Air bag cover with horn switch

Details Air bag cover with horn switch Air bag cover with horn switch

1998-07-24

2001-04-03

Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Special application

Frangible or destructible type

C200S061540, C280S731000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06211476

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a switch for mounting on a portion of a vehicle as part of a vehicle safety apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a horn switch that is part of an air bag module mounted on a vehicle steering wheel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to mount an air bag module on a steering wheel of a vehicle to help protect the driver of the vehicle. The air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator. In the event of sudden vehicle deceleration of a magnitude which requires protection of the driver, the inflator is actuated to inflate the air bag into a position to help protect the driver of the vehicle.
It is known to provide a horn switch that is operable by pressing on a cover of an air bag module mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,606 discloses a membrane type horn switch which is connected with an air bag module cover. The horn switch includes two active parts, each secured for movement with a respective movable part of the cover. The cover has a tear seam which releasably joins the movable parts of the cover. When the air bag inflates, a rupturable portion of the switch tears to enable the movable cover parts to open so that the air bag can inflate out of the cover. The rupturable portion of the switch underlies the tear seam in the module cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for covering an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus comprises a cover including first and second portions. The cover is movable from a closed condition to an open condition upon inflation of the inflatable device. The cover has a cover tear seam defining the first and second portions of the cover. The apparatus includes a switch in an electric circuit for actuating an electrically actuatable device of the vehicle. The switch includes a first switch portion underlying the first cover portion and a second switch portion underlying the second cover portion. The first cover portion is manually depressible to operate the first switch portion and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device. The second cover portion is manually depressible to operate the second switch portion and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device. The switch has a bridge portion underlying and extending across the cover tear seam. The bridge portion of the switch electrically interconnects the first switch portion and the second switch portion when the cover portions are in the closed condition. The bridge portion is rupturable upon movement of the cover from the closed condition to the open condition. One of the bridge portion and the first and second switch portions has a switch actuator portion underlying and extending across the cover tear seam. The switch actuator portion when manually depressed actuates the electrically actuatable device.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5563354 (1996-10-01), Kropp
patent: 5585606 (1996-12-01), Ricks
patent: 5684283 (1997-11-01), Hambleton, Jr. et al.
patent: 5685560 (1997-11-01), Sugiyama et al.
patent: 5721409 (1998-02-01), Enders
patent: 5794968 (1998-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5836609 (1998-11-01), Coleman

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