Patent · US Expired

Horn actuator incorporating a transducer in a steering wheel

US5539259A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
27References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateJul 23, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R21/21658
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering wheel (12) incorporates an air bag unit (22). The air bag unit has a cover door (30) with a transducer (38) molded in a deformable front wall (35) of the cover door. The transducer can be a force sensitive resistor (38) which is operably connected to an electrical circuit (42) that actuates a horn (44) when the circuit senses a change in the resistance of force sensitive resistor (38). The force sensitive resistor (38) produces a suitable change in resistance when hand pressure is exerted on the front wall (35).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.