IP Library Granted Patent US 11,351,915
Granted Patent B2
US 11,351,915 · App. 16/981,937 · Granted Jun 7, 2022

Steering wheel

Inventor: Hiromi Matsuo (Shiga, JP)
Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
B60Q5/003B60R21/203B62D1/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,351,915
App. No.
16/981,937
Granted
Jun 7, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a horn switch and steering wheel capable of reducing a space for the horn switch. A horn switch 4 includes: a guide pin 41 provided with a first end part 411 axially slidably connected to a first opening 211 of a core metal 2 , and a second end part 412 disposed to be locked to a second opening 322 of an airbag module 3 ; a stopper 42 provided with a flange part 421 fixed to the shaft part of the guide pin 41 ; a damper 43 disposed in a space between the second end part 412 and the flange part 421 and locked to the inner edge of the second opening 322 ; a horn spring 45 disposed between the flange part 421 and the core metal 2 ; a fixed-side contact 46 disposed in the core metal 2 ; and a movable-side contact 47 disposed in the airbag module 3.

Claims (26)

1. A steering wheel configured to operate a steering angle of a vehicle, the steering wheel comprising:

a core metal as a skeleton of the steering wheel;

an airbag module provided on the steering wheel; and

a horn switch provided between the core metal and the airbag module,

wherein the horn switch includes

a guide pin including a first end portion that is axially slidably connected to a first opening provided in the core metal and a second end portion that is capable of being locked in a second opening provided in the airbag module,

a stopper including a flange portion fixed to a shaft portion of the guide pin,

a damper that is provided in a space between the second end portion and the flange portion and is locked to an inner edge of the second opening,

a horn spring provided between the flange portion and the core metal,

a fixed side contact point provided on the core metal,

a movable side contact point provided on the airbag module, and

a substantially cylindrical guide sleeve provided at the first opening to surround the guide pin so that the guide pin is movable through the substantially cylindrical guide sleeve, wherein the substantially cylindrical guide sleeve has an enlarged diameter portion whose lower surface is directly contacted with the core metal in an axial direction of the guide pin, and the enlarged diameter portion radially extends in a radial direction being orthogonal to the axial direction.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the stopper includes a plurality of protrusions provided on a contact surface of the flange portion with the damper.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the guide pin is provided with a groove that is capable of being locked with an inner edge of the flange portion, and the stopper includes a cylindrical portion that extends from a lower surface of the flange portion along the axial direction of the guide pin.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the stopper is provided with a cutout portion that divides the flange portion and the cylindrical portion into a plurality of parts in a circumferential direction.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 3 ,

wherein the stopper includes divided pieces obtained by dividing the flange portion and the cylindrical portion into a plurality of parts in a circumferential direction.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the horn switch further includes a protector provided between the second opening and the damper.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 6 ,

wherein the protector includes a plurality of protrusions provided on a contact surface of the protector with the damper.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,

wherein the guide pin includes a reduced diameter portion capable of accommodating a part of a spring member provided on the core metal, and the reduced diameter portion has the axial length larger than a sliding distance of the guide pin.

Assignments (5)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jan 13, 2026
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC; JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN G.K.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 074331/0585 →
ASSIGNEE CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 5, 2023
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN G.K.
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN G.K.
Reel/Frame 062299/0879 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN G.K.
Reel/Frame 062218/0618 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2020
From: MATSUO, HIROMI
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
Reel/Frame 053806/0346 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,612,104