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US 6,719,324 B2Granted
Horn contact apparatus and method
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsScott R. Albers, David G. Greenisen, George Frank Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enclosed contact horn mechanism includes: a pin having a first end and a second end; a base plate located near the first end; and a device located between the first end and the base plate; the device, the first end, and the base plate creating an enclosed contact area, wherein the device is movable so that the base plate may contact the first end.
Claims26
An enclosed contact horn mechanism comprising:
- a pin having a first end and a second end;
- a base plate located near said first end;
- and
- an insulating device located between said first end and said base plate;
- said insulating device, said first end, and said base plate creating an enclosed contact area,
- wherein said pin and said insulating device are configured so that said base plate may travel from a non-contacting open circuit position to a contacting closed circuit position.
3 more elements
A horn switch comprising:
- a plurality of pins each having a first end and a second end, said second end being configured for securing an air bag module to a steering wheel armature;
- a base plate having a plurality of insulating devices one for each of said plurality of pins said insulating devices being located between said first end of said plurality of pins and said base plate, said plurality of insulating devices, said first ends, and said base plate creating a plurality of enclosed contact areas,
- wherein said pins and said insulating devices are configured so that said base plate may travel from a non-contacting open circuit position to a contacting closed circuit position.
An air bag module comprising:
- a base plate;
- a backing plate defining a plurality of areas each receiving an enclosed contact horn mechanism including:
- a pin having a first end and a second end, said first end located near said base plate, said pin having a means for securing the air bag module to a steering wheel armature;
- and
- an insulating device disposed between a portion of said pin proximate to said first end and said area, wherein said base plate, said insulating device and said pin create an enclosed contact area,
- wherein said first end is slidably received within said enclosed contact area, said pin and said insulating device are configured so that said base plate may travel from a non-contacting open circuit position wherein said base plate is in a spatial relationship with respect to said pin, to a contacting closed circuit position, wherein said base plate makes contact with said pin, said contacting closed circuit position activates a horn.
3 more elements
A steering wheel comprising:
- an air bag module comprising a base plate, a backing plate and a plurality of contact pins, said plurality of contact pins each being configured for a securement to a steering wheel armature at one end and movably received within an enclosed contact area at the other end;
- an insulating device for each of said plurality of contact pins, said insulating device being disposed between said pin and said backing plate, said insulating device defining a portion of said enclosed contact area;
- and
- a biasing member for providing a biasing force to said insulating device, said biasing member being disposed between said insulating device and said steering wheel armature, said biasing member maintaining said contact pin in a spaced relationship with respect to said base plate wherein application of a horn activation force to said air bag module causes said biasing force to be overcome and at least one of said plurality of contact pins makes contact with said base plate and completes a horn activation circuit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.