Horn actuating means

Claim 2

An electrical switching mechanism comprising a base having a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial arms extending from said central portion; an elongated switch including first and second conductive strips normally held in spaced relation in said arms and adapted to be flexed into engagement with each other to complete an electric circuit; insulating means permanently spacing said strips in said central portion; an integral flexible actuating cover overlying said base with a central portion overlying said insulating means, said cover adapted to be deformed to flex said strips into engagement with each other; and a rigid plate between said cover and said base in said central portion, said plate having portions extending beyond said insulating means, said portions having means extending towards said strips so that application of force to a portion of the cover overlying said central portion will cause said means to flex said strips into engagement and thereby complete said circuit.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said plate includes a main body and said last means includes projections extending from said main body of said plate. 3. The combination as defined in claim 2, in which said projections are formed by deforming said main body towards said strips to produce surfaces extending parallel to respective strips of said switche.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1, further including connecting means between said plate and said cover comprising means defining a recess in said plate with said cover having a cooperating portion received in said recess and defining a second recess; an emblem received in said second recess and having an element extending through said cover and said plate; and releasable latch means on said plate cooperating with said element to releasably retain said plate, cover and emblem in assembled relation. 5. The combination as defined in claim 4, in which said element is a pin extending through an opening in said plate and said releasable latch means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs deformed from said plate and having free edges defining said opening and engaging said pin.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 5, in which said emblem is substantially oval in configuration and said recesses have a configuration corresponding substantially to this configuration of said emblem to prevent relative movement between said emblem, said cover and said plate.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1, and further includIng cooperating means between one edge of said plate and an adjacent edge of said base and defining a pivot for said plate when a force is applied adjacent an opposite edge of said plate.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said plate has a substantially planar body portion of substantially uniform thickness having first and second portions deformed from said body portion to define said last means and a central portion deformed to define a substantially oval recess, said first and second portions having planar exposed surfaces respectively extending parallel to the respective strips and said cover has a central portion laterally offset towards said plate and received in said recess, said laterally offset central portion defining an exposed second recess, and an emblem received in said second recess and having a portion cooperating with said plate to interconnect said cover and said plate.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 1, and further including a steering wheel including a rim connected to a central hub by spokes and in which said base is connected to said spokes.

Claim 9

In an electric circuit having a plurality of elongated switches extending in a plurality of directions from a common center, each switch including first and second elongated, superposed, substantially flat strips normally spaced from each other and adapted to be deflected into engagement with each other, said first and second strips being respectively interconnected adjacent said center; insulating means between said strips adjacent said center; an actuating plate having a substantially main body portion overlying said common center and having free ends extending beyond said insulating means and overlying the respective switches; projection means depending from said main body portion adjacent respective ends and aligned with the respective switches; and means for supporting said plate above said switches for universal movement such that application of a force to said plate will cause one of said projection means to actuate one of the respective switches. 11. An electric circuit as defined in claim 10, in which said switches extend upwardly at an acute angle relative to the axis of said center, and said projection means define surfaces extending substantially parallel to said respective switches and in which said main body portion extends substantially perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 10

An electric circuit as defined in claim 11, in which said projection means include portions deformed from said main body portion towards the respective switches.

Claim 11

An electric circuit as defined in claim 12, in which said actuating plate has a central portion deformed from said main body portion to define a non-circular recess with a cooperating portion of said supporting means received in said recess and securing means cooperating with said central portion and said cooperating portion to interconnect said plate and supporting means.

Claim 12

An electric circuit as defined in claim 10, in which there are two switches extending in substantially opposite directions from said center and said plate is substantially rectangular and has opposite edges spaced from said switches and said center, and further including a support for said switches with one of said edges having a depending tab cooperating with said support for said switches to define a pivot when a force is applied to the opposite edge of said plate.