Switch assembly for an airbag module attachment

• US 6,953,204 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Testa, Giuseppe, Luo, Jason, Ridolfi, Adolfo, Xu, Xiaoping, Girardi, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/999,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/728.2, 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 200/61.57, 200/61.56, 200/16.R, 200/16.A, 200/16.C, 200/243, 200/520, 200/341, 200/344, 200/345
• US Class Current: 280/731
• 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

A vehicle steering wheel assembly having a molded armature with outwardly extending spokes for mounting on a steering column. Airbag module engagement members extend from an airbag module housing to engage corresponding armature engagement members. The airbag module rests on a multiple of switch assemblies while the engagement members are separated by a clearance. The engagement members are only in contact if the airbag is fired. A clearance between each armature engagement member and each corresponding airbag module engagement member assures that there is no interference that may result in undesirable noise or vibration.

Claims

1. A switch assembly comprising:

a switch cap engageable with an airbag module

a switch connector having an extension portion made from an electrical conduction material

a switch base having a switch base engagement member for securing the switch base to the steering wheel hub and a contour portion extending in an opposite direction as the switch base engagement member, the switch base has a first metal wire insulated from a second wire.

2. The switch assembly according to claim 1 Wherein the switch cap has an aperture for receiving the contour portion of the switch base, the switch connector has an aperture for receiving the contour portion of the switch base.

3. The switch assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a biasing member to bias the switch cap from the switch connector wherein the biasing member is disposed between the switch cap and the switch connector.

4. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the switch cap is engageable with an airbag cover of the airbag module.

5. The switch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the switch connector is designed so that the extension portion is capable of bending in the direction of the switch base.