Patent ID: 6139051
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B60Q,B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering wheel comprising:a steering wheel main body having front and rear surfaces;a horn-switching assembly comprisinga stationary member, said stationary member comprising a support plate and being mounted on the steering wheel main body,a movable member movable away from and towards said support plate between a non-activated position, in which said movable member is spaced by a distance from said support plate, and an activated position, anda plurality of horn-switching subassemblies mounted on said support plate, said support plate being mounted to said steering wheel main body at a location spaced from said horn-switching subassemblies, each of said horn-switching subassemblies, respectively, comprising:a spring mounted between said support plate and said movable member to collectively bias said movable member upward towards the non-activated position;a switch main body which respectively comprises a stationary contact mounted on said support plate and a movable contact mounted on said movable member; anda limiting member interconnecting said support plate and said movable member, said limiting member being constructed and arranged to limit the distance by which said movable member moves away from said support plate; andan air bag assembly supported by said movable member of said horn-switching assembly and interconnected to said support plate by said limiting members, said air bag assembly comprising an air bag and inflator, wherein said springs are mounted higher than said inflator so that said springs are closer than said inflator to said front surface of said steering wheel main body, andwherein the horn-switching assembly and the air bag assembly form a pre-assembled and separable module, said module being attached to the steering wheel main body through said support plate.