JPH0741903U - Horn switch device for steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Regarding a horn switch device for a steering wheel mounted on an automobile or the like, providing a horn switch having a large area without increasing the thickness of the central portion of the steering wheel having an airbag. It is another object of the present invention to realize a horn switch device for a steering wheel that is capable of operating the horn switch quickly and reliably at any time. A steering wheel in which an airbag is housed in a case formed on a mounting portion via spokes formed at a plurality of positions of a ring-shaped member, wherein the case storing the airbag is a film. A lid member having a pressure-sensitive device on its surface is provided at a predetermined position, and when the lid member is pressed, the film pressure-sensitive device is brought into conduction to drive the horn.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a horn switch device for a steering wheel mounted on an automobile or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 For example, a steering wheel mounted on an automobile or the like is formed by a circular ring-shaped member held by a driver for maneuvering the automobile and a plurality of positions of the ring-shaped member toward the inside of the ring. And a steering wheel mounting part that integrally molds the ends of these spoke parts in common. Furthermore, the steering wheel mounting part has a wide area horn switch for making a horn sound. Was made of a material such as synthetic resin.

Further, in recent years, in order to obtain safety for the driver, for example, when an automobile collides as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, compressed air is instantaneously sent to the bag-shaped member to inflate the bag-shaped member. As a result, an increasing number of models are equipped with airbags that have a cushioning effect to prevent the driver from being injured by hitting the steering wheel or windshield.

This airbag is normally housed in a case portion provided in the central portion of the steering wheel, that is, in a portion where the horn switch is located in a steering wheel of a vehicle type not equipped with an airbag, and is provided in this case portion. It is closed by the lid.

Further, since the steering wheel having the airbag has a case portion for accommodating the airbag in the central portion, the horn switch is provided on the spoke portion or the like in order to prevent the thickness of the central portion of the steering wheel from being further increased. A small one with a small area was used.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, since the horn switch is not provided in the center of the steering wheel in a steering wheel having such an airbag, the horn switch is operated even if the operator tries to operate the horn switch in order to avoid the danger of a rash while turning. I lost the position of, and could not operate it quickly and reliably.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, the present invention is directed to a steering wheel in which an air bag is housed in a case part formed on a mounting part through spoke parts formed at a plurality of positions of a ring-shaped member, and the case for accommodating the air bag is provided. The section has a lid member provided with a film pressure sensitive device on its surface at a predetermined position, and when the lid member is pressurized, the film pressure sensitive device conducts to drive the horn. ing.

[0008]

[Action]

 According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to provide a horn switch having a large area without increasing the thickness of the central portion of the steering wheel having the airbag, and moreover, at any time, quickly and surely. It is possible to realize a horn switch device for the steering wheel that can operate the horn switch.

[0009]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <Structure of Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an overall external view showing an embodiment of an automobile steering wheel to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the steering wheel.

The steering wheel includes a circular ring portion 1, four spoke portions 2 formed from four locations on the inner circle portion of the ring portion 1 toward the inside of the ring portion 1, and the four spoke portions 2. A case part 3 for integrally molding the ends of the spoke parts 2 in common, two plate-like lid parts 4 for closing the case part 3, and an outer surface of the bottom part of the case part 3 facing the lid part 4. The mounting portion 5 formed in the above is integrally formed of synthetic resin or the like.

Inside the bottom portion of the case portion 3, a base portion of the airbag 6 is attached, and further, a flow hole (not shown) for sending compressed gas to the airbag 6 is provided. It is provided. The mounting portion 5 formed on the outer surface of the bottom portion of the case portion 3 has a bearing hole 7 in the central portion. The steering shaft is inserted through the bearing hole 7 when the steering wheel is attached to the vehicle body. At that time, a pipe for feeding gas is attached to the flow hole of the case portion 3, and wiring of the horn switch 9 described later is also performed.

The pair of side portions of the lid portion 4 are integrally formed with the case portion 3 and are divided into two in the horizontal direction at the center so that the lid portion 4 can be opened and closed. It is closed so as to be housed in the cover 3. Further, a horn switch 9 is attached to each outer surface of the lid 4.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the film pressure-sensitive device used for the horn switch 9. This film pressure-sensitive device has two film substrates 10 and 11 facing each other. The film substrate 10 has a resistance film 12 formed on a surface facing the film substrate 11, and the resistance films 12 are formed on both ends thereof. The electrode terminals 14 and 15 in contact with are formed and a constant current is applied. On the other hand, the film substrate 11 has the electrode terminals 16 formed on the surface facing the film substrate 10. The pressure sensitive element layer 13 is inserted between the film substrates 10 and 11, and the pressure sensitive element layer 13 in contact with the resistance film 12 of the film substrate 10 and the electrode terminal 16 of the film substrate 11 is Normally, it is in a substantially insulated state, and the current flowing between the electrode terminals 14 and 15 of the film substrate 10 is not supplied to the electrode terminal 16 of the film substrate 11.

<Operation of Embodiment> In such a configuration, it is assumed that the driver presses the central portion of the steering wheel with the intention of operating the horn switch 9. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the film substrate 10 is deformed and pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive element layer 13. Then, the pressure-sensitive element layer 13 to which pressure is applied becomes conductive, and as a result, the electrode terminal 14 of the film substrate 10 and the electrode terminal 16 of the film substrate 11 are electrically connected and a current flows. Like Then, the electric current is supplied to the horn and passes through the above-mentioned wiring to drive the horn.

When the operator stops pressing the horn switch 9, the film substrate 10 returns to the normal state as shown in FIG. 3A by the elastic force of the pressure sensitive element layer 13 and itself. As a result, the pressure sensitive element layer 13 becomes insulative again, the electrical connection between the electrode terminal 14 of the film substrate 10 and the electrode terminal 16 of the film substrate 11 is stopped, and the horn is stopped.

Next, the operation of the airbag 6 will be described. Usually, the airbag 6 is housed in the case portion 3 and is closed by the lid portion 4. Now, if there is a strong impact on the vehicle, it is detected and the gas in the compressed cylinder stored in the vehicle body is discharged, and the gas is sent through the flow hole of the pipe and case part 3 described above. , The air bag 6 is filled with gas. Then, when the airbag 6 inflates to some extent, the pressure causes the two lid portions 4 to bend and open at their base portions, respectively, and the airbag 6 bulges as shown in FIG. Here, since the horn switch 9 uses a thin and flexible film pressure-sensitive device, it does not interfere with the operation of the airbag 6.

[0017]

【The invention's effect】

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the steering wheel in which the airbag is housed in the case portion formed on the mounting portion through the spoke portions formed at a plurality of positions of the ring-shaped member. The case portion for accommodating the airbag has a lid member provided with a film pressure sensitive device on a surface portion at a predetermined position, and the lid member is pressurized so that the film pressure sensitive device is brought into conduction and the horn. By driving the horn, it is possible to install a horn switch with a large area without increasing the thickness of the center part of the steering wheel that has the airbag. It is possible to realize a horn switch device for the steering wheel that can operate the horn switch. That.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall external view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a steering wheel of an automobile.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the horn switch in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an overall external view of a steering wheel of a conventional automobile.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel when an airbag is operating.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ring part 2 spoke part 3 case part 4 lid part 5 mounting part 6 airbag 7 bearing hole 8 conventional horn switch 9 horn switch of the present application 10 film substrate 11 film substrate 12 resistive film 13 pressure sensitive element layer 14 electrode terminal 15 electrode Terminal 16 Electrode terminal

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering wheel in which an airbag is housed in a case part formed on a mounting part through spoke parts formed at a plurality of positions of a ring-shaped member, wherein the case part accommodates the airbag. Has a lid member provided with a film pressure sensitive device on its surface at a predetermined position, and when the lid member is pressed, the film pressure sensitive device is brought into conduction to drive a horn. Wheel horn switch device.