Patent ID: 6722227
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B60Q,B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering wheel comprising:a metallic armature comprising a hub, a circular rim and a plurality of spokes joining the hub to the circular rim, an airbag module mounted on the armature of the steering wheel in a manner such that the airbag module is movable between a raised resting position and a lowered horn actuating position, said airbag module having an airbag cover, a horn actuating device interposed between the airbag module and the steering wheel armature and comprising at least a first electrical contact rigidly connected to the steering wheel armature and at least a second electrical contact which moves with the airbag module and cooperates with said first electrical contact for actuation of the horn, a plurality of helical springs interposed between said airbag module and said steering wheel armature to return the airbag module to the raised resting position, each of said helical springs has a fixed base portion supported by the steering wheel armature and a portion operatively associated with the airbag module and has a free end comprising said second electrical contact which cooperates with said first electrical contact, and said helical springs are mounted on respective plastic supports interconnected by a flexible plastic strip in which are embedded two conductive tracks, respectively connected electrically to each helical spring and to the first electrical contact cooperating therewith to form a preassembled unit adapted to the steering wheel armature, said free end of each of the helical springs comprising an extended portion of the helical spring protruding outside a theoretical cylinder of the helical spring.