US5371333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering wheel pad with improved horn switch assembly
Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Filing: 1993-05-27
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2013-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel pad is provided which includes a non-conductive inner member. The pad has a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on the inner member. The horn switch has terminals. The pad includes a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch. An air bag device is accommodated in the inner member. A conductive bag support is provided with the air bag device for attaching the air bag device to the inner member. The pad has a conductive bracket and a conductive coupling member having a rod section and engaging sections at opposing ends thereof. The bracket is disposed at an outer side of the outer member. The rod section of the coupling member is inserted into bores of the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket. The engaging sections of the coupling member contact with the bag support and bracket so that the bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and bracket are connected with each other, and the bracket is electrically connected to the terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Kanai
- 👤 Michio Inoue
- 👤 Junichi Mizutani
- 👤 Takanori Kantoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:16
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165; B60R21/21656; B60R21/21658; B60Q; B60Q5/00; B60Q5/001; B60Q5/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A steering wheel pad comprising: a non-conductive inner member; a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals; a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch; an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member; a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member; a conductive bracket; and a conductive coupling member, said conductive bracket being disposed at an outer side of the outer member, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket together, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A steering wheel pad comprising: a non-conductive inner member; a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals; a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch; an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member; a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member; a conductive bracket; and a conductive coupling member, said conductive bracket being disposed at an outer side of the outer member, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket together, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the conductive coupling member includes a rod portion and engaging portions at opposing ends of the rod portion, said rod portion being inserted into bores of the support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, said engaging sections contacting the conductive bag support and conductive bracket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the outer member is made of soft synthetic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 3, wherein the outer member has a plurality of ribs that abut the horn switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the horn switch has a switch body that includes a conductive base plate and a pair of conductive contact plates disposed on opposing surfaces of the base plate, one of the contact plates contacting the base plate to form an electrical connection when the switch body is depressed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein the air bag device includes an inflator fixed to the inner member by the bag support, an air bag being accommodated between the inflator and the inner member in a folded state, the air bag being inflated by nitrogen gas generated within the inflator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 6, wherein the inner member is made of rigid synthetic resin, the inner member having a plurality of notches, said notches permitting breaking of the inner member when the air bag is inflated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 2, wherein the conductive bracket has a projection protruded toward the outer member, the projection being accommodated in a bore of the outer member, an outer periphery of the projection contacting an outer surface of the outer member, the rod portion of the conductive coupling member being coupled with the projection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 1, wherein one of the inner member and the horn switch includes a positioning post, the post engaging a bore of the other of the inner member and the horn switch to align the inner member and the horn switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 9, wherein the post has a non-circular cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of the post is larger than an opening area of the bore, and a plurality of notches are formed around the bore to enlarge the opening area of the bore during engagement with the post.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 5, wherein the inner member has a plurality of positioning sections which engage the horn switch to position the switch body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 5, wherein non-conductive spacers are provided between each of the contact plates and the base plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 13, wherein the spacers include a belt-shaped spacer disposed on an outer periphery of the base plate, and a plurality of pellet shaped spacers disposed at upper and lower sides of the base plate in a middle portion thereof, arrangements of the pellet shaped spacers disposed at the upper and lower sides of the base plate being different from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A steering wheel pad comprising: a non-conductive inner member; a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals and a switch body; the inner member having a plurality of positioning sections for engaging the horn switch to position the switch body; a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch; an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member; a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member; a conductive bracket having a projection protruded toward an outer portion thereof; and a conductive coupling member; the projection of the conductive bracket being housed in a bore provided in the outer member, an outer periphery of the projection contacting with an outer surface of the outer member, the horn switch being positioned on the inner member by the positioning sections, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A steering wheel pad comprising: a non-conductive inner member; a pressure sensitive horn switch disposed on top of the inner member, the horn switch having terminals and a switch body; the inner member having a plurality of positioning sections for engaging the horn switch to position the switch body; a non-conductive outer member covering surfaces of the inner member and the horn switch; an air bag device disposed in a space defined by surfaces of the inner member; a conductive bag support for attaching the air bag device to the inner member; a conductive bracket having a projection protruded toward an outer portion thereof; and a conductive coupling member; the projection of the conductive bracket being housed in a bore provided in the outer member, an outer periphery of the projection contacting with an outer surface of the outer member, the horn switch being positioned on the inner member by the positioning sections, the conductive coupling member coupling the conductive bag support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, thereby electrically connecting the conductive bracket to the terminals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 15, wherein the conductive coupling member includes a rod portion and engaging portions at opposing ends of the rod portion, the rod portion being inserted into bores of the support, inner member, terminals, outer member and conductive bracket, the engaging sections contacting the conductive bag support and bracket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 15, wherein one of the inner member and the horn switch includes a positioning post, the post engaging a bore of the other of the inner member and the horn switch to align the inner member and the horn switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 17, wherein the post has a non-circular cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The steering wheel pad according to claim 17, wherein a cross-sectional area of the pad is larger than an opening area of the bore, and a plurality of notches are formed around the bore to enlarge the opening area of the bore during engagement with the post.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |