Air bag cover with horn switch

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for covering an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) comprises a cover (70) movable from a closed condition to an open condition upon inflation of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40). The cover (70) includes first and second portions (100, 110). The first cover portion (100) is movable relative to the second cover portion (110). A membrane switch (130) in an electric circuit for actuating an electrically actuatable device (132) of the vehicle includes a first switch portion (140) underlying the first cover portion (100) and a second switch portion (142) underlying the second cover portion (110). The first cover portion (100) is manually engageable to operate the first switch portion (140) and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device (132). The second cover portion (110) is manually engageable to operate the second switch portion (142) and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device (132). A first back plate (150) for the first switch portion (140) is connected for movement with the first cover portion (100) and with the first switch portion (140). A second back plate (160) for the second switch portion (142) is connected with the second cover portion (110). The second switch portion (142) is movable with the first switch portion (140) relative to the second cover portion (110) and to the second back plate (160) in response to movement of the cover (70) from the closed condition to the open condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.