Back to results
US 6,320,147 B1Granted
Dual contact membrane horn switch assembly
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorJames Jeffrey Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Advantageously, the present invention is directed to a membrane horn switch assembly designed so that a steering wheel cover can expand or contract due to extremes in temperature without the unintentional closing of a circuit used to activate a remote horn. Also the membrane horn switch is designed so that a space between concentrators on either the steering wheel cover or a reaction plate is minimized thereby requiring less exerted pressure on the steering wheel cover to actuate the switch. Additionally, the steering wheel cover is designed so that a greater deflection in the cover results when using the same amount of pressure as was previously exerted on the cover.
Claims25
A membrane horn switch assembly for operating a horn, comprising:
- a steering wheel cover having an outer portion with a bottom surface and an inner portion with a top surface, the bottom surface and the top surface being in a facing spaced relationship;
- a membrane horn switch disposed between the outer and inner portions of the steering wheel cover, the membrane horn switch including:
- a first conductive grid and a second conductive grid disposed in a first plane, the first and second conductive grids having a different polarity;
- and
- a conductive material disposed in a second plane facing the first and second conductive grids with a spacer disposed between the conductive material and the first and second conductive grids, the spacer defining a plurality of switch contact points where selective contact between the conductive material and the first and second conductive grids is permitted;
- and
- a plurality of first concentrators and a plurality of second concentrators depending away from said top surface, the plurality of first concentrators selectively communicating with the first conductive grid and the plurality of second concentrators selectively communicating with the second conductive grid when a force is applied to the outer portion of said steering wheel cover the plurality of first and second concentrators having different lengths so that a force driving the outer portion towards the inner portion causes the plurality of first concentrators to provide a first electrical connection between the conductive material and the first conductive grid prior to the plurality of second concentrators providing a second electrical connection between the conductive material and the second conductive grid which results in activation of the horn.
4 more elements
A membrane horn switch assembly for use in a vehicle horn assembly, the membrane horn switch comprising:
- a first sheet having a first surface including a conductive material disposed thereon:
- a second sheet having a first surface including a first conductive grid and a second conductive grid disposed thereon, the first and second conductive grids having a different polarity, the first surface of the second sheet facing the first surface of the first sheet;
- a spacer disposed between the first and second sheets, the spacer defining a plurality of switch contact points where selective contact between the conductive material and the first and second conductive grids is permitted;
- and
- a reaction plate disposed below a second surface of the second sheet, the reaction plate including a plurality of first concentrators and a plurality of second concentrators, the plurality of first concentrators selectively communicating with the first conductive grid and the plurality of second concentrators selectively communicating with the second conductive grid, the plurality of first and second concentrators having different lengths.
2 more elements
A horn switch assembly for operating a horn, comprising:
- a steering wheel cover having an outer portion with a bottom surface and an inner portion with a top surface;
- a membrane horn switch, said membrane horn switch comprises:
- a first conductive grid and a second conductive grid, said conductive grid being disposed in a first plane, said first conductive grid has an opposite polarity from said second conductive grid;
- a conductive material disposed in a second plane, and
- a nonconductive spacer comprising gaps disposed between said first plane and said second plane;
- a first means for contacting a portion of said first conductive grid with said conductive member to create a first electrical connection;
- and
- a second means for contacting a portion of said second conductive grid with said conductive material to create a second electrical connection, said second means being positioned further away from said conductive member than said first means.
5 more elements
A horn switch assembly for operating a horn, comprising:
- a) a steering wheel cover having an outer portion with a bottom surface and an inner portion with a top surface, said bottom surface and said top surface being in a facing spaced relationship;
- b) a membrane horn switch disposed between the outer and inner portions of the steering wheel cover, the membrane horn switch including:
- i) a first conductive grid and a second conductive grid disposed in a first plane, the first and second conductive grids having a different polarity;
- and
- ii) a conductive material disposed in a second plane facing the first and second conductive grids with a nonconductive spacer disposed between the conductive material and the first and second conductive grids, the nonconductive spacer having a plurality of openings;
- and
- c) a plurality of first concentrators and a plurality of second concentrators depending away from said top surface, the plurality of first concentrators making contact with a portion of said first conductive grid at a position in close proximity to said plurality of openings and the plurality of second concentrators making contact with a portion of said second conductive grid at a position in close proximity to said plurality of openings, when a force is applied to said outer portion of said steering wheel cover, the plurality of first and second concentrators having different lengths so that a force driving the outer portion towards the inner portion causes the plurality of first concentrators to provide a first electrical connection between the conductive material and the first conductive grid prior to the plurality of second concentrators providing a second electrical connection between the conductive material and the second conductive grid which results in activation of the horn.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.