Horn membrane switch with rupturable strain relief bridging connector

A membrane horn switch comprising:

• A) a first main switch section including,
• 1) a top nonconductive sheet having a bottom surface substantially covered with an electrically conductive coating,
• 2) a bottom nonconductive sheet having a top surface substantially covered with an electrically conductive coating, with the top nonconductive sheet superimposed on the bottom nonconductive sheet with the electrically conductive coatings facing each other, and
• 3) at least one nonconductive spacer separating the conductive coatings until sufficient actuation pressure is exerted against the first main switch section;
• B) a second main switch section including,
• 1) a top nonconductive sheet having a bottom surface substantially covered with an electrically conductive coating,
• 2) a bottom nonconductive sheet having a top surface substantially covered with an electrically conductive coating, with the top nonconductive sheet superimposed on the bottom nonconductive sheet with the electrically conductive coatings facing each other, and
• 3) at least one nonconductive spacer separating the conductive coatings until sufficient actuation pressure is exerted against the second main switch section;
• C) a first bridge member including,
• 1) a top nonconductive bridge sheet connecting the top nonconductive sheets of the first and the second main switch sections, the top nonconductive bridge sheet having a bottom surface, and
• 2) an electrically conductive coating in the form of at least two spaced-apart, generally parallel strips substantially covering the bottom surface of the top nonconductive bridge sheet and connecting the conductive coatings on the top nonconductive sheets of the first and the second main switch sections, the first bridge member being relatively narrow and rupturable by a force created by an inflating airbag cushion;
• and
• D) a second bridge member including,
• 1) a bottom nonconductive bridge sheet connecting the bottom nonconductive sheets of the first and the second main switch sections, the bottom nonconductive bridge sheet having a top surface, and
• 2) an electrically conductive coating in the form of at least two spaced-apart, generally parallel strips substantially covering the top surface of the bottom nonconductive bridge sheet and connecting the conductive coatings on the bottom nonconductive sheets of the first and the second main switch sections, the second bridge member being relatively narrow and rupturable by a force created by an inflating airbag cushion.