IP Library Granted Patent US 6,849,816
Granted Patent B2
US 6,849,816 · App. 10/692,218 · Granted Feb 1, 2005

Vehicle steering wheel

Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,849,816
App. No.
10/692,218
Granted
Feb 1, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle steering wheel comprises a first switch ( 2 ) and a first actuating element ( 4 ) for actuating the first switch, and a second switch ( 132 ) and a second actuating element ( 110 ) for actuating the second switch. There is further provided a carrier ( 134 ) adapted to be displaced by the second actuating element ( 110 ) in an actuating direction (B) for actuating the second switch ( 132 ) and on which the first switch ( 2 ) is mounted. The steering wheel also has a base body ( 122 ), relative to which the carrier ( 134 ) is mounted so as to be displaceable in said actuating direction (B). The first actuating element ( 4 ) is provided with a stop element ( 9 ) which abuts against the base body ( 122 ) when the first actuating element ( 110 ) is displaced up to a complete actuation of the first switch ( 2 ). The stop element also prevents a displacement of the carrier ( 134 ), leading to the actuation of the second switch ( 132 ), by means of the first actuating element ( 4 ).

Claims (40)

1. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

a first switch ( 2 );

a first actuating element ( 4 ) for actuating said first switch ( 2 );

a second switch ( 132 );

a second actuating element ( 110 ) or actuating said second switch ( 132 );

a carrier ( 134 ) displaceable by said second actuating element ( 110 ) in a actuating direction (B) for actuating said second switch ( 132 ) and on which said first switch ( 2 ) is mounted; and

a base body ( 122 ), relative to which said carrier ( 134 ) is mounted so as to be displaceable in said actuating direction (B), said first actuating element ( 4 ) being provided with a stop element ( 9 ) which abuts against said base body ( 122 ) when said first actuating element ( 110 ) is displaced up to a complete actuation of said first switch ( 2 ), and which prevents a displacement of said carrier ( 134 ), caused by said first actuating element ( 4 ) which displacement would lead to an actuation of said second switch ( 132 ).

2. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

a first switch ( 2 );

a first actuating element ( 4 ) for actuating said first switch ( 2 );

a second switch ( 132 );

a second actuating element ( 110 ) for actuating said second switch ( 132 );

a carrier ( 134 ) displaceable by said second actuating element ( 110 ) in an actuating direction (B) for actuating said second switch ( 132 ) and on which said first switch ( 2 ) is mounted; and

a base body ( 122 ) for mounting said carrier ( 134 ) for displacement in said actuating direction (B), said first actuating element ( 4 ) being provided with stop element ( 9 ) abutting said base body ( 122 ) when said first actuating element ( 110 ) is displaced through a complete actuation of said first switch ( 2 ), said stop element ( 9 ) preventing a displacement of said carrier ( 134 ) causing an actuation of said second switch ( 132 ),

said second actuating element being a floating horn gas bag module ( 110 ) displaceably mounted in said vehicle steering wheel.

3. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

a first switch ( 2 );

a first actuating element ( 4 ) for actuating said first switch ( 2 );

a second switch ( 132 );

a second actuating element ( 110 ) for actuating said second switch ( 132 );

a carrier ( 134 ) displaceable by said second actuating element ( 110 ) in an actuating direction (B) for actuating said second switch ( 132 ) and on which said first switch ( 2 ) is mounted; and

a base body ( 122 ) for mounting said carrier ( 134 ) for displacement in said actuating direction (B), said first actuating element ( 4 ) being provided with stop element ( 9 ) abutting said base body ( 122 ) when said first actuating element ( 110 ) is displaced through a complete actuation of said first switch ( 2 ), said stop element ( 9 ) preventing a displacement of said carrier ( 134 ) causing an actuation of said second switch ( 132 ),

said carrier ( 134 ) being fastened to a lateral extension ( 124 ) of said gas bag module ( 110 ).

4. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 3 , characterized in that said first actuating element ( 4 ) is mounted on said lateral extension ( 124 ) of said gas bag module so as to be displaceable relative to said carrier ( 134 ).

5. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

a first switch ( 2 );

a first actuating element ( 4 ) for actuating said first switch ( 2 );

a second switch ( 132 );

a second actuating element ( 110 ) for actuating said second switch ( 132 );

a carrier ( 134 ) displaceable by said second actuating element ( 110 ) in an actuating direction (B) for actuating said second switch ( 132 ), said carrier ( 134 ) being displaceably mounted on said vehicle steering wheel, said first switch ( 2 ) being mounted on said carrier ( 134 ); and

a base body ( 122 ) for mounting said carrier ( 134 ) for displacement in said actuating direction (B),

said first actuating element ( 4 ) being provided with a displaceable stop element ( 9 ) distanced from said base body ( 122 ) when said first switch ( 2 ) is in a non-actuated state, said displaceable stop element ( 9 ) abutting said base body ( 122 ) when said first actuating element ( 110 ) is displaced up to a complete actuation of said first switch ( 2 ), said displaceable stop element ( 9 ) preventing a displacement of said carrier ( 134 ) caused by said first actuating element ( 4 ) thereby preventing an actuation of said second switch ( 132 ).

6. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said actuating elements ( 4 , 110 ) are mounted in said base body ( 122 ).

7. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said first actuating element ( 4 ) is displaceably mounted relative to said carrier ( 134 ).

8. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said carrier has a printed circuit board ( 134 ).

9. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said carrier ( 134 ) has an upper side and an underside and said first switch ( 2 ) is arranged on said upper side and said second switch ( 132 ) is arranged on said underside.

10. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said base body ( 122 ) is formed by a steering wheel skeleton with a foamed casing, and that on displacement of said first actuating element ( 4 ), said stop element ( 9 ) comes to abutment against a stop surface ( 160 ) of said foam casing.

11. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said first actuating element is a button ( 4 ) for a multifunction switch ( 2 ).

12. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said second switch is a horn contact switch ( 132 ).

13. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 5 , characterized in that said stop element is a projection ( 9 ) constructed on said first actuating element ( 4 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2003
From: RUMPF, DIETER
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
Reel/Frame 014636/0076 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 202 16 793 · Oct 30, 2002 · national
DE 203 09 521 · Jun 20, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040089527A1 · May 13, 2004