Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-06-12
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728200, C200S061550
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244618
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle such as an automobile, in which a driver
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airbag device is accommodated and, more particularly, to a steering device further provided with a horn switch.
A steering device has been widely used, in which an airbag device is accommodated and a horn switch is also incorporated in such a manner that the horn switch is turned on to sound a horn by depressing a module cover of the airbag device.
In the steering device of this type, the horn switch is switched on by depressing the entire airbag device including an inflator and an airbag. The airbag device is arranged to be movable back and forth and is biased forward (in a direction toward an occupant) by a spring. The spring should apply biasing force on the airbag device so as to overcome inertia force caused by the total weight of the airbag device, whereby a driver is required to depress the airbag device strongly to sound the horn.
A steering device in which a horn switch is actuated by depressing only a module cover with a small force is disclosed in Japanese utility model publication 6-53365A. In the steering device of the publication, an airbag, an inflator, and a retainer are fixed to a boss of the steering wheel and the module cover is connected to and supported by the retainer via a plate spring therebetween.
When the module cover is depressed, only the module cover moves backward so as to switch on a horn switch. Since only the module cover moves as mentioned, the force required for turning on the horn switch in this case is smaller than that in case of depressing the entire airbag device.
In the steering device disclosed in the publication of 6-53365, the module cover is connected to the retainer by plate springs. Therefore, when the inflator is actuated to inflate the airbag so that large pressure is exerted on the module cover by the airbag, the spring may be deeply deformed so that there is a possibility that the module cover is thus significantly separated fiom the retainer.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device in which a horn switch is turned on by depressing a module cover, and which supports securely the module cover even when an inflator is actuated.
A steering wheel device of the present invention comprises a steering and an airbag device which is accommodated in a portion of the steering wheel confronting an occupant. The airbag device comprises an airbag, a module cover which is disposed on the occupant side about the airbag, a base which is disposed on the other side of the occupant side about the airbag and an inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag. The module cover is movable in a backward direction apart from the occupant and is biased by an elastic member in a forward direction. The steering device further comprises a horn switch which is switched on by movement of the module cover in the backward direction. The module cover has a portion extending in the backward direction and is provided with openings formed in the portion. The base is provided with hooks engaged with the openings.
In the steering device of the present invention, since the openings of the module cover are engaged with the hooks of the base, the module cover is securely held to the base even when the inflator is actuated and the module cover is thus strongly pressed forward by the airbag.
A tip portion of each hook, which is positioned outside the corresponding opening when engaged, is preferably bent in the backward direction of the module cover. It is preferable that the base comprises a main plate, which confronts the occupant, and the hooks, which project from the outer periphery of the main plate, and that the hooks are disposed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery. This configuration enables the module cover to be securely engaged with the base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4808776 (1989-02-01), Niwa et al.
patent: 5228362 (1993-07-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5615907 (1997-04-01), Stanger
patent: 5627352 (1997-05-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5762361 (1998-06-01), Hermann et al.
patent: 5971429 (1999-10-01), Bramberger et al.
patent: 6-53365 (1994-07-01), None
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Swann J. J.
Takata Corporation
Zeender F.
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