodates a horn switch configured as a tip switch.

3. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tensions springs are positioned between the support plate and the contact unit in a pre-tensioned manner.

4. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in each of said domes has lateral walls at least the same height as the associate horn switch in an activated state and are provided with internal guide ribs in order to fix the horn switch in position.

5. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each of said domes of said contact unit has a base with at least one insertion hole, into which can be inserted a pin.

6. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the contact unit is provided with compensating ribs.

7. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the contact unit is associated with at least one tolerance compensation means.

8. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the tolerance compensation means is configured as a cutout exposed on one side of the contact unit.

9. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the tolerance compensation means is provided with at least one cutout in a flat area of the contact unit, and an expansion loop in the area of the cutout.

10. Steering wheel switch assembly in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that, in the area of the cutout, insulating discs project beyond the expansion loop and are located on one side of the contact unit.