Patent Abstract:
A horn activation system for a lightweight utility vehicle can comprises a pressure sensitive horn switch (PSHS) operably connected to a horn button. The horn button is operable with the PSHS such that pressing the horn button compresses the PSHS. The horn activation system additionally can comprise an electronic switching device communicatively connected to the PSHS. The electronic switching device is responsive to a horn activation signal transmitted by the PSHS when the PSHS is compressed in response to depression of the horn button. The horn activation system further can comprise a horn configured to receive a current flow resulting from the electronic switching device closing a horn control circuit upon receipt of the horn activation signal.

Full Description:
FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to a pressure sensitive horn switch for a vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Many known light-weight utility vehicles, such as a small cargo/maintenance vehicles, shuttle vehicles or golf cars, include a horn for producing an audible noise, sound or sequence of sounds. To activate or sound the horn, a horn switch is typically pressed. The horn switches are commonly mounted to and protrude through a vehicle floorboard behind a front wheel of the vehicle. The protrusion of such horn switches through the floorboard, leaves the horn switches vulnerable to exposure to water, rocks, dirt and other contaminates that can damage and/or destroy the horn switch. 
   SUMMARY 
   In various embodiments, a horn activation system for a lightweight utility vehicle is provided. The horn activation system can comprise a pressure sensitive horn switch (PSHS) operably connected to a horn button. The horn button is accessible and operable by an operator of the vehicle. More specifically, the horn button can be pressed and released by a vehicle operator. The horn button is operable with the PSHS such that pressing the horn button compresses the PSHS. The horn activation system additionally can comprise an electronic switching device communicatively connected to the PSHS. The electronic switching device is responsive to a horn activation signal transmitted by the PSHS when the PSHS is compressed in response to depression of the horn button. The horn activation system further can comprise a horn configured to receive a current flow resulting from the electronic switching device closing a horn control circuit upon receipt of the horn activation signal. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the light-weight utility vehicle including a horn activation system for controlling activation of a vehicle horn, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the horn activation system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a floor assembly of the vehicle including a pressure sensitive horn switch of the horn activation system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the floor assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the floor assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with various other embodiments of the present disclosure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description of various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a light-weight utility vehicle  10 , such as a small cargo/maintenance vehicle, a shuttle vehicle or a golf car, that can comprise a horn activation system  14  for controlling the operation of a vehicle horn  18 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The horn activation system  14  can comprise a pressure sensitive horn switch (PSHS)  22  communicatively connected to a horn control circuit  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The vehicle  10  also generally can comprise a seat assembly  30  mounted to a rear body section  34 , a front body section  38  and a pair of front wheels  42  that operate to steer the vehicle  10 . Additionally, the vehicle  10  can comprise a pair of rear wheels  46 , wherein at least one of the rear wheels  46  functions as a drive wheel for propelling vehicle  10  and a steering wheel  50  used to control a steering angle of the front wheels  42 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in various embodiments, the horn control circuit  26  can comprise a power source  54 , e.g., a 12V battery, that provides power, i.e., voltage across and current though the horn  18 . The horn control circuit  26  also comprises an electronic switching device  58  that is communicatively connected to the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  and controls the flow of current through the horn control circuit  26 . Generally, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  is integrated with a vehicle floor assembly  62  and operably connected to a horn button  66  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) such that depression of the horn button  66  closes the pressure sensitive horn switch  22 . The floor assembly is generally shown in  FIG. 1  and more particularly illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the floor assembly  62  can comprise a floor structure  70  and a floor mat  74  that covers at least a portion of a top surface of the floor structure  70 . The horn button  66  can be any biased or non-biased device, apparatus or formation having any suitable shape and size that can be pressed to compress the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  and activate the horn  18 , and subsequently released to allow the pressure sensitive switch  22  to decompress and deactivate the horn  18 . Operation of the horn button  66 , the horn control circuit  26  and the horn  18  is described further below. 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , in various embodiments, the horn button  66  can be a raised node or formation integrally formed into, i.e., molded into, the floor mat  74  or a device or apparatus coupled or affixed, e.g., glued, riveted, screwed or bolted, to the floor mat  74 . Generally, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  is located between the horn button  66  and the floor structure  70 . More specifically, in various embodiments, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  can be integrally formed with, i.e., molded into, the floor mat  74 . In various other implementations, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  can be coupled or affixed, e.g., glued, riveted, screwed or bolted, to a back side of the floor mat  74  or a top side of the floor structure  70 . In still other embodiments, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  can be integrally formed with, i.e., molded into, the horn button  66  that is integrally formed with or connected to the floor mat  74 . Locating the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  between the horn button  66  and the floor structure  70  conceals the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  from view. Additionally, by locating the pressure sensitive switch  22  between the horn button  66  and the floor structure  70  the floor mat  74  protects the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  from exposure to water, debris and other contaminates that could harm the pressure sensitive horn switch  22 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 5 , in various embodiments, the horn button  66  can be a raised node or formation integrally formed with, i.e., molded into, the pressure sensitive switch  22  that extends through an aperture  82  in the floor mat  74 . Or, the horn button  66  can be a device or apparatus coupled or affixed, e.g., glued, riveted, screwed or bolted, to the pressure sensitive switch  22  that extends through the aperture  82  in the floor mat  74 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , as described above, in various exemplary embodiments, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  is compressed, i.e., closed, by pressing the horn button  66 . Upon closure, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  outputs a horn activation signal  78 , e.g., a voltage output, to the electronic switching device  58  that drives or activates the electronic switching device  58  to allow a current flow through horn control circuit  26 . Accordingly, the current flows through the horn  18  activating the horn  18 , i.e., causing the horn to produce an audible noise, sound or sequence of sounds. 
   The electronic switching device  58  can be any electronic switching device suitable for receiving the horn activation signal  78  and controlling the flow of current through the horn control circuit  26 . For example, the electronic switching device  66  can be a magnetic relay switch or a solid state transistor. In various implementations, the electronic switching device  58  is normally open such that current does not flow through the horn control circuit  26  and the horn is not activated, i.e., not producing sound. When the electronic switching device  58  receives the horn activation signal  78  from the pressure sensitive horn switch  22 , the electronic switching device  58  closes to complete, or close, the horn control circuit  26 . Closing the horn control circuit  26  electrically connects the power source  54  to the horn  18  such that current flows through the horn control circuit  26  activating the horn  18 . 
   Conversely, when the horn button  66  is released, or not depressed, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  is not compressed and terminates, or does not transmit, the horn activation signal  78 . In response to the termination or absence of the horn activation signal  78 , the electronic switching device  58  opens, breaking the horn control circuit  26 , and terminating or preventing current flow through the horn control circuit  26  such that the horn  18  is not activated. Thus, the horn  18  is only activated, i.e., producing sound, when pressure is applied to the horn button  66 , for example, pressure applied by a vehicle operator stepping on the horn button  66 . 
   The pressure sensitive horn switch  22  can be any suitable pressure sensitive switch that operates to output the horn activation signal  78  to the electronic switching device  58  when pressure is applied to the horn button  66  to compress the pressure sensitive horn switch  22 . For example, the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  can be a non-contact pressure sensitive switch, a membrane switch, a tape switch, a conductive elastomer type switch or a variable resistance material type switch. 
   Thus, the horn activation system  14 , as described herein, provides a horn activation system that is easy to implement, cost efficient and locates the pressure sensitive horn switch  22  such that it is safe from exposure to water, rocks, dirt and other contaminates that can damage and/or destroy the pressure sensitive horn switch. 
   While the present teachings are described in conjunction with various embodiments, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7