Airbag device

• US 7,637,528 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ashimori Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Sasaki, Kou, Shimazaki, Yoshio, Kamura, Seiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/995,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/731, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.2, 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 200/61.56, 200/61.57
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided an airbag device comprising electrical equipment disposed at the central part of a steering wheel, capable of connecting a harness to the electrical equipment while using the steering shaft, the inflator, and so forth, commonly in use, thereby alleviating work for manufacturing intricate components, and achieving reduction in component cost. The airbag device comprises an airbag cover (16) for housing an airbag (10) folded substantially at the central part of a steering wheel (50R), and electrical equipment (M) disposed at a recessed part (16a) of the airbag cover (16), wherein a backside of the recessed part (16a) of the airbag cover (16) is covered with a fixed end portion of a tubular tether belt (11a) for constraining a distance up to which the airbag undergoes inflation and expansion, and a harness (26) is inserted into a harness insertion hole (11ah′) provided at the fixed end portion, the harness being connected to an electrode member of the electrical equipment (M).

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising an airbag cover for housing an airbag folded substantially at the central part of a steering wheel, and electrical equipment disposed at a recessed part of the airbag cover, wherein a backside of the recessed part of the airbag cover is covered with a fixed end portion of a tubular tether belt for constraining a distance up to which the airbag undergoes inflation and expansion, and a harness or terminal connectable thereto is inserted into a harness hole provided in the recessed part and a harness insertion hole provided at the fixed end portion, the harness or the terminal connectable thereto being connected to an electrode member of the electrical equipment,

the electrical equipment comprising a horn switch having a base inserted in the recessed part of the airbag cover,

a terminal structure,

a slidable member at a front side facing to an occupant side,

a conductive spring plate coupled to the slidable member and movable against the action of a resilient structure when the slidable member is pressed, and

a contact plate clamped in the horn base, said plate being electrically connected to the harness and the spring plate,

whereby the horn switch is closed by contacting the spring plate with the terminal structure, thereby sounding a horn.

2. An airbag device comprising an airbag cover for housing an airbag folded substantially at the central part of a steering wheel, and electrical equipment disposed at a recessed part of the airbag cover, wherein a backside of the recessed part of the airbag cover is covered with a fixed end portion of a tubular tether belt for constraining a distance up to which the airbag undergoes inflation and expansion, and a harness or terminal connectable thereto is inserted into a harness hole provided in the recessed part and a harness insertion hole provided at the fixed end portion, the harness or the terminal connectable thereto being connected to an electrode member of the electrical equipment,

wherein the electrical equipment is a horn switching device, and is fixed substantially at a same position with an attachment bolt, said bolt being conductive and operative with the harness to establish a closed circuit for operating said electrical equipment, even after expansion of the airbag.

3. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the horn switching device comprises a horn base inserted in the recessed part of the airbag cover,

a slidable member at a front side facing to an occupant side,

a butting member movable against the action of an energizing means by pressing down the slidable member, and

a contact plate clamped in the horn base by the energizing means, directly or indirectly connected to the harness, and electrically connectable to the energizing means and the butting member,

a short-circuit being provided by butting the butting member against the attachment bolt directly or indirectly thereby sounding a horn.

4. The airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the contact plate is provided with the terminal connected to the harness inserted through the harness hole and the harness insertion hole.

5. The airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the contact plate is provided with the terminal and retaining juts provided on both adjacent sides of the terminal at one side on an outer circumference thereof, and a rotation preventive jut at the other side symmetrical with respect to the center thereof, while the horn base has stoppers for stopping the retaining juts, respectively, and a notched groove for engaging the rotation preventive jut.

6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the contact plate is fitted between a fitting part erected along an inner circumference thereof, on the horn base, and a rotation stopper erected along an outer circumference thereof, on the horn base.