JPH05139318A - Horn switch of steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the horn switch of a steering wheel which eliminates a bottomed feeling at horn operation and secures a soft touch and provides a moderation feeling. CONSTITUTION:Two contact points 11 and 12 which operate a horn by the mutual contact are arranged oppositely. While, one contact point 12 is formed at the top edge side of a leaf spring 13, and supported on a rib 14 arranged on the periphery on the reverse surface side. The rib 14 is arranged on the top edge side of the leaf spring 13, and is equipped with a supporting part 15 which is arranged, keeping a gap (h) from the leaf spring 13, and a contact part 16 which always contacts the leaf spring 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a horn switch arranged on a steering wheel of an automobile, and more particularly,
The present invention relates to a horn switch having contacts arranged on the tip side of a leaf spring.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a horn switch of a steering wheel in which a contact is arranged on the tip side of a leaf spring of this type is
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-139885, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-542.
No. 12 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-112166 are known.

[0003] In these horn switches, two contacts for operating the horn by contacting each other are arranged so as to face each other, and one of the contacts is formed on the tip side of the leaf spring, and the back surface is also formed. It is supported by ribs arranged around the sides.

The following three types of supports are provided for the ribs of the contacts on the leaf spring side.

The first type is, as shown in FIG. 5, a type in which ribs 4 are evenly abutted and supported on the entire circumference of the rear surface of the contact 2 (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-139885). ).

The second type is, as shown in FIG. 6, a rib 4 on the tip side of the leaf spring 3 around the back surface of the contact 2.
It is a type that abuts against and supports (actually 63-54
No. 212).

The third type is, as shown in FIG. 7, a rib 4 on the base side of the leaf spring 3 around the back side of the contact 2.
Abutting against and supporting (Actually open 62-12116
No. 6).

[0008]

However, in both the first and second types of the prior art, it is difficult to lower the rib 4 after the contact point 2 comes into contact with the contact point 1 during operation of the horn, so that a large bottom feeling is felt. It gave a hard operation feeling.

Further, in the third conventional type, when the horn is operated, after the contact 2 comes into contact with the contact 1, the portion of the leaf spring 3 in contact with the rib 4 around the contact 2 is bent, so that the rib 4 is formed. It descended greatly, and there was no sense of moderation during operation.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a horn switch for a steering wheel that eliminates the feeling of bottoming out when the horn is operated, providing a soft feel and a moderation feeling. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

In the horn switch according to the present invention, two contacts for operating the horn by contacting each other are arranged to face each other, and one of the contacts is
A horn switch of a steering wheel, which is formed on the tip side of a leaf spring and is supported by ribs arranged around the back side, wherein the rib is arranged on the tip side of the leaf spring, It is characterized in that it is provided with a support portion which is arranged with a gap from the leaf spring, and a contact portion which is arranged on the base side of the leaf spring and is in constant contact with the leaf spring.

[0012]

In the horn switch according to the present invention, at the time of operating the horn, first, it is possible to obtain a feeling that the contacts are in contact with each other. Since the tip end side of the leaf spring is spaced from the rib support portion, the base portion side of the leaf spring contacting the rib abutting portion around the leaf spring side contact can be bent and the bottoming It does not give a feeling.

Then, even if the base portion side of the leaf spring contacting the rib contact portion around the leaf spring side contact is bent, the tip end side of the leaf spring around the leaf spring side contact becomes the rib support portion. Since the contact is made and the bending thereof is regulated, it is possible to obtain a feeling of moderation.

Therefore, in the horn switch of the steering wheel according to the present invention, when the horn is operated, it is possible to eliminate the feeling of bottoming out, to give a soft feeling and to obtain a moderation feeling.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, two horn switches S of the embodiment are arranged on the left and right edge sides of the pad 10 located above the boss B at the center of the steering wheel W. ..

One contact 11 of each horn switch S is
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, both ends of a metal leaf spring 13 fixedly attached to the upper surface of the impact energy absorber 30 made of sheet metal and the other contact 12 are arranged insulated from the upper surface of the impact energy absorber 30. Is stuck to. In the case of the embodiment, the contact 11 is formed of a copper plate and the contact 12 is formed of phosphor bronze, but the leaf spring 13 and the impact energy absorber 30 can be formed without separately forming another member. It may be formed by protruding a part.

Each leaf spring 13 is fixed at its center to the impact energy absorber 30 by means of the spacers 17 and 18 made of synthetic resin having a large size and a small size. A terminal 20 is fixed to the rivet 19 when the rivet 19 is stopped. A lead wire 21 that is electrically connected to the positive side of the horn switch circuit is connected to the terminal 20.

In the case of the embodiment, the base portion 1 of the leaf spring 13 is
3a refers to the center where the rivets 19 are stopped, and the tip side of the leaf spring 13 refers to the side where each contact 12 is provided.

The pad 10 arranged above each leaf spring 13 is provided with a rib 14 arranged on the lower surface around the contact 12 on the upper surface of each leaf spring 13, and with respect to the impact energy absorber 30. It is provided with three locking legs 10a and three cylindrical portions 10b for preventing the slip-off.

Each locking leg 10a is locked in a locking hole 31 formed at three points of the impact energy absorber 30, and each cylinder portion 10b is a group formed at three points of the impact energy absorber 30. An annular rubber cushion 23 is inserted from below the attaching hole 32 to form a synthetic resin flanged spacer 2
2 is fastened with a screw 24, and the pad 10 is attached to the impact energy absorber 30 by these locking and screwing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each rib 14 is composed of two supporting portions 15 and an abutting portion 16 extending downward of the pad 10. Each support 15
Is arranged near the tip of the leaf spring 13 around the contact 12, and is formed with a gap h from the leaf spring 13. Each contact portion 16 is arranged on the base portion 13a side of the leaf spring 13 and is formed so as to always contact the leaf spring 13.

The impact energy absorber 30 is provided with four locking legs 33 which are arranged so as to extend downward at four locations.
(See FIG. 3) is locked in a locking hole (not shown) formed in the main body of the steering wheel W, and as shown in FIG. 4, the mounting piece 34 formed at the bottom is attached to the boss of the main body of the steering wheel W. By attaching the screw 25 to the cored bar Bc, it is attached to the main body of the steering wheel W. And the impact energy absorber 3
0 is a screw 2 on the boss core metal Bc of the steering wheel W
5 is stopped, each contact point 11 arranged on the impact energy absorber 30 becomes
It is electrically connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operation circuit through 0 / the boss core metal Bc.

In the horn switch S constructed as described above, when the pad 10 is pushed down, first, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Further, even if an operating load is applied, the tip end side of the leaf spring 13 around the leaf spring side contact 12 is spaced apart from the support portion 15 of the rib 14 by a gap h, so that the rib contact portion 16 around the leaf spring side contact 12 is provided. Leaf spring 1 in contact with
The base side of 3 can be bent and does not give a feeling of bottoming out.

Then, the rib contact portion 1 around the leaf spring side contact point 1
Even if the base portion 13a side of the leaf spring 13 in contact with 6 bends, the tip end side of the leaf spring 13 around the leaf spring side contact 12 comes into contact with the rib support portion 15 as shown in FIG. Since the flexure is restricted, a feeling of moderation can be obtained, and the same effect as that described in the section of the operation and effect of the invention described above can be obtained.

Note that the stroke amount (overstroke amount) of the horn switch S until the support portion 15 of the rib 14 abuts on the tip side of the leaf spring 13 after the contact point 12 first contacts the contact point 11 is the support amount. By changing the protrusion length of the portion 15 or the like to change the gap h between the supporting portion 15 and the leaf spring 13, it is possible to make an appropriate change.

In the embodiment, the rib 14 arranged around the leaf spring side contact 12 is composed of the support portion 15 and the contact portion 16 which are separated from each other. Is formed in a cylindrical shape such as a cylindrical shape or a square tubular shape, and a support portion spaced apart from the leaf spring centering on the contact 12 and a contact portion that is always in contact with the leaf spring are formed on the lower end surface of the tapered surface. You may make it form using such as.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
I-I site of is shown.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a supporting portion of a rib of the embodiment is in contact with a leaf spring.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted plan view of a steering wheel in which the embodiment is arranged.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a steering wheel in which the embodiment is arranged.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional horn switch.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another example of a conventional horn switch.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing still another example of a conventional horn switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 11, 12, ... contacts, 3.13, leaf spring, 4.14, rib, 15 ... support part, 16 ... contact part, h ... gap, S ... horn switch, W ... steering wheel.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Two contact points for operating a horn by contacting each other are arranged so as to face each other, and one of the contact points is formed on the tip side of the leaf spring and is arranged around the back side. A horn switch of a steering wheel supported by a rib, wherein the rib is disposed on a tip side of the leaf spring, and a support portion is arranged with a gap from the leaf spring, and an original portion of the leaf spring. A horn switch for a steering wheel, comprising: an abutting portion which is disposed on the side of the leaf spring and which is in constant contact with the leaf spring.