Air bag cover door horn switch and cover band

Claim 1

A cover door assembly (10) for a steering wheel mounted air bag assembly of the type which breaks open when the air bag is activated, said cover door comprising: a top wall (12) including an outer periphery defining an inside surface (14) facing the air bag assembly when said cover door (10) is installed and an oppositely disposed outside surface (16), said top wall (12) being made from a predetermined material; said top wall (12) including at least one tear seam (18) comprising material which is mechanically weaker than said predetermined material; horn switching means (20) disposed adjacent said outside surface (16) for generating an electrical signal in response to a predetermined horn actuating force being applied to said horn switching means (20), said outside surface defining an elongated channel (36) extending across said top wall (12), said horn switching means being disposed in said channel; a cover band (22) extending over and concealing said horn switching means (20), said cover band (22) including an outer surface directly accessible to engagement by a driver's hand for applying a force through said cover band (22) for generating the predetermined horn actuating force; said cover band (22) including removable attachment means for moving between an engaged position in which said cover band (22) is fixed with respect to said cover door (10) and a disengaged position in which said cover band (22) is not fixed with respect to said cover door (10) whereby said cover band may be removed from said cover door (10) to replace said horn switching means (20), said cover band (22) includes an elongated strip having first and second ends and said attachment means includes a first flange extending from said first end and a second flange extending from said second end.