JP2002087280A - Horn switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a horn switch capable of reliably returning a module cover (or an airbag device) to a regular position when the module cover (or the airbag device) is returned, and preventing generation of an excessive space around the module cover. SOLUTION: A movable side terminal 50 is fitted to a suspension piece 57 of the module cover 16A, and pressed upwardly by a spring 48. A fixed side terminal 46 is fitted to a bracket 28A fixed to a steering wheel. A shaft 60 is inserted in an opening 54 of the movable side terminal 50. A root part of a stopper 61 of the shaft 60 forms a tapered part 64, and a tapered part 58 of an edge of the opening 54 is engaged therewith.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a horn switch installed on a steering of an automobile, and more particularly, to a horn switch that blows a horn by pressing a module cover of an airbag device installed on the steering.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag device for a driver's seat installed on a steering wheel includes a retainer, an airbag having a peripheral portion of a gas introduction port attached to the retainer, a module cover for covering the folded airbag, An inflator for gas generation. When the inflator operates to generate gas, the airbag is inflated, the module cover is broken, and the airbag is largely deployed in the vehicle compartment.

A conventional example of a steering structure in which the horn switch is turned on by pressing the airbag device and the horn blows will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).

As shown in FIG. 7A, the steering 1 is
The airbag device 10 includes a wheel portion 2 and a spoke portion 3, and an airbag device 10 is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the wheel portion 2.

[0005] The airbag device 10 includes a retainer 12.
And the folded airbag 14 and the airbag 1
4, a module cover 16 connected to the retainer 12 and an inflator 18.

[0006] The tip of the inflator 18 is the retainer 1
It projects forward of the retainer 12 through the central opening of the main plate surface of the second main plate 2, and has a gas outlet 18a on the outer periphery thereof. The flange 18b of the inflator 18 is fixed to the retainer 12 by a bolt 20 and a nut (not shown).

The periphery of the gas inlet of the airbag 14 is sandwiched between the ring 24 and the retainer 12. The bolt 20 is implanted in the ring 24. The bolt 20 passes through the bolt insertion hole of the retainer 12 and the bolt insertion hole of the flange 18b of the inflator, and the nut is tightened, whereby the airbag 14 and the inflator 18 is fixed to the retainer 12. When the inflator 18 is activated due to a vehicle collision or the like, the airbag 14 is inflated and the module cover 16 is torn, and the airbag 14 is largely deployed in front of the driver's seat occupant.

The module cover 16 has spoke engaging portions 16a and 16b. The spoke engaging portions 16a and 16b are arranged on the left and right sides of the module cover 16, and the retainer 12 has an extending portion 26 that projects outward. A bracket 28 attached to the spoke portion 3 is disposed below the overhang portion 26, and a horn switch 30 is provided between the two.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the horn switch 30 includes an upper ring 32 and a lower ring 3 made of an electrically insulating synthetic resin.
4, a movable terminal 36 provided on the bottom surface of the upper ring 32, a fixed terminal 38 provided on the upper surface of the lower ring 34, and a spring 40 for urging the upper ring 32 and the lower ring 34 away from each other. And a shaft 42 passing through the upper ring 32 and the lower ring 34.

The upper ring 32 is fixed to the overhang portion 26.
Flanges 42a and 42b are provided at both upper and lower ends of the shaft 42, and are in contact with the upper surface of the upper ring 32 and the lower surface of the lower ring 34 so that the upper ring 32 and the lower ring 34 are not separated by a predetermined distance or more.

The airbag device 10 as a whole can be moved up and down. When the airbag device 10 is pushed, the overhang portion 26 and the upper ring 32 move downward, and the movable terminal 3 is moved.
6 comes into contact with the fixed terminal 38 and the horn switch 3
0 turns ON.

In FIG. 7, the airbag device 10 moves up and down as a whole. However, an airbag device in which the retainer 12 is fixed to the steering wheel 1 and only the module cover 16 moves up and down has been developed. ing. In this case, the movable terminal 36 is connected to the overhang portion 26 of the retainer 12.
Instead, it is attached to the module cover 16.

[0013]

In the above horn switch, when the airbag device 10 is pressed in the direction of the axis of the steering shaft, the horn switch is moved back in the direction of the axis, and The device 10 returns to the normal position of the steering 1.

However, when the airbag device 10 is pushed in a direction oblique to the axis, when the airbag device 10 is moved back, the airbag device 10 is turned on the steering wheel 1.
Slightly deviates from the original position in the inside, and an excessive gap may be generated between the module cover 16 and the steering wheel unit 2.

An object of the present invention is to provide a horn switch which solves such a problem and always returns to a normal steering position when the airbag device is moved back.

[0016]

A horn switch according to the present invention comprises a fixed terminal fixed to a steering, a movable terminal movable toward and away from the fixed terminal, and a movable terminal. A shaft that guides the movement of the movable terminal, and a spring that urges the movable terminal in a direction away from the fixed terminal. A horn switch provided with a stopper for receiving the movable terminal biased by the spring at one end of the horn switch, wherein a taper portion having a shape that expands closer to the stopper is provided near the stopper on the shaft. It is a feature.

In the horn switch, when the movable terminal returns, the movable terminal accurately returns to the original position along the tapered portion of the shaft. For this reason, the airbag device provided with the movable terminal or its module cover always returns to the normal steering position.

Although the present invention can be applied to a steering in which the entire airbag apparatus moves up and down, the module cover of the airbag apparatus is provided on the movable terminal so as to be applied to an airbag apparatus in which only the module cover moves up and down. It is preferable to provide a mounting portion to the horn. When only the module cover moves up and down, the spring for return is only required to have a lower spring constant as compared with the case where the entire airbag device moves up and down, and the force for pushing the module cover to sound the horn switch is small.

According to the present invention, a leg piece is provided at the other end of the shaft to be inserted into a mounting hole of a horn switch mounting member (for example, a bracket) to mount the horn switch on the horn switch mounting member. It is preferable to adopt the configuration described above.

With this configuration, the horn switch is mounted on the module cover, and the leg of the horn switch is inserted into the mounting hole of the horn switch mounting member. It becomes possible.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a horn switch according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the operation of the horn switch according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the horn switch according to the embodiment. It is a perspective view.

The horn switch 44 according to this embodiment
Is interposed between the module cover 16A of the airbag device and the bracket 28A. The module cover 16A constitutes the upper surface of the airbag device similarly to the module cover 16. In this embodiment, the retainer of the airbag device is fixed to the steering, and only the module cover 16A can move up and down.

The bracket 28A is provided with the bracket 28
It may be attached to the spoke portion of the steering as well as to the fixedly installed retainer.

The horn switch 44 includes a fixed terminal 46 fixed to the bracket 28A and a movable terminal 50 fixed to the module cover 16A.
And a coil spring 48 for urging the terminals 46 and 50 in the separating direction, a shaft 60 for guiding the movement of the movable terminal 50, and the like.

The movable terminal 50 includes a main plate portion 52 facing the back surface of the module cover 16A, an opening (a rectangular opening in this embodiment) 54 provided at the center of the main plate portion 52, and a main plate portion 52. And a taper portion 58 formed at an edge of the opening 54. The tapered portion 58 becomes gradually narrower toward the bracket 28A, and has a shape in which the inner edge of the opening 54 is convexly curved.

The clamp portion 56 has a substantially U-shape, and strongly clamps a pair of hanging pieces 57 suspended from the back surface of the module cover 16A. Can be securely fastened. Note that the clamp portion and the hanging piece may be fixed by welding.

The shaft 60 includes a first stopper 61 disposed above the movable terminal 50 and a bracket 2.
8A, a second stopper 62 overlapping the upper surface of the shaft 8A, a shaft 63 connecting these stoppers 61, 62,
Tapered portion 64 formed at the intersection with the stopper 61
And a pair of leg pieces 65 projecting from the lower surface of the second stopper 62 and a small projection 67 projecting from the lower surface of the first stopper 61. The small projection 67 is for reducing the noise generated when the movable terminal 50 hits the spring 61.

The tapered portion 64 is provided with the first stopper 61
The larger the diameter, the larger the diameter becomes.
The outer peripheral surface of 4 is concavely curved.

The leg 65 is inserted into a mounting hole 66 provided in the bracket 28A. The leg piece 6
The shaft 60 including the shaft 5 is integrally formed of an electrically insulating synthetic resin as a whole.

The pair of leg pieces 65 can be elastically deformed in directions approaching and separating from each other. A convex portion 65a is provided on an outer surface (a surface opposite to the opposing surface) of the pair of leg pieces 65. When the leg pieces 65, 65 are inserted into the mounting holes 66,
First, the leg pieces 65 are bent in the approaching direction, and
When 5a passes through the mounting hole 66, it is restored in the separating direction by elasticity. As a result, the convex portion 65a and the second stopper 62 hold the edge of the mounting hole 66, thereby connecting the shaft 60 to the bracket 28A.

The spring 48 has a movable terminal 50.
And the second stopper 62 of the shaft 60 is interposed in an accumulated state, and constantly presses the movable side terminal 50 upward.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a normal state, the movable terminal 50 is pressed against the first stopper 61 by the repulsive force of the spring 48.

In this case, the tapered portion 58 of the movable terminal 50 and the tapered portion 64 of the shaft 60 are engaged.

When the module cover 16A is pressed in the axial direction of the steering, the movable terminal 5
0 moves back and forth so that the shaft portion 63 of the shaft 60 passes through the center of the opening 54, and when it is released from the module cover 16A, it returns exactly in the normal state shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the module cover 1
When the hand is released from the module cover 16A after the 6A is pressed in a direction oblique to the steering axis, the tapered portion 58 of the movable terminal 50 becomes the tapered portion 64 of the shaft 60 as shown in FIG. , The module cover 16A is raised, and then returns to the normal posture (FIG. 1) in which the tapered portions 58 and 64 closely overlap. Therefore, even when the module cover 16A is pushed obliquely, the module cover 16A necessarily returns to the normal position, and an excessive gap does not occur around the module cover 16A.

When the horn switch 44 is installed on the steering wheel, the clamp portion 56 of the movable terminal 50 of the horn switch 44 is engaged with the hanging piece 57 of the module cover 16A so that the module cover 1
6A. The airbag device provided with the module cover 16A with the horn switch 44 is mounted on the steering wheel, and at this time, the leg pieces 65 are inserted into the mounting holes 66 of the bracket 28A. As a result, the horn switch 44 is connected to both the module cover 16A and the bracket 28A as shown in FIG. 1, and the mounting is completed. This mounting operation is very simple.

In the above embodiment, the tapered portion 64 is concavely curved, but the shaft 60 shown in FIGS.
A conical tapered portion like the tapered portion 64A of A may be used.

Also, the shaft 60 shown in FIGS.
As in B and 60C, rib-shaped tapered portions 64B and 64C may be provided. The tapered portion 64B has a tapered surface that is concave, and the tapered portion 64C has a straight tapered portion.
4 to 6 are the same as those of the shaft 60.

FIG. 8 shows that the leg 65A is
2 shows a shaft 60 </ b> D arranged on the peripheral side of No. 2 and having a fixed leg 65 </ b> B provided at the center of the second stopper 62.

The bracket 28A includes the leg piece 65A.
And a hole 66B into which the fixed leg 65B is inserted.

The leg portion 65A has a protrusion 65a formed with a mounting hole 66.
It is locked to the edge of A. Fixed leg 65B has hole 66B
, So that the shaft 60D does not shift even if it receives a lateral force. Other symbols indicate the same parts as in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows that the shaft 60E is connected to the bracket 28.
A shows a configuration fixed by screws 65D.

A plurality of protrusions 65C project from the bottom surface of the shaft 60E, and the protrusions 65C are fitted into openings provided in the bracket 28A. Other reference numerals in FIG. 9 indicate the same parts as those in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the movable terminal 5
0 is attached to the module cover 16A,
When the entire airbag device moves up and down, it may be attached to a member extending from the retainer.

[0046]

As described above, according to the horn switch of the present invention, when the module cover (or the airbag device) returns, the module cover (or the airbag device) must return to the normal position. This prevents an excessive gap from being formed around the module cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a horn switch according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an operation of the horn switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the horn switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a shaft according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a shaft according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a shaft according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a shaft according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a shaft according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 airbag device 12 retainer 16, 16A module cover 18 inflator 28, 28A bracket 30, 44 horn switch 46 fixed terminal 48 spring 50 movable terminal 54 opening 56 clamp portion 58 taper portion 60, 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60E Shaft 61 First stopper 62 Second stopper 63 Shaft 64, 64A, 64B, 64C Taper 65, 65A Leg 65a Convex 66, 66A Mounting hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D030 DB75 3D054 AA26 BB03 FF20 5G006 AA01 AB33 AC03 BA01 BA06 BB01 BC03 CB03 CB05 CB06

Claims (3)

[Claims] A fixed terminal fixed to the steering wheel, a movable terminal movable toward and away from the fixed terminal, and a hole provided in the movable terminal. A shaft for guiding the movement of the movable terminal; and a spring for biasing the movable terminal in a direction away from the fixed terminal. One end of the shaft is biased by the spring. A horn switch provided with a stopper for receiving the movable-side terminal, wherein a horn switch is provided near the stopper on the shaft, the tapered portion having a shape that expands toward the stopper. 2. The horn switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable terminal is provided with an attachment portion to a module cover of the airbag device. 3. The horn switch mounting member according to claim 2, wherein the other end of the shaft is provided with a leg piece inserted into a mounting hole of the horn switch mounting member to mount the horn switch on the horn switch mounting member. A horn switch characterized by: