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US 7,621,560 B2Granted
Horn switch
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsByron Spencer, Xiaoping Xu, Leslie A. Wade, Andrew P. Katsock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly is provided for steering a vehicle including a steering wheel (18) with an armature (300); an air bag module (14) is coupled to the steering wheel and is operable to expand to absorb the kinetic energy of the driver. A horn switch (16) is coupled to the steering wheel and the air bag module. The horn switch is operable to generate an electrical signal based on an input from the driver. The horn switch includes a pair of electrically conductive elements (40, 42) operable to generate the signal.
Claims29
An assembly comprising:
- a horn switch assembly (16) comprising a first (40) and second (42) conductive member movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, each of the first and second conductive members having a like plurality of electrical contact locations;
- wherein the horn switch assembly includes a first or upper horn switch part molded about the first conductive member except for predetermined locations which form a first set of electrical contacts, and a second or lower horn switch part molded about the second conductive member except for predetermined locations which form a second set of electrical contacts, the first and second set of electrical contacts configured such that when the conductive members are in the engaged position one or more of the contacts of the first and second set of electrical contacts are in engagement.
An assembly for steering a vehicle comprising:
- a driver interface operable to enable a driver to steer the vehicle;
- at least one control member operable to couple the driver interface to the vehicle;
- an air bag module coupled to the driver interface and operable to expand to absorb kinetic energy of the driver;
- a horn switch coupled to the driver interface and the air bag module, the horn switch operable to generate an electrical signal based on an input from the driver, the horn switch further comprising:
- a pair of electrically conductive wires operable to generate the signal, a first wire being bent in at least three locations corresponding to three electrical contact locations, the wire and any bend in the first wire generally being in the same plane;
- the second wire having at least one bend therein, the second wire spaced from the first wire and movable into electrical contact therewith;
- wherein the first bend of the second wire is an overlaying relation with one of the bends of the first wire and brought into contact therewith on relative movement of the wires:
- the second wire including other portions movable into electrical contact with the other bent portions of the first wire.
5 more elements
An air bag module comprising:
- an air bag operable to expand and including a first side and a second side;
- a mounting plate coupled to the second side of the air bag;
- a cover coupled to the mounting plate in order to be disposed over the first side of the air bag;
- an inflator coupled to the mounting plate and operable to enable the air bag to expand;
- a horn switch assembly coupled to the mounting plate, the horn switch assembly including:
- a first wire having at least three bent portions along its length, each bent portion corresponding to a different electrical contact;
- a second wire bent at one portion and having at least two other portions, wherein the bent portion and the two other portions correspond to different electrical contact;
- the second wire disposed a distance from the first wire;
- and
- wherein the bent portion of the second wire is configured to be brought into electrical contact with one of the bent portions of the first wire and wherein the other portions of the second wire are configured to be respectively brought into contact with the other bent portions of the first wire.
7 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a horn switch assembly (16) comprising a first (40) and second (42) conductive member movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, each of the first and second conductive members having a like plurality of electric contact locations, wherein each conductive member includes at least three contact locations;
- wherein the first and second conductive members are encased within a corresponding non-electrically conductive enclosure except near each contact location which remains exposed, wherein each enclosure includes a plurality of openings corresponding at least to the number of contact locations, wherein an exposed portion of a first or second conductive member spans a corresponding opening.
An assembly comprising:
- a horn switch configured to couple a steering wheel with an air bag module, the horn switch operable to generate a signal when the horn switch is activated, the horn switch further comprising:
- a pair of electrically conductive wires, including a bent first wire and a bent second wire, operable to generate a conductive path for the signal,
- a continuous first wire having at least three bent portions along its length, each bent portion corresponding to a different electrical contact;
- a continuous second wire bent at one portion and having at least two other portions, wherein the bent portion and the two other portions correspond to different electrical contact;
- the second wire disposed a distance from the first wire;
- each of the first and second wires initially maintained in parallel planes;
- and
- wherein the bent portion of the second wire is configured to be brought into electrical contact with one of the bent portions of the first wire and wherein the other portions of the second wire are configured to be respectively brought into contact with the other bent portions of the first wire
- wherein a signal is generated when an exposed portion of the first wire contacts an exposed portion of the second wire.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.