Horn system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725063-B2
Application number	US-201514623005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2015
Priority date	Feb 17, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides a horn system ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising an airbag module ( 7 ) and a cover ( 3 ) for receiving and covering the airbag module ( 7 ), wherein the cover ( 3 ) is moveable relative to the airbag module ( 7 ), and a horn circuit ( 17 ) for producing a warning signal in response to moving the cover ( 3 ) relative to the airbag module ( 7 ). The horn system according to the present invention is characterised in that it comprises at least one conductive element ( 21, 22 ) attached to a housing ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ) and displaceable between an assembling position and a holding position, wherein the conductive element ( 21, 22 ) is configured to interact with the cover ( 3 ) in the holding position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Horn system ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising an airbag module ( 7 ) having a cover ( 3 ) for covering an airbag, wherein the cover ( 3 ) is movable relative to a carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ), and a horn circuit ( 17 ) for producing a warning signal in response to moving the cover ( 3 ) relative to the carrier plate ( 8 ), wherein the horn system ( 1 ) comprises at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) attached to an underside of the carrier plate ( 8 ) and displaceable between an assembling position and a holding position, wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is configured to interact with the cover ( 3 ) in the holding position.

2. Horn system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is configured to interact with the horn circuit ( 17 ) in the holding position upon movement of the cover ( 3 ) relative to the carrier plate ( 8 ) or a steering wheel.

3. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is connected to the carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ), so that it projects beyond a circumferential edge of the carrier plate ( 8 ) in a holding or activation position and so that it does not project beyond the circumferential edge of the carrier plate ( 8 ) in an assembling position.

4. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is connected to the carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ) by means of a fixation connection formed at the carrier plate ( 8 ), so that conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is in electrical connection with a connection path ( 20 a ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) which is arranged at the carrier plate ( 8 ) during both of its positions, namely during its holding or activation position and during its assembling position.

5. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is configured to be fixedly connected to the carrier plate ( 8 ) in its holding or activation position of the airbag module ( 7 ) via at least one projection ( 29 ) formed by a bolt/nut arrangement.

6. Horn system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) comprises at least one longitudinal opening in a (z) direction vertical to its gliding direction (g) which is configured to receive the projection ( 29 ) formed by a bolt/nut arrangement and to retain it therein in both of its positions, namely during its holding or activation position and during its assembling position.

7. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is configured to contact a bottom rim ( 23 ) of the cover ( 3 ) or a steering wheel in the holding position.

8. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is formed as a substantially flat, metal sheet, and/or in that the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is arranged substantially parallel to an outer surface ( 13 ) of the carrier plate ( 8 ).

9. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is formed as a metal sheet that is bent to form a three-dimensional structure and/ or, in that the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is formed from a wire that is bent to form a flat substantially two-dimensional or a three-dimensional structure and/ or, in that the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is cast, forged, or assembled to a flat substantially two-dimensional or a three-dimensional structure.

10. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is flexible in a direction (z) of movement of the cover ( 3 ), wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) consists of or comprises a metal or other conductive portion and/ or comprises a non-conductive, bendable, second portion made from synthetic materials.

11. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein in the holding position, a distal portion ( 33 ) of the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is positioned adjacent to an activation zone ( 19 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ), wherein the horn circuit ( 17 ) is attached to the carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ) or to a steering wheel.

12. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein in the holding position, the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) biases the cover ( 3 ) so that the cover ( 3 ) is held in a nominal position.

13. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is located between an activation zone ( 19 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) and an outer surface ( 13 ) of the carrier plate ( 8 ).

14. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is glidingly sandwiched between a connection path ( 20 a ) being part of the horn circuit ( 17 ) and second protrusions ( 26 ) protruding from an outer surface ( 13 ) of the carrier plate ( 8 ).

15. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of conductive elements ( 21 , 22 ) are provided and substantially regularly distributed over an outer surface ( 13 ) of the carrier plate ( 8 ) or a surface of a steering wheel.

16. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 ) has a single tongue for contacting a contact section ( 25 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) and/or the at least one conductive element ( 22 ) has plural tongues for contacting plural contact sections ( 25 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) are provided and, wherein the contact sections ( 25 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) are substantially regularly distributed over an outer surface ( 13 ) of the carrier plate ( 8 ) or a surface of a steering wheel.

17. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is adapted to contact the activation zone ( 19 ) of the horn circuit ( 17 ) upon movement of the cover ( 3 ) with a predetermined load, and/or in that the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) is glidingly connected to the carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ).

18. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier plate ( 8 ) of the airbag module ( 7 ) substantially closes an open end ( 10 ) of the cover ( 3 ).

19. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive element ( 21 , 22 ) projects beyond a circumferential edge of the carrier plate ( 8 ) in the holding position and does not project beyond the circumferential edge of the carrier plate ( 8 ) in the assembling position.

20. Airbag Module for an automotive vehicle comprising a horn system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .

21. Horn system according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive element is formed of a metal sheet that is bent to form a three-dimensional structure to be flexible in a direction (z) of movement and which comprises at least one longitudinal opening in a (z) direction vertical to a gliding direction (g) of the conductive element which opening is configured to receive a projection ( 29 ) for fixation of the conductive element.

22. Horn system ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising a steering wheel, an airbag module ( 7 ) having a carrier plate or housing ( 8 ) for carrying an airbag and a cover ( 3 ) for covering the airbag, wherein at least the cover ( 3 ) is movable relative to the steering wheel, and a horn circuit ( 17 ) for producing a warning signal in response to moving the cover ( 3 ) r

Assignees

• Dalphi Metal Espana Sa

Inventors

• Collazo Angel
• Barandela Luis
• Grana Joaquin
• Barros Ruben

Classifications

• B60Q5/003 Primary

  mounted on the steering wheel · CPC title

• B60R21/21658 Primary

  with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches · CPC title

• B60R21/2032

  the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member · CPC title

• B60R21/2037

  the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation (horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658) · CPC title