Horn switch mechanism on steering wheel

Claim 1

A horn switch mechanism mounted on a steering wheel having a boss, spokes and a ring, each being formed of a metal core member covered with a covering, comprising: (a) a stationary contact plate; (b) a movable contact plate disposed upwardly away from said stationary contact plate; (c) a horn pad connected to and covering said movable contact plate; (d) spring means disposed between said movable contact plate and said stationary contact plate for normally urging said movable contact plate away from said stationary contact plate; (e) a plurality of tubular projections projecting upwardly from said stationary contact plate, each having an outside diameter and an inside diameter, said movable contact plate having plurality of bores each having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of a respective said projection, each said bore being disposed in axial registry with the corresponding one of said projections; and (f) a plurality of spacers each having a radially outwardly extending flange provided at an upper portion thereof, and each said spacer being inserted downwardly through a respective said bore of said movable contact plate onto a respective said projection and fastened so as to be secured fixedly to said stationary contact plate, said flange of each said spacer being disposed in engagement with an upper surface of said movable contact plate at a respective peripheral edge defining a respective said bore, for restricting a further upward movement of said movable contact plate in a direction axially away from said stationary contact plate as is tending to be caused by said spring means, upper ends of respective ones of said projections of said stationary contact plate each forming a first contact member, and respective lower surfaces of said movable contact plate each forming a second contact member adapted to engage a respective said first contact member.