Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Steering wheel – shaft or column mounted
Patent
1996-08-07
1998-09-01
Scott, J. R.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Steering wheel, shaft or column mounted
74484H, H01H 900, B62D 102
Patent
active
058013490
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a pad, as an operational member for a horn switch, on a metal core of a steering wheel. The horn is blown by operating the pad which is located in a center of the steering wheel. The present mounting structure includes a particular arrangement and structure for the biasing means and switch contacts.
BACKGROUND ART
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a general structure for mounting a pad, as an operational member for a horn switch, which is installed in a center of a steering wheel with four spokes. FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the steering wheel 10 with the pad 11 (shown by an imaginary line) removed therefrom. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IX--IX in FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows.
In the structure shown in the figures, a reference number 12 points to a bracket for mounting the pad 11. As shown in the figures, the bracket 12 is generally elongate plate if it is viewed from a side of the steering wheel 10, and a pair of brackets 12, are installed on the left and right sides relative to a center of the steering wheel 10 if viewed from the front. The bracket 12 has penetration holes 12a on its upper and lower ends, respectively.
A metal core 14 of the steering wheel 10 has four spokes 14a each of which has a boss 14b with a screw hole in a location corresponding to the penetration hole 12a of the bracket 12. A bracket 12 is mounted on the spoke 14a of the metal core 14 by a bolt 17. Bolt 17 passes through a bushing 13, a washer 18, and the penetration hole 12a of the bracket 12. The bolt 17 is screwed in the boss 14b after a spring receiving member 15 and a compressed coiled spring 16 are interlocked with each other and placed around the bolt 17.
When the bolt 17 is screwed down the bracket 12 for the pad is so biased by the spring 16 that the bracket 12 contacts a rear face of the head 17a of the bolt 17. When the pad 11 is pushed, the bracket 12 is movable towards the metal core 14 while the spring 16 is compressed. There is provided an upper contact 19 for the horn switch. A fixed contact (not shown) is provided on the metal core 14. With the structure, the horn is blown when the pad 12 is pushed down.
The structure, however, requires the spring receiving member 15, the washer 18 and the bushing 13, in addition to the bolt 17. Therefore, not only are the constituent parts of the structure complex, but also the mounting of the parts with each other is troublesome to carry out. Also, because the bolt 17 is a specially-made bolt, it is costly to manufacture.
FIG. 10 illustrates a steering wheel 10 having four spokes: a pair of spokes 10a and 10b which extend generally in a lateral direction from a center of the steering wheel, and a pair of spokes 10c and 10d which extend downward obliquely. The pad 11 is formed so as to cover each spoke 10a to 10d up to the middle part thereof. Four upper contacts 19a to 19d of the horn switch are installed generally at the right upper corner, left upper corner, right lower corner, and left lower corner of the pad 11, respectively. In the structure, there are installed compressed coiled spring assemblies 16a to 16d, for biasing the pad 11 towards the driver, adjacent to each corner of a square formed by the four upper contacts 19a to 19d. At least one of the upper contacts 19a to 19d is switched on when any part of the pad, such as the upper middle part, lower middle part, left middle part, right middle part, or corner parts, is pushed down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From a view point of lowering the production cost, it is preferable to reduce the number of the upper contacts of the horn switch. However, the horn must reliably be activated when any part of the pad is pushed down. The direction in which the pad moves when a part of the pad is pushed down, is closely related to the locations of the compressed coiled spring assemblies 16a to 16d. Therefore, by setting the locations of the spring assemblies so as to limit the direction in which the pad moves and by providing
REFERENCES:
patent: 4808776 (1989-02-01), Niwa et al.
patent: 5023412 (1991-06-01), Ishida
patent: 5235146 (1993-08-01), Suzuki
patent: 5303952 (1994-04-01), Shermetaro et al.
patent: 5410114 (1995-04-01), Furuie et al.
Hattori Sakashi
Komiya Fuminori
Suzuki Keizoh
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
Scott J. R.
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