Horn switch apparatus for a vehicle steering wheel
View Patent ↗A set of horn switch assemblies are mounted on a base plate of a vehicle steering wheel and linked by two continuous electrical conductors that are electrically bridged to activate a horn. Each switch assembly includes an insulator base affixed to the base plate and a deflectable metal blade disposed atop the insulator base substantially parallel to the base plate. The metal blade is anchored to the insulator base at one end and deflectable toward the base plate at the other end. One electrical conductor is secured to the insulator base below and in contact with the anchored end of the metal blade, while the other electrical conductor is secured to the insulator base below and out of contact with the deflectable end of the metal blade. A driver air bag assembly deflects the metal blades to electrically bridge the two electrical conductors for activating the horn.
1. Switch apparatus mounted on a vehicle steering wheel for activating a horn, comprising:
an insulator base affixed to a base plate of the steering wheel;
first and second spaced electrical conductors laterally spanning an upper surface of said insulator base;
a deflectable metal blade having a first end that is anchored to said insulator base in contact with said first electrical conductor, and a second end that is suspended over said second electrical conductor; and
horn activation means for deflecting the second end of said metal blade toward said base plate and into contact with said second electrical conductor to electrically bridge said first and second electrical conductors for activating said horn.
2. The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper surface of said insulator base includes a sloped portion that slopes downward toward said base plate; and
said first and second spaced electrical conductors laterally span the sloped portion of said insulator base.
3. The switch apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
said first and second electrical conductors are respectively retained in upper and lower notches laterally spanning the sloped portion of said insulator base.
4. The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
a plurality of said insulator bases, each equipped with a deflectable metal blade, are affixed to the base plate of said steering wheel;
said first and second spaced electrical conductors laterally span an upper surface of each such insulator base; and
said horn activation means includes means for deflecting a second end of any of the deflectable metal blades for activating said horn.
5. The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said insulator base is combined with a locking fastener for affixing said horn activation means to said steering wheel.
6. The switch apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said insulator base includes projections that are inserted into said base plate to locate said insulator base on said base plate.
7. The switch apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
at least one of said projections is barbed for affixing said insulator base to said base plate when inserted into said base plate.