Patent ID: RE39314

Claim:
An apparatus for enclosing an air bag on a steering wheel of a vehicle having a horn, said apparatus comprising: an inner cover having a first wall at least partially enclosing the air bag and including means for defining a first tear seam which extends across said first wall and along which said inner cover ruptures upon inflation of the air bag to enable deployment of the air bag; an outer cover having a second wall at least partially enclosing said inner cover and the air bag and including means for defining a second tear seam which extends across said second wall and along which said outer cover ruptures upon inflation of the air bag to enable deployment of the air bag; and a horn switch disposed between said inner and outer covers for effecting operation of the horn, said horn switch including first and second overlying layers of electrically conductive material and first and second tear seams in said horn switch along which said horn switch ruptures upon inflation of the air bag to enable deployment of the air bag, said first and second tear seams in said horn switch being aligned with said first and second tear seams in said inner and outer covers and having a combined length less than the length of each of said first and second tear seams in said inner and outer covers.