JP2002137741A - Horn switch device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a horn switch device of a vehicle easy to manufacture parts and to carry out assembly work. SOLUTION: A horn unit 3 is constituted of an insulating member 4, a horn plate 6 installed on the insulating member 4 free to contact and separate from and on which a movable contact point 7 is projected and an energizing member 5 interposed between the insulating member 4 and the horn plate 6 and to energize the horn plate 6 in a direction to be separated from the insulating member 4, the horn unit 3 is mounted on a steering wheel 1 by inserting both end parts of the horn unit 3 in a holding part 1j formed on the steering wheel side from a direction to cross with the working direction of the horn plate 6, the horn unit 3 can be constituted of the insulating member 4, the energizing member 5 and the horn plate 6, and accordingly, it is easy to manufacture the parts and to carry out the assembly work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a horn switch device for a vehicle provided on a steering wheel of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional horn switch device of this type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-191414.

The horn switch device disclosed in the above publication includes first and second contact plates having contacts, a coil spring for urging the contact plates in a separating direction, and a first and a second contact plates.
-Consists of guide pins that are inserted into the second contact plates and guide the movement of these contact plates in the contact and separation directions.

In order to electrically insulate the second contact plate and the guide pin, an insulating spacer is fitted to the guide pin, and an insertion hole of the second contact plate is fitted to the outer periphery of the spacer. In addition, the spacer also serves as a spring seat, and an upper end of a coil spring for urging the second contact plate upward is abutted from below.

[0005]

However, like the horn switch device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the second contact plate is slidably supported vertically via a spacer inserted into the guide pin, and is inserted into the guide pin. When the second contact plate is urged upward by a coil spring, the number of parts is large, so that many man-hours are required to manufacture parts and assemble the parts, and the work efficiency is poor. There is a problem that the switch device becomes expensive.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive horn switch device for a vehicle which can easily manufacture and assemble parts.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a horn switch device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a movable horn unit provided on a horn unit by pressing a pad attached to a steering wheel via a horn unit. A horn switch device for a vehicle in which a contact is brought into contact with a fixed contact provided on a steering wheel side so as to sound a horn, wherein a horn unit is attached to an insulating member and an insulating member so as to be freely separated from and separated from the insulating member, A horn plate having a movable contact protruding therefrom, and an urging member interposed between the insulating member and the horn plate, and urging the horn plate in a direction away from the insulating member, and
The horn unit is attached to the steering wheel by inserting both ends of the horn unit into holding portions formed on the steering wheel side in a direction intersecting with the operating direction of the horn plate.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the horn unit can be composed of the insulating member, the urging member, and the horn plate. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional horn switch device, and thus the man-hours for manufacturing and assembling the parts can be reduced. And the cost of the horn switch device can be reduced.

Further, since the horn unit is mounted on the steering wheel by inserting both ends of the horn unit into the holding portion formed on the steering wheel side, the horn unit can be mounted in a short time. The horn unit can be easily inserted and the horn unit is inserted into the holding part from the direction crossing the horn plate operating direction. Never get out.

In order to achieve the above object, a horn switch device for a vehicle according to the present invention engages between a holding portion formed on a steering wheel side and both end portions of a horn unit inserted into the holding portion. The groove and the ridge are formed.

According to the above construction, the horn unit can be attached to the steering wheel with high accuracy, and when the horn unit is attached to the steering wheel in advance and the steering wheel is transferred, or when the steering wheel is attached to the steering shaft, the horn unit is used. Since the mounting position of the horn unit does not shift or the horn unit does not come off from the steering wheel, the workability is very good.

In order to achieve the above object, a horn switch for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided with rectangular tubular pockets having opposing surfaces opened at both ends of an insulating member, and fitting both ends of a horn plate into these pockets. In addition, an urging member made of a leaf spring is interposed between the insulating member and the horn plate.

According to the above configuration, the urging member and the horn plate can be incorporated into the insulating member simply by inserting both ends of the urging member and the horn plate into the pockets.
The assembling work of the horn unit is facilitated.

In order to achieve the above object, a horn switch device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that rectangular tubular pockets having opposing surfaces open are formed at both ends of an insulating member, and both ends of a horn plate are formed in these pockets. A biasing member made of a coil spring is interposed between the inner bottom surface of the pocket and the lower surface on both ends of the horn plate.

According to the above configuration, since the urging member can be incorporated in the pocket, the horn unit can be made compact.

In order to achieve the above object, a horn switch device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that both ends of a horn unit are inserted into holding portions from opposite surfaces of a holding portion formed on a steering wheel side. Pads are mounted between brackets protruding from the horn plate.

According to the above construction, the pad can be easily and securely attached to the horn unit, and the horn unit can be prevented from falling out of the holding portion by the pad. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate slip-out preventing means. Can also be simplified.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted plan view of a steering wheel provided with a horn switch device, and FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along line A, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the horn switch device, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the horn switch.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel, which is provided with a boss plate 1a at the center, and an annular rim 1c at the tip of a plurality of spokes 1b projecting radially from the boss plate 1a. Is provided.

A pair of bridge portions 1d for mounting a horn unit 3 described later are provided between the adjacent spoke portions 1b so as to be parallel to each other, and the tip of each spoke portion 1b is formed in an annular rim portion. The ends of the rim 1c and the spokes 1b are covered with a cover 1f made of a soft material such as urethane.

A boss 1e for attaching the steering wheel 1 to a steering shaft (not shown) is provided at the center of the boss plate 1a, and tools are screwed on both sides of the boss 1e when the steering wheel 1 is pulled out from the steering shaft. A puller hole 1g is provided, and a pad 2 in which an airbag device (not shown) is installed is mounted on a top surface of the boss plate 1a via a pair of horn units 3.

The horn unit 3 has an elongated insulating member 4 as shown in FIGS.

The insulating member 4 is formed, for example, by injection molding of a nylon resin, and has rectangular cylindrical pockets 4a having open opposite surfaces at both ends, and a plate between the bottom surfaces of these pockets 4a. It is integrally connected by the base part 4b of the shape.

At both ends of the base portion 4b, positioning holes 4c for positioning the horn unit 3 with respect to the boss plate 1a are opened by fitting with positioning protrusions 1h projecting from the upper surface of the boss plate 1a. At the same time, a positioning pin 4k is projected from the center of the upper surface of the base portion 4b, and a positioning hole 5a formed in the center of the urging member 5 is fitted to the positioning pin 4k.

The biasing member 5 is formed of an elongated plate spring, and flat portions 5b and 5c are formed at a center portion and both end portions. Between the flat portions 5b and 5c, the center side is low and the both ends are flat. They are connected by an inclined portion 5d which is inclined so as to become higher in order.

The central flat portion 5b is placed on the insulating member 4 so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the base portion 4b of the insulating member 4, and the flat portions 5c at both ends are insulated together with both ends of the horn plate 6. It is inserted into the pocket 4a of the member 4.

The horn plate 6 is formed of an elongated metal plate, and the lower surfaces at both ends thereof are in close contact with the upper surfaces of the flat portions 5c at both ends of the urging member 5, and a U-shape formed at the tip of the flat portion 5c. A slit 5e is inserted into a movable contact 7 protruding from the lower surface on both ends of the horn plate 6, and a tip of the horn plate 6 has a pair of ribs 4d protruding from the inner end surface of the pocket 4a. It is inserted between the notches 4e on the lower end side.

A terminal 5f is provided on the central flat portion 5b of the urging member 5.
A connector 8a provided at the other end of the harness 8, one end of which is connected to a horn (not shown), is connected to the terminal 5f, and the terminal 5f projects from the lower surface of both ends of the horn plate 6. Below the movable contact 7, fixed contacts 9 embedded at both ends of the bridge portion 1d are provided. By bringing the movable contact 7 into contact with the fixed contact 9, a horn switch circuit (not shown) is closed. The horn sounds.

Further, on the side edge of the center of the horn plate 6,
The bracket 6a is formed by bending upward at substantially right angles.

The bracket 6a fixes the pad 2 in which the airbag device is mounted on the horn unit 3. A positioning projection (not shown) projecting from a side surface of the pad 2 is fitted to a corner at the upper end. By combining, pad 2
A notch 6b for positioning is formed, and a guide projection 6c for guiding both sides of the pad 2 when the pad 2 is inserted between the brackets 6a of the left and right horn units 3 is formed at an upper edge thereof. A mounting hole 6d for inserting a fixing tool 10 for fixing the pad 2 to the bracket 6a is formed substantially at the center of the bracket 6a.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the pocket 4a of the insulating member 4,
The steps 4f and 4g are formed over two steps, and the pocket 4a is formed.
Has a U-shaped notch 4h from which the fixed contact 9 protrudes.
Are formed.

The step 4 formed on the upper surface of the pocket 4a
The f and 4g are integrally formed on the boss plate 1a, and are fitted to the hook-shaped holding portions 1j whose surfaces facing each other are open from a direction intersecting with the operating direction of the horn plate 6, thereby forming the boss plate 1a. The horn unit 3 is for positioning and fixing the horn unit 3 on the holding portion 1j side. The step portion 1k fits into the step portions 4f and 4g formed on the upper surface of the pocket 4a, and the step portion 4f of the pocket 4a is formed. A protrusion 1m is formed to fit into the recessed groove 4i.

4 and 5, reference numeral 12 denotes a clip for fixing the harness 8, which protrudes from the lower portion of the side surface of the pocket 4a.

Next, the operation of the horn switch device configured as described above will be described.

Before assembling the horn unit 3 to the steering wheel 1, the horn unit 3 is assembled.

The horn unit 3 is assembled by the urging member 5
With both ends of the horn plate 6 placed on the flat portions 5c on both ends of the horn plate 6, first, the urging member 5 and one end of the horn plate 6 are inserted into one pocket 4a of the insulating member 4, and The tip is pushed down to the notch 4e of the rib 4d protruding inside the pocket 4a, and the tip of the horn plate 6 is inserted between the ribs 4d.

Next, the base portion 4b of the insulating member 4 is elastically deformed in an arc shape, and the urging member 5 and the other end of the horn plate 6 are inserted into the other pocket 4a. Is inserted between the ribs 4d in the pocket 4a. At this time, a positioning hole 5a formed in the center of the urging member 5 is fitted to a positioning pin 4k protruding from the upper surface of the base portion 4b. The combination prevents the biasing member 5 from being displaced at the same time as the biasing member 5 is positioned with respect to the insulating member 4.

After the horn unit 3 is assembled as described above, the pocket 4a of the insulating member 4 is
The horn plate 6 is inserted into the holding portion 1j protruding from the direction a from the direction intersecting the operating direction of the horn plate 6, that is, the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG.

At this time, the fixed contact 9 protruding from the upper surface of the boss plate 1a is inserted into a notch 4h formed on the bottom surface of the pocket 4a, and a positioning hole opened in the base 4b of the insulating member 4. The horn unit 3 is fitted to the positioning projection 1h projecting from the upper surface of the boss plate 1a to position the horn unit 3 with respect to the boss plate 1a, and the step 1k formed in the holding portion 1j corresponds to the pocket 4a. The boss plate is fitted to the step portions 4f and 4g formed on the upper surface, and furthermore, the ridge 1m protruding from the holding portion 1j is fitted to the concave groove 4i formed on the upper surface of the step portion 4f. 1
The horn unit 3 is positioned and fixed with respect to a.

As described above, the left and right horn units 3
Is fixed to the boss plate 1a.
The pad 2 provided in the airbag device is fitted from above to a bracket 6a protruding from the horn plate 6, and a plurality of, for example, four rubber legs protruding from the bottom surface of the pad 2. The portion 2a is placed on the horn plate 6 as shown in FIG. 3, and in this state, the fixing tool 10 inserted through the mounting hole 6d of the bracket 6a is screwed into both side surfaces of the pad 2 to put the pad 2 on the horn plate 6. The horn plate 6 is urged from below by the urging member 5 so that both ends of the horn plate 6 contact the upper surface of the inside of the pocket 4a. Therefore, an appropriate gap can be maintained between the movable contact 7 and the fixed contact 9.

When the upper surface of the pad 2 is pressed against the urging force of the urging member 5 in this state, the horn plate 6 is lowered, and the movable contact 7 projecting from the lower surface of the horn plate 6 is fixed. 9, and the horn switch circuit is closed, so that the horn can be sounded.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the urging member 5, which will be described below.

The same parts as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this modification, the horn plate 6 is urged upward by using a coil spring 5A as the urging member 5, and the two members are connected to each other substantially at the center of the base portion 4b. The lower end of the coil spring 5A housed in the pocket 4a of the insulating member 4 thus formed abuts on the inner bottom surface of the pocket 4a so as to surround the fixed contact 9, and the upper end of the coil spring 5A is movable. It is in contact with the lower surface of the horn plate 6 so as to surround the contact 7.

As a result, the horn plate 6 is urged upward by the coil spring 5A so that the upper surfaces at both ends of the horn plate 6 contact the upper inner surface of the pocket 4a. As a result, the horn plate 6 is pushed down, and the movable contact 7 protruding from the lower surface of the horn plate 6 comes into contact with the fixed contact 9, so that the horn can be sounded.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modified example of the pocket 4a provided in the insulating member 4. A buffer rib 13 for absorbing an impact is provided in the pocket 4a so as to project integrally with the pocket 4a.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cushioning ribs 13 are provided with a plurality of ridges 13a standing from the inner bottom surface of the pocket 4a.
A large number of concave grooves 13b are formed in the horizontal direction on both side surfaces of each of the ridges 13a so that when a shock is applied to the tip of the ridge 13a, each ridge 13a buckles to absorb the shock. As shown in FIG. 8, the ridge 13a may be formed in a hook shape to absorb the impact. By making the tip of the ridge 13a a hook, the height of the ridge 12a shown in FIG. Height H compared
2 can be lowered.

As described above, by providing the shock absorbing ribs 13 in the pockets 4a, even if the occupant collides with the pad 2 with such an impact that the airbag device accommodated in the pad 2 does not operate. Since the shock absorbing ribs 13 absorb the impact, effects such as protection of the occupant from the impact can be obtained.

[0050]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides an insulating member, a horn plate which is attached to and detachable from the insulating member and has movable contacts protruding therefrom, and a horn plate interposed between the insulating member and the horn plate. And a biasing member for biasing the horn plate in a direction away from the insulating member, the both ends of the horn unit intersect with the operating direction of the horn plate on the holding portion formed on the steering wheel side. The horn unit is attached to the steering wheel by inserting from the direction, and the horn unit can be composed of the insulating member, the urging member, and the horn plate. The number of parts can be significantly reduced by this, which can reduce the number of man-hours for manufacturing and assembling parts and reduce the cost of the horn switch device. Uninaru.

Further, since the horn unit is attached to the steering wheel by fitting both ends of the horn unit into the holding portions formed on the steering wheel side, the horn unit can be easily attached in a short time. And the horn unit is inserted into the holding part from the direction intersecting the operating direction of the horn plate, so that the horn unit comes out of the holding part even if the horn plate is strongly pressed by the pad. Not even.

Further, a concave groove and a ridge for engaging with each other are formed between a holding portion formed on the steering wheel side and both end portions of the horn unit to be inserted into the holding portion. The horn unit can be mounted with high accuracy. Since the unit does not come off, the workability is very good.

Further, both ends of the horn unit are inserted into the holding portion from opposite sides of the holding portion formed on the steering wheel side, and pads are mounted between brackets projecting from the horn plate. As a result, the pad can be easily and reliably attached to the horn unit, and the pad prevents the horn unit from slipping out of the holding portion. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate slip-out preventing means, thereby providing the pad with The mounting structure can also be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a steering wheel to which a horn switch device of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the horn switch device of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a horn unit included in the horn switch device of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of an urging member constituting the horn switch device of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the insulating member constituting the horn switch device of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the insulating member constituting the horn switch device of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 1j Holding part 1m Ridge 2 Pad 3 Horn unit 4 Insulating member 4a Pocket 4i Concave groove 5 Urging member 5A Coil spring 6 Horn plate 6a Bracket 7 Movable contact 9 Fixed contact

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D030 DB75 DB77 3D054 AA13 AA26 FF17 5G006 AA02 AB06 AC02 AC05 BA01 BB02 BC04 CB01 CD02 DD01 HB02 LG03 5G023 AA01 AA12 AA20 BA05 BA12 CA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A movable contact provided on the horn unit is brought into contact with a fixed contact provided on the steering wheel side by pressing a pad attached to a steering wheel via a horn unit,
A horn switch device for a vehicle configured to sound a horn, wherein the horn unit includes an insulating member, a horn plate that is attached to and detachable from the insulating member, and the movable contact protrudes; A biasing member interposed between the member and the horn plate, and biasing the horn plate in a direction away from the insulating member, and both end portions of the horn unit are formed on the steering wheel side. A horn switch device for a vehicle, wherein the horn unit is attached to the steering wheel by fitting the horn unit into the holding portion in a direction intersecting the operating direction of the horn plate. 2. A groove and a ridge that engage with each other are formed between a holding portion formed on the steering wheel side and both end portions of the horn unit to be inserted into the holding portion. The horn switch device for a vehicle according to claim 1. 3. A rectangular tube-shaped pocket having an opening at an opposing surface is formed at both ends of the insulating member, and both ends of the horn plate are fitted into these pockets, and the insulating member and the horn plate are inserted. 3. The horn switch device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an urging member formed of a leaf spring is interposed therebetween. 4. At both ends of said insulating member are formed rectangular cylindrical pockets each having an open facing surface, and both ends of said horn plate are inserted into said pockets, and said inner bottom face of said pocket and said 3. The horn switch device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an urging member formed of a coil spring is interposed between lower surfaces of both ends of the horn plate. 5. Both ends of the horn unit are inserted into the holding portion from opposite surfaces of a holding portion formed on the steering wheel side, and between brackets protruding from the horn plate. 5. The horn switch device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pad is attached.