Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-12
2004-02-10
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S731000, C200S061540, C200S061550
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688637
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus having a horn switch. More specifically, it relates to an airbag apparatus configured so that a horn switch is turned on only by actuation of a module cover when the airbag is pressed.
A driver-side airbag apparatus arranged in a steering wheel may be designed to include a module cover that when pressed, activates a horn switch so as to sound a horn. When the airbag apparatus is formed such that not the entire airbag apparatus but only the module cover is to be actuated, the pushing force for turning on the horn switch can be small.
An airbag apparatus
100
having such a structure is shown in FIG.
29
. The airbag apparatus
100
comprises a retainer
102
, an airbag
106
attached to the retainer
102
with an airbag fitting ring
104
, an inflator
108
for inflating the airbag
106
, and a module cover
110
for covering the folded airbag
106
.
An integral leg section
112
protrudes from the back side of the module cover
110
, and hooks
116
of a side-wall section
114
which is bent forward from the retainer
102
are inserted through openings
118
in the leg section
112
. Each hook
116
outwardly protrudes from the side-wall section
114
in an L-shape.
The inflator
108
includes a flange
108
a
. Bolts
120
protruding from the ring
104
are inserted through the retainer
102
and the flange
108
a
, so that the inflator
108
is fixed to the retainer
102
together with the airbag
106
by tightening nuts
122
.
The shape of the folded airbag
106
is maintained by a shape holding member
124
. The shape holding member
124
allows the airbag
106
to expand by breaking-off or deforming when the airbag
106
is inflated.
A bracket
132
protrudes upwardly from a steering wheel
130
, and projecting pieces
134
protruding downward from the backside of the retainer
102
. The pieces
134
are fixed to the bracket
132
with bolts
136
and nuts
138
.
A predetermined sized gap is formed between the back face of the module cover
110
and the shape holding member
124
. A predetermined sized gap is also formed between the opening
118
formed on the leg section
112
of the module cover
110
and the hook
116
. As a result, the module cover
110
can be moved vertically when viewing FIG.
29
. When the module cover
110
is pressed, a horn switch (not shown) is pressed so as to be turned on. The horn switch is integrally formed with the retainer
102
and attached to an extending portion extending from the retainer
102
.
In case that a horn switch is attached to the extending portion formed integrally with a retainer as in the airbag apparatus shown in
FIG. 29
, when the shape of module cover and the position of horn switch differ in each airbag apparatus, the retainer is required to be designed corresponding to the module cover shape and the horn switch position of each airbag apparatus, adding significant cost and inconvenience to the manufacturing and design processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag apparatus capable of having a retainer in common to various models of an airbag apparatus which include a horn switch that is turned on by moving a module cover back and forth.
An airbag apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an airbag; a retainer having the airbag attached thereto; a module cover covering the airbag and being movable and extending toward the retainer; a horn-switch supporting member which is a separate part from the retainer; and a horn switch which is supported by the horn-switch supporting member and which is turned on by the approaching movement of the module cover toward the retainer.
In such an airbag apparatus, even if the position of the horn switch differs in each airbag apparatus, the common retainer can be used by changing only the horn-switch supporting member.
In addition, it is preferable that an engagement portion or lower engagement mechanism for positioning the horn-switch supporting member relative to the retainer be provided so that the degree of accuracy of mounting the horn-switch supporting member be improved and efficiency of the mounting work be increased.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
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Abe Kazuhiro
Hasebe Masahiro
Igawa Tadahiro
Dickson Paul N.
Takata Corporation
To Toan C
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